Food

Smoking Doll: Fusion Asian Cuisine

If you were to open a fusion Asian restaurant, what would you name it? Most of us would probably venture in the food labels realm, but who would have thought of Smoking Doll?! Such a uniquely clever name! Love it and love the logo showcasing the the tattooed, fan-bearing Asian doll oozing so much oomph. I was intrigued to know if their food was as good as the name itself.

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Smoking Doll currently only has branches in Abu Dhabi (at Galleria Mall and Boutik Mall). As we were at the capital for our staycation at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, we decided to try out Smoking Doll at the Boutik Mall branch. 

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Cafe Des Artistes: BoxPark Dubai just got a whole lot posher

BoxPark Dubai has become a bit of a dining institution in the city. Who would have thought that creating a whole lineup of retail space using discarded shipping containers can turn so iconic? #OnlyInDubai if you ask me!

BoxPark houses some of Dubai’s most happening eateries and quirky fashion labels, and is especially enjoyable given the lovely alfresco weather we are enjoying right now. But who would have thought that a topnotch, fine-dining restaurant (that too, very stiffed collared and French!) can open inside a box?! With gilded walls and cascading chandeliers, Café Des Artistes is BoxPark’s newest ‘kid on the block’. We had the pleasure of dining there a week into its opening, and the place was already overflowing with enthusiastic diners.

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Staycation at Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana

Last weekend saw our little family packing up our overnight bags and heading off to the capital. Located in the heart of the financial hub of Abu Dhabi, Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana seems to be an unlikely choice for a family getaway. With offices and convention centres a stone’s throw away, the hotel has a regular influx of business guests. However, much to our delight, the property also proved to be a nest of comfort as a home away from home.

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Super Easy Recipe Alert: Tezzy’s 2 Ingredient Gluten-Free Date Balls

Do you suffer from an incurable sweet-tooth and and always find yourself reaching out for a handful of naughty treats? I have a super quick and easy recipe for you… and its not even close to being naughty!

All you need is dates and coconut, and stored in an airtight container in the fridge, these little treats will last over a month (unless you gobble them up beforehand ofcourse!). Best of all this recipe is gluten-free, made of all-natural ingredients, and is high in fiber. You get the jazz… super healthy, super quick without the hefty price tag to boot!

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Birbal Ki Kichdi: An Indian Folktale Brought to Life by Tresind

The tales of Emperor Akbar and his wittiest minister Birbal are an integral part of Indian folklore. Their stories often end with a moral teaching, and have been passed down to generations of fascinated young children.birbal-ki-kichdi-story-akbar-birbal-folktales-indian-tresind-dubai-indian-fine-dining-review-by-the-tezzy-files-dubai-food-blogger-best-blog-ahlan-masala-awards-2016

Interestingly, Birbal was the only Hindu in Emperor Akbar’s court. Born Mahesh Das, stories of his timely wit and moral standing won him over as Akbar’s dearest adviser, much to the chagrin of his counterparts.

One of the most popular Akbar Birbal stories is entitled ‘Birbal Ki Kichdi‘ (Birbal’s Kichdi). What is Kichdi you ask? An Indian risotto would be the best way to describe it to a global audience. However, the Indian counterpart is not as starchy as the one eaten by Italians. Indian kichdi is made up of near-equal proportions of rice and lentils, cooked together along with a mix of spices, and enriched with ghee (Indian clarified butter). Here is how the story goes:

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Busaba Eathai: A Modern Take on Thai Cuisine for Every Palate

When asked what my favorite style of cuisine is, my eminent answer, with no hint of hesitation, has always been Thai. I love their flamboyant mix of exotic spices, the heat of their fiery red chili, the pungency of fish sauce, and the aromatic whiff of lemongrass. Many a time when I am out with friends, not everyone in the group shares my love for Thai. In those instances, I am thankful for food-courts, although the hit of ‘Thai-ness’ fails in comparison to a well established Thai restaurant.

Imagine my thrill when Busaba Eathai invited us in for a tasting of their new menu additions! Busaba Eathai has never been stoically traditional, but offer more bistro-style Thai dishes that cater to a wider global audience. Click here for my previous review. However, if you are like me and love it hot and pungent, they can crank up the heat any way you like! And if you are with friends who claim to detest Thai, you might just make a convert of them here.

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Cooking with Paul Estorffe: Recipe for Kipper Pate with Drambuie and Toast

We all have an alter ego, another aspect of our day to day facade that often gets overshadowed with the formalities of a stiff-collared designation. I have been blogging about food for nearly two years now, and it never fails to impress me when I manage to uncover a hidden chef in someone quite unexpected!

By day, Paul Alexander Estorffe is a Senior Communications Manager at The Qode, one of Dubai’s most reputed PR communications houses. I happened to stumble upon his Instagram account @paul_estorffe and was pretty amazed by the kind of spectacular dishes this ‘home cook’ dishes out! Do follow him and have a look for yourselves. In today’s guest post, Paul has been kind enough to share a simple yet very fancy-sounding recipe he has created all by himself; Paul’s Kipper Pate with Drambuie and Toast. I’ll be trying this out myself this week, thanks Paul!

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The Yellow Chili by Sanjeev Kapoor

A young boy, on a visit to his mother’s ancestral home in Meerut (North Western India), is left fascinated by a bright yellow find. So contrastingly different from the usual fiery reds and deep greens, this prized yellow chili happened to fall in the hands of a boy destined to be arguably India’s most celebrated chefs, Sanjeev Kapoor himself.

So cherished was this find that many decades later, Sanjeev Kapoor opened up a whole chain of restaurants called Yellow Chili. Where Signature and Options are the chef’s ode to Indian fine-dining, Yellow Chili aims to be your cushy neighbourhood retreat for some seriously good, home-style Indian dishes.

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