A Michelin star rating is akin to the holy grail of fine dining. It is a serious foodie’s Bible code, and topnotch chefs across the globe crave its approval.
But how did Michelin, a manufacturer of tyres, gain such authority over the world of food? Read on for its very colorful history.
Looking for a chilled out space to hang out after a busy weekday? Add sea views, upbeat music by resident DJ’s, and lip-smacking contemporary Japanese cuisine, and Dubai dwellers in the know will, without hesitation, point you in the direction of Sho Cho.
Established in 2000, Sho Cho celebrated its 15 year mark in the Dubai foodie scene last week. When asked what they owe their success to, the recipe is as simple as sushi: a great location combined with funky new-age décor, contemporary Japanese dishes that appeal to everyone including the non-adventurous, and unmatched customer service.
My last blog post was all about Movember, and then I rediscovered this cute little silicone chocolate mould my sister had sent me from New Zealand. These are moustache moulds, how appropriate for #Movember!
It became our Saturday afternoon project, and my daughter is already halfway through the moustache stash as I type. Yikes! Expecting a major toddler sugar-high anytime soon!
The UAE is a melting pot of cultures, and living in Dubai we are spoilt for choice with some of the finest global cuisines. Yet local Emirati cuisine tends to get overshadowed. As an expat, I’ve devoured a number of delicious ‘mandis’, but my visit to Seven Sands restaurant this week has opened up a whole new world of Emirati cuisine to me.
Located on The Beach (JBR, Dubai Marina) with stunning views of the sea, we would have never found this gorgeous gem of a place had we not been invited to try it out (for easy reference, Seven Sands restaurant is right across the road from Amwaj Rotana).
From the outside, Seven Sands looks like a black box, and even the entrance is around the corner. However, on stepping inside, I was mesmerized by the stunning decor. The interior design at Seven Sands restaurant pays homage to the glorious heritage of the Emirates, and has been blinged up with the tasteful panache that has put this region on the global map.
When I first heard of 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, I thought the ‘800’ referred to a toll-free number. However, this numerical addition to one of Dubai’s newest pizza chains has a far more significant, customer-oriented reference than that.
800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria is a novel concept. Pizza served in this eatery is baked in a brick oven that is fired up to 800 degrees thanks to the imported almond tree bark used inside as fuel, and the pizza is ready to eat in 90 seconds flat!
If this speedy efficiency wasn’t enough to impress you, at 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, customers can custom-make their very own creations in 3 easy-peasy steps!
One of the biggest perks linked with blogging about food is the sheer diversity of invites I receive to try out different types of cuisines. However, apart from the eminent upward shift on the scales, food blogging also has another major downside. Here I am ready to tell you all about our fantastic evening out at Chez Sushi, and every little detail and drool-worthy click is making me exceptionally hungry and eager to go back… right now, now!
Chez Sushi (or ‘in the home of’ sushi in French) is a very well-known chain among the sushi-munching dwellers of Dubai, and being a sushi lover myself, I was super excited when I got an invite to their Al Wasl branch last week.
Conceptualized and created in 1996, Galito’s frame-grilled chicken was a well-loved secret in the Mpumalanga City of Nelspruit (South Africa) for a good seven years till it took flight and opened several branches across Africa, Canada and recently the Middle East.
We still don’t have Galito’s in Dubai, but in Abu Dhabi they have 4 (Galito’s Abu Dhabi branches are in Yas Mall, Al Wahda Mall, Marina Mall and Dalma Mall). We were in Yas Island last weekend, and I was therefore delighted to have received an invitation to try out the Galito’s branch in Yas Mall.
We were on Yas Island last weekend, and stayed at the very stylish Viceroy hotel. Yas Marina is a line of chic eateries facing the harbor, and is literally ‘across the ditch’ from Viceroy. Our evening soiree saw us at Iris, Yas Marina. Cooler weather is finally here, and we had a lovely laid-back time sitting alfresco, and could even see our hotel glimmering across the shimmering night waters.
The evening breeze coupled with Iris’ mellowed lighting and rustic wooden architecture made for a magical ambiance over drinks.
We spent last weekend at Viceroy hotel. Set half on water and half on land, Viceroy on the man-made Yas Island of Abu Dhabi is set right on top of the Yas Marina Circuit. You therefore get great views of the race track, and a continuous vroom-vroom of the race cars as they whiz across the circuit.
Joe’s Crab Shack, the much-awaited American beach-themed casual dining concept hailing from Texas, has finally opened its doors in the UAE. This is the chain’s very first venture out of the United States. It’s very first UAE store in The Dubai Mall is aptly located right next to the Dubai Aquarium with scenic aquatic views. The UAE branch started operations yesterday, and we were invited to check them out last night.
The restaurant is brightly lit, and has a very groovy, fun-loving feel to it. With surfboards and quirky seafood-themed captions across the walls, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stumbled into a Miami beach bum’s hideout.
What I wasn’t expecting was the crowd. It was a little past 9 in the evening when we got there. It was a weekday, and Day 1 for Joe’s Crab Shack, and the place was fully packed! Tables of crab-munching maniacs and overall seafood fans were making merry like it was the weekend.
The Tezzy Files 