The Hamptons Cafe: East Coast meets Jumeirah

Our fair city Dubai has an ecclectic and wonderful range of cafes and restaurant and one of these gems is the ever so lovely, Hamptons Cafe in Jumeirah. Located just past the Miraj Islamic Arts Centre on Jumeirah Road The Hamptons Cafe is a cool and calm East Coast style oasis in Dubai. The inside of the restaurant is like the idealistic Hamptons property. It welcomes you with its slightly preppy East Coast charm.

Having been here twice now I can safely say that the quality is unquestionably good and small details are appreciated. Lattes are served with water and a macaroon and food is beautifully presented and tastes as good as it looks.

The Hamptons has three stories of dining and it is suggested if you are a larger group to make a reservation. As we are still in the cooler months make sure to grab a table on either the roof top or down on the street level. I can imagine that indoors will be quite popular in the summer as it is so calm and cool inside.

The best way to start and weekend breakfast or brunch is with a delicious latte or cappuccino which, at The Hamptons, comes beautifully presented with a macaroon and glass of water.

A lovely addition to a latte

On my first visit to The Hamptons I tried the Eggs Benedict which comes withe choice of either smoked salmon or veal bacon. I went for the smoked salmon. A great choice and my friend agreed. There is something quite satisfying about a well made Eggs Benedict.

The Hamptons Eggs Benedict with amoked salmon

For my second visit I wanted to try something sweet so I went with the classic french toast, with a twist. There was peanut butter. Of course as we are health conscientious it was served with about seven berries. One must keep a steady antioxidant intake. Also a lovely choice if you enjoy french toast but not super sweet though it could be served with slightly more maple syrup. 

French Toast and the hidden berries

I am quite glad to have found The Hamptons Cafe as it is a lovely addition to the Dubai dining scene and with its location quite near to the beach promenade and, my favourite, Al Wasl area it can be a good start point for a car free day in Dubai.

A little bit of romance. 

Welcome to The Hamptons

Look for this classic.

The Hamptons would be a lovely place to spend a Valentines Day breakfast or lunch this Saturday. If you need more unique Valentines Day option check out my post from last year.

As per the norm this is not a sponsored post. I write them on the sly. 

Lunch ahoy!

There are times when having lunch in a new location can be just the ticket, at times a rather decadent ticket. As this is Dubai we are absolutely spoiled with choices. This lunch saw us down at La Veranda at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. La Veranda has marina side seating with a direct, and very much unobstructed, view of the ever so iconic Burj al Arab. Feeling very much like we were on a wee vacation my friend and I settled in to cruise over the menu. See what I did there?

For our starters we shared a hot/fried and cold antipasti; the Calamari with Lobster Mayo and the Quinoa Salad, respectively. The Calamari arrived hot and crisp with a pancko style coating, the lobster mayo for dipping did not taste too intensely of lobster but it did have a nice kick to it. The flavour of the calamari would easily allow them to be eaten without the mayo. Balancing out the fried calamari was a nicely presented quinoa salad with marinated quinoa, rucola, zucchini, aubergine, feta and beetroot. We found that for the size of the salad it would be best to share or share it with the main course it you prefer more veggies to your main.

Quinoa Salad

Calamari with Lobster Mayo

For the main course we went in a direction befitting of the location we were at: seafood. While my friend went with the King Prawns I ordered a Crab Linguini. The pictures below will show how large the portions were and I did take half of my linguini home.On the menu the prawns were written as being "cinnamon marinated, orange and cardamom" we did not really find any of these flavours to be prevalent though the meat was tender and juicy. The vegetable ragout which accompanied it was also nice and flavourful. My crab linguini was well received and though the cream sauce could have had a wee bit more flavour the crab was excellent and there was a surprising amount of it. Clearly the crab was not just used as decoration.

Crab Linguini

King Prawns with Vegetable Ragout

After a small, and much needed break, we perused the desserts. Though there may not be a large selection it is diverse and there are also mocktails and cocktails which have dessert like attributes. Our chosen desserts were a lime flavoured cheesecake with raspberry coulis and a chocolate almond truffle cake with raspberry compote. The cheesecake did taste delicately of lime and instead of the traditional graham cracker base it had a thin sponge style base and was topped with mandarins. The raspberry coulis was on the side. The chocolate truffle cake was also quite nice but not as indulgent as it sounded and I was missing the almond taste. Both were quite large portions and I would say one dessert would have sufficed.

Chocolate Almond Truffle Cake

Lime flavoured cheesecake

Overall we had a nice experience at La Veranda. The service was friendly, there was soft music playing in the background, we were by the marina with a soft breeze and a view of the Burj al Arab. In a way it was like being on vacation in your own home town. This is a family friendly place as it is on the beach you can watch the littles play in the sand and the dress code is casual.

As is the norm this is not a sponsored post.

Back to Jumeirah

Once again this weekend saw me down in Jumeirah. Down in Jumeirah 1 is the ever popular, and rightly so, The Lime Tree Café & Kitchen. The Lime Tree provides indoor and outdoor seating with a lovely laidback atmosphere. For those who have not been before be aware that you order and pay inside and the waiters will bring your food out to you. The menu is written up on a chalk board and the vitrine displays other delicious items. The Lime Tree is right beside the Spinneys in Jumeirah and has ample paid parking.

Courtyard of The Lime Tree

Muesli

Quiche

After our delicious breakfast my friend and I headed on a walk around Jumeirah 1. Close by was the Village Mall which contains the store, S*uce. What a beautiful location and store. When we got in we were greeted and told that there was a section with 50% off (we were also told that this sale will last until DSF). Which for S*uce is rather amazing. And the 50% off section did not disappoint. Amazing dresses, clothes, accessories  and even Cambridge Satchel Company bags were on sale. After snagging a lovely little Cambridge Satchel we headed out the door with an extra spring in our step.

those Satchels are on sale!

inside S*ce

inside S*uce

The next stop was at the Comptoir 102. Comptoir 102 mixes home décor and a café in one light and airy location. They also sell espadrilles and other sandals which may seem like a random addition but somehow works well into the concept. Being in Comptoir was like stepping into someone's home; each room had a different theme. If you are looking for some quirky home décor items drop in as they are also having a sale.   

As we continued our walk down Jumeirah Road we got side tracked by a red sign  declaring "vintage" atop a decidedly 60s style house. And in we went. I have heard that Dubai has a small vintage scene but never had I taken the time to research it. Bambah is well curated and the clothing quality is excellent though one does pay significantly more than in a vintage/thrift store in Europe or North America. If you are looking for something unique this is the place to visit. There was also a rack with items for sale at AED100. I asked how long it is valid and was told as long as supplies last.

there is a section for LBDs

quirky entry way

There you have it. Another walk, another shopping trip all with out having to enter the Dubai Mall and at the same time supporting small business and staying unique. This is one of the reasons that I so enjoy Jumeirah: it is unique.  

Mamma Italia and exploring Jumeirah Road

A little bit of Italy in Dubai. How many other people out there feel that there is quite the parallel between Italians and Arabs? Down on Jumeirah Road, which is fast becoming my favourite part of town, is the Mamma Italia restaurant.

My friend and I happened upon it while on a stroll along Jumeirah Road. It is located just after the Al Hilal Bank on Jumeirah Road (near to the Burj al Arab). And it has outside seating! Our super friendly waitress explained the restaurant to us as we were still deciding where we want to eat. We walked a bit further but then decided to go back. We made the right decision.

The menu offers a typical assortment of classic Italian fare from Bruschetta and Panini to various pizza (in an actual pizza oven and the chef can swirl that dough like nobody's business, mind blowing).

Adorable detail on the menu



Hamour dish (cannot remember the name)





Roasted chicken panini

It was so nice to sit outside, in the shade of course. The roasted chicken, complimented by the lightly sweet taste of the tomato salsa, was wonderful and my friend also enjoyed her hamour. At the end our plates were clean. We were also asked if we would like a dessert but after the delicious lunch we needed for a small walk to digest. We promised to come back for gelato, though.

Jumeirah Road has a slower pace of life to it. Perfect if you need to get away from the usual rat race present in the malls. Plus it is rather quirky to come across a Milka Cow at Al Bashaer Grocery. Jumeirah Road is ideal for walking as it has many little shops along it and the walking path is separate from the road. There is not much shade so take care to bring along water. There are water stations dispersed along the road that can also be used.

As it was getting hot, and because it is rude to break a promise, we made our way back to Mamma Italia for gelato.

So many flavours to choose from! We each had about 5 flavours that we tried. Really though, how can you say no when someone recommends you to try, try, try! We even tried Smurf ice cream. Does that make us cannibals?

I went for the Stracciatella in a waffle cone mainly because it seemed lighter than the Nutella one. But who am I kidding, lighter is the wrong word. We are talking about ice cream here. It was more refreshing than the Nutella. Have you ever had the dark chocolate ice cream from Cold Stone? That is what I would call a "heavy" ice cream. These gelatos did seem lighter than the typical Cold Stone fare and when you are looking for something indulgent and refreshing: light is right.

Take the time to explore your city. I know that I am thoroughly enjoying this aspect to living in a new place.

As usual: I was not compensated for this post so it is entirely my own rambling opinion.

Canada in Dubai ... eh!

How absolutely brilliant is it to find poutine and Montreal style smoked beef in Dubai? Let me answer that in one word: very. Where did we find this slice of Canadiana? At the Maple Leaf Restaurant - Montreal Smoked Meat and Poutine. The name says it all.

We started off with a poutine each. The label "sides" was misleading as it was easily enough as a main course. The gravy could have been slightly more flavourful but overall a nice poutine. Then on to the Maple Leaf Sandwich which we thankfully decided to share. The smoked beef can only be described as amazing, tender and flavourful it was nicely complimented by the caramelized onions. The service was friendly and quick. From the look of the other diners and the high chairs against the far wall this looks to be a very family friendly place. The menu is not overwhelming, what they do they do it well (my taste buds agree).

Round one: Poutine with home made fries

Round Two: The Maple Leaf Sandwich

Inside the restaurant

The Maple Leaf Restaurant - Montreal Smoked Meat and Poutine is located on Jumeirah Road across from the Advanced Radiology Centre. Check them out on facebook.
 

NOBU

Let me preface this by saying "I had a religious experience" in a restaurant, non the less. It came in the form of foie gras resting atop a grilled scallop. The foie gras absolutely melted on my tongue and it took all my will power not to cry from the sheer joy/bliss/elation. What is it about food that can bring out such strong emotions? The entire experience at NOBU was amazing. The décor was gorgeous and understated (a pleasant contrast from most of the Atlantis). We had a very professional, knowledgeable and friendly waitress. When you go ask to sit in Yuli's section, she was brilliant. Another plus at NOBU is their child policy, no children under 10. Which of course only leaves admittance to us loud adults (NOBU is not the place for a quiet, intimate dinner).

The Salmon Tacos

Left: Wagyu beef Nigiri Sushi, Right: Salmon Skin Roll

Scallop and foie gras vanilla den miso

Part of the tasting menu

Sweet finale of the tasting menu: chocolate cake with liquid centre and coconut ice cream



Our first course was the salmon taco. Beautifully presented and tiny, it was like receiving a jewel. The salmon was as soft as butter offering a nice contrast to the crisp taco shell.

The wagyu beef as well surrendered willingly but it was not to my taste, my friend on the other hand loved it.

What is a Japanese restaurant without the ubiquitous sushi? I was keen on trying the salmon skin roll and it did not disappoint. Slightly warm rice, crisp salmon skins and avocado at a seemingly perfect point of maturity. The sushi roll which came as part of the tasting menu was also a treat. Gorgeous salmon and avocado.

The overall experience at NOBU was great. My friend and I ended up ordering various small dishes as well as the tasting menu which is a good idea especially as this was our first time at NOBU..

Note: until the end of September Atlantis the Palm is offering 25% of the total F&B bill for Emirates NBD card holder. I overheard on the table beside that with CITI Bank it is 15% off but I do not know for how long.