Hello June. A day early.
New restaurant openings. Dining adventures. A fromagerie. And a limited edition poster.
Here’s your monthly newsletter, free-to-read for all subscribers. A day early, given the weekend. On the 10th June, I shall publish a restaurant review of a new opening for paid subscribers. If you’ve ever enjoyed my impartial reviews, please consider hitting the upgrade button (if not already), which also gives you a bunch of additional perks. This support helps grow my Substack, allowing me to continue discovering new restaurants for you - with a side order of eternal appreciation 🙏🏼
I’ve been eating…
Lana Lusa has moved to the Four Seasons Residences on Dubai Water Canal. With alcohol licence en route. The best-selling classics by Portuguese head chef Helio Lino remain on the menu like the soul food fare of Bacalhau à Brás - an egg scramble with cod and matchstick fries. To broaden the restaurant’s appeal, given not everyone in Dubai is a foodie (shock-horror), Med and Latino-inspired dishes also feature, such as char-grilled squid skewers with chimichurri. These two dishes aside, I recommend ordering the cured sardines; cod and avocado salad; and the pièce de résistance…striploin with veal ham, allumette fries, and fried egg in an addictive mustard sauce. For dessert, pasteis de nata are a given - but do give the lemon ice cream in a real frozen lemon a whirl.
A new restaurant find in my ‘hood at Dubai Media City. Licensed. Italian meets broader Mediterranean cuisine. I am generally not a fan of mammoth menus, but this one is worth exploring. Well priced too. I am talking about Marini by Italian chef-patron Monserrato Marini. Dedicated entrance not attached to a hotel, even though Radisson sits close by. Quite a feat, or wasta, perhaps, to have scored a booze licence.
For a real brunch far removed from the all-singing, all-dancing boozy affairs. Maisan15 café in the depths of Barsha South is owned by Emirati-Yemeni Rami, whilst on the stove is flavour queen chef Rita Soueidan who hails from Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and born and bred here. Must-order dishes: mini sourdough pizza with runny egg and Palestinian za’atar; masala egg scramble with Gruyère on sourdough; the trio of dips with a difference.
A few new dishes at 21grams. At first glance, it’s tricky to distinguish between beef chorizo and its accompanying black grapes that mimic sausages! Roasted with pomegranate molasses. Long may local sheri (emperor fish) continue as catch of the day. The meaty flavour and firm flesh resemble barramundi. Double whammy when 21grams catered for a friend’s big birthday with canapés and finger food - mini phyllo pastries included.
Pub food for me here has to have pork on the menu, as does The Nine at Sofitel Obelisk known for its Sunday roast selection. An appealing bar snacks menu too, pigs in blankets included. We watched Man U thrash Man City. Makes a good venue for Euro footie fans.
I’ve been buying…
Maison Morand is no regular fromagerie, paying homage to glorious cheese with an art gallery meets jewellery-inspired display flanking two walls. I managed to coordinate my handbag 😉 Each cheese boasts its own refrigerated shelf, allowing customers to easily browse. Wow factor for sure. French-owned and operated, most of the cheeses do hail from France, but a few British cheeses and even a halloumi have sneaked in. Non-pork charcuterie, condiments, fresh bread, and captivating cheese platters also on sale. An Onyx Tower, Greens location. A two-hour delivery service.
Limited edition posters paying homage to Palestine. Commissioned by Palestinian-owned Maiz Tacos. 50 x 70cm. AED195 from the restaurant’s Dubai Hills and JLT branches. Or AED10 for delivery. I bought this eye-catching design pictured above for Mr S who has been lobbying (and educating) his politicians in his home country Australia for decades in support of a Palestinian state. The kind of gift that I also get to appreciate 😜 More designs to be released. I use Fine Art Frames on the Al Wasl road strip near Park N Shop for picture framing. Once up and hanging, I will share a pic in the Substack Chat (like a Whatsapp group) and Notes (similar to Twitter/ X or Threads).
In the press…
Industry panel sessions are time consuming tasks, so it’s always a delight when traditional media cover the insights shared, like here from this culinary trends discussion. Emirati cuisine will have its moment soon.
I was back on Dubai Eye chatting new openings…and shower moments! Tune in here from the 19m34s mark.
And guess what, I must be mad. Another session coming up. If you’re at The Hotel Show’s F&B Forum next week on the 5th June at 4.15pm, pop by for our panel on restaurant best practices.
If you’ve recently joined me on Substack, you may have missed…
My welcome launch newsletter.
A special edition newsletter in support of all things Palestinian.
My opinion piece on MENA 50 Best Restaurant Awards.
Hot-off-the-press.
Past newsletters: November; December; January; February; March; April; May.
My 2024 guide to Dubai’s top restaurants. A record 45 homegrown concepts. Paid subscribers also receive a PDF of this guide.
I update My Little Pink Lifestyle Book with new finds every month.
A private one-hour Zoom call with me to pick my brains. More info here for F&B industry enquiries - and here for foodie/ diner queries.
Looking for a gift for a foodie friend? Perhaps consider an annual subscription to this newsletter, breaking news and the added perks. You’ll have my forever love.
Have a delicious month.
FooDiva. x