Road Trippin' it to Fujairah

Once again the weekend is fast coming up. Now that temperatures across the UAE are becoming more comfortable it is time to make a road trip and hit the beach. Fujairah can easily be a day trip or a weekender.

My preferred Fujairah trip encompasses most of the Emirate of Fujairah not just the city of Fujairah. Usually we head out in the wee hours of the morning and drive towards Dibba/Al Aqah, which is well known for its snorkeling and diving around both Snoopy Island and Dibba Rock.



The above map may or may not show (I err on the side of may not) my usual "trip to Fujairah" driving pattern. Basically we take the E88 towards Fujairah and once in Masafi take the E89 to Dibba which then magically turns into the E99, towards Al Aqah.

Before you reach Masafi you will find yourself driving past the Friday Market (there will be signs announcing it and it is open everyday, so don't let the name mislead you). Here you can pick up anything from fresh fruits, to plants, pots and carpets. Definitely take a stop here, pick up coconut juice and interact with the sellers.

If you want to dive/snorkel by Dibba Rock there are dive centres at both the Radisson Blu and the Holiday Beach Motel. I learned to dive with Blue Planet Diving (at the Holiday Beach Motel) and thoroughly enjoyed my experience. To people who have not dived before it is like being in a National Geographic documentary.

Further down the road in Al Aqah there is a wider variety of hotels like the Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa Al Aqah Beach, Miramar Al Aqah Beach Resort. For a lower priced hotel (and also directly across from Snoopy Island) is the Sandy Beach Hotel. There is also a open beach (without facilities) beside the Sandy Beach Hotel where people come on the weekend and set up small camps. The beaches here are sandy and the water is amazingly clear. There is a petrol station with convenience store just before the Rotana so remember to have plenty of liquids with you and snacks.

Looking towards Snoopy Island from the open beach

Once your beach day is done and you want to grab some lunch or and early dinner make your way to Fujairah along the E99, if you feel the need to stretch your legs or grab something to drink Khor Fakkan is a great place to stop as it is very green and has a lovely corniche.

My favourite place to eat in Fujairah is at the Hadramut Mandi Restaurant. Though it is not much to look at from the outside the food is excellent and inexpensive (a chicken mandi cost AED19, a bottle of water AED1 ... mind blown!). There are 2 private rooms and an area of the main seating section can also be curtained off. There is also the possibilities to sit at tables but if you are going to eat Mandi sit on the floor and enjoy a more authentic experience. The Hadramut Mandi Restaurant is located just before the fish market in Fujairah (at the Hilton keep going straight through the round about, do not turn left to follow the E99). Below are some pictures to show you where.



Façade of the restaurant



To the right is the Al Madina Supermarket


Lamb and chicken mandi, ask for one rice

Should you have space for dessert try the Kunafa, it is amazing. My friend and I shared one after our lunch/dinner and promised to come back after a walk for round two.

 

After such a meal it is nice to get out and enjoy a digesting walk. You can keep your car parked and less than 100 meters away is the vegetable and fish market. The fish market sells everything from shrimps to baby sharks, with a lot of flies buzzing around. Located past the fish market you will happen upon the vegetable market which sells various fresh produce in nice displays. There is also a meat market and some shops selling clothing items. In the evening it is rather quiet, if you want the hustle and bustle of market life check it out on Friday mornings.

 

For the way back to Dubai drive towards the vegetable market and head right at the round about onto the E89. If you want some shisha and sweets (or another meal, I won't judge) before you head back to Dubai check out the Al Meshwar Restaurant. It is a Lebanese restaurant that has both indoor and outdoor seating and an extensive shisha collection, grill and desserts. From the outside it looks like ruins (take the exit from E89 that is by the KFC).

 

If you just want to head home follow the E89 until it becomes E84 (direction Dubai). The E84 will eventually become the E102 which you can follow to the E611 (the old Dubai Bypass Road).

A little bit of "The Dubai Fountain" love

The Dubai Fountain is a stunning piece of art. When it is not playing it is an unassuming calm pond. When it plays, it plays. A trip to Dubai is not complete without seeing this stunning work of choreography. Like most popular tourist attractions in Dubai it can become incredibly crowded and finding a good viewing spot becomes an uncomfortable experience. Below are some places, mostly restaurants, were you can enjoy dinner or drinks and have an unobstructed view of The Dubai Fountain. There is also a walkway which goes around the area where the fountains are located. Along this walkway, especially near the mall entrance/Souk Al Bahar area it can become quite busy. Best to go more in the direction of Burj Khalifa where there are generally less people.

The following pictures were taken from Joe's Café in The Dubai Mall.

1. Joe's Café: Joe's Café is located on the second level of Fashion Avenue of the Dubai Mall across from Mulberry. We ended up here as the outside terrace of Madeleine was full. A café latte/cappuccino will cost you AED29 each. A more contemporary feel than Madeleine or Ladurée it still has a cozy, classy vibe to it.

2. Madeleine: is located on the first level of  Fashion Avenue. Wonderful Pariesien style restaurant which serves excellent food and has, like Joe's, amazing and unobstructed views of the fountains, Burj Khalifa and The Address Downtown Dubai. A café latte/cappuccino will cost you AED18 each. I have eaten dinner here a couple times and each time walked away happy and satiated.

3. PAUL Bakery & Restaurant: also located in the Dubai Mall (first level) and a very popular institution in Dubai also offers outside seating with views of the fountains. The view may not be as direct as Joe's and Madeleine but it is still a good option. PAUL is a French style restaurant with wonderful desserts and a very rich hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is definitely a more budget friendly version to what is served at Ladurée.

4. Neos: Neos is the skybar located in The Address Downtown Dubai. From the 63rd floor you have a birds eye view of the fountains as well as a view across downtown Dubai and to the Burj Khalifa. Going there before 21h00 will usually guarantee you the best seating. Neos is more chic and upscale than the previous mentioned locations so take care to follow a smart casual dress code as a minimum. They will turn you away if you are dressed in sneakers. In The Address Downtown Dubai also has Calabar which is a Latin inspired lounge bar which offers various styles of indoor and outdoor seating and is also worth checking out if you prefer a chic night out.

5. Armani Hotel Dubai: one cannot talk about chic and skip past the Armani Hotel Dubai. The design aesthetic of Giorgio Armani is ever present in this name sake hotel. The Armani/Lounge, looking out to The Dubai Fountain, ideal for a light meal and opportunity to experience the vision of Giorgio Armani.

6. At.mosphere: quite possible the crème de la crème of "overlooking the fountains" dining is At.mosphere. Located on the 122nd floor of the Burj Khalifa it takes high tea to new heights (that pun was necessary). The high tea was an experience like no other and truly an indulgence. Whether you go for high tea or evening drinks before dinner take care to dress to impress and bring a camera with full battery.

So there you have it: a small list of different places to view the fountains from. There are so many more restaurants and cafes on the ground floor of The Dubai Mall to view the fountains from but often your view will be obstructed by others who are trying to view the fountains. Souk Al Bahar also as a wide variety of dining options to choose from.

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.

Ready for the weekend

Winter in Dubai means beach days, comfortable beach days, where sitting in the sun will not make your body mimic a sauna session. Now we have glorious mid 30s temperatures, cooling breezes and clear blue skies.

A beautiful beach in Dubai is Sunset Beach located in Umm Suqeim beside the Burj al Arab. During the weekend parking can fill up quickly but is usually not an issue if you arrive before 09h00. The side which is closest to the Burj al Arab is most busy so be prepared to stake your claim early. Sunset Beach is an open beach but I have not noticed many gawkers. The beach is unfortunately still lacking in facilities, currently there are only changing cubicles. The water is quite shallow but be aware that there may be undercurrents in the middle of the beach because of the shape of the beach. The sand is clean and the waters are clear and almost turquoise.

view from the further side of the beach

View to the Burj al Arab

Beautiful not only in the day light, Sunset Beach is of course known for its views at sunset as well as the unobstructed view of Burj al Arab at night. Whichever time you go pack a blanket and a picnic to make the most of your time.

 

Pink Afternoon Tea *update*

A couple posts ago I mentioned that, as October is breast cancer awareness month, the Fairmont the Palm has a Pink Afternoon Tea. During the Eid holiday some girlfriends and I made it there and once again it did not disappoint.

The menu was specifically geared towards foods which contain cancer fighting properties.


First of we were offered the tea menu which has 35 various teas. I went for the yummy berry as it fit with the pink theme of the day and even without sugar is nice and sweet. For a more exotic style tea go for the Cote d' Azur which blossoms into a flower from it tight circular form. Of course, if java is more your style it is on offer as well. With tea one also receives a fresh fruit juice.

And on to the first course a wonderful sabayon with fresh mixed berries which was a treat to indulge in.

Of the sandwiches we could all agree that the smoked salmon and the egg sandwiches were our favourite. The reaction to the roasted beetroot sandwiches was not as positive but that may have been because of the unexpected flavor combination. I myself quite like beetroot.

The small deserts were presented like jewels in the display. My personal favourite was the lemon tart with the raspberries on top. Something about lemon and raspberry is refreshing and of course the nod to the cause was welcome. The chocolate triangle was decadent and the creamy ganache paired well with the light crunch of the bottom.

Clotted cream, jam and warm scones oh my! Delicious and warm scones were also brought with a choice of plain or with raisins. By this point we were all wondering if we could roll our selves to valet when the final treat was served: milk chocolate lollies with a white chocolate coating sprinkled with dried strawberry pieces.

It was a wonderful afternoon out and seeing the sunset from the Fairmont is beautiful, as it is in most places in Dubai. We had wonderful service and a fun, relaxing time.

As with all other reviews I am in no way compensated for this post. It is my own opinion and taste buds (figuratively, of course) doing the typing.

Hot Pot in the Desert

There is something about finding an authentic restaurant in a city like Dubai that makes your heart beat a little bit faster. One of those places would be the Xiao Wei Yang International Restaurant also known as the Little Sheep/Lamb Hot Pot.

Exterior of the restaurant

The restaurant is easy to find across from the Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa on Al Sufouh Road. There is still construction taking place in the area so parking is still at a premium.

Interior of the restaurant

The moment my friend and I walked into the restaurant our throats were tickled with the hint of spice which was lingering in the air. And with that my smile grew broader as I have not had hot pot in about two years, one could say it was a long time coming. After settling at our own table we were given the menus and allowed a moment to peruse them. A definite plus here is that there are pictures showing what you will get which is perfect for hot pot neophytes. We went with menu four which has a divided "pot" which just means one side has a spicy broth and they other is a milder beef broth. In addition to the normal assortment of mushrooms, fish balls, lettuce and thinly sliced meat which comes with the hot pot we also ordered golden needle mushrooms. Be still my heart of I do have a fondness for these.

Hot pot ingrediants

As expected the food came quickly and was fresh. Hot pot is essentially an eat at your own pace food where you can cook as you go.

Ready to eat

As usual I was not compensated for writing about this restaurant. I do, though, welcome suggestions on new places to try out.

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.