Food

Dinner at 3in1 Vida Downtown Dubai

There’s something magical about Vida Downtown. I’ve only ever been here in the evenings, and it never fails to amaze me how this space can be all at once chilled out yet classy. Vida Downtown is a cocoon of serenity, a far crying contrast to the gaudy hustle-bustle of neighboring Dubai Mall.

It was a Friday night, and a queue of high-heeled, decked up young ladies lined up for a table at 3in1. The billowing cabanas by the poolside make for an ideal dinner setup, especially on a weekend. I too wanted a table by the pool, but as we had our little one in tow, we decided to sit indoors.

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Shisha Party at Fumo Lounge by Rosso

Planning an intimate evening out with a set of close friends? Make the most of the beautifully balmy weather by booking a table on the open roof-top terrace at newly opened Fumo Lounge by Rosso at Amwaj Rotana (JBR, Dubai).

We got there a little past 9 last Thursday. The haloed yellow lighting, the swaying palm trees and an open bar created the perfect, chilled out ambiance I was craving after a long, stressful week of work.

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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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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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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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Netflix celebrates the launch of ‘Stranger Things Season 2’ with an enticing menu at Black Tap

 

Stranger Things, the ever-popular supernatural thriller, has started airing season 2 this Friday 27th October.

Exclusively aired on Netflix, the world’s leading internet entertainment service provider, Stranger Things is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana in the 1980s, and revolves around the investigation of a missing young boy and the supernatural events surrounding the mystery. The second season promises many more popcorn-gripping twists and turns, and I am gearing up to a Netflix binge-watch session this coming weekend!

And if the launch of Stranger Things season 2 isn’t good news enough, here’s enticing news for all you foodies out there…

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‘Art of Spice’ Diwali Dinner by Chef Sweety Singh (Medley Restaurant – Pullman Deira, Dubai)

We were invited back to Medley Restaurant at Pullman Hotel (adjacent to Deira City Centre mall, Dubai) for a scrumptious Diwali dinner by celebrity Indian Chef Sweety Singh.

We’ve had his buffet before, but this time round we actually got to meet the man himself! He greeted us at the door with the warmth of a long lost friend, and ushered us to his authentically Punjabi buffet.

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Diwali Brunch at Bombay Bungalow

Diwali, the Indian festival of light, is fast approaching this Thursday 19th October.

” One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.” – Wikipedia.

 

With twinkling diyas (Indian clay lamps), an array of festive treats and clothing as colorful as Bollywood dance sequences, Diwali is a great time of year to let out the inner Desi in all of us.

Last weekend we were invited for a Diwali brunch at Bombay Bungalow (at JBR, Dubai). This was my very first visit here, and I was absolutely awestruck with the interiors. The turquoise walls, the intricate vintage-style Indian decor is so picturesque and Instagram-worthy!

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Brand New Menu at The Meat & Co

 

Of all the steak houses I’ve been to in Dubai, the highest marbling of wagyu beef I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating has been at The Meat Co (a prime 9+ Aussie wagyu steak). These guys are really serious about their meat, and they are also one of the very few that offer to serve meat ‘blue’ (below ‘rare’, and served ‘sealed’, very red in the center and at room temperature). In a nutshell, they are true-blue meat experts.

I love this South African chain! Apart from their very specialized cuts, the ambiance at both their branches is magical, and the service faultless. So when I got invited to taste their brand new menu last week, the carnivore in me gave out a roar of delight! After a bout of shopping at The Dubai Mall, we made our way to The Meat Co in Souk Al Bahar. 

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