Following our recent afternoon tea trip to the Al Bustan, Mrs M. emailed the hotel regarding the lack of clotted cream. A few days later, she received a reply from the impressively-named hotel manager, Pierre-Alexandre Le Bihan. This was soon followed by another email from the equally interestingly-named director of food and beverage, Rocco Bova, apologising for the disappointing experience. The email stated that they had identified a supplier of clotted cream in Dubai and the hotel wanted to invite Mrs M and a guest to try the new ‘weekend afternoon tea’ with their compliments. Mrs M. does not have to be asked twice concerning matters of clotted cream. This afternoon, accompanied by two chums, a considerable amount of the unlimited pastries, finger sandwiches and little pigeon pies, were consumed, together with scones and.....something which was not clotted cream. Jean-Luc Amann, the Head Chef (who we met in Washington DC five years ago), arrived to apologise once again, stating that they had ordered the nearest thing they could get to clotted cream. He could not have been more charming.
They're certainly trying hard. Most local readers will not recognise this type of behaviour in Oman. It is called ‘customer service’.
To be continued....?
13 comments:
if you can't get customer service at bustan then all hope is lost ;)
Not that this will help the Al Bustan in the slightest, but I found excellent clotted cream at the Al Fair in CCC yesterday. It was shockingly expensive.
Mrs. M says thank you for the info about Al Fair. We will send out a team of specialists (well, Mrs M) and let chef know.
Now that I am thinking about clotted cream, I want some. But I refuse to pay 3.5 rials for a microscopic jar. I'm going to try making it from scratch tomorrow, and will inform on the results. It's easy, if not somewhat time intensive. Perhaps the Al Bustan could create it themselves?
As Mrs. M's grandma could also knock up a mean jar of clotted cream, this was suggested to Monsieur Amann. Apparently he had tried without success. It's up to you now, Suburban, but I warn you, Mrs. M is digging out her pinney as we speak.
Wow, that is indeed impressive for Al-Bustan. But then it is Al-Bustan, they better go such lengths for clotted cream :)
Clotted Cream Attempt 1: Epic Fail. I got a weird, rubbery substance which was definitely not clotted cream. Maybe I need to use non-homogenized milk, or perhaps the fat content of my chosen milk was not high enough. Further attempts to follow on my return from Eid holidays.
Keep blogging, Stone and I love it.
Mrs. M has been looking for high fat, unpasteurised milk. Realising the hopelessness of the cause, she resorted to trying mascarpone cheese as a substitute. Test results indicate that there really wasn’t that much difference to clotted cream. Mrs. M is happy. I am happy because Mrs. M is happy. Perhaps I won’t need to bother Heston with this one.
yup - aL Fair in MSQ had it the other day as well
There is a certain ridiculousness to this whole affair - what's with the dogged determination on (very-expensively) obtaining clotted cream?
How about serving teatime with a bit more 'local' influence? And if people want cream, how about foods arranged using that thick cream that people in various arab countries (including Oman) like to eat with bread and honey? (I don't know what you call it in English, but it's a cousin of clotted cream).
Perhaps the people showing up to this teatime expect (and demand) strictly western food. And in any case, I suppose it would be difficult to do otherwise - how does one find a restaurant-quality chef (suitable for the Bustan) with extensive local Omani knowledge? Doubt such a person exists yet.
Anyway, carry on. Did not mean to poop on anyone's parade.
-Omani in US
Of course it's ridiculous, that’s the whole point – it’s a treat for our visitors and an excuse to see one of the most famous tourist attractions in Oman. I don’t even eat the stuff.
Now I feel like making ushta - I bet Lulu's is out of buffalo's milk again.
Ha, fair enough. My admonishment was btw directed at the Bustan, not you. Would be nice to see someone capable get creative with local cuisine for once, instead of all these expensive places seeking the most authentically western implementation. Sigh.
-Omani in US
CLOTED CREAM
Good news, YES i have finaly been able to get hold of REAL CLOTED CREAM, all the way from Devon !!! Had a tate of this juts now with a frseshly baked scone ...HEAVEN !!!.
Hope to see you soon at the Al Butsan Palace to have your valuable comments. Jean Luc, Ex Chef at the Bustan
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