Food

Matto Dubai: Italian Craziness at The Oberoi

Matto translates to ‘crazy’ in Italian, and this much-hyped new restaurant in The Oberoi Dubai, has worked hard on living up to this theme. The ambiance here is more in tune with a gastro-pub; the lighting is dim, a DJ revs up tunes from an amputated scooter, and a dominating wall displays this stunning graphic of a man swallowing a fish.

matto fish man

We walked in with our little 6 year-old, and felt a little out of place. This is not a family-friendly space, and given we got there on a Thursday night, the tables were filled with boisterous co-workers and doe-eyed lovers ringing in the weekend.

Continue reading →

Masala Pot: Urban Indian Cuisine at Bay Square, Dubai

I envy the people working in Bay Square, they are so spoilt for choice with foodie options. I’ve found myself revisiting this urban hub a number of times in the past few months, each visit for a totally different cuisine. Recently, we were invited to Masala Pot, a familial name that screams of fiery curries, biryanis and other subcontinental delights. They have a few branches scattered around the UAE, but I have never been and wasn’t sure on what to expect.

The restaurant has quirky-cool interiors, taking inspiration from newspaper cuttings. The walls are marked with tongue in cheek Hindi-English quotes relating to food, and everything here has a pale orange halo, so in tune with curries and the saffron hue of Indian patriotism. The restaurant looks more like a chic café, and the pricing here is definitely in line with this. A meal for two at Masala Pot will suffice under AED 150 easily.

Continue reading →

A Hearty Meal at The Coffee Club

“Where will I meet you?” At The Coffee Club ofcourse! With an affiliative tagline like that, this Aussie café chain has taken the global casual eating scene by storm! But don’t get fooled by the name, they have far more to offer here than coffee.

 

I don’t know about you, but I love a hearty, healthful breakfast… and can have it at any point in time through the day. There seems to be a dearth of restaurants offering all-day breakfasts in Dubai, and the ones that do have a pretty limited menu. Not the case at The Coffee Club! Infact, they’ve expanded their options under a new lineup entitled ‘The Chef’s Table’. Here is what I tried from the brand new menu:

Continue reading →

Staycation at Centro Capital Centre (Abu Dhabi, UAE)

We went on a mini road trip to the capital last weekend, and decided to spend the last few days of Ramadan in Centro Capital Centre. Conveniently located in the hub of Abu Dhabi’s business district, this 3-star property has proven to be a very popular hotel among business executives. The pricing is very reasonable without compromising on the quality of the experience itself.

centro capital centre review staycation abu dhabi travel blog uae (10)

Infact we had a dejavous experience! Walking into the lobby, I mistook this property to be Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana And even told the receptionist I’ve been here before! When we stayed at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, we were upgraded to a suite but they don’t have suites in Centro Capital Centre. The bedding, the sofa and even the accessories look identical to our last stay, with everything being compressed into a smaller, cozier space.

Continue reading →

Great Value Iftar at Boubouffe (Lebanese Cuisine at Bay Square)

Boubouffe (pronounced ‘Bou Bouf’), the chic deli-style Lebanese restaurant, has moved from Sheikh Zayed Road to a cosy nook in Business Bay. The brand new branch boast of a scenic patio facing the urban jungle of the Downtown Dubai area, and I am sure it would be a lovely spot to have an idle sip and nibbles on a breezy evening. Sadly we are in the peak of summer right now, and forced to find a table indoors.

Boubouffe Lebanese Restaurant Review Dubai UAE Iftar Ramadan 2017 Food Blog UAE Blogger (13).JPG

The interiors are beautifully lit, spacious and inviting, and have the look and feel of a chic boulagerie you might happen to walk into on the cobbled streets of Paris. ‘Boubouffe’ translates to ‘food overload’ in French, but apart from the name and chic Parisian-style interiors, the restaurant’s menu has nothing French to offer. Instead, expect to be treated to a very authentic Lebanese fare.

Continue reading →

A Contemporary Emirati Iftar at Logma

Logma, the contemporary Emirati restaurant chain, has made its mark in the Dubai foodie scene for its exceptionally good Chai Karak and Logma Fries. I’ve made pit-stops for this enticing combo right after work on several occasions, and as back at Logma last week to try out their Iftar spread.

Logma BoxPark Dubai Review The Tezzy Files Dubai Food Blog UAE Blogger Contemporary Emirati Cuisine (6)

 

Unlike most places, Logma does not have a set Iftar menu. Great news I’d say! More variety to pick from, and their menu has a whole lineup of brand new dishes to try.

I broke my fasting with a handful of dates, followed by a steaming hot, frothy glass of Chai Karak. My friend went for the Iced Chai Karak; the same hit of chai but decadently cold and perfect for this summer season.

Continue reading →

A ‘Peri’ Delicious Iftar Platter at Galitos!

Looking for a wholesome Iftar spread with the family, with a hit of good old Peri Peri? South African chain Galito’s has put together a Iftar Platter this Ramadan, and we went for a tasting at the Dubai Festival City branch.

You have a choice of two platters here; the chicken platter (priced at AED 109) and the mixed platter (priced at AED 179).

Continue reading →

Iftar at Tresind

Tresind, contrived from the French ‘tres’ for ‘very’ and the short-form ‘Ind’ for Indian, never fails to impress. The very young, debonair Executive Head Chef Himanshu Saini has many a trick up his sleeves and recreates popular Indian flavors in the guise of modern world cuisines with much panache.

I was therefore super excited to try out their Iftar 2017 menu, and off we went with my little sister in tow (who was visiting us from New Zealand). I reassured her this would be an Iftar like no other she’s tried before, and she has been raving about it on her social media channels ever since.

Continue reading →

Celebrate the Spirit of Togetherness at Fairmont Dubai

My very first ‘Iftar’ this year was a good two weeks before the start of Ramadan (oh the perks of being a food blogger!). On Wednesday 10th May, I sat at a very festive table alongside a mixed group of journalists, bloggers and their families to delve into a very authentic feast.

How does the Iftar at Fairmont Dubai differ from other grand, Arabesque Iftars that are so prevalent across the city this month?

Continue reading →

Master Chef Mama’s Moroccan Iftar at Medley Restaurant (Pullman Creek Deira)

Ramadan Kareem! I hope this blessed month is bringing you all the inner peace you have craved, and that you are enjoying the special time bonding with loved ones over scrumptious Iftars and Suhoor.

The previous years had me bloated as a food blogger with myriads of Iftar requests, many of them a repeat of menus whereby I actually started to feign the sight of Ouzi. This year, I am being more picky. I am on the lookout for more varied flavors that will help me explore the authentic cuisines of different regions, and how could I say no to an Iftar invite by famed Moroccan celebrity Chef Mama herself? I am a huge fan of Moroccan tagines. I love the play of savory with sweet, the fruit with the meat.

Moroccan Iftar Chef Mama Pullman Dubai UAE Review

Continue reading →