Weekly A to Z, November 16th.

The "Lemon, it's Wednesday" one.

All points if you get the 30 Rock reference.

From last weekend, I have to mention our visit to Chez Wam, now offering Chez What?, which is a delicious and relaxed approach to a Sunday brunch. Let Chef Hadrien and his team look after you and take advantage of the cooler weather by sitting outside on the terrace. #invited

On Tuesday, I accepted an invitation to enjoy an(other) incredible degustation at Takahisa. Chef Kimura from Sushi Jin was back for a fourth visit, and this might be one of my favorite meals to date. Subtle, brilliant food — all perfectly portioned. There were several hero dishes, but I think the Kobako crab was at the top of my list. #invited

For Wednesday, I was delighted to accept an invitation to La Petite Cave at Josette, as it has been far too long since my last visit. I love how the space at Josette has changed since its opening, and I think customers benefit. La Petite Cave is the perfect low-key spot for after-work drinks (or avoiding the delulu DIFC traffic). Josette’s house bubbles are only AED78 a glass, which is a bargain in this city. #invited

On Thursday, after a brief stop (finally!) at Birch Bakery in the morning, I was happy to visit Spinneys for a festive dinner. Seeing so many friendly foodies in the community was a lovely bonus, and turkey and tomahawks cooked by the man Hattem Mattar himself? Priceless. Chef Kelvin provided an additional array of fantastic savory dishes (kimchi butter is the next thing you need to try), and Chef Nadia produced a buttery olive oil spiced cake that I legit could not stop eating. #invited

MVP Appliances sent over a small box of goodies, and I’m eyeing their outdoor fridge for our backyard. #gifted

And finally, as of this week, I’m going to try out a new series on Instagram. I’ve collected all my Stories from the past week and made them a highlight. If you want to see what I’ve been up to (officially), here’s The Week That Was (Vol 1).

Links, please. Are there too many? Who can say?

• Say Cheese! A look back at our trip to France this summer. Instagram

• Dog walking is back! If you’d like a different kind of volunteering, K9 Friends has you covered. Instagram

• Do you like gin, dining, and a mystery? Hendrick’s has you covered! Something fun for you to try next weekend.

• Our neighbors in Doha finally have a Michelin date.

  Rachel Morris
  has a great breakdown of what to expect. Marhaba

• Have you tried a sushi rice Negroni? Punch

• I have a mighty need. Bungu

• I am clearly feeling spendy. Brooklinen

• Ready for someone to bring this to Thanksgiving. The Kitchn

• Reservations…by hand? Eater

• Bonne Maman…pie filling? The Kitchn

• Very into these fancy edible sprinkles. Fancy Sprinkles

• Would you pay a reservation deposit for a booking? Eater

• NGL, I want the Aldi wine advent calendar. The Takeout

• Tell me more about spaghetti dust. Audrey Claire Cork

• What is the difference between taste vs. flavor? The Takeout

• Is convenience making our lives more difficult? The Guardian

• The best White Elephant ideas. The Cut

• Chicken soup…in your next soju shot? Punch

• What are the most expensive wines in 2024? VinePair

• Why not use sailboats for freight? Ambrook

• Do I need this lobster apron? Coming Soon

• More than ready to watch an All-Star GBBO. Eater

• About how I felt last week — “this was supposed to be about potato chips.” Snack Stack

• Emirates x Spotify. Connecting Travel

• Love this for the holidays — shop from a local farm. Eat Local First

• The latest TikTok trend is…onions? Mashable

• What is it about flavored whiskey? VinePair

• On my wish list. Etsy

• Are sommeliers pushing the upsell too far? Robb Report

• On my way to get coffee! TikTok

• For the pure nostalgia. The Kitchn

• If you’re feeling helpless these days… Try cooking for someone else. Eater

• Love this unique approach to history. Smithsonian

• I want to stay in this elementary school turned boutique hotel. Hotels Above Par

• This puzzle has my name on it. Le Puzz

• So does this salt. Red Clay Hot Sauce

• What exactly is the pink Starburst flavor? The Takeout

• And yes, to this cinnamon roll flavor. The Kitchn

This weekend? It’s not every day a young man turns 1! Also, I have fully shifted to all Hallmark all the time. I have no regrets.

Next week? My inner 80’s self looks forward to meeting Jon Bon Jovi (!) and, in the middle of the busiest Thursday of the season (10 events??? one night????!), I’ll be making a trip to the capital.

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C.

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