Category Archive: Restaurants

The Yellow Chili by Sanjeev Kapoor

A young boy, on a visit to his mother’s ancestral home in Meerut (North Western India), is left fascinated by a bright yellow find. So contrastingly different from the usual fiery reds and deep greens, this prized yellow chili happened to fall in the hands of a boy destined to be arguably India’s most celebrated chefs, Sanjeev Kapoor himself.

So cherished was this find that many decades later, Sanjeev Kapoor opened up a whole chain of restaurants called Yellow Chili. Where Signature and Options are the chef’s ode to Indian fine-dining, Yellow Chili aims to be your cushy neighbourhood retreat for some seriously good, home-style Indian dishes.

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Meridien Village Terrace: Friday Nights are ‘Latino Latino Nights’

I can sniff the weekend! Heading off to yet another Friday brunch tomorrow? Perhaps you just want to sleep in for a change, and head out for a chillaxed feast at a leisurely 8 pm or later? I was at the Meridien Village Terrace last Friday. With a lavish spread, flowing beverages and live music to boot, their Friday ‘Latino Latino Nights’ are just the place to be!

The UAE can finally boast of breezy-beautiful evenings, and what better way to spend a laid-back Friday with friends and family than under the stars?

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Ruya Dubai: Turkish Culinary Traditions with Fine Dining Panache

‘Ruya’ translates to ‘dream’, a very apt name for one of Dubai’s most anticipated new restaurants, located in the very luxe Grosvenor House (Marina Dubai). This very stylish new Turkish restaurant pays homage to the rich culinary history of the Anatolian region.

Headed by Chef Colin Clague who has some very reputed names under his belt (including the iconic Burj Al Arab, Jean Georges Dubai, Qbara and Zuma), the dishes here are as artistic as the venue itself.

The expansive interiors are done up with a great deal of panache. Dimly lit, suave and chic, the ambiance is all at once inviting and posh.  From the traditional oven to the Cag Kebap grill, and the beautifully intricate mosaic in spurts of turquoise, a few typically Turkish accents add a touch of the exotic to the space. Ruya is a restaurant, lounge and bar, and also features an open terrace, boasting of a very scenic view of the Dubai Marina.

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LALUZ: Catalan Cuisine with Rumba Beats

Headed by the very amicable Chef Alain Devahive who’s impressive list of experiences includes a long stint at the much coveted 3-Michelin starred restaurant El Bulli (Spain), LALUZ at DIFC is one of Dubai’s latest Spanish imports.

La Luz is Spanish for ‘light’, and back in Barcelona,  this restaurant chain is a culinary icon, well reputed for its Catalonian and Mediterranean cuisine. Keeping to tradition yet revamping the presentation with a few touches of molecular gastronomy thrown in now and then, expect to get a taste of Spanish cuisine like never before.

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Diwali at Antique Bazaar (Four Points by Sheraton, Bur Dubai)

Diwali, the auspicious Indian ‘Festival of Lights’ celebrated by Hindus the world over, is scheduled for the 30th of this month. This festival signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair (Wikipedia). It is by far, one of the grandest celebrations on India’s social calendar.

However, you don’t have to book a ticket to India to celebrate… From 29th through to 31st October, Antique Bazaar (at Four Points by Sheraton – Bur Dubai) has created a tantalizing lineup of traditional Diwali treats, complete with live Bollywood entertainment to boot!

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Friday Garden Brunch at Kempinski Hotel Ajman

We are slowly but surely heading into alfresco dining weather, and what better way to spend an idle Friday afternoon than brunching in a garden setting, complete with views of the sea?

I had the pleasure of being invited for the First Year Anniversary of Kempinski Ajman’s Friday Garden Brunch last week, and had a lovely time mingling with like-minded foodies and sampling the elaborate spread, complete with stunning outdoor views and entertainment for little ones.

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Aseelah: Emirati Cuisine Revamped

Aseelah is Dubai’s newest Emirati fine-dining restaurant, and is located in one of the city’s oldest hotel establishments; Radisson Blue – Deira, Dubai. With dazzling gilded interiors paying homage to the intricate architecture of the region, the restaurant is a spacious, welcoming abode for diners who are eager to get a taste of both traditional and contemporary Emirati cuisine.

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My family and I dined at Aseelah a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say I was blown away by the talent of Chef Rabeh Adel Amer. My palette preference lean towards spicy, robust combinations, and I have often found regional dishes to be a little bland for my liking. Not the case here at all! 

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Clinton Street Baking Company Revisited

If you are looking out for an All-American style diner, Clinton Street Baking Company is the real deal. Conceptualized and created by a husband-wife duo in New York, the restaurant’s iconic blueberry pancakes have won the accolade of ‘best in the city’ by New York Magazine, twice in a row! However, they are not just about baking… I raved about their life-changing 15-hour smoked beef ribs here before, and I was recently invited back, a gap of nearly a year since my last visit.

The interiors haven’t changed much, but the lighting has been dimmed down for a more cozier ambiance for the evenings. The only downside with this is that my photography skills were greatly challenged with the lack of light!

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Manhattan Fish Market: The Big Fish from The Big Apple has finally landed in Dubai

Manhattan Fish Market is Dubai’s newest seafood chain to be imported from the United States. The restaurant concept may be new to our city, but it already has a huge fan following from across the globe, with more than 67 chains spread across Asia and the Middle East, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Oman, India, Bangladesh and Qatar.

Inspired by the fish markets of Fulton Street that served up the freshest catch of the day right under Manhattan’s iconic Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Fish Market is a restaurant concept with over 180 years of history in the making!

Dubai’s very first branch is located in Festival City Mall, and I had the pleasure of trying out quite a few of their iconic, ‘fin-tastic’ dishes last week.

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Cocoa Kitchen: A Hint of Cocoa in Every Bite

Still wide-eyed with awe after our tour around the absolutely fascinating chocolate sculptures at Boutique Le Chocolat, we were invited in for a very hearty lineup of lunch at the adjacent Cocoa Kitchen.

Yet another innovative catering concept by the MERAAS group, the restaurant revolves around one simple mono-ingredient in every dish: cocoa. You find it here in every single course; from savory starters and mains, cocoa is not just reserved for dessert.

Walking into Cocoa Kitchen is like entering a secluded world of its own. The amber lighting enhances the cocoa vibes of the place, and the interior decor take inspiration from an old chocolate factory, complete with exposed industrial piping and an open-view kitchen right at the front.

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