GOLD: A VERY SPECIAL INGREDIENT

01. Gold grub at Le Café

There’s no shortage of goldinfused foods at Emirates Palace and its signature 23-karat gold Emirates Palace camel burger is a favourite on the menu. The Al Ainraised camel patty is served on a gold-dusted bun, and the dish is served with chickpea fritters dusted in gold. If you fancy dessert, there’s a cake that may well be the most decadent chocolate dessert in the capital. Prepared with 70 per cent cacao, it comprises of chocolate praline and layers of chocolate biscuit, mousse and jelly. It’s topped with a rich chocolate glaze, flakes of 24-karat gold and garnished with chocolate curlicues.

Emirates Palace, Al Ras Al Akhdar, Abu Dhabi, daily 6.30am to midnight, from Dhs54. Tel: (02) 6909000. Taxi: Emirates Palace. emiratespalace.ae

02. 22-karat gold cappuccino at Alba

A far cry from your usual caffeine hit, The Ritz-Carlton’s lounge offers a 22-karat gold cappuccino served with a gold caramel éclair, two macaroons and jasmine water. And if you fancy even more sparkle, there’s an additional gold caramel éclair, too.

Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal, Abu Dhabi, daily 8am to 11pm, Dhs75. Tel: (02) 8188282. Taxi: Ritz-Carlton. ritzcarlton.com

03. Dusit Gourmet

The pastry and cake eatery at Thai hotel Dusit Thani has several gold-infused dishes including a chocolate manjari cake (a layered cake with chocolate nuts coating) and a traditional Italian tiramisu. Joining them is a pistachio éclair choux bun. Dusit Thani is also expecting more gold dishes in the future and they will be available at their upcoming restaurant launch, Indian outlet Namak (set to open in November). Dusit Thani, Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi, daily 10am to 10pm, Dhs24. Tel: (02) 6988137. Taxi: Dusit Thani. dusit.com

04. WhEAT’s gold éclair

Like your desserts topped with gold powder? Good news: the bakery and bistro at Le Royal Méridien serves a vanilla choux pastry filled with 72 per cent Columbian dark chocolate and garnished with 24-karat gold powder and leaf.

Le Royal Méridien, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, daily 7am to 7pm, Dhs19. Tel: (02) 6742020. leroyalmeridien.com

05. Gold sushi at 99 Sushi

Making our list twice, you’ll find Golden Brick, a dish made from toro tartare, avocado with tobiko aat 99 Sushi. The tuna is carefully selected: only the chu-toro part of the tuna is used in the dish (believed to be the softest and most flavoursome part). The dish is then garnished with gold leaves.

The Galleria, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, Sun to Wed 12pm to 3pm and 7pm to 11.30pm, Thur and Fri 12pm to 3pm and 7pm to 12.30am, Dhs159. Tel: (02) 6723333. Taxi: Galleria. 99sushibar.com