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Moonrise

Dubai

Exclusive dining under the stars from Dubai native chef

Believe the hype: Moonrise is arguably the hottest reservation ticket in a city always replete with exciting new restaurants. The brainchild of Dubai-raised chef Solemann Haddad, it offers just 12 seats per twice-nightly sitting, where diners witness the plating of each dish in the 12-course tasting menu at touching distance from the small but well-drilled team.

The story so far: Haddad is just 29 years old and almost entirely self-taught, having dropped out of university to set about building his very personal culinary dream. Born to a French mother and Syrian father, he is part of a new 'third culture' generation for whom the uber-multi-cultural city of Dubai is not just a workplace or luxury playground, but home.

Home-grown talent: Haddad's menu is both an exploration of and love letter to the food of his city and childhood, mixing the Middle Eastern, European and Japanese influences that punctuate Dubai's culinary culture. Dishes might include aged ehime shima aji sashimi with fattoush tigre de leche; turbot with sarookh sauce and smoked herbs; and aged shizuoka muskmelon and sweet labneh with honey froyo. Ingredients are largely local and sourced from the small but growing band of artisanal producers in the Emirates, with the odd imported speciality incorporated, too. For the final course, all man-made lights are dimmed in favour of illumination from the moonlight and the star-filled sky, with smoking wood placed around to elicit the feeling of sitting around a smouldering campfire in the desert.

Where do I find it? The compact space sits at the top of a luxury residential block with knockout views along Dubai's coastline. The restaurant is fully licensed, allowing for an alcoholic drinks pairing to match the tasting menu.

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