I was invited to the Iftar preview at Jumeirah Beach Hotel last week. The Al Safinah Ballroom gets an Arabesque makeover for the holy month, and by far this ‘majlis’ has to be one of the most photogenic venues I have seen so far this Ramadan.
UAE
Fancy some good old American-style grub for Iftar tonight? With Ramadan comes a whole new list of Iftar offerings which tend to be mainly Arabesque. If you are a tad bit tired of the Lamb Ouzis and mixed grills, head to Denny’s, your friendly American all-day diner that is open 24 hours a day.
I’ve done a post on Denny’s before (click here if you’ve missed it). Their portion sizes are generously enormous, and I have a particular weakness for their Slow Cooked Pot Roast.
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Celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor needs no introduction. A food icon whose popularity and repute can be compared to the very launching pad that introduced him to the world, I have fond childhood memories of my mother tuning into his ‘Khana Khazana’ cookery show on the Zee TV Network. His ‘Shyam Savera’ recipe has become a party staple from my mother’s kitchen, and it is heartening to see he has branched out as a restauranteur in the foodie scene of Dubai.
I have dined at ‘Options by Sanjeev Kapoor’, and recently got invited to the fine-dining equivalent by the lovely Deepti Chandak from the Jive With Deepti blog. ‘Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor’ is located in Melia hotel, Bur Dubai and we were here for a sneak peek of the restaurant’s Iftar offerings.
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Kcal, the ‘healthy fastfood’ concept that offers customized monthly meal plans, now has an upscale dine-in version. Joining hands with one of Dubai’s most popular five-star establishments, Gourmet by Kcal is a marriage of delicious ideas between the original Kcal and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi.
This unique concept is a godsend for the health-conscious. Every single dish served at Gourmet by Kcal is gluten-free, and all the ingredients used are fresh, locally sourced organic produce that is mainly bought from the Ripe Market. If you are counting calories, you will also be happy to see that the menu features a breakdown on the nutritional information of each and every dish.
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About a week ago, I headed off with the family for a mini break to Tilal Liwa Hotel. Located 175 kilometers beyond central Abu Dhabi, Tilal Liwa Hotel is located in Madinat Zayed – the Western region of Abu Dhabi, in close proximity to the Saudi border. Getting to the hotel from Dubai entails an infinitely long road-trip across the desert, and adds to the thrill of adventure and exploring a brand new territory right in our very own backyard.
Tilal Liwa Hotel is a strikingly Arabesque 4-star property that was originally created for VIP guests and royalty visiting the annual Camel Beauty Contest. Yes, such a thing exists – and only in the UAE! Celebrating its tenth year, this event showcases the best breeds of camels both from the UAE and beyond. During the event, the occupancy at Tilal Liwa is on record high. However, given the unique concept of this beautiful property, the hotel has been opened up to the public and is slowly but surely gaining a steady stream of tourists and local staycationers alike.
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I’ve been raving about my dinner at Siraj, the Emirati restaurant with a contemporary twist located in Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai. One of the decadent desserts I had the pleasure of tasting was their Luqaimat, a well loved Emirati delicacy of deep fried dumplings.
Crisp on the outside and dreamily soft inside, with the delicious flavours of cream, sugar and cardamom kicking in with every mouthful, these delicious plump little pillows truly are hard to resist – in fact why resist at all?
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The Kempinski Hotel in Ajman is the oldest hospitality establishment on that scenic beach-facing strip of the Northern Emirates. I have entered its regal premises earlier, having been invited for a #ZomatoMeetup at Sabella’s, the organic Italian restaurant. This time round, I visited their spa.
Who doesn’t fancy a day at the spa? Its the perfect excuse to unwind, relax and let the toll of everyday stress and anxiety wean away. Kempinski The Spa has a classic, simplistic layout with a spacious, brightly lit reception area where guests are greeted by ever-smiling staff.
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We took our tastebuds on a culinary tour around the Far East last week thanks to the elaborate spread at Toshi, Grand Millennium – Dubai. Although its name might suggest strong Japanese roots, Toshi is a pan-Asian restaurant offering a delicious fare from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.
You can opt to order a la carte, but a better foodie choice would be to try the restaurant’s buffet. The buffet changes every day of the week, and we were there on a Monday, trying out their Asian Barbeque & Satay Night.
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We were invited to a mock-Iftar party at Al Khaimah last night. Located in one of Dubai’s oldest hotel establishments, Al Khaimah at the Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa is a spacious banquet hall that has been accentuated with beautiful Arabesque decor. The interiors look rather vintage, and have these gorgeous Aladdin lamps and Persian carpets displayed at every corner.
Unlike many other hotels who have to revamp their space for that localized touch this Ramadan, Al Khaimah already has the much sought-after look and feel of the season.
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Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, is scheduled to commence next week. With a plethora of Iftar options being offered around the city, Dubai diners are truly spoilt for choice. Fancy having an Iftar meal in the majestic surroundings of an Arabesque majlis? Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre is revamping the interiors of their Falcon Ballroom this Ramadan. Enter the Layali Zaman Ramadan Majlis, and embrace the auspicious grace of the holy month.
The Tezzy Files 