Looking for a chilled out space to hang out after a busy weekday? Add sea views, upbeat music by resident DJ’s, and lip-smacking contemporary Japanese cuisine, and Dubai dwellers in the know will, without hesitation, point you in the direction of Sho Cho.

Established in 2000, Sho Cho celebrated its 15 year mark in the Dubai foodie scene last week. When asked what they owe their success to, the recipe is as simple as sushi: a great location combined with funky new-age décor, contemporary Japanese dishes that appeal to everyone including the non-adventurous, and unmatched customer service.

With the weather cooling down to breezier evenings, we spent a laidback Wednesday after work at Sho Cho, alfresco. At Sho Cho, everything is lit up in vivid blue to accentuate the sea views, and upbeat tunes from the resident DJ made us feel right at home.

We were lucky to get a table facing the sea, as despite being a weekday, the place was packed! 11th November was Diwali, and we also got great views of fireworks by Burj Kahlifa from our table.

You can also opt to dine indoors at Sho Cho, but given the lovely weather, no one was found inside!

We started off with a round of drinks. The drinks menu is predominated with Japanese-sounding names, and they even have a separate drinks menu dedicated to different types of sake.

I had Sho Cho’s Tilen, a mildly sour drink that combines ‘Grey Goose’ vodka with Japanese sake. It has the exotic flavors of lemongrass muddled in, and garnished with cucumber and celery.

Hubby had Sho Cho’s Sakeria, a fruity blend of sake, vodka, Sauvignon Blanc, Cherry Brandy and slices of fresh fruit.

To accompany our drinks, we ordered Sho Cho’s Prawn and Coriander Gyoza Japanese Dumplings. These steamed dumplings are stuffed with a delectable mix of minced prawn that is mildly accentuated with the freshness of coriander leaves. The dumplings are gently pan-fried to brown the outer layer, giving each bite a slight crispness, and a dunk of the dumpling into the accompanying ponzu sauce adds a depth of saltiness that brings the seafood flavors to life.

The other appetizer on our table was Sho Cho’s Soft Shell Crab Spring Rolls. These crunchy, deep-fried rolls are packed with crabmeat. The stuffing itself is very mildly flavored, but dipping each bite into the Cucumber & Wasabi Mayonnaise gives this roll a hit of yumminess! I absolutely loved this dip. I could eat the whole bowlful by itself if it was socially acceptable! It has the creaminess of mayo and a mild heat of wasabi, yet it also manages to be tangy at the same time. Absolutely delicious!

When at Sho Cho, ofcourse we had to have sushi! Unsure of which variety to order, we went for the Sho Cho Lounge Special which is good enough to share between two. This is a generous serving of sashimi, sushi and maki and we got our chopsticks clicking over all this yumminess.

By this stage, our glasses were empty and we ordered our next round of drinks. This time round, I went for Sho Cho’s Bison Julep, and Hubby decided to try their Geisha. Funny how in both rounds, I ended up with the green glass, and hubby the berry-tinted option!

Sho Cho’s Bison Julep is a fruity-sour muddle of Bison Grass Vodka, Amaretto, apple juice and passionfruit puree. Geisha on the other hand is vodka with peach schnapps, cherry brandy and cranberry juice.

For those watching their calories, the drinks menu at Sho Cho has a ‘Skinny Cocktails’ section that lists drinks with lower calories, and even mentions how many calories are gulped per serving.

Given Sho Cho has been a part of the Dubai culinary scene for 15 years running, the restaurant has a special selection of six ‘Signature Dishes’ on the menu. We decided to try out two of these; the Beef Tenderloin with Teriyaki Sauce and the Rock Shrimp Tempura with Chili and Garlic Sauce.

We asked to have the beef tenderloin medium-rare, and boy was it ‘bloody’ good (pun intended)! The meat was beautifully tender, and that smother of teriyaki was flavorful without overshadowing the goodness of beef. It was served with a small bowl of steamed rice, which went untouched. We were enjoying the beef all by itself!

The rock shrimp tempura dish comes in a generously large serving. The combination of chili and garlic sauces on the deep-fried battered shrimp was exceptionally delicious, and we took solace from all that richness with the bed of greens it sat on.

By the dessert round, we were really stuffed and decided to share a Molten Chocolate Cake between the two of us.

If you decide to order a molten chocolate cake at Sho Cho, do so well in advance as there is a 25 minute waiting time (which is all fine and dandy with their gorgeous views of the sea!). The cake is baked in-house, and is definitely worth the wait. It was still warm when it hit the table, and look at all that chocolate lava oozing out!

Unlike regular molten chocolate cakes, Sho Cho adds a Japanese twist to this popular dessert by offering it in two varieties: green tea or ginger. We had the ginger variation, and could taste the characteristic heat of ginger running through that deep, dark chocolate. It was divinely delicious with an exotic accent!

Overall, we had a great evening at Sho Cho. Given we are finally getting to enjoy alfresco dining, the sea views at this place accompanied by the amazing food and fun, laidback ambiance makes it the place to be. It would be ideal for a weeknight out with friends, or even an intimate dating spot. Would love to see what they have planned for New Year’s!

Sho Cho is located in Marine Beach Resort & Spa (Jumeirah 1, Dubai). For more details on Sho Cho, visit their website. They also have a branch in Abu Dhabi!

If you’ve been following my previous makeup posts, you already know I’m pretty obsessed with the Too Faced brand, and the Too Faced Chocolate Bar eye-shadow palette has become a staple must-have in my makeup stash.

Today I tried out the ‘Haute Cocoa’ look from the leaflet that comes with the Too Faced Chocolate Bar.

Here’s a shot of my mug this morning donning the Haute Cocoa look on my lids:

Haute Cocoa Recipe:

• I applied the Champagne Truffle eye-shadow from the crease of the lids to the brow ine. This has quite a shimmer to it, and would be ideal for a night out (a little too loud for daytime, if applied to this entire area I think!).
• I blended Cherry Cordial on the inner and outer corners of the lids. I love this deep burgundy shade! So perfect for fall.
• The center of the lids were highlighted with the very shimmery gold eye-shadow called Creme Brulee. Adding a shimmery shadow to the center of the lids helps give the illusion of bigger, bolder eyes.
• The look is finished off with sweeps of Haute Chocolate eye-shadow on the crease, and the upper and lower lash lines of the eyes.

I lined my eyes with Makeup Forever’s Aqua Liner in Diamond Multicolor Black. This deep black water-proof liquid liner has a gorgeous shimmer of gold that makes it just that bit more special as compared to your usual black.

I used Makeup Forever’s Aqua Brow on my brows. This helps to fill them up, and give them more shape and definition.

I finished off the eyes with Boots No7 Lash Impact mascara. An intense volume mascara like this pretty red tube can really make the eyes pop open.

On my lips, I’m wearing Makeup Forever’s Rouge Artist Intense lipstick in Satin Blackcurrant. This is a very deep shade of brown-red, and I love it for its intensity. It can be made even darker and bolder with an additional coat to give the lips a Gothic edge.

For the base, I used Makeup Forever’s Ultra HD Foundation. This genius product has to be the best foundation I’ve used till date! I contoured my face with the Too Faced Contour Kit (read more about it here), and finished off with the Too Faced Soul Mates Blushing Bronzer (read the complete review on this gorgeous two-in-one product here).

And tadaaa… here’s a close-up of the complete look sans filters:

Pretty easy-peasy, even for a makeup newbie like me :-)

I’ve also tried the ‘Semi-Sweet’ look from the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette, have a looksie here.

I love the versatility of the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette. The colors are beautifully pigmented, and with some clever mixing and matching, you have enough here to take you from day to night. And did I tell you I absolutely adore that scent of cocoa?! I compared the Too Faced Chocolate Bar palette to its other very popular contender, Urban Decay’s Naked palette. Read my complete review  here.

Love playing with chocolate, and with Too Faced, there’s no calorie counting involved :-)

A Michelin star rating is akin to the holy grail of fine dining. It is a serious foodie’s Bible code, and topnotch chefs across the globe crave its approval.

But how did Michelin, a manufacturer of tyres, gain such authority over the world of food? Read on for its very colorful history.

1900: It all began in 1900 when Michelin brothers Andre and Edouard had a brainstorming session on ways to make the people of France go on more road trips.

1904: They hit the jackpot when they came up with food as bait; after all, the love of food is universal! Combining a love of food with travel, they created a Michelin Guidebook that was free to the public. It was a first of its kind listing of restaurants broken down by location, and opened up many new options for travelers.

By 1911, the Michelin Guidebook was adapted to other regions of Europe including Spain, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

1920: Given the demand for the Michelin Guidebook, it was no longer offered for free.

1926: The very first Michelin Stars were awarded!

1997: The Michelin rating system started getting a reputation for choosing only the fancier, higher-priced restaurants. To avoid loosing out on the general public who favored lower-priced meals, the Michelin Guide created a new distinction called ‘The Bib Gourmand’. Named after the mummified mascot of Michelin Tyres who was created by cartoonist O’Galop in 1898, The Bib Gourmand is awarded to restaurants deemed fit for the ‘value for money’ status.

Bib looks like a mummy, but was actually created to look like he is made of tyres. Interestingly, the original Michelin tagline was ‘Nunc est Bibendum’ which translates to ‘let us drink’. This was to showcase the ability of the tyres to ‘absorb’ everything in their path, and also fits in perfectly with the brand’s link to food.

2001: The Michelin guide was made available online on www.ViaMichelin.com

2005 – 2007: The Michelin Guide enters the American and Asian markets.

2009: The Michelin Guide celebrates its 100th French edition, and an iPhone app gets introduced.

2015: The Michelin Guide now covers over 24 countries across four continents!

With a plethora of beauty brands in malls around Dubai, I’ve walked past my local Inglot store a number of times but only recently ventured in to have a play.

Stepping in, I transformed into a child in a candy store. The store is so vibrant with colours in every shade imaginable, and its all out there for everyone to have a play with! The lovely store ladies even give you beauty brushes to have a go as you please.

I own a number of eye-shadow palettes, but most of my shades are more on the neutral earthy tones. I wanted something just a wee bit brighter and peppier for the festive season and was drooling over the eye-shadow counter. What a gorgeous variety of colors! Moreover, on swatching on my hands, I was amazed to see how pigmented the colors were. The vividness of Inglot’s eye-shadow colours can easily beat even my most treasured Urban Decay Naked and Too Faced Chocolate Bar palettes.

With quality like this, I was expecting the accompanying price tags to match Sephora’s. Imagine my shock when I was told each eye-shadow costs a mere AED 35!

This is for the eye-shadow by itself sans palette. But here’s the real beauty of shopping at Inglot: They have these cute little Freedom Palettes that allow you to collect eye-shadows, lip-glosses, eyebrow powder, etc into your very own customized palette! You can make a set of 3, 5 or 10 products in one.

The newest innovation at Inglot is their Flexi Palette. This slim magnetic box can hold a variety of Inglot products, and is super convenient to carry around in the bag or when travelling. The Flexi Palette costs AED 168, and you can keep adding Inglot goodies to your personal mix as you go.

The products just ‘click’ into the palette with their magnet mechanism, and the cover is also magnetic. It is firm enough to carry around in the bag without worrying about it all coming undone.

Here’s my Flexi Palette:

The lady at my Inglot store was very accommodating, and helped me out with my colour choices. With so many options, I was going a bit overboard!

I wanted a set of eye-shadows to recreate my own version of a smoky eye, but with a hint of purple. For this look, I got Inglot’s eye-shadow in 325, a gorgeous matt aubergine. The lady at the store was super helpful, and helped me pick two more shades to go with the purple; a pale pink for the brow line, and a dark brown to do the crease (all in matt). I also loved their range of greens, and got the rather vibrant shade of 331. I figured I could substitute the purple for green for a completely different look.

Just look at how pigmented these shades are! Absolutely gorgeous.

I also got a brow powder in 559, so that it would conveniently live together in my Inglot Flexi Palette.

If I am to carry this palette on the run, I would need a blush and pressed powder. For the blush, I was recommended Inglot’s ‘Blush 30’ (AED 40) and the pressed powder I went for the 405 (AED 50) which has the most subtle golden hue.

I also got an Inglot lipstick in 405. It’s a pretty beige-brown with a hint of pink, and very, very matt. For AED 75, the texture of this lipstick is pretty impressive. It goes on smoothly, and has lasted me an entire work day (with minor touch-ups).

Here’s my completed look:

My complete palette (excluding the lipstick) cost me AED 425 (the empty palette on its own costs AED 160), which to me is a great price for a whole palette of beautiful, high-quality products in colours I chose myself.

I am having so much fun with this super handy palette. I love the innovative idea of creating a set of colours on my own, and am planning to go back to get a lip gloss for my palette collection.

For more details on Inglot, check out their website. I bet you’ll go colour crazy too!

 Atelier-Flou, the luxury fragrance brand originating from France, has made its debut into the UAE and GCC market this summer, and I had the pleasure of having a brief chat with the founder of the brand, Jean-François Cabos himself!

Atelier-Flou follows the age-old principles of perfumery, using the rarest of natural ingredients. The brand does not follow trends, it does not try to astonish or stand out. Rather, it lives by the principles of subtlety and elegance and prides itself for its unmatched quality. Read on for more on Atelier-Flou from the maker himself.

Have you always had a keen sense of smell? What influenced you into becoming a perfumer?

Yes, as long as I can remember, I was attracted by all sorts of fragrances. I am not a perfumer as such, I would rather define myself as a creator, a perfume designer.

Tell us about the Atelier-Flou brand. What does the name mean? How is it different from other perfume brands?

“It’s couture!” – This early compliment paid to the perfume compositions gave rise to the name Atelier-Flou. The term ‘couture flou’ is suggestive of carefully handcrafted work, artistic craftsmanship, diaphanous textures and free-flowing cuts. This draping technique does not aim at molding fashion to a specific body shape but rather at unfolding an entire universe around a silhouette. A dress with a flou cut is worn like an aura. Just like le flou in paintings which expresses intensity and depth, the flou technique in couture brings to light the possibilities of form in the delineation of form.

Flou creation is a magical process as it uses raw materials to take them to new heights. Haute parfumerie is a noble centuries-old craft, the great tradition of which is perpetuated by Maison Atelier-Flou.

The master perfumers of Atelier-Flou meticulously choose the rarest natural essences, blending them patiently with unique know-how based on experience, passion and a few well-kept secrets, until the desired composition takes shape.

When it comes to premium perfumes, the French seem to take the crown. Why so?

Indeed, this is a century-old tradition in France.

Does perfumery and fashion go hand in hand? What is the link?

Both take their origin in the creation process but fashion is more about trends, whilst fragrances are more about emotions.

Please give us an insight into the process of creating a scent.

The only thing I can tell you is that creating one fragrance (from the very start to the actual product) takes between 2 to 4 years.

What are the newest scents from Atelier-Flou?

Amarcord for men : Fellini’s 1973 film Amarcord (which translates to ‘I Remember’) was, amongst other things, about the waysour memories- part factual, part emotional- create a second reality that looms larger than the actual events of the past themselves.

Atelier Flou’s Amarcord explores that same space, delivering a disarmingly subtle incense scent with a spicy complexity of unexpected impact. Lush lily-of-the-valley and cool iris notes blend with smooth, soft incense to create a nostalgic vibe almost wholly untethered from any specific memory- it feels incredibly comforting without any of the typical gourmand/musk “comfort notes.” By the time the spicy base emerges to the fore, you’ll swear that Amarcord was the exact scent of your happiest childhood memories. It’s a trick Fellini would be proud of.

Has the brand thought of creating something uniquely special for the UAE market?

Not really. In fact, people in the UAE are such connoisseurs that there is no need to cater for this country as such. Atelier Flou fragrances are universal yet unique.

What are your future plans for the Atelier-Flou brand?

We are continuously thriving to develop new fragrances.

Lastly, what scent do you wear on a daily basis, and why?

I must say I wear them all, well, almost !

Atelier-Flou is now available exclusively at Paris Gallery for 975 AED.

For Him:

• Katana: This perfume blends Cypress, Juniper, Cardamom, Coriander and Patchouli into a masculine fragrance that fits every occasion.
• Black Purple: This intense scent is a mix of Fresh fern, Rosemary, Liatrix, Nutmeg, Amber and Vetiver.
• Amarcord: A subtle and spicy scent, Amarcord blends lush lily-of-the-valley and cool iris notes with smooth, soft incense that brings back memories of the happiest childhood.

For Her:

• Shamsin: A fragrance that is as gentle as a kiss on the hand, Shamsin boasts of notes of Jasmine, narcissus, rose, iris, cistus absolute, incense, cedar, patchouli and vanilla.
• Liva: Liva is a spicy, lightly fruity, subtly daring perfume with a burst of juicy mandarin and bergamot cut with a lightly spiced, vegetal presence that sets the stage for a spicy heart of cinnamon, ginger and pepper.
• Sloane Rose: This lady-like scent blends Jasmine, violet, orange, rose, cedar and amber.

The demand for high-quality, authentic Italian food in the UAE is on the rise, and with it comes a whole new listing of Italian eateries who pride themselves on using the finest of ingredients available.

One such restaurant is Per Te. I just can’t seem to rave enough about Chef Glady’s immaculate Italian creations, and last Saturday morning, he was sweet enough to take me to his goldmine for Italian cheeses; Italian Dairy Products.

Owned and operated by the very enthusiastic Mr. Leo Condemi who is an Italian national himself, Italian Dairy Products is located in Hamriyah Free Zone (Phase 2), Sharjah and is the only supplier of freshly made buffalo cheese in the UAE.

Before entering the cheese manufacturing premises, we were given lab coats, shower caps, and disposable mittens for our shoes. Thank-goodness I was wearing flats! The floors of a cheese factory are super slippery.

Cheesy Fact #1: Italian Dairy Products uses over 30,000 litres of water a day! The water used is pasteurized via UV lamps and runs through a special carbon filter.

I was accompanied around the Italian Dairy Products plant by the Per Te staff including Chef Glady, Mr. Leo Condemi (the owner of the brand), and Italian Pizza Chef Michele Alioto (he is wearing a lab coat that reads ‘Muhammed’! We had a laugh about how it can be his new UAE name).

Mr. Leo was our tour guide for the morning, and here he is showing us an endless freezer of milk. Italian Dairy Products sources fresh milk from Al Ain dairies, and also imports freeze-dried processed milk from Germany.

Cheesy Fact #2: Fresh local milk costs far more than imported German milk. The later is used for mass-produced, lower cost cheeses.

And this is what solid milk looks like:

Cheesy Fact #3: Milk is pasteurized at 72 degrees.

Ricotta Cheese

Solid milk is cooked to create ricotta cheese.

Cheesy Fact #4: Interestingly, ‘cotta’ translates to ‘cook’ in Italian, and ‘ricotta’ means to ‘re-cook’. I’ve learnt some Italian!

Here is a huge cauldron of ricotta being cooked:

The final product is fresh, amazingly soft ricotta cheese. Mr. Leo swears by its taste, and says the best Italian pasta is simply pasta tossed with ricotta and chopped tomatoes.

I enjoyed the very fresh, soft ricotta all on its own sans pasta. Delicious!

Mozarella

At Italian Dairy Products factory, there is a whole range of mozzarella cheeses being made.

Here is a video clip of the mozzarella machine:

It is spitting out 100 gram balls of mozzarella, and the mold sizes can be changed to accommodate to different sized cheese (from 500 grams to 50!).

Mozarella is also made into loaves for use on pizza.

Unlike the mozzarella balls which have a ready-salted base, the loaves are made without any salt, and left to soak in the saline from a tub of salted water.

The final saltiness factor is similar, but the loaves have a more compact, denser texture making them ideal for grating onto pizza.

Scamorza

Scamorza is an Italian cheese that is very similar to is more famous counterpart, the mozzarella.

When not compressed, mozarella cheese is incredibly stretchy! Just have a look at all the fun this staff member is having:

The stretched out cheese is braided into Nodini, Treccie e Sfoglia, a pretty Italian mozzarella perfect for presenting on a cheeseboard. It is also formed into balls that are left to mature in its own whey, and then packed in a saline solution that acts as a natural preservative.

At Italian Dairy Products, two kinds of Scamorza cheeses are made. One with buffalo milk, and one with fresh cow’s milk. Both types of milk lend a very different texture to the end result. As you can see below, the Scamorza made with buffalo milk on the left is more spongy and has a creamy, uneven texture. The one with cow’s milk is denser and just a tad bit more chewy.

Cheesy Fact #5: Buffalo milk has twice the amount of fat as compared to regular cow’s milk! 1,000 litres of regular cow’s milk produces 120 kg of mozzarella cheese, whereas you can get 150 kg with the same yield of buffalo’s milk.

Italian Dairy Products is the only manufacturer of buffalo milk cheeses in the UAE!

They are also coming up with a smoked version of the Scamorza cheese, and I am intrigued to see how that will taste.

Burrata

Burrata is an Italian delicacy. It is essentially a ball of mozzarella cheese that has been stuffed with mozzarella and cream.

Cheesy Fact #6: The stuffing inside a Burrata is called Stracciatella. This is made with a combination of shredded mozzarella and fresh cream, and can also be used on its own as a decadent base for many Italian recipes.

Burrata is hand-made at Italian Dairy Products. Have a look at the video showcasing the highly efficient staff at work!

Burrata by far is my favorite Italian cheese. I love the contrast of its harder, denser layer to its soft creamy interior. Calories galore; I wonder how the Italians manage to stay so slim.

Buy Italian Cheese in the UAE

The good news is that Italian Dairy Products cheeses are not restricted to the kitchens of chefs. You too can satisfy your craving for high-quality Italian cheese that is made fresh locally. Italian Dairy Products goods are sold in all leading supermarkets including Carrefour and Ripe Market. Look out for their cutesy cow logo adorned with the Italian flag.

My tour of the Italian Dairy Products factory opened my eyes on the whole story behind cheese. There is an art and technique to be appreciated.

We were accompanied on the tour with Chef Michele Alioto, an Italian Pizza chef who really knows his cheese, and he made a joke about how many children think all the grocery produce is actually born in the supermarket. I hope to take my daughter on a cheese tour next time round, and hopefully she will appreciate all the hard work that goes into making her daily sandwich.

Buon appetito!

Christmas is just around the corner. Beat the festive rush, and shop online. They say the best gifts come in the smallest packages, and everyone (including men, although they won’t admit it!) loves a beautiful piece of keepsake jewelry.

Tateossian is a London-based contemporary jewelry brand that caters to both genders. Check out their website to view and shop their gorgeous collection.

This Thursday, you can shop online at Tateossian and help Syrian refugees through the winter. Imagine a severe winter without a coat. This is the fate of millions of Syrians trapped on the Lebanese border.

Tateossian, along with Dubai’s leading luxury PR company The Qode, have joined hands with Lebanese-based charity, the Solace foundation.

The brand will be holding an exclusive online sale open to Middle Eastern customers tomorrow (Thursday 26th November).  For any sales made online on November 26th, Tateossian will donate 20% of the sales (10% for gold) to Solace.

The aim of the project is to “Keep Them Warm” ahead of the harsh winter conditions in Lebanon.  To thank customers for their support, Tateossian will be gifting those who make a purchase on that date a limited edition Anniversary bracelet.

When making purchases on www.Tateossian.com customers must enter a coupon code: keepthemwarm in order to ensure that the funds are directed to the charity, and the gift of the Anniversary bracelet can be delivered with the order.

Beautiful jewelry with a conscience (plus a limited edition bracelet for free!); no better excuse to splurge this Thursday. Happy shopping!

Last weekend found us at Q Sports Bar. They have a special brunch offer on Saturdays between 12 noon to 3 pm. For AED 179 per person, you have access to unlimited house beverages and get to eat a delicious spread of classic British pub grub.

Q Sports Bar is located on the ground floor of Holiday Inn (Al Barsha, Dubai) and the name of the place is derived from the ‘Q’ shaped bar that takes center stage on the premises.

The interiors are done up in funky modern hues of black, and looks totally apt for being a hang-out space for the big boys.

One side of the bar’s walls features round marine-like mirrors, and it looks very eye-catching contrasting against the black wall.

The vibe is stylish yet very comfortably laid-back. You can choose to relax in the very inviting sofas in the corner, dine at a table, or even sit at the bar. Q Sports Bar even has pool tables for those inclined to have a go.

Large television screens take up every wall of the bar. Some play sports, others play the news or running television documentaries. The channels are switched according to clientele choice.

Best of all, Q Sports Bar has a Juke Box! This is the first time I’ve seen one in the UAE, and it got me pretty excited. Personalize your pub time with grooves of your choice, or let the very well-trained staff pick what they feel is right for you.

For the unlimited house beverages, my husband had a few Heinekens, and I had three rather large glasses of watermelon juice.

The corner of the bar catering to the Saturday brunch is deceivingly small and compact.  They have actually packed quite a few dishes into this limited space, and if you are looking for a really good spread of traditional English pub grub, this corner will have you grinning ear to ear. Here’s a look at some of the dishes they had on offer:

My husband loved the freshly fried chips that came with the Fish & Chips, and the staff were kind enough to fry him a whole plateful to have with his beer.

The brunch also includes a salad station where you can mix up your own creations.

And look what I spotted at the dessert counter… Brandy Snaps! The ones at Q ports Bar are caramel flavored, and simply divine! The outer coating has the perfect ‘snap’ to it, and the cream filling has been accentuated with a touch of caramel goodness. I couldn’t help having two whole Brandy Snaps, and had to control myself from having more!

The other desserts I tried at the Q Sports Bar brunch was their Apple Crumble and their Berries Trifle. The Apple Crumble had a beautifully crusty texture, and tasted like it was fresh out of the oven with its buttery goodness.

The Berries Trifle is mainly cream with a few berries interspersed. I found this dessert to be a little too rich for my liking, and went for my additional Brandy Snap instead.

The Saturday brunch menu at Q Sports Bar changes every week, but maintains the British pub-grub theme. For AED 179 per person including unlimited house beverages, this is a great place to hang out with mates for a casual Saturday out.

For more information on Q Sports Bar and their running promotions, visit their website or call 04 323 4333. See you there next Saturday!

Wagamama, the British pan-Asian restaurant chain, has recently opened its fourth branch in Dubai. The newest addition is located in Palm Jumeirah’s underground mall, Golden Mile Galleria and we had the pleasure of being invited there for a review this week.

Styled with the looks of a modern Japanese ramen bar, the funky open-spaced dining area of the restaurant is invitingly casual and perfect for a long-winded meal with the family.

Where did Wagamama get its name?

There’s a cute little anecdote behind this unusual-sounding name!

Wagamama was founded in 1992 by celebrated restaurateur Alan Yau, a Chinese immigrant who landed in London aged 12 with no capacity for the English tongue. Wagamama was Yau’s very first restaurant venture, and he has since opened a number of noted restaurant chains including Michelin starred ‘Hakkasan’. Yau has been awarded an OBE (Order of British Empire) for his contributions to the restaurant business.

Yau decided to open a Japanese-themed restaurant at a time when no one thought the dining trade was worth investing in. He was brainstorming on a clever name for his brainchild, when one day he saw a young mother dining with her hyper little toddler. The little boy was bouncing about and fussing over his food as toddlers do, and the mother kept repeating ‘Wagamama, Wagamama!’. Yau approached her to ask what that meant, and came to learn its Japanese for ‘naughty child’. What a catchy name, he thought!

in japanese, our name means ‘naughty child’, or ‘one who is wilful and determined’

a good example of that determination is the art of ‘kaizen’, meaning ‘good change’. this philosophy sits right at our heart. it shapes every dish we create, and pushes us to find better ways in all that we do. we’re restless spirits. forever creating and making things better

we’ve been practising kaizen since 1992, when we opened our first doors in london’s bloomsbury. inspired by fast-paced, japanese ramen bars and a celebration of asian food, wagamama burst into life. we set out to create a unique way of eating. bringing the fresh, nourishing, flavours of asia to all

that was 20 years ago now. two whole decades to sharpen skills and refine recipes. to play with spices and discover tastes. we continue to get better with every day – Wagamama website.

The very first Wagamama restaurant opened in Bloomsbury, London in 1992. With a contemporary play on Asian flavors coupled with funky ramen bar interiors and competitive pricing, the brand quickly earned a cult following. Today Wagamama has over 140 restaurants in the UK alone, and is also present in 15 other countries worldwide.

At Wagamama in Golden Mile Galleria, you can choose to dine alfresco given the gorgeous weather we are finally enjoying here in the UAE.

Despite being a weeknight, the outdoor area of the restaurant was packed, and we found ourselves a table inside.

Upon being seated, my daughter was delighted to receive a Wagamama activities sheet along with a Kid’s Menu. It kept her busy while we browsed through the menu options. How cute is the little blue Wagamama bunny?!

We decided to start off with a round of drinks. At Wagamama, they have an allocated juice counter at one corner of the restaurant dedicated to creating freshly squeezed juices in varying mixes.

From left to right: Super Green, Fruit, Raspberry Rush and Carrot.

The Super Green juice is a very light, healthful mix of fresh apple, mint, celery and lime. The predominating flavor here is apple, which is accentuated with the mild saltiness of celery. From all four of the drinks on our table, this had the biggest bite of ‘sour’ thanks to the generous squeeze of lime.

The Fruit juice is a fresh muddle of apple, orange and passion fruit. I couldn’t taste much of the later in this drink; it was mainly orange to me.

Raspberry Rush is a mix of raspberry with apple. This too is a very light, refreshing sip with predominating berry notes.

My favorite fresh juice at Wagamama was the Carrot. This is freshly squeezed carrot juice that has a hit of ginger heat with every sip. Highly recommended!

As you can see from the photo above, we have a budding blogger on our hands! My four year-old has got herself a little camera, and now she insists on clicking all we eat as well :-)

For our round of starters, we went for Wagamama’s Chili Squid, Ebi Katsu and Steamed Chicken Dumplings.

The deep-fried golden Chili Squid at Wagamama gets a Japanese face-lift with a generous sprinkle of ‘shichimi‘ (a seven-spice mixture from Japan that is predominated with chili flavor). It is accompanied with a dipping sauce that has a delightful play of coriander and chili flavors, and is the perfect accompaniment with the crisp salty batter of the squid.

Ebi Katsu is yet another battered and deep-fried seafood starter with Japanese origins. The flesh of prawn is mashed up, but the tail has been kept intact making it easy to pick up with the chopstick. The batter consists of panko breadcrumbs which lends a crumbled texture to every bite. The Ebi Katsu is accompanied with a deliciously spicy chili and garlic sauce, and a wedge of lime for garnish.

And here’s a look at the Steamed Chicken Dumplings at Wagamama:

These little dumplings have been steamed and then grilled to give a textured brownness to the outer layers. They are well-packed with a mildly spiced chicken mince stuffing, and the flavors really come to life when dipped in the soya sauce served on the side.

We were hosted by Mr. Ramsis, who is the General Manager at Wagamama’s Golden Mile Galleria branch. For our round of mains, he recommended we try the dishes under the ‘Omakase’ section.

The Omakase (or ‘Chef’s Special’) section has 5 dishes, and Mr. Ramsis insisted we tried each one!

First up was the Yakitori Duck. This is a ‘DIY’ style dish that consists of a mound of rice that is topped with finely shredded grilled duck meat. On the side sits a freshly grated salad of cucumber, mint and white radish garnished with fresh sprigs of coriander. A small bowl of flavorful citrus yakitori sauce sits on the plate, and you have to pile up all this mixture into the paper-thin Asian pancakes served on the plate. Putting it all together is rather fun, and perhaps I over-stuffed my pancake as it was quite a challenge getting each bite down! The Yakitori Duck can be likened to an exotic Japanese variation of a Mexican burrito.

The Grilled Tuna at Wagamama is the perfect choice for the diet conscious. Seared tuna steak is grilled to medium-rare and served on a bed of quinoa, along with a miso cucumber and sesame seed salad on the side.

I loved how beautifully cooked the tuna was. As you can see below, the insides have maintained a perfect pink:

However, I actually enjoyed the quinoa even more than the fish! The quinoa on this plate was stir-fried with kale, red peppers, edamame beans and slivers of fresh onion. This wholesome mix is not only packed with nutritional goodness, but tastes amazingly good too!

The third dish we tried from Wagamama’s Omakase menu was their Beef Massaman Curry. All Thai cuisine fans will identify this as not being Japanese. However, the Massaman at Wagamama is not Thai either.

First off, it doesn’t have a coconut milk base like its Thai counterpart. Secondly, the use of vegetables may include shitake mushrooms and aubergine, but at Wagamama they also include sweet potatoes. This curry has a satiating homely feel to it. It would make a hearty meal over hot, steamed rice on a cold winter’s day.

The fourth dish from the Omakase menu features noodles, and was my husband’s favorite from all the mains. Here is Wagamama’s Teriyaki Lamb. The teriyaki lamb has been grilled and shredded, then tossed with mushrooms, asparagus, kale and mangetout and served towering over a bed of soba noodles. The stir-fried noodles have infused with a hint of wasabi heat, and include an assortment of exotic Japanese herbs.

The fifth and final dish from the Omakase menu was Wagamama’s Coconut Seafood Broth. This is with a very large bowl of mixed seafoods including mussels, scallops, prawns, squid and prawn that have been poached in a coconut-vegetable broth. The bowl is also piled halfway up with noodles, making it a substantial dish on its own, and is garnished with chilies, spring onion and fresh coriander.

Ironic how pale and bland the broth looks when photographed. The taste is quite the contrary; every spoonful is packed with a decadent coconut-seafood punch! We were too full by this stage to do justice to the entire dish, but we still managed to spoon out all the broth. I’m planning to have a bowl of Wagamama’s Coconut Seafood Broth all to myself on our next visit!

For our dessert round, Mr. Ramsis presented us with Wagamama’s Chocolate Fudge Cake and the Ginger Lemongrass Creme Brulee.

The Chocolate Fudge Cake is a slice of sin. The chocolate sponge is multi-layered with a deep, dark and decadent chocolate fudge and the cool scoop of vanilla on the side acts as a respite from all this richness.

Wagamama’s Ginger Lemongrass Creme Brulee is a clever play of Asian flavors on a classically French dessert. The blow-torched caramel upper cracked under the pressure of my spoon to reveal a very creamy, airy brulee right under.

The creme brulee has a subtle scent of lemongrass, and the unmistakable hit of ginger which is altogether unexpected and exotic at the same time. This dessert is a definite must-try if you are looking for something out of the ordinary.

With all this over-eating, we had to drown it down with hot cups of Earl Grey tea.

Overall, we had a very satisfying meal at Wagamama. 20 years into their craft, the chain has definitely gone to prove they know a thing or two about fusion Asian cuisine! Couple that with a funky ambiance and super friendly customer service, and you are bound to come back for more.

We dined at Wagamama’s newest Dubai branch in Golden Mile Galleria (The Palm). They have a total of 4 branches around Dubai. For more details, visit the Wagamama website.

Who was Yhi?

In Australian Aboriginal mythology (specifically: Gamilaraay peoples),Yhi is a goddess of light and creation, and a solar deity. She lived in the Dreamtime and slept until a whistle awakened her. When she opened her eyes, light fell on the Earth. She walked the earth and plants grew where she walked. – Wikipedia.

Aptly named after the Aboriginal goddess of rejuvenation and life, YHI is an award-winning spa located on the top floor of Melia Dubai. The spa won the prestigious title of “Best Luxury Emerging Spa” at the World Luxury Spa Awards this year, and I had the pleasure of trying out their YHI Synergic Body Therapy massage this week.

YHI Spa offers a plethora of treatments ranging from signature facials, body massages, Moroccan & Turkish baths and very soon, group spa treatments that can cater to up to 50 guests (would be ideal for a hen’s night, don’t you think?!).

Upon entering the spa premises, my nostrils were hit with the soothing aroma of an exotic bouquet, a mix of jasmine and lavender that put my mind at ease right away.

YHI Spa is dimly lit, and relies mainly on candlelight to further enhance the serenity factor of the ambiance.

I met with YHI’s Spa Manager, Ferdinand Taaca who has been the mastermind behind revamping the spa’s menu. With an extensive experience in the spa business including working across some of Asia’s hottest spa properties, Ferdinand has introduced new treatments under the YHI Spa banner, and has hired a team of highly skilled therapists.

Before heading for my massage, I was given a one-page questionnaire to fill. It included disclaimer questions on any allergies I might have, and also went into detail on the outcome I was expecting from my treatment. In my case, after a hectic week of full-time work and blogging, my priority here was to relax and destress.

At YHI Spa, you can also choose the type of music you want playing while having your treatment. From a choice of five rather zen-sounding tracks, I decided to go for the one entitled ‘Dream Time’.

My therapist for the YHI Synergic Body Therapy massage was a lovely lady named Suchita who hails from the land of massages, Thailand! She led me to my candlelit therapy room and showed me the little attached room where I could change out of my clothes and dump my belongings.

The Asian decor in the room adds to the magical serenity of the ambiance.

In the tiny attached room are all the amenities needed for the massage treatment. You can help yourself to a luxuriously fluffy white Melia Dubai bathrobe and a pair of slippers to match. They also provide a stash of towels and disposable underwear.

I lay head down on the treatment bed, and my therapist helped me inhale big sniffs of calming lavender. She began her magic with expert strokes down my back which proceeded along my shoulder blades, arms and neck.

I could literally feel the bodily tension melt away, and was halfway into slumber while my legs and feet got kneaded.

The therapist asks if her massage is firm enough, and is happy to adjust to personal preferences.

When I was told to turn over, the therapist placed indulgently warm pillows on my back and under my legs. I felt snug as a pea in a pod!

The massage ends with a good head rub, and the therapist gently whispers time is up. I would have gladly bundled up on that bed and had a few hours snooze. Alas! It was time to change back into my clothes.

You can opt to have a shower after the treatment. Unfortunately the one in my room was out of order, and I was feeling too lazy to go into one of the common shower cubicles outside the treatment area. Furthermore, I was rather enjoying the scent of the sweet lavender-based oil my body had been massaged with.

My therapist asked if I would like some tea after the treatment, and I gladly agreed hoping to extend my time in this peaceful space. However, tea is served in a common ladies’ room. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have had it on that bed instead?

I was lucky to have the common room to myself. Set up to look like a cozy nook of an exotic Asian house, I nested myself on a comfy sofa and leisurely flicked through the reading material on display.

YHI Spa has a number of teas on offer, and I decided to have their Signature Tea.

The Signature Tea is a freshly made brew of ginger, honey and lemon. This deliciously sweet tea has the characteristic kick of ginger, and bits of lemon pip floating around. Each sip was so delicious, that I drank it hungrily to the last sip and debated if I should shamelessly ask for a second pot. I decided to be ladylike, and wait for my next visit :-)

I left YHI Spa with a new-found skip to my step. Amazing how all that bodily stress can build up without you realizing! I am turning into a believer of a regular massage regime as it can definitely do wonders to overall well-being.

The YHI Synergic Body Therapy Massage is a must-try for soothing a tired body and rediscovering inner peace. A 60 minute session costs AED 450, and you can also opt for 90 minutes for AED 550. For bookings or more information on YHI Spa’s other treatments, visit their website. The spa is located in Melia hotel (Bur Dubai, Dubai).

Who doesn’t like a box full of surprises? Box Therapy is UAE’s clever little gifting solution that allows you to subscribe for a 1,3 or 6-month subscription starting as low as AED 127.

As a Box Therapy subscriber, you get a box of goodies delivered right to your door. Who said you need a special occasion to treat yourself (or someone very special)?

I got my first box this month, and when it got to my desk halfway through a mundane workday staring at spreadsheets, I morphed into an excited little girl all over again and couldn’t wait to delve into my box of surprises.

Every month, the items are changed around, but what remains constant is that each monthly box covers 8 categories:

• Fashion
• Cosmetics & Perfumes
• Fitness
• Nutrition & Cooking
• Home Decor
• Experiences
• Hair, Skin & Nail Care
• Electronics

Here’s a look at Box Therapy’s November 2015 edition:

The little pamphlet that comes in the box explains the theme of the month. This month, it goes under the title of ‘Simplify the Season’.

Simplify the Season: Don’t get caught in the whirlwind madness of the season. Take it slow, and make it a time for enjoying with loved ones.

Here is what I found in my November box:

1. Fashion: A Santa hat to bring in the festivities!
2. Cosmetics & Perfumes: A glittery eye-shadow by Impala that can be used in a multiple of ways on the face to add festive shine. I also got a matching Impala lipstick!
3. Fitness/Electronics: A funky set of earphones called Smokin Buds by Skull Candy. After all, good music what keeps you going in the gym!
4. Nutrition & Cooking: Cranberry & Chocolate Cookies by Baker & Spice. In my household we love any thing chocolate, and the addition of cranberries just rings Christmas to me!
5. Experiences: When talking about experiences, nothing beats a great holiday. The November box includes an AED 100 voucher from Travel Start (the budget online flight booking site).
6. Experiences: ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho is a thought-provoking read that I have come back to a number of times. How apt it should be included in the November box.
7. Experiences: A pack of UNO cards! I am addicted to this game, and having a round with a pack of close friends seems to be the perfect holiday treat to me.

The subscription for a Box Therapy box starts at AED 127, and you are getting more for your money with the kind of gifts included.

Box Therapy is the only way you can give yourself a surprise. Yes, you know a box is coming, but the thrill of finding out what is inside the box each month is worth the spend!

For more details on Box Therapy, visit their website. Here’s looking forward to the December box!

Eloquent Elephant, Taj Dubai’s friendly neighborhood gastro-pub, lives up to the eloquence of its name. Designed to look like a vintage gentleman’s nook, my vivid imagination pictured a Rudyard Kipling look-alike at a table here, sitting over drinks with his croons and twitching his hefty mouche.

The most striking feature of the space is a wall of festive-looking light fittings that take inspiration from glass wine-making vessels.

And ofcourse there are elephants, very ‘eloquent’ elephants framed in their formals, and looking very sophisticated indeed!

We had the pleasure of being invited to review Eloquent Elephant’s Christmas Menu. It was a set 3-course menu punctuated with festive flare.

Kiehl’s, the leading skincare brand hailing from New York, has had a long-standing affiliation with the artist community. Each year, the brand revamps the packaging of its most-loved products into limited editions based on the works of noted artists. Past partnerships include the likes of Jeff Koons, Kenny Scharf, Eric Haze and Craig & Karl.

This year, Kiehl’s has collaborated with sixties pop artist Peter Max. Inspired by the art legend’s acclaimed work “The Cosmic Runner” this season’s limited-edition packaging perfectly embodies Kiehl’s energetic spirit, and make for uniquely beautiful holiday gifting.

“It was a magical and inspiring experience working with Peter Max, as we as a company have such a deep admiration for him as an artist. Kiehl’s shares many of the same ideals that are celebrated in Peter’s work – love, joy, community, and environmentalism. In addition to our packaging, we are translating his design into our windows, in-store merchandising, and gift box sets which will provide our customers with an experience that evokes Peter Max’s vision of holiday in a uniquely Kiehl’s way.” – Maria Gustafson, Senior Vice President, Global Creative for Kiehl’s. 

“The Cosmic Runner”: Drawing from a wide range of subjects, Max captures the beauty of nature with sunsets over mountains, rolling landscapes, and puffy clouds, accented by his iconic “Holiday Flyers” that dance across the sky through his signature vibrant color palette.

Kiehl’s products that will get the Peter Max facelit this festive season include the Kiehl’s Crème de Corps, Crème de Corps Whipped, Ultra Facial Cream, and a new collection of scented Richly Hydrating Hand Creams in Lavender, Coriander and Grapefruit.

Lucky me, I got sent the Kiehl’s Crème de Corps Whipped and the hand creams! Already a major Kiehl’s fan, I was gobsmacked by the vibrant retro packaging. Your favorite brand in limited edition eye-catching packaging is surely a win-win to me.

Creme de Corps 500 ml – AED 280:

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps comes in a generously large 500 ml bottle, and is a savior for dry winter skin. Considered the most hydrating body moisturizer in the Kiehl’s line, this lotion is loaded with nourishing natural oils as well as Beta-Carotene and Squalane.

Although it can be categorized as a body ‘lotion’, it has a richer, creamier texture than most. I love how moisturizing it is. Kiehl’s Creme de Corps is like a rich cream, without the greasiness. The consistency of Kiehl’s Creme de Corps is absolutely divine, and would suit most skin types.

Moreover, it is fragrance-free making it ideal for sensitive skin.

The original packaging is classically simple and Kiehl’s. The Peter Max edition makes my bottle a gorgeous keepsake for the season!

New Richly Hydrating Hand Creams 30 ml x 3 – AED 190:

Inspired by the cult classic Ultimate Strength Hand Salve, the new Ultimate Nourishing Hand Creams are available in three scents—Grapefruit, Coriander, and Lavender.

Formulated with Shea Butter, which protects skin from dehydration and restores skin’s suppleness, and Vitamin E, which is known as a strong anti-oxidant and helps to protect the skin, Kiehl’s Ultimate Nourishing Hand Creams provide all-day hydration and leave sin feeling hydrated and soft.

These three little cutesie colorful packs of 30 ml hand creams come in one gift box, and would be ideal as a stocking filler for Christmas.

The 30 ml tube size makes the Ultimate Nourishing Hand Creams ideal for carrying around in the bag.

The Grapefruit Ultimate Nourishing Hand Cream has a refreshing citrus scent, and is currently living in my office drawer. A burst of grapefruit is a great wake-up call midway through a busy work day!

Likewise, the Lavender Ultimate Nourishing Hand Cream, infused with the relaxing, sleep-inducing scent of lavender, is ideal for the bedside.

I wasn’t too sure about a coriander-scented hand cream, but surprisingly this spicier variation of Kiehl’s Ultimate Nourishing Hand Cream is my favorite of the three! It is subtly scented, and smells rather exotic.

All three variations of the Kiehl’s Ultimate Nourishing Hand Creams are absolutely gorgeous on dry hands. The rich creaminess of shea butter means a little goes a long way, and my paws feels soft and supple without the greasiness.

Here’s hoping Kiehl’s keeps the Ultimate Nourishing Hand Creams in their range well beyond the Peter Max collaboration.

Kiehl’s Stockists

For more information on Kiehl’s, follow them on Facebook. Kiehl’s stockists in the UAE include the following:

Dubai Stockists:

• Kiehl’s The Dubai Mall, first floor
• Kiehl’s Bloomingdale’s, The Dubai Mall
• Kiehl’s Harvey Nichols, Mall of the Emirates
• Kiehl’s Mercato Mall
• Kiehl’s Dubai Festival City Mall
• Kiehl’s Dubai Marina Mall

Abu Dhabi Stockist:

• Kiehl’s Areej, Marina Mall

Happy holiday shopping!

Saray Sultan (or ‘Palace of the King’) is one of the newest restaurants on the Jumeirah Beach Road strip. Serving an extensive menu of authentic Turkish dishes, the restaurant boasts of an open terrace area that is ideal for lounging given the gorgeous weather we are enjoying this month.

Saray Sultan is located off Jumeirah Beach Road, in the Jumeirah 3 area. It is on the top floor of Reem Mall.

The restaurant is pretty easy to find, but parking can be a challenge. We were there on a Wednesday, and had to park in the nearby residential area around the back.

The interiors of Saray Sultan are airy and spacious, and look out onto the patio where more tables are lined up to catch the lovely evening breeze. The décor is simplistic and nothing over the top. Turkish chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and the open-plan kitchen can be seen from the seating area inclusive of the large brick oven used to bake fresh Turkish breads.

We started off our meal at Saray Sultan with glasses of Ayran, a traditional Turkish yoghurt drink. This frothy concoction is a simple mix of fresh yoghurt and salt, served chilled. What makes it special is the fact that the yoghurt used to create the Ayran here is made in-house. And how gorgeous are the copper cups it was served in?!

Beautifully rustic Turkish copperware is used for serving all the dishes at Saray Sultan. Much to my delight, the staff tell me they have plans of selling their merchandise in the near future! Even ordinary teas and coffees will get an exotic facelift served in this set of cups along with the cage-like tray!

For appetizers, we ordered a plate of mixed mezze. This serving features six traditional dips. From left to right: Hummus, Mutabbel (smoked aubergine and sesame dip), Cucumber in Yoghurt, Baba Ghanoush (smoked aubergine mash with roasted tomatoes), and Ezme (a mildy fiery chili paste in olive oil).

The mezze platter comes with a large, fluffy Turkish bread. Baked fresh and hot out of the oven and sprinkled generously with sesame seeds, this bread is good enough to be eaten on its own!

We also ordered a Pide (a Turkish variation of pizza). This one is stuffed with thinly sliced spicy Turksih sausage, and oozing with cheese. The presentation is beautifully rustic, and the flavors of the spicy sausage along with the freshly baked crust make this Pide a delicious treat.

For our main-course, we went for Saray Sultan’s Lamb Iskander. It came to the table covered in a shiny copper dome featuring a very Arabesque crescent moon.

Beneath the lid is a generously large serving of grilled, finely shredded meat that sits on a bed of cubed Turkish bread. The entire dish is soaked up in a yoghurt gravy that is brimming with the Levantine flavors of olive oil and roasted tomato, and go beautifully well with the meatiness of the lamb. The bread cubes are soft and soggy from soaking in all that gravy goodness, and can almost be mistaken for soft-boiled potato pieces.

The Lamb Iskander dish at Saray Sultan is very hearty and filling. One serving is more than plenty to satisfy the hunger of two hungry adults, and we needed to down all that richness with many glasses of water.

Even the water at Saray Sultan is imported from Turkey. The Sirma bottles (blue for sparkling, clear for normal) even have ‘Saray Sultan’ embossed.

We ended our meal at Saray Sultan with two of Turkey’s best known desserts; Pistachio Baklava and Cheese Kunafa.

The Pistachio Kunafa, featuring very fine layers of filo pastry drenched in a rose syrup, has been packed with powdered pistachio. This is a sinfully rich, moreish dessert and you can taste the buttered goodness in every bite.

And here’s the Cheese Kunafa:

Just look at all that cheese oozing out! Stringy, warm cheese drizzled with rose syrup and encrusted with finely shredded vermicelli is what adds up to a divinely delicious ending to a hearty Turkish meal.

At Saray Sultan, one serving of dessert can easily be shared by two, and we had to pack up the leftover dessert for home.

When dining at a Turkish restaurant, how can we not have Turkish coffee? At Saray Sultan, the coffee presentation is befitting for royalty.

We had black Turkish coffee with ‘medium’ sugar. It was the perfect digestive after the very filling meal.

And look what was served with the coffee… Turkish Delight!

We had a lovely evening at Saray Sultan. The laidback ambience coupled with great service and a delicious array of authentic Turkish cuisine makes it a must-visit. We will definitely be back for more.

Saray Sultan is located on the first floor of Reem Mall, Jumeirah 3, Dubai UAE. For reservations or more information, call 04 3217700 or write to info@saraysultan.com.

The festive season is upon us, and so are all the calorie-laden goodies. ‘A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips’. But with today’s medical advances, holiday bulge can soon become a problem of the past.

Surely nothing beats a healthy lifestyle and a regular exercise routine, but what if I told you I lost 47 cm in 90 minutes this weekend? That too, lying flat on a cushy bed while having a very relaxing massage? Read on!

I tried out the Shrinking Violet treatment at Jenny Rose Hair & Beauty Salon last Saturday, and am slowly gaining confidence I can finally splurge on that form-fitting dress for Christmas!

Jenny Rose Hair & Beauty Salon is located on the ground floor of Control Tower, Motor City (Dubai). Owned and operated by Australian-born Jenny Rose herself, the dynamic team have already made waves in the media within this one year since starting operations. Jenny Rose Hair & Beauty offers a range of specialized Elemis facials and body massages in their spa section, and have recently added the much talked about Shrinking Violet Wrap to their menu.

What is the Shrinking Violet Wrap?

‘Shrinking Violet’ is a scientific formulation created to reduce overall body fat. Made of naturally derived soya bean oil, the active ingredient in the formula is Phospholipid.

Phospholipid is found in fat-dissolving injections including liposuction treatments, and works by penetrating the skin’s middle dermis layer. When the ‘Shrinking Violet’ formula is rubbed into the skin, and then wrapped, the body heat helps the Phospholipid to act like a fat magnet .

Fat cells are converted to fatty acids, and are expelled from the body via the lymphatic drainage. Simply put think of a fat cell as a grape before treatment, and a raisin after treatment.

My Experience with the Shrinking Violet Wrap at Jenny Rose

Prior to booking a Shrinking Violet treatment, I was told to stay off caffeine 24 hours prior, and drink plenty of fluids. I was also told to have a light lunch 3 hours before the treatment, and nothing after that.

My Shrinking Violet appointment was at 3 pm, and I dutifully cleaned up a chicken sandwich for brunch before noon. I am used to drinking plenty of water, and would have had about a liter before the treatment.

This was my very first visit to Jenny Rose Hair & Beauty Salon. Tucked away in the friendly neighborhood of Motor City, Jenny Rose has built quite a reputation for itself over a short one year stint, and has a steady stream of regulars who dutifully book in for appointments to avoid the rush.

I was greeted at the reception area by three smiling ladies, and after my brief introduction, it was the lovely Bethan who took me aside and showed me around.

Bethan is the Shrinking Violet expert at Jenny Rose Hair & Beauty Salon. A Londoner who has worked her way through the big names in the beauty industry as a massage therapist in Paris, Abu Dhabi and now at Jenny Rose Dubai, her slim frame can be deceptive of how good a massage she is capable of giving!

Bethan handed over a disclosure form for me to fill in. It had a list of questions asking about general health issues, past surgeries and allergies, particularly to soya-bean. Thankfully I was negative on all.

Bethan then went on to explain the after-care procedures following the Shrinking Violet treatment. I was to avoid caffeine for yet another 24 hours (not that I drink much anyway). I was to avoid heavy-duty sweaty exercises as well as bathing, as this would just let all the treatment right out of the pores. She also said I could expect far more frequent visits to the loo in the following day or two as my body flushes out toxins and fat (sounds pretty good to me!).

Here is a look at my treatment room at Jenny Rose:

The room is spacious, and well lit and I love the salon’s color scheme of deep purple and grey.

On the treatment bed sits the tools of the Shrinking Violet trade: a bottle of the Tibby Olivier Shrinking Violet oil, a large roll of cling wrap, and a measuring tape.

Now here’s the rather mortifying part… I had to strip down to my underwear (oh I got to wear their rather flimsy disposable undie!) and stand on a mat.

Bethan got to work with the measuring tape and started recording my stats. She measured my chest, midriff, waist, hips, thighs, knees, calves and upper arms. Lots of numbers there!

As she did the measuring, Bethan marked out the areas with a washable ink pen so that when re-measured, we do the exact same areas.

Next, Bethan expertly smeared the Shrinking Violet oil all over my body, concentrating more on the jiggly bits. Bethan is a true professional, and even in my bare minimals, she put me at ease saying this was just another day at work for her.

The oil itself smells divine! Rather surprising as given it is soya-based, I was expecting it to be rather foul. Bethan explained the formula has been infused with hydrating, sleep-inducing lavender essential oils.

After the smearing, my well-oiled body was wrapped up all the way from my chest down (the legs and arms got their individual rounds). Stiff as a penguin, I felt like a spa version of Lady Gaga and struggled to lie flat on the bed.

Once I slid under the covers, Bethan dimmed down the lights. The spa rooms at Jenny Rose feature starlit ceilings which I think is a lovely aesthetic touch.

With soothing Zen-like temple sounds ringing in the background, Bethan proceeded to give my feet, shoulders and head a firm yet gently soothing massage (these were, after all, the only bodily parts exposed at this stage for a massage!). Bethan used the very fragrant Elemis Patchouli Body Oil for the massage. She tells me it has wonderful skin hydrating properties, and the scent is excellent for reducing overall stress and fatigue.

Cocooned under the warm sheets and wrapped with clig film, the eminent heat helped the Shrinking Violet oil work its magic.

90 minutes was up far too soon, and Bethan expertly slit open the cling-film in under a minute.

I was standing on the mat once again, and Bethan got busy with the measuring tape, taking care to measure the areas she had marked on my body with pen.

I was asked to rub in any excess oil onto my body, and once I changed back into my clothes, I was served warm ginger tea with a little plate of healthy bites.

While I relaxed over hot ginger tea, Bethan was doing the before-after measurement calculations. Bethan tells me so far, the highest centimeter loss in one session at Jenny Rose has been 57 cm. She said she gets super excited seeing the results, and I couldn’t wait to see how I fared.

And the results are out: I lost a total of 47 cm! I was super hyped! And Bethan tells me I could expect a little more loss in the next 24 hours if I follow her after-care tips carefully.

Interestingly, I lost the most centimeters from around my thighs. This was followed by my calves and then the waist.

Post-treatment, I didn’t look visibly thinner, but definitely felt less bloated. The following morning, my husband commented I was looking a few kilos lighter, although the scales have said otherwise.

I kept up with my water intake, and had quite a few rushed visits to the loo in the following 24 hours. I even got up that night, but didn’t mind as I kept telling myself this is all a great detox and my body is getting active at flushing out toxins and fat.

The Shrinking Violet wrap is therefore a great treatment for those wanting a quick-fix detox, and the slightly slimmer new me felt just that bit more confident at getting ‘Red Carpet Ready’ as the Shrinking Violet ad suggests.

To see optimal results, I would have to go back for a second session within 72 hours, and follow it up with 2 monthly visits. Seeing the dramatic measured results, I feel very tempted at doing so!

How much does the Shrinking Violet Wrap cost?

Each session of the Shrinking Violet treatment at Jenny Rose costs AED 650 (a total of four sessions is AED 2,600).

For more details on the Shrinking Violet Wrap, and other beauty treatments available at Jenny Rose Hair & Beauty Salon, get in touch with them on 04 551 6620, and you can also visit their website.

If you are following The Tezzy Files on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, you might already be aware of the special treat I have lined up for you this National Day…

Win a meal for 2 at Seven Sands restaurant worth AED 500!

To celebrate the 44th year of UAE National Day, what better place to dine than Seven Sands, Dubai’s newest Emirati themed restaurant at JBR? Read my complete review here.

Here’s 3 simple steps to put you into the draw:

1. Follow The Tezzy Files on Facebook & Instagram.
2. Repost the Seven Sands competition post on Instagram on your profile.
3. Tag 5 friends on your repost.

The winner will be announced on National Day (2nd December).

This competition is only open to UAE residents.

Good luck!

Yay for the long weekend! The UAE celebrates its 44th National Day tomorrow, and we get two days off. Add the mandatory weekend of Friday and Saturday, and we’ll be out of the office for 4 days flat :-)

What are your long weekend plans? I bet eating good grub is one of them! Why not whip up a wonderfully simple yet spot-on delicious sweet treat right in the comfort of your very own kitchen? With Nutella as the main ingredient, you know its going to be sinfully good!

The folks at The Meat Co have very generously shared their recipe for Nutella Cheesecake. Do give it a go!

The Meat Co.’s Nutella Cheesecake Recipe

For the Nutella Shortbread (the base):

• 160 grams butter
• 60 grams icing sugar
• 260 grams flour
• 100 grams Nutella

1. Cream together the butter and sugar.
2. Add the Nutella and flour, but do not over-mix.
3. Spread on a baking sheet, and bake at 180ºC for 8 minutes.

Nutella Cheesecake Filling:

• 1 liter cream
• 500 grams cream cheese
• 220 grams milk chocolate
• 5 egg yolks
• 230 grams castor sugar
• 2 gelatine sheets (or 3.5 grams powdered gelatine)

1. Softly whip up the cream.
2. Soak the gelatine, and keep aside.
3. Melt the chocolate, and slowly mix in the yolks and sugar till smooth.
4. Add cream cheese to the chocolate mixture.
5. Allow the chocolate mixture to cool, and then fold in the cream.
6. Melt the gelatine, and carefully mix into the chocolate mixture.
7. Pile the mixture on top of the Nutella Shortbread crumbs.

Nutella Ganache:

• 400 grams milk chocolate
• 200 grams Nutella
• 200 grams cream

1. Heat Nutella with the cream.
2. Pour over the chocolate, and let it melt.
3. Pour over the top of the cheesecake. Spread evenly, and allow it to set.

The picture above shows the Nutella Cheesecake served as individual jars. You can go for this option, or choose to set the cheesecake in a traditional cake mold, and slice up to share.

Bon apetit!

Happy National Day! I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday, and looking forward to the patriotic festivities of this lovely, breezy long weekend.

A big ‘thank-you’ to all of you who took part in the Seven Sands contest. I wish I could take you all to this stunning new Emirati restaurant, but there can only be one winner. Congratulations once again @tulip_dsilva I hope you enjoy Seven Sands as much as I did.

For those of you who want to try out Seven Sands, look up their details on my previous post and give them a visit. Or you can try recreating two of their star dishes all by yourself!

Seven Sands has generously shared their prized recipes for Humeidh with Green Mango Salad and Maleh Korse (baked Emirati fish parcels). What better way to spend the National Day weekend than creating a bit of Emirati goodness in your very own kitchen? :-)

HUMEIDH WITH GREEN MANGO SALAD

Serves 1, Preparation Time 25 minutes

Humeidh is a bitter herb known by botanists as Fumaria Parviflora that is a common sight across shaded areas of the deserts in the Arabian Peninsula. It is an annual plant that grows up to 15cm in height and has a delicate stem. Not only does Humeidh provide a tasty salad leaf and garnish, but it was also used by the Bedouin for medicinal purposes, being of particular benefit to sufferers of dyspepsia. This simple bitter-sour salad is one of the few on offer today at Seven Sands that use entirely local ingredients.

Ingredients:

• Green chilli 2 pcs
• Green mango 300 g
• Humiedh leaf 500 g
• Lemon juice 100 ml
• Pomegranate syrup 30 ml
• Seedless tomato wedges 50 g
• Olive oil 4 tsp
• Pepper to taste
• Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Shred the humeidh leaves, and cut the green mango into thin wedges.
2. Combine in a bowl and add olive oil and lemon juice.
3. Toss the humideh well.
4. Arrange it on the plate, and garnish with seedless tomato wedges, julienne spring onion and green chili.
5. Sprinkle crushed black pepper, and squeeze pomegranate syrup dots onto the plate as per taste.

MALEH KORSE (Baked Emirati Fish Parcels)

Serves 2, Preparation time 50 minutes

For the Dough:

• 2 cups plain flour
• ½ tablespoon sugar
• ½ tablespoon salt
• 3/4 cup water

To make the dough:

1. Sift the flour into a working surface. Mix in salt and sugar. Make a well in the center.
2. Pour olive oil and vegetable oil into the well. Mix the dry ingredients into the liquid.
3. Add water gradually. Knead the dough into a ball (if the dough is too stiff add some water).
4. Knead the dough on a floured working surface until it is smooth and elastic this can be done in an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, or in a food processor.
5. Form the dough into a ball and put into a lightly floured bowl, covered with a damp cloth. Leave in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size- about 6 hour.

For the Filling:

• Corn Oil 80 g
• Chopped onion 100 g
• Chopped local parsley 40 g
• Chopped fresh coriander 30 g
• Mashed garlic 20 g
• Mashed ginger 10 g
• Bezar spice 5 g
• Mixed chopped capsicum
• Ready flack maleh fish
• Whole lemon 1 pcs

To make the Filling:

1. Heat the pan and add corn oil, sauté gradually onion, ginger, garlic, parsley, coriander, capsicum for 2 minutes
2. Then add the maleh fish and bezar spice and strain to cool

To make the Parcels:

• Roll out dough using a rolling pin till dough is as thin as possible (5 mm). Invert a round cutter with on dough and press to have equal circles.
• Place the filling on each piece which forms a half moon shape.
• Press edges firmly with fingertips to seal completely (put flour on finger tips to help seal).
• Place the korse in hot oven (180° C) for 10 minutes.
• Arrange it in the plate and serve it with your favorite green salad.

Planning a meal out with friends and family this Christmas? Living in Dubai, we are spoilt for choice. Beat the holiday rush, and make a booking ASAP!

I’ve compiled a list of enticing festive offers by some of Dubai’s best-loved foodie haunts. Hope you find this directory useful, Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve:

ELOQUENT ELEPHANT

Location: Taj Dubai

Overview: Throughout December and up until the New Year, Eloquent Elephant, Taj Dubai’s friendly neighborhood gastro-pub, has something special for this festive season.

Read more about Eloquent Elephant’s festive offers by clicking on the image below:

NOCHE BUENA – SIGNATURE BY SANJEEV KAPOOR

Location: Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor

Overview: This Christmas Eve, enjoy a decadently festive Indian fare created by celebrity Sanjeev Kapoor. Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor will serve a refreshing welcome sherbet, and mouth-watering assorted kebabs plus Tawa, Ghara and Kadhai including wok tossed button mushrooms and bell peppers baked with bocconcini cheese.

Other incredible dishes include Tawa Lamb Chops, Mangalorean Fish Curry and Whole Spice Braised Smoked Chicken Stew and Lalla Mussa Dal.

A special selection of Indian sweets with a festive twist will be served as well including flavored Shrikhand, Carrot and Gulab Jamun Stuffed Chocolate Pani Poori and fresh fruit skewers.

Price:

• AED 199 per person with soft drinks and water
• AED 299 per person with house beverages

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              Signature by Sanjeev Kapoor, Ground Floor, Meliá Dubai

Bookings:            04 386 8111

HOLIDAY INN, AL BARSHA DUBAI

Location: Al Barsha (near Mall of the Emirates)

Overview: Festive fever is on at Holiday Inn Al Barsha. From 16th December till Christmas eve, a live choir will be performing from 7pm onwards. On Christmas day, the choir will play from 1pm – 2.30pm. What a lovely way to ring in the festive cheer!

Price:

• The Gem Garden: AED 109 per person
• Lounge@barsha: Unlimited sushi for AED 109 per person

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              Holiday Inn, Al Barsha

Bookings:            04 323 4333

BLUE ORANGE

Location: Blue Orange, The Westin

Overview: Buffet on offer with Live Entertainment.

Price:

• AED 680 Includes free flowing Champagne & House Beverages
• AED 550 Includes free flowing House Beverages
• AED 350 Includes non-alcoholic beverages
• AED 225 Kids buffet (aged 6-11 years)

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  6pm – 11pm

Address:              The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Bookings:            04 511 7139

BUSSOLA RESTAURANT

Location: Bussola, The Westin

Overview: Choice of either a 5 course set menu or a la carte dining this Christmas Eve at Bussola.

Price:

• AED 450 (excludes beverages)
• AED 225 Kids (aged 6-11 years)

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Bookings:            04 511 7139

FLAVOURS OF THAILAND

Location: Spice Emporium, The Westin

Overview: Enjoy the Flavours of Thailand in this festive family style sharing set menu or a la carte dining.

Price:

• AED 350 (excludes beverages)
• AED 175 Kids (aged 6-11 years)

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Bookings:            04 511 7139

HUNTERS CHRISTMAS EVE

Location:             Hunters, The Westin

Overview: Enjoy this 4 course set menu or a la carte dining to see you through to your Christmas morning.

Price:

• AED 450 (excludes beverages)
• AED 225 Kids (aged 6-11 years)

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Bookings:            04 511 7139

LATEST RECIPE CHRISTMAS EVE

Location:             Latest Recipe, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi

Overview: Enjoy a Christmas Eve buffet with family & friends.

Price:

• AED 350 (excludes beverages)
• AED 175 Kids (aged 6-11 years)

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 10.30pm

Address:              Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Bookings:            04 511 7139

CHRISTMAS EVE AT BUSSOLA RESTAURANT

Location:             Bussola, The Westin

Overview: Choice of either a 5 course set menu or a la carte dining this Christmas Eve at Bussola.

Price:

• AED 450 (excludes beverages)
• AED 225 Kids (aged 6-11 years)

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Bookings:            04 511 7139

A FESTIVE AMERICAN BUFFET

Location:             Original Wings and Rings

Overview: Taking a “the more (food), the merrier,” approach to Christmas, American Sports Bar Original Wings & Rings will be serving an extensive buffet with a traditional spread including Roast Turkey with stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Apple Pie, Christmas pudding and more.

Price:

• AED 189 with half a bottle of grape
• AED 169 food only

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  8pm – 11pm

Address:              Level C, Liberty House, DIFC

Bookings:            04 359 6900

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER AT VIVALDI

Location:             Vivaldi by Alfredo Russo

Overview: Celebrate the final countdown to Christmas at Vivaldi by Alfredo Russo. With a Christmas Choir performing all your favourite Carols and a DJ, it’s a three course meal with a festive difference!

Price:

• AED 300 for a 3-course set menu & House Beverages
• AED 250 3 course set menu & non-alcoholic beverages
• Children under 6 dine for free

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Deira

Bookings:            04 207 1717 / Vivaldi.Reservations@Sheraton.com

CHRISTMAS EVE AT ASHIANA BY VINEET

Location:             Ashiana by Vineet

Overview: Enjoy Ashiana’s a la carte menu with a special bottle price and live entertainment.

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Deira

Bookings:            04 207 1733 / Ashiana.Reservations@Sheraton.com

CREEKSIDE JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Location:             Creekside Japanese Restaurant

Overview            Enjoy a buffet of all your favourite Japanese dishes, with or without house beverages, for a final Christmas countdown.

Price:

• AED 309 including House Beverages
• AED 249 including soft drinks
• AED 125 Children aged 6-12 (Children under 6 dine for free)

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Deira

Bookings:            04 207 1750 /Creekside.Reservations@Sheraton.com

BIG EASY CHRISTMAS EVE

Location:             The Els Club, Dubai Sports City

Overview            Enjoy a set menu dinner at The Big Easy this Christmas Eve.

Price:                    Starting from AED 285 per person

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  6pm – 11pm

Address:              The Els Club, Dubai Sports City

Bookings:            04 425 1037

261 CHRISTMAS EVE BBQ

Location:             The Els Club, Dubai Sports City

Overview            Bring the family and enjoy a BBQ evening on the terrace this Christmas Eve.

Price:                    Starting from AED 145 per person

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Times:                  6.30pm – 10pm

Address:              The Els Club, Dubai Sports City

Bookings:            04 425 1037

CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE SPORTSMAN’S ARMS

Location:             Sportsman’s Arms, Zayed Sports City

Overview            Christmas Eve will be packed with the season’s cheer, featuring an a la carte menu with festive specials. Classic roasted chestnuts will also be available on the barbeque terrace, a perfect place to spend the night before Christmas with your nearest and dearest.

Day:                       Thursday 24^th December

Address:              1^st Floor, International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City

Bookings:            02 403 4235 / reservations@sportsmanszsc.com

On Christmas Day:

FUME

Location: Pier 7 (Marina Mall, Dubai) and Downtown Dubai

Overview: Fume, the funky neighbourhood eatery offering fusion cuisines from around the world, has created a very special set brunch menu for Christmas day! They are also offering a special edition festive menu from 20th to 26th December, and it is sure to be a hit with the entire family.

Price: AED 195 per person

Day: Friday 25^th December (Or try their festive a la carte menu between 20th to 26th December)

Times:                  1pm – 5pm

Address:              Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai

Bookings:           

• Fümé Pier 7, Dubai Marina: tel. +971 4 421 5669
• Fümé Downtown Dubai: tel. +971 4 456 8784

IRIS

Location: The Oberoi, Dubai

Overview: A Christmas brunch like you’ve never seen before! Iris Dubai offers its own take on festive jollity with the Christmas edition of their famous Le Brunch on December 25th, complete with snow decorations and delicious treats for the holiday. A live band and cheerful décor will complete the ambiance for an unforgettable day with friends, family and great food.

Price:

• AED 360 includes the buffet with soft drinks and mocktails
• AED 460 includes the buffet with premium alcohol
• AED 560 includes the buffet with Prosecco
• AED 650 includes the buffet with bubbly

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  1pm – 5pm

Address:              The Oberoi, Dubai

Bookings:            +9715 695 11442

BUBBALICIOUS CHRISTMAS BRUNCH

Location: Bubbalicious (The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina)

Overview: The Westin’s restaurants combine for a festive Christmas Bubbalicious – join Hunter’s, Spice Emporium and Blue Orange for a fabulous Christmas feast, complete with live entertainment.

Price:

• AED 850 including free flow Champagne & house beverages
• AED 590 including non-alcoholic beverages
• AED 300 Kids aged 6-11 years

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  1pm – 4pm

Bookings:            04 511 7139

CHRISTMAS AT BUSSOLA

Location:             Bussola Restaurant

Overview: Enjoy the recently renovated Bussola, with your choice of a 4 course set menu or a la carte dining on fine Italian cuisine. Bussola’s Pizzeria will also be serving up a la carte meals from 12pm – 11.30pm

Price:

• AED 450 (excludes beverages)
• AED 225 Kids aged 6-11 years

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  12pm – 3pm

Address:              The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Bookings:            04 511 7139

LATEST RECIPE CHRISTMAS BRUNCH

Location:             Le Meridien Mina Seyahi

Overview            A fun family feast this Christmas, with free flowing champagne and live entertainment.

Price:                    AED 650 includes free-flowing Champagne and house Beverages

AED 450 includes non-alcoholic beverages

AED 175 Kids aged 6-11 years

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  1pm – 4pm

Address:              Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Bookings:            04 511 7139

TOY BRUNCH AT CHINA GRILL

Location:             China Grill

Overview: Dubai’s best party brunch is hosting a Christmas Day special, with the best in live entertainment, free flowing beverage and mouthwatering Asian cuisine.

Price: AED 680 includes free-flowing Champagne and house Beverages

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  1:30pm – 4:30pm

Address:              China Grill, The Westin Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina

Bookings:            04 511 7139

CHRISTMAS ON LEVEL 9

Location: Crab Tavern & Spirito Lounge & Kitchen, Media One

Overview: Two of Dubai’s newest restaurants are offering a full day and night of festive fun. Enjoy a lively Christmas Brunch at Crab Tavern, before heading over to Spirito for an evening of Natal Brazilian Carnival!

Price:

• Crab Tavern – AED 550 includes free-flowing Prosecco and House Beverages
• AED 300 includes non-alcoholic beverages
• Spirito – AED 300 includes free-flowing house beverages for 3 hours

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  Crab Tavern brunch 1pm – 5pm / Open 12pm – 6pm

Spirito open from 6pm – 3am

Address:              Level 9, Media One Hotel, Dubai Media City

Bookings:           

• Spirito: 04 421 2679 / reservations@spirito.ae
• Crab Tavern: 04 420 7489 / reservations@crabtavern.ae

CHRISTMAS DAY BRUNCH AT THE HIDE

Location:             The Hide  

Overview: Guests at The Hide this Christmas can feast on a sharing style menu of traditional whole roast bronze turkey with all the trimmings, beef tenderloin and the meatiest of dishes, the Turducken (A Turducken is a chicken stuffed into a duck which is then stuffed into a turkey) Head Chef Brian Voelzing will also be preparing a traditional ‘ballontine’ with turkey breast, Spanish cured beef, herbed chicken mousse and then duck confit. All this will be served with duck fat roast potatoes, Brussel sprouts and heirloom carrots.

Price: AED 650 – Alcoholic Pkg (wine, beer, prosecco, selected cocktails) AED 550 – Non Alcoholic Pkg AED 450 – 12-20yrs AED 275 – 4-11yrs FOC – 0-3yrs

Day:                     Friday 25^th December

Times:                  12pm-4pm

Address:              Al Qasr Hotel

Bookings:            04 432 3232

A FESTIVE AMERICAN BUFFET

Location:             Original Wings and Rings

Overview: Taking a “the more (food), the merrier,” approach to Christmas, American Sports Bar Original Wings & Rings will be serving an extensive buffet with a traditional spread including Roast Turkey with stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Apple Pie, Christmas pudding and more. With Happy Hour following from 3pm-7pm, diners can round off their Christmas meal with great deals on selected beverages.

Price:

• AED 189 with half a bottle of grape
• AED 169 food only

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  12pm-4pm

Address:              Level C, Liberty House, DIFC

Bookings:            04 359 6900

DECK THE HALLS AT THE BLACK LION

Location: The Black Lion

Overview: Relax and get cosy with your family and friends this Christmas, and indulge in a hearty three-course brunch at this effortlessly classy gastropub. American-inspired favourites include Squash Soup, Smoked Duck Salad, slow cooked Roast Turkey, Atlantic Cod and Corn-fed Chicken breast, amongst others. Groove to classic festive tunes as you delve into the best part of your meal – dessert! Think Yule Log, classic baked cheesecake or Key Lime Pie with Raspberry Sorbet. Loosen up your jeans, fill up on the stuffing and get festive with The Black Lion.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for an evening celebration after your gifts have been exchanged, The Black Lion is offering a full a la carte menu with festive specials. To keep you feeling jolly, the ever-popular late night lock-in menu will also be available from 11pm-3am with melts, pizzas and more. Wear your worst (best!) Christmas sweater and join in the celebrations!

Price:

• AED 595 3 course brunch menu with Prosecco & House beverages
• AED 545 3 course brunch menu with Beer, Wine & Spirits
• AED 395 3 course brunch menu with unlimited soft drinks

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  Tables available from 12pm-3pm, with a 4-hour drinks package

Address:              The H Dubai

Bookings:            04 359 2366 / reservations@theblacklion.ae

FESTIVE BREAKFAST

Location:             Reform Social & Grill

Overview            Reform will be starting Christmas day off the full English way. Enjoy a full English breakfast with all the trimmings.

Price:                    AED 140 Double Full English Breakfast

AED 78 Full English Breakfast

AED 20 – 70 Other menu items

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  8am – 11am

Address:              The Lakes, Dubai

Bookings:            04 454 2638 / reservations@reformsocialgrill.ae

CHRISTMAS DAY BRUNCH AT REFORM

Location:             Reform Social & Grill

Overview: Round up the family and head down to Reform Social & Grill. Enjoy a Merry Christmas day brunch with festive specials. A children’s menu is available as well as a line-up of entertainment for the kids including a special visit from Santa!

Price:

• AED 615 4 course brunch menu with Prosecco
• AED 465 4 course brunch menu with Beer, Wine, Eggnog
• AED 415 4 course brunch menu with unlimited soft drinks

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  Table Availability 12pm-3pm with a 4 hour drinks package

Address:              The Lakes, Dubai

Bookings:            04 454 2638 / reservations@reformsocialgrill.ae

CHRISTMAS EVENING AT REFORM

Location:             Reform Social & Grill

Overview            A la carte menu available along with festive specials

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Address:              The Lakes, Dubai

Bookings:            04 454 2638 / reservations@reformsocialgrill.ae

CHRISTMAS PARTY PACKAGE

Location:  Reform Social & Grill

Overview: Host a Christmas party for all the family and friends at Reform! Canapes and flowing champagne included in the package.

Price:

• AED 350 Prosecco package
• AED 295 3 hours unlimited selected beer, wine & spirits
• AED 120 choice of 6 canapes

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Address:              The Lakes, Dubai

Bookings:            04 454 2638 / reservations@reformsocialgrill.ae

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH AT VIVALDI

Location:             Vivaldi by Alfredo Russo

Overview: Celebrate Christmas with your loved ones at Vivaldi by Alfredo Russo. With a Christmas Choir performing all your favourite Carols and a DJ, it’s a three course meal with a festive ambience!

Price:

• AED 319 including House Beverages
• AED 259 including non-alcoholic beverages
• AED 125 Children aged 6-12
• Children under 6 dine for free

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  12pm – 4pm

Address:              Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Deira

Bookings:            04 207 1717 / Vivaldi.Reservations@Sheraton.com

Images:                                http://we.tl/wBpMeuZqH8

CHRISTMAS DINNER AT VIVALDI

Location: Vivaldi by Alfredo Russo

Overview: Enjoy your Christmas night and join us after you’ve exchanged gifts.

Price:

• AED 300 3 course set menu & House Beverages
• AED 250 3 course set menu & non-alcoholic beverages
• Children under 6 dine for free

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Deira

Bookings:            04 207 1717 / Vivaldi.Reservations@Sheraton.com

CHRISTMAS LUNCH AT ASHIANA BY VINEET

Location:             Ashiana by Vineet

Overview: Enjoy Ashiana’s a la carte menu with a special bottle price and live entertainment.

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  12pm – 3.30pm and 7pm – 11pm

Address:              Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Deira

Bookings:            04 207 1733 / Ashiana.Reservations@Sheraton.com

CHRISTMAS DAY DINNER AT CREEKSIDE JAPANESE RESTAURANT

Location:  Creekside Japanese Restaurant

Overview:  Enjoy a buffet of all your favourite Japanese dishes, with or without house beverages on Christmas night, once all of your gifts are unwrapped.

Price:

• AED 309 including House Beverages
• AED 249 including soft drinks
• AED 125 Children aged 6-12 (Children under 6 dine for free)

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  7pm – 11pm

Address:              Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Deira

Bookings:            04 207 1750 /Creekside.Reservations@Sheraton.com

CHRISTMAS BBQ LUNCH AT HATTA

Location:  Hatta, The Sheraton Dubai Creek

Overview: Enjoy an all you can eat Christmas BBQ Lunch at Hatta, with a Christmas Choir performing all your favourite festive carols, and a house musician throughout the day. Package price includes use of the Sheraton pool area.

Price:

• AED 249 including House Beverages & Pool Pass
• AED 149 including soft drinks & Pool Pass

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  12pm – 4pm

Address:              Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, Deira

Bookings:            04 228 1111

BIG EASY CHRISTMAS BRUNCH

Location: The Els Club, Dubai Sports City

Overview: Enjoy the Big Easy Brunch, Christmas style! With all the regular favourites and free-flowing house beverages including Big Easy wines, it’s a fun Christmas Day that the whole family will love.

Price:                    Starting from AED 285 per person

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  12.30pm – 3.30pm

Address:              The Els Club, Dubai Sports City

Bookings:            04 425 1037

261 CHRISTMAS ROAST LUNCH

Location: The Els Club, Dubai Sports City

Overview: Enjoy a traditional Roast dinner this Christmas Day, with all the trimmings. Bring the family for a laidback Christmas lunch that feels just like home.

Price:                    Starting from AED 175 per person

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  12pm – 3pm

Address:              The Els Club, Dubai Sports City

Bookings:            04 425 1037

CHRISTMAS BRUNCH AT THE SPORTSMAN’S ARMS

Location: Sportsman’s Arms, Zayed Sports City

Overview: Christmas Day will be packed with festive cheer, with Christmas breakfast served from 8am until 11.30am. Starting from noon, the brunch features a four-hour drinks package. A festive a la carte menu will also be available for Christmas dinner. Book your tables in advance to avoid disappointment.

Price:

• AED 349 including House Beverages & Bubbly
• AED 225 including soft drinks
• AED 125 for kids

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  Table availability from 12pm, with a 4 hour drinks package

Address:              1^st Floor, International Tennis Centre, Zayed Sports City

Bookings:            02 403 4235 / reservations@sportsmanszsc.com

On December 24, the venue will offer an a la carte menu with festive specials, and classic roasted chestnuts will be available on the barbeque terrace.

HOLIDAY INN, AL BARSHA DUBAI

Location: Al Barsha (near Mall of the Emirates)

Overview: Enjoy a lavish Christmas buffet at Holiday Inn Al Brsha’s Gem Garden restaurant, complete with a turkey carving station! Enjoy the music of the live Christmas choir at 1pm.

Price:

• AED 175/- per person with soft drinks
• AED 90/- per child (5 – 12 years old)
• AED 225/- per person, unlimited selected house beverages

Additional Activities:

• Kid’s activity – Santa’s visit offering gifts for the little ones
• Christmas Crackers – Timings: 12noon – 3.30pm
• Christmas Choir to perform at 1:00pm – 2.30pm

Day:                       Friday 25^th December

Times:                  12pm-3pm

Address:              Holiday Inn, Al Barsha

Bookings:            04 323 4333

NUMAISH® is one of UAE’s leading Indian fashion exhibitions showcasing the talents of fashion designers from different nooks of India, Pakistan, London & the UAE.

Numaish® holds three editions (Summer, Festive & a Winter Show) each year, and the ‘Winter Show’ is scheduled for 19th December at the Al Yasat Ballroom (Al Murooj Rotana, Dubai). Book this date into your calendar to witness firsthand the merging face of Indian fashion, and own a designer piece at affordable prices!

Numaish® was conceptualized and created by WOW Marketing in 2012, and I had a chat with CEO/Founder Manisha Kumar Chhabra on what we can expect to see at the Winter Show.

Please tell us more about Numaish. What is it, and why did you decide to bring it to Dubai?

Numaish® was conceived with a vision for shoppers to get access to affordable designer wear under one roof. We realized there is a constant need of shopping during occasions & also with the hectic social scene in Dubai, people require new entries in their wardrobe very frequently.  Going back home is always hectic with family & social commitments, there is never enough time to shop nor can you get access to more than 100 designers with such creativity and talent from all corners of India under one roof back home. Exhibitions allow shoppers to go to one venue, shop the latest collections, interact with designers and also get personalized styling tips.

How many years has Numaish been running in Dubai?

WOW Marketing, first launched the ‘NUMAISH® Lifestyle Exhibitions’ franchise in 2012, and it is now a registered trademark in the UAE & GCC.

NUMAISH®, one of UAE’s leading fashion exhibitions, has successfully completed 10 Editions over the last 3 years. Being held thrice a year, Numaish® holds three editions, Summer, Festive & Winter Show each year. Shoppers get an opportunity to meet and receive personalized styling tips from designers coming in from India, Pakistan, UK, Singapore & UAE. After successfully completing our first International Debut Edition in Singapore, we are all set to bring to Dubai our 11th Edition “Numaish Winter Show” 2015.

What are the challenges of organizing an event of this size? 

In a city like Dubai, where there are several Fashion Exhibitions that take place across the year, for us  the major challenge is to become  innovative  in our marketing and the product mix with each and every Edition.

Over the years, Numaish® has become popular for its different endeavors, namely;

Empowering Women, Reviving Tradition & Promoting Fresh Talent.

• Numaish provides a platform to talented women designers to showcase their designs in an International Market.
• We have also become renowned for supporting Revivalist Designers who have ensured that traditional hand woven textiles are sustained in this dynamic world of Fashion.
• We were the first to launch a path-breaking initiative in the Exhibition Scene, the “Numaish Talent Hunt” which gives emerging designers a platform to showcase their creations alongside well established Designers.

How do you go about choosing the designers who will be a part of Numaish?

Our Vision is to offer a range of affordable designer wear to the UAE shoppers under one roof.  The work that is showcased by Designers at Numaish are very well matched with their price points. We pride ourselves of doing a well curated show in every edition with a blend of well acclaimed & emerging designers Fashion Week Designers.

What have you got in store for this December? How will Numaish be different this time round?

The Numaish Winter Show exhibitors mix will witness 80% of new generation designers who are debuting in the UAE market through this edition.

It will be a showcase of Artistic talent, Creativity & Innovation in various forms – Apparel for Women & Men, Jewelry, Accessories and Home Décor.

Please tell us about the designers who will be showcasing their creations this time.

Keeping the Christmas & New Year spirit in mind, this time around, designers at Numaish will present collections catering to the upcoming party season.

Designers to look out for will be: Anavila, N&S GAIA by Sidharth Sinha, Shahin Mannan and Mahreen by Prerna & Vishakha

• Anavila- sustaining India’s tradition of craft and textile, Anavila creates fabrics that are gorgeous & luxurious.
• N&S GAIA by Sidarth Sinha- The brand uses Natural fibers to produce sustainable and essential fabrics. They are driven towards western sensibilities and committed to research and development in the areas of Natural Dyeing and Crafts of North East India.
• Shahin Mannan- is an idea, an art, a story; born of imagination and crafted with passion.

What are your absolute must-haves when it comes to Indian ethnic fashion?

A Gaurang Design, Ritu Kumar outfit and a Purvi Doshi with her dramatic embroideries of Gujarat.

Please name some of your favorite Indian fashion designers.

Ritu Kumar. I still own some of her designs that I bought over 20 years ago. They are timeless classics and looks amazing every time I wear them.

From the current set of designers – Arpita Mehta and Anushree Reddy, they have signature styles with their own distinctive look.

Designs that I have been enjoying recently is from designers that are supporting to revive Indian textiles.