history

Karim’s of Delhi #HistoricFeasting

I spent my Eid week off in the hustle bustle of Delhi, the capital city of India. Delhi is brimming with old-world charm, and I was last here over a decade ago to shop for my wedding trousseau.

Apart from the chaotic markets clamored with colorful, exotic ware and bargain steals, Delhi is also known as a foodie destination. One of the landmarks of the city is Karim’s of Delhi, located in the heart of Chandni Chowk, Old Delhi and at a walkable distance from iconic Jama Masjid (one of India’s largest mosques built between 1644 to 1656 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan).

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The Big Mac Just Got Bigger

Can you believe the iconic McDonald’s Big Mac Burger is turning 50 years old this Wednesday 14th March 2018? Despite all the media slack this fast-food giant may have faced in the recent past, big brands like these are here to stay and celebrate their success.

To commemorate 5 decades of decadence, McDonald’s has come up with 2 limited edition versions of the Big Mac.

big mac

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10 Inspirational Women Who Changed the World

Today, 8th of March, is International Women’s Day, a sacred date on the calendar dating as far back as 1910. Although gender equality has come a long way since then, many feminists will argue we still have many stones to turn. Many major roles including the government and high-flying corporate roles are still very much male-dominated. Many cultures still have women on second rank.

#GirlPower has come a long way, and today I’d like to celebrate 10 specific women who have gone against all odds to change the world for the better. In no particular order, here are my favorite top 10 super-women:

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All Aboard Bateaux Dubai (Luxury Cruise Across the Dubai Creek)

The waters of Dubai Creek host a wide number of floating restaurants, the majority of which serve up buffets onboard gaudily decked up wooden dhows. Bateaux Dubai is a far cry from the norm. This glass-enclosed air conditioned luxury cruise, complete with a set gourmet menu and live entertainment, makes for a very memorable experience and it is therefore no surprise to learn that Batueax Dubai has been touted as one of the top 10 things to do in our city.

bateaux-dubai-exterior
Image taken from JAResortsHotels.com

 

My husband and I set aboard Bateaux Dubai last Friday. Docking time is between 7.45 to 8.15 pm, and the cruise sets asail at 8.30 pm sharp. 

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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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Authentic Indian Fine-Dining at Bukhara (Globally Ranked Restaurant at Kempinski Ajman)

Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Bukhara is a historical city of Uzbekistan. For centuries, Bukhara has been a center for trade, arts, culture and religion, and fell on the Silk Road that connected it to the Indian subcontinent. This pathway brought the Moghuls to India, and was home to the great Mongolian emperor Genghis Khan. With this came a great deal of social and culinary influences such as clay oven baking, the art of skewered kebabs and rustic brass cookware.

Reliving the authenticity of this historical bond, Bukhara restaurant at Kempinski Ajman recreates the charm of a bygone era with a spacious interior elaborately decorated with unique, vintage curios, brass vessels and carved wood. Even the staff here are dressed to match the ambiance with elaborately embroidered suits and golden sandals.

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Ajmal Perfumes: The Origins of Oudh and the Making of the Middle East’s Biggest Fragrance Icon

In a market submerged with brands, only a few stand the test of time. And then there are those that manifest a sense of patriotism by embedding themselves into their adopted home of the Middle East. Such brands are as rare as precious gems, and the one that tops my list has to be Ajmal Perfumes.

With a history dating back to 1950, I have a special connection with this brand as like me, Ajmal Perfumes roots back to Assam, the North Eastern state of India. 

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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?

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Memoirs of the Gulf War #MyFatherMyHero

When Bollywood blockbuster ‘Airlift‘ released in late January this year, it brought back bittersweet memories of the Gulf War. My family and I were in Kuwait during the summer of 1990, and through the innocent eyes of adolescence, I can still vividly remember all that unfolded.

Airlift is an action-packed Bollywood movie that is based on the real-life bravery of an Indian businessman. Mathunny Mathews is credited for being one of the people responsible for fixing a deal with the Indian government and safely airlifting over 170,000 Indians back to India from Iraq-invaded Kuwait. Till this movie came out, I had never heard of Mr. Mathews, and if he ever reads this, I would like to say we are eternally grateful to him as my family and I were one of the many families who’s lives he managed to save.

However, our story in Iraq-invaded Kuwait was rather different from what was portrayed in the movie, and given today is August 2nd, the 26th anniversary of the Iraqi invasion, I wanted to share some of my personal memoirs from the Gulf War with you.

gulf war kuwait iraq invasion memoirs the tezzy files blog
This artwork was edited from aljazeera.com
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