Weekly A to Z, Feb 19th.
A steady week!
Eric and I started on a high note last weekend, including a lovely surprise gift from the team at Legal Home Delivery and a beautiful cheeseboard courtesy of Cheese On Board. Although Hubs’ beloved Liverpool didn’t make the end to our weekend easy, we were able to get out of the house and visit Lola Taberna Española, which is a delicious Spanish spot in Barsha Heights (and yes, they are absolutely maximizing their pork license). Head over while the weather is nice, and be sure to book a space on the terrace.
Sunday saw a special Valentine’s treat from Brix Desserts, including a cake, roses, and some handmade chocolates.
On Monday afternoon, I made my way over to Rove Downtown Dubai to record a podcast for Kef Connect. I sat down with Sarah, Nicole, and Dr. Pedro as we discussed fake news, fake followers, and some advice from me about my journey as an author. I’ll let you know when the episode goes live.
On Wednesday, the food club had our monthly meet-up at Mint Leaf of London to try out some of the new dishes, and plenty of discussion about the many idiosyncrasies of the culinary scene in Dubai, among other interesting topics (and oops, stayed out far past my usual bedtime). With plenty to enjoy, my favorite dish of the evening was grilled lobster tail and kaffir lime curry. Yes, please and thank you.
Thursday saw an extended visit and conversation from the Dry Ager Guy, with gifts of — you guessed it — dry-aged steaks from the soon to open Dry Age Boutique at Wafi Mall. These will be a treat after we hike this morning!
Before the links, in my ongoing attempt to support local restaurants and projects, here are some events and things worthy of their own section, all happening in the near future:
Spanish dinner at BOCA.
Porteugese dinner at Bistro des Arts.
Mohalla x Akmal Anuar collab.
Rotana x Mattar Farms (looking for the UAE’s best amateur BBQ master).
Links, please.
What comes after Dry January? I’ve been better, but not perfect about holding to my ‘drink only when reviewing’ rule. Bustle
Vegan Kit-Kats? The Takeout
Some of the challenges of the upcoming season of Top Chef: Portland (starting April 1st). Variety
Is there such a thing as healthy takeout? Health.com
What is intuitive eating? (I’m not sure, because if I listen, all I want to eat is garlic knots). The Everygirl
Relatable, why we can’t concentrate on anything right now. Bustle
Yes, Stanley Tucci, make us a cocktail. Vanity Fair
I think we’ve all been this kitten. PopSugar
I’ve been vaccinated, what does that mean for travel? Washington Post
What’s up with all these terrible weird recipes? The Atlantic
Need to know, what every heart emoji really means. Emojipedia
News you can use, best Bloody Mary recipe. Foodie Crush
Are there foods you’ll never eat again due to food poisoning? It took me a long time to trust mushrooms again, is all I’m saying. The Takeout
Talk to me about a reverse grocery list. The Kitchn
This weekend I’m heading over for a loooong overdue meal at Ce La Vie. I went to the launch pre-COVID and haven’t been back since. We’re also taking Poppy to Woof for some potential puppy play and future boarding, as we have a few nights away (hypothetically) booked for my birthday (staying in-country). Since we adopted her, we’ve never been apart. *crying emoji*
Next week, I’m over to BOCA for a sneak preview of the Spanish chef’s dinner, and the Bookers are dining at Bistro des Arts to discuss a book we all universally hate (at least the food will be nice!).
And finally, I’m looking for a PR/marketing intern! The work can be done remotely, and I anticipate 5-10 hours of work on a weekly basis. My intent would be to start with a 3-month term. I have KPIs and goals already lined up, so please send any motivated candidates with excellent communication skills my way. Interest in food or books is a bonus, but not required. Candidates do not have to be based in the UAE.
If you enjoy this newsletter, consider telling a friend, purchasing my books, subscribing to my podcast, or buying me a coffee.
C.
