Imperium Elegant Brunch, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

As entrances and hotel lobbies go…you would be hard pressed to find one where opulence, finery and grandeur are exhibited to the same impressive extent as they are at the Zabeel Saray, Jumeirah's Jewel on the Palm. We were both eagerly excited for the elegant afternoon that awaited us at this French Brasserie - inspired brunch at Imperium, which upon entry reminded us of the ball room in Disney's "Beauty & the Beast" and is located in the left wing of the hotel (very fancy…)   The Food With classic and robust family favourites such as fork-tender Beef Cheek Bourguignon and the ever popular Lamb Stroganoff on show, Imperium sets its stall out to showcase both Classics from France and the rest of the continent…and Russia in this particular case. Diners are able to explore the abundance of hot, cold, grilled and a la minute preparations available throughout this abundantly lavish buffet which stretches the entire length of the great hall and spills out onto the outdoor decking which overlooks a tropical garden and swimming pool in the periphery.    We started with delicately seasoned Scallop Carpaccio, Seared Tuna and an impressive spiral of shrimp which we can imagine must have taken hours to assemble much like a symmetrical, edible shrimp Jenga. Staying on track with our seafood theme was easy to do with such striking displays of King Crabs Legs, Mussels, Clams, Oysters and fresh Sashimi displayed in fish shaped boats before finishing with an inventive presentation of Salmon, cured in house by the culinary team and presented to us in 3 ways. The first were homemade Salmon Rilettes which were delectable when eaten bruschetta style atop fresh garlic bread or the accompanying Poilane Bread which had a typically Gaelic Sourness from the dough. Next was Salmon Gravlax with a lime & dill dressing and a Soya Cured Salmon completed the Ménage a Trois.        Still hankering for a breakfast of sorts, our next plates were a concoction of various themes, but included delicious Ribs and Charcuterie from the pork section, Moules Mariniere with saffron, cream and shallots from the live cooking station (next to which the chef was sautéeing a piece of golden brown Foie Gras for another diner), an Egg Cocotte and an innocent looking bowl of Scrambled Egg with Black Truffle which swiftly elbowed everything we had previously consumed out of the way to become the standout dish of the day thus far, with its delicious balance of decadent and delicate flavours.        Still reeling from the discovery of the best Scrambled Egg we have ever tasted, it was time to move onto yet more hearty fare, with Pan Seared Seabream with another Saffron Sauce, Confit Duck Leg served with Puy Lentils and a Carving Grill featuring a Lamb Leg cooked to perfect medium, Beef Wellington and a bone in Prime Rib of Beef. Be warned, you could be forgiven for neglecting the outdoor terrace completely with the array of splendors on offer inside, however if you did forget to venture outside you would also be missing out on the aromas of the BBQ, the live musical accompaniment (which we will return to later) and the stars of the terrace…the Grilled Lobster, BBQ Prawns, Veal Steaks and freshly roasted Vegetables.        Moving onto what some would describe as the pièce de résistance of a truly artisanal French meal, the dessert section was the first thing we noticed as we entered the restaurant and it dominates the entire front wall with all of the spectacle and style of a show at the famous Palais Garnier opera house. To describe the scene, imagine you are in a classic yet upscale patisserie set within the confines of a 1920's ballroom, with White Chocolate Ttwers bursting with multi coloured Macaroons, Mini Crème Brulee's served in tea cups perched under a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower, Poire Pochee au Vin (Pears poached in wine) and an appropriately named Opera Cake to start proceedings. There was actually so much to choose from that you could actually separate the section into mini sections…from the traditional French Desserts such as Mille Feille, Paris Brest and the Palet D'or, to the Ice Cream Stall with its various flavours and toppings such as Dark Chocolate Pearls, Black Raisin or Peach Gummies, and never quite forgetting the ever so stereotypical but ever so impressive selection of French Cheeses which included amongst many others; the Comte, Beaufort , Roquefort and Pon't l'eveque.        The Drink An uncomplicated affair here depending on which package you plump for. As we sipped on our welcome Mimosa and took in our surroundings it became patently obvious that the Sovereign Bubbly package, which included free flowing Laurent Perrier was the ONLY way to go. We did sample a glass of the white wine (for research purposes) and the Cuvee de Richard (France 2014) was perfectly pleasant, but with the risk of sounding pompous…why drink wine or water when you can have champagne darling?        The Other Stuff A truly regal affair, and certainly one to rival the likes of Al Qasr and Bubbalicious in the style stakes. What we noticed almost as much as the grand chandeliers, the high ceilings and the pearly white columns was that the grandeur of the setting has perhaps had a negative effect on the normal brunch-going members of the public who rightly or wrongly may view this as a "special occasion only" brunch, leaving a number of the chairs inside empty on our particular visit. A real shame!    Better news greeted us on the outdoor terrace however, where the number of filled tables certainly outweighed that of those inside and a convivial yet classical buzz was orchestrated by the musical duo on stage who were playing a symphony of piano and saxophone melodies to keep the diners entertained. This stepped up a notch (or two) with the introduction of Sassy Soul Singer Rachel Calladine, who sang a mixture of well received classics from Adele's "Make you feel my love" to Sting's "Englishman in New York" and a Truly raucous finale in which an entire table (and Mrs Brunch ) were up shaking everything that their mamma's gave them. With truly inspirational delicacies, reginal classics, and a killer Scrambled egg…The Imperium Brunch is one fit for Kings and Queens…and not just for special occasions.      Every Friday 1pm to 4pm Classic Brunch - AED 330 per person with fresh juice and soft beverages Emperor's Brunch - AED 450 per person with grape and house beverages Sovereign Bubbly Brunch - AED 575 per person with free flowing bubbly Royale Brunch - AED 2,500 per person with bottle of premium bubbly   Children between the age of 12 and 4 years are eligible for a 50% discount. Children below the age of 4 years can dine on a complimentary basis.   Voda Bar after-brunch party from 16:00 to 20:00, where you can enjoy buy one get one free on beverages To Book: Telephone: +971 4 453 0444 or Email: jzsrestaurants@jumeirah.com