They say it’s very important to start your day with a healthy breakfast. So here I am at an organic cafe by the name Ultra. They are located in Emaar Square located just opposite to Dubai Mall. The inside of this cafe is trendy, surrounded by modern art and color. I love the way the sunlight would pour into this restaurant through it’s glass wall. Since it’s located in a business area I see and hear people around me talking business and building relations and at the same time its not crowded. Perfect ambiance to start my day. Also notice their colored napkins and glass on our table below.
One thing I like about eating at ultra is their menu is all organic. Whatever you order you can be assured it free of chemical additives and more nutritious by nature. For Drinks we tried the following:
- Orange Juice
- Strawberry, banana Smoothie with quinoa milk
- Hot Chocolate
- Wheatgrass, Carrot, Lemon Juice
I normally don’t have smoothies early morning but when i saw that they were serving with quinoa milk i thought i should try it. I haven’t seen this milk in much restaurants. Quinoa milk is supposed to be high in nutrients, proteins, vitamins and antioxidants. Normally when you try to replace your full fat milk with a healthier version there would be a drop in taste but in this case the quinoa milk made a good combination with strawberries and banana.
Oh and I tried the drink with wheatgrass for the first time! after hearing lot about health benefits with wheatgrass. The drink came to my table with it’s unique color but after a few sips I realized I can only enjoy the health benefits but not the taste of wheatgrass 🙁
Our breakfast:
- Double eggs cooked as requested served on whole wheat toast
- Berry pancakes with greek yoghurt and berry compote
I ordered the Pancakes and they’ve come out wonderful. No flaws here. If you love pancakes then you should enjoy this very much. I love the plate that eggs came in. The Eggs served looked lovely, wish I tried them them but I had my juices and pancakes to finish anyway. They’ve got so much more to offer in their breakfast menu. You can simply check their menu and pricing on their website: http://www.ultra.ae/
Now here’s an interesting one for you. The breakfast experience was lovely, the food was great and reasonably priced(considering the fact it was organic too) and the ambiance was healthy enough to make it a good start to the day until I reached the parking counter of Emaar square. I spent my time at ultra for about 1 hour and 15 minutes and I had to pay 40 Dhs as a parking ticket (I could have ordered one more premium breakfast with that amount at Ultra). So beware of this one but hey the good news for you is that parking is FREE on FRIDAYS which is great for families wanting to eat breakfast or lunch and then probably head to Dubai Mall for some activity.
They all also have other interesting items at the counter for the sweet tooth.
click on any photo below to enjoy photos in full screen view.
Wow – that’s a wicked looking rocky-road brownie!
I agree with you 😀
Chef Emily Herbert from Ultra Brasserie in Emaar Square prides herself on the deli and casual eatery’s organic ethos. Here she shares the food trends she has witnessed first-hand and makes her predictions for casual dining going into 2014.
The busy business districts continue to see a rise in Mediterranean-inspired breakfast dishes and all-day breakfast meals being served – either to take away and eat at their desk or catch-up on emails or quick breakfast meetings on site. “One of our best-sellers is our tomatoe and basil bruschetta topped with poached eggs, parmesan cheese and balsamic reduction (32dhs) as it is filling and substantial without inducing that sluggish feeling. Another trusty favourite for breakfast is Eggs Benedict. We serve eggs benedict on an English muffin with hollandaise and turkey bacon (36dhs). Ultimately at breakfast there is a definite rise in egg-based dishes with men in particular eager to eat more protein and create that fuller for longer feeling”.
A frequent request that the staff at Ultra receive is for poached eggs without the yolk. Chef Emily says “I frequently get asked to not include the yolk. Not many people are interested in egg yolks at the moment it would appear. As we like to create a “kitchen away from home environment” we are eager to oblige”.
In terms of lunch choices, the trend is seasonally-led. “There is an increase in the order of soups that we are now taking as people want more warming dishes and comfort food, especially the ex-pats who may be missing the colder climate of their home country”.
Since Ultra Brasserie opened 6 months ago and during Emily’s eight years in Dubai, there has definitely been a shift towards healthier eating in general with more people eager to include fruit and vegetables into each meal and now specifically requesting superfoods and organic, locally sourced options. “One of our ultimate best sellers is our aptly named Hero Salad (wheatgrass and roast vegetables) 24dhs from our deli counter. The dressing is 100% wheatgrass which is growing in popularity as more people opt for juicing diets and include it in their daily morning drink. Chicken also remains a top seller in dishes such as our Cajun chicken, tomato, cucumber, mixed lettuce and mayonnaise on rye ciabatta (34dhs) and sea bass is continually growing in popularity as more people consider it a lunchtime option, rather than saving it for high-end meals out”.
“One final trend that I have witnessed and expect to continue to grow into 2014 is quinoa. There has also been a large and rapid shift in the popularity of quinoa. It is now readily available in supermarkets throughout the UAE and can be included in anything from smoothies, to desserts to salads. Our Banana, strawberry and quinoa smoothie (24dhs) at Ultra Brasserie is the most popular smoothie we make and is loved by all ages.”
Ultra Brasserie is now open on Fridays. With its free parking and easy walking distance to Dubai Mall it is the perfect way to enjoy an all-day, healthy breakfast with the family – a new trend in itself.
Ultra Brasserie, Building 4, Emaar Square – http://www.ultra.ae