New beginnings. A community newsletter. Food and drink bites.
Your impartial, inside guide on restaurants in Dubai and my travels around the world. Access to exclusive FooDiva-curated dining experiences. Always celebrating homegrown concepts.
I’ve been toying with moving my newsletter from Mailchimp to Substack with its powerful community ethos for well over a year. I am forever grateful that right from day one in FooDiva Inc. 12+ years ago, I have cultivated my email database, i.e. you! Alongside my website, FooDiva.net which very much remains. Whilst I am still present across far too many social media channels, ever-changing elusive algorithms, ads, and the prioritisation of reels (which I can’t tolerate!), make it a struggle to stand out. And, frankly, I would rather spend time creating content that will land straight in your inbox. No one can take those emails away from me, unless you choose to unsubscribe, whereas social apps go through trends and hacks. Substack merges the best of both worlds - a newsletter with the community feel of the early blogging and social media days. How? You can comment on all the newsletters and posts, pose questions and engage with other foodies. Not only will I respond, but you’ll hear from other like-minded subscribers too.
I am naming my newsletter - The Restaurant Whisperer
Why? I am still very much FooDiva (thanks to a shower-moment!), but this new writing space warrants a name of its own. I blame my PR and marketing background. And…that’s how a successful restaurateur here in Dubai described me a while ago. The Restaurant Whisperer resonated, making me giggle. Laughing is always a good thing. By the way, this restaurateur also has a podcast interviewing entrepreneurs with inspiring journeys. Tuning in guarantees many a light bulb moment.
What content can you expect?
I remain your impartial, inside guide on restaurants in Dubai, and the countries I travel to. My restaurant reviews and those of guest contributors still abide by our no-freebies, no-invitation editorial policy.
Food and drink features. Scroll further down for my latest article, just published today.
Musings on topical restaurant and food industry news.
Advance access to my #ThreeChefsDinner concept, and other exclusive FooDiva-curated dining experiences. Next week’s event sold out within hours to my database - thank you! Stay tuned for some new dinner concepts this year.
A reminder that my work continues to solely celebrate homegrown concepts on the back of my #UAERestaurantsUnite pro bono campaign launched over lockdown.
How often?
Once a month, or perhaps twice in busy seasons. And it’s free to read.
If you would like to support impartial, independent writing and opinion - instead of a paid newsletter, the popular route for many Substackers earning staggering six figure sums - I’d like to offer you some perks for only $US8 a month, or US$80 a year:
Bespoke restaurant recommendations for breakfast, lunch and/ or dinner according to your preferences. Email me and I will respond within one working day.
Exclusive invitation to live group virtual (Zoom) calls with me. Three, one-hour sessions per year. You ask foodie questions which I answer.
Breaking restaurant news in your inbox.
Permanent access to the full archive so you can read newsletters at your leisure, not just when it lands in your inbox.
Time for some food and drink news bites
It’s #SoberOctober! In line with my recent alcohol abstinence journey, HERE is my review of the non-alcoholic wine alternatives available in Dubai.
A mini review of Hawkerboi, a casual licensed South-East Asian restaurant in JLT by restaurateur Tom Arnel HERE. He’s also just opened The Guild in DIFC’s ICD Brookfield Place - a five-year project that spans diverse dining sections from breakfast to a seafood bar and a grill room. I popped in for a lobster and caviar omelette breakfast, as you do ;) More once I head back again.
Wanna escape Dubai with a temperature drop of 10 to 15 degrees, just a five hour drive away? Head to Jabal Akhdar. My staycation review HERE.
I was invited to participate in a podcast to discuss mental health and wellness in the hospitality industry by Scott Armstrong’s Mentl. Thankfully, I was allowed to flag a certain restricted taboo subject. Timely, given October is Mental Health Month. Have a listen HERE.
Incase you missed my two most popular guides
The FooDiva annual guide to top Dubai restaurants. 2023 edition HERE.
I update My Little Pink Lifestyle Book HERE with new finds every month.
A bientôt,
FooDiva. x
mabrook
So glad to find you here. Recommend your advice and reviews 100% especially focusing on home grown restaurants. No freebies, no bias. You’ve stuck to it from the beginning. Anywhere to recommend in Rome?😊