Ramadan at Asateer Tent Dubai

Ramadan in Dubai is often a very glitz and glam affair. Some people will say to excess, and rightfully so, but this is Dubai and we are known for our buffet meals.

Asateer Tent at The Atlantis Palm Dubai is a known Dubai institution and this year I partook in it as well.

Reservations are needed as it does fill up quickly. You can reach the lovely people at Atlantis on +971 4 426 0800. There is a dress code and skirts must be below the knees, shoulders covered and no cleavage. They do provide shawls but it would be better to plan your fabulous outfit with the dress code in mind. This being Dubai there is valet parking but be aware that once the buffet ends there will be a queue while waiting for your car.

On to the food.

Wow. Presentation and taste really came together for this iftar. It was not an entirely massive buffet but for iftar you should not eat too much anyway. We broke our fast with a collection of dates, refreshing jalab, three different types of laban and cold mezze. Dinner included ouzi (perfection) and an assortment of Arabic and non Arabic main courses. The dessert section catered to all tastes and even included and ice cream station, chocolate fountain and a pillar made of lovely macaroons,

Iftar at the Asateer Tent is definitely an experience and at AED195 it is at the higher range for iftar buffets in Dubai but it is also open until 21h00 where as with some you feel rushed because of the 20h30 cut off.

Use an iftar at the Asateer Tent as a lux dinner with friends, celebration with family or just as a chance to experience a different side of Dubai's opulent life style.

Ramadan kareem. I hope that the last ten days of ramadan will bring you peace and blessings.

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. 

Zeta Restaurant/Lounge: Pan Asian Cuisine at The Address Downtown Hotel

I made the reservation for Zeta on a whim. It was my father's birthday and my parents last night in Dubai; naturally I needed something not only special and with a great view but great service to boot. My usual go to place for impressing is Neos which is also in The Address Downtown Dubai but I wanted something outside. I spoke with one of the lovely girls at restaurant reservations who recommended Zeta. I told her it was my father's birthday and she said said she will reserve us a table with a direct fountain view and she also explained the dining concept at Zeta.

At Zeta we were warmly welcomed and promptly seated at our, as promised, table with the fountain view. The menus were given to us, the concept explained in brief (after we had confirmed it was our first time) and we were asked if we would like water to start.

Background = dynamite roll, foreground = salmon skin roll

We started of with drinks which included a glass of rose, the "Forever Young" cocktail and a "Apple Julep" cocktail for myself. Drinks were served ladies first; quite a rare occurrence in Dubai. As the concept at Zeta is sharing we opted for a mix of warm and cold dishes which included a Burj sushi roll, salmon skin roll, dynamite roll, japanese style chicken and edamame beans. It was a wonderful combination of flavours and textures. The dynamite roll in particular was not too spicy as to distract from the other flavours present. What also struck me, with regards to service, was that our individual plates were not cleared until each person had finished eating. This is proper and attentive service.

Burj Roll

After our plates had been cleared and the tabled cleaned we received a lovely surprise. A gorgeous and decadent chocolate cake for us to share. By share I mean we only managed about a third and the remainder came home. We ended our evening at Zeta with a decadent chocolate cake, coffee and another couple fountain shows.

The birthday cake surprise

Zeta was an excellent choice and I am glad I went there with my parents from the attentive service with restaurant reservations, to the warmed blanket which arrived and the attention we received during dinner  it was a well worth it and worth repeating event.

The iconic: The Address Downtown Dubai

The is post is not sponsored. I just think we should all eat good food. 

Al Mubazzarah Historical Dam in Al Ain

I have previously written about the Al Mubazzarah Historical Dam in Al Ain although it was a small excerpt in Historical Al Ain. Recently we return with proper footwear and a picnic to explore a bit more.

There still appears to be some work going on as we saw wheelbarrows in neat rows.

I would love to know more about the specific rocks found here as they are quite fascinating, possibly smoothed down by an ancient river?

This would be a great place to take children along for a bit of exploring.

Top of Jebel Hafeet

Picnic stations along the way up Jebel Hafeet

At the base of Jebel Hafeet there is a picnic/camping area with washrooms and, of all things, a Hardees, Krispee Kreme and another fast food restaurant. We packed a picnic though and made our way up the mountain. At the top it is cooler so bring along a jacket.

Now that the winter temperatures are upon us take sometime during the weekend and explore a bit of the UAE. Many people live here but do they actually see the outside places? The UAE is much more then Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it has nooks and crannies that are waiting to explore. Make like the National Geographic slogan and "live curious".

An Al Wasl Stroll and Book Munch

I delight in finding new little places in Dubai to lose myself in and one of them is Al Wasl. Located close to Safa Park and with plenty of walking routes Al Wasl is a peaceful little weekend retreat. Happening upon Book Munch was a pleasant surprise indeed. 

I truly love a good book and when that is paired with a good cup of tea and some breakfast treats I am in a blissful state. 

Take a seat and enjoy a cuppa.

Deciding on the Ricotta Pancakes was no easy feat as the menu is thoughtfully designed with diverse choices.  But I am quite glad I did as the pancakes were fluffy and clearly home made; the ricotta cheese in the centre toned down the sweetness of the dish. And the accompanying honey comb butter was truly a nectar of the goods. There was also banana and berries served with the Ricotta Pancakes (possibly to tone down the naughtiness of the dish?)

Ricotta Pancakes

There is plenty of diverse seating in Book Munch but if you will be eating something more substantial then I recommend taking a proper table and chairs as you will hunch over less.

The team at Book Munch is also very lovely and friendly. I felt quite at home here.

You can grab a book off the shelf here and read while you enjoy your meal without being obligated to buy it, though if you dirty it you buy it.

To finish this post I will leave you with a lovely quote I found in a book once:

"There is no friend as faithful as a good book. There is no worse robber than a bad book"

*as per the norm this is not a sponsored post

What to wear when riding

The UAE is, thank goodness, an equestrian hot spot. From endurance and show jumping to desert hacks and polo clubs we have an abundance of equine pursuits to indulge in.  But what to wear? Each discipline has its own official and unofficial dress code and unless you wish to go into showing the below will suffice for desert hacks or if you are just starting.

Clothes for riding

Most important of all is a properly fitted horse riding helmet. Notice how clear I am on the type. A helmet is the most important item in terms of safety, take it from someone who has fallen twice from a cantering horse.

What you wear on top is dependent on the riding conditions just make sure it is breathable, Your jodhpurs should be comfortable and allow sufficient movement make sure there is nothing to make you chafe. Your riding boots are a personal choice. Some people prefer a full boot others, like myself, wear jodhpur boots with a pair of half chaps (bottom right).

For those who are beginning to ride Decathlon is an excellent place to start with your purchase and they have a good selection at different price points. Dubai being Dubai you can get literally anything at whatever price point you want; I suggest you start at a lower price point, but still a good quality, and if you decide that equestrianism is something you want to stick with then moving onto better items.

Being an equestrian means being disciplined and trusting not only yourself but your horse. This is not an easy sport to be in but it is beautiful and freeing. To leave you the below is a video titled: Equestrianism: It's Quite a Unique Sport. Enjoy!

A taste of Autumn

There comes that time of year when #PSL is used again and people await the aromas of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg. In Dubai we are missing the scent of dried leaves and the crunch of dried leaves under our feet. We don't get to experience the biting winds which precede winter nor do we get to take out the racks for one final attack on the remaining maples leaves that blanket our lawns. We we do have though is Starbucks; ready and willing to indulge our craving for the taste of autumn. I take mine tall, one pump of syrup, no whipped cream and a dash (or three) of cinnamon. Maybe next season we will even be graced with the Pumpkin Scone, one can only hope. For a more humourous approach to the Pumpkin Spice Latte craze check out this article from the Canadian weekly, Maclean's.

Cinnamon Roll and a tall Pumpkin Spice Latte

So where are you enjoying your #PSL? And do you miss about Autumn?

A Dubai Escape and Ramadan Reflection

Now that we are in the first week of Ramadan Dubai slows down a bit, less tourist, expats and just people in general. Work hours shorten and invitations to an Iftar are inevitable. It is a time to reflect and think back on the good times and the not so good times that we have had. I feel that Ramadan puts me into a introspective mood. One of these things I think back on and smile about was a trip to Oman a couple weeks back. It was an ideal little weekend escape and it brought us high into Jebel Ackdar outside of Nizwa. I am going to let the pictures do the talking. Have a wonderful Ramadan and if you are wondering where to head in Eid try making a camping trip to Oman, it is worth it.

At the abandon village at the base of Jebel Ackdar

At the abandon village at the base of Jebel Ackdar

At.mosphere

At.mosphere in Burj Khalifa is a must visit if you are looking for a more indulgent way of enjoying the Burj Khalifa and its magnificent view of Dubai. Having been there twice now I can safely say that both times the service has been lovely. And the view cannot be beat. Getting there at the start of high tea (during the weekday we were able to get in at 14h30) will generally guarantee you a window table. And really, where else would you want to sit?

Unlike some of other high teas in Dubai, At.mosphere allows you to have different hot drinks, you can go from a latté to a tea and back again if you so wish. You will also be served a small hot appetizer and fresh fruit drink before the high tea display with its small desserts and sandwiches comes out. You will also be served scones as needed. Throughout your time there will also be live music. The first time I went there was a harpist and the second time we were serenaded by a live singer. 

With regards to dress code:

-Men: must wear shirt with collar and sleeves and closed shoes. Wearing shorts, bermudas, baggy or torn jeans, shirts with large/colourful prints and sports shoes are not allowed when visiting At.mosphere. Sandals are only allowed when worn with national dress.

-Women: are not allowed flip flops, baggy or torn jeans, shirts with large/colourful prints or sports shoes

View from the WC

Looking over Downtown Dubai

At.mosphere can be reached at +971 4 8883444 for reservations.

DubFest 2014

If you have nary a clue of what your upcoming weekend entails then head over to the Al Ghurair Centre in Deira. Running until the 29th of March, DubFest is a free event which brings together 30 different acts from break dancers to comedy and acrobatics and every child's favorite: the balloon sculptor. What's On did a small article on DubFest and the breakdancers in the video were preforming at Al Ghuraur Centre while my friend and I were there on the weekend.

We had gotten ourselves a table at Cafe Gerard and sat back to watch an acrobat from Australia.

The Aussie acrobat

The fearlessness, determination and training that must go into her routine is truly awe inspiring and our table at Cafe Gerard was the perfect place to view it from. We decided on a late lunch as well and went for mushroom soup, a turkey and cheese panini. The food was not bad, I feel that the panini could have had more fresh vegetables in it and taste wise it wise quite neutral. My friend also ordered a iced cappuccino which was delicious.

The panini with frites

Dancers inside Al Ghurair Centre

Al Ghurair Centre is easy to access from Union Metro Station especially for those who have no patience for driving in Deira; I am guilty of that. The event is free and runs until the 29th of March. The shows, of which there will be about 300, run from 16h to 23h on weekdays and 14h to 23h on weekends. Take your kidlets and have some fun enjoying the different shows at Al Ghurai Centre.

Dubai International Horse Fair 2014

Today starts the 10th Dubai International Horse Fair in the Dubai World Trade Centre. The event goes from the 20 to 22 of March. Unfortunately you cannot register online any more but there is still at the door registration available. Entry is free. Definitely go if you are a horse enthusiast or just to want to gather more information on equestrian activities in the UAE.

Show timings:

Day        Timings

Thursday (20th)          11 am - 8 pm

Friday (21st)               2 pm - 8 pm

Saturday (22nd)         11 am - 8 pm

Performance Arena Schedule:

Thursday 20th March

11:30 am: Dubai Police K9 Demonstration

1:00 pm: Polo Chukkas / Polo Cross Class

2:00 pm: Farrier Demonstration

2:30 pm: Spanish Horse Performance

3:30 pm: Spanish Horse Performance

4:30 pm:  Spanish Horse Performance

5:00 pm: Farrier Demonstration

5:30 pm: Polo Chukkas  / Polo Cross Class

Friday 21st March

2:15 pm: Farrier Demonstration

2:30 pm: Polo Chukkas / Polo Cross Class

3:00 pm: Farrier Demonstration

3:30 pm: Spanish Horse Performance

4:30 pm: Spanish Horse Performance

5:30 pm:  Spanish Horse Performance

6:30 pm: Polo Chukkas  / Polo Cross Class

Saturday 22nd March

11:15 am: Auctions Presentation

11:30 am – 7.00 pm: Horse Auction

Let me know what you think of it. Have a great weekend.

link

Historical Al Ain

Unlike the rest of the emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates, the emirate of Abu Dhabi has two major cities: Abu Dhabi (our nations capital) and Al Ain. Far away from the coastal waters of the gulf, Al Ain is a border town straddling Oman. Popular for its designation as a "visa run" destination, Al Ain also boasts the impressive Jebel Hafeet and the lesser known Al Mubazzarah Historical Dam. Al Ain is popular as a summer destination for locals because of its cooler climate in the summer and in keeping with the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed it is wonderfully lush with greenery. On top of Jebel Hafeet is the Mercure Hotel where one can enjoy a meal out on the terrace restaurant overlooking the valley and desert below. Be sure to dress warmly, depending on when you go, as the temperature can be quite cool. The road which snakes up Jebel Hafeet is well maintained and has look out points along the way. Al Ain also has some old forts and museums which one can visit but be aware that on Friday they are only open from 15h00 to 17h00. The forts themselves are quite sparse as the below fort map will illustrate.

A rather sparse fort inside the city

Al Jahili Fort, Al Ain

looking into Al Jahili Fort

wall of the fort

Outside of the city on the way to Jebel Hafeet is the Al Mubazzarah Historical Dam which is located by a vacation village of small houses at the foot of Jebel Hafeet. There is a small sign explaining the historical significance of the site and is a good place to stretch your legs and let the kids explore around a bit it you have been in the car too long.

cliff face by the dam

on top of the dam

The Mercure Grand Jebel Hafeet Al Ain Hotel  is a great, albeit only, option for the top of Jebel Hafeet destination. Having lunch at the terrace restaurant over looking the valley and desert below was a lovely end to the trip. The service as well as the food was excellent.

driving up Jebel Hafeet

driving up Jebel Hafeet

at the Mercure restaurant

Al Ain is easy to visit from Dubai as you only need to follow the E66 (Dubai - Al Ain Road). From Abu Dhabi simply follow the E22 (the aptly named Abu Dhabi - Al Ain Road). Once in Al Ain there are plenty of signs directing you to different historic sites and the like.

* as per the norm this post is not sponsored

Ladies/Goddess Night at Oeno

Ladies night: almost as big a Dubai institution as Friday brunch. The past Tuesday saw me down at The Westin Mina Seyahi after we had completed what was to be completed (apologies for being cryptic) we saw that we still had a moment to drop by Oeno for its ladies night. Though there it is called Goddess Night and rightfully so. We are all a goddess in our own right.

Goddess Night is every Tuesday from 19h-23h00 and includes unlimited bubbles for the goddesses. The Oeno site will give you a break down of the different offers they currently have and a good one to also try would be the Wind Down Nights which is on Wednesday from 20h-23h00 and for AED195 there are 50 wines to try as well as various cheeses and nibbles to enjoy while listening to a live band.

I quite liked the atmosphere and interior design of Oeno. It was definitely edging towards more of an industrial look compared to the rest of The Westin. It is layed out over two stories and also has a terrace outside. When you enter there is a giant wall of wine along the right side of the room and the inside contains various seating options. Definitely come here if you want to  try out some of the wine offerings that Dubai has. Cheers!

link

Fortnum & Mason: The Dubai Edition

Only a couple more days to go until we can get our manicured little hands on the goodies at Fortnum & Mason here in Dubai. Though with one caveat; there will be no foie gras. Controversial but delicious, foie gras is not halal because of how it is produced. I am sure though that the rest of the goodies will make up for the lack of foie gras and maybe our waist lines and pocketbooks will be the better for it.

The new Dubai store is described as being a vast, three story department store. It is located between the Dubai Mall and The Address Downtown Dubai in a free standing location. The current facade around it was done by the brilliant Rory Dobner.

Link to original photo

Check out the facebook page of Rory Dobner for more of his work and some gorgeous and inspiring pictures.

Will let you know how it is as soon as I make a trip to Fortnum & Mason. Which will be soon. Very soon. Tah for now, dahling.

Saadiyat Island: Paradise at our doorstep

Living in the UAE means that we are absolutely spoiled when it comes to the coast line. Factor in the relatively warm winters and it is understandable that people not only want to live here but vacation here. Being quite loyal to the Dubai coast line I finally made the plunge and went to Saadiyat Island. Now I wonder why I have not gone before! It was gorgeous. White sand and turquoise water made a simple day trip into a vacation away to some faraway Caribbean paradise.

Entrance to the beach

 Entrance and membership fee information from the website:

• Basic entrance fee of AED 25 per adult and AED 15 per child over six years old. An annual membership fee of AED 500 per adult and AED 1,000 per family.
• Daily access fee inclusive of sun-lounging facilities is AED 50 per Adult/Child on weekdays and AED 75 on weekends. A six-month membership fee is AED 1,500 and an annual membership fee is AED 2,500. 
• There is free parking for up to 200 cars at the beach as well as a public bus service which stops there

Enjoying the beach

From the small restaurant

 As we did not bring snacks with us we opted to grab something from the small restaurant which was by the entrance. I went for the tabouleh and hummous. Both were well flavoured and cost AED22 each. There were other Arabic mezze, such as moutabel and Beiruty hummous, also for AED22. Sandwhiches and pizza, as well as some nice salads were also available to order and were around AED30-50. The prices were reasonable for the quality and quantity of what we ordered.

Looking towards the sun loungers

There are also changing, shower, washroom and locker facilities at the beach which are clean and well maintained.

After a nice day at the beach we headed across to the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas for a lovely Devonshire Tea at The Library which was AED70 per person. At first we decided to sit outside and enjoy the view but as we were not in the sun we slowly got rather chilled and moved inside.

Rose hip and hibiscus tea outside on the terrace

Delicious scone with clotted cream and cherry jam

Inside The Library

The Library was a cozy place to enjoy a Devonshire tea. I could imagine coming here even alone and reading one of the books they have on hand while eating scones and drinking tea or grabbing some girlfriends for an opportunity to just catch up. The service was excellent and because the scones (which are freshly baked) did not come in the time frame that was given to us we also received a glass of fresh orange juice.

Getting to Saadiyat Island is simple from Dubai as you only need to follow the E11 south bound and then you will find the signs to Yas Island/Saadiyat Island. From the Marina area to Saadiyat Public Beach it took us about 40 minutes with a stop at a petrol station.

Check out Saadiyat Island this weekend for an escape from the norm.