Weekly A to Z, June 21st.

The one where I work for the 27th best restaurant in the world. 🏆

On Monday, after a 2-hour delay taking off from Dubai, we were finally en route to Milan. EK gets a lot of things right, but the lack of communication was something that could be improved. Sitting in the plane, on the ground for the better part of two hours was something I feel could have been avoided (especially when we all know the real reasons for the delay). Also, to the lady changing her 3-year-old’s diaper (!!!) in her seat (!!!!!), some things cannot be unseen or undone. Not that I wasn’t immediately washing all of my plane clothes, but now I’m making it a massive priority.

After a whirlwind arrival at Mandarin Oriental Milano (there were no trains running from MXP to Milano Centrale), I stepped out to enjoy the long evening (with the solstice today, the sun didn’t set until late — enjoy it, all you Northern Hemisphere friends). The MO team was kind enough to provide a stellar media rate and upgrade me to a junior suite, which was a balm after a long travel day.

For dinner, you’ll be proud of me staying awake from my 5:30 AM wake-up (UAE time) to dinner at Contraste* (7:30 PM CET). There was plenty to be impressed by at the venue, but, among other things, I loved the consistent surprises in the menu and the silicone plates (!). #invited

From Milan, it was off to Turin — and I’m quite proud of myself for navigating on my own, as I usually rely on others for more practical things. On Wednesday, I was delighted to accept an invitation to spend the night and experience La Rei Natura**, located at the stunning Il Boscareto Resort. The fields? Verdant. The sunset? Lengthy, beautiful, memorable. The group? So many people I admire at one table! It was a delight to connect with all of them in person and share a few inside jokes. At the restaurant, I loved how the experience evolved from room to room and utilized the extensive produce grown on-site. #invited

On Thursday, it was back to Turin to prepare for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants ceremony. A massive congratulations to everyone on all the lists (global, local, and Discovery). The Middle East can be very proud of its representation, with both Orfali Bros (#37) and Tresind Studio (#27) both being ranked in the prestigious Top 50. For additional reading on the topic, have a pop over to this post by

Jeffrey Merrihue

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On Friday, there was a recovery period, saying hello and goodbye to friends at the Farewell Brunch before biking to a friend’s local and watching the world go by after a bottle (or two) of prosecco. I think Turin is a lovely host city, but finding reliable transportation was a bit difficult throughout the week.

Links, please.

• Your World’s 50 Best 2025 list. W50B

• Also, some recent coverage of Tresind Studio by Hello! India and MINT.

• Friend of the Weekly A to Z,

  Liam Collens
  has a great dialogue about bread in fine dining. I urge you to weigh in! Substack

• What type of snacker are you? SELF

• Breakfast ketchup is NOT a thing. Food & Wine

• Why do Dads watch TV standing up? GQ

• It’s not NOT what I’m thinking when I’m at Nakheel Mall. AGBI

• The effervescent history of seltzer. Smithsonian Mag

• Why Dubai’s vertical farming is something to watch. The Ethicalist

• I want to eat this phone case. Instagram

• No Kings protest was great — here’s what to do next.

  Emily Amick

• Thank you,

  Rachel Morris
  : I need ALL the minis. Walmart

• How Pakistan fell in love with sushi. The Guardian

• The world’s first hotel platform for travellers with disabilities. Connecting Travel

• Yes, I want this Hendricks Gin whimsical watering can.

• The highs and lows of Heston Blumenthal. BBC

• Longest day? Longest pouch! Today

• Giant martini alert. Punch

• Vodka-infused…water? Dieline

• Is the world ready for a Guinness milkshake? Drinks Business

• The battle to be named the world’s oldest restaurant. The Week

• How many snacks is too many snacks in a degustation? Gourmet Traveller

• How do we feel about pickle lemonade? NYT

• Why is sunscreen in the States so mid? The Cut

• Is the world ready for a sake vending machine? Drinks Business

• My people: diners are eating earlier. Drinks Business

• Is 2025 the year of sauce? Food Institute

• Why Dad’s sides of the family miss out. The Atlantic

• Yes, I would like all of these sauces. Eat Ayoh

• Yes, no seed-oil restaurants are a thing. Eater

• Love this for a dinner party. None Such

• Brits stumble over beer pronunciations. Drinks Business

• Think this will fit in my suitcase coming back from the States? Wayfair

• 10 of the world’s best speakeasies. NYT

• 2025’s best spirits to date. Robb Report

This weekend? A big travel day. Turin - Milan - Dubai, then resting and laundry tomorrow. Upgrades look doubtful, but Dubai Duty Free might have something waiting for me.

Next week? Hopefully, a visit to Jun’s!

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