Fukurou means owl in Nihongo. In Japan owls symbolize good fortune, protection from hardships and suffering, and wisdom. I was, therefore, under the impression that I’d be dining in a restaurant that specializes in Japanese cuisine. My Japanese friend, Grace, would be…
This quaint Lebanese restaurant is located in the Fisherman’s Harbour in Jumeira 1, a place that is a pain to locate for those who are unfamiliar with the area, such us ourselves. But the food is totally worth the…
“…the redness had seeped from the day and night was arranging herself around us. Cooling things down, staining and dyeing the evening purple and blue black.” —Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees These past few days were…
IZ (pronounced as ee-zee) is an award-winning high-end Indian restaurant within the Grand Hyatt hotel that serves tandoori cuisine prepared and served at live cooking stations. They have a good selection of seafood, meat and vegetarian Indian food options. Their signature dishes include salmon…
“After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working.” ― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows No, I did not feel that…
One of the several things to enjoy here in the U.A.E. during Ramadan is having Iftar −either at someone’s home (if you are visiting and have Muslims friends living in the UAE, get yourself invited!) or at restaurants throughout the…
Zoës Kitchen is a fast casual restaurant chain headquartered in Plano, Texas, United States that has grown to include more than 100 locations across 15 states with plans to expand further. The menu features Zoë’s family recipes that are Mediterranean-inspired comfort…
Sugar Land, what an interesting name! I couldn’t help imagining that the city would look like a huge candy shop. One of the most affluent and fastest-growing city in Texas, Sugar Land was founded as a sugar plantation in the…
The House of Curry is an elaborately-decorated restaurant located at The Beach – JBR. Its interiors depict an old Indian haveli. Havelis are traditional mansions deriving inspiration from Islamic architecture. They usually have a huge courtyards and a fountain in the centre. The…
We did not give up on Oman. After that disappointing experience where one of us was denied entry into the country, we tried again and succeeded at crossing the UAE-Oman border. Like most of our trips, this was also unplanned….
Comfort Inn Emirates Hotel is 3 star hotel that is conveniently located on the Muroor Road in Abu Dhabi. We purchased a 1-night stay from Cobone at a very good price. This hotel wasn’t too bad, considering we just wanted a quiet…
“Some of the best memories are made at the breakfast table. And for more than 50 years, millions of people have made those memories at IHOP.” And so I visited this 50-year-old restaurant’s 1-year-old branch at Mall of the Emirates…
Sunrise at Mt. Laurel Masood and I spent a week in New Jersey, to work at our client site, one of the largest health care system in the state. It was quite an experience. The woods behind the offices. A…
Crystal and gold chandeliers hung from a ceiling (mostly painted blue, complete with clouds) and small flat-screen TVs on the walls showed Persian pop videos. Loud, multi-coloured vases, wall art, and other themed memorabilia littered various shelves and tabletops. And waitresses…
I have another beautiful iftar experience to share with you today. Based on the last couple of posts on this blog, one might assume I’ve spent the entire Ramadan eating out at different restaurants. Rest assured that is not the…
This is the view from the Orchid Restaurant’s terrace, located on the second floor of Ramada in Downtown Dubai. It’s a very humid 42ºC tonight so Masood and I choose to sit indoors. The table with Burj Khalifa view can…
This Ramadan, Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa, invites you to break your fast with a wide selection of Arabic and International delicacies at Al Khaimah Hall located on 1st floor where an iftar buffet is prepared by the property’s culinary…
A bag that is incredibly soft yet durable, just the right size, very pretty Pistachio color, and smells wonderfully of new leather — this is what I won last Thursday through a competition ran by Dubai fashion blogger, Samantha Francis, author…
Located in Al Wasl Square Complex, this tiny yet very adorable bakery is love at first sight with its sweet and bright decor. This is Yamanote Atelier, Dubai’s first boutique Japanese bakery that opened its door about two months ago. I…
Barbecue Delights is a casual dining restaurant that offers a variety of Pakistani, Afghani, and North Indian inspired cuisine. It’s one of my favorites! So when Masood and I were invited to try out their new branch at Downtown Dubai,…
Visiting Kashmir and then leaving without having sampled their famous wazwan is an unforgivable crime. Masood insisted that his first meal in Srinagar has to be wazwan so our driver takes us to Mughal Darbar. This visit to Kashmir is…
Getting out of the house at 9:30 in the morning and driving more than 10 kilometers to the mall in order to have breakfast isn’t my normal routine. In fact, this is a first. Normal for me means getting out…
Minimalist décor, simple yet comfortable chairs, just the right amount of cheerful sunlight peering in through the blinds, bright and fresh colors, and attentive staff—these are my first impressions on Flavours on Two, an all-day dining venue presenting a choice of…
Pretty, right? This is my latest pair of sunglasses, an absolute must-have if you are in the middle of a desert, where it’s bright and sunny all year round. Try driving around during the day without sunglasses and you’ll know…
“The Golden Tulip Khatt Springs Resort & Spa is a Mountain & Spa Retreat in the heart of the Arabian countryside at the foot of the Majestic Hajjar Mountains, overlooking a beautiful valley full of date palms and farm land.”…
First of all, a very happy Ramadan to you! Today is the seventh day of fasting here in the U.A.E. and the shorter working hours is a blessing. However, time is flying by so swiftly that there doesn’t seem…
Funny how it’s actually in Dubai where I get to dine in all these Pakistani restaurants that are famous back home. It’s embarrassing how I am so unaware with what’s in and what’s not in my own birthplace. Growing up,…
This hole-in-the-wall steakhouse is quite popular in Hyderabad, specially among body builders who frequent this place to get loaded with protein. Inspired by Chef James White of New England, Chef Inam has been cooking at his restaurant in the United…
Located at the photogenic Al Qasba area in Sharjah, this restaurant is a great place to enjoy North Indian cuisine with your family and friends. The Location and First Impressions: We arrive at 8 PM on a Saturday. There’s ample…
Filipinos always look out for an excuse to celebrate, hence the annual Barrio Fiestas. Barrio refers to a place, more specifically a village, and fiestas are the annual celebration in a particular barrio. There must be thousands of barrios in the…