Enigma: Prusiana Evening brunch packs a punch

A gala that packs in five hours of non-stop dining and entertainment with reinterpreted Peruvian and Persian delights

Forget everything you've known about classic brunches once you set foot into Enigma on a Friday evening. Its newly introduced Prusiana Evening Brunch is redefining the concept with theatrics and live entertainment, alongside artistic creations with Michelin-starred chef Mansour Memarian at the helm.

The assortment of dishes, inspired by Persian and Peruvian cuisine, blend comfort food with aesthetic presentations, courtesy of molecular gastronomy. First, the appetisers - these were distinctly Persian with yoghurt starring in the lead role. The mast-o khair wa naana, which is usually an ordinary blend of herb-infused yoghurt with cucumber, was topped with pearls of mint with an appearance reminiscent of caviar. The mast-o laboo was equally Instagram-worthy with a pink foamy cloud hovering over the beetroot salad.

The grilled eggplant and roast onions in the kashke bademjan was a delight to the tastebuds. According to my dining companion who hails from Iranian, this dish is prone to mishaps, with flavours being too bitter or texture being soggy. But Enigma nailed it right, giving us the perfect smoky note.  

Unfortunately, she and I skipped some of their seafood dishes due to our picky food preferences, but we did take notice of the fascination and delight on other diners' faces when they tried the Peruvian ceviche clasico featuring a citrus-infused seabass and the tiradito, slice of fish fillet served with corn chips and dill.

Remember when we mentioned theatrics earlier? Each of the dishes were served in an ambience that shifted from happy-go-lucky vibes to dramatic brooding music akin to doomsday. Seeing us confused, Enigma's manager Abdel Mahrouz explained that each mood shift interpreted the story behind each dish. Soon after, we were served a scoop of freshly prepared guacamole by masked demon known as Supay, revered as the god of death in Inca myth. Cute!

Post-starters, the main course consisting of succulent kebabs were delicious, albeit not as memorable in presentation as their predecessors. A bowl of faludeh with saffron ice-cream was a nice ending to our experience; its zesty vermicelli strings may seem overpowering for some, but in my case, it was quite addictive. My partner, however, swooned over the signature "Break me" fudge cake whose cylindrical shell melts to reveal caramel lava.

The Prusiana Evening Brunch is worth a shot if you want to experience a lively ambience, where entertainment and experience comes first, and food comes last. Best to keep in mind that you will be subject to a loud atmosphere (goodbye, conversation!), and their 7pm to 11pm brunch means being held for the whole five hours as the courses are served to all guests at the same time.