Remember my gastronomic meal at Zafran? We had a sampler dish from every corner of India!
Meet Chef Gaurav, the mastermind behind the delicious fare.
With an impressive culinary career including cooking for the Ambani’s, Chef Gaurav gets candid about his journey as a chef so far and has generously shared the recipe for one of my favorite dishes at Zafran: the Bengali inspired Prawn Coconut Curry. This mildly spiced curry is a perfect addition to the Iftar table.
Ramadan, the holy month of fasting observed by Muslims the world over, will commence around the 18th of June this year. During this entire month, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk. This fast is observed for spiritual growth, to increase empathy for the less fortunate, to celebrate the divinity of the Almighty, and to cleanse impurities of both the body and mind.
The association of dates with Ramadan is significant from both a religious and a health point of view. Today’s post explores the significance of dates in Islam. We look at a collection of Hadiths (verified quotes by Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) ) and put it side by side with the scientific the know-how of today.
Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, is soon upon us. This is a time for piety and personal reflection. In the Middle East, we are fortunate enough to have our working hours reduced significantly for the entire month, and this allows for more quality time with loved ones and socializing over delicious Iftar and Suhoor buffets.
Having the distinction of being recognized as the Middle East’s Luxury City Hotel by World Travel Awards and also being listed among the top 25 hotels in the region by Trip Advisor Reader’s Choice awards for two years running, an Iftar booking at The Oberoi Dubai is on a class of its own.
I had the pleasure of being invited to The Oberoi’s Iftar Preview last night. The event was held in the hotel’s very chic Nine7One restaurant, and was attended by a number of senior media personalities.
Carluccio’s, the Italian Restaurant-Caffe-Foodshop chain hailing from the United Kingdom, has had phenomenal growth within the UAE. Within 5 years, the brand now has 8 outlets in Dubai and 3 in Abu Dhabi, with more openings on the way.
Carluccio’s owes its success to its simple, yet unique casual dining concept. Being a full-fledged restaurant, cafe and food store in one, Carluccio’s offers authentic Italian flavors at very reasonable prices.
We visited the branch at The Walk, JBR (Dubai) last weekend and discovered authentic Italian flavors go well beyond pastas and pizza.
What was my first impression of The Meat Co? Simply “wow”! Walking into this South African steakhouse set in picturesque Souk Al Bahar transports the senses into another world altogether.
Theatrically dim amber lighting, embossed leather upholstery with a rustic touch of the Africans, and an introduction to the hip-swaying rhythms of shosholaza. The ambiance at The Meat Co is simply magical.
If you have been following me on Instagram, you already know where I’ve been last weekend. Lucky me, I was enjoying a chilled-out staycation at Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa.
Set on the East Coast of the UAE, Khorfakkan is a quaint little township sandwiched between the scenic beauties of the Arabian Sea and the Shumayliyah Mountain range.
Oceanic Khorfakkan is the only hotel stay in this vicinity, and has a 4-star rating.
Zafran is ‘saffron’ on an Arabesque tongue.
Saffron, the most prized of spices, the sacred color of sadhus, and a shade that takes up a third of the Indian flag, is the inspiration behind this trendy contemporary Indian restaurant.
Having passed Zafran in Mirdiff City Centre a number of times during hurried shopping sprees, we’ve been meaning to give this branch a try for a while now. The interior decor looks so trendy and inviting! My little family and I finally made it there last Saturday.
A visit to The Oberoi always manages to transport me back to nostalgic holidays in India. Seeped in Indian hospitality and tradition, the turbaned concierge awaiting guests onto the red carpeted entrance can easily fool the mind into believing we are in India. The dominating Burj Khalifa in the backdrop brings me back to the present; this is The Oberoi set in the dazzle of Dubai.
Given the opulence of The Oberoi, it is pretty much apt that the BBC Good Food award for Best Indian Restaurant (under the ‘fine dining’ category) went to the hotel’s Indian restaurant, Ananta, this year.
My family and I had the pleasure of enjoying a fusion-style three-course dinner at Ananta last Friday.
When it comes to scrumptiously good Thai cuisine, Mango Tree never disappoints. Together with the ambiance, set in the very exclusive Souk Al Bahar with views of the magical Dubai Fountain, the restaurant is the perfect choice for a very special dinner out.
There I was sitting at my office desk this mundane Thursday afternoon dreaming up a fabulous weekend and feeling awfully peckish. And then I get this little brown box. *Cue in the haloed lights and angelic harps*.
Famished and curious all at once, I tore open the beautifully eco-friendly packaging. Munchbox is a godsend for office munchkins like me!
The Tezzy Files 