American stand-up comedian Chris Rock once said, “There are only three things women need in life: food, water, and compliments.” As I sit in the plush surroundings of Aqua Cafe, Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa’s latest dining eatery amongst its fleet of amazing restaurants in its establishment, I’ll gladly forgo the compliments please.

Rich golden hues frame the restaurant’s interior with small tables placed somewhat intermittently from one another.

The Director of PR & Communications, Carol Roncoletta says, “Aqua is an inspiring venue to relax while enjoying healthy food and refreshment options in an intimate and one-of-a-kind setting.”

One-of-a-kind indeed, and with a selective eclectic menu to boot.

What makes this dining establishment stand out is that, for the ubiquitous brand that is Jumeirah, Aqua is the only restaurant of its kind. Yup, it is only present in the Kuwait franchise. #mabrooktous

Eating healthy here is a no-brainer. The menu offers a variety of salads, Japanese-inspired dishes, smoothies, sorbets and a cornucopia of juices and tea infusions. Another facet that’s admirable of Aqua is that the menu goes above and beyond with each description of its dishes while aptly labeling them. So should you want to sample a morsel that may aid you in your quest of managing your weight, or something light to help you detox, the menu has it all written down.

For me, my favorite dish was the Watermelon Prawn Salad. Imagine big thick discs of crisp watermelon slices, fresh crumbled feta and mint in between these layers with a pomegranate sauce lightly drizzled all over. On top of this tower rests these giant prawns – grilled to perfection. High in lean protein thanks to the prawns and feta; I love this dish because the watermelon gives a crisp bite and isn’t your conventional ‘salad.’ Watermelon is also great as a source of Vitamins A and C and is chock-full of lycopene which helps in cancer-protection.

My next favorite was their Rice Paper Rolls. To me, it’s reminiscent of my childhood as it’s very Asian-inspired. Finely sliced vegetables and along with fresh garden herbs are rolled up in these thin strips of rice paper and served with somewhat of a sweet soy dipping sauce. It also serves as an interesting way to get one’s recommended daily serve of veggies.

As I came here post-workout, I also opted for the Aqua Sushi Sampler. This dish is big enough to share between 2 individuals, though if you’re a foodie like me, you may do so with a heavy-heart! Fresh slices of tuna and salmon sashimi adorn this dish (great source of Omega 3s!) along with slices from their Chicken Teriyaki Maki rolls and their California rolls and topped with fresh tobiko.

For something sweet, I am a big fan of their Tropical Quinoa, which is a sweet dessert made from coconut, mango, quinoa, and in a kaffir lime syrup. Again, this would be a dessert to have post workout. Quinoa as you know, is a pseudocereal from the spinach family and is quite high in protein. One can also always opt for the kaffir lime syrup to be served on the side, so that you can moderate its sweetness.

Aqua in many contexts of literature and history means water, and in some cases, the extension of life. In Sumerian and Mesopotamian mythology it is in the primeval waters of Apsu and Tiamat that the Gods are born. Ancient Egyptian cosmogony declares that the Gods came into existence from the waters of Nun. There’s always an ever-lasting link between water and creation.

Hence another example of what sets Aqua distinctively apart from the rest, is that they offer a selection of many waters: 17 to be exact.

Again, the menu offers a detailed breakdown of each bottle. My choice this time around was the 660ml bottle of Veen from Finland. The reason for this was because it has 0 nitrates in it (extensive research has shown that nitrites in water are usually derived from fertilizers and once introduced in your body, changes to nitrites. Prolonged consumption of which are believed to sometimes be cancer-causing).

All in all, my dining experience at Aqua was amazing and educational. For a trainer who’s always on the go and eating on the go, I actually enjoyed sitting and sampling my food in a tranquil setting, something that is quite a rarity here in K-town.

To contact Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa you can call them on 2226 9600 or email them at jumeirahrestaurant@jumeirah.com

Reshmi Revi is the Assistant General Manager of MultiWorks. She is also an IFBB Bikini Competitor and an avid foodie! Follow her on Instagram .