Being a lover of sushi, I couldn't turn down an invitation to the stupendous Fairmont Towers Hotel's Fuze Bar, where a sushi bar is set up every Monday and Friday. As I entered the hotel and followed the directions to Fuze, I was stunned by the hotel's architectural design. In addition to the comfortable lounges dotting the lobby, the porcelain water fountain at its center, the trees radiating a cool breeze, the artificial water streams and the scattered pebbles instantly take you to the Tropical Forests of South America. Multi-colored lights radiated from the ground creating a harmony of rays swerving across the room. The coolness in the air coupled with the mass greenery were comfortably dazzling, and left me at ease as I found my way up the few steps that lead to my destination, Fuze. I was warmly welcomed by a couple of waiters and photographers making sure to capture the moment. Across the bar, a DJ played a mix of soft Latin and R&B, creating the perfect ambiance for swaying in your high chair or just singing along. The interior color was a perfect blend of orange, red, and a little bit of brown; the orange furniture and dim lighting are both relaxing and enchanting, making it perfect for a romantic dinner. The stacks of booze neatly displayed at the back of the bar makes you feel you want to have a perfect girls-cocktail-night-out. The setting had all the right ingredients, raising our expectations of the restaurant's main offering: the sushi. Sadly it wasn't exactly what I expected; sometimes the topping wasn't properly pressed to the rice and the delicate pieces would have fallen apart if it hadn't been for their relatively small size you can slip in quickly before disaster strikes. Our dinner came in big white squared platters, carrying a mixture of nigiri, sashimi and maki rolls. The sushi was definitely mouth-watering, though not spectacular. Our set order included salmon, white fish and shrimp nigiri, tuna and salmon sashimi and a few avocado-filled rolls. The sashimi was delicious, so were the tightly wrapped maki rolls. The nigiri could have been of larger pieces and perhaps better glued to the rice. It wasn't a regrettable experience but probably won't make it to the top of my list of favorite sushi restaurants. Fuze's other menu displays an array of items, from deli sandwiches and classic appetizers to continental cuisine. Sushi is available throughout the week upon request. Items on offer include: Red Sea Crab Cakes (LE 110), Tiger Prawns with mango salsa (LE 115), Mushroom Calzone (LE 90), Black Angus Beef Burger Tasting served with fries (LE 75) and the classic Chicken Caesar Salad (LE 60). As we broke the silence that snuck-up while we were eating, the waiter surprised us with a plate of griddle cake topped with a scoop of fresh white cream and cherry sauce, one of the finest deserts I have had in a while. The combination of the lemony white cream and cherries was exquisite. It came in just the right size to fill up our stomachs leaving plenty of room for comfortable breathing. A cappuccino (LE 19) or a flavored latte (LE 21) would have been ideal with dessert, but since it was well after 10 pm, we didn't want to risk a long, sleepless weekday night. Fuze's setting definitely made the experience worthwhile, if not necessarily for the sushi, then for everything else about the hotel and its impeccable service.
