Review: 11 Woodfire – BBC Middle Eastern Food
Review: 11 Woodfire – BBC Middle Eastern Food
The long-awaited 11 Woodfire from renowned chef Akmal Anuar recently opened in a cozy corner of Jumeirah 1 Hotel, and we were excited to walk over to find out.
A huge open courtyard with generous seating greets you, and you step inside to see a grand archway framing the interior beyond. Surrounded by warm lighting, the impressive kitchen illuminates the embers of the wood fire burning brightly. We were stunned and mesmerized by the dancing flames, which underscored the restaurant’s core philosophy – a warm flame where you can gather and share wholesome food with your loved ones.
11 Woodfire features a multi-sensory culinary journey where diners can discover culinary techniques of the past where wood, fire and smoke played a vital role in the creation of dishes.
Highlights:
Dining al fresco is a must to enjoy the beautiful winter weather in the UAE, and we did just that. First, I ordered 330ml of various infusions on the advice of our waiter. Served cold, Putih is a distilled spirit made with ingredients such as chrysanthemum, chamomile and kombucha, and has a delicate floral and herbal aroma with a mild sweetness. From the carbonated drinks section, we tried a refreshing Biere de Amis, a 0.0% Belgian Blonde beer.
The restaurant menu has five distinct, self-explanatory sections, including a variety of gourmet fondues. They are: Balance – Land and Sea, Plant Kingdom – Seasonal Vegetables, Ocean’s Bounty – Seafood, Heartland – Quality Meat and Lasting Memories – Desserts.
Our first course was pine smoked Scottish salmon with citrus cream and caviar which added a beautiful umami to the silky soft fish. and chlorophyll, a blend of greens, leaves, peas and beans, and served with a flavorful sauce.
If you’re a seafood lover, we highly recommend the Atlantic Sea Bass, roasted with garlic and Kashmiri peppers to crisp, almost charred but juicy perfection. Add a dash of lime before you eat it, and it boosts the burst of flavor in your mouth. Butterfly spring chicken with garam masala, which was shared between two people, was not only pretty, but tasted great too.
We chose two plates to go with our main course – roasted leeks on mashed yam topped with dill and grapefruit, and a serving of potatoes. The mild sweetness of the chives combines beautifully with the earthiness of the yam and the tartness of the grapefruit; while the rich, comforting potato gratin with Parmesan cheese rounds out our vegetable service of the day.
Desserts shared (though I barely wanted to eat it after my first bite) included a burnt cheesecake with goat cheese topped with a milk chocolate sauce. Sinful and lush, we quickly wiped it off and ended our experience on a sublime note.
judgment:
11 Woodfire is the place to be if you are looking for a spacious, laid-back environment with unique beverages and delicious food for every taste.
Book now:
Tuesday-Friday 12-4pm and 7-11pm, Saturday and Sunday 8am-4pm and 7pm-12pm. Call +9714 491 9000. Visit Instagram.