Let’s see who’s old-school Dubai. Do you remember golden oldie Japengo? With a Japanese and broader Asian menu. Hands up in the comments if you do 🙌🏽
The @soukmadinatjumeirah outpost overlooking the waterway sadly shut shop nearly a decade ago. In 2019, the Food Fund restaurateurs bagged the location and opened cocktail bar-cum-restaurant Americano, which closed last year. Right next to popular sibling Taverna Greek Kitchen. In its place, the group has introduced another homegrown, licensed restaurant @sushiyaki.dxb A portmanteau of sushi and yakitori. Full circle Japanese.
Japanese is one of the most prolific, saturated and competitive cuisine categories in Dubai, so I am sceptical of this opening, despite Food Fund’s stellar reputation for homegrown concepts. Can Sushiyaki compete in Dubai’s crowded Japanese scene? 🇯🇵 Link in bio and stories for my review 🔗 - and swipe for pics. Deliriously happy that I breezed in and out without an inch of recognition 😋
Any other much-missed golden oldie gems? #UAERestaurantsUnite
We hosted a small dining experience last week. Just 100 guests 😜 A sold-out #ThreeChefsDinner with a modern Greek culinary theme 🇬🇷💙 Swipe for the official video and more photos.
🫒 Our host restaurant, @mythosdubai in City Walk’s C2 Licensed District.
🫒 @veuveclicquot Rosé Champagne magnums and canapés, followed by a three-course dinner with multiple dishes served Greek meze-style.
🫒 Our talented chef trio:
🫒 Chef Yiannis Katsikas @chef_yiannis_ of @kymabeachdubai welcomed guests with canapés, followed by starters.
🫒 Host chef Ilias Kokoroskos @chef_liakous of Mythos on main courses.
🫒 Chef Tim Newton @cheftim420 of @opadubai took care of desserts.
🫒 Director of operations Eva Pispirigkou @crazygreeklady looking after the just-as-important front-of-house.
🫒 All courses paired with fine wines and Champagne from @mmidubai with sommelier @stephen_towler_dubai of MMI Wine Academy presenting the pairing. Gia mas!🥂
🫒 A complimentary cocktail nightcap upstairs at @noladubai
🫒As always, @monvisowater kept us hydrated.
🫒Last but not least, hugely grateful to Fay and Alex Economides @fayoula @aecon for embracing this dinner with gusto 🙏🏼
What culinary theme, homegrown restaurant venue or chefs would you like to see for the next experience? 😋#UAERestaurantsUnite
📹📷 @_brandon__fernandez_
#VisitDubai #DubaiCalendar #dubairestaurant #dubaieats #uaefoodie
Well apparently Instagram & Facebook were down on Tuesday. We didn’t even notice. Thanks to our #ThreeChefsDinner with a modern Greek culinary theme 🇬🇷💙 And 100 guests in another sold-out dining experience 🙏🏼 Let me take you on a tour.
🫒Our host restaurant, @mythosdubai Urban Greek Eatery in City Walk’s C2 Licensed District.
🫒Veuve Clicquot Rosé Champagne magnums and canapés, followed by a three-course dinner with multiple dishes served Greek meze-style.
🫒Three talented chefs:
🫒Chef Yiannis Katsikas @chef_yiannis_ of @kymabeachdubai welcomed guests with canapés, followed by starters.
🫒Host chef Ilias Kokoroskos @chef_liakous of @mythosdubai on main courses.
🫒Chef Tim Newton @cheftim420 of @opadubai took care of desserts.
🫒All courses were paired with fine wines and Champagne from @mmidubai, with sommelier @stephen_towler_dubai of MMI Wine Academy presenting the pairing.
🫒A complimentary cocktail nightcap at Mythos’ bar, or upstairs at Nola Bijou Bistro @noladubai
🫒All thanks, as always, to Monviso Water @monvisowater for keeping us hydrated.
Gia mas! 🥂 #UAERestaurantsUnite #VisitDubai #DubaiCalendar #DubaiRestaurant #DubaiEats #UAEFoodie
My analysis, commentary and opinion on this year’s #MENAs50Best list, including the 20 UAE restaurants. Link in bio and stories 🔗 Substack subscribers received this newsletter yesterday. Swipe for the ranking.
These lists and awards are always divisive, carrying plenty of controversy with who should, and shouldn’t have made the cut. So which restaurants do you think should have made the list - but didn’t? I’m sure there are many 😜 #UAERestaurantsUnite #worlds50best @theworlds50best
Since we’re meant to be working from home today 🌧️ - here’s a distraction 😜 A new restaurant review shared first with Substack subscribers last week - and a poll.
A new restaurant in Dubai serving SOLELY seafood. And a few veggie dishes. But ZERO meat. Not even one single dish. So if you’re in the 15 per cent that wouldn’t visit (from my story poll), then perhaps don’t read on. Fish restaurants in Dubai typically feature a couple of meat dishes to appease those in a group booking who might dislike seafood. So this concept is a rare, refreshing find here, and brave move.
@bordomavi.ae is the latest opening by the 3Fils-cum-Brix team and a Turkish fishmonger, located on the same Jumeirah Fishing Harbour strip. Much of the seafood is sourced sustainably from the Black Sea including prized flying fish and turbot. Click link in bio and stories for the review that was shared first with Substack subscribers last week. Easy peasy to sign up for future free newsletters.
So let’s have a little fun with this poll - since you can now run these on the grid ⬇️ Would you choose to dine at a restaurant serving solely seafood with zero meat? #UAERestaurantsUnite #Bordomavi
Four weeks today. This talented trio will cook up a treat at the next #ThreeChefsDinner. 5th March. A modern Greek culinary theme. My most requested cuisine to date! The experience sold out to the FooDiva email database on Thursday (and paid Substack subscribers 24 hours prior). The WAITING LIST is now open. Spots do come up, so if you’re keen to join, please DM or email (see stories/ bio) your full name, number of guests, mobile number and email.
What can you expect?
🫒A celebration of contemporary Greek cooking at host restaurant, licensed @mythosdubai in City Walk’s C2 Licensed District.
🫒The evening kicks off with @veuveclicquot Rosé Champagne magnums and canapés, followed by a three-course dinner with multiple dishes served Greek meze-style.
🫒Each of the following chefs serve a different course:
🫒Chef Yiannis Katsikas @chef_yiannis_ of @kymabeachdubai welcomes you with canapés, followed by starters.
🫒Host chef Ilias Kokoroskos @chef_liakous of Mythos on main courses.
🫒Chef Tim Newton @cheftim420 of @opadubai taking care of desserts.
🫒All courses are paired with fine wines and Champagne from @mmidubai with sommelier @stephen_towler_dubai of MMI Wine Academy presenting the pairing.
🫒The evening starts promptly at 6.30pm and ends at approximately 10pm.
🫒A complimentary cocktail nightcap will be offered at Mythos’ bar, or upstairs at Nola Bijou Bistro.
🫒All thanks, as always, to @monvisowater for keeping us hydrated.
Gia mas! 🥂 #UAERestaurantsUnite
🇲🇹Why did I visit Malta?🇲🇹 A trip down memory lane for my dad whose parents used to live there. Emirates’ Cyprus route flies on to Malta, so it’s easy to squeeze in a twin-centre holiday. Plus 14 years since my last visit, with much changed, obviously. A hugely underrated country that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
I wrote a mini culinary travel guide for this bijou Med island in my Substack newsletter that subscribers received last week - link in stories and bio, where you can also sign up to future newsletters for free, with additional perks for paid subscribers. Sightseeing tips saved in story highlights - and swipe for more.
Any other restaurant tips for Malta? Feel free to share here for everyone’s benefit. I am currently travel planning for this year, wellness break included. Any recommendations? 🙏🏼💙 #MaltaDiva #Malta #VisitMalta
@zero_sei_malta
@trabuxuwinebar
@nonivalletta
@rubinomalta
@phoeniciamalta
@chocolate.district
@tulliera.farm.deli
@the_embassy_valletta_hotel
@inialaharbourhouse
@visitmalta
I give you the ninth edition of the annual FooDiva guide to top restaurants in Dubai. A record number of 45 homegrown, locally developed concepts have made the cut 💖 Dubai boasts a matured restaurant scene, dominated by independent, chef-led and owner-operated establishments - something I am proud to champion with my #UAERestaurantsUnite campaign. These gems tick every box in equal measure - food, service, location, interior, atmosphere and value for money – in line with FooDiva’s editorial policy. There’s no room in this inn for imported brands, franchises, celeb chefs, royalty gigs and large chains.
These are restaurants that I have chosen to frequent socially over the last year, as well as those that have scored highly in my personal reviews. They have all consistently impressed across the whole dining experience - and serve à la carte. Very importantly, I always pay the bill. Some I have selected to showcase in my #ThreeChefsDinner dining experiences. Whilst I would love to dine at every single restaurant in Dubai every year, it’s simply not practically possible, or even financially feasible.
Whether you’re a UAE resident or a visitor, this guide is designed as a bucket list round-up to inspire your next breakfast, lunch or dinner. That’s how I use it! Towards the end, I have added my go-to restaurants for delivery. Entries are categorised by licensed (with alcohol) and unlicensed (without booze), sub-divided into districts, and then alphabetically.
See website link in bio and stories to have a read 🔗 If you sign up to my newsletter for a paid subscription, you’ll also receive the guide as a PDF.
How many out of the 45 have you tried? New openings aside, I have a hit list of restaurants to visit this year. However, I am keen to know your favourite haunts, which may just inspire my restaurant outings, so please feel free to share 🙏🏼 #UAERestaurantsUnite
🫒 SAVE THE DATE & EMAIL SIGN-UP! 🫒5th March. The next #ThreeChefsDinner will celebrate a modern Greek culinary theme. My most requested cuisine to date!
If you’re not already on the FooDiva dinners database, and would like advance notice when the dining experience is ready to book, please sign up with your email on www.foodiva.net/dinneremail (link in bio & stories). An email will land in your inbox when the event is live for booking next month.
Wanna hazard a guess at the host restaurant and the chefs? 🫒 Gia mas 😜🥂 #UAERestaurantsUnite
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#greekcuisine #greekcooking #diningexperience #dinearounddubai #dubaicalendar #foodcritic #restaurantcritic #restaurantreview #toprestaurants #dubairestaurant
With the long weekend ahead and so much news to share, my December newsletter is a tad early 😋 Landed in the inboxes of my treasured Substack subscriber community earlier this week.
The lead story is my review of the new @brixcafe.ae - by the 3Fils team and pastry chef extraordinaire @chefcarmenrueda6
Also included: Festive foodie gift ideas. Plenty more dining out inspiration. A poll for you. And the launch of one-hour private Zoom calls with me to pick my brains.
Click link in bio & stories to read. If you’re not a subscriber, you may like to sign up for free to future newsletters - with additional perks for paid subscribers. Swipe for more.
So tell me please - any new homegrown concepts on your radar that you’d like reviewed? #UAERestaurantsUnite
A new month. A new newsletter. Shared with my Substack subscriber community yesterday. The lead story is my review of the new @okkudxb
The original Okku that opened in 2009 became Dubai’s first independent, homegrown, licensed restaurant concept. Remember the wild disco brunch and Sunday L.O.V.E. promo? Those heady, old-school times are forever ingrained in my memory. Five years after closing, the modern Japanese trendsetter has popped up in a new location at @marriottresortpalmjumeirah P@L-s+In-an owned - by the same operator as Claw BBQ.
How does the new Okku compare to the OG? Click link in bio & stories to read - and if you’re not a subscriber, you may like to sign up for free to future newsletters. Swipe for more pics.
What’s your favourite Okku memory? 🇯🇵🥢 #UAERestaurantsUnite
A telly gig 😋 Earlier this month, I co-hosted a #DXBToday episode for @dubaionetv discussing my favourite topic - Dubai’s homegrown dining scene. Swipe for the video of the main segment. An additional two segments linked on Dubai One’s Youtube.
Thanks to @ti22films @reimelhouni @dinabutti @yousef.abdelbary @radiofaris 🙏🏼
Wanna guess what type of restaurant I would love to highlight on air next? 🍉🕊️🍉 #UAERestaurantsUnite #DubaiOneTV #InThePress
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