dubai

Dinner at Table 9 (Hilton Dubai Creek)

Founded in 2011 by Gordon Ramsay’s protégés Nick Alvis & Scott Price and later under the reign of Darren Velvick, Table 9 at @dubaicreekhilton has a prestigious lineup of world-renounced chefs under its belt, and my expectations were therefore in the nines.

Table 9 Hilton Dubai Creek Gordon Ramsey UAE Review Food Blog The Tezzy Files (8)

Located on the first floor of Hilton Dubai Creek, the restaurant ambiance is all about minimalist black and white; think upholstered black leather and starched white tablecloths. The spacing is long and narrow, and with an age-old interior design trick of adding mirroring across the walls, the restaurant appears a little larger than it is.

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“Samundari Khazana” (aka ‘Treasures of the Sea’) at India Palace, UAE

The last leg of the year brings with it the cooler weather we’ve all been craving in the UAE, and with it comes the harvest season for some of the finest the Arabian seas have to offer.

Taking full advantage of seafood season, award-winning Indian restaurant India Palace has launched a limited edition menu entitled ‘Samundari Khazana’  (which aptly translates to ‘Treasures of the Sea’).

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10 Things I Learnt About Sake at Izakaya (JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai)

 

Last weekend I had the pleasure of dining in the artfully psychedelic Izakaya Japanese restaurant in JW Marriott Marquis, Dubai. Apart from its groovy interiors and the ever-popular Wasabi Girl (who serves up freshly grated Wasabi at the shout of her name, has bright green hair she credits to Wasabi-eating, and even has an Instagram page of her own @izakayawasabigirl), I was quite enchanted with their Sake Cart.

We met the beautiful Kampai, who hosts the Sake Cart at Izakaya. Apart from giving us tasters of some of the world’s finest sakes, she was brimming with knowledge on this age-old Japanese rice wine, and I had to make notes to share these gems with you…

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Status Kitchen: Not Your Everyday Cafe

 

I’ve been drooling over the very photogenic creations of newly opened Status Kitchen for over a month, and finally made time for a visit a couple of weeks ago.

Located behind a community mall that goes under the name Abaya Mall in the Mirdiff district of Dubai, the prim and proper red brick walling on its exteriors promise an extravagant high-tea of sorts. When we got there, we even spotted an astute, new model black and chrome Merc parked outside. So astute, so statuesque! 

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The Rooftop Lounge Reopens for Season 5

Located right in the center of the hustle  bustle of Bur Dubai is one of our city’s oldest hotel establishments. We’ve driven past Royal Ascot Hotel many times over, and consider it a landmark for giving out directions. The outer facade oozes old-world charm, and the drive up to the valet always seems packed.

However, I’ve never actually walked through their heavy oak-wood doors till early this month. It was a Monday evening, yet the place was packed. We were heading to the media launch of The Rooftop Lounge & Dining, Season 5.

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Pampering Session at The Heavenly Spa (The Westin Dubai)

 

Last week, I had a very pampering session at The Heavenly Spa, located inside The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City.

Struggling with finding my way to the hotel entrance, I finally parked at the Dubai Canal and took the footbridge across. The weather is cooling down, and this wee walk turned out to be rather therapeutic and got me into the groove for an afternoon at the spa.

The Heavenly Spa is one of the largest spa establishments I’ve visited with 20 spacious treatment rooms, inclusive of a Hamam. 

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10 reasons why More Cafe is so much ‘more’ than a cafe

 

I have a special link with More Cafe. When I first landed in the UAE ten years ago, I started working in for the Al Tayer Group in Garhoud, Dubai. To celebrate my joining the marketing team, my colleagues took me to lunch at More Cafe.

Suffering from home-sickness and missing the cafe culture of New Zealand, I immediately struck a cord with the welcoming vibes of the place and its naughty freshly-baked treats. Sadly the Garhoud branch closed down three years ago, but to my delight they now have a brand new branch at Murooj Duplex (bang opposite The Dubai Mall).

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The Pancake House Launches in the UAE

The Pancake House is a much-loved cafe-style franchise from the Philippines, and UAE Kabayan will be thrilled to know we now have a branch of our very own in Burjuman, Dubai.

With retro-style quirky cool interiors and an enticing lineup of menu options, I was surprised to discover that, despite the name, Pancake House serves far more than just pancakes!

I was seated next to a Filipino journalist at the media opening last week, and he was telling me that their Beef Bolognese was ‘pure love’, its a flavor he’s grown up with. It was quite endearing to see so much emotion being associated with a dish. 

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Pink Tea Party at Fairmont Dubai

The Imperial Suite at Fairmont Dubai took on a beautiful hue of blush pink, and an absolutely stunning array of pink-themed desserts sat on the table infront of me.

However, this was no ordinary afternoon tea, but rather a celebration of the global solidarity in the fight against Breast Cancer.

In association with Friends of Cancer patients, local celebrity designer Arwa Bait-El-Mal who creates stunning modest-style silhouettes under the label Juri Fashion, dressed up 6 brave, beautiful women, all of whom are breast cancer survivors.

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Italian Linner at Cucina (Courtyard Marriott)

Friday brunches have become a foodie institution, and as Dubai dwellers we really are spoilt for choice with all the options out there. But my only qualm about most brunches is the timing. The standard norm is a 1 pm start, but Friday sleep-ins are so precious. We usually crawl out of bed by noon, and then there’s the Friday prayers to attend. We therefore never really make it to a brunch before 2.

And then I get invited to try out a ‘Linner‘, a New York concept now adapted by Cucina, Courtyard Marriott. Here’s how the foodie equation works:

Breakfast + Lunch = Brunch

Lunch + Dinner = Linner!

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