Weekly A to Z, May 14th.
Sending condolences to the citizens of the UAE for the passing of HH Sheikh Khalifa.
I’ve finally wrapped up a massive project for Spinneys that I started in March, and it feels great! For now, I’ll take a day or two off, but will get back into the book I was writing next week (I’m about 50K into it). In finishing the Spinneys project, I managed to get a few other things done — including registering my car without leaving the house. All points to iCar Registration, one of those Dubai life hacks everyone should know about. Their website isn’t working, but send me a message and I’ll give you their WhatsApp (not affiliated, just convenient).
Some deliveries? Of a sort. Solace Spa is a new at-home spa service that has thought of EVERYTHING. For someone who hates driving around Dubai, having a spa experience at home was literally a perfect Tuesday. #gifted Also, the team at the recently opened Ernst also sent me the world’s most giant pretzel, which was happily consumed. #gifted
An unexpected night out? I hadn’t seen two friends in a while and was curious to visit the new W Mena Seyahi. Ginger Moon was a total vibe and the views are epic. Loved that the venue pours Laurent-Perrier. #invited
Links, please.
How excited are we about this collab? Gregoire x Paco. Instagram
Food Sheikh breaks down recent food delivery disruptions. Wamda
Not Gordon Ramsay liking two of my photos (!). Instagram
For my Wordle x foodie people. The Takeout
A roundup of some of my favorite doggos at K9. If you can’t adopt, please consider sponsoring a dog to help us get through the summer. What’s On
Ruinart and sustainable packaging. Dieline
Tempted by pickle fries. Eater
At the intersection of butter x whiskey. VinePair
On-screen food fights we love to see. The Takeout
How many friends do you really need? NYT
Traditional hummus vs flavored hummus. The National
Do I love Cosmos this much? VinePair
Do I need this for my office? Amazon
For Liam and my Dad. 007
How many vegetarian options are enough? The Takeout
Some ideas on how to reduce food waste. NYT
Some of the best food photography. My Modern Met
Need for my kitchen. The Kitchn
I’m still pushing a deviled egg agenda. How Sweet Eats
A bedtime routine to wind down every night. Wit and Delight
Really into berries and cream toast. Bon Appetit
Old Bay Goldfish. The Kitchn
Echoing my love of Top Chef. The Takeout
Why American crisps are boring. Eater
Into this ramen-inspired makeup. The Kitchn
This weekend? A possible trip to Time Out Market for a meet-up with the squad, and the usual meal prep. With (ahem) overdoing it a bit in the past six weeks, I’m trying to make a better effort for my health, but balance is a difficult thing to come by, especially when invites, openings, and launches are currently fast and furious.
Next week? I am genuinely sorry for Dubai PR friends at the moment as there are 5 (!) events on the 17th (maybe a few should consider Thursday instead, just saying…). I’ve committed to one, and am curious to see where everyone ends up.
Finally, a gentle reminder/request for becoming a paid subscriber. For USD30 a year, or USD5 a month you can help support my writing. What do you get? Weekly (brutally) honest reviews of UAE and international restaurants, as well as access to all locked content. The weekly newsletter will always remain free. Looking ahead, I’m going to launch hotel reviews as well.
If you enjoy this newsletter and want to support me, consider sharing this newsletter on social media, ordering from these restaurants, purchasing my books (or these novels — all free to read on Kindle Unlimited), or buying me coffee. Archives of the Weekly A to Z can be found here.
C.
