The Adventures of the Picky Foodie

Abdel Wahab - Ordinary Lebanese Fare

2011-10-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

When it comes to Lebanese cuisine in the capital, I don't bother straying from the trusted Lebanese Flower and Marroush. You can find the juciest grills and shwarmas, creamiest hummus and moutabel and the most filling mixed fruit mocktail in the city at prices you cannot beat. More fine-dining Lebanese options have cropped up recently in the form of Fairmont Bab Al Bahr's Cedar Lounge among others, but the former two still remain my go-to options. A recent work gathering, however, took me to a restaurant I wouldn't normally drop by given its location at Souk Qaryat al Beri. Online reviews would've also done little to cajole me to go there as they are filled with criticism of the service and quality of food. I have to admit, I did go with some preconceived notions about the place, but in a way, they worked to tame my expectations to such a degree that anything passable was welcomed.

The indoor seating area was smaller than I though it would be, although there was a large outdoor area with a view of the glorious Sheikh Zayed Mosque. I was surprised to see that they had a bar which stocked alcohol - not something that I'd associate with a restaurant in a (high-end) mall with a name like Abdel Wahab. But, what did I tell you about preconceived notions? Anyway, the menu had been picked beforehand, so we patiently waited for them to introduce every course on our table.

First came the cold mezzes in the form of tabouleh, fattoush, hummus and moutabel along with freshly baked pita bread. They were all quite good.

Next came the hot starters: kibbeh (rather dry), chicken wings (soggy skin due to being soaked in the strong lemon dressing/gravy, and the chicken was smelly), cocktail sausages (also predominantly sour due to a generous drizzle of lemon juice) and cubed potatoes sauteed in garlic and herbs (absolutely divine!). I was a little confused about why two of the meat offerings were so strongly flavored with lemon. Anyway, after a wait of about ten minutes, the main course was served, which was basically mixed grill on a platter. The grill was below average in my opinion, and the shish tawook actually looked under cooked. I helped myself to half a kofta before deciding to call it a night. Dessert was a selection of fresh fruits, so there's not much to review there.

Service was ordinary - slower than I would've liked, but not outright rude as I was expecting (from the reviews). At one point, my friend handed her camera to a waiter to capture a group shot, and his mortified reaction was quite out of place although he did oblige. I made a mental note of the name appearing on his nametag, but perhaps it would be unfair to share it here.

The restaurant is obviously on the pricey side given its location and alcohol license, and the set menu came to about 160 per person. Would I recommend it? No. Would I go back? Maybe if I'm in the mood for some outdoor shisha while enjoying a stunning view when I happen to have a car at my disposal...

Jimmy's Killer(?) Prawns

2011-10-12T23:38:00.000-07:00

Apologizing for the long and totally random intervals between my posts has become slightly redundant, so I am going to skip the formalities and get straight to my next review. Jimmy's Killer Prawns was one of the first dine-in options to open at my neighboring Mushrif Mall, and my friends and I decided to take one of our seafood appreciating (I won't say loving) friend there for her birthday.

We ordered three dishes that we shared amongst the five of us. The Jimmy's Original Prawns (spicy) came with 18 full prawns (head, eyes et al) and some finger-licking good, shallow gravy that I couldn't get enough of. The dish was AED 99, and while I enjoyed the little flesh I could salvage after throwing the shell, limbs and head off, this dish was a bit of a waste for me considering how much I discarded. Some of my friends happily sucked on the brains, but I wouldn't dare. It was also hard to not look past all the cholesterol on that plate. Our second dish was a prawn and ribs combo (AED 100+). The prawns were the same as the one in our previous dish, and I have had better ribs at the more humble Lebanese Flower. Our third pick of the evening was a steak dish. This was my first time having a medium cooked steak and I surprisingly enjoyed it. It was quite pink in the middle, but once I conjured up the courage to chew it, I found that it was more juicy and tender than its well-done counter part. Still, I'm not sure if I will be switching to medium cooked steaks permanently as I generally don't like my food resembling it's raw version.

My drink for the evening was my friend's rejected strawberry-mint mocktail which she switched with my Diet Pepsi. I particularly enjoyed the strong taste of both the key ingredients in the drink and I wasn't aware previously that strawberry and mint could go so well together!

The bill came up to almost 400 and it's definitly on the pricey side. While it was definitely a different exprience that I enjoyed (although company also played a big role in that), I don't think that I'll be going back there soon or ever. The prawns may be good, but they're not addictive.

Review: Jones the Grocer

2011-09-18T10:23:00.000-07:00

Time to review another relatively new franchise that has made a splash in Abu Dhabi. My first impression of Jones the Grocer: they serve food on wooden boards! (referring to Tempo's cover shot some months back). I think that aspect of their presentation was what first attracted me to the place. I like businesses that make an effort to stand out. Back when I was a student, I could only admire such places from afar as any unique gesture would usually signal prices that would put a serious dent in my budget. But I guess those four years of deprivation paid off somewhat. Anyway, I was keen to try out their good-to-go gourmet m eals (popular spot for work lunches, and our CEO is a regular customer) and headed to their Khalidiyah branch soon after it opened.

My first impression of the interiors - sterile. That might be a strange thing to say for a place serving food, but the plain tables, open kitchen with steel finishing and black shelves lined along the walls made me feel like I was in a hospital canteen. I guess they went for the functional, modern feel, which did eventually grow on me. Word of advice: avoid intense or intimate conversation because there's a pretty good chance that the people sitting behind you can overhear everything. There's not much space between adjacent tables, and that was the only thing that bugged me. But keeping the concept of the place in mind, I guess I shouldn't expect any different. You'll have shoppers behind you stocking up on grocery supplies while you're eating, so it is not your regular diner.

Now on to the food. On my first visit, I went for the Wagyu Beef Pie and lemonade, and finished my extended meal with some hot chocolate and chocolate muffin. My friends had gone for the Macaroni and Cheese with Salmon, and Jones Chicken Burger. This was actually a few months back when I was not in the habit of carrying my camera around with me, so my BlackBerry captured shots are as fuzzy as my memory of that meal. I do remember enjoying the food, but the details escape me.

My first set of uninspiring photos.

On my more recent visit a few days ago, I opted for their renowned Wagyu Beef Burger (AED 62), and my, what a burger it was! Maybe it had to do with me being famished as it was a late lunch at 4 PM, but I don't think I've ever had a better burger. It was just the right size, juicy, with the right selection and amount of condiments. I didn't even mind the mayonnaise that I usually shun if given the option! The accompanying fries came with a slight taste of the olive oil that they were fried/baked in and the herbed ketchup was also received well. In short, if you ever want to introduce burgers to someone for the very first time (and I have no idea who that's going to be in today's time and age), this is IT.

After a short break, my dining partner and I went for the ADW recommended Apple Crumble Pie/Tart (AED 14). I thought the cinnamon flavor was too strong and in hindsight, I should've asked them to warm it up. Nothing I'd have a second time or particularly recommend. The coffee (AED 10) and tea (AED 15) that we ordered were pretty standard, but it was a pretty memorable meal either way thanks to the star of the show, the Wagyu Beef Burger.

Ramadan Recap

2011-09-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

This post is not going to be very helpful since Ramadan is long over, but it does work to reinforce some old opinions and provide some insight into what to avoid for future iftars.

Yas Hotel - Origins:

So my annual office iftar was at this place and at AED 175 per head, this was definitely one of the more expensive iftar buffets I had been to this year. But yet again, a 5-star hotel failed to deliver. The buffet spread was large, but not extensive. The food was not different from any of the 'regular' places I've been to. I don't know if the 5-star tag inflates one's expectations to the point that even the slightly above average fare seems downright dowdy, but I don't remember anything about the buffet that I liked. Even the roast potatoes that I normally devour were on the sweet side, making them hard to enjoy. They had a live shwarma station, but the one I was handed was soggy from all the tomatoes stuffed inside, and the chicken was smelly. One thing hotels do well is desserts. I suppose that's the only part of the buffet spread that makes an attempt to justify the price tag. The variety of desserts and the attention to detail given to all the individual servings is commendable. I did take away a wonderful memory from this experience: coffee at the balcony overlooking the F1 race track and the yachts harbored at the marina.

Royal Orchid:

This iftar was unsatisfactory on several levels. Thai for iftar is just something that my palate and stomach juices are not used to, so the first few bites did feel a little strange. Besides that, we could not hear the azaan at all inside and had to rely on a waiter to tell us when we could commence. Some of the appetizers were edible such as the vegetable spring roll, raw mango salad and chicken drumsticks, but the mains were a huge letdown. There were only a couple of options (4-5) and that would've been okay if the taste made up for it. But unfortunately, most of it was either under-salted or the quality of the ingredients was just not good enough. I had to fill up on the appetizers as a result. If the mains were a letdown, the desserts were worse. The 'exotic fruit selection' had been ploughed through by the time we got to it, and they did not refill the serving plate. The other dessert options included something that resembled sesame seed dusted fried wantons with honey/syrup, and a pink, coconut flavored milk with tasteless jelly beans swimming in it. At first, I was excited at the prospect of enjoying a buffet for AED 69 at a place where I usually end up spending more, but my visit confirmed that their offerings are getting progressively worse. If my second last visit was average, my last visit won't make me go back.
P.s. The only good thing about my meal was the strawberry mojito that I ordered (not included in the buffet), but that didn't come without its share of drama as it was embarrassingly titled 'Hot Lips'. Sigh.

I've tried other iftar spreads like Le Boulanger, Kingsgate Hotel, Moti Mahal and Ibrahimi, but I have come to the conclusion that I don't really have an appetite large enough to enjoy a buffet even after an entire day's fasting. My most enjoyable Iftar was actually at Chili's, where the larger than average individual portions filled me up considerably without making sleeping at night uncomfortable.

Review : Cafe Arabia

2011-09-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

Gosh it has been a while since my last update, hasn't it? But this time I am back reviewing a city favorite. I call it a favorite as it has received positive reviews from several Abu Dhabi sources like TOA and Abu Dhabi Week, but again, I like to form my own opinion as I haven't always had the best experiences at places highly recommended by the aforementioned. So here goes!

The occasion was a school reunion of sorts as several of us happened to converge in Abu Dhabi from different parts of the world around Eid, and a leisurely afternoon and early dinner seemed like the perfect opportunity to catch up. Since we were a large group, we were on the lookout for a place that would be able to accommodate us for several hours without having to turn away other diners. Luckily for us, Cafe Arabia happened to be just that place. I was surprised at how empty it was on a Thursday evening. I was fully expecting it to be at least 60% occupied as the name seems to be on everyone's lips lately. However, when I went there, there were only two diners besides myself although a few others dropped by later in the evening. Anyway, I couldn't complain!

The interior is spacious (three floors including rooftop seating) and very tastefully decorated, giving off a very homely vibe. I loved the arts, lanterns (some of which were on sale), the couches and the interesting pieces dotting the space. There is even a bookshelf stocked with bestsellers which you can plop down with and read at your own pace. A great idea, but as I mentioned to my friend, I'd have to be unemployed to make time for that! There's a sign at the door saying that photography is not allowed, but we couldn't resist sneaking in a few (ok, lots!) and we weren't stopped by the waiter either.

These two pictures are courtesy of my friend Z.S.

Now on to the food. The menu comes in an interesting Emirati fan design, although the pages are printed straight off the computer, not that that matters in the greater scheme of things. We went for different types of coffee and milkshakes (AED 18 - 22) to keep the conversation flowing and were a little surprised to discover that all the drinks looked and tasted pretty much the same, although they had different names on the menu. I guess that's what we get for not trying their signature chai bil hail (cardamom milk tea)! Anyway, the caffeine did see us through for two more hours before we decided to revisit the menu and pick our dishes for the night. Having skimmed through the mains before, the Grilled Kofta (AED 45) had caught my eye and I was intent on having it. What also added to my enthusiasm for the dish was that it came with oven baked potatoes, and any one who knows me knows how much I adore that root vegetable. My friends went for the standard Chicken Fillet sandwich (AED 35), Grilled Chicken (AED 45)and Creamy Alfredo (AED 35).

The food arrived soon enough. I LOVED my Grilled Kofta. It looked great, was juicy and had everyone at the table eying it for a taste. The three grilled koftas came on a bed of whole wheat pita bread, accompanied by a small serving of hummus, THAT grilled potato and some cucumbers. I enjoyed every bite of it. I didn't get to taste the Chicken Fillet sandwich, but I did try my neighbour's Grilled Chicken, and it was pretty good.

Overall my experience was good enough to prompt me to come back the very next day to try their Friday brunch (more on that later). The ambiance was exactly what we wanted, although we were a little on the loud side given our number, and the emptiness made us sound all the louder. The interiors put you in the right mood and I can imagine it feeling so much different if they only had plastic chairs and glass tables. Kudos to the brains behind this venture because I don't think there's a second place in Abu Dhabi like Cafe Arabia.

Now onto the Friday brunch. It was a spontaneous decision as I don't tend to go back to a place the very next day. However, I quite enjoyed my 2 PM brunch there (ends at 3:30 PM). The spread included the standard eggs (something that I don't eat), beef bacon and sausages, and some lunch options like the absolutely divine grilled fish with lemon and lasagna. There was also a selection of cheese, mezzes and dips, sandwiches, saj, mini-pancakes and fresh juices. The dessert selection included Umm Ali, blueberry muffins, fresh fruits, brownies among others. I thought the sizes of all the items was appropriate, so you could try everything without feeling like you're going to burst at the seams. I ended my meal with a strong Americano coffee. The meal saw me through a very exciting day and I wasn't hungry till much, much later, which was a good thing! Brunch is AED 65 per adult.

Review: Anar - Emirates Palace

2011-07-14T00:06:00.000-07:00

Special occasions call for special meals, and when you live in Abu Dhabi, it doesn't get more special than Emirates Palace. July is my mother's birth month, and that called for a trip to the iconic Emirates Palace. However, as I have often observed in the past and confirmed with others who share my palate, an expensive menu and top-notch service does not necessarily translate to a plain ol' tasty and satisfying meal. When the best part of the meal is the complementary salad - solely because of the freshness and superior quality of the components and not because it required any mastery from the chef - you know you need to adjust your expectations.

That was my recent experience at Anar - Emirates Palace. I made reservations a day before, but I found out upon getting there that that was completely unnecessary as the place was deserted except for two occupied tables. The interiors were quite impressive and were probably the only thing justifying the bill there because the food left me speechless - and not in a good way. As a beef-lover, I didn't have to pour over the menu for long and quickly settled for 'Tikke Masti' (beef cube kebab), while my mom took her time to pick between 'Ghaliye Mahi' (Hamour fish in tamarind sauce) and 'Tahchin Ba Morgh' (a rice dish with chicken and nuts in a crispy shell) . In the end, she went with the latter and her choice proved to be quite the appetite killer.

Soon after placing our orders, we were presented with a fresh garden salad with walnuts and feta cheese, and some traditional tafton bread. That's one part of the meal that I usually skip but gladly didn't this time. Our mains arrived within 15 minutes, with the kebab and the rice dish making a familiar and an interesting entrance respectively. I would rate the kebab below average as it tasted run off the mill and was too salty even when consumed with the accompanying saffron rice. The serving size was also average. In the menu there was no indication that my mother's 'Tahchin Ba Morgh' was baked in an egg coating, so when the dish arrived with a heavy egg odor, we were quite disappointed. She tried to brave the dish by avoiding the coating but soon grew weary and abandoned it after consuming one half. At this point I began to regret bringing her there as I bet she would've enjoyed an old favorite in a familiar restaurant more. However, she did point out that it was about the ambiance and service rather than just the food, and she was right because we couldn't fault those.

My friend did warn me about the food at Anar, but I had countered with 'How bad can it be?'. Guess I found out.

Macaroon Mania

2011-06-30T09:59:00.000-07:00

At Abu Dhabi Mall - AED 9 per macaroon.

Bloomsbury's - Wahda Mall

2011-06-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

It's funny to think that it has been almost a year since most of my friends and I made the transition from full-time students to full-time employees or underwent other major changes in our lives. Despite these events, we have managed to stay in touch (largely thanks to the genius behind BBM), and a couple of us have started our own tradition of meeting up every week. But it is not very often that all of us (I'll leave you to guess what that adds up to) get together. So, when word got around that Abu Dhabi's latest food boutique (as I like to call them) and my friend's sister's newest venture was open for business, we were more than happy to show our support by going on a cupcake binge.

Bloomsbury's is located at a strategic place in Wahda Mall - right opposite the pseudo-entrance to the mall's anchor store, Lulu Hypermarket - so that makes it both hard to miss and resist. I personally love the colors chosen for the interiors (red, black and white) and was coincidentally dressed in the same. The decor, lighting and furniture also give the space a very classy vibe. It's the sort of place that you'd like to be seen in regardless of what's on the menu. Nevertheless, what rightfully captures your attention are the mounds of beautifully decorated cupcakes in all colors and flavors behind and on the glass display. And that's what the store specializes in. It could be down to the fact that the store is new, but we didn't have to go through the hassle of choosing from a menu or board. Instead, we picked our cupcakes from what was on display, and I quite liked that arrangement.

Now on to the cupcakes themselves. Between us, we tried 6 different flavors. Trying to recall their store names would be an impossible task, but they were essentially strawberry & cream (my pick), pistachio & chocolate, mocha, raspberry & chocolate, red velvet and chocolate. The most memorable of the lot were strawberry & cream and the chocolate cupcakes, but what did stand out was the fact that each flavor had a distinct taste true to its corresponding components, instead of tasting like regular icing. I suppose that's where the expertise of a specialty store comes in. I'd like to make a suggestion at this point, although I'm not sure if it's viable in culinary terms or if it would take away from the essence of cupcakes. I think it would be, for the lack of a better word, fun to experiment with the base of the cupcakes. Instead of making the icings the focus of the flavors, it would be interesting to see them incorporated into the sponge base by introducing chocolate chips or bits of nuts or fruits into the batter to echo the flavor of the icing. Purists are likely to disagree!

Bloomsbury's also serves up a selection of teas and coffees and meringues.

Hypermarket Pastry-Off

2011-06-19T11:16:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if I have enough regular readers to experiment with an interactive post like this, but here goes!

Which hypermarket makes better pastries - Lulu (left) or Carrefour (right)?

Review: Il Forno

2011-06-19T04:14:00.000-07:00

Il Forno has been around for as long as I can remember. I think it made its debut when Abu Dhabi Mall opened its doors in the capital some time around the turn of the millennium. In my mind that's just yesterday, but in reality, it has been a decade. Anyway, Il Forno touts itself as an authentic Italian eatery, and while I think some of the items on their extensive menu border on the unique, I have a beef with some of their recipes/ingredients - pun intended.

Now despite being a foodie, I have to admit that I'm not much of a cook. I don't have the guts to handle raw meat and feel nauseous even looking at or smelling it, so that has greatly limited my exposure to cooking. But if there's one thing that I CAN put together in no time while ensuring that it tastes above average, it's red pasta sauce. And this is where Il Forno falters. In my humble opinion and not-so-limited experience, they need to tweak their red sauce a.s.a.p. because the current one tastes stale (on more than one occasion, at different venues) with an antiseptic aftertaste (go easy on the herbs maybe?). As a result, every item incorporating their red sauce is tainted with those flavors, completely ruining almost half the dishes on their menu. The other ingredient is their ground meat. I wish I could say it's tasteless, but it does have a very mild taste which is not too pleasant at all. I can't put my finger on what it is, but to me, it is a bit like chewing shredded tissue paper. As a result, I'm not going to be craving their Pizza Di Buffalo (AED 25) or Tagliatelle Bistesca (AED 35) any time soon, and their Spaghetti Bolognese is going to be something of a double whammy as you can imagine!

After my unpleasant run in with the aforementioned, I subconsciously fell into the habit of avoiding the place. Recently, I came across their revamped menu and decided to give it another go, this time opting for a 'Secondo' (Main Course) instead of the usual pastas. The decision turned out to be a good one as the Bistecca Alla Rosemarino (AED 71) was memorable for all the right reasons. The fancy sounding name loosely translates from Italian to char grilled steak with glazed rosemary and artichoke hearts sauce. The serving size was generous, the steaks perfectly cooked all the way through yet moist and juicy, the butter and artichoke heart sauce moreish and the grilled vegetables and baked potato perfectly done yet fresh. This was easily one of the best steaks I've had, so I guess Il Forno has found a way to redeem itself in my books with their mains.

Surprisingly, despite dining there several times over the years, I am yet to try any of their white sauce pastas. I should perhaps go back for that, but there's a reason why experience is so highly rated and mine says: Go for the mains.

Chill Out Lounge at Grand Millenium Al Wahda

2011-06-17T01:43:00.000-07:00

I really do wish I could be a more regular blogger, but my rather busy and draining life does not allow that. Part of what keeps me busy is, ofcourse, my culinary adventures around Abu Dhabi. I don't go strictly to sample and review, but to socialize and unwind, so I end up spending a few hours at the joint and by the time I'm back, I'm too tired to record my experience straightaway.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I ventured into Abu Dhabi's largest five star hotel's pool-side lounge to catch up with my girlfriends (who I luckily meet almost every week). This was another spot chosen courtesy of a group-discount site (Gonabit). The fine print did warn us that only light snacks and drinks would be available, along with shisha, but we were only handed a drinks and shisha menu much to our disappointment as were looking forward to biting down on something more substantial - although we were primarily there for the shisha. With AED 400 to spend between the 4 of us (AED 50 vouchers worth AED 100 each), we were left to order a shisha each and some drinks. The view was spectacular as we were up on the 31st floor - the rooftop of the hotel. The decor was arabesque minimal, with lanterns and rugs dotting the space which was otherwise sparsely furnished and decorated. The area was surprisingly not air-conditioned, but there were large fans for each table. This arrangement would be ideal for someone who just stepped out of the pool to grab a drink, but it was rather too warm for someone fully clothed and in a hijab like myself. Perhaps that is the reason the lounge will go on a hiatus for the summer from end of July.

The drinks and shisha were brought promptly, but that was not surprising as we were the only ones there at 8 PM! The place started to look a little busier around 9 and a live band tried to help the ambiance, although we could've done without them as our conversation fizzled out as soon as they started playing. With one shisha each (AED 50 each), my friends opted for grape, double apple and watermelon, while I went for the ever-dependable mint. Half way through our night, we ordered an ice cream sundae (AED 40+) after spotting one on a neighboring table (it was not listed in the menu handed to us). We went for a combination of strawberry, mango and papaya. The ice creams were more like sorbets, but thankfully they didn't taste like the store bought variety. The flavors were unique and fresh. The drinks were not much to write home about, and I thought my (virgin) mojito (AED 30-40) had too much ice in it. Less than halfway through my drink, it started to taste diluted, so I could not finish the rest.

Since we were at a hotel, municipality and service charges applied to the total amount of our order, and it was a pleasant surprise to find out that our total bill added up to AED 397 inclusive of all those charges - just AED 3 short of AED 400! So we didn't have to pay anything over the voucher amounts. A very good deal if you ask me.

To wrap it up, I'd recommend the place for the view when the weather is cooler late September onwards. It's a world far away from the over-crowded, noisy cafes in the city, so if you need a shisha fix or just a place to sit or even lie back (plenty of lounge chairs) with your friends or partner, give this a try. But don't forget to ask for the snack menu.

Mirabel - Restaurant Review

2011-06-04T10:10:00.000-07:00

Every now and then a restaurant that has been around for some time comes to my attention and I wonder why I've never ventured into it before. Mirabel has been attracting rave reviews from the likes of Time Out Abu Dhabi, but given my less than pleasant experience at the equally positively reviewed The One Cafe, I took their superlatives with a pinch of salt. A voucher opportunity came and went on Groupon, but when it was featured again on Cobone, I managed to convince my friends to join me on yet another culinary expedition. With four vouchers worth a total of AED 320 bought for AED 140, we headed to Fatouh Al Khair Center expecting a quiet weeknight dinner. Mirabel turned out to be the busiest spot in a generally deserted 'mall', and it made me wonder why they resorted to promoting their business on a group-discount site since it seemed to be doing quite well, not that I was complaining. A review on Time Out Abu Dhabi described the place as 'something out of the NY Upper East Side', and as an avid follower of the Gossip Girl TV series (I know, I know...), I was also looking forward to experiencing that ambiance. I have to say, the way it opened out into the mall spoiled the mood a little, so maybe a more enclosed area would've given it an air of exclusivity, but anyway, we were primarily there for the food.

We were promptly handed menus upon being seated, and I was glad to see that the dine-in menu was more extensive than the online version. We had picked our dishes beforehand so we did not take too much time to place our orders, although there were some last minute changes. My friend and I opted for the Norwegian Cod Fish & Chips with mashed peas, malt vinegar and chunky fries while my other two friends went with Chicken Milanese with mashed potato and Grilled Ribe-Eye Tagliata with roasted garlic and potatoes (the latter being my impromptu suggestion). Complementary bread and butter were placed on our table, but they couldn't hold a candle to Shaekspeare & Co's assorted bread basket and herbed butter (also complementary).

Maybe someday I will appreciate the intimacy of a two-party dinner date, but at the moment, I love dining in groups as the natural flow of conversation makes the wait between courses seem insignificant and a wider selection of items is available for sampling. The mains seemed to arrive in no time. The presentation of the dishes was, for the lack of a better word, appropriate for the standard of the restaurant but nothing extraordinary. I have to admit at this point that given the prices of the mains, I was almost expecting the serving size to be Chili's-esque, not that it was not filling. The Fish & Chips was good, with the batter crispy and the fish flaky and most importantly, not fishy. However, if not for the mashed peas and the malt vinegar, which I did not incorporate into my meal, the dish could've easily passed for something from 'London Fish & Chips', where cod fillets and chips go for AED 35 as opposed to Mirabel's AED 82.

Now on to the two extremes. The disappointment of the night was Chicken Milanese (AED 74). The chicken was ordinary at best, and it was accompanied by rocket leaves and mustard infused mashed potato. None of us are big fans of rocket leaves given its bitter taste, and on that particular night we were all the more reluctant to have fresh salad in any form with the recent outbreak of E.coli. The mashed potato was fluffy with a hint of mustard, but some more depth to its flavor - perhaps with some sprinkling of cheese - would've been appreciated. The star dish of the night was the Grilled Rib-Eye Tagliata (AED 78). The sliced steak arrived grilled just the way we wanted it - well done but not tough and chewy, and the meat tasted ever so slightly smoky. The side of roasted garlic and potatoes was everything I had hoped it would be. The garlic pods, roasted with its skin on, oozed out the most delicious natural paste of garlic, softened and sweetened in the roasting process. I almost wished I had ordered that instead, and I made a mental note to come back for it in the future.

The service was pretty prompt although it was a busy night. Our vouchers were accepted without a hint of disappointment on our server's face (something that I have encountered before much to my annoyance). Her presence of mind was also commendable as she issued four different invoices for each voucher and presented the exact balance that each of us had to pay as our dishes were of different values. Overall, Mirabel left a positive impression and I plan to go back with the Buy 1 Breakfast Get 1 Free next on my agenda.

Eric Kayser - Restaurant Review

2011-05-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been almost three! years since my last update. I kept thinking I'd get around to doing a new post soon but that time never came, and before I knew it, three years had flown by. I am as passionate and picky about my food as ever. I have explored numerous restaurants around town and even outside town since the last time I posted here. Unfortunately, they have not been chronicled as I would've liked, and there were some unique experiences that I am now having a hard time recalling, but I'll try my best to pick up where I left off.

Ever since UAE became host to several group-discount sites in 2010, I have gone jet skiing, rode camels, beach buggies and went dune bashing while on a desert safari and just returned from a dhow dinner cruise all the way in Dubai. The group-discount sites have also opened up a world of (discounted) eating options. While most of the places featured are affordable anyway, I think it is the smarter option to pay half the bill amount with a simple online purchase.

Eric Kayser is one of several European style cafes that have popped up in the past few years. I was having second thoughts about trying out this cafe, but their promise of wood fire pizza tipped my decision in their favor. The cafe is located in Abu Dhabi Mall, just beside the more popular Mugg & Bean franchise. Soon after placing our order, we were given complementary bread bites with zaatar and labneh dips (sadly, not pictured). That was a little unexpected given the theme and feel of the place, but it was a tangy, light opening to our lunch.

The items I picked were the ones that appealed to me in the featured pictures in their menu. I can be a visual person when it comes to food, and although AED 40+ for a salad seemed a little hefty, I could not get the thought the Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimps (AED 29+15) out of my mind. It arrived looking extremely inviting. The shrimps were perfectly grilled and ample (although my friend who later visited the outlet and ordered the same salad based on my recommendation complained about the few, scattered pieces of shrimp tossed in), the parmigiano-reggiano shavings was sharp (and generous - most places are careful with how much of that cheese they incorporate into their salads as its price is on the steep side in this part of the world) and the Caesar dressing tangy. The portion size was also generous and more than enough for two. I was pretty full by the time the mains and side order arrived , but the light nature of the salad allowed me tuck into them anyway.

For mains, I had ordered the Rucula and Bresaola Pizza (AED 48) and EK Club Sandwich (AED 39), with a side order of Sauteed Potatoes with Garlic and Coriander (AED 16). It may have been the lack of proper seasoning, but I found the much touted wood fire pizza rather boring. The club sandwich was also not much to write home about and nothing about it stood out. The accompanying fries like the store-bought frozen variety when most places of EK's projected standard make their own fresh fries. The side order was also forgettable. For drinks we had opted for Lemon Iced Tea (AED 15) and Fresh Watermelon Juice (AED 18). The iced tea could easily pass for Lipton's canned version which I am very fond of, and I was a little disappointed that they had again not gone through the effort of making their own.

A little word on the service - once our order had been taken, the servers were very hard to get hold of. We had to wait atleast 5-10 minutes before we got someone's attention to fetch our bill. Once we did receive the bill and presented our voucher for redemption, the server applied it to the wrong table and we had to wait a further 10 minutes before he returned with the right pending balance, which I paid after walking up to the cash register myself since no one was coming to collect it after a further 5 minute wait. For a restaurant that isn't too busy, this level of service was disappointing.

Would I go back? Probably not to dine in, but to takeaway a bowl of that lovely salad.

Gazibo - Restaurant Review

2008-12-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

I'll be straying from the theme of my blog a bit as I'll be reviewing a restaurant in Dubai. I recently dined at Gazibo, a restaurant serving Indian cuisine and specialising in kebabs and biryani, after their advertisement in the weekly Friday magazine caught my eye.

We arrived at about 9 PM and were lucky enough to find a parking spot right away. The restaurant was buzzing with diners, and we were seated next to a large group of English tourists. Soon after, a waiter handed us the menu, which had extensive lists of kebabs and biryanis and some curries that were pretty new to me. I probably took a good 15 minutes to go through the entire menu, and a few more minutes were devoted to debating over which items to shortlist for the evening. We finally settled for Paneer Kurkuri and Kachumber Salad for our appetizer, and Raan-e-Sikandari, Peshawari Gosht Tikka, Lahori Murg, Bombay Biryani and assorted Naan, Kulcha and Paratha for the main course. I guess it's pretty obvious that Gazibo has a peculiar obsession with naming their dishes after cities. Anyway, we were first served our drinks. I had gone for a sweetened lime and soda drink, called Shikanji at this particular place, and it was pretty refreshing though nothing extraordinary.

The appetizers arrived soon after. I thought the Paneer Kurkuri, essentially cottage cheese rolled in dough and deep-fried, was pretty disappointing since it had very little salt. The dark-red sauce accompanying it (couldn't tell what it was) had an oriental taste to it. That particular dish might've worked in a fusion restaurant, but I thought it was out of place in this one. The exotically named Kachumber Salad was nothing other than finely diced onions, cucumber and some other vegetable tossed in chaat masala.

Paneer Kurkure (foreground) and Kachumber Salad

The main dishes arrived in phases, probably according to the order in which they were prepared. The first to reach our table was the Peshawari Gosht Tikka. We were having second thoughts about ordering it earlier on hearing that it was going to be boneless, but all my doubts about the dish disappeared once I tasted it. It tasted a lot like Bihari kebab, except the flavours were more intense. The waiter served it on our plates, so there was no chance of a second helping although there's nothing I would've liked more. That was followed by the Raan-e-Sikandari and Lahori Murg. The Raan-e-Sikandari, a roasted lamb leg, could have been better in my opinion. Although it was cooked thoroughly and appeared quite mouth-watering, it wasn't bursting with flavours like the Peshawari Gosht Tikka. The Lahori Murg, a spicy chicken curry touted as the chef's special, had a unique taste for a chicken curry. The spicy gravy was a concoction of very familiar flavours, but I just couldn't put my finger on what they were. The Bombay Biryani was the last to arrive. I was pretty full by that time, so I just had a small serving of the rice, which was reasonably good, but I don't remember its taste as vividly as that of the kebab. A little word on the assorted breads, they were reliable accompaniments and predictably tasty.

Peshawari Gosht Tikka

Raan-e-Sikandari

Lahori Murg

Bombay Biryani

Assorted breads

If there was one glitch in the evening, it was that I wanted to try their Shahi Tukra, and they had all the desserts on the menu except that one. Anyway, Gazibo has some of the best Indian food I've come across, and I definitely plan to go back someday to try some of the other tempting things on offer. Even though the restaurant was packed, the service was pretty good and prompt (I later found out that they have no service charge!). When we were leaving at around 10 30 PM, there were around 20 people still waiting in the reception area to be seated. To say the restaurant is popular would be stating the obvious.

Location: Mankhool,Opposite Meena Plaza Hotel, Dubai
Also available at: Dubai Internet City
Price:
Kachumber Salad AED10
Paneer Kurkure AED 18
Raan-e-Sikandari AED 80
Peshawari Gosht Tikka AED 32
Lahori Murg AED 33
Bombay Biryani AED 34
Assorted Breads AED 25
Shikanji AED 10
Mineral Water AED 5
Aerated Drinks AED 8
Total: AED 255

Happy 2nd December!

2008-12-02T03:31:00.000-08:00

Here's wishing all UAE citizens and residents a happy 37th National Day, and this country more prosperity!

The following picture of chocolate cup-cakes with UAE flag frosting was taken at my university, ADU. I didn't get around to tasting them as I had to run to class, but I thought they were ideal for my blog:

Photo courtesy of: Shifa

A bit of this and that

2008-11-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

A bit of this thing I avoid, and a bit of that which coaxes me out of bed every morning and helps me survive my 5:30 PM classes.

Chicken has not been among my favourite food items for as long as I can remember, and this fact has shocked some of my friends who are self-confessed chicken addicts and try to integrate it into as mean meals as possible. I appreciate the health benefits of opting for chicken as opposed to red meat, but I've come across very few chicken preparations that do not smell or taste foul at some point. But like everything in life, there are always exceptions, and these days I've also been more adventerous when it comes to what I eat for the sake of not clogging up this blog with too many reviews of the high-in-cholesterol-albeit-tastier meat that is beef.

Chicken Malai Kebab @ Zaika

A while ago, my friends and I had dinner at the Khaldiyah Mall food court where one of us ordered the Chicken Malai Kebab from Zaika. Since we usually sample each other's food, I had the chance to taste quite a few pieces and surprisingly, I liked it! The texture was smooth and creamy (Malai kebab afterall) and the kebab had subtle spicy undertones. Best of all, the chicken didn't smell or taste like poultry. My friend was in the mood for something hotter, so it didn't go down too well with her. The kebabs were accompanied by two naans and raita. I've heard glowing comments on their Dum Biryani from one of my friends, so I plan to sample that some other day.
Price: AED 32 with a drink
Available at: Khaldiyah Mall Food Court
Worth the money? I thought the price was too high for a plate of kebabs that only came with naan and raita. On top of that, this was food court fare, not something from a proper restaurant, so even thought it tasted pretty good, I remember raising an eyebrow when the lady at the counter read out the bill.

Shish Tawook @ Dolce Cafe

I know the menu of each food outlet in my university cafeteria like the back of my hand, and I can't say I look forward to eating there unless I had to rush out of my home at 8 in the morning after stuffing two slices of brown bread down my throat and know that I wouldn't be leaving the place before 8:30 at night (because that's when my classes usually end - not because I stick around out of choice!). From the start of this semester, almost all the outlets increased their prices considerably while the quality of their meals continued to slip down a steep slope. Anyway, there's always that rare gem which is tasty, filling and true value for money, and one of those is feaured above. Sheesh Tawook (pictured) and Sheesh Kebab from Dolce Cafe are what I opt for when I have long days. The tawook (chicken) sandwich comes with fries, hummus, fresh khubz straight from the oven (still warm and fluffy when served) and a drink from the fountain. I'm usually full after having the sandwich and fries, which I like to dip into their freshly-prepared and great-tasting hummus. The chicken pieces have a slight tinge of garlic which make them taste divine to me.
Price: AED 15
Available at: Dolce Cafe, ADU - Abu Dhabi Campus
Worth the money? Only thing worth its price tag in the entire cafeteria, along with its red-meat counterpart, Sheesh Kebab.

Coffee @ Dallmayr Kaffee

My love affair with coffee started when I was about 7. While other kids had Ovaltine or cocoa with their milk, all I wanted was coffee. A heaped tea-spoon of coffee dissolved in a mug of milk was my breakfast staple during my school days. That changed to a heaped tea-spoon of coffee in a mug of water when the former started to make me feel a little queasy. It's the one thing that injects me with instant energy and gives me the boost that I so need in the mornings and sometimes even late afternoons. There's nothing more inviting than the smell of freshly-ground coffee, but I've often discovered that the drink doesn't taste as good as it smells. I've had coffee from Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and all those places that are renowned for their coffee...but I found them to be quite disappointing. It's funny how one of the tastiest coffees I've had so far is from a vending machine. It not only smells good, but tastes great too. There's a long selection of caffeinated drinks on the machine, but I always go for the tried, tested and loved 'Long, white coffee with sugar' (pictured). Next time you see a Dallmayr vending machine, do give it a try.
Price: AED 2
Available at: I get mine from the vending machines at ADU.
Worth the money? Do you even need to ask :)

The week that was

2008-11-14T12:00:00.000-08:00

I think it's the season of re-visiting old favourites 'cause I spent the last week eating at places I haven't been to in a year. There's something comforting about spotting your usual order in the sea of unfamiliar items crowding the updated menu. And it's a little funny when you can't quite recall why you stopped eating there in the first place!

Duo Delight @ Pizza Hut

Anyway, I started my trip down memory lane by trying to make peace with Pizza Hut. Usually, I'm the one dissuading others from going there, but this time, I was the one to suggest we have dinner there.

Since it was just my mother and me, we opted for the 'Duo Delight' - a combo meal that included a regular salad, four garlic breads, chicken BBQ roll (not pictured), a medium pizza and two drinks. I had almost forgotten all about the sweet, tangy goodness of the creamy salad, so I was glad to be eating there that night. The garlic bread was just right, and by the time we finished the rolls, we had room for only one pizza slice each. The remaining slices were duly packed by the attentive waitress for us to take home. I had a pretty nice time at Pizza Hut and the experience sort of made me ponder over why I had been avoiding the place for so long. I guess the menu can become boring if you eat there regularly, but it's not so bad that you avoid it like the plague (like I had been doing!).
Price: AED 50 for the meal, excluding service charge
Available at: Pizza Hut outlets on Hamdan Street, Khalifa Street and Airport Road.
Worth the money? On this occasion, yes!

Dinner buffet @ Caravan

Next stop was Caravan. My friend, Sana, took us to dinner there on the occasion of passing her driving test. I don't remember the last time I ate there, but I did have their buffet a few times so I was able to recognise some of the items that had survived the test of time. There was the Chicken Cashew Stir-fry and Aloo Chaana. Besides those two, the buffet was a mix of Indian, Chinese and Thai dishes. My friends and I were so hungry after the long, meal-less day we had at university that we went straight for the main course without pausing at the salad bar. My favourite item was the Chicken Lollypop (top left of the plate in the second picture), and coming from a non-chicken eater, that's a huge compliment. I apologise for the rather messy appearance of my plate, but I had basically dumped everything on it without caring much about what went where. I loved the variety of the main courses, but the desserts were a huge disappointment. My friends and I were excited at the sight of Rasmalai, but they turned out to be a pale imitation of the real deal. They tasted like they had been sweetened using some cheap artificial sweetner. The Umm Ali and Gulab Jamun were alright, but the initial disappointment of the Rasmalai made the whole dessert experience rather bitter.
Price: AED 49 per head
Available at: Caravan Restaurant, Electra Street
Worth the money? If you fill up on the main courses.

Shish Kofta, Fried Hamour and dessert @ Golden Fork

Every time I'd pass Golden Fork, it'd be packed with people. There was a time when I would eat there often because there are two branches near my house, but for some reason they had fallen out of favour with me the last few years. I was actually headed to KFC when I decided to make a detour and find out why the place is always teeming with people. And I think I found out why. Their new menu is extensive and covers a wide variety of cuisines, and the prices are very reasonable. To top it off, they provide complementary soup and bread. My mom opted for the Fried Hamour while I went for the Shish Kofta. Now I'm not a fan of sea-food, and there are only a few selected types of fish that I eat when they're cooked a certain way (deep-fried), but the Fried Hamour was one of the best fish dish I ever tasted. The Shish Kofta wasn't bad either, and it came with fries and two puri breads. For dessert, I went for the 'Watermelon Fantasy' - little scoops of watermelon drizzled with strawberry sauce. All in all, it was a very enjoyable meal even though the interiors and furniture weren't the best.
Price: Shish Kofta AED 16, Fried Hamour AED 15, Watermelon Fantasy AED 10
Available at: Golden Fork outlets on Hamdan Street, Khalifa Street and Khalidiyah Street.
Worth the money? An emphatic yes.

The Adventures resume

2008-11-07T12:03:00.000-08:00

It's been a little over a week since I started this blog, and I've been slacking already! It's really hard to make time for anything these days. I had this window open for the last hour while I worked on a paper, and I'm finally doing what I had intended to finish last night even though it's way past my bedtime now. I'm taking this blog more seriously than my previous ones, mainly because it could actually be of some service to its readers unlike my angst-ridden, super personal blogs that I unsuccessfully tried to maintain in the not too distant past. Anyway...

Pralines'n Cream @ Baskin Robbins

I remember a time when Baskin Robbins was something to look forward to. Ever since they opened an outlet in my university cafeteria, I go out of my way to avoid having anything from there. When I do have a scoop or a drink, I rue over the fact that it just doesn't taste the way it used to. I used to appreciate BR a lot more when I wasn't familiar with their 31 different flavours or menu. Now, I don't even need to glance at the counter to know which tub is where, and that has killed the element of unpredictability I so treasure when it comes to desserts. On this particular occasion, I was forced to order something from there as I desperately needed change for a large note. I went for my old favourite, Pralines'n Cream topped with hot fudge, but didn't enjoy having it one bit.
Price: AED 8 for a kid scoop with toppings
Available at: All major malls and numerous outlets around the city (they have several in each street)
Worth the money? Only if you're really craving ice-cream.

Country-fried Steak @ Chili's

So I was at Chili's the other day and I decided to try something other than the BBQ Ranch burger for the sake of this blog. I had worked up quite an appetite after the long, tiring day I had, so I decided to go for the Country Fried Steak. Even though the place was packed, our food arrived within 20 minutes. The steak, topped with pepper sauce, came with mashed potatoes, garlic bread and corn on the cob. The mashed potato was fluffy and perfectly seasoned, while the steak was crispy yet easy to cut into, but the garlic bread was disappointing as it tasted a little stale. As usual, I found it challenging to finish everything on my plate because the portion size was huge (I hope you can tell from the picture!).
Price: AED 49
Available at: Khalidiyah Mall, Mariah Mall.
Worth the money? Yep, but like I mentioned in one of my earlier posts, I wish they had an option for a smaller portion size that costs less!

From My Mom's Kitchen

2008-11-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

Although I enjoy eating out, nothing compares to food prepared by mom, and I'll probably be featuring some of her meals from time to time. Today's featured item is mom's 'Sheek kebab' (as called by Bengalis), popularly known as 'Bihari kebab' in India and Pakistan. What makes this kebab different is, instead of using meat chunks or mincing the meat to make kebab patties or rolls, strips of beef are marinated overnight and skewered. The end result is soft lumps of kebab that literally fall off the skewers. Although Biharis are credited for this creation, many Bengalis say it is their own recipe popularised in the rest of the sub-continent by migrating Biharis, which might also explain the two different names for the same kebab. Anyway, I'd rather not get into the politics of food. All I know is, this is one form of meat I love!

My Favourite Things

2008-10-31T01:10:00.000-07:00

BBQ Ranch Burger @ Chili's

Chili's is one of my favourite haunts, and even though I go there regularly, I haven't really had the chance to explore their menu as I almost always order the same thing since I start craving it the minute I step into the restaurant.

My Chili's staple: well-done BBQ Ranch Burger. The portion size is huge, and what you see in this ill-captured picture above is only a part of the entire meal since the lettuce is obscuring the pattie, while the generous portion of fries is hiding behind the burger. I am never able to finish this meal by myself, and I usually ask them to pack the fries. Eating this is a pretty messy affair, so I'd advise girls to avoid ordering this when they're trying to make a good impression on a date. I usually tackle it with a knife and fork since I can't open my mouth wide enough for this burger!
Price: AED 31
Available at: Mariah Mall, Khalidiyah Mall food court, Abu Dhabi

Worth the money? Hell yeah. But they should have an option of ordering a smaller portion that costs less.

Molten Chocolate Cake @ Chili's

Chili's famous Molten Chocolate Cake is something we always plan to have but never have the room for after the main course! My friends and I have dubbed it 'heaven on a plate' because it's exactly that. I love how this dessert combines cold, vanilla ice cream with steaming hot, moist chocolate cake. We usually have to plan ahead in order to incorporate this into our meal.
Price: AED 29
Available at: Mariah Mall, Khalidiyah Mall food court, Abu Dhabi
Worth the money? I would say so! But the price has risen steeply over the last few months.

Chilli Cheese Fries @ Fudruckers

I personally think Fudruckers pales in comparison to Chili's. I don't usually eat there, but when I do, I go for the Chilli Cheese Fries (pictured) or the California Roll. Although the Chilli Cheese Fries doesn't look too appetising in this picture, it tastes pretty good, and the cold ranch sauce accompanying it complements the very mildly spicy fries well. I have this as a main course although it is listed as an appetizer. The bacon (halal version made from beef) in the picture actually came with my friend's burger, but since she doesn't like it, I thought I'd give it a go. Their bacon is another item which is inferior to Chili's. You can actually see and taste the fat in this, while the Chili's version has less fat and more meat.
Price: AED 19
Available at: Wahda Mall food court, Marina Mall
Worth the money? Yes. It's one of the cheaper meals on the menu.

Here we go!

2008-10-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to have a food blog for as long as I can remember, and I finally decided to do something about it! I don't know if the blog skin is representative of who I am since I'm not a big fan of cup-cakes, icing, lowercases or random heart shapes, but I was looking for something fresh and sparse that was related to eatables, and this was the only one that fit the bill. You'd be forgiven for picturing me as a spotty, obese teenager who sits in front of her computer all day eating and talking about food, but I'd like to think that I'm none of those. I have a pretty hectic life with university occupying most of my time, and I strictly believe in moderation when it comes to food (and other things too for that matter). Anyway, this blog is an ode to the thing that instantly lifts my spirits, vitalises me, and gives me something to look forward to when there's nothing else - food!

I've managed to take pictures of some of my meals over the last few months, but I plan to be more diligent about capturing everything on camera now that this blog is up and running. Anyway, I am going to post pictures of some of the recent things I ate and review them.

Imli Fries @ New York Fries

It's been ages since I last had New York Fries 'cause my last experience wasn't a a very pleasant one. I decided to try out their new 'Imli fries' as the pizza I had ordered was going to take 20 minutes and I was famished. The fries turned out to be better than I expected, but the 'imli' (tamarind) sauce on top was disappointing. It would probably taste a little bland to those who are familiar with the sharp contrast of sweet and sour in authentic tamarind sauces prepared in South Asia. The fries were crispy and hot though, and the greens on top tasted great on their own.
Price: AED 12
Available at: Khalidiyah Mall Food Court, Abu Dhabi
Worth the price? Maybe. I think it could be cheaper.
A good tip for trying out these fries would be to have friends to share them with...remember, moderation is key!

Individual Meal @ Papa Jone's

My current favourite pizza place is Papa Jone's. I always opt for the vegetable pizza since I can't go wrong with that (not a fan of chicken, and I don't always enjoy pepperoni and ground beef on my pizza - I guess this is where the picky bit comes in!). This time, I went for the meal-for-one, which included a small pizza, wedges and coke. Having just had the fries, I decided to take the wedges home and worked my way through the pizza. I think it has something to do with the cheese they use...their pizzas taste divine to me - a lot like the 90's Pizza Hut, whose quality has sadly diminished in recent years.
Price: AED 19
Available at: Khalidiyah Mall Food Court, Abu Dhabi
Worth the price? Yes. But try to opt for the meals as they will help you save a few bucks.