Yalla Team dressed up à la français and visited the award-winning Fouquet’s Abu Dhabi at Louvre Abu Dhabi; the Parisian-style Michelin experience on Saadiyat Island
An evening at Fouquet’s is like stepping onto a James Bond movie set.
The theatre begins upon arrival at the dedicated car drop-off where golf buggies await to whisk you inside the Louvre, and once inside the museum’s mesmerising canopy you can choose to take another buggy or, as we did, walk the short distance to the restaurant.
Either way the experience is magical, the interplay of light and shadow on the walls of this architectural masterpiece creates an atmosphere that is cinematic and serene.
A taste of Parisian elegance
Inside, Fouquet’s exudes the style and sophistication of a classic Parisian brasserie with the interior décor offering elegant red leather chairs, avant-garde chandeliers, and black-and-white celebrity portraits that pay homage to the original Fouquet’s on the Champs-Élysées.
We went al fresco, dining on the expansive terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf with views of the new Guggenheim Museum and Abu Dhabi skyline, which we highly recommend, particularly in the cooler months.
The atmosphere on the terrace is one of sophisticated calm and elegance with attentive waiting staff serving with charm and knowledge.
Summer dining, the Fouquet’s way
Fouquet’s has launched a new summer menu championing the established traditions of classic French cuisine with a number of Fouquet’s signature dishes while embracing contemporary international and traditional cuisine.
Having been served an indulgent glass of sparkling grape, we started with the terrine de foie gras de canard – rich, buttery and decadent with delicate gaminess, and crevettes roses avocat which artfully balanced the delicate sweetness and subtle brininess of the prawns with the creamy, velvety avocado. The main course offers a choice of one of three sumptuous dishes – boeuf bourguignon, pan seared sea bass or rigatoni pasta with black truffle.
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We chose the first two, both of which were exquisite. Fouquet’s interpretation of this French classic retains the robust, rich soul of the dish but elevates it with a 24-hour marinaded piece of whole beef, slow cooked (for four hours) to melting tenderness.
The pan-seared seabass, with prawns and fregola in a garlic butter sauce, offered an array of flavours and textures with the prawns providing a touch of brininess and sweetness and the fregola absorbing the rich garlic butter sauce and complementing the dish with its subtle nutty flavour and chewy texture.
A sweet finale
No meal at Fouquet’s, or indeed any French culinary establishment, is complete without indulging in desert and accordingly crème brûlée and mille-feuille were ordered and swiftly devoured.
Their mille-feuille is sublime, offering bronzed layers of puff pastry, precisely laminated, and silky, lush vanilla cream. The accompanying vivid berry compote brought tartness and a whisper of acidity, transforming it from a refined classic into a layered sensory experience.
The complete dining experience
Fouquet’s offers an elegant dining experience combining the rich culinary traditions of France with the cultural vibrancy of the UAE, all set in a sophisticated and cosmopolitan setting, and like Fouquet’s luscious mille-feuille, providing layers of allure and delight!
Any dining experience at Louvre Abu Dhabi is always going to be special but Fouquet’s is a standout Yalla favourite.
For bookings and further information, visit Louvre Abu Dhabi
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