Equity Mag Jan_18 Book Folder

GASTRONOMY
An experience
4
NOIRE
FAIRMONT DUBAI
Are you afraid of the dark? Those with scotophobia may find Noire a bit
unnerving. My dining partner and I, on the other hand, found it to be one of the
most amazing dining experiences we’ve come across in Dubai and have been
recommending it to friends and family ever since. Here’s why. You arrive at the
pool bar where you are served a cocktail and are immediately put to the test to
detect the ingredients. We scored 100/100, but can’t say the same for the
three-course meal that followed.
The experience begins with the night vision goggle-equipped staff escorting
each couple into the pitch-black setting. It is incredibly dark once you get in, and
my dining partner and I admitted to never being in such a dark setting before.
Your eyes take a few minutes to adjust to the setting and the team are kind
enough to indicate where your glasses and the bread plate is for you to get an
idea of placement. First off, I’m glad I didn’t spill any food or beverage on myself
or my dining partner’s white shirt – which by the way, is a terrible colour choice
for this occasion. The one-and-a-half-hour long meal began with an appetizer
that tasted like some sort of fish with carrot and crumble – we later found out
it was tuna with apple cubes, spiced carrot puree, and tempura crumble. The
guessing game is not only interesting but hilarious too. You get to hear every
individuals’ opinions as they guess flavours - sounding similar to a professional
taste tester - only to discover later that their dream to make this a day job is
doomed, for now at least. Wine is served with each course, and somehow, we
guessed all three correct.
The main course was incredibly delightful, confusing our senses as we tried
to pick, feel and smell each little drop and pieces we picked up from our plates.
The textures were similar to meat, with flavours showcasing mushrooms – got
this correct – some sort of fried garnish, droplets of sauce, and greens. The dish
was revealed later and we got almost 50 per cent correct. To put it simply,
even though our assumptions were poles apart, the dessert was a mixture of
sponge texture, ice cream, matcha, sesame seeds and crumble. Note, we didn’t
disclose the complete ingredient list, as it is worth the sensory journey you will
embark on. The big reveal takes place outdoors after the meal, where you
giggle and quite proudly confirm the ones you got right. The presentation was
perhaps what appealed to me the most, and admittedly, does play an integral
role in a dish. Everything was beautifully plated and I could only imagine the
mess we may have all made, jumbling everything while testing. One thing is for
sure, we didn’t miss snapping shots for Instagram and got to enjoy an exquisite
intimate meal with chatter and laughs throughout.
Need to know:
Dhs325 per person with pairings.
Contact +971 4 311 8316
56
EQUITY