Crave

While Gemmayzeh has been inundated with the same cuisines, Monot is bursting with original concepts. Crave brings Vancouver’s flair to our city.
Fusion cooking has its risks: a chef can easily slip from skilfully melding global flavours to combining ingredients that have no business being on the same plate. At the modern, intimate Crave, the chef attempts to unite three continents on one menu, and the results are gratifying. The shared ‘cravings’ are as pleasurable to peruse as they are to eat. The carpaccios consist of fresh tuna with wasabi crème fraiche, beef layered with arugula and parmesan and dressed with hazelnut Dijon, and some simple salmon with lime and caper. The vols au vent trio had mixed reviews. Though the chicken curry and the mustard beef with mushroom were both excellent fillings, the garlic shrimps with spicy tomato tasted more like baked tomato kofta and certainly lacked a kick. Each filling up a large puff pastry dome, the bite got more enjoyable the closer we got to the soggy bottom. The selfish cravings were split into three: main salads, classic and fusion cravings. It’s true what they say, some things are indeed too good to share, and the beef medallion Santa Elizabeth that day was one of them. Two hundred and fifty grams of US prime beef tender- loin was served with garlicky crisps, grilled pineapples and a light curry sauce. Though the dish is supposed to be sided with basmati rice, we asked for grilled vegetables that were delivered on skewers. The chicken tandoori salad is a guiltless, refreshing option that incorporates mango and cashew nuts. Though too full to think of dessert, our eyes spotted some interesting options on the dinner menu, including a Toblerone chocolate fondue and sweet mascarpone lasagna, which we decided to come back for since the immaculate service earned Crave an assured second visit.

(01 333970) Monot. Mon-Thur 12noon-12mid; Fri-Sat 12noon- 2am; Sun 11am-12mid. Meal for two with drinks LL165,000.