Weekly A to Z, May 17th.
The one with Marriott chats and shredded cheese on cocktails.
On Wednesday, I made my way to the Marriott the Palm for a morning of internal discussion with senior GMs and other hospitality professionals about best practices for what I do and how to work best with KOLs, journalists, and influencers. I found the chat to be highly engaging and walked away with (even more) respect for marketing teams (both in-house and agency). Want me to come talk to your organization/restaurant/team? You know where to find me, and we all want the same thing: successful restaurants.
On Thursday, after Poppy’s annual jabs (we will forever love The Vet Hospital on Al Wasl), I stopped by Kira for an early lunch at Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab. Favorite dishes? The light and moreish Aubergine Dengaku, and yes, I’m here to tell you that you need a Parmigiano Sour (fresh cheese shavings served tableside). And for additional thoughts, paid subscribers can look for a full review soon. #invited
Links, please.
Tresind Studio x The LivingRoom collab coming soon. 🇮🇳 🇿🇦 Instagram
More adults are ordering kids meals. The Takeout
How a fast food burger became an economic indicator. Food & Wine
Make your 💨 smell like chocolate. FoodBeast
To be a true wine connoisseur, do you need to triple blind taste? Wine Enthusiast
Why do chefs prefer Japanese knives? The Takeout
Oh crumbs. How Britain fell out of love with the sliced loaf. The Guardian
What is food design? The National
Is the era of my first job officially over? Romper
Why do chefs cook without gloves? The Takeout
Gravy gelato. KFC
Hello, Tala. W50B
I deeply connect with this art. Counter Editions
A chicken that’s more expensive than wagyu? The Takeout
The unlikely perks of a larger restaurant space. Eater
Hot chicks. 🐤 Grist
The future of fighting airborne viruses is in…lamps? Vox
Dom Perignon is working with some icons. The Drinks Business
Would you grill with a wagyu hot dog? The Takeout
Kimpton is coming to the UAE (and I’m hoping it will be dog-friendly like the ones in the States). Connecting Travel
92% sure I need these incense matches. Etsy
Where is the most expensive McDonalds? The Takeout
This weekend? Can you believe I’ve never visited Canary Club? Me either! Treating an out-of-town friend to dinner there, and a (long) overdue Sunday brunch with the Bookers at Tamoka.
Next week? Another packed week, and I’m so looking forward to hosting an exclusive culinary event at Jumeirah Al Naseem (you’ll see more details soon). Also, it’s time for Michelin! I know many of us anxiously await the results, and I’m hoping to see many of you at the event. If you have any predictions, let me know in the comments! Also, I’ll be on with Helen to wrap up all opinions on the new guide on Farmer’s Kitchen next Friday.
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I can confirm that the Parmigiano Sour is a MUST-ORDER cocktail at Kira 🍸