{"id":14071,"date":"2023-03-06T11:15:37","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T11:15:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bateel.com\/blog\/?p=14071"},"modified":"2023-03-08T13:25:04","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T13:25:04","slug":"cafe-bateels-new-seasonal-menu-is-a-culinary-journey-across-the-mediterranean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bateel.com\/blog\/recipes\/cafe-bateels-new-seasonal-menu-is-a-culinary-journey-across-the-mediterranean\/","title":{"rendered":"Caf\u00e9 Bateel\u2019s new seasonal menu is a culinary journey across the Mediterranean"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inspired by classic flavours and seasonal ingredients, Caf\u00e9 Bateel\u2019s new menu has brought the best of the Mediterranean to the Middle East.<\/p>\n

The menu is the culmination of months of travelling, experimenting and tasting by Caf\u00e9 Bateel\u2019s Culinary Director, Nicholas Cuadrado. Continuing his family\u2019s culinary heritage in Spain and the UK, Chef Cuadrado is on a constant quest to find incredible seasonal products to create delicious dishes.<\/p>\n

Cuadrado explains: \u201cThe dishes on the menu are inspired by seasonality and the best products available.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe work with artisan suppliers to find the finest ingredients, from mushrooms to truffles and different types of seafood.<\/h2>\n

\u201cAfter travelling extensively in the Mediterranean to source and import the products to the region, we test them in our Research & Development kitchen before crafting our recipes for Caf\u00e9 Bateel.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Clockwise from top left: Black Cod Fishcake; King Mushroom Bolognese; Moroccan Wagyu Meatballs; Date & Fig Salad. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Caf\u00e9 Bateel is known for serving wholesome food using natural ingredients and this ethos is perfectly showcased in its array of inventive salads. A new seasonal salad is Mediterranean Superfood<\/strong>, a nutrient-rich blend of quinoa, beetroot, baby spinach, pomegranate, squash, sauteed kale, roasted celeriac and puffed Italian farro, with a black olive and citrus dressing.<\/p>\n

According to Cuadrado, one gourmet ingredient played a particularly crucial role in the dish\u2019s development. He says: \u201cThe flavour profile of the superfood salad was shaped by an amazing extra virgin olive oil from Provence which has been infused with whole black olives for a more intense olive taste. From this we developed a delicious dressing which perfectly complemented the salad ingredients.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another exciting new salad is Lentil & Roasted Corn<\/strong>, a complex vegan dish with multiple layers of texture, sweetness and acidity. Revealing his inspiration, Cuadrado says: \u201cI tasted a dish in Paris which used a combination of different lentils and it gave me the idea to create this salad.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the R&D kitchen we mixed Umbrian, Puy and Beluga lentils and they worked perfectly together.\u00a0We discovered a fantastic pomegranate vinegar for the dressing, which gives a Levant twist and adds sweetness and acidity.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Preparing Lentil & Roasted Corn Salad <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Cuadrado continues: \u201cYou get the crunch from the corn and the carrots, and the avocado adds creaminess. This meant it didn\u2019t need a cheese, so we were able to keep it as a vegan dish. The salad also has caramelised pecans, which is a Bateel product available in our stores.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll these little details help to draw you back in for another bite.\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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Lentil & Roasted Corn Salad <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

From Sea to Table<\/h2>\n

The new menu features three stunning seafood dishes. For appetisers, there\u2019s the crispy and creamy Black Cod Fishcake<\/strong> with potato and Pommery mustard served with an avocado and pea puree and a classic gribiche sauce.<\/p>\n

Bateel Fish Bisque<\/strong> is a new soup inspired by bouillabaisse <\/em>from Marseilles, another destination on Cuadrado\u2019s Mediterranean tour. <\/em>In true Proven\u00e7al\u00a0style, the bisque is served with a crunchy, flavourful crouton with rouille and g<\/em>ruy\u00e8re<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Smoked Salmon Rye <\/strong>is a symphony of a sandwich inspired by classic flavours. Cuadrado continues: \u201cRye bread with smoked salmon is a match made in heaven. It\u2019s all married together with mascarpone, shallots, capers and rocket. At Caf\u00e9 Bateel, we have a lot of respect for classic dishes and flavours.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Smoked Salmon Rye <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

\u201cWe wanted to use a bread that\u2019s healthy and flavoursome so our head baker developed a recipe using ancient grains and a natural starter, which is great for gut health,\u201d continued Cuadrado. \u201cIt\u2019s free from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and has a lower level of gluten, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe use two different artisan flours to give it a dark colour and rich flavour, with oats adding more texture and nutritional value.\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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Bateel’s homemade dark rye <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

From Tangier to Piedmont<\/h2>\n

For mains, Caf\u00e9 Bateel guests can travel to the African side of the Mediterranean with the new Moroccan Wagyu Meatballs.<\/strong> Braised in a spiced tomato sauce, the prime beef meatballs sit on a bed of saffron couscous with dates, pine nuts and strained yoghurt.<\/p>\n

Moving north to Italy, Black Truffle Cameroni<\/strong> is a new pasta dish with creamy winter black truffle sauce and sauteed king mushroom. Cuadrado reveals the inspiration came from tasting amazing products in Alba, Piedmont, the spiritual home of the truffle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI visited the oldest truffle supplier in Alba, Tartufi Morra, which was established in 1930. They have so much passion and knowledge about truffles and have developed a range of amazing products including truffle jus, salsa and oil. They even took me truffle hunting with their dogs in the countryside around Alba, which is just stunning.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Chef Nicholas Cuadrado (far left) truffle hunting in Alba, Italy<\/p>\n<\/div>

\u201cBack in the R&D kitchen in Dubai, we did a lot of tasting and experimenting with the products and this led us towards creating a pasta dish with artisanal bronze-cut cameroni.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you understand the flavour profiles of an ingredient you naturally develop ideas.\u201d<\/h2>\n

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Black Truffle Cameroni<\/p>\n<\/div>

To complement the creamy truffle sauce, the dish is topped with sauteed king mushrooms which Cuadrado discovered in Paris\u2019 famous Rungis Market. \u201cThese are high quality, organic, cultivated mushrooms. After cooking them, I knew straight away that the meaty texture would be a great addition to this vegetarian dish,\u201d he added.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The fantastic fungi also make an appearance in the new vegan dish, <\/span>King Mushroom Bolognese, <\/span><\/b>featuring r<\/span>igatoni pasta with roasted cauliflower braised in San Marzano tomatoes and Italian oregano, sprinkled with vegan parmesan.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Pan-fried king mushrooms <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

In-house artisans<\/h2>\n

For dessert, Caf\u00e9 Bateel\u2019s resident pastry chefs have developed their take on a French classic, Caf\u00e9 Gourmand<\/strong>. This platter of freshly-made mini desserts includes a raspberry macaroon, blueberry cheesecake, Madagascar chocolate cake and a hazelnut praline choux. It\u2019s accompanied by a choice of coffee from Caf\u00e9 Bateel\u2019s selection of single-origin and house blends.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Caf\u00e9 Gourmand <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

Caf\u00e9 Bateel\u2019s beverage experts have also prepared a new range of hot and cold drinks such as Choco Praline<\/strong>, a coffee carefully layered with praline chocolate. The Avocado & Date Smoothie<\/strong> is a celebration of Bateel\u2019s world-renowned organic dates, handpicked from the oasis estate in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

After months of painstaking sourcing, testing and crafting, the final menu was shaped around one deciding factor: deliciousness. \u201cAt the end of the day, if a dish doesn\u2019t draw you in for another bite, then we don\u2019t put it on the menu. We want to you to come back for more, and more, and more,\u201d concludes Cuadrado.<\/p>\n

The new seasonal is served at Caf\u00e9 Bateel UAE and KSA and is available for delivery online. View the menu <\/em>here<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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