Friday Brunch at Cucina, Courtyard Marriott,
The Green Community
Now that summer has well and truly arrived, and we can’t lie on the beach or by the pool all day, Friday morning is the perfect time to take the family out for a relaxing Brunch.
As the promise of a full English breakfast is the only way to get my teenage boys out of bed on Fridays, we went along to the Courtyard Marriott and headed for Cucina, the Italian Kitchen to sample their Friday Brunch. We were welcomed by Kathy, who happily showed us round the vast array of food stations before showing us to a table overlooking the fabulous lake and gardens of the Green Community, a real green oasis in the desert!
A large jug of iced minted water was placed on our table by John, our friendly waiter, as soon as we sat down, while we decided which drinks to order. I opted for the non-alcoholic package and ordered a freshly squeezed orange juice, but my husband was lured by the promise of free flowing chilled prosecco! It’s worth mentioning here that Courtyard Marriott offer a ‘Free Wheels’ deal with Brunch, if there are 4 adults from the same address in Dubai, they will pick you up and drop you off, making your whole experience hassle free! A great way to impress your visitors and no one has to be the designated driver!
My boys were raring to go by now and headed to the breakfast station where they enjoyed the best ‘Full English’ they’ve had for a long time. Their eggs were cooked to order for them, light fluffy omelette and eggs ‘over-easy’ seemed to do the trick and crispy bacon was soon piled high on their plates, together with mushrooms, beans, tomatoes, you name it…..! A fantastic selection of fresh breads and breakfast pastries were available in the breakfast section too. One of the breakfast specialities was poached eggs with smoked salmon served on a toasted crouton and mornay sauce, which looked scrumptious and I found it hard to refuse but on this occasion I decided to dive straight into the seafood station.
A large dish overflowing with delicious oysters nestled in a huge vat of ice lured us over, and together with large, tasty fresh prawns and sushi, we were in seafood heaven!
The boys were still circumnavigating all the food stations, and were busy tucking into the delights of the BBQ station set up outside on the terrace. The BBQ chef cooked them succulent prawns, lamb chops and tender chicken that had been marinated to perfection. There was a lovely breeze blowing out on the terrace, and it would certainly be a fabulous spot during the cooler months.
Having visited Cucina on many occasions in the past I knew the wide selection of anti-pasti was not to be missed, and the selection for the Friday Brunch did not disappoint. I sampled a delicious seafood salad crammed with prawns and squid, beetroot salad and my favourite grilled aubergine with mozzarella cheese just had to be tasted too. Platters of Gravlax, as well as tempting platters of smoked salmon, capers and onions caught my eye, together with all the fresh salad ingredients for a healthy starter!
The restaurant prides itself on its risottos and deservedly so, Chef Sachin presented us with a creamy mixed vegetable risotto topped with grated parmesan as well as fillet beef with mushroom risotto both freshly cooked to order. We shared a taste of the creamy magical mixtures. Risotto is one of those dishes which can be heavy and too filling, but Chef Sachin has the knack of presenting light tasty risotto with just the right ‘bite’ to the rice and the most creamy texture I’ve ever tasted, both dishes were cooked to perfection. Chef Sachin was also busy working his magic at the pasta station too with a wide variety of pastas and toppings to choose from, but we decided to try this on our next visit!
One sure sign of a good brunch is being able to take your time and enjoy each course, this is certainly true at Cucina. Large families were gathering to catch up on the weeks events, people on holiday were escaping for a few hours from the searing heat, the atmosphere was very relaxed and informal, certainly not the ‘smash and grab’ type brunch that is often found here in Dubai. Children sat happily in high chairs with their parents, while enjoying their lunch. The pancake and waffle chef had a delightful array of colourful toppings to tempt young ones, and he could be seen handing out fresh biscuit cones of ice creams in all varieties throughout the afternoon. We had seen a clown doing tricks and face painting down the corridor as we arrived so I’m guessing that contributed to the relaxed and happy state mums & dads were in! We sat and chatted away, I do find when teenagers are eating their favourite food they are more likely to be communicative!
My 13 year old arrived back at the table with roast turkey, and I have to admit I couldn’t resist a small taste. The roast turkey was carved expertly to order and served with ‘homemade’ stuffing like my mum makes, fresh cranberry sauce and sliced, roasted potatoes. I added a tiny taste of the delicious sweet potato dauphinois that had caught my eye earlier!
Eventually even my boys were beginning to slow down. Sampling the wonderful biryani and chicken dishes together with the stir-fry dishes will have to wait until next time! The food stations were continually being replenished to cater for people arriving at anytime during the afternoon. Our waiter, John and all the very helpful, friendly staff were quick to replenish our drinks and clear our plates inconspicuously all afternoon.
It’s amazing how you can always find room for a pudding after a pause! Our unanimous favourite was a fabulous Banana Toffee Sponge Pudding with vanilla sauce . Having tried to guess how it was made, we made a mental note to ask for the recipe on the way out! The dessert station was stocked full of mouth-watering concoctions from chocolate mouse, Fruit pannacotta served in delicate glasses, and exquisite fruit pastries lined the counter plus a light mango mouse cake and home-made apple pie, alongside a healthy selection of cut fruit all designed to tempt even the strongest willed person and a cheese board too – I should have paced myself better!
While enjoying a cappuccino, I looked around to see what everyone else was eating, sorry, I can’t help it, and I could tell the crisp tantalizing pizzas coming out of the Cucina Pizza oven were proving a popular choice with many.
When we finally left Cucina it was quite late in the afternoon, all agreeing we must visit again soon, and knowing that we wouldn’t need to eat supper tonight!
The Cucina Brunch is open from 12.00pm until 4.00pm
Dhs 150 per person inclusive of unlimited water, soft drinks, chilled juices, coffee and tea
Dhs 250 person inclusive of unlimited bubbly and house beverages
Free Wheels applies on Dhs 250 package minimum of 4 adults with one pick up and drop off location. Transportation booking should be made 24hrs in advance.
Dhs 65 for kids aged 6 to 12 years old
For children under 6 years lunch is free!