Culinary traditions surrounded by modernity

The hotel was a luxurious five-star oasis surrounded by the Dubai desert. Entering the restaurant, it was as if she has stepped back in time to the Arabian nights despite the unmistakable futuristic Dubai Skyline seen far in the distance through the windows. Lavish arabesque carved wooden partitioning, coloured glass lanterns glinted while musicians sat on cushions expertly played ouds. The attentive waiter festooned her table with indulgent, amber-coloured dates studded with almonds, and a banquet-style array of traditional pastries and sweets. Each a work of art, elaborated with pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts, honey and dried fruits, with the delicate sweet aromas of orange and rose. Cardamom flavoured Arabic coffee in an ornate tall coffee pot, was masterfully poured for her in a traditional gold decorated glass cup, filling the air, and her heart, with a flavour of an Arabic bygone era. Dubai a lavish, avant-garde city, retaining its culinary traditions of years gone by.