MAHEC by Legendary Chef Satish Arora

Last Friday I had the honor of meeting a real legend of the Indian culinary world. Chef Satish Arora has a career expanding over 50 years. He started his career with the Taj Group of hotels in India, wherein he became the world’s youngest Executive Chef of a five-star kitchen at a mere 26 years of age. His trailblazing career has won him many accolades including being listed among ‘the world’s 20 best chefs’ in 1991, receiving the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ from Curry Club of England in 2007, Star Group in 2016, Hospitality Leaders Choice UK in 2016, and Food Food TV Channel in 2017.

Mahec by Chef Satish Arora review Le Meridien Airport Road Dubai The Tezzy Files UAE Food Blogger Dubai top Blog Celebrity Fine Dining Sanjeev Kapoor (10)

The secret to his success is his undying passion for simple, authentic Indian cuisine and this has won him a very prestigious lineup of fans including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Amitabh Bacchan, John Major… and the list goes on.

Still going strong, Chef Satish Arora has recently taken over the menu at Mahec, the fine-dining Indian restaurant in Le Meridian, Airport Road Dubai. The menu has been renovated by the culinary legend from 20th Feb this year, and he is adding more of his magic in the coming few weeks.

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‘All That Dori’: A Chit-Chat with Jewelry Designer Bhavya Aiyan

When it comes to jewelry, I am always on the lookout for uniquely beautiful pieces. Jewelry is a form of self-expression, and I love mine embedded with semi-precious stones in all the colors of the rainbow. I look for high-quality pieces that can promise many years of wear (after all, many of my most treasured jewels are inheritance pieces from my mother and grandmothers).

I was therefore very excited to discover All That Dori, a contemporary Indian jewelry brand based right here in Dubai. You might have spotted me adorning ‘All that Dori’ on my Instagram feed.

Today I am introducing you to Bhavya Airan, the beautiful, creative young lady behind the brand. She tells us ‘all that’ goes behind the creation of a boutique jewelry brand, what inspires her design sensibilities, and gives us tips on curating a besotted collection of our own.

Image result for all that dori bhavya

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Chef Talk: Chef Sameer from Roti Rollers Recreates Indian Street Food for a Healthier Global Palate

Chef Sameer who is heading the kitchen and the overall operations of newly opened Roti Rollers, is a walking, talking encyclopedia on all things food. His insightful knowledge on the vast varieties of cuisines within India itself had us as awestruck as did the innovative dishes that came out of his kitchen.

Roti Rollers La Mer Dubai Food Review UAE Blogger (1)
Chef Sameer

Here are snippets from our conversations with him. And look out for more blog posts with his insightful food gems, coming soon!

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Roti Rollers: Indian Street Food just got Quirkier

Dubai foodies are a blessed lot. The number of new entrants into the foodie scene is expanding exponentially, each claiming a new take with Insta-worthy offerings. If you love Indian cuisine, you might have come across tempting shots from brand new Indian joint Roti Rollers. 

Roti Rollers is anything but another Indian restaurant. First off, with competitive pricing and a signature menu to boot, the restaurant fills the vacuum between fine-dining and the ultra cheap bachelor haunts.

Secondly, Roti Rollers dedicates its menu offerings to classic Indian street-food, but with urban tastes in mind. The food takes cues from international ingredients, and also makes an attempt at keeping the calories down. No greasy aftermath here. 

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#ComfortFood Super Easy Recipe for Kichdi & Egg Curry

The quintessential Kichdi (or Kichri or Kichuri depending on where you’re from) has countless variations. Essentially a rice and lentil pilaf, it can be cooked with a variety of lentil combinations, the proportion of rice to lentil changes, and more interestingly, the consistency of the final dish. Some like it dry like a pilaf, but for me I love it the traditional Bengali way… all mushy, semi-liquid and with more lentil than rice.

Wholesome and nutritious, I fed my toddler daughter far too many bowlfuls often with seasonal vegetables mashed in and stirred through with generous dollops of ghee.

One of the most popular combinations that go with a runny Kichdi is a spicy tomato-based Egg Curry. Who said comfort food has to be naughty? This super easy recipe will have you satiated, and I highly recommend an afternoon siesta right after.

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10 Inspirational Women Who Changed the World

Today, 8th of March, is International Women’s Day, a sacred date on the calendar dating as far back as 1910. Although gender equality has come a long way since then, many feminists will argue we still have many stones to turn. Many major roles including the government and high-flying corporate roles are still very much male-dominated. Many cultures still have women on second rank.

#GirlPower has come a long way, and today I’d like to celebrate 10 specific women who have gone against all odds to change the world for the better. In no particular order, here are my favorite top 10 super-women:

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The Art of Soap Making: Chit-Chatting with SoulPure Soap Founders Uttara Ramkumar and Nishi Bhuvandas

For the longest time I’ve come to believe that washing my face with soap is a big skincare no-no. Commercial soaps tend to be harsh on delicate facial skin, stripping it of precious oils.

However, I was recently introduced to the concept of hand-made soaps, free of nasty parabans and SLS, and loaded with skin-loving ingredients that are good enough even for tender baby skin. Just look at the gorgeous hamper I received from home-grown brand SoulPure Soaps!

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New Launches at Sephora Middle East (Spring 2018)

One of the highlights of the month of Feb was attending the Sephora Spring 2018 launch. This beauty mogul keeping outdoing themselves by sourcing the best in beauty from across the globe. This coming season is no different with many exciting new entrants, and a whole load of drool-worthy new additions from many of our favorite brands.

Here’s a rundown of some of the brand new Sephora Spring 2018 goodies I have my eyes on…

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Sukhothai: Thai Street Food Night Every Tuesday

Le Meridien Hotel on Airport Road Dubai houses a number of award-winning restaurants, and this includes one of my favorite Thai places, Sukhothai.

Inspired by the Sukhothai dynasty, the architecture and ambiance of this place resonates a timeless era of Thailand. The menu here is extensive as it is exotic, and given the menu pricing, we often reserve a booking here for a special night out.

But I have great news… Sukhothai has launched their Thai Street Food Nights every Tuesday from 7 pm to 11.45 pm, and this unlimited buffet costs a mere AED 149 per person!

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All Aboard Bateaux Dubai (Luxury Cruise Across the Dubai Creek)

The waters of Dubai Creek host a wide number of floating restaurants, the majority of which serve up buffets onboard gaudily decked up wooden dhows. Bateaux Dubai is a far cry from the norm. This glass-enclosed air conditioned luxury cruise, complete with a set gourmet menu and live entertainment, makes for a very memorable experience and it is therefore no surprise to learn that Batueax Dubai has been touted as one of the top 10 things to do in our city.

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Image taken from JAResortsHotels.com

 

My husband and I set aboard Bateaux Dubai last Friday. Docking time is between 7.45 to 8.15 pm, and the cruise sets asail at 8.30 pm sharp. 

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