We entered to see the fire from the kitchen’s giant grill illuminating the restaurant space, as the flames licked at the carefully selected steaks and king prawns; a bustling environment with the smell of spice-infused meats. Jing Asia was about to show us just why its Surf ‘n’ Turf evening is growing in popularity.
After meandering around the food stations and being seated at our table, along with our guest we ventured back into the plethora of cuisine options in search of our starter. The restaurant does offer an à la carte menu, but this night was all about the classic meat and seafood dishes.
But before we tucked into our turf, we made our way to the sushi station. The chef standing before us efficiently rolled, wrapped and sliced a variety of Japanese treats. Fresh tuna, salmon and cucumber all encased in sticky rice and seaweed paper, made perfect bite-sized entrees ready for dipping in soya sauce. Our fellow diner enjoyed an assortment of fresh salad leaves, hummus, olives, crusty bread and more; a mezze of Arabic and Mediterranean cuisines.
Plates cleared, we picked up a new dish and made our way to the fresh cuts and catches to create our main course. Beef tenderloins marinated in classic Asian spices soaked the tender steaks with an explosive heat, accompanied by sweet tones of honey and ginger. The softness of the meat contrasted with the crunchy boiled vegetables to keep the palate guessing once again. Our dish was also graced with a giant king prawn, seared and basted to perfection. The luscious flesh of the prawn dipped into a sweet chili dip added yet another mouth-watering sensation to our evening.
Our guest decided to try the Arabic chicken with rice and chickpeas. Slow-cooked chicken briskly rubbed in Arabic spices simply fell apart at the sight of a knife. And the fluffy saffron rice and chickpeas added an extra texture to this simple yet succulent dish. The spicy papadum made light work of clearing the plate clean – a sign this dish was just as much of a hit as ours had been.
The Wednesday Surf ‘n’ Turf night is fun, stimulating and, best of all, healthy. Small displays above each station explained the benefits of what was below – great for the health-conscious out there.
Details
What? Wednesday Surf ‘n’ Turf Night
Where? Jing Asia, Crowne Plaza Yas Island
We Say: Look out for the health display boards, they’re quite interesting!
Cost: From AED 200 including soft drinks
Contact: 02 656 3000
