Weekly A to Z, November 20th.

The one with (probably) too much food.

Nov 20, 2020

Whew! There was so much food this week.

On Saturday, I received a full turkey dinner from London Dairy Cafe. At AED650, there’s a lot (!) of food, and I would seriously consider ordering their Biscoff crust pumpkin pie (and maybe tell people you made it yourself…). The turkey arrives cooked and ready to serve, and I loved the crispy shallots, which are rare to find in the UAE (and very moreish). Be sure to place your order 3 days in advance.

On Monday, I was invited to BOCA for the Rioja preview, which you can check out next week. The special menu includes a five-course sharing menu + a bottle of Altos Ibéricos (from Familia Torres Wines). At AED345, it’s a great deal, and there’s a lamb dish I’m only slightly obsessed with. I also received the new wing bucket, available exclusively on Monday evenings from Pickl.

On Tuesday, it was over to Tresind Studio for Season 5, Le Jard𝑖𝑛𝑑, The Indian Garden. Stepping into the ‘garden,’ I was delighted to see the talented team is firing on all cylinders. While there were many delicious plates to choose from, my favorite dish was the chaat, which includes an immaculately plated squash blossom, pumpkin mash, and chutney. Overall, the plating, presentation, and conceptual delivery of the theme across the entire menu was firmly at a global level. If you (somehow?!?!) haven’t been to the Studio yet, please remedy and book soon. At AED350 per person, this is such good value. I went with friends who had never been, and I’ll admit it was fun to see the magic of the restaurant through their eyes.

On Wednesday, Casinetto sent me everything needed for Carabinero alla catalana. The shrimp arrived frozen, so I can defrost whenever I’m ready to make the dish. Here’s my affiliate link, or use ATOZ to save 10% to place your order for a range of Italian products. I also received a delivery from Ugly Burger, including their new Bulgogi Burger (a steal at AED38). And finally (!), I received a delivery of gelato from Pedalo Gelato. I chose one of their signature flavors, banana cheesecake, and it was absolutely delicious.

On Thursday, I was over to try the Food District at The Pointe. Wow, I didn’t realize how much I was waiting for this concept! There’s plenty going on - lots of options to choose from, a casual approach, a licensed place to order drinks from, and the best part - local businesses. Guests have a range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes from some of the best restaurants and chefs, including Reif and Dibba Bay Oysters. This is one I can easily see going to when I don’t want to commit to making a big effort for a meal, but still want some excellent food.

Links, please.

Turkey nuggets? The Takeout
Trader Joe’s is on Desert Cart??? Desert Cart
How Taco Bell turned its back on Indian Americans. Grub Street
Where was the Margherita pizza invented? Atlas Obscura
Ever wonder why Western food lacks spice? Blame the snobs. NPR
Doggos deserve their own Thanksgiving meal. The Takeout
And I deserve these Thanksgiving deviled eggs. The Kitchn
Bacon scented beer from Waffle House. Why not? The Takeout
Side eyes 2020. Vice
Gravity blanket, but make it pizza. Gravity
My usual spend on a Monday night. (Great PR move, FIVE, even if I’m not your target demo). What’s On
We’re not surprised: ‘a nation turns to pizza.’ Taste
I’m still here for all the Uncle Roger content. YouTube
Cinnabon coming through with what we all need in 2020. CNN
This is why I shop at 7 AM on Fridays. The Kitchn
Oh, and I re-released one of my YA books this week. Yes, that’s four books in 2020, a new record for me (and I don’t think I’ll hit this number any time again soon). Amazon

Next week, I’ll be meeting with the Bookers at folly to discuss Rodham (thus far, I don’t think any of us liked it). I’m also receiving a Thanksgiving turkey on Thursday from Bistro des Arts (which you can order for any of your upcoming festive events). Finally, I’m thinking of popping to West Bay to try the recently opened Aprons and Hammers, and maybe eating a little less overall.

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C.