dubai

Maison Rouge: Fine-Dining with a Side of Cabaret

Last Thursday we were treated to a culinary and visual treat at newly opened Maison Rouge in Conrad Dubai. As the name suggests, the restaurant cum bar is luxuriously plush in vivid tones of red. Everything looks so theatrical even before the show begins!

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We arrived a little before 9, and were ushered in with peppy, upbeat tunes by the live DJ. A well-stocked open bar adds to the ambiance, and you can also get a glimpse of the open-fire kitchen where a lineup of international delicacies are assembled together. 

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Umair’s Peshawari Mutton Karhai Recipe

Last week we had an office barbecue party. The weather was perfect, and a day out with work-mates proved to be a great way to unwind after a long week.

Our colleague Umair Ahmad, who is the Finance Manager in our team, is an exceptional cook. He took charge of the menu of the day, and we enjoyed a smorgasbord of grilled delicacies including Masala Salmon, skewered kebabs that had the rustic aftertaste of charcoal, and a very delicious Peshawari Mutton Karhai.

This mutton dish was by far the highlight of the evening, and I coaxed Umair to share his special recipe with us. Do try it, its super easy and I’m sure it will soon become a favorite on your family table!

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Chef Talk: A Chit-Chat With Legendary Chef Satish Arora

Indian cuisine arguably has an even stronger fan following across the globe than does the glitzy world of Bollywood. Butter Chicken has also been considered the national dish of the UK, and Indian Chefs today are enjoying celebrity status thanks to the reach of social media.

Well before the likes of Zee TV star Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Master Chef stars Vikas Khanna and Kunal Kapoor, Chef Satish Arora took humble Indian dishes to fine-dining status. With a career expanding 50 years which was catapulted by his success as the world’s youngest Executive Chef of a five-star kitchen at a mere 26 years of age, he has been the inspiration for many in his industry, and has also been a role model for his kin.

I had the immense pleasure of meeting the legend in person at Mahec (Le Meridian, Airport Road Dubai) which he has recently taken over. Here is an except on Chef Arora’s trailblazing career, his undying passion for food, and advice for the next generation.

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Sugar Factory: So much more than desserts

There was a time I’d pass by the colorfully quirky facade of Sugar Factory and mistaken it to be a candy store. The rainbow of candy options are enough to make Willie Wonka go green with envy, and for my little girl to get a major sugar high with just one look.

And then I discovered their soulfully delicious Laksa. Very few menus in Dubai offer this coconut milk based noodle soup, and who would have thought an American chain (in the guise of a candy store) could do such a good job?

That was in their Dubai Festival City branch, and they have since opened up in La Mer Dubai. I was invited for a review there, and took it as a great opportunity to catch up with a friend.

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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.

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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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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.

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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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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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Park Regis Boutique (Jumeirah’s Newest Hotel)

My family and I had the pleasure of spending a weekend at Jumeirah’s newest hotel this month. Trendy new Park Regis Boutique Hotel is quite a stark contrast from what we are used to in the UAE. No expansive lawns or swimming pools, no towering buildings or suited chauffeurs to usher in the traffic.

Instead, you have a trendy, Arabesque 2-storey building at a street corner that can easily be mistaken for yet another villa on the expansive street of Jumeirah Beach Road.

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Thai Street Food Festival at The Backyard

It is no secret that Thai cuisine is my ultimate favorite. I love the medley of hot, sweet and sour, and we even have a go at cooking Thai at home several times a week.

While many places serve Thai cuisine in the UAE, a few recipes get lost in translation when more commercial, creamy sauces are used. As a true-blue Thai cuisine lover, I crave the spicy kick of Bangkok streets, and my culinary reminiscing lead me to try out the Thai Street Food Festival at The Backyard (Steigenberger Hotel, Business Bay – Dubai).

The Backyard’s Thai Street Food Festival will run on 3 consecutive Saturdays from 24th February through to 10th March, and will feature live cooking stations featuring the finest from Bangkok street-food, along with beverages, Thai music, karaoke and more.

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Blaze Burgers: Setting ‘ablaze’ the Dubai Foodie Scene

‘No Stupid People Beyond This Point’ read the large neon signage at the front of newly opened Blaze Burgers on foodie strip, JBR. Passerby’s stop for a giggle and an Insta-worthy click, but the real artistic renditions lie beyond the neon signage where walls are done up in tattoo-style graffiti, a pair of eyes peep out from the pipe-works and an entire shelf of enticing sauces and cutlery are ready for pickup in your very own shopping basket.

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