www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | food May 2016 68 I’ve become a bit of a hermit of late. A house move and the resultant painting, decorating and gardening mean most invitations have been politely declined and my friends constantly complain they never see me anymore. However, with an almost addictionlike devotion to chocolate, the option to check out the Sheraton’s new Chocoholic Brunch was one offer I simply couldn’t refuse. So eager were we to see the goodies that my dining companion and I didn’t even try for fashionably late, rather arriving bang on time to be greeted by our charming waiter and seated at a table overlooking the terrace. With bubbles poured and fruit punch ordered, we headed for the salads and appetisers where we first encountered the chocolate theme in the form of a choco-balsamic dressing. I must admit, I wasn’t over keen on the idea but I gave it a go and was pleasantly surprised to discover a rich flavour, almost sweet but tempered by the sharp tang of the balsamic. Perhaps a bit of an acquired taste but certainly worth a try. In anticipation of some seriously decadent desserts, I piled my plate high with delicious fresh, green leaves, beetroot and other healthy options to start. My pal opted for dumplings and soup and we both debated the wide soon forgot my intentions of saving an extra-large space for dessert and headed back for a second helping, accompanied by minted potatoes and grilled crunchy veggies. And then it was time for the piece de resistance…the dessert counter, over which we’d both been, not so subtly, drooling since our arrival. I started with a bowl of something that resembled chocolate um ali with delicious pieces of chocolate, nutty crunchy, wafery things – not the most technical description to be sure, but nonetheless amazingly, sweetly comforting and very filling. My dining companion chose a selection of mini cakes, chocolate mousse and crème brulée, also chocolate flavoured. Our table fell silent. Yep, it really was that good. And even though I was almost full to bursting, super-sized sundae glasses piled high with profiteroles were just too much of a temptation, so back to the dessert counter I headed. They looked delicious and decadent, and they didn’t disappoint. Superbly light choux pastry encasing a gooey centre and topped, of course, with melted chocolate. If you can resist that kind of temptation, then, I’m sorry, we just can’t be friends. We waddled back to our car, more than replete, humming the tunes of the Latino band who’d accompanied our choc fest and vowing to return to do more justice to that awesome dessert counter. range of sushi, including one roll topped with dark chocolate strands and chocolate beans. With live cooking for chicken, fish and pasta as well as a shawarma station, the choice for main course offers something for everyone. My friend went for plump jumbo prawns cooked with garlic and the house-made tepanyaki sauce. She declared them “possibly the best she’s ever eaten”, which, coming from an Aussie, is praise indeed and had the chef smiling broadly. I chose rack of lamb, you get to cut your own portion so you can decide how many chops to take. Brown and crisp on the outside and deliciously delicate and pink on the inside, I Brunch, and the option to eat and drink as much as you like, never gets old. Add a generous helping of chocolate into the mix and you might just have heaven on earth. Liz O’Reilly went to find out. SHERATON BAHRAIN HOTEL A VERY CHOCOLICIOUS AFFAIR
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