When I think ‘jute’ I usually envision a sack… the quintessentially rustic earthy brown woven sack often used for storing my favorite root vegetable, the humble potato.
Jute bags have always been prized for their rugged sturdiness, and over the years have even managed to become a fashion statement. But who would have thought this humble fabric would weave its way into wearable fashion?
Turmeric, the bright orange herb that is best known for adding brightness to Indian curries, offers a plethora of health-enhancing benefits making it a prized culinary addition across India, China and the Far East for centuries.
Perhaps you already have an ample stock of turmeric powder in your kitchen ammunition but like all things powdered, a fresh stalk of turmeric far outshines the nutritional benefits. Here’s 3 reasons why:
We are under a month away from Christmas! Where has the year gone? The 3 week school break will be here before we know it, and I have been pretty slack with planning out my holiday plans. Are you off to someplace exotic? I am in dire need of a holiday, and envy the social feeds of frequent flyers.
But living in Dubai has its major perks, especially for the foodie in me. My tastebuds took a world tour at the newly launched Pergolas 7 Fusion Brunch with a gastronomic spread paying ode to all the major cuisines around the globe.
Located in the palatial settings of Roda Al Murooj with an open patio looking out to the stunning pool facade, this is the perfect idle brunch that even the most discerning of guests will appreciate being invited to.
We are finally in Dubai winters! Loving the breezy evenings, but not so much the cough and flu that’s been going around. With a 7 year-old in the house, we are guaranteed lovely pesky viral bugs that she picks up from the school run, and the past week has seen a slow-down in our weekend activities as we recuperate.
My little girl loves Thai cuisine as much as I do (not surprising given the amount of Thai dishes I wolfed down through my pregnancy!). So when I told her I’d make her a soup to combat her cold, she demanded a bowl of Tom Yum.
I have this special, super easy Tom Yum Soup recipe up my sleeve, but it needs a little modification for my bub. She doesn’t like shrimps, and obviously can’t take Thai hot like I can. As a sneaky mummy, I also decided to add a handful of other healthful ingredients, and prayed hard she wouldn’t sniff out the difference. This soup is far from photogenic, but tastes great and is full of nutritional value if I may say so myself!
I loveBollywood music. I hum it in the shower, play retro remixes in my car, and for areally intense, high adrenaline workout, nothing comes quite close tobhangra-inspired beats. My friends introduced me to ‘Desi Nights’, aka clubbingto Bollywood tunes, and this is how I met DJ Bharat Sakhrani.
An accountant by day and DJ by night, DJ Bharat really knows how to keep the dance floor alight and effortlessly mixes in English, Arabic and other world tunes.
Vote for Bharat! Under 2 years into his night gig, this ultra-talented young man has been nominated for the prestigious title of ‘Best DJ’ at the annual Ahlan Masala Awards. He’s got my vote! Do vote for him by clicking here, and have a read on what he has to say about Desi DJing in Dubai.
If you’ve been following my blog and my social media feeds for a while, you already know I am a huge fan of Neal’s Yard Remedies. Originating from Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden London, this organic skincare brand has been around for over three decades. Love their holistic approach to beauty and their entire library of pure essential oils.
One essential oil that features quite prominently in the Neal’s Yard Remedies range is frankincense. Love the Neal’s Yard Remedies Frankincense Hydrating Facial Mist and would highly recommend their Rejuvenating Frankincense Eye & Lip Serum
And a few weeks back, I was sent the newest addition to the frankincense family, the Neal’s Yard Remedies Intense Lift Cream.
Magnum ice-cream and I go back a long time. I’ve had a love affair with this calorie-laden, Belgian chocolate coated yumminess for as long as I can remember. Back home in New Zealand, they’d come up with limited edition Magnum flavours, and I remember taking over the family freezer when they introduced the absolutely divine Honeycomb edit where the milk chocolate casing was bejewelled with crunchy hokeypokey and the inner ice-cream was this golden-hued honeycomb flavour. So glad they’ve made this flavour mainstream, my family can now share the freezer again.
I know its only mid November, but its never too early to plan out that special Christmas dinner. Whether its a family affair or an official corporate gathering, our wonderful foodie city of Dubai has endless options for ringing in the festive cheer.
Keep revisiting this list. I’ll be updating it with more options through the month 🙂
Jones the Grocer has long been one of my favorite deli diners in the city, and I only recently discovered they have a branch on the very scenic Flag Island, Sharjah. The Sharjah branch is around a year old, and is far larger than its Dubai counterparts.
I think I’ve found the holy grail for mascaras. It comes in this eclectic hexagonal tube, so akin to everything super-stylish to come out from the ‘Marc Jacobs’ label.
It brings my barely-there lashes to life, like you can actually see them! Thick and luscious sans any annoying clumps with just a single sweep. A second coat gives me the ‘vavavoom’ look of false lashes. I’m talking about the epic Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara.
