ramadan

Give the Gift of Blood this Ramadan

Ramadan is the month of giving, and the conglomerated feeling of generosity that has embedded the city is contagious regardless of faith, age or ethnicity. FMCG giant OMO has created charity bins at prominent malls (Deira City Centre, MOE and City Centre Mirdif) and even tied up with Uber for free pickups from home. Well-meaning residents have installed refrigerators that can be filled with fresh food and drink for the needy, and Iftar tents have popped up in every nook and cranny installing a sense of brotherhood that is so in line with the teachings of Islam.

Islamic quote the best among you are those who bring the greatest benefits to many others blog

 

How have you been giving back this Ramadan?

With shorter work hours, I’ve taken the time to clear out the wardrobe and used the Uber service to send off 3 big piles of clothes to the OMO initiative. I’ve also sent a home-cooked meal to my building watchmen (more on that in a separate post), yet there is one more thing I am planning to add to the list… give blood.

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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.

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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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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

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Iftar Preview at The Cavendish (Bonnington Hotel, Jumeirah Lakes Towers)

We are counting down to the most beautiful month of the year; a month of piety, abstinence and self-reflection. Ramadan is also a month of communal gatherings and feasting.

Cavendish Bonnington JLT Iftar Review Buffet Ramadan Ouzi Dessert Dubai Food Blog UAE Blogger (2)

 

On Thursday 27th April, I went to my very first Iftar preview this season at the Cavendish, Bonnington Hotel (JLT). The last time we were here, we were treated to a decadent Italian fare (click here for more on that). The suave, sophisticated interiors, complete with its starched white table cloths, dazzling chandeliers and well-suited staff, create the perfect setting for dining with panache. For the month of Ramadan, Cavendish has put together a gastronomic fare infusing international favorites with the exotic elements of the Middle East. 

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India Travel Diaries: Chicken Pulao for Iftar (a hearty recipe to feed a crowd of 40)

I am spending the last few precious days of Ramadan in India with the extended family. Iftars here are rather different from the UAE. When fasting in Dubai, we tend to focus on the socializing aspect of Ramadan, and are spoilt for choice with the plethora of Iftars and Suhoor buffets on offer.

In my husband’s hometown of Shillong (Meghalaya), Iftars are far more solemn and people prefer to enjoy them within the privacy of their own homes with close family. Neighbours exchange dishes, but mainly meet up in the mosque for the extended prayers.

Chicken Pulao Recipe Iftar Ramadan India Muslim Indian Recipe Shillong India Bengal Assam The Tezzy Files Dubai Food Lifestyle Travel Blog Blogger (1)

I spent the last couple of days at my maternal aunt Zuleikha Hazarika’s place, and had the pleasure of watching her very talented cook, Ali, whip up a giant pot full of traditional Chicken Pulao (an aromatic chicken pilaf fragranced with the spicy notes of cardamom, cloves and cinnamon). In the true spirit of Ramadan, the pulao was divided up into boxes, and distributed across the neighbourhood to close friends, as well as the less fortunate.

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Iftar at Ananta (The Oberoi): Indian Iftars Rediscovered

I have dined at Ananta, The Oberoi a countless number of times before, and the enticing, ever-changing menu here never fails to impress. Staying true to the culinary traditions of India, Ananta has always been one to keep true to its Indian roots, and the whole premise of their offerings has been to uncover forgotten gems from the different states of India.

Ananta’s traditional stance has definitely paid off, and the restaurant has received a number of accolades including being awarded 3 Black Hats under the What’s On 2016 edition of the ‘The Black Hat Restaurant Guide’, and bagging the prestigious BBC Good Food Award for ‘Best Indian Fine-Dining Restaurant in the Middle East 2014’.

Awadhi Cuisine, which originates from the princely Indian province of Lucknow, is rarely seen offered on UAE menus. Executive Head Chef Dirham Haque explores the tantalizing flavours of Awadhi cuisine and its rich cultural linkup with Mughlai, Punjabi and North Indian cooking, and does a great job at recreating a feast you would only expect to be served at a Nawabi table.

Ananta The Oberoi Indian Fine Dining Iftar review Ramadan 2016 by The Tezzy Files Dubai Food Blog UAE Lifestyle Blogger (17)

Taking the premise of Awadhi cuisine, Chef Dirham has created a delicious lineup of Indian Muslim dishes for Ramadan.

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Iftar at Mazaher (Convention Tower, Dubai)

Mazaher translates to orange blossom, a fragrant essence often found sprinkled on gourmet Arabic delicacies. It is also the name of Trade Center Dubai’s newest Lebanese restaurant, and I had the pleasure of being invited for Iftar there last week.

The restaurant interiors are delightfully bright, chirpy and bistro-style. With Parisian-style cafe seating, potted plants and arched doorways, Mazaher is every bit the quintessential boutique-style cafe.

Image taken from http://www.mazaher-dubai.com
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Donate a #KiloOfKindness this Ramadan at Mövenpick Hotel, JLT (Dubai)

Being charitable, generous and giving are just some of the kind virtues we are encouraged to act upon during the holy month of Ramadan. If you are looking for an easy way to give back to the community, you might want to consider being a part of the #AKiloOfKindness campaign by Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Towers. The hotel has teamed up with Beit Al Kheir, a special local charity that will benefit from the donation. All you have to do is donate a kilogram of non-perishable food items, and these will be distributed among the less-fortunate.

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The Positive Correlation Between Islamic Fasting & Fertility (A Guest Post by Dr. Monikaa Chawla)

For Non-Muslims, the notion of fasting from dawn to dusk sans any liquids can sound very daunting. As a practicing Muslim, I get asked about this all the time. The truth is our bodies are the most amazing, adaptable machines and ask any fasting muslim, it really does get easier by Day 2 itself.

Why do we do it? It is ordained by the Almighty for a number of reasons. It gives our bodies a much needed break (the idea of intermittent fasting is only just gaining popularity in mainstream media, but we have been doing it all along!), it helps us develop the virtue of patience and brotherhood, and brings the community together.

In the recent past, the evidence showcasing the endless benefits of fasting has been gaining momentum, and that would be a topic that would stretch across a number of blog posts. One of the lesser known benefits of Islamic fasting is the positive effect it has on fertility. Today’s guest post is by the very articulate Dr. Monikaa Chawla, a Reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist at Fakih IVF Abu Dhabi, who has been practicing the subspecialty for more than 16 years. Dr. Monikaa is not a Muslim and this is what makes her unbiased, scientifically backed reasonings behind the positive link of Islamic fasting and fertility a very interesting one! Read on for more.

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