Weekly A to Z, June 14th.
The one with the strawberry moon. 🍓
I don’t know about you, but I really loved the Eid break! It was our first time staying in town in a very long time, and I found the time so relaxing.
After a busy day at K9 Friends on Tuesday, I was excited to try Netsu on Wednesday. They are currently offering a fantastic wagyu omakase, which was perfect for four of us. It was clear the team knew exactly what they were doing, and, with a few of the signature dishes from the menu thrown in and a round of clever cocktails, we had a lovely evening, and there was plenty I would order again. #invited
On Friday, I made my way to Baoli (the only Michelin-rated beach restaurant in the Dubai 2025 guide). Although J1 is far, sometimes it’s fun to say yes to things, and the end-of-the-week lunch is one of my favorites. Well looked after by Chef Omar, there was plenty to love, including an off-menu scallop dish and a creatively plated smoked wagyu tarte. After lunch, I drove back up to the ARN studio to chat with Helen. And then over to Studio to chat with Chef Himanshu and the team.
Links, please.
Catch my fun food chat with Helen here (from 46:55). Dubai Eye
Michelin gives us more of the Tresind Studio 3-star announcement. 🤩 Instagram
Real talk, why are restaurants so dark these days? BonAppetit
The 2025 State of Journalism report from Muckrack is incredibly interesting.
ChatGPT is the most widely adopted tool amongst journalists, with 42% saying they have used it for work in the last year.
Over the last year, journalists have focused on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky.
19%, nearly one in five, have what’s considered a micro-influencer number of followers: between 10,000 and 100,000.
What’s up with Labubu? Mental Floss
Hotels waste 79,000 tons of food a year. How is the industry tackling this? Afar
From girl beer to mom water, drinks are getting weirdly personal. BonAppetit
Can influencer brands survive influencers? Elle
Do you agree: should these restaurants have been Bibs? Instagram
Who invented mac and cheese? This American favorite has ancient Roman roots. Epicurious
Too good to be true? The world’s best champagne costs less than USD$33. Drinks Digest
Yes, I want this luxe egg flight. Salon
UC Davis launches wine made by students. TDB
Croissant pizza (globally launching in the UAE). Papa Johns
Apparently, most of us don’t like dining in at fast food restaurants. The Takeout
Is it soft tofu’s time? Taste
Would you visit the Air France pop-up restaurant? OMAAT
Nescafe x lemonade. FoodBeast
UAE to offer world’s first private aviation diploma. Connecting Travel
Do I need these sushi sponges? (A: Yes.) At Home
Would you try pizza vodka? Robb Report
The worst way to respond to a party invite. Time
Yes, I would like to try a frozen espresso martini with spiked whipped cream. BonAppetit
The life-changing magic of non-foodie cities. FT
Okay, but how pretty are these candlesticks? Instagram
What (or who) lives rent-free in your mind? Reddit
How to pack for the ultimate beach day. Lifehacker
The '20-5-3' rule prescribes how much time to spend outside. Men’s Health
Also, the indoor person’s guide to having the best summer. Lifehacker
How to create the best cocktail content. Drinks Digest
This weekend? Celebrating one of the Bookers’ birthdays at Studio Franzen. Packing. Praying the EK drops their prices to upgrade to business class (8K is just a bit outside what I’m willing to pay one way…).
Next week? Flying to Milan, then over to Turin for the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards, which I’m very much looking forward to. I’ve got a few restaurants/destinations on the horizon — the Mandarin Oriental Milano, Caffe Nazionale, and La Rei Natura, all of which I’m excited to visit. Follow along for all the action, including real-time announcements of the 2025 list on Thursday evening. I know what number I’m manifesting, will I be right?
If you enjoy this newsletter, consider working with me, purchasing my books (including these novels), or buying me a Cosmo. 🍸 Also, a reminder is that a subscription to support this newsletter is only $30 per year—or (only) $2.50 monthly. If you open the Weekly A to Z every week, please consider subscribing.
C. 💚
❤️ If you enjoyed this post, please click the like button — it helps others discover my content!
🔁 Similarly, feel free to share or repost this if you think others in your network might enjoy this post.
🙌 Consider upgrading your subscription if your budget permits.
💬 And finally, I always love a comment! What was your favorite link this week?
Archives of the Weekly A to Z can be found here.