Ramadan Kareem to all who are celebrating, wishing you and your family a blessed month ahead.
Please consider supporting the memory of Daunte Wright, Sr.
I purposely took a step back and did not schedule any dinners this week, mostly because I am so close to finishing a draft of a book.
I received delivery of a full Iftar meal on Sunday (thank you, Swissotel Al Ghurair), which I snapped pictures of, and then donated the meal to our security team. BidFood UAE also relaunched their app, and let me ‘test’ by ordering (and gifting me a credit). Cut to: an entire freezer full of baked goods ready to pop in the air fryer (many cheese croissants were consumed this week). I also stocked up on a few staples.
Stranger Wings (!) sent through lunch on Tuesday. Creative wordplay aside, it’s some excellent branding. Look for the wings on Deliveroo. The Broth Lab was also kind enough to send through a beautiful Ramadan set (including vegan broth, for those who might be interested), with a cookbook from Dima Al-Sharif, and screened apron from Jeel Design - what a talented trio of Palestinian women!
On Wednesday, it was time to leave the house. I met up with producer Chirag over at L’ETO at Mall of the Emirates for a late breakfast meeting to discuss new ideas and we were both pleasantly surprised by our dishes. Did I also take home some of their gorgeous pastries? I might have…
Finally, we are so looking forward to traveling! I’ve confirmed a stay at both of the Hilton properties in the Seychelles and literally find myself opening their websites and staring longingly at photos of the resorts. Although Hubs was over to KSA last fall, I haven’t been on a plane since January 2020.
Links, please.
The triumph of third culture cooking. Epicurious
60 Years of Spinneys. (Looks great, Tiffany!) YouTube
Loved seeing local representation in the New York Times. What is ‘nafas’ and why does it make food taste better? NY Times
Want to be happy? Buy your pet a gift. Psychology Today
Congrats to the Ugly Burger team! Need to get down to Dar Al Wasl ASAP. Instagram
Also, congrats to the team at Kinoya. Top of my list right now! Instagram
Need to know: is rotisserie chicken bad for you? The Takeout
May I introduce you to a Peeps latte? Mental Floss
Which friends have you kept over the pandemic? (I’m personally happy to have made new ones!) NY Times
Fast food over fine dining, during pandemic recovery. Vox
Yes, I want Dolly Parton ice cream. Jeni’s Ice Cream
You’re never too old. Eater
Just some stunning bento boxes (I should probably step up my meal prep game). Bored Panda
Would you try a hummus shake? The Takeout
Have sad desk lunches gotten sadder? Taste Cooking
Why do you always have room for dessert? Medium
NGL, totally into this kitchen candle. Brightland
How does one become an influencer whisperer? Town and Country
These glasses are expensive but beautiful. Estelle Colored Glass
Would you eat popcorn salad? The Takeout
The ‘Louvre of wine’ found under a chicken coop. Messy Nessy Chic
Josh Groban singing about beans. YouTube
Sharing the Booker love, here’s Sarah out and about talking all things book club. What’s On
And finally, if you want to hear me talk about author stuff, I was on The Global Bandroom podcast. Spotify
This weekend we are primarily chilling out and hopefully making some official plans for our Seychelles trip. I’m also looking forward to a (long overdue) catch-up with Chef Reif at Ikigai. Next week, The Bookers are catching up with our favorite pizza (and garlic knots, natch) and some secondhand fashion at Retold (a long-time favorite). I’m also over to Time Out Market to film something with the folly workshop.
Finally, if you know anyone involved in photography, post-production, or Photoshop, a certain place I volunteer with is looking for some pro-bono help for our 2022 calendar. Giving your time via a specific skill set is always helpful.
If you enjoy this newsletter, consider telling a friend, purchasing my books, subscribing to my podcast, or buying me a coffee.
C.