Josh Emett gets a taste of the desert during MasterChef trip to Dubai

MasterChef's Josh Emett in the Al Mahar Desert. Photo / Supplied

MasterChef judge Josh Emett dines out in Dubai and discovers the best creme brulee he has tasted.

I had an open mind about our trip to Dubai, where we were filming for MasterChef NZ, and was expecting to have a good time and hopefully try some new food. I was not disappointed. I had an outstanding time out there and tasted a lot of amazing food.

1. We started with a trip to the desert, which was baking hot at the peak of summer season, but I love the sun and having your own infinity pool in your hotel certainly helps. Being greeted with tea, dates, and freshly squeezed and chilled juices puts you in the right frame of mind when you arrive and helps you acclimatise.

The Al Maha Desert Resort was an amazing and relaxing place to stay — it sort of reminded me of Arizona, which I love. Breakfast was particularly memorable and the perfect start to the day, fresh flatbreads, hummus, soft cheeses made to perfection, also an avocado smoothie I had several times was delicious.

2. La Petite Maison restaurant was an amazing experience with a great bar and atmosphere, we went in a group of 10, which was a great number for the sharing style of food that they serve. The tuna carpaccio was memorable and the octopus and a lovely girolle pasta and the burrata dish were absolutely incredible. Definitely don't miss desserts — possibly the best creme brulee I have ever had.

3. I visited the Gold and Diamond Park to get my wife a little something. I engaged the help of someone who has been there many times before so knew where to go and what sort of prices we could expect to pay. It's a great place to wander around with plenty on offer in all styles. My wife was very happy.

4. We stayed at Grosvenor House, which was a great location. As well as Gary Rhodes' restaurant, Rhodes W1 — where we had a sensational dinner and a particularly memorable dessert of strawberries and marshmallow — they have a fantastic all-day restaurant where we ate breakfast and lunch most days, enjoying great curries and the salad bar.

5. The Dubai Mall is where you need to allocate at least a day to find your way around, but if you know what you are looking for, you can definitely get some solid shopping done. There's an amazing watch section, and the aquarium would be fantastic for keeping the kids amused.

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Getting there: Qantas flies from Auckland to Dubai via Australia.