dubai

Fume, Pier 7: The Neighborhood Eatery with a Quirky Edge

Pier 7, the signature circular designed building adjacent to Marina Mall, Dubai has made its mark on the culinary map. It houses 7 different dining concepts, each offering stunning views of the Dubai Marina skyline and the Arabian Gulf.

I was under the impression that Pier 7 was all about special occasions, fine-dining, and dressing up, but last weekend’s dinner at Fume (on the 1st floor of Pier 7) changed my views significantly.

With its bright red doors and blaring music, Fume is Pier 7’s casual, quirky nest. Saturday night, and the place was packed! At Fume, the vibe is welcomingly casual, and you see diners in shorts and jandals, and even suited executives who want to let their hair down.

Fume Pier 7 Dubai Marina review (1)

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DANEH: The Saudi Designer Behind the Fashion Label

I had the pleasure of meeting Saudi Arabian fashion designer Daneh at the Galeries Lafayette Fashion Forward Pop Up Store event, where her A/W 2015 collection will be available for sale till 27th October.ffwd daneh saudi designer

I fell in love with her chic and sophisticated line of clothing. Daneh herself exudes the elegance of a refined lady who knows less is more, and she is the perfect name and face for her brand.

I had a chat with Daneh about her label, the challenge of being a Saudi designer, and fashion tips she lives by. Read on for more!

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Margherita Pizzeria: Now Open on Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai

I had the pleasure of being a part of the launch of Margherita Pizzeria’s very first branch in the UAE. The newly opened branch is located on 123 Sheikh Zayed Road, right next to the Financial Metro Station (Dubai) and offers a tantalizing range of Neapolitan specialty dishes.

Margherita Pizzeria now open in dubai sheikh zayed road media review launch italian (8)

As a media invitee, we were treated to a smorgasbord of the restaurant’s signature dishes and ofcourse this included their Margherita Pizza!

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Biryani Muqabala: Mumtaz Mahal (Arabian Courtyard)

Biryani, the much-loved aromatic rice pilaf hailing from the Indian subcontinent, has since evolved into countless variations and every household has its special secret recipe, some handed down generations!

Mumtaz Mahal Biryani Muqabala 2015 Arabian Courtyard Dubai (1)

Mumtaz Mahal, the popular North Indian themed restaurant at Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa, honors the popular pilaf with an annual ‘Biryani Muqabala’ (‘Biryani Contest‘ in Hindi), and every UAE resident from all walks of life are encouraged to take part. 9 years since its inception, the ‘Biryani Muqabala’ contest received over 500 entries this year. After careful consideration, this was narrowed down to 7.

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Dinner Date at Cafe Bateel (The Walk, JBR)

The Bateel brand is one of the Middle East’s greatest marketing success stories. Pioneering in revamping the humble date into a gourmet treat, Bateel extended into cafe culture with Cafe Bateel. It’s newest outlet on The Walk, JBR goes beyond the cafe experience, and offers a full fledged three-course menu.

cafe bateel the walk jbr review dinner pastries gourmet dates dubai uae (4)

The restaurant looks like a giant Arabesque-styled gift box, and the bright lighting and spacious interiors is very invitingly stylish. The newest branch at The Walk, JBR is the first of its kind to have all three Bateel concepts under one roof: the Bateel gourmet dates counter, the Bateel Bakery stocking freshly baked breads, decadent sweet treats and coffees, and the newly revamped Cafe Bateel section that offers a full fledged dining menu (and no, not everything on the menu has dates in it!).

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Too Faced Soul Mates Blushing Bronzer Review

‘My name is Tezzy, and I am a Too Faced addict.’ There, I’ve said it. Perhaps its the cute, kitsch packaging, or perhaps its the chocaholic in me that digs the beautifully subtle scent of cocoa across all the brand’s products, but I am truly, madly, deeply in love with the Too Faced bandwagon.

Talking of true love, the limited edition Too Faced Soul Mates Blushing Bronzer and I were therefore meant to be. Come on you cynics, the little heart-shaped compact is way too adorable to resist!

Too Faced Soul Mates Blushing Bronzer review ross and rachel (3)

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A Crabby Date at Chimes

My husband and I love Far Eastern cuisines, and were quite excited about getting an invite to the Crab Fest at Chimes restaurant. Chimes is one of those little street-side places you could easily blink and miss. The outer signage is old, fading and uninspiring and the gloom factor is exaggerated by the fact that the restaurant resides right at the bottom of Seven Sands, a towering hotel that has been shut down and is now dark and deserted.

chimes barsha dubai uae review october crab fest 2015

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