Weekly A to Z, July 30th.

The continuation of the to do list one.

Last weekend was absolutely lovely — Suave (up the stairs and inside Basko) is your new post-brunch spot, and relaxing at St. Regis the Palm with their Summer Sanctuary offer was much needed. #invited

On Monday, I got together with the Bookers for a leisurely meal at the recently opened Amelia. Have a look at our visit here. FYI — the menu is currently in its soft launch phase. #invited

Otherwise, I’m just over here ticking through my to-do list like a boss. Car? Serviced. House? Decluttered. Dog? Allergy tested. Air conditioning? Cooling and not dripping. Exercise rings? Closed. US trip in September? Scheduled. National Day weekend trip booked? Lapland. Pitches? Sent. Manuscript? First draft, complete. Next challenge? Getting through the backlog of MasterChef Australia, which haunts us every summer.

Links, please.

• Loved this chat with Ahmad Al Marri, the founder of Canvas Gelato. Amaeya

• All about eggs. Bon Appetit

• Is the minimalist restaurant menu over? Eater

• Becoming a wine person. The Cut

• When was the beach read invented? JSTOR

• Living a hotel life. Slate

• I learned something: the most valuable spirits brands. VinePair

• Noooooooo. People

• This explains a lot. Self

• Faux 🥑? The Dieline

• We need emo Wendy’s. The Takeout

• I have no reason to want this (but I do). Food52

• The rising costs of being a woman. Shondaland

• What causes freckles? Allure

• For the title: we can’t upgrade our lives; we can only live them. WP

• How to make anything a crudo. Bon Appetit

• The Vegas guide to indulgence. YouTube

• What the cinnamon toast f**k is this? The Dieline

This weekend? Off to the Dhabs! Hubs and I are heading out on a mini-staycation at Emirates Palace and looking forward to a meal at Hakkasan Abu Dhabi, which I last visited in 2015 (!). Follow my stories to check our experience out.

Next week? Alaya, and potentially stopping in for a drink at Tides after. It’s been almost 2 weeks since I’ve been to DIFC. I don’t even know myself.

Finally, we somehow find ourselves at the end of July. What were my favorite dishes? I had a lot to choose from! In no particular order: Hibiscus/Mango sorbet from Canvas Gelato, Panzanella tortelli with burrata cream, and basil from Il Ristorante — Niko Romito**, and the duck salad at Mayabay. I’d love to know what resonated for you this month.

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C.