Stepping into the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai offers a pleasant cool after rushing through the cities early afternoon 40 degree desert heat. Set within 37 acres of landscaped gardens, Grand Hyatt Dubai features 674 luxury hotel rooms and 14 restaurants and bars!
At the centre of Dubai’s Grand Hyatt visitors stroll through a lush palm garden featuring a bustling winding river which plays home to colourful schools of exotic fish. Overhead, the hulls of four majestic fishing boats make one feel as though they are walking on the ocean floor.
I spent the lunch hour feasting at iZ Restaurant the hotels authentic Indian experience which specializes in tandoor, curries, freshly baked naan and biryani. The chic contemporary dining room has a dedicated “Wall of Fame” where framed photos of India’s favourite Bollywood stars who have popped by iZ for sips and nibbles hang for guests to gawk at and admire.
I started off the meal by sipping on the iZ Fusion, a cocktail featuring a generous pour of Chivas Regal paired with a spicy masala infusion and topped with tart ginger ale. I ordered three offerings from the tandoor all of which were cooked perfectly. The Salmon Tikka was the texture of a buttery marshmallow while crispy prawns and soft and subtle paneer were spiced with aromatic chili and carom seed. Freshly baked naan accompanied my final steaming bowls of dal tadka (a red lentil stew) and murgh makhani featuring tender tandoor chicken, cashew nut fenugreek and creamy tomato sauce. Generous helpings of biryani adorned with plump raisins and warm cashews provided a perfect vehicle to sop up my saucy remains.
The Feast:
IZ Fusion
chivas, masala infusion, ginger ale
Salmon Tikka
new zealand king salmon, ginger, yoghurt
Tandoori Jhinga
prawns, garlic, chili, lemon, carom seed, mace, ginger
Paneer Tikka
house cottage cheese, carom seeds, yellow chili
Dal Tadka
red lentil, garlic, onion, tomato, cumin
Murgh Makhani
tandoor chicken, cashew nut fenugreek, creamy tomato sauce
Vegetable Biryani
raisins, cashew
