Iftar at Ananta (The Oberoi): Indian Iftars Rediscovered

I have dined at Ananta, The Oberoi a countless number of times before, and the enticing, ever-changing menu here never fails to impress. Staying true to the culinary traditions of India, Ananta has always been one to keep true to its Indian roots, and the whole premise of their offerings has been to uncover forgotten gems from the different states of India.

Ananta’s traditional stance has definitely paid off, and the restaurant has received a number of accolades including being awarded 3 Black Hats under the What’s On 2016 edition of the ‘The Black Hat Restaurant Guide’, and bagging the prestigious BBC Good Food Award for ‘Best Indian Fine-Dining Restaurant in the Middle East 2014’.

Awadhi Cuisine, which originates from the princely Indian province of Lucknow, is rarely seen offered on UAE menus. Executive Head Chef Dirham Haque explores the tantalizing flavours of Awadhi cuisine and its rich cultural linkup with Mughlai, Punjabi and North Indian cooking, and does a great job at recreating a feast you would only expect to be served at a Nawabi table.

Ananta The Oberoi Indian Fine Dining Iftar review Ramadan 2016 by The Tezzy Files Dubai Food Blog UAE Lifestyle Blogger (17)

Taking the premise of Awadhi cuisine, Chef Dirham has created a delicious lineup of Indian Muslim dishes for Ramadan.

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Becca ‘The One Perfecting Brush’ Review

I am SO in love with this brush. Kinda sad admitting I have such strong feelings for a makeup brush, but The One Perfecting Brush by Becca Cosmetics really is life-changing. When I first spotted this brush at the Sephora Middle East Summer 2016 event, I knew I had to get my hands on one. The bristles felt so luxuriously soft, and I loved the solid, earthy look of the handle.

Becca The One Perfecting Brush Review (2)

Becca’s The One Perfecting Brush retails for AED 225 at Sephora, and is therefore not the cheapest of makeup brushes. However, I really do believe it will save me a good deal of time and money in the long-run. Here is why:

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Iftar at Mazaher (Convention Tower, Dubai)

Mazaher translates to orange blossom, a fragrant essence often found sprinkled on gourmet Arabic delicacies. It is also the name of Trade Center Dubai’s newest Lebanese restaurant, and I had the pleasure of being invited for Iftar there last week.

The restaurant interiors are delightfully bright, chirpy and bistro-style. With Parisian-style cafe seating, potted plants and arched doorways, Mazaher is every bit the quintessential boutique-style cafe.

Image taken from http://www.mazaher-dubai.com
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Donate a #KiloOfKindness this Ramadan at Mövenpick Hotel, JLT (Dubai)

Being charitable, generous and giving are just some of the kind virtues we are encouraged to act upon during the holy month of Ramadan. If you are looking for an easy way to give back to the community, you might want to consider being a part of the #AKiloOfKindness campaign by Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers. The hotel has teamed up with Beit Al Kheir, a special local charity that will benefit from the donation. All you have to do is donate a kilogram of non-perishable food items, and these will be distributed among the less-fortunate.

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The Positive Correlation Between Islamic Fasting & Fertility (A Guest Post by Dr. Monikaa Chawla)

For Non-Muslims, the notion of fasting from dawn to dusk sans any liquids can sound very daunting. As a practicing Muslim, I get asked about this all the time. The truth is our bodies are the most amazing, adaptable machines and ask any fasting muslim, it really does get easier by Day 2 itself.

Why do we do it? It is ordained by the Almighty for a number of reasons. It gives our bodies a much needed break (the idea of intermittent fasting is only just gaining popularity in mainstream media, but we have been doing it all along!), it helps us develop the virtue of patience and brotherhood, and brings the community together.

In the recent past, the evidence showcasing the endless benefits of fasting has been gaining momentum, and that would be a topic that would stretch across a number of blog posts. One of the lesser known benefits of Islamic fasting is the positive effect it has on fertility. Today’s guest post is by the very articulate Dr. Monikaa Chawla, a Reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist at Fakih IVF Abu Dhabi, who has been practicing the subspecialty for more than 16 years. Dr. Monikaa is not a Muslim and this is what makes her unbiased, scientifically backed reasonings behind the positive link of Islamic fasting and fertility a very interesting one! Read on for more.

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Iftar at Jodhpur – Royal Dining: Nostalgia in Every Bite

About a week ago, I had the pleasure of being invited for Iftar at Jodhpur – Royal Dining, one of Dubai’s newest Indian fine-dining establishments. This was my very first visit to Jodhpur, and I was really looking forward to it. I have seen beautiful images across social media, and was especially intrigued by their Chaat Macaroons. Will all their dishes be just as innovative? What was their take on Iftar? Jodhpur proved to be a delightful take on classic Indian cuisine with a few global inspirations thrown in, and I had a very memorable experience.

Located in Murooj Rotana (Downtown Dubai), the clean, welcoming exteriors look deceptively modern. Walking indoors, the mind is transported to another world. The turquoise walls and gilded mirrors have all the makings of an enchanted castle, tucked away in the story books of exotic India.

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Iftar at Tresind!

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of dining at Tresind, chances are that this maestro of molecular gastronomy will be the first to come in mind when asked to name your absolute favorite fine-dining Indian restaurant in Dubai. I recently raved about their brand new Summer 2016 menu (read all about it by clicking here), and was back last week to try out their lineup for Ramadan.

For Ramadan 2016, Tresind Dubai minimizes on the molecular gastronomic drama they are known for, and takes a more traditional route. Having said that, each and every dish is still given a signature Tresind twist and we were in for some very interesting, enticing treats.

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