THE VAULT AND THE STEAK

Well, if it isn’t too much to ask for, living in the world’s tallest hotel and having a 21year Macallan and Cohiba Behike in the world’s highest Vault, the bar on the 72nd floor of the JW Marriott Marquis hotel, Dubai, enjoying the panoramic exuberance of Dubai. Malt & Cigar Clandestine is phenomenal.

The breathtaking panoramic views from the swanky Vault bar, sipping on the Macallan 21, the rich tobacco smell of the Cohiba Behike cigar and these eloquent geometric interiors, the exhilarating ambience, just too tantalizing.

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A massive gold Vault door, the feeling of entering a gold vault in Switzerland, invites you to a luxurious contemporary black and gold themed decor with floor to ceiling windows and geometric design. The chic cigar lounge is fabulous, one can just chill out, have a glass of wine or taste different vodkas, have sushi, caviar, etc, while having a Cuban or a Dominican cigar, definitely with your elite friends.

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The Vault is an extraordinaire bar, spread across two levels. Finest selection of cigars, wide variety of the world’s best wines and of course malts too and some exotic cocktails, delicious starters and food, truly for the connoisseur. The Vault has an astounding collection of over 100 varieties of the most expensive vodkas.   

Now it was time to try some specially prepared cocktails by Vault and I started with The Investment, delicately prepared with the Ron Zacapa 23yr old rum, Martini Rosso, Salted Caramel, with dash of bitter truth wood bitters. This was a just a fabulous cocktail, how the fruity, nutty rum awakens the taste buds, the sweet martini rosso and salted caramel dance and the lingering taste of the rum and Martini remains, very refreshing. I noticed few of the cocktails were based on Bank and Investment terminology, be it the Million Dollars, the Vault Member, Money Flow and the normal cocktails were there, like the Fashionista, Moscow Mule, Gilded Martini, etc. I did end with The Million Dollars, cocktail that is.

Now I was feeling hungry, ordered couple of starters, cannot eat too much, I do go for dinner at the PRIME 68. I ordered the Lobster & Truffle Roll, just so delectable, melting lobster with the rich taste of truffle and a Bruschetta sampler, just love the mushroom and artichoke taste blending together with the Ricotta, Avocado & Tomato, so fresh in taste.  

The Vault has various themed nights throughout the week, the Ladies night, Gentlemen’s Night, DJ nights with DJ Nicole & DJ Adam J and of course the Goldeneye Brunch After Party, Bond lifestyle.

I did proceed to the Multi-award-winning PRIME 68, as I am actually salivating to have the tender juicy steak. The enchanting panoramic views of the Dubai’s amazing skyline continues, as I am seated at a table close to the floor to ceiling windows, watching the Dubai canal and the glitter of the skyscrapers of Dubai. The subtle monochrome interiors, white and black, walls adorned with pictures of the yesteryears Hollywood stars, silk strings cover the booth for intimate dinners, very classy and stylish decor. Prime68 is a new generation of steakhouse, where artisans craft your steak to perfection. The steaks served are of various cuts of USDA prime, Blackmore Australian wagyu and Argentinian Aberdeen Angus. A private dining room to celebrate with your family or business associates, with panoramic view of Dubai can be reserved.

As I am getting very impatient, my hunger pangs are about to go out of control, I order the 2006 Les Forts de Latour, Pauilla with couple of starters, the Jumbo Tiger Prawn Cocktail, prepared with Mixed greens, Tomato, Avocado, Quail Egg, Marie Rose sauce. Such succulent prawns and how it blends especially with the taste of Quail eggs, Avocado and the sauce, so perfect and wow. Next I ordered for the Lobster Pot Pie, prepared with Canadian lobster, Root vegetables, Puff pastry crust. Tasting this for the first time, really enjoyed it, soft melting lobster complementing the slight crunchiness of Puff pastry crust and the root vegetables did turn the taste a bit different.  

After 2 glasses of the exuberant 2006 Les Forts de Latour, Pauilla and the starters, now it’s time to order the kill, the steak, felt like a lion, as the smell of blood made my instincts awakened. To choose the cuts to have, was the most challenging, go for Filet, New York Strip or the Ribeye, weighing 250g or 350g for the Filet, 340g to 500g for the NewYork strip, 400g to 500g for the Ribeye, certainly need a lions appetite.

I choose the Argentinian Certified Prime filet, most tender, savoured with black truffle butter, tomatoes and asparagus. I must say, Excellence to a different level, so delectable and juicy, velvety. I could even pair it with Foie Gras stuffed chicken breast or Parmesan Truffle French fries, or Wild mushroom and Caramelized onions, a combo of 2 or 3 pairings, just too many choices, well, I am a Lion. Even the varieties of sauces are quite a few to choose with the wine or malt you are having. What really connected me emotionally to PRIME 68, the Lion can choose from a choice of steak knives that made me felt very very special.  

If you dining with a friend or friends, PRIME 68 offers the Butcher’s Block, choose from Jack’s creek Black Angus Chateaubriand, Jack’s creek Wagyu Tenderloin 7+ or the Blackmore Australian Waygu Flank, USDA Prime Tomahawk Ribeye, just a few to choose from.     

So how does the chef or the artisan commence perfection at PRIME 68? Firstly, the suppliers are very carefully selected for their finest heritage breed beef from farms around the globe, so for the artisan to craft it perfectly, as it retains the freshness and taste, prepared with passion and pride and served with supreme quality ingredients. It’s no wonder in 2017, Prime68 won the following awards:

  • Best Steakhouse 2017 – FACT Awards Dubai
  • Shortlist Brunch Award 2017 – Best Carnivore Brunch
  • Food & Travel Arabia 2017– Best Steakhouse & Grill

It was time for dessert and I felt like having an Armagnac and choose the Armagnac XO 10 years old – Domaine de Joy and the best dessert to pair with it, was the decadent Triple Chocolate, comprising of hazelnuts, coffee crumble, caramalised banana and meringue. The taste was so delicious; I ordered the same of both, again.

PRIME 68 is heavenly, very attentive warm service, luxurious experience and of subtle opulence ambience.

THIS ARTICLE IS REPUBLISHED AND REVIEW WAS DONE IN H2 2017.