We were treated to an exclusive Chef’s Table hosted by Executive Chef Ian Mancais at 3in1 at the Vida Hotel last week. The event was to celebrate Chef Mancais début in one of our favourite all-round dining and lifestyle venues in Dubai. Read on to discover the menu we enjoyed!
The Setting.
3in1 is located on the first floor of the Vida Downtown Hotel. It has a generous terrace area that takes diners right out to the elegant and inviting ‘city chic meets luxury poolside cabanas’ aquamarine coloured Vida pool.
We were sat outside, able to enjoy the gentle October breeze, under the sparkling city lights glittering from the date palms on Emaar Boulevard… set to discover the brand-new menu of 3in1 restaurant.
The Food.
Renowned in the industry for his refined, creative and innovative approach, Chef Ian Mancais’ work is shaped by multicultural experiences and a passion for hospitality and food.
He brings a spectacular track-record working in 12 countries, opening eight new hotels and being commissioned as the consultant of the worlds’ first under-sea restaurant in the Maldives.
All of this resonates in the food that he has imaginatively and successfully, yet daringly, created for Vida diners at 3in1.
The Starters.
We loved the signature starters, and in particular the unique ‘Fire on Ice’, a light salad of crispy beef or chicken served with spinach, sweet peppers and a light sesame and soy sauce.
The dish is presented in a large bowl made of real ice. The flavour is brought out by a fiery spiciness – it is sweet, sour, fiery and cool all at once.
We also enjoyed the ‘Alive & Inspired Summer Salad’ with delicately lemon scented salmon or chicken bursting with fresh mango, avocado, papaya and fresh spinach and kale.
The Mains.
We were overwhelmed by the ‘Salted Caramel Black Beef Brisket’ – an exceptional dish. The ‘tobacco’ onion, caramel pop corn and green onion wasabi mash work like magic in this colourful and distinctive dish. The brisket, cooked to perfection, was melty and zingy in equal measure.
The ‘Baked Orange Blossom Chicken Tikka’ came a very close second to the brisket with its orange marmalade, sweet and sour papaya, purple onion, mint, mild chilli and coriander achar, biriyani style rice, all served on hot coal.
The Dessert.
We ended the meal with the ‘Walking Chocolate Fondant’, a freshly baked extraordinarily fondant chocolate dessert, somewhere between heaven and soufflé, accompanied by semi whipped cream and assorted fruit coulis.
We also loved the ‘Vida Mess’: a chocolate and vanilla ice cream, broken brownie, pastry cream, semi whipped cream, pistachio and biscuit crumbs in a jar.
The Final Word.
We particularly love the consistency in style and level of experience offered at Vida Downtown as we visit time and time again. We were therefore delighted to discover Chef Mancais’ début menu first hand and to write home about it.
Chef Mancais has also appeared both on live and recorded television shows in Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Tahiti and London, in addition to hosting his own show in Tokyo. The multifaceted executive chef now brings his remarkable culinary flair to Vida Downtown, his colourful life really shines through his work making this a sensory and gastronomic experience to remember.
The Details.
3in1 is located at the Vida Downtown Hotel in Dubai | Timings: 6.30am to 12.00am | Breakfast from 6.30am to 10.30am | Lunch and Dinner from 12.30pm to 2.00am | Dress code: Casual
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