Every four months Palazzo Versace Dubai’s Enigma restaurant changes its menu and its chef, and the latest celebrity culinary maestro to come to our shores has been revealed…
Enigma is the first restaurant in the world to change its dining concept and world-class chefs four times a year. The first chef to take on the reins was chef Quique Dacosta of El Bulli fame. His Vanguard concept runs until April 12. Taking over from the spaniard on April 20 is Swedish chef Björn Frantzén with his concept Untold Story: The Journey of a Nordic Chef.
Chef Björn Frantzén is the new guest chef at Enigma
Frantzén’s eponymous restaurant in Sweden earned two stars in the Michelin Guide from 2010 to 2013. The restaurant also ranked 31 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
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The Journey of a Nordic Chef will be an interactive experience divided into a “Prologue” and various “Chapters” just like a real story extracted from a book. As another first for Dubai, Enigma will introduce, for the first time in the GCC, Nordic cuisine.
Smoked ice cream, roasted nuts, tar syrup and salted fudge with cloves
Another first for Dubai, Enigma is the first restaurant to offer a complimentary pick-up and drop off when booking for the full story of The Journey of a Nordic Chef, but diners must provide 24 hours’ notice.
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An excited Bjorn Frantzen, who is only 39 years old and a former football player – some people have all the talent – said: “I am very excited and at the same time humbled to bring my cuisine to Dubai and see this as an opportunity to show and introduce the flavours of the Nordic countries to Dubai’s cosmopolitan residents and travellers. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with the professional team at Enigma, at the magnificent, Palazzo Versace Dubai.”
A sample of some of the dishes on offer
Frantzen’s journey is served up in a choice of eight or 12 dishes, each of which are illustrated by the chef himself in a mini book-cum-menu, detailing every ingredient and story of the dishes.
Emirates Woman Preview Verdict: 12 dishes certainly sound extravagant but each dish is small enough to satisfy you yet not overwhelm. Attention to detail is paramount here with each dish like an artwork and the staff knowledgable about every element of the food and concept. Even more impressive was how the chef was able to tweak each of his creations for those with allergies. Whether lactose intolerant, a vegan or a veggie, Frantzen worked around it.
The Cost:
12 dishes: Dhs750 on weekdays, Dhs850 on weekends.
8 dishes: Dhs550 on weekdays, Dhs650 on weekends.
Björn Frantzén’s Untold Story: The Journey of a Nordic Chef will be at Enigma at Palazzo Versace Dubai from April 20 to June 30. Monday to Saturdays 7pm to 10.30pm. Bookings MUST be done in advance.
