The last leg of the year brings with it the cooler weather we’ve all been craving in the UAE, and with it comes the harvest season for some of the finest the Arabian seas have to offer.
Taking full advantage of seafood season, award-winning Indian restaurant India Palace has launched a limited edition menu entitled ‘Samundari Khazana’ (which aptly translates to ‘Treasures of the Sea’).
Last weekend I had the pleasure of dining in the artfully psychedelic Izakaya Japanese restaurant in JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai. Apart from its groovy interiors and the ever-popular Wasabi Girl (who serves up freshly grated Wasabi at the shout of her name, has bright green hair she credits to Wasabi-eating, and even has an Instagram page of her own @izakayawasabigirl), I was quite enchanted with their Sake Cart.
We met the beautiful Kampai, who hosts the Sake Cart at Izakaya. Apart from giving us tasters of some of the world’s finest sakes, she was brimming with knowledge on this age-old Japanese rice wine, and I had to make notes to share these gems with you…
Meet the newest member of my makeup stash… the much talked about Urban Decay Velvetizer Translucent Mix-in Medium. I’m a makeup base rookie; I tend to reserve foundations for special occasions and am still learning the ropes on the art of base mixing (kinda sounds like a DJ work description if you ask me!).
A well-meaning makeup junkie friend of mine push me into buying the Urban Decay Naked Skin Loose Setting Powder many moons ago, and I religiously follow her instructions on using it as a base powder under my foundation as it promises longer wear. I thought the Velvetizer was an upgraded version of the same, but turns out it has a totally different purpose.
I’ve been drooling over the very photogenic creations of newly opened Status Kitchen for over a month, and finally made time for a visit a couple of weeks ago.
Located behind a community mall that goes under the name Abaya Mall in the Mirdiff district of Dubai, the prim and proper red brick walling on its exteriors promise an extravagant high-tea of sorts. When we got there, we even spotted an astute, new model black and chrome Merc parked outside. So astute, so statuesque!
Located right in the center of the hustle bustle of Bur Dubai is one of our city’s oldest hotel establishments. We’ve driven past Royal Ascot Hotel many times over, and consider it a landmark for giving out directions. The outer facade oozes old-world charm, and the drive up to the valet always seems packed.
However, I’ve never actually walked through their heavy oak-wood doors till early this month. It was a Monday evening, yet the place was packed. We were heading to the media launch of The Rooftop Lounge & Dining, Season 5.
Last week, I had a very pampering session at The Heavenly Spa, located inside The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City.
Struggling with finding my way to the hotel entrance, I finally parked at the Dubai Canal and took the footbridge across. The weather is cooling down, and this wee walk turned out to be rather therapeutic and got me into the groove for an afternoon at the spa.
The Heavenly Spa is one of the largest spa establishments I’ve visited with 20 spacious treatment rooms, inclusive of a Hamam.
I was recently sent a large box of LUSH in the mail, and in it sat these adorably cute pots of brand new jelly masks.
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of having breakfast with a health food icon. You might recognize his friendly face from the Bob’s Red Mill packaging, and at 89 years young heading a troupe of colleagues for a whirlwind 5-day Middle Eastern business trip, Bob Moore proves to be the best role model for his natural foods brand.
I compare it to meeting KFC’s Colonel Saunders, but on the brighter side of health.
I have a special link with More Cafe. When I first landed in the UAE ten years ago, I started working in for the Al Tayer Group in Garhoud, Dubai. To celebrate my joining the marketing team, my colleagues took me to lunch at More Cafe.
Suffering from home-sickness and missing the cafe culture of New Zealand, I immediately struck a cord with the welcoming vibes of the place and its naughty freshly-baked treats. Sadly the Garhoud branch closed down three years ago, but to my delight they now have a brand new branch at Murooj Duplex (bang opposite The Dubai Mall).
Although I have normal to dry skin, I love a good mud mask every now and then. A tightening mud treatment pulls out the excess oil and grime which we are all prone to given the heat and humidity of the UAE.
I came home with a wee travel-sized 15 gram pot of the GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment from the Sephora Fall 2017 event. This brand is synonymous for mud masks, and their packaging is always beyond gorgeous.
The Tezzy Files 