Fool me twice, shame on me: A break up letter with Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri.
Dear Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, I remember when you just opened — a sparkling jewel in Abu Dhabi — when you were the most exciting venue in the capital and a destination to look forward to. Unfortunately, the years have not been kind. My stay earlier in the summer yielded a horrifically humid (moist – ewww!) room, a visit further marred by the ongoing and incessant noise of jet skis and then non-stop thumping bass of the music at Pearls & Caviar. With the nearby Fairmont such a lovely property, I took to TripAdvisor to make others aware of the differences (and my preference) between the two luxury properties. I was therefore delighted when the Shangri-La management then reached out to me and offered a free night to make up for the rather difficult evening we spent in June. Without a doubt, this was a professional and classy response. When an opportunity…
AmStur Caviar @ Emirates Palace.
Confession time. I cannot remember a time when I specifically have eaten or ordered caviar. Full disclosure? As of yesterday morning, I was not confident on how exactly it should be eaten. I know, you can take my foodie card away and revoke my privileges. Of course, I believed blinis, along with some other special condiments, were involved with the consumption of caviar, but that’s about where my knowledge ended. Enter, AmStur Caviar. First and foremost, caviar is a product, like champagne, that to me is immediately synonymous with luxury. It is in a category of food you only see on the menus of elite restaurants, or an item presented to first class passengers. Yesterday, at Emirates Palace, as Mr. Nick Narsavidze began to explain the different types of caviar, I didn’t realize how excited one person could be about the many details of caviar (and its consumption). With an enthusiasm that…
No. FiftySeven Boutique Cafe
I was tipped off to this restaurant by another member of the food community in Abu Dhabi (the best recommendations always come this way, do they not?). Situated in a part of Abu Dhabi I had never been to previously (honestly, I thought the main island stopped at Emirates Palace…), tucked away in the back, is No. FiftySeven Boutique Cafe. While I do believe in my trusty Google Maps, I drove (more or less) into a marina/dockyard and ended up parking along a rather dodgy road. After walking through the set of residential buildings, I’m still not entirely sure how parking works for this restaurant. Moms with prams, take note (or, someone tell me the secret of where to park, because Google Maps is certainly not clued in). So, what’s the story behind this cafe? One foodie who wholeheartedly believes the style of a space influences how people feel. One design…
Inakaya: Unparalleled service.
Venetian Village and I are having quite the relationship these days… Up next on my tour of this unique culinary area of Abu Dhabi is Inakaya, a Japanese restaurant with only in three other locations: New York, Hong Kong, and Tokyo. Situated on the waterfront in Venetian Village, the interior of Inakaya is broken into different sections including a robata/sushi bar, a semi-private dining room, and a ‘glass house’ area which, when the weather is nice, can be opened up. Without meaning to, I’ve been to a heap of similarly themed restaurants in the past few months: Toko, Katana, Ramusake, Zuma (and even Asia Asia, if I’m completely honest) and I was curious where this Abu Dhabi entry would fall in. To start, I absolutely LOVED the presentation of food and drinks. We chose to sit at the brightly lit bar (a feature that sets itself apart from the other similarly…
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Tawa Bakery: Gluten Free Treats!
On my way out of Abu Dhabi (after dining at the divine Olives the night previously), I had the great opportunity to stop into Emirati owned Tawa Bakery. While Hubs is not celiac, we do try and avoid gluten, and have done so for years. Never mind the occasional pizza. Enter, Tawa Bakery, a completely gluten-free restaurant. As in, no gluten, at all, anywhere on the menu. Far better than the interior of Taste Kitchen, Tawa Bakery feels like a chic cafe, and there are fun details everywhere you look (including uniquely recycled chairs). Although the Eggs Benedict catches my eye, I’m here to sample the bread and so order the French toast (I opt for maple syrup and the additional fresh strawberries). To accompany the meal, I have a pot of tea, as well as a freshly squeezed orange juice. The presentation of the French toast is perfect…but does the…
The Third Place Cafe: Originality in Abu Dhabi.
The Third Place Cafe has been on my radar for some time… As I think I’ve mentioned previously, getting me off of Saadiyat Island when I lived in Abu Dhabi was nearly an impossible task. And going on island on a weekend? Forget it! Of course, now that I live in Dubai, for the sake of seeing a dear friend off on the next phase and adventure that is her life, traveling the 3 hour round trip to her favorite restaurant seemed no big deal at all. As you enter the unassuming converted villa (don’t worry, PLENTY of parking close by — a rarity on the island), there are a variety of places to sit (comfy chairs and couches or more private tables). Much like the Lime Tree model, the menu is not printed but instead written on a large wall. I, being in the mood for some sweets, seeing…
Suggestions for a progressive dinner at Souk Qaryat Al Beri.
At the aforementioned brunch at Sofra bld, Hubs and I left a little…ready for something else. As our room at the Shangri-La was constantly interrupted by the sounds of jet skis and music from nearby Pearls and Caviar, we decided to go out for a bit. I am pretty much always in the mood for salmon (of any variety), so our first stop was to Sho Cho. We lucked out with ‘cooler’ temperatures and chose a seat outside for sundowners (and LOTS of people ‘playing’ on jet skis). Noisy motorized watercraft aside, the food was fantastic, as were the drinks (a half pint of Heineken for Hubs and a delicious Dark and Stormy for me). For 6:30 PM we had the place entirely to ourselves… We ordered the Sho Cho seared salmon sashimi (with garlic, ponzu, ginger, and chives – delish, I could’ve had the entire thing to myself). It disappeared…
New flavors in the capital: Tamba.
For the first time in a long time, I decided to skip researching a menu before dining at a venue. Usually, I obsess check carefully and plan out exactly what I am going to try. You know what? I should play things by ear a bit more often. As my previous visit to The Hub was a bit disappointing and the night was only saved by a sneak preview of Tamba, I was excited to return and see if the food matched the ambiance. As per their website, Tamba is ‘an ingenious reinterpretation of the flavors of the subcontinent, with a contemporary twist. A stunning, loft-style setting designed to foster social interaction and culinary discovery.’ That’s a lot to live up to… So, let’s see if the mission was accomplished, shall we? Walking in, I was reminded of Hakkasan‘s striking decor (which feels like the set of a James Bond film,…
Come for the Camiloni, stay for the fish? A review of Original Fusion…
Ringing a good friend in Abu Dhabi, I inquired if she would like to join me on Sunday night for a meal at Original Fusion. “I’ve never heard of it,” she asked. “What do they serve?” Even though I had reviewed the menu, which promised to ‘blend great Emirati heritage with various European dishes’, all I could answer was, “Fusion.” (Unnecessary) reservation made, we arrived at an empty restaurant with our pick of tables (we were the sole patrons throughout the evening). With its loft-like atmosphere thanks to exposed duct work, an oversized light fixture, and a color palate of purple and white, the interior felt like a sophisticated airport lounge. I’m not sure if this was the intent or not. Why the bar area is located on the far side of the restaurant (therefore forcing guests to cross through the dining room) seems a tad strange, but I did enjoy the open kitchen concept. Having…