Tag Archives: Dubai family restaurants

Pots, Pans & Boards | Tom Aikens new restaurant concept in Dubai

Foodies in Dubai will be excited to hear that Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens is opening his first eagerly awaited restaurant concept Pots, Pans and Boards. The restaurant is set to open its doors early September and will be located at The Beach, opposite JBR.

Tom Aikens is one of the UK’s most acclaimed and inspirational chefs, owing to his innovative style and creative interpretation of modern French cuisine.

The Pots, Pans and Boards menu will consist of a mixture of casual English, Mediterranean and French dishes, with a home-style offering of sharing starters, main courses and desserts. All dishes will be cooked and presented on a pot, a pan or a board – hence the inspiration for the name.

Tom has stated: “We absolutely cannot wait to bring Pots, Pans and Boards to the people of Dubai and are keen to offer up something completely different to what currently exists on the Dubai food scene.

The concept behind Pots, Pans and Boards stems from my own nostalgia of family and home-cooking in a bustling and comforting environment. Sharing food with friends and family means so much to me; it brings people closer together and makes the whole aspect of dining and eating out a truly enjoyable experience.”

Solo Bistronomia & Vinobar | Italian food |Raffles Hotel Dubai

I know Italian restaurants must be good when they dare to invite my Italian husband and me to try out their food and wine.  My husband is very much the critic in this case.  The weather in Dubai is now transitioning into hot and humid and sitting outside is becoming increasingly uncomfortable so it’s time to look for indoor venues again as summer approaches and Solo is that perfect venue.

Solo opened earlier this year, and the food in the main restaurant is outstanding.  It is food typically straight out from an Italian’s grandmother’s kitchen created by Chef Corrado Pani; and this was recognised by Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2015 as the restaurant won Best Newcomer.  I would agree with that as the restaurant’s main dishes are authentically Italian, creative and absolutely mouth watering – try their signature spaghetti allo iodio – spaghetti tossed with sea urchins, mullet rose and mussels butter.

If you prefer a drink rather than a full meal, every Saturday from 7pm,  the ‘Solo Aperitivo’ occurs weekly and is a lovely taste of Italian life drinking typically Italian cocktails and wines whilst tasting a continuous flow of Italian antipasti canapés like chicken liver pate and mixed bruschetta.  I think the antipasti is just a small taste of the restaurant’s divine food, and I would prefer to book dinner there.  For those located around the Raffles, this is a fabulous place to come for an afterwork drink.

Solo is located within the Raffles Hotel, Dubai.