Jumeirah at Etihad Towers is often considered to be the business, social and gourmet hub of Abu Dhabi. Located on the shores of the Arabian Gulf, the 5-star luxury city hotel spans 66 floors and includes 382 guest rooms and suites of refined elegance offering the latest technology and stunning Corniche and coastal views.
Now it will also be home to the new Pearl restaurant from 2 Michelin star chef Michael Caines. The restaurant will sit at the waters edge offering unrivalled views of Abu Dhabi’s islets and the surrounding sea, all from the comfort of its floor-to-ceiling open glass walls.The restaurant also boasts an open terrace on the upper floor that is the perfect location for romantic sundowners, aperitifs and relaxing with friends. For those of you who prefer navigating the seas, the restaurant also provides guests with a private landing jetty offering all those arriving by boat and yacht easy access.
Michael Caines said: “It is a real privilege and honour to open my first restaurant outside the UK in Abu Dhabi. It is a spectacular opportunity and I am delighted to be working with the Jumeirah Group. The location of this stunning restaurant, with its independent entrance, will make it one of Abu Dhabi’s top dining destinations. It is hugely exciting to be able to bring to this special place my concept of dazzling food, sensational beverages, perfect service, and gracious hospitality in a relaxing and beautiful setting. I’m sure that Pearls by Michael Caines will be a buzzing hub where people mix, mingle and do business during the day and indulge in relaxing times with friends in the evening.”
Indeed, the contemporary design and the luxury service of the venue mirrors the modern and innovative cuisine that Michael will be bringing to the kitchens of Pearl.With a carefully considered menu, the new restaurant will offer dishes that draw inspiration from the flavours of the Emirate and Arabian Gulf. It is a luxury-casual dining experience with a fine dining at its core.
Michael Caines hails as one of Britain’s best-known and acclaimed chefs. He has forged a reputation based on the success of creating exciting, modern European cuisine. With a whole new playground of flavours and ingredients to choose from and a menu that makes full use of local produce and seasonal ingredients, the new Pearl restaurant will be one to watch.
FOUR asked Michael to gives us a quick low down on the big move to Abu Dhabi and what’s in store…
What has led the move to Abu Dhabi?
I went over to Abu Dhabi in 2014 for Gourmet Abu Dhabi and was a guest chef at the Brasserie Angelique at Jumeriah at Etihad Towers. It was a fantastic success and as a result I was invited back in 2015 to do a pop-up restaurant in what was previously Scott’s. At that time I had the pleasure to cook for His Highness Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, and he was extremely happy – as was everyone else involved. The hotel invited me to take over Scott’s – and this has now been transformed into Pearls by Michael Caines. We’re really pleased that we have been given a chance to open up in the UAE, but more importantly, I think that Abu Dhabi is the right opportunity for me.
What can you tell us about the new menu at Pearls?
Pearls will present a à la carte menu that features eight starters, eight main courses and six desserts, with the menus constantly changing throughout the year. Dishes will include several of my signature dishes (we call them ‘pearls’) including warm lobster salad with mango and cardamom vinaigrette and curried mayonnaise; and local red mullet with Thai purée, fennel and dill salad. Main courses include braised beef cheek with red wine sauce; seabass with king prawn bouillabaisse sauce; and sautéed cod with paprika and red pepper purée and samphire.
Desserts that will feature on the menu include chocolate orange confit mousse; my innovative white chocolate candle; and coconut panacotta with spiced pineapple, accompanied by a refreshing mango and lime sorbet. There is also a tasting menu with a wine flight as well as a weekly changing lunch menu.
What kind of experience do you aim to give guests at the restaurant?
My intention is create fabulous food memories that people will take away with them. Using all the wonderful ingredients at my chefs’ disposal, allied with classic and innovative cooking techniques, our aim is to give the fullest expression of flavour to our dishes. I have held two Michelin stars for 18 years and the unique personality of my cuisine will be expressed in the dishes on the menu at Pearls, which will appeal to the local community, to business people, and to tourists alike. Pearls is a very special and stunning venue, with its floor-to-ceiling open glass walls that offer views of Abu Dhabi’s islets and the surrounding sea. The open terrace on the upper floor is perfect for sundowners, aperitifs and relaxing with friends. A private landing jetty offers boat and yacht access. It is hugely exciting to be able to bring to this special place my concept of dazzling food, sensational beverages, perfect service, and gracious hospitality in a relaxing and beautiful setting.
Jumeirah at Etihad Towers
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates