“PREGO’S” at Media Rotana – Petite bit of Italy + Giveaway

CONGRATULATIONS:

Winner is Selma Romola . Please send email with your full name and contact details to mahiblog.ae@gmail.com to claim your voucher within 2 days, incase of failure another winner will be chosen.

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Keeping up with Italian Cuisine celebration on Mahi Blog, we are featuring some of the best Italian restaurants around UAE. Hence decided to explore Prego’s, one of the 5 exquisite dining venues at Media Rotana, offering Italian cuisine. We love this place and planned to return back after we visited last in Ramadan and reviewed Channels.

Media Rotana is a luxury 5-star hotel ideally located in the Heart of Dubai, TECOM area and within easy reach of the Dubai Internet City Metro Station & Major Shopping Malls. Prego’s is known for its authentic spirit, with various award achievements such as the Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards, World’s Best Italian Pizza Competition and the Italian Industry & Commerce Office in the UAE. Prego’s is able to be distinguished as one of the leading Italian restaurants in the city over years.

Opening its doors daily, they serves a wide range of Italian specialties from thin crusted pizzas to freshly baked homemade breads blazed in a wood-fired oven. We completely fell in love with ambiance and interior featuring an exclusive chic and fashionable design with great use of red light. Mosaic tiles at the entrance, wood flooring and open kitchen make it a lively, manageable and welcoming atmosphere. This venue is extremely popular with diners as you get to see a lot of cooking and baking going on in the kitchen. An open front kitchen (Which I must say is very well organized and well divided into sections, in spite of its compact size) showcases their chefs creating the finest in Italian cuisine. Prego’s offer all time culinary favorites and delightful monthly specials. This specially designed menu is known for its noted delicacies, ranging from white asparagus, artichokes, porcini mushroom, white and black truffles.

Pictured below: Linguini Carbonara, Fried Calamari/ shrimps , margarita pizza, breaded veal chop with rucola.

 

Food we tasted;

Oven fresh bread with cheese & white canolini beans sauce welcomed us on the table. From soup options we tried creamy porcini mushroom soup on chef’s recommendation, it was served real hot and we could smell the aroma of white truffle oil coming out of the bowl. It was too rich and creamy though, hence too filling on our stomach.

Burratra di Andria was first antipasti to hit the table and wow what an impression it made. It was good looking and simple yet delicious, Chef stick to the basics and presented the classic Burrata Cheese  in a platter served with semi dried cherry tomatoes, baby spinach and Taggiasca olives with a sprinkle of oregano on top, very fresh and crunchy at the same time.

Our very favorite antipasti amongst all was Eggplant rolls with ricotta cheese, the basil pesto sauce and tomato confir combo was so well balanced that it made the dish mouthwatering. From Carpacci section we tried Tuna Tartare with mango, avocado and aged balsamic vinegar reduction, I loved the sweet sour and tangy taste of it at the same time balsamic jus adds to its flavor.

I still remember the mouthwatering taste of the Grilled lamb chops with vegetable ratatouille and sautéed potatoes in olive oil, lemon zest which gives this extra tang and flavor to sauce with garlic and rosemary. Very well done and perfectly grilled and juicy in taste.

 

Finally, we concluded on desserts, the highlight of the evening. Tiramisu was so moist and delectable, drenched in coffee was so imperious it certainly raised our expectations hence we went on and ordered another star of the evening “Hot Lava Chocolate Cake with lemon sorbet and berry coulis.

With a comfy, convivial ambiance, warm and friendly interiors, this restaurant offered us a delectable journey with the true flavors of Italy. Dress Code is Smart Casual however you can’t show up wearing shorts. Pastas are freshly made on a daily basis, and the pizzas are baked in a traditional wood-fired oven. Prego’s Chefs’ team showed us petite bit of Italy with their selection of authentic dishes for which we rate them 4.5 out of 5.

 

For more details on Media Rotana & Prego’s click HERE

Contact – To Book a table call +971 (4) 4350201

Email – fb.media@rotana.com

VOUCHER GIVEAWAY/ COMPETITION:

Mahi Blog and Media Rotana have teamed up to offer Mahi Blog readers “Meal Voucher for 2 at Prego’s – Media Rotana“

How to win:

For your chance to win simply do the following:

1- Subscribe (via email id) on Mahi Blog,

2- Share this post using buttons below of FB, Twitter, IG etc

Tag Mahi Blog on FB, Instagram, Twitter to let us know that you share!!!!

“WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN ON MAXIMUM SHARES BASIS”

To win you must do all the above steps. Winners will be announced on September 22nd, 2015.  Only UAE fans can take part.

Disclaimer & Notes: A huge Thank you to Media Rotana Management, Sahil Gour, our host Marketing team, Chefs, Staff at Prego’s. We were guests there however it did not influence our thoughts and reviews, all opinions content are our own. You cannot use any pics without prior permission.

 

Real Italian Treat – Pizza Di Rocco with AED 200 meal vouchers for 2 winners.

Winners are Khadija Mustafa & Noora Ashraf . Please send email with your full name and contact details to mahiblog.ae@gmail.com to claim your voucher within 2 days, incase of failure another winner will be chosen.

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Celebrating Italian cuisine this month, we visited Pizza Di Rocco, we were warmly greeted by the Managing Director Mr. Peter.

He explained the origin that Pizza Di Rocco is born from the spirit of Master Pizzaiolo Rocco and it is their passion for creating authentic Italian gourmet pizzas that inspires customers to try classic pizzas: delicious, light, crispy, natural and fresh from the oven. Seeing that giant oven in the centre of the kitchen is treat to the eyes, where he explains that most of the product are coming straight from it to the table of diners and being ready to deliver asap. Venue and seating arrangement is not too big, however it accommodates at around 24 guests at a time and also having a very cozy environment and ambiance that you could almost imagine that you were in some Tuscan pizza street café smelling the cheese and dough aroma, while before going into fantasyland busy traffic lanes in Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street will bring you back in current zone.

Nothing compares to Pizza Di Rocco real Italian pizza, one bite and you’ll know. It’s about the freshness and authenticity of a true Italian pizza, though we had enjoyed our dinner there but I would say the lunch deal is a steal.

It’s about il deliziare, temptation, simplicity and ingredient natural to get that exceptional gusto, taste. And it’s about using a traditional hand-tossed base, and culinary techniques passed down through generations, cooked in their handmade cupola-style oven, topped with Italian herbs, and with the true spirit of Italy.

Staff:

The staff here are incredibly pleasant and friendly, and have made a real effort to turn this tiny unit into as pleasant an environment as possible. Deliveries are prompt and Pizzas delivered hot! The staffs are very friendly and accommodating in a way to make sure that your Pizza comes just the way you like it. A tiny place that seems more geared up for a brisk delivery trade than eat-in

Rocco’s dough.

A real pizza always begins with authentic, hand-tossed dough made from 100% fresh ingredients with no preservatives or artificial additives. Rocco’s dough is prepared up to 48 hours in advance, allowing the fermentation process to complete before cooking, ensuring the pizza base is light, crispy, and easy to digest.

Rocco’s sauce

Our expert pizzaiola’s prepare Rocco’s special sauce in store each morning, according to his own traditional recipe and with passion, care and attention….. Made with premium, perfectly ripe peeled Italian tomatoes, and seasoned with authentic Italian herbs.

Ingredients

Rocco is very conscious about the quality of his product. This comes from the quality of his ingredients, which are mostly imported directly from Italy, as he believes there is no substitute for authenticity! Their passion is their pizza and thus focus of all attention at this restaurant is to ensure that flavor, quality or nutrition value will be perfect and not sacrificed at all.

Wow factor:

• Rocco’s pizzas are available in your choice of original white flour, or whole-wheat flour!
• They guarantee the freshest herbs. Italian herbs are so flavorful, and therein is one of the secrets to a beautifully succulent pizzas at Pizza Di Rocco
• There’s only one size pizza here and it’s pretty large.
• We highly regards their commitment to make good staff even better by reassuring them to their commitment hence they usually conduct their Bi-weekly tastings and value staff involvement in the new menu.
• You are offered a choice of a white or whole-wheat base.

We tasted:

Oven-baked Garlic bread came to our table first, Immediately after I’d ordered, a complimentary appetizer of strips of bread i-e rocco’s classic dough baked with fresh rosemary entrenched in it, served with olive oil & garlic /pesto dip and parmesan cheese. It made our expectation even high with rest of the items. They prepare the same with garlic, olive oil and rosemary. We simply loved the Oil infused in-house.

 

Insalata Caprese was very native Italian salad with Fresh buffalo mozzarella, sliced Holland tomato, fresh basil, olive oil. Best quality of cheese you would taste at Pizza Di Rocco.

Di Rocco

It is basically Mixed Italian greens, cherry tomatoes, olives, spring onion, oven baked goat’s cheese, fresh mushrooms, walnuts and pine nuts toss together with sweet balsamic dressing. One of the highlight is the evening and my ultimate favorite salad of all so far I have tasted in any Italian restaurant. The taste of the buffalo cheese and roasted pine amalgamate in such a beautiful way that its gives you this softness along with crunch at the same time in the salad.

Mozzarella Fritta

Thick, creamy slices of mozzarella, breaded and shallow fried. Served with spicy BBQ dip and small green salad – simple but absolutely sensational tasting of back to back antipasti made us full already and by the time our Pizza came we were stuffed.

Diavola is one of their classic range pizza, very basic but full of flavors. It has Tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy Italian salami and oregano. Each bite was melting in mouth with the perfect ratio of cheese and sauce that it concurs our taste buds.

Fattoria pizza has their signature Tomato sauce, mozzarella, caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, roast pine nuts and goat cheese. What makes this pizza so special is the taste of the onions as it really balance this pizza with its mild sweetness and is perfect choice for Hawaiian taste pizza lovers. Caramelized onion is the star ingredient of this dish.

In desserts we tried Chef’s special Tiramisu and Gluten free cheese cake and they were to drool fo, fuss free and very delicious.

It was indeed a happy journey and a treat for a true Italian food lover. We are basically glad to discover this unpretentious Italian eatery and moreover delivery point for selling the best pizzas in the emirate.

Have eaten at this small restaurant a couple of times and had a few takeaways at home and work and love their prompt and oven fresh delivery. The pizzas and salads are persistently lip-smacking! All in all for their fresh ingredients, taste quality and made Mahi Blog will rank them 4.6 / 5 on our blog-o-meter.

GIVEAWAY/ COMPETITION: (2 WINNERS)

Mahi Blog and Pizza Di Rocco have teamed up to offer TWO lucky readers “200 DHS value voucher“ to spend at the restaurant.

How to win:

For your chance to win simply do the following:

1- Subscribe (via email id) on Mahi Blog,

2- Share this post using buttons below of FB, Twitter, IG etc

Tag Mahi Blog on FB, Instagram, Twitter to let us know that you share !!!!

“WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN ON MAXIMUM SHARES BASIS”

To win you must do all the above steps. Winners will be announced on September 22nd, 2015.  Only UAE fans can take part.

Disclaimer & Notes: A huge Thank you to Peter, Pizza Di Rocco’s humble staff & Brandon for coordination. We were invited however it did not influence our thoughts and reviews, all opinions content are our own. You can not use any pics without prior permission.

 

“Festa Della Pizza” Celebration at Eastern Mangroves Carluccio’s – Reviewed

Carluccio’s is the highly praised Italian cafe renowned for bringing authentic and conventional Italian cooking and ingredients to families in a comforting and friendly environment. Carluccio’s open kitchens are operated by qualified chefs who create all the food in-house including pastas and breads. It offers great worth for cash with the whole lot from scrumptious morning breakfasts and exclusive blends of coffees through to light meals and lunches. Carluccio’s deli is the food shop offers a range of specially imported products from Italy to give the authentic taste of Italy to this region. It is well-known for its pastas, pizzas, classic Italian desserts, fresh salads, and antipasti to name a few.

Festa Della Pizza Celebration at Carluccio’s

Festa Della Pizza Festival 

Nothing says Italy quite like its food, and nothing says Italian food like pizza. Sharing its passion and expertise for the Italian speciality; Carluccio’s is hosting a two-month long celebration of all things pizza. Started from 26th July and it will go till end of September, Festa Della Pizza will showcase an array of limited edition sweet and savory pizzas alongside interactive kids’ pizza making classes. In addition, Carluccio’s food shops will feature a special display of chilli oils and chilli based products, the ideal accompaniment for pizza at home. You can choose from Sweet or Savoury Choices.

Coverage of Festa Della Pizza at Eatern Mangroves Carluccio’s

To cover the grand festival we have been invited via PRCo and been warmly hosted and greeted by the generous staff at Eastern Mangroves Outlet of Carluccio’s. Venue is cozy and has an amazing view of mangroves and stretched out sea full of boats, Eastern Mangroves is also home to other water sports activities hence attract a lot of goers and Italian food lovers which simple can’t miss this branch of Carluccio’s due to aroma of baked pasta and pizza & smell coming from their kitchen. Restaurant has fining area covered inside and outside on terrace as well, in good weather you can sit outside and enjoy the breezy atmosphere, however we preferred inside in the prevailing temperatures in Capital and were guided via staff to a warm corner with a glass window for an outside view.

Bowl of Olives

I am a big fan of Carluccio’s and have visited so many branches by now and a big lover of their bread and Olives hence it was must to try the same before we roll on to festival tasting and we enjoyed BOWL OF OLIVES this time. Being a thin crust pizza lover, it’s a treat to find they are serving authentic Roman-style pizzas with perfectly charred crusts, We tried Anatra e Fichi, Calzone Ortolana and Granchio e Gamberi.

Anatra e Fici

First one consist of tomato, mozzarella, shredded duck confit (You may ask staff to replace with chicken), fresh figs, rocket salad, parmesan shavings and aged balsamic vinegar which has very empowering taste in a good way and the figs added that extra citrus taste to this highly recommended pizza from the festival offerings.

Granchio e Gamberi was a treat for seafood lover

The second one Calzone Ortolana was basically a folded pizza will balsamic roasted vegetables, goats’ cheese, mozzarella and black olives and has this incredible softness of combination cheese they topped it with and the balsamic roasted veggies give you a great crunch and taste at the same time.

Meanwhile, seafood fans will appreciate the Granchio e Gamberi, topped with crab meat, shrimps, mozzarella, grated zucchini, red chilli, basil and lemon oil, though we are not huge fan of seafood but this pizza is very flavoursome and did gain few interest point on our tastemeter.

Porcini e Tartufo is one unique in range too

It you have Sweet tooth you may indulge in one of the unique dessert pizzas been offered at FESTA DELLA PIZZA Treat; served on a crispy golden base, they are the perfect way to finish a meal. You can try the fruity Passione e Amarena topped with mascarpone passion fruit cream and Italian Amarena “Fabbri” cherries or the classic Nutella e Banana with Italian Nutella and sliced banana. My kids thoroughly enjoyed their nutella banana edition and it actually made them charged to even run for a small walk around mangroves.

 

Apart from Festival Offerings we even tried our all time favorite antipasti mixed board. There is nothing to complaint about this extra gorgeous complete board which has each element of our liking ranging from home-baked Focaccia bread to roasted bell pepper with basil pesto.

I also ordered Beef Gnocchi, which truly impressed us this time with slowly cooked pulled beef and potatoes dumpling, rosemary flavor added to its taste.

I tried Cheese cake with Latte Coffee and finished off my meal in a delightful way.

 

Oils and other products range at Deli:

Well if you would love to carry what you tasted in the offerings for number of months, here is a charm, as this festival is running for a certain time however you may purchase the hot stuff which goes into taste over these pizza.

 

Yes we are talking about sauces and special infused oils. If you are looking to add a little heat to your menu can head to Carluccio’s famous deli, which will be showcasing a selection of chilli oils and chilli based products throughout the festival. Made from quality Italian olives and infused with chillies dried under the Calabrian sun, chilli oil is endlessly useful in the kitchen and perfectly complements pizza as well as pasta, salads and any other dishes that require a kick. Choose between the traditional chilli oil and chilli and garlic oil, whilst the Tre Oli set makes a lovely gift for any keen cook. In keeping with the fiery theme, a selection of chilli salsa, pesto and pasta will also be available for rustling up impressive suppers for friends and family at home. They are also been offered at much reasonable price and in some cases bundle offer.

Pizza Master Classes for Kids

In case If you have mini chefs in the making like mine 2, Carluccio’s also offers fun and hands-on pizza master classes for kids, I can recall the memories when my kids had attended the same few months back and guess what they have same been offered throughput the festival; Led by an expert chef, little ones can get messy whilst kneading, baking and decorating before sitting down to enjoy their creations. You may contact your nearest Carluccio’s for dates and timings.

Follow Carluccio’s on Facebook and Twitter for more information on Festa Della Pizza.

Indeed it’s a great chance where pizza lovers will discover a range of inspired flavor combinations throughout the festival, visit with friends to enjoy a variety in the menu without managing to dilute the running italian theme too.  This festival is available at restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Mahi Blog loved exploring the festival at Carluccio’s and rate the Fiesta offering 4.5 out of 5 on our tastemeter.

KEEP CALM AND EAT ITALIAN – ITALIAN TO GO…

 

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi Hotel Review & Win ‘Wok with Me’ Friday Brunch for 2 at Urban Kitchen.

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

Congratulations “link2reema” you are a winner for Friday Brunch for 2 at DUSIT THANI ABUDHABI – Urban Kitchen themed brunch “Wok with Me”. Send an email with your full name & contact details at mahiblog.ae@gmail.com within 2 days to claim you prize.

Enjoy the Brunch and lovely Friday !! 🙂

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“Luxury Thai Hospitality at Dusit Thani ABU DHABI”

Location:

Centrally located close to the city’s Eastern Mangroves habitat and a short drive from the Corniche, near to new business and government district, adjacent to the CERT Technology Park. The hotel is also an ideal choice for business and leisure travelers. It had perfect location from where you can explore the graceful capital of the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is close-by while Abu Dhabi International Airport is a mere 20 minutes drive from here. The hotel offers complimentary shuttle bus service to key points of interest / entertainment and shopping malls in Abu Dhabi.

Theme and Decor Inspiration:

Blending the best of both cultures, the hotel exudes Arabian opulence instill with strokes of Thai warmth with a well-known stature and unique architecture design. Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi Hotel has 402 rooms and suites combined. Each room has a wonderful mix of Thai influences and modern lifestyle and has been beautifully designed with the savvy traveller in mind, hotel is daunting with Skydome spanning extensive pre-function areas that can host up to 1,000 guests and is already a preferred location and home for many educational and Industrial seminars and Company hosted Events.

Arrival and Check-in:

You will reach the venue easily via markings of Muroor Street (4th Street), opposite the Mohammed Bin Zayed football stadium. The area is nested with business and government buildings, and there’s a convenient footbridge from infront of the stadium. If by car and coming from Bus Station toward stadium you will take a U-turn from signal and then 2nd exit will go on Ramp to arrive right infront of the Hotel’s main lobby entrance. The valet staff (I must mention very humble and greet you with smile) will take your car and luggage as you arrive in the beautiful lobby (which is impressive and by some means homely) from glass-fronted hotel tower, you can’t miss the soaring atrium which is indeed one of the best elevations (Art Structure) in UAE . To the left is the reception desk and to the right is Orchid lounge with a grand piano and a coffee bar.

F&B:

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi offers an array of exquisite restaurants including Benjarong – award-wining Thai cuisine, The Capital Grill – offering steaks and Mediterranean specialties and Urban Kitchen – international all-day dining. The hotel’s signature restaurant is the Thai Benjarong.

During our stay, we enjoyed our breakfast in Urban Kitchen and had attended “Wok With Me” theme based Friday brunch at the same venue. Aside from the all-day dining restaurant, the hotel also has The Capital Grill, a sophisticated New York-style steakhouse and bar.

Wok with Me Brunch :

I totally love the idea and concept of this food extravaganza. No need to book a flight ticket to indulge in Asia’s unsurpassed gastronomy. Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi has got his guest at Urban Kitchen covered with an exclusive Asian Wok with Me Brunch in Capital! Guests can create their own favourite Thai curry made-to-order, which we thoroughly loved, Mahi Blog Instagram Fans can enjoy the video HERE.

In this month’s promotion you will find delight in a wide spread of Asian specialties from Thailand, Japan, China and India.  Live cooking stations include French raclette with an Asian twist (what a fine concept), tandoori, seafood bar, wok noodles, Pandan and coconut flavored crepes.

While doing brunch during our stay we even enjoyed at the Cheese counter and our drooling Instagram video has been featured on #SimplyAbuDhabi page too.. Have a look here, it might make you hungry! You can make it a cheese platter the way you like on the display where fruits and dry fruits as well to be accompanied by melted cheese.

  

Staff & Services :

Majority of the staff we noticed in Hotel are from Thailand, always meet you with warm gesture and smile and carry themselves in a delicate, heartening and distinguished manner and will greet you in their traditional thai style by greeting “Sawasdee”. Check-in and check-out were fuss-free and prompt.

Stay:

Though I notice this hotel has more business than leisure guests in weekdays however the trend is totally mix during weekends and especially holidays and vacation breaks season. This is one of the best Staycation and is liked immensely amongst the families. I found the lobby and lounge areas filled largely by very elegantly-dressed Emiratis conducting meetings, while there is Salon and Gym being very famous in locally & near-by areas residing people and hotel guests.

Rooms

My room, a one-bedroom suite, has an excellent view while floor-to-ceiling windows offering beautiful views of the Capital, but don’t forget to close them at night else the flashing airline warning lights attached to corner of the building might bother you. The large marble bathroom was an extravagance. The rooms and hanging art pieces in them and on floors alley are theme co-ordinate with carpets and furniture.

Other facilities:

A host of facilities and services, including Namm Spa and DFiT Fitness Centre, allow guests to cultivate their minds and bodies, they can enjoy a workout at the fully equipped state-of-the art gym, enjoy swimming in the outdoor swimming pool, relax in the Jacuzzi or indulge in a signature massage treatment in spa, where we had enjoyed our amazing treatment, see complete review of Namm Spa HERE.

Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi is an exciting and exclusive addition to a sophisticated global group where we had a complete Thai experience with luxury and astonishing eye-soothing designs. Standing at 37 storey’s, boasting the third highest hotel atrium in the world, it is well on its way to achieving landmark status. In short it is one of the best locations we stayed and reviewed. Mahi Blog will rate this stay 4.7 over 5 on likeness & comfort.

Find more info on there FB page here or go to their Website.

GIVEAWAY/ COMPETITION: 

Mahi Blog and Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi have teamed up to offer Mahi Blog readers “Wok with Me – Friday Brunch for 2 at Urban Kitchen”

     How to win:

For your chance to win simply do the following: 

1- Answer the following question in comments; Name any one of the restaurants at Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi?

2- Subscribe (via email id) on Mahi Blog, Share this post on social widgets. (Use buttons below of FB, Twitter, IG etc)

3- Like, Follow, Share us on following:

• Facebook (/mahiblog)
• Twitter (@mahiblog)
• Instagram (@mahiblog)

To win you must do all the above steps. Winners will be announced on September 4th, 2015.  All UAE fans can take part.

Disclaimer & Notes: A huge Thank you to Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi Management, Gehan & Rami and our host staff at restaurant. We were guests there however it did not influence our thoughts and reviews, all opinions content are our own. Pictures are owned by Mahi Blog except few which are provided by the Hotel itself. You can not use any pics without prior permission.

 

Iftar Review – “Layali al Baraka” at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers – #WIN Iftar Buffet for 2! (INSTANT GIVEAWAY)

IFTAR AT “LAYALI AL BARAKA”

Like each year Jumeirah at Etihad Towers have their special set-up of Ramadan “Layali al Baraka” in their diversified and multipurpose venue (Mezzoon Pre Function Area). You can Experience the joy of the season with friends and family in the lavishly decorated venue and  immerse yourself in the Ramadan spirit with your family and friends

It is predominantly Arabic food however non-Arabic dishes are also there and been chosen carefully as been best in the menu and also strike a great balance to par the taste of Ramadan menu. Jalab, Karkadh, Laban, Kamar Al Deen & Erk Sous all of these varieties of Ramadan Drinks are available however if you wish you may order for the soft drinks and fresh juices chargeable out of the Ramadan buffet menu.

We loved the set-up of house Water, some juices, Nuts & Dates available on your table pre-arrival; as it’s much convenient you don’t have to rush to the main food area to find the glasses for juices or to start munch-in soon as you break the fast.

This might be our last outdoor Iftar this  Ramadan in UAE, but we can’t get enough of our very favorite “Lentil Soup” with Lemon and Zaatar Crouton; oh yes the infusion of Zaatar added that extra zest to this great creation. There was soup of the day also however it’s was not been able to take our attention away from lentil one!

Another reason I love food at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers is their Condiments; we loved the fact how keen observation and special care they gave it to the small portion of menu; we had noticed the same at our previous review of “ROSEWATER”. Cornichons, shaved Parmesan and marinated Mushroom with grilled Eggplants were tasty.

There is a huge salad bar and of compound salad having Lollo Rosso and Oak leaves with complete range of dressings, balsamic being the best. We also loved Baba Ganoush, Mohamara and Warak Enab, in Cold Mezzah section.

We noticed a large presence of non-Arabs diners too at their Iftar Buffet. How they cater to that in menu, well to mention Thai Green Chicken Curry with Basil and Stir fried Vegetable Rice were indeed top-notch Asian items in “Layali al Baraka” menu and we were fond of it.

To keep a mix they had few western dishes on menu too; Mediterranean Style baked Mahi Mahi, Tomato, Grilled Chicken Breast with creamy Mushroom Sauce, Potato Gratin with Celeriac and Buttered Peas with Lettuce and Shallots. On a side Indian note their Tandoori Jhinga is a must-try.

Live station for Churros preparation. it was divine..

WOW Factor:

Guess what we found at Hot Mezzah Chicken Wings & Chicken Liver Pomegranate jus which was very well done and juicy too. Ouzi with Oriental Rice kept its soul along with Emirati Station having Lamb Harris, Vegetables Salona and Lamb Majbous.

The traditional Oud player sets a soothing ambience with his notations and you will enjoy the whole ambiance even louder.

Main Course consist of Arabic Mixed Grill (Shish Taouk, Lamb Kebab, Kofta Kebab), Laban Emmo, Dajaj Bel Batata (it has become our favorite potatoe dish now)

Other main courses includes Samak Makli with Tarator sauce, the Kousa Mahshi (very simple in taste unlike its name), Yaknet Bazella with Lamb Stew and very popular Vermicelli Rice, very appetizing.

• There is large variety of Arabic Sweets to name what we tasted were Koulaj, Kataif Ashta with nuts, Cheese Halwa, Aysh al Saraya and of course Umm Ali along with Tangy Lemon Meringue Tart and yummy Red Velvet sliced Cake.

Tamar Hindi being served via Traditional Dallah Style.

Live station of Kunafa was also in progress. We rate it 4.5 out of 5 for being an exquisite buffet of regional delights including live cooking stations. From sumptuous seafood grills to a live Saj station and customary Ramadan beverages served with the traditional dallah, each appetising dish will enchant your palate.

In the spirit of the Holy Month of Ramadan, they will be donating AED 2, for every person attending their Iftar, to Emirates Red Crescent in support of children in need.

Location: Podium Level 4
Timings: As per Iftar timings
Price: AED 175* per person

For more information or reservations, please contact us:

FB, Twitter , IG

Telephone: +971 2 811 5666
Email:  JADrestaurants@jumeirah.com

GIVEAWAY/ COMPETITION: 

Mahi Blog and Jumeirah at Etihad Towers have teamed up to offer Mahi Blog readers“Iftar Buffet Voucher for 2”

How to win:

For your chance to win simply do the following:

1- Answer the following question in comments; Name any one of the restaurants at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers?

2- Subscribe (via email id) on Mahi Blog, Share this post on social widgets. (Use buttons below of FB, Twitter, IG etc)

3- Like, Follow, Share us on following:

• Facebook (/mahiblog)
• Twitter (@mahiblog)
• Instagram (@mahiblog)

To win you must do all the above steps. Winners will be announced on July 14th, 2015.  All UAE fans can take part.

Disclaimer & Notes: A huge Thank you to Jumeirah at Etihad Towers Management, Maria our lovely host staff at restaurant. We were guests there however it did not influence our thoughts and reviews, all opinions content are our own. You can not use any pics without prior permission.

 

Iftar Review: Horizon-Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana+MEGA Contest #WIN

Marina , Mustafa & rpfbcrec you are the winners. Please send your contact details to mahiblog.ae@gmail.com asap. As the voucher is just valid till end of ramadan. If you won’t send email within today another winner will be chosen tomorrow.

CONGRATULATIONS.

It was a great pleasure accepting a Ramadan invite for Iftar from “Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana” at Horizon Restaurant and it was indeed a great experience. The Iftar Buffet setting at Horizon is not clustered, I like the idea that they set-up the main course counters at 3 locations, catering to the needs of diners who are spread-out till their lobby.

First being the starter or mezze (Hot & Cold) sections which has an array of what looks like over 12-15 menu items to get the Iftar started. There is everything from salty pickles to baba ghanoush, mixed salads, Kibbeh , spinach fatayer, cheese sambusak etc. What tempted me most was Eggplant moussaka in Oriental and Poached Gulf prawns Smoked salmon in International.

There is a soup and bread station (Oriental Pita was so good!). You can choose from a selection of lentil or clear chicken noodle soup. Also the Lamb ouzi with Oriental rice station is hidden beneath the staircase make sure to take a walk along the wide menu before fatoor (iftari)  so you would know where it’s placed.

Before you get too full on soup, don’t forget to get your own Shawarma, made fresh at the counter.

Syrian style Mix grill and falafel were prepared live along with the shawarma live station in the centre of the main dining chamber of Horizon. The chef is on hand to assist you with any menu choices that you might need to make and the junior chef will also assist you to pour in Tabouleh Rotana and Fattoush in bowls over the counters specifically made for these items.

Oriental & International Cuisine Mix Balance was another strength of menu at Horizon in Khalidiya Palace which we enjoyed over other After reviews we did.

Harees Chicken / vermicelli rice (Emirati style) Arabic Lamb shank Fasoulya, Chicken Frikkeh (Jordanian style), Kibbeh Bil laban & Baby marrow and vine leaves with lamb chops were all at par, I couldn’t decide which tasted better as they were all made to perfection.  Seafood chili, Cumin roasted potato, Steamed vegetables & Ratatouille in International cuisine has kept a great balance. I loved Grilled sherry Fish with honey mustard sauce.

  

Make sure you do not miss out on ‘the desserts counter’ as it is located at the end of the hallway. It has a large variety of desserts and was our favorite, you would find everything ranging from Arabic sweet (Um ali & Kunfa roll were tastiest) and a lovely cake selection I must say and the Blueberry panna cotta was to die for, our other favorites include Linzer Cake, lemon trifle in glass. Just in case you are not yet satisfies you can enjoy ice-creams in cone or cup which was equally enjoyed by kids and adults.

WOW Factors:

• I simply haven’t had taste such tastier Lebanese salad “Fattoush” ever before. It is so aromatic and crispy with croutons. The Chef “Abu Halab” will make it just right in front of your eyes and will mix and toss it and you won’t just stop tasting on it.

• The dates and nuts setting in the main lobby under giant Palm trees structure. Kudri Madeena and fresh red & yellow rotab was a treat to my taste buds.

  

• Traditional dishes “carving” was another highlight of their menu for Kebbe sajiyeh & Chicken mousakhan rolls.

• The Ramadan Drinks and Assorted Juices been places in circles, those who are following my reads know my favorite Ramadan drink, Jelab Thamar! Yes and it was best I got in Khalidiya Palace.
• The involvement of Chef in the whole Iftar Buffet along with the staff and management was something really impressed me as its being so interactive.

All in all the food  we tasted at Ramadan After Buffet at Horizon – Khalidiya Palace is succulent and delicious, full of essence and made us happy 🙂

For More information on Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana click these pages here: Facebook, Twitter, IG.

GIVEAWAY/ COMPETITION: (3 WINNERS)

Mahi Blog and Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana have teamed up to offer Mahi Blog readers “Three Iftar Buffet Vouchers for 2 at HORIZON“

How to win:

For your chance to win simply do the following:

1- Answer the following question in comments; Name any one of the restaurants at Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana?

2- Subscribe (via email id) on Mahi Blog, Share this post on social widgets. (Use buttons below of FB, Twitter, IG etc)

3- Like, Follow, Share us on following:

• Facebook (/mahiblog)
• Twitter (@mahiblog)
• Instagram (@mahiblog)

To win you must do all the above steps. Winners will be announced on July 9th, 2015.  All UAE fans can take part.

Disclaimer & Notes: A huge Thank you to Khalidiya Palace Rayhaan by Rotana Marketing Team & Management, Faten, Judy, aff at Horizon & Outlet Manager, Dhammika. We were guests there however it did not influence our thoughts and reviews, all opinions content are our own. You can not use any pics without prior permission.

 

Iftar Review: Fairways – The Westin AUH Golf Resort & Spa + WIN Iftar Buffet for 2

Marsha you are the winner. Please send your contact details to mahiblog.ae@gmail.com asap. As the voucher is just valid till end of ramadan. If you won’t send email within today another winner will be chosen tomorrow.

CONGRATULATIONS.

Make this Ramadan memorable over Iftar buffet at The Westin Abu Dhabi takes place on Fairways , from sunset till 20:30 pm . You may take advantage of their delicious Iftar and Sohour in this award-winning restaurant.  As far as buffets go I always find Fairways fairly decent and in the Ramadan buffet it features live cooking stations with authentic Arabic delicacies with delicious Asian & International flavors

 

The atmosphere in Ramadan get extra nice and rather homely, as we believe that in this location much-needed time can be spent in edifying great vibes, sharing your meal and embracing that spiritual feeling and taking them from strength to strength. Fairways puts on a delicate and delicious offering in form of delicacies from around the world reflecting all the delicious cuisines offered in the hotel.

The staff is chiefly polite and attentive, though they have a fairly extensive spread, We have been warmly greeted by Leon & Vineeta from outlet Management. I must need t mention “Jose” here, one of the staff who has been so courteous and attended us through out. He was very alert and prompt in his services.

 The quality of the food varies though, so you really must pick wisely, as they have selected Chinese counter, Indian cuisine as well as Arabic cuisine. Salad variety is amazing. While you’re the buffet selection you’re sure to be tempted by the delectable dishes on offer at Fairways. My kids loved their baked cheesy pasta and

Dry fruits counter is presented close to the entrance, in the centre of the buffet so that you can take a small plate of dates and dried fruit and a glass of laban or my ever favorite Jallab/Gellab and kamareldin in drinks to your table as you are being seated.

WOW FACTOR:

What amuses us most (adult and kids) is their traditional Dondurma ice cream, and next to it the attractive counter for so many flavors of ice cream to choose from along with over 10 toppings. It’s the finest treat for the mini creatures that went along with me to fairways.

 

Our Favorites:

In Cold Mezzeh our favourites were Tabouleh, Fatouch, Shanklish, Mohamara. You must try their Baby Cucumber Pickles, Labneh Ball & Marinated Feta Cheese in the JAR! We like Cheese cigar roll & Meat Fatayer in Hot Mezzeh. Karouf Mahshi (Ouzi Lamb) at the Carving station was scrumptious. I was so full while munching on mezzeh that by the time I reached main course I was feeling so full however I did taste Lamb Stew, Green Beans,  Samak Harra and vegetable biryani which is not and either. I must say I love the variety of seafood in their dishes and so well blended as per Iftar items.

 

Desserts section has everything varying from Arabic sweets to Turkish icecream, French pastries to mousses, Indian Sweets to flourless cheese cakes.

 

All in all it was a very well genus Iftar buffet loaded with items where most of the dishes are tasteful and has variety too. I hope I dint miss out of Arabic coffee and dates as well which is one of the highlight of the Iftar.

 

We love visiting Westin Abu Dhabi golf Resort and Spa, we have earlier dine in at another food outlet “Sacci” (REVIEW HERE) and now at “Fairways” which is again a wonderful experience. Hotels maintain high standards in F&B and the great team adds value to it.For More information on Fairways & The Westin AbuDhabi click there pages here: Facebook, Twitter, IG.

GIVEAWAY/ COMPETITION:

Mahi Blog and The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa have teamed up to offer Mahi Blog readers “Iftar Buffet Voucher for 2 at Fairways“

How to win: 

For your chance to win simply do the following:

1- Answer the following question in comments; Name any one of the restaurant at The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa?

2- Subscribe (via email id) on Mahi Blog, Share this post on social widgets. (Use buttons below of FB, Twitter, IG etc)

3- Like, Follow, Share us on following:

• Facebook (/mahiblog)
• Twitter (@mahiblog)
• Instagram (@mahiblog)

To win you must do all the above steps. Winners will be announced on July 7th, 2015.  All UAE fans can take part.

The details

Price – Iftar Buffet AED 180++ per person

Suhoor Set Menu AED 150++ per person

A la Carte available

Contact – To Book a table call +971 (2) 6169999

Email – FBadmin.Auh@westin.com

Website – http://www.westinabudhabigolfresort.com/

Disclaimer & Notes: A huge Thank you to The Westin Abu Dhabi Management, STAVROULA and our host staff at Fairways. We were guests there however it did not influence our thoughts and reviews, all opinions content are our own. You can not use any pics without prior permission.

 

Here comes the Pizza – Grand Launch of Russo’s NY Pizzeria!

“Mangia bene! “ [Eat well] -Chef Anthony Russo. The Russo’s Dalma Mall “Grand Launch” was a private event, as guests are welcomed by CEO himself along with Marketing team and during the event there is a free flow on Pizza and appetizers via attentive hostesses. You won’t miss the store at this location in mall because it is located right near the Cinemas. This restaurant displayed a Russo’s board at the entrance and there is a strong aroma indication to guide to further !

Had an incredible time at the festive cooking demo at Russo’s by none other than the man himself, founder and Chef Anothony Russo. The variety and colors are so fresh and yummy. It can literally turn an adult into a child in a pizza world. Today, you can find Russo’s New York Pizzeria all around the world. Yet, it is no typical franchise. No matter which location it is, almost everything is made in-house, from the pizza dough to the gnocchi and mainly handpicked and exported from their sorted locations.

All in all it was great evening I simple loved the menu of the night in Starters my favorite were Caprese Salad, Pomodora Brushetta and Fried Portobello Mushrooms. Of course you can’t beat their originals Cheese and Chicken Rustica Pizzas !!     Lasagna Al forno was indeed a great touch and how can I not mention very tempting Panna Cotta & Tiramisu. I am not a huge fan of Risotto however did taste their Porcini one with drizzled Truffle Oil and it is indeed very delicious!  One could smell the oven baked pizza while you are just passing near cine royal on the same floor. I’m normally not a fan of the thin crust, but this is the right blend of crisp and juicy with each slice covered with fresh toppings. Russo’s is worth a visit. The quality of food and service definitely won’t disappoint!   Russo is the story of a chef with immense dreams and have done it in grace, someone who was able to take a winning perception and wrap up it in a way that, in the hands of the right people, can be replicated over and over again. Anthony Russo has developed one of the first New York-style pizzeria concept in Houston, after Mastering his family’s recipes for his own restaurants, he took the idea and started franchising it. That concept was Russo’s New York Pizzeria. I loved the opportunity to taste some of the finest Russo’s creation customized that day and to know about him and chat over some desserts in late evening on same day. We break it down our cluster conversation with him into below main Q & A: Where do you source your ingredients from? Some from Italy and some from US. What about the local market, do you think it’s readily available or is it the procedures and policy of the company/ management decision? It involves a lot of items about 60-70 and in most of the cases we usually bring it from abroad. You have a lot of Arab based and UAE restaurants? Do you adjust/alter your recipes  to meet the demand of the customers in this region? The recipes do not change much, except recipes where it’s pertaining to the nature of ingredients and meat (halal) to be replaced others which do not involve any such obligations remain same and as healthy and full of taste as I have inherited and created some hence It’s a family recipes which we are making for years. What sort of R&D is involved, as you have to make sure it shall be liked by the residents here and matches to their taste buds? Indeed. We want clients & foodies in every market to suit the liking for our food, whether locally or internationally, to enjoy their experience at Russo’s. A big part of that is integrating local gastronomy and ingredients into dishes. Luckily in case of UAE it’s quite Mediterranean and this is a plus for us and a lot of material like egg-plant, veggies  cheese and sauces are rich in such tastes and help us win over the hearts of locals and other nationalities in the region. What about the chefs at different outlets of Russo’s , are the only from particular region? No, they vary however all of them are being trained for one month to six weeks under an extensive program, even in some locations I’d come in to train them and show them how to do it. I teach them how to cook and carry on the family recipe, I won’t mind doing it as I love my family recipes and treasure them. I wanted to make sure when I handed it off to someone who pizza was going to taste really like New York-style pizza. We make sure that the recipes are ideal. That, no matter who maneuvers the restaurant, the food is going to taste the same as I would make it from our family recipe. What is the reason behind Russo’s being distinctive? It’s the ingredients that you use. Also the simplicity which goes in making this Italian cuisine, the beauty of compatibility and adaptability of its taste by different customs and regions. It has to be high-quality and you need to know what kind of flour to use, back home I pick all the ingredients from flour till veggies on my own. I use high-gluten flour with the highest protein. It’s milled in a certain part of Illinois. The flour, the cheese and the sauce is significant.   How many branches in region? We have 6 units in total, and are planning to have 10 more in the coming year. However, in the next month we will be opening a branch in Riyadh. What is the biggest challenge you face here in this region? To maintain the quality, as I have been to some place here in UAE and it was really different from the US, in terms of quality, I found it that it is quite challenging to keep the same level of quality that we find in the US, although it is improved over the years, as you can find the best category of Parmesan over here due to export. We also have to bring in ingredients from abroad to maintain the quality of food and that is the only challenge we face. What is the biggest strength you have and what advice you want to give to my readers? My biggest strength is food off course, cause if not, we would not be successful. The only food advice I can give to your readers is if they require pizza and pasta, only go to russo’s 😉 Disclaimer & Notes: A huge Thank you to CEO, host Marketing team at Russo’s, Prime Hospitality, Mutaz (for coordination), charming Layal, Suzzane & most Importantly my favorite Chef Anthony RUSSO! from NY Pizzeria. We were guests there however it did not influence our thoughts and reviews, all opinions content are our own. You can not use any pics without prior permission.

 

Winners Announced: Novotel Fujairah Hotel Reviewed – Mega Contest (Hotel Stay & Dine-in Vouchers worth upto 1100 dhs)

Congratulations:

And the winner for “Novotel Fujairah – HOTEL STAY” for One Night for 2 (Including Breakfast) Voucher is:

1. SOBIA SAAD

And the 3 winners for Dine-In Vouchers for FRIDAY BRUNCH for 2 at “IL Centro – IBIS/Novotel Fujaira” are:

1. LOIS VILLANUEVA
2. NISHA SANGEETH
3. ISMAIL YOUNUS VALLEYBHAI

Please send us your full name and contact details on mahiblog.ae@gmail.com within 2 days (latest by 19/5/2015) or else another winner will be selected.

 

GEM IN FUJAIRAH:

It was actually a brilliant decision to go outside city for a small weekend break. I love Fujairah, it has its coastline at the Gulf of Oman, we travelled long way from Abu Dhabi for a long break overdue. We were not extremely happy about our last Hotel Stay in same emirate but this time we were not disappointed at all.

The recent property we decided to visit and stayed for 2 days had surely changed all those cliché’s about standard differences in hotels in this part of region. It is very enduring and the most happening place where you get to have the best rooms & pool parties which can be any weekender’s ideal spot and is exactly what we needed for a break – Novotel Fujairah explored!

Location:

Novotel Fujairah is located in the heart of Fujairah City minutes away from Fujairah city centre mall and within the business and commercial district of Fujairah. You simply can’t miss the sight of it’s state-of-art structured building standing tall alongside it’s other properties IBIS & Adagio, if arriving in late evening you can’t miss those Blue lines and Novotel logo on the hotel building. It is not at all far from the areas main attractions, like Malls, City sightings, Restaurants etc.

Amenities & Décor:

The hotel offers 182 stylish rooms with free WiFi (Personal and password protected and I must say it was fast enough to cater our needs of tech-savvy family and travelling Gadgets clad) and satellite TV. The hotel has restaurants, bar, coffee & Sports lounge and free indoor parking. Guests also enjoy the use of the gym, swimming pool and pool bar. There are 6 fully equipped meeting rooms and Dibba ballroom which can host up to 1000 guest and is a very happening place over the weekend sporting no. of Fashion and Cultural events by royalties.

Hotel décor for the rooms for simple yet beautiful with a theme of blue and grey. However the wall hangings were of different themes and each has it’s unique appeal; each room has basic facilities, Our suite room was so big with an extra guest room having sofa set, although there is a separate extra single bed in room but they provided extra bed for my kids, the space was not at all congested. Bathrooms were big enough and even had a separate shower and bathtub which we really liked as I have put both my kids in shower and it saves time in them getting ready for lunch. (As a matter of fact their long bubble shower session dint bother me at all while being out on travel too 😉

Arrival & Liaison:

There was a lot of pre and post arrival communication involved and its fair to say both parties were as excited to meet. We were engage with them through social media and stay was meant to happen for a long time now. Hotel Check-in was prompt and efficient.

Hotel Staff Courtesy:

I can totally feel the positive sense of involvement and great hospitality display of the staff to us from the moment we arrived and entered the lobby for check-in till our departure, all the staff were much knowledgeable about each info and paying special attention to us and hotel’s other guests.

Family –Friendly & Interactive:

I must say the Hotel Staff were too sweet to remember you by names even of Kid’s while they will actually assist them in interactive giant game touch pad available in lobby. I love the kids corner situated in lobby just adjacent to the coffee shop with a connected chamber which is a part of coffee shop where parents can enjoy coffee evening while kids are enjoy playing games gadget and interactive toys in kids area.

Our welcome treat was well-presented however I like sweet over savory items more. Some mixed nuts were missing.

WOW Factor:

Novotel offered us as a special guest a customized City Tour where we took away more moments from natural & Close-to-heart Emirate. It was indeed a great Trip to Beach and mesmerizing Al-Bidyah Mosque (Click here to see) and was even great to get the car stop so close to destinations then just Hop in and Out! After returning back to hotel we were too lazy and spent most of the time by drum roll please! The pool.

It’s 1 now !

We very so privileged to be invited for the 1^st Anniversary Bash / Pool Party and celebration for the Hotel, compare to how new it is we were indeed impressed by its warm and cordial services. There was a massive display cake of Novotel Fujairah Hotel replica floating on the pool, Cake-cutting ceremony was attended by the Exclusive Guests, Staff & Hotel Guests. We have spent late night in celebration activities, kids enjoyed with balloons and games hence late we went back to room to catch some sleep, and had to cut short our sleep as we had to be ready for tour by 10:00 am, which means a single digit sleep but it’s totally worth it as we have seen some great stunning natural views.

Compare to other 4-star Hotels you will find Novotel Pool very BIG, enough so to accommodate its guest families staying, It is indeed a sudden surprise and plus point for NOVOTEL Fujairah. Their pool is temperature –controlled however don’t plan for pool access on a sandy day, as it won’t bring you much amusement due to strong winds and unmanageable big and open area.

Food:

Il Centro is dining spot at their sister restaurant where we had our Brunch and also enjoyed Mexican theme night, If Fujairah is your destination for any early plan or meeting and you are passing by this area brunch at this location totally worth it in this value as they even allocate Live counters and are serving in good capacity, however highlight was their restaurant

Flavours We had taken our Breakfast in Flavours restaurant, which is full of variety and caters to the need of mixed guests, all the items are so fresh, ample amount light coming through giant glasses will actually make an amazing bright ambiance, we also enjoyed a theme night Taste of India dinner in same restaurant, which is yet so authentic with rich Indian flavored cuisine and not pricey a lot. Indian sweets counter was to drool for while Korma and butter chicken were also highlights, their BBQ items can be altered in spice level if you or children in family wish to have less spicy. Tender chicken tikka pieces were so delicious.

Their brunch is at AED 90 only, while themed Mexican & Indian Night are priced at AED 100.

My Take:

Fujairah has been very Kind for us (Except with few bad drivers) and we shall be coming back for more for sure!. The trip to Novotel was full of activities, fun and tranquility at the same time, we had a perfect gateway so did our kids in a spacious area, I would highly recommend this destination:

• Spacious – Good for Small or large family
• Economical-Don’t be daunted by the word “Suite” they offer budgeted occupancy, ensures same facilities of Big Cities Hotel.
• Scenic Beauty: It will change your scenery view of City high rise building and brings you closer to nature.
• Excellent Customer services and moderate food options. All in all best Family Friendly destination.

The only thing I miss over this trip was an open beach however it’s not too far and as we took kids to nearby City Mall, huge display of Live Animals really kept their interest, it’s quite happening place over the weekends I told ya.

Facts:

Tourism in Fujairah In total Fujairah has 18 hotels and 2671 hotel rooms. 870 379 guests have stayed in Fujairah in 2014, for over 2 million nights in total (2050093 hotel nights). The numbers are increasing in the Emirate of Fujairah every year and new international hotels are due to open in 2015-2017

Novotel, Ibis and Adagio Fujairah are the first Accor brand properties to open in the Emirate of Fujairah. The complex opened in the first quarter of 2014.

Novotel Fujairah has 182 rooms, Ibis Fujairah has 180 rooms, Adagio Fujairah has 72 rooms. In total, three properties have 432 rooms.

Guest can choose amongst 7 dining outlets, relax at the open-air swimming Pool or work out in the fully equipped gym. The prices are less than one could expect in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, offering the same standards and facilities of an international brand.

For more information go to their website www.novotel.com, Fb, INSTAGRAM

MEGA GIVEAWAY / COMPETITION:

Guess what!!! they were so generous to offer Mahi Blog Readers more reason to smile, hence in collaboration we are having a #giveaway of #NovotelFujairah 1 Hotel Stay & 3 dining vouchers (each valid for 2 persons) total worth upto 1100 dhs.

How to win:

1- Subscribe (via email id) on wordpress.com

2- Must SHARE this post on as many social widgets AND tag along ur friends. (Use buttons below of FB, Twitter, IG etc)

3- Like, Follow, Share us on following: 

• Facebook (facebook.com/mahiblog)
• Twitter (twitter.com/mahiblog)
• Instagram (instagram.com/mahiblog).

To win you must do all the above steps. Winners will be announced on MAY 14th, 2015.The more you share this post & Mahi Blog on social widgets, better the chance to win! All UAE fans can take part.

Scrumptiously yours,

Mahi.

Disclaimer & Notes: A huge Thank you to those who made this trip extra special: Novotel Fujairah, Jurgita, F&B team at the property, Kaby & Mishwish. We were guests at Novotel Hotel Fujairah but it did not influence our thoughts and reviews and all opinions are our own. You can not use any pics without prior permission.

 

Brunching at 18 Degrees – Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi

Featured Brunch:

 

From Jazz brunches to lavish brunch buffets, Mahi Blog declare 18° as one of the best weekend brunches available in #UAE. It was startling & an indulgent experience itself to brunch at Worlds Furthest Leaning Man-Made Tower.  Venue stars as the winner of the “Best Modern European Restaurant”, however their Friday buffet also includes cuisine from Italy, Turkey, Greece and Lebanon. Its ambiance and structure is surely manifest. It is so modern in sophistication yet so simple & family oriented, as I believe Brunch is all about the most relax and cozy time you ought to spend with family and friends catering to variety of choices and yet keeping a balance to its theme. To make that perfect menu is an art itself and a lovely presentation and set-up has indeed made our experience at 18 degree brunch Exclusive and Exciting.

Let’s TALK ABOUT Food Menu:

 Arabic cold mezze, Fattoush & Muhammara dip stands out; Quinoa salad is very distinctive in cold dishes. Soup Section’s variety didn’t impress us a lot, though their cheese Counter is ample and diverse with some tasty chutneys and pickles.

Ostensibly the Modern Counters and cooking stations tells the story of Huge pantry loud out. Their Raw bar (seafood section) may appear to have a lot in common with other European style brunch buffet however Dil marinated Salmon and Local Blue Crabs are must-try items. The Roasted juicy Corn fed Chicken, Striplion Beef meat and Wood baked whole Stuffed Fish is so rich in its taste & display and was beyond par, Béarnaise sauce made of clarified butter emulsified in egg yolks was there to complement the roasted item and we love strong Herbs flavor in case you are not fan of this taste than veal jus reduction comes to rescue as it adds to the richness of the dish, grilled veggies was our favorite side along with fish Yorkshire pudding.

Keep enjoying the elegant view of Abu Dhabi city while brunching and efficient services and decorum stands on its hold merits.

 

WOW Factor:

• Antipasti – (Missed giving special attention to minor items !?!? often happens to big buffet) Guess what It’s definitely not the case here we loved the Grilled eggplant, zucchini, Roasted Mushrooms and deep fried Artichokes (I never tasted them so well if fried; before).
• Their Beetroot Mutabel is their tastiest and good-looking shooter you will love and enjoy.
• Kids loved their Sujuk (Sojouck – Spicy Sausage) and Margarita Pizza.
• There is fair attentive communication involved if you wish to customized any of the item from the spreaded menu counters, rest assure they will make sure to get your exact requirements and bring your dish to table exactly how you need, we loved our steak with mashed creamy potatoes and pomegranate.
• Don’t forget to ask ever-smiling staff for your Bread basket, Rye & Panini Roll were delicious with seasoned butters. Smoked paprika & Garlic give us a face-off judging moment there.

Wait – It’s Not yet Done !

A visit to the dessert counter is a decadent must as it finished off our meal really well. You have an array of items to choose from, we loved Passion Fruit and Banana Meringue, Banoffie Pie, Tiramisu, Poached Strawberry with Vanilla Cream and Hot Chocolate Pudding !

Winding Up:

It definitely promises an elite and impressive experience where diners can enjoy a wide array of Eastern Mediterranean fare, inspiration is drawn from the restaurant’s à la carte menu, their hot dishes also presents Saffron Rice, chicken curry and Homemade Pasta in case you have fussy little humans along with you. Worth knowing that all their ingredients are sourced from the freshest local produce to not only produce sumptuous food, but commit to sustainable practices as well. If you are not in hurry for home when brunch ends you may enjoy a sundowner on The Terrace of 18° – 80 meters up, with panoramic views of City coastline, at their Sunset Cocktails while watching the ebbing sun.

 

Ratings: We rate this brunch 4.5 stars out of 5.

Info: 

Classic Brunch – AED 250 ++ – brunch with soft beverages and juices

Sky Brunch – AED 300 ++ – brunch with hops, grapes and sparkling

Bookings are essential for the Sky Brunch and Sunset Cocktails.  Please call 02 596 1440 to make a reservation, or visit www.abudhabi.capitalgate.hyatt.com for more information.

FB: http://www.facebook.com/HyattCapitalGate

Disclaimer: Special Thanks to Ms. Fernandez, Mr. Villacanas and the staff team. Mahi Blog were guest at 18° – Hyatt Capital Gate, however it does not influence our opinion and all the views and thoughts including the pictures captured on the Brunch day are our own.