Showing posts with label dubai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dubai. Show all posts
The Alshaya Food Tour: Texas Road House; Overseas Weekend feasts with VITAGEN LESS SUGAR
Labels:
affordable,
american,
buffalo wings,
dubai,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
overseas,
steak,
will return
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As some of you might know, I've recently ventured to the Middle East and back. In a research collaborative with the Alshaya Group, Dubai in a big to scrutinise a couple of major International food groups and assess it's viability in the South East Asian Market. You can read more about my unbiased verdicts here and here.
Sounds like a noble affair doesn't it? In actual fact, the non-stop whining and dining had tumultuous effects on the poor ole' tummy. Not to sound like an old prude, but efficient digestion has never been one of my strong suit. Thank goodness for VITAGEN LESS SUGAR that came to the rescue after four days of heavy feasting.
Shake Shack - The Alshaya Food Tour in Dubai
Labels:
affordable,
american,
burgers,
casual,
dubai,
family friendly,
must go
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Toss a coin out, even in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Singapore, and you'll probably hit someone who has heard of Shake Shack, or even better still, someone who is a big fan of the brand.
Being the burger fanatic, I've heard myths and legends about the roadside NYC 'burger' stall that had achieved cult status and since then, went forth to open up chains throughout the world.
And today, I sought to challenge that myth. Putting Shake Shack through the mill, with a series of burger debauchery and mindless gluttony.
The Alshaya Food Tour: iHop + P.F.Chang's
Labels:
affordable,
all-day-breakfast,
big groups,
dubai,
family friendly,
pancakes,
will return
·
I willed my stomach into ordering something from the dinner menu, 'it's just for tasting purposes', I convinced myself despite the gut's relentless protest; something about being over fed. I ignored it - then my mind wondered to the additional paragraphs I had to add to the growing review. *Groans*
If you think there's such thing as a free lunch? There isn't.
As part of The Alshaya Food Tour that has journeyed across half the globe to taste test 4 American-based brands, iHop, Shake Shack, Texas Road House and P.F. Chang's, who coincidentally have set their sights on stepping foot into the South East Asian market; we had to do our due diligence.
Reports before 11pm every night? I'm on it!
Read on for the low down on what to expect should you be lucky enough to have these giants embrace our shores.
Eating out: Aappa Kadai
Labels:
dubai,
restaurants
·
and for my come-back post or rather.. very late to update post; I'm featuring Aappa Kadai, a lovely restaurant joint in Karama that I've come to know and love. Thanks to my friend Amir who happily showed me the roads, with an added flair of v-i-p treatment thrown in...*sniggers*
So what shall start the meal off with? Why.. without a doubt, give their appams a shot. With the commis chef at his make-shift cooking counter, five pans in line, you're guaranteed a entertaining evening, even if you've got the most boring date seated opposite you (no, that wasn't a hint). Watching him in action, in a sequential fluid movement, pouring the batter, circling the mini wok like pans, then popping the lids on, moving on to the next one and finally returning to the first one with no time to spare and releasing it from it's steaming mould, certainly leaves one wondering how long it takes to master this art.
The Egg Appam (3 DHS each) was amazing. Crisp round the edges and holding a slightly runny egg in the center was an excellent base for dipping into the varied dips and curries offered by at the kitchen.
We also had the Mango Fish Curry, Butter vegetables and Vegetables Khorma.
The star that stole was definitely the Mango Fish Curry. Tangy, Spicy with that little ounce of heat to it, I was hooked on this dish and enjoyed both dipping the softer side of the appam into the luscious full-bodied curry, and chomping down a spoonful of rice drizzled in it's melodic sauce. Fruit curries.. ingenious I must say.
We rounded off the meal with a warm blast of freshly brewed masala tea (3 DHS each), seemingly more traditional than the usual cups of chai tea that one would indulge in at a Indian laborer's cafe here in Dubai. The Masala Tea's unique charm rested in it's strong blend of.. what else but Masala spice alone. Like bidding a warm goodbye, the tea sets off signals of delicious memories, good company and an urge for many more visits to come.
Aappa Kadai Restaurant - Karama
Delivery orders: 04-3848030
Opp. Lulu Centre; Other side of the park
Eating out: Al Marhabani
Labels:
dubai,
food,
restaurants
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Making a strategic expansion from the disarrayed area between Dubai and Sharjah, Al Marhabani has emerged with a spanking new outlet along Jumeirah Beach Road. Much to the delight of patrons around the region who are more than willing to put in that extra dollar (significant increment in price in this outlet in comparison to the original outlet) to indulge in this humble yet tasty Yemeni cuisine.
Specialising in Mandi, a traditional Yemeni dish of meat (lamb or chicken), basmati rice and a mixture of spices. The meat is usually cooked in a tandoor, suspended above charcoal and cooked till tender.
Being Singaporean, I would make the general connection of mandi to our popular Indian dish of Biryani (ahh.. fond memories of junior college and the frequent early lunch break escapades to lay our hands on Mutton Biryani seeps in); it's almost similar in structure and taste albeit less sinful given it's slightly moister rice, reminiscent of more stock added in comparison to the Indian version laden with good ole' fats. Nonetheless, Mandi despite it's healthier stance, does not compromise in terms of flavor and I was smitten by it's addictive combination of marinated roast meats and brightly colored rice.
Try the mixed grill should you feel a little more on the carnivorous side. Otherwise, the mandi dishes are a safe bet and a fantastic option to feed huge rowdy bunches of relatively hungry people. Passing huge dinner plates around the table can be a fun sport sometimes.
oodles of noodles
Labels:
dubai,
food,
restaurants
·
Welcome to the Madinat Souk - Madinat Jumeirah, where the vibrancy of an authentic Arabian market comes to life with bazaar like shopfronts featuring all kinds of knick knacks and precious finds.
Oh give me a break... have you even seen a REAL Souk before? Trust me.. it never looks as manicured as this, with outrageous furniture shops selling the most intricately designed stools with price-blinding spells to match? The heat and the bustle generated from buyers seeking a good bargain expelled only by the strong waves of cool air generated from the nearby air con generator. Sorry to burst your bubble fellas.. but if you want to see a genuine souk, you're in the wrong place. Unless of course you're relatively aware of the extent of this con job and are solely there for the purpose of filling your empty belly. Then this place does have its charm over its diners.
Today, let's talk about the noodle house. Introduced as a casual dining place cooking up a storm with it's fiery rendition of South East Asian dishes. The noodle house offers diners an unpretentious and comfortable yet chic atmosphere to dine in whilst keeping their eyes on the grill through the open kitchen concept.
Firstly, the quarter roast duck. Arrived in measly portions with glistening crisp skin nonetheless. No qualms that this duck was roasted perfectly, I just wish the staff were a little more heavy-handed with the pancakes though.
We decided to give the Wasabi Prawns a try as well given that it was sold as a new recipe contributed by our very own Sam Leong (maestro behind restaurants such as Jade and My humble house) during his short visit as guest chef to Dubai.
We were sorely disappointed with it's lack of finesse given that the prawns lack the same firmness and freshness as the ones served in Duck King. Presentation left much to be desired for as well.
Moving on, the salt and pepper calamari was acceptable with the sweet chili dip providing some high ground for the dish.
and finally the laksa... the highlight of my mundane week. A spoonful of creamy coconut richness and a good measure of good spirit thrown into the mixture. It's miraculous how some foods just evoke a happy feeling in your heart yes?
What is your happy food then?
Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Al Sufouh Road
Timings: Daily: 12.00pm to 12.00am
Normal operating hours during Ramadan
Tel: +971 4 3666730
I think you're cheating on me.
And as the temperatures soar to an intolerable high in the mid-forties region, and beads of sweat collect on your brow bone almost immediately after you've stepped out of the comforts of the roaring air conditioned room. I can't help but feel a well of dread and peaking annoyance build up within me. It's no wonder people tend to flare up more easily during summer.
What better way to cure the onsets of high temperature then with a cup of cool, tangy yogurt! Pink Berry is one of the many brands of frozen yogurt franchises popping up in the heat of summer in Dubai. Having its roots in Los Angeles, California, Pinkberry was the brainchild of two Korean Americans, Shelly Hwang and Young Lee. Now with 73 stores under its helm, Pinkberry sets out to conquer the international market as well, setting foot in Dubai with its first outlet in Mall of the Emirates.
So if you haven't tried it yet, why not take a break from the summer sales rack trashing event and head down for a cup of frozen yogurt.
Don't worry, I won't tell ice cream that you're cheating on him. *wink*
In the Making: Oven Heaven
Trepidation, anxiety, zeal and a spritz of hope. The current mixture to our project 'Oven Heaven'.
I'm praying that my shipment clears customs without a hitch. But some how I have my doubts.
Now I've got deal with conditional release requests for shipment to be signed where inspection of my deferred consignments will be carried out at my warehouse.
I wish I had a runner. During my recent visit to the Karama Dubai Municaplity office, I took a quick peek at the crowd in the room and realise that I was the only non-Indian. Having the food control department staff pointing to your name on the trade license and asking you 'so, who's your boss?' is a rather awkward experience.
erh... 'I am?'
More updates soon.
Sushi with a side of Manga
Labels:
dubai,
food,
japanese,
restaurants,
travelling
·
'Would you like a side of anime with that order of ebi tempura, ma'am?', BOY, would I have not been surprised to hear that line coming from the waitresses (clad in school girl uniforms complete with scarf and a braid of pink extension in their hair to resemble Japanese school girls from anime).
In terms of novelty factor, Manga Sushi leads the way in the Japanese food scene within Dubai. Breaking through the dime in dozen syndrome with its unique dining concept, complete with special uniforms, anime drawings splattered all across the walls and even the owner's personal collection of manga at the diners' fingertips.
Quirky factor aside, Manga Sushi delivers in terms of consistency of its food. Neither can you rate it extremely good nor drag it down in a bottomless pit of rants and disapprovals. The Spider (soft shell crab tamaki) served in either 3/6 pieces was mediocre, if not a little lacklustre with the absence of vinegar in the sushi rice prodding me towards a slight irritant state. That aside, the soft shell crab on its own was done quite well. Equally run-off-the-mill was my order of Ebi Tempura, it's batter not reaching the light frothy state that was enough to will me into submission. But I must admit to having slightly pampered taste buds. And in this case, it just wasn't enough.
All in all, Manga Sushi has personality, and that probably serves as its' only draw factor for patrons to return back for more. If you're looking for quality Japanese food, perhaps you would like to give Kiku a try instead. *twiddles thumbs*
Beach Park Plaza Centre, Jumeirah, Dubai
Opening times:
Sun-Wed 11am-11.30pm; Thu-Fri 11am-1am
Tel: 04 342 8300
eat, drink and socialize
Labels:
dubai,
food,
restaurants,
travelling
·
It's not often that I get a strong hint as to which restaurant I want to dine in. Blame it on my easy-going nature and lack of decisiveness, it can truly be such a frustrating event with friends sometimes. However, due to my building anticipation that resulted ever since seeing the construction panels surrounding the mystery space opposite our usual haunt Eric Kayser in Dubai Mall; I was itching to try Social House.
And upon my return from my short trip back to Singapore, I had the opportunity to pick out the lunch venue for the afternoon. "I want to go to Social House", I blurted; these words carrying an odd ring to it with a tinge of authoritativeness usually not present in my voice. *shrugs* Even I scared myself.
So.. social house it was.
All was in perfect order and I relished in the photo opportunity having fallen immediately in love with the high open ceilings and drop lights complete with the high shelving showcasing brilliantly marketed products meant to promote the fun-loving nature of Social House. Until.. I got a warning from the manager that other customers were not pleased with my spam of photography. I was deeply shocked since I did make a conscious effort to leave these people out of my shots, still I abide by the rules and placed my camera down like a docile little lamb, not without a silent resentment in my heart nonetheless.
The food on a whole was excellent and my bibimbap was gorgeously flavored with a tinge of curry powder (non conventional but still a good twist on the usual), extremely flavorful and addictive even to the last bite. The cappuccino on the other hand was disappointing despite my suspects of a joint venture with provision of coffee from Brunetti.
Special mentions goes out to the dessert. A warm banana tart with chocolate and caramel drizzle served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. Delicious in all ways given the crisp buttery puff pastry, the caramelised bananas in the center accentuated by the coolness of an accompanying bite of ice cream.
All in all, Social House is definitely not a fad and with its unique blend of cuisines from all over the world delivered in an appetising fashion. I'm pretty sure that the large crowds that have gathered in the restaurant are here to stay, at least for some time to come.
Dubai Mall
Opening Hours
Sun – Wed: 8am – 11pm
Thu – Sat: 8am – 12am
Call : +971 4 339 8640
Fax : +971 4 330 8185
Email : enquiries@socialhouse.com
Early morning..fresh fish
Labels:
dubai,
travelling
·
and sure enough, we got that and more! Let's see... snare remarks at our poor ability to recognise fishes and vegetables; requests for photographs from the enthusiastic Indian community; a box of donut peaches; persimmons and nectarines and not to mention, seafood in the form of crabs and fleshy pomfrets.
photos from our excursion...
Imagine having a fish shoved at you as an Indian fishmonger insists that you take a photos of the rather grotesque looking specimen. I love their enthusiasm though.
My favourite shot by far. A lonely old man just sitting and watching as the whole world passes him by. If I had the liberty of using a tripod, I would have possibly slowed down the shutter speed for a blurred effect of the moving crowds.
This little man over came up to me as we were unloading our wheel-barrow (yes, you can get the indians to push your purchases around the market after you) of goodies into the car and asked for a photo. After I nodded my head in agreement, he clambered into his barrow and posed. Imagine my stunned expression, masked by the camera, you could sense a burst of laughter on the verge of exploding off my chest. Even more so after he requested for my number and yet refused to pay my stated price of one fish.. *shrugs*
Dining out: Vapiano @ Dubai Mall
Labels:
dubai,
pasta,
restaurants
·
And if I must say, the bar stools were incredibly comfortable. Providing just about the right leverage over the beautifully swirled wood grained countertops.
The concept of ordering on the card was soon explained to us by a rather reluctant looking waitress who vanished swiftly soon after. With a bit of a struggle, I reduced my choices down to the chicken alfredo since it had the likes of sauteed mushrooms complete with a creamy sauce. Although seated at the corner revealed a marathon of freshly made pizzas running through the oven at top speed during the lunch hour that surely tantilized my taste buds. Next time perhaps...
more photos of the interior of Vapiano.
I profess my love for the odd center pieces on the tables.
I also loved the pasta at Vapiano. The springy linguine proving to be perfect nesting ground for the well seasoned cream sauce and the grilled chicken imparting a subtle charred flavor that made you wish there was more.
Shopping in Dubai Mall and looking for a casual dining space with affordable Italian food, head down to Vapiano today!
Vapiano
Dubai Mall LG,
Shop number 92
Dubai,UAE
i have nothing to say
Labels:
dubai,
food,
restaurants,
travelling
·
Let's do the extraordinary. Throw out the final verdict before the review...
My final verdict for this dinner would have to be that the food was mediocre and clearly laden with msg; trust me, I was stranded with a twitching eyelid for the rest of the night. But before I jump the ship, lets go through a clear narration of its offerings for the night.
Dumpling Queen, situated among the slew of un-appetising residential buldings in the China cluster within International City, didn't leave quite a good first impression with its sprawling surroundings exuding dodgey vibes, dust cyclones occasionally spinning and the smell of aged trash floating thru the air. Prejudices aside, I can't forsee anyone contented to live within such compounds, no offence to those who have already settled in.
So we are greeted by an amiable looking chinese hostess at the door, however, with a slight tilt of your head, you catch a glimpse of the chinese chefs (supposedly theirs) with cigarettes between their fingers, living it up in a cloud of smoke on the side alley. You make a silent prayer for clean fingers. You're unimpressed.
With the shrill voices of taiwan show hostesses ringing in your ears from the television overhead, you peruse the menu with dexterity, fingers leaping off the folded pages. After placing your order, you glance quickly through the oiled up window panes at the chefs cooking up a storm, flames ablazed, and sweat dripping down their brows as they toil.
The dishes arrive...
braised peanuts
Seafood dumpling
Stir fried Kang-Kong
Yang Chong Fried Rice (2 thumbs up!)
in the end, my verdict still stays the same. Question:Why do I feel extra thirsty?
Location: International City, China Cluster C15, Shop #11, Dubai
Phone: +971 4 367 4558
Fax: +971 4 367 4557
for the lingering souls
No words... just food.
Chicken
The maplejacks (from Ireland) in action. Pretty awesome stuff.
P.S. The Tiger Chilli Crab Festival was organised and held at Souk Madinat Jumeirah.
P.P.S The dim sum was pretty bad. In all honesty...
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