Indulge in fine dining food at home with YouCater

Savour The Crossing’s restaurant service and supper – in your dining room.  

The mission: an at-home fine dining experience. Eight diners. Two vegetarians. One nut allergy. When you’re planning a party, hosting is a skill. Who should be on the guest list, how many people can fit around the table, and will people arrive on Dubai Time? It can be as stressful as booking a Careem in rush hour. YouCater’s events service, which pairs caterers with hosts, accepted the challenge – and it was a match made in culinary heaven. 

YouCater’s new service launched in the UAE, and is available for businesses and individuals. Whether you’re planning a launch, intimate dinner or even a wedding, it brings finesse to a function. The platform provides a range of restaurants, from acclaimed chefs to homegrown concepts. The ever-expanding list includes 21Grams, Maiz Tacos and Sumosan. 

YouCater was founded by Philippe and Sarah Dupuy. Philippe explained: “YouCater makes matching clients with providers simple and streamlined, resulting in a stress-free and successful event. We feature only the best-in-class vendors, so whether hosts are looking for a private chef for a dinner party at home, or a large-scale caterer for a 1000-person event, YouCater allows them to select from a tailored shortlist.”

Sarah added: “For private events, those little details and personalised elements – from the crockery and tableware, to bespoke menus adapted for specific dietary needs – are what makes an event go from great to unforgettable, and that is what YouCater strives to deliver.”

Despite approaching YouCater with just over one week’s notice, the team were not terrified. The process started with restaurants and sample menus. The menus were not messing around, and promised haute cuisine at home, from Miso Cod to a selection of sushi. The hardest part of the party process was deciding between the marvellous menus. 

Once we had settled on the FACT Award winning Indian restaurant, The Crossing, it was time to get into the dining details. The communication was prompt and polite, and the team adapted from a grazing table to sit down dinner. YouCater can clearly open doors – it’s not every day that the chef behind an award winning restaurant phones your guest to check their allergen. Not wanting to take risk, The Crossing’s Director of Culinary, Jitin Joshi, was the mastermind behind a menu.

In the run up to the event, no request was too big and no detail was too small. The size of the plates: 25 centimetres. The set-up time: two hours. The glasses: Champagne, wine and water. From the cutlery to the canapés, they had it covered. 

On the day, the two suited servers arrived first to set up. Candles here, flowers there and even extra for the balcony. Despite being hit by road closures, the two chefs worked their culinary charm. Dish after dish looked like it had come straight out of a restaurant, served on gold plates. 

The canapés included Chenna Khandvi, Chicken Makhan Malai and Gunpower Prawn. The Shiso Leaf Chaat was the star of the starters, thanks to its pretty presentation and terrific texture. The sit-down meal included Butter Chicken, Chettinad Paneer Roast and Keema Pao. The Black Pepper Bhuna was succulent and soft. The desserts included petite portions of Gulab Jamun Brûlée, Malaiyo and Tandoori Tulsi Ananas.

If you hate doing the dishes, you’ll be pleased to hear that the team tidied. Note: it was while the guests were at home, and a little on the loud side. The next day, there were compliments aplenty, especially about the fantastic food. “The world’s best canapés,” declared a foodie friend. We only wish there were leftovers. 

YouCater: mission accomplished.

GO: Visit www.youcater.me for more information.