Chef Anne-Sophie Pic brings her Michelin-lauded meals to the Middle East.
A constellation of culinary superstars has aligned at One&Only One Za’abeel with Dabiz Muñoz, Mehmet Gürs, Paco Morales and Tetsuya Wakuda, all bringing their culinary prowess to Dubai’s first vertical resort.
With two bold skyscrapers connected by the world’s longest cantilever, The Link is a floating boulevard home to the Dubai outpost of La Dame de Pic, a restaurant that exudes plenty of French finesse. The concept from Anne-Sophie Pic, the world’s most decorated female chef (currently holding an impressive eleven Michelin stars across her restaurants), serves a seasonal menu of modern plates anchored by classic French culinary techniques.
The Vibe
If you were to visit La Dame de Pic in Paris, it would require a jaunt across the Pont des Arts, affectionally referred to as the ‘Love Lock Bridge’, where visitors attached padlocks to the metal bridge crossing the Seine. In Dubai, over 5,000 kilometres from the City Of Love, diners are offered a similar opportunity. At the bridge of love, guests can personalise a padlock, which is uploaded onto a digital display that forms a pathway between the signature restaurants at Dubai’s newest hotel.
We follow this Insta-worthy installation and enter into a world of French fancy. In a dining room daubed in femininity from the powder pink upholstery to the preciously thin glassware, there’s a delicateness to dining at La Dame de Pic. Every element of the restaurant has been carefully considered, from how the shadows fall on the table to the near-silence from the open kitchen. There are views of Burj Khalifa and the Museum of the Future, yet refinement lies at the heart of this dainty dining room.
With a nod to France’s rich culinary heritage and Dubai’s global influences, the menu at La Dame de Pic Dubai celebrates the best of both worlds. Anne-Sophie’s signature dishes showcase her commitment to sourcing the finest ingredients and crafting dishes that evoke emotion. Unfortunately, the acclaimed chef was not present on the day we dined.
The Food
A rarity in Dubai, La Dame de Pic offers only a five-course Harmony tasting menu (AED 695) or a seven-course Symphony tasting menu (AED 915) in addition to vegan and vegetarian options and a curated wine list.
While the menus change based on the seasonality of ingredients, the Symphony menu is nothing short of impressive. We begin with an intriguing amuse bouche combining sea urchin and passion fruit with a coffee and whiskey crisp; it’s a powerful, fun, wow-worthy opening dish.
The Hand Dive Scallops are plump and presented in carpaccio style alongside sake gel, crunchy kohlrabi, and geranium ice cream. It’s a plate that takes time to appreciate, and the subtle textural interplay between the individual ingredients harmonises with floral notes without ever overpowering the delicate molluscs. Thanks to its salinity, Caviar brings the flavours together, resulting in a triumphant fusion of French expertise and nuanced Asian influences.
The signature Berlingots are next to arrive. The acclaimed pasta dish fashioned to resemble the popular French confectionary can be found in each of Anne Sophie’s restaurants. In Dubai, the pasta parcels are stuffed with mushrooms and coloured to resemble a bumblebee’s black and yellow stripes. Topped with a sprinkling of pollen and a mushroom consommé infused with beeswax and chamomile, it’s a robust, earthy, and moreish morsel. If you’re looking for a return-worthy dish – this is it.
We’re in awe as we traverse a menu of sourdough bread served with lavender butter shaped like a rose, bite-sized langoustine tacos, and John Dory cooked BBQ style and glazed with black coriander. A dish of Wild Sea Bass and Caviar is served swimming in a Champagne sauce that melds with the brininess of Caviar to bring additional depth to the dish with each mouthful.
Our main course is the Welsh Lamb Rack, perfumed with roasted kombu and served with a broccoli tartelette. It’s a complex choice due to the interplay between textures and taste, showcasing Chef Anne-Sophie’s penchant for intricate flavour fusions and experimentation with underappreciated ingredients.
La Dame de Pic Dubai offers an interesting take on a cheese course. This play on perceptions presents a creamy brie de Meaux with smoked Madagascan vanilla and prune chutney inside a knafeh nest. It’s a perfect precursor to our dessert. The divisive Lemon Macherin is a powerfully flavoured plate of burnt lemon sorbet, Swiss meringue, and cumin Chantilly that diners will either adore or detest.
The Verdict
A meal at La Dame de Pic Dubai offers accomplished cooking amidst an ambience that harmonises modern elegance with subtle nods to tradition. It’s ceremonial, sequential fine dining but not at all stuffy. The engaging and charming service holds the entire experience together and is some of the best in the city.
Expect modern French sensibilities and innovative flavour pairings in a setting backed by superb skyline views.
GO: Visit www.thelinkdubai.com for more information.
