In advance of the holiday, may your Diwali be full of fun and light!
Some deliveries? Hendrick’s for Cucumber Day. The Smoking Briskets (yes, there is brisket available for delivery in Dubai). Tandoor Tina with a little Diwali treat. As the busy season continues, a very small request — please don’t have drivers aggressively call 7x after 9 PM — perhaps it’s time to get another delivery company… #gifted
Last weekend, we went to Flamingo Room by tasha’s to try some of the new dishes (try the bouillabaisse, I’m definitely going back for it). Find our visit here. #invited
Spinneys hosted a lovely holiday lunch on Wednesday, which was epic (stay tuned for lots of products to make entertaining super easy), and I enjoyed the chance to catch up with so many talented people I haven’t seen in a while! #invited
On Thursday, we had a quick tasting session with SideHustle (fun things coming soon, watch this space). In the evening, I was delighted to treat some of our oldest Dubai friends to The Nice Guy at Emirates Towers. Have a look at our visit here. #invited
I finished the week at Il Borro, which is genuinely not a terrible way to end any week. If you need an excuse for a visit, pop by for the current Alba truffle menu (the tagliolini is divine). #invited
Links, please.
The drink everyone is talking about (yes, I’m a few weeks late). BonAppetit
Secrets from the world’s toughest dining scene. CNN
100% yikes. Tasting Table
What if you only ate and drank pumpkin spice food and drinks for a day? Nerdist
What causes us to stop dining out? The Takeout
Wondering how that ‘sober zone’ is going to work out in Qatar. VinePair
How is American food perceived overseas? Tasting Table
Alternatives to Dr. Pepper. Dieline
Want to be proactive? Here’s what to do on a Sunday night. Camille Styles
What does no one understand about your job? The Atlantic
Etihad x Armani Casa. OMAAT
Where do all those random food holidays come from? Tasting Table
What’s your go-to order the day after? (Enter: Pickl or Pitfire). VinePair
Can you mess up an egg yolk omelet? 👀 Washington Post
Would you drink a foie gras-infused Sidecar? I would not. Tasting Table
How to get the best seat at a restaurant. Tasting Table
Salty kapenta fish, toffee, and scotch bonnet chili is a flavor of ice cream you can consume. CNN
Mistakes people make with meal prep (not me). Tasting Table
For all my Pitch Perfect fans. The Daily Beast
The rise of ultra-exclusive VIP dining. The Takeout
Yes, I would eat a Left-Handed Whopper. Tasting Table
Instead of a butter board, give me a cream cheese board. The Kitchn
What is the history of confit? Tasting Table
This weekend? Drinks at Smoke & Mirrors, then a special collaboration dinner at Hakkasan featuring Chef Andy Toh x Chef Vicky Cheng. And on Sunday, perhaps a recovery meal at Odeon.
Next week? The Bookers are going Coquely for what I assume will be a very interesting chat; I’ve also been invited to a special event at Jun’s; otherwise, I’m trying to maintain all my energy for the following week.
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.