Toro Toro, Dubai

A few good ladies recently got their hunger on, and concluded the only way to sate the rumbles would be with a heavy-on-the-meat Friday brunch. Where better than at glam-latin eatery, Toro Toro. Hardly an invitation any red-blooded woman could refuse! After all, Toro Toro means ‘Bull Bull’, and used by toreadors as a challenge or invitation to the crazed creature.

And crazed we girls became when handed the Friday Brunch Menu. Indeed, a menu! Which mercifully meant no getting out of our seats to line up at the live cooking station or toddle over to the vodka bar for a drink, or saunter over to the chocolate fountain only to be splashed by a waward marshmallow.

Food is served in the true tradition of Brazilian churrasco-style dining: guests are issued with a special table mat – green on one side (‘more of that! Keep it coming’) and red on the other (‘enough of that dish; thanks’). Just the way we like it: gracious staff bringing the goods to us!

To begin. Cold starters comprising that universal favourite: guacamole and tortilla chips. Then ceviche of pink snapper. Bowls of fava beans, cheese and potato too.

Then the hot starters: turkey croquettets, wild mushrooms with goat cheese and shallots, finally ground lamb aticucho skewers with garlic-yoghurt dipping sauce.

The attraction du jour of course is the Main Course. Its all about MEAT. We are talking man-size skewers of achiote chicken, lamb sausage, lamb chops and sirloin Brazilian beef offered and served up rodizio-style. Whether we like it rare, medium or well-done, all preferences are catered for.

Our table became decadently piled high with platters and side dishes which included potato tostones yucca fries, fried rice, salad and frejoles con carne (black beans, braised beef and avocado cream). And lets not start on the tequila and rum-based cocktails…

With clever forethought we ladies-who-brunch wore forgiving outfits which would prove their worth in hiding a multitide of sins (read: today’s feeding frenzy). As it was, we were eventually overwhelmed by the four hours of consumption, and with zero resistance finally hoist the white flag. That is, we turned our mats red-side.

Toro Toro’s Hola Hola brunch is a treat for those who appreciate swish service, knowledgable staff, impressive quality produce and glamorous decor.