DHS 10 SEPTEMBER 2010 ISSUE 389

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UAE DHS 10 OMAN RO 1.000

DISCOVER THE TASTIEST BURGERS IN THE EMIRATES

MAKE A SPLASH WITH DUBAI’S BEST WATER SPORTS
EID ESCAPES: FIND YOUR DREAM DESTINATION
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Contents
Features
19
Come dine with us
How to host the dream
dinner party, with the
ultimate chef’s cook-off,
top tips, recipes and
dining across the UAE

28
Eid escapes
Our flow chart will
help you decide where
to spend the long
weekend

31
Water, water
everywhere
Muck about on the
rivers, seas and sands
with our guide to water-
based activities

39
21 burgers: tested
We go in search of the

p31
UAE’s best burgers, from
fast food to fois gras

p39 p28
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 7
The round-up
p49
14 82
Salaam Club Diary
The whole of The low-down on what's
September on two coming up in clubland
handy pages
85
17 Travel
Competitions Charity challenges
Want to score some on Mount Kilimanjaro,
prizes? Weekend stays, plus Aleppo
bubbly brunches and a
month of dining could 97
all be yours Hot Lists
The top ten brunches,
44 restaurants, bars and
Films spas in Dubai and Abu
Our verdict on Vincent Dhabi. Hot stuff
Cassel’s latest offering,
plus Perrier’s Bounty, 106
I Hate Luv Storys and Backchat
more Dubai 92’s Catboy on
insecurities, halitosis
49 and dodgy haircuts
Eating out
We visit Dubai newbies
The Gramercy and
Rhodes Twenty10, plus
the spicy side of Armani
at Amal and The Critic
on social networking in
the restaurant world

p57
57
Arts
Al Quoz’s most
exciting space, acting
workshops, plus five to
see this month

63
Shopping
This season’s key trends
and the lovely Sophia
answers all your
wardrobe woes

71
Mind & Body
Teaming up with
Dubai 92’s fit females,
a trip to the Fairmont’s
spa and the torture of
back waxing

79
Sport & Outdoor

p71
Mr Fitness gets to grips
with your workout
gripes, plus this month’s
sports news in short

8 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010

 This month we’ve been...
Editor-in-Chief
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer
Group Editor & Managing Partner
lan Fairservice
Group Senior Editor
Gina Johnson | gina@motivate.ae

Editor
Mark Evans | marke@motivate.ae
Deputy Editor
Helen Spearman | helen@motivate.ae
Features Editor
Gareth Rees | gareth@motivate.ae
Contributing Editor Throwing dinner parties, p19
Hugo Berger | hugo@motivate.ae
Chief Sub Editor
Iain Smith | iains@motivate.ae
Senior Designer
Sheila Lyn Carino | sheila@motivate.ae
Editorial Assistant/Picture Researcher
Karen Sequeira | karen@motivate.ae
Picture Researcher-Gulfpics
Wayne Fernandez | wayne@motivate.ae

Contributors
Naveed Ahmed, Jonathan Allardyce, Emily
Baxter, Victor Besa, James Brennan, Louise
Browne, Alexandria Gouveia, James Houghton,
Catherine Jarvie, Jay Knights, Richard Luck,
Scoffing burgers,
Charlotte Murphy, Nick Rice, Janelle Sabareza, Embracing our Piscean side, p31 p39
Farooq Salik, Simon Smedley, Sophia Triantafillou

General Manager
Production and Circulation
S Sasidharan | sasidharan@motivate.ae
Production Manager
Sudhakar Chandran | sudhakar@motivate.ae
Editor’s note
General Manager – Group Sales OK, confession time. Despite being the Editor of Dubai’s go-to
Anthony Milne | anthony@motivate.ae
Senior Advertisement Manager
magazine for fun and adventure, I have a weakness, well, obsession
Dale Isaac | dale@motivate.ae with a certain TV programme that involves would-be chefs
Advertisement Manager competing against each other for a cash prize. I’m sure you’ve seen
Varsha Bhatia | varsha@motivate.ae
General Manager, Abu Dhabi it – it seems to be on15 times a day on Showtime’s BBC Lifestyle –
Joe Marrit | joe@motivate.ae and I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t crack up at the sight
Advertisement Manager, Abu Dhabi
Darryl Wiley | darryl@motivate.ae of random wannabe-chefs laying into complete strangers just because
their custard was lumpy.
Annual Subscription GCC Dhs120 other countries US$70 Yes, I know being ‘Mr What’s On’ (and, by the way, you have NO idea how many
(including Airmail charges)
people come up to me with, ‘Oh, What’s On? So, what’s on!’ It’s a classic gag,
apparently…) means I have a responsibility to get out there and try the fun stuff
for you, and, of course, I do. We all do. But give me a bag of pick’n’mix and a few
do-it-yourself chefs arguing over a soufflé, and that’s me sorted for an evening.
But, simply staying at home isn’t the What’s On way. So, this month we’ve
Head Office: PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE combined our favourite show with a cheeky feature on how to host and enjoy the
Tel: +971 4 282 4060, Fax: +971 4 282 4436, perfect dinner party – it’s your complete guide to throwing a bash, and bar the
E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae
Dubai Media City: Office 508, 5th Floor, odd argument (you can provide those yourself ), it’ll have you sorted for a fun night
Building 8, Dubai, UAE, with family or friends.
Tel: +971 4 390 3550, Fax: +971 4 390 4845
Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, UAE,
Tel: +971 2 677 2005, Fax: +971 2 677 0124, Enjoy the issue.
E-mail: editor-wo@motivate.ae
London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road,
London NW1 3ER, UK,
E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae
34,432 copies
June 2009

Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai

10 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010

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16–20 October Saturday - Wednesday (11 am - 10 pm) School / College student groups: AED10 per student, per entry between
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21 October Thursday (11 am - 11 pm) Children under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult
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 We're officially part of the Twitterati.

Salaam!
Follow us at WhatsOnDubai for
exclusive updates on nightlife,
restaurants and more around the
UAE. Tweet yourself.

September in miniature

What’s hot Guest list

Dubai Country Club
This Dubai institution is set to reopen
at its new Dubailand home in July
2011, but membership is limited.
Apply now.
www.dubaicountryclub.ae
Devilfish
Atlantis is the first public aquarium to
display the rarely glimpsed Devilfish at
The Ambassador Lagoon.
Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai. Tel: (04)
4261000. www.atlantisthepalm.com
Rumours whispered in
our shell-like
99%
LA PETITE MAISON
The original bistro in Nice is said to have had
French President Nicolas Sarkozy exclaiming
‘c’est magnifique’ and, following the success
of the London outpost, La Petite Maison is
rumoured to be opening a Dubai branch at
DIFC. We’re hearing October.

ADMC Sport
The English Premier League is upon
us and Abu Dhabi Media Company
is offering live online streaming, plus
previews and highlights, for Dhs367.
To kick-off the new season, log onto
www.en.bpl.admcsport.com, enter your
details and away you go.
What’s not
Walking
A study by shoe manufacturer RYN Middle
East claims that just four per cent of UAE
residents set aside time for a walk on a
weekly basis. Just 150 minutes a week will
have a dramatic effect on your health, so
walk, darn it, walk like the wind.
BlackBerry
It’s a tough time for BlackBerry owners
as their little plastic friends sit on death
row awaiting October 11, the day the
GETTY/GALLO IMAGES AND ISTOCK
75%
JAMIROQUAI
Fast cars, sharp threads, beautiful women, Of Leon – are anything to go by, we could
superyachts and champagne – of course the indeed be welcoming Bono and his merry
Brit band and their disco dancing frontman, men in November.
Jay Kay, are going to be at the Abu Dhabi
Grand Prix.
10%
50%
U2
THE IVY
This one is definitely just a rumour for now,
but word is circulating among those in the
If the big names wooed to the capital for last know that the famous London restaurant is
year’s F1 – among them Beyoncé and Kings set to open in Dubai.
This month we’re going to…
WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS Gekko is a reformed character
In Oliver Stone’s Academy Award- attempting to warn Wall
winning 1980s classic Wall Street, ruthless Street of impending
corporate raider Gordon Gecko (Michael financial disaster and fix his

Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
says it will suspend service.
Lazy runners
We've started training for the Dubai
Marathon and we’re sick of the ‘runners’
plodding round Safa Park. Join us and sign
up for the marathon, you lazy beggars.
Douglas) portrayed the very essence of
a soul corrupted by capitalism, greedily
pursuing money and power with a cold-
hearted relish, expounding philosophical
gems like ‘lunch is for wimps’ and doing
his best to destroy, or avoid, relationships
with others. And boy was it fun to watch.
Now, 20 years later, just released from jail,
relationship with his daugher
Winnie (Carey Mulligan) with
the help of her property trader
fiance Jacob (Shia LaBeouf ). How sweet.
Fortunately, Gekko becomes embroiled as
Jacob seeks revenge for the death of his
boss. That’s more like it. Wall Street: Money
Never Sleeps is out September 23. Hooray!

14 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010


Five Questions… Fabio Cannavaro
Italian soccer legend, Fabio
Cannavaro, played for
Parma, Real Madrid and
Inter Milan in a glittering
career, but he is probably
best known for his spell with
Juventus, where he picked
up the FIFA World Player Of
The Year Award in 2006.
The World Cup Winner – he
captained Italy to victory, also
in 2006 – signed for Dubai
club Al Ahli earlier this year
What drew you away from Juventus to
come to Dubai?
When the time came to part ways with
Juventus, I was looking for something
different and decided I would like to move
to Dubai. Once Al Ahli came in with an offer
I knew it was the right move – they showed
great ambition and have some great young
talent to work with.
Dubai in the summer – a little different
from Italy, no?
It is different, and I’m looking forward to it
getting cooler. We have great coaching staff
who know exactly when and how to push
the players to keep us on the ball. During
Ramadan we would train after 8pm, and stay
until midnight. It’s a bit different to what I
have been used to, but my teammates and
the coaches are showing me how it’s done.
What about the language barrier?
As you know, Italian is my first language so
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Louboutin heels. Every woman wants to add
them to her burgeoning shoe collection,
and any sensible fella should think about
risking the wrath of his bank manager to
purchase a pair for his lady love. And now,
ladies, your prayers have been answered as
Christian Louboutin’s first UAE boutique has
just opened in Dubai's Mall of the Emirates.
Mall of the Emirates, Fashion Dome, first
floor, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4099000. www.
christianlouboutin.com
communication was always going to be an
issue. This is not a problem on the pitch as you
quickly develop an understanding with your
teammates and can read each other’s game.
I’m sure I will pick up a few words of Arabic.
What do you like most about life in Dubai?
My family's the most important thing to me,
and when you look at the low crime levels in
Dubai and the good schools, you can’t help
but think it's a good place to bring up your
children. It’s difficult to pin down a favourite
thing as I'm still exploring everything.
What do you hope to achieve with Al Ahli?
Obviously, it would be great to lift trophies,
but the first aim is to use my experience
to help some of the younger players. The
club is developing and I’m proud to be a
part of that. Also, it’s important to me to
play quality, exciting football that people
want to come and watch. Anyone who loves
football – no matter what their nationality
or background – needs to know that Al Ahli
is a team you can come along and support.
www.alahliclub.ae
THE FRIDGE
Have you ever fancied yourself as an actor?
Better than Brando, more magnificent than
Monroe? Then why not prove your acting
chops by joining Sol Abiad’s experimental
theatre group Star Too? Do a ten-week
acting course before performing in two
productions. Only 15 budding Brads can
sign up, mind, so pick up the phone now.
Sept 25 to Dec 4, Al Quoz 4, Dubai, Sat 5pm
to 7.30pm, Dhs2,500. Tel: (04) 3477793. www.
thefridgedubai.com
READ…
ROOM, EMMA DONOGHUE
On the surface this novel,
apparently inspired by the Josef
Fritzl kidnapping case, is, rather
appropriately considering its subject matter,
darker than a windowless room with a burnt
out bulb. But, longlisted for the Man Booker
Prize, Room is being hailed by numerous
critics as a beautifully crafted novel sure
to stir up profound emotions. Emma
Donoghue’s seventh book is narrated by
five-year-old Jack, who lives in Room with
his Ma, watching cartoons on TV, hiding in
the wardrobe when his kidnapper visits and
oblivious to the outside world – until his
mother admits to its existence and he finds
himself trying to come to terms with living
in it. If you want to talk books this autumn,
read Room.
Available from Magrudy’s, Borders, Jashanmal
and Kinokuniya
PLAY…
F1 2010
There’s plenty of reasons
to love the life of an F1
driver, you get to drive the
most technically advanced
cars on the planet, visit
exotic locations (including our very own
Yas Island Circuit in Abu Dhabi), collect
enormous paycheques and, who can forget,
the pit girls don’t hurt either. That’s why
Codemasters has put together its latest fully
licensed F1 game, meaning all the drivers,
tracks and cars from the proper season are
yours to play with. The game has one of the
most complicated weather systems ever
seen, along with stunningly realistic physics
and graphics that will have you ogling the
screen well past race weekend.
Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC, US$75
LISTEN…
THE SUBURBS, ARCADE FIRE
If a band’s second album is
notoriously tricky, then a
successful third effort can be downright
impossible. Luckily, Arcade Fire’s latest
offering secures them a rather tasty hat-
trick, with The Suburbs emerging as a more
studied collection of tracks, ranging from
crashing, fiery punk to gentle acoustics. It’s
the variety that will keep this album on loop
in the What’s On office for weeks to come.
Top track: Month of May
Available from www.amazon.com and iTunes
Find us at
www.facebook.com/WhatsOnDubai
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 15
 REFINED DINING

Ramadan Kareem 2010 at the hawksbill restaurant

Gather all of your family and friends and enjoy a wide variety
of Iftar menu options at the hawksbill restaurant overlooking the
breathtaking views of Saadiyat Beach Golf Club.
Be amongst the first to experience the specially designed hawksbill
restaurant Arabic menu available exclusively throughout the months
of August & September 2010. Offering a variety of traditional Arabic
cuisine ranging from hot & cold Arabic mezze, mixed grill to the
umm ali dessert.
The team at the hawksbill restaurant look forward to welcoming you
throughout the holy month of Ramadan.
The hawksbill restaurant is open daily from 6am to 10pm & located
only minutes from downtown Corniche with ample parking available.
For all reservations please telephone 02 499 8107
or email fb@sbgolfclub.ae

Book a unique Iftar Banquet menu for families & groups to enjoy Visit us at www.sbgolfclub.ae
your own private dining experience.
You may also choose to sample our internationally inspired menu
that offers more than 60 dishes from around the world.
 Win with What’s On
Want to get your grubby mitts on some
lovely shiny prizes? Of course you do. To be
in with a chance of winning, just click on
www.winwithmotivate.com

WIN! A NIGHT’S STAY AT THE

MÖVENPICK JUMEIRAH BEACH,
PLUS FRIDAY BRUNCH FOR TWO
The new Mövenpick hotel on the beach at JBR is ideally located for
a cheeky staycation, with its dining outlets, pool overlooking the
Arabian Gulf and sea views from each room. For your chance to stay
at this lovely seaside spot, plus brunch for two at The Talk (one of
the best new openings in town), you need to get WIN! BUBBLY BRUNCH FOR FOUR
this question right: AT THE FAIRMONT
Which boombastic celeb paid The Talk a Consistently one of our Friday favourites, the brunch at Spectrum
visit last time they were in town? On One at the Fairmont is a lesson in luxury. Bubbles, oysters, live
a) Shaggy cooking and so much more are on offer at this SZR monolith, and you
b) Hillary Clinton could be taking three friends to enjoy its riches. For your chance at
c) Bill Cosby glory (and save yourself Dhs550 per person), simply tell us:
The oyster is a variety of…
a) Mollusc
b) Insect
c) Mammal

WIN! A MONTH OF DINING

That's right, 31 days of gastro delights await in Old Town if you win WIN! A STAY AT THE PALACE,
this prize. The lucky, and hopefully hungry, winner will get (deep
breath)… cheese and wine in the Lobby Lounge at the Qamardeen
INCLUDING DINNER FOR TWO
Hotel, Q-Brunch for two in Esca at the Qamardeen, two Neze long AT ASADO
lunches in Nezesaussi Grill at the Al Manzil Hotel, two dinners in Esca, If you need a downtown mini-break, plus a side of steak, then
two gourmet burgers in Conservatory at the Al Manzil, two dinners this is the prize for you. One lucky winner will enjoy a one-night
in Nezesaussi Grill, two Boulevard Brekkie sandwiches in Boulevard stay at The Palace, the luxurious Arabian five-star hotel with its
Café, two slices of cake and cappuccinos in Conservatory and two stunning pool overlooking the Dubai Fountain, and dinner for two
tasting menus in The Courtyard Restaurant at the Al Manzil with two at Argentinean star Asado. This gorgeous grill serves up premium
shishas. Phew. For your chance to win, just tell us: cuts, live entertainment and stunning views. To be in with a chance
Boulevard Café’s breakfast sandwich won which accolade in of winning, tell us:
last month’s What’s On? Which continent is Argentina on?
a) Best roast dinner a) Australia
b) Best black cod b) South America
c) Best sandwich c) Antarctica

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 17

Forget the chips and dips, here three of the UAE’s
top chefs show you how to throw the perfect
dinner party with their own sumptuous soirees,
plus a round-up of the best private dining rooms,
at home catering, chefs’ tables and a murder
mystery party

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 19


THE
CONCEPT:
EXPLAINED
If you haven’t seen the TV
show Come Dine With Me
you’ve either been hiding
under an extremely large rock
for the past few years, or have
a very exciting social life.
Set to a rolling boil in 2005,
the British reality show spurned
a glut of imitators across the
globe from Australia to the US,
spilled over onto UAE screens
(BBC Lifestyle) last year, and is
still bubbling away nicely.
The concept is simple. A
group of strangers each host a
dinner party in their home for
their fellow contestants who
give a score out of ten at the
end of the night. The winner
is awarded around Dhs5,600.
And, of course, there’s all the
accompanying shouting and
shenanigans we’ve all come to
expect from reality TV.
We asked some of our
favourite chefs to design a
menu, host their own dinner
parties and judge each other’s
efforts. And, naturally, we
were there to adjudicate.
They’ve even supplied their
dream guest list and some
unique dinner party tips.
Whether you’ve seen the
show or not, dinner parties are
in. So here’s how to host your
perfect evening. Bon appetite!
GETTY/GALLO IMAGES AND ISTOCK
M
DREA
ST S
GUE
20 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
TOTAL
SCORE
Chef Colin Clague
16 ⁄ 20
Menu
Tuna tartare, veal cutlet with nori
butter and pickled Japanese
mushrooms, salt-grilled seabass
with burnt tomato relish, black cod,
dessert platter (fresh fruits, sorbets,
chocolate fondant)
Recipe
Salt-grilled
seabass with
burnt tomato
relish
Ingredients
700g seabass (filleted and
trimmed), Maldon sea salt,
3 lemons, 10 bamboo leaves,
10 tomatoes, 10 jalapeno peppers,
chopped coriander, 10 onions, salt
and pepper, chili oil, ginger juice.
Method The scores
Roast tomatoes, either with a Chef Scott Price, Verre Colin's five
blowtorch or on the hob, until the “Everything was top tips
skin is split and burnt, remove absolutely fantastic
seed and dice into large chunks. from the canapés
Finely chop onions, jalapeno and
coriander and add to the tomatoes,
add chili oil, ginger juice and
through to the starters,
main courses and
dessert platter. But, I’m a really big
1 Do as much mise en place
(set up) as possible so that
you spend more time with
salt and pepper to taste. Skewer fan of desserts and would have your guests and less time in
each seabass fillet onto two metal loved an individual dessert as the kitchen.
skewers, wet the skewered fillets opposed to fresh fruits. I know this
and season with Maldon sea salt.
Grill skin side down until the
skin is crisp and nicely coloured
is the Japanese culture, but that’s
my personal opinion.”
8/10
2 Have a wow dessert,
everybody always
remembers the last course.
and finish off on flesh side until
cooked. Remove skewers and place
fillets on bamboo leaves. Serve
with a slice of lemon and the burnt
Chef Kuldeep Raturi,
Options
“The ambience
3 Create a mood. As with
any good restaurant, the
lighting and music are vital.
tomato relish. was OK and the
Dream guest list
food, including the
desserts, were good. 4 Cook for your guests,
don’t cook what you
Arsene Wenger, Dennis Unfortunately, the service was would like to eat.
Bergkamp, Billy Connolly, not quite up to the mark.”
Tommy Cooper, Mikhail
Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela,
8/10
5 Instead of working on
individual plates, try a
Aretha Franklin, Paul Weller, sharing concept, it’s more fun
Keith Floyd, my wife, Farah, and and everyone can dig in.
my two boys, Euan and Nael.

Chef Scott Price
Menu
Tomato and basil tea, pressed
foie gras terrine, pea risotto,
canon of lamb, honey and fennel
crème brûlée
Recipe
Toasted fennel
seed crème brûlée with outstanding
Ingredients
1.125ltr double cream, 600ml milk,
430g egg yolks, 60g fennel seeds
(toasted à la minute), 70g honey, gras served with brioche toast,
150g sugar.
Method
Place cream and milk in a pan
and bring to the boil. Quickly
toast off the fennel seeds in a
smoking hot pan and add to the
cream and milk. Beat the egg yolk fennel seeds and garnished with
and sugar together, pour on the
hot milk, cream and fennel seed
mixture, whisk and add honey to 9/10
taste. Infuse for ten minutes.
Dream guest list
Sir Alex Ferguson, Noel
Gallagher, Jeremy Clarkson,
Eric Cantona, Jim Morrison, my good service and I
first boss, Andrew Macgeorge,
Nick Alvis, Jason Manford, my
DRE
AM
TS
GUES
WINNER!
TOTAL
SCORE
18 ⁄ 20
fiancée, Emily, Bruce Lee. And,
if possible, I’d really love to
reform the Spice Girls so that
they could do the dishes.
The scores
Louis Abdilla, General
Manager, Zuma
“The meal was
perfectly executed
flavours and top quality
ingredients. We ate a tomato
infusion with fresh basil tea and
a light tortellini, followed by
an outstanding terrine of foie
a selection of chutneys and
infused salts. The main course
was a succulent saddle of lamb,
garnished with a slab of pomme
boulanger and lamb jus. We
finished the meal with a delicious
crème brûlée flavoured with
mango. A culinary experience to
be remembered.”
Chef Kuldeep Raturi,
Options
“Again, the ambience
was OK but there was
enjoyed the soup and salad.”
9/10
COME DINE WITH US
Scott's five
top tips
1 Keep the dishes simple
and prepare in advance
as much as possible – that way
you can spend more time at
the table with your guests.
2 Do the washing up that
night, whilst you are
merry, so you don’t have to do
it when you’re feeling rough in
the morning.
3 Give the evening a theme
– from the food to the
dress code. This always adds
another element of fun to the
dinner party.
4 Don’t attempt to cook a
dish you haven’t made
before, or attempt to make
anything too complicated.
Dinner parties are supposed
to be fun and not too stressful;
you want to be able to relax
and enjoy the evening and not
be scared of failing in front of
the guests.
5 Organise: make sure
your house is clean, the
dog is out, place cards are at
the table, candles are lit and
all other possible things that
need to be done are sorted
before your guests arrive.
GETTY/GALLO IMAGES
That way you only need to
concentrate on looking after
your guests and cooking your
food. It’s all about planning.
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 21
 COME DINE WITH US

Chef Kuldeep Raturi
Menu
Chandi kalyan, grilled scampi,
boti kabab, tandoori veg, murgh
makhani, raan buzkazzi, prawn
kalimirch, lalla mussa dal, dhingry
mattar paneer, dum puckt biryani,
chikka rotiyan da, dariyal da mitha,
rasmalai, gulab-e-gulkand, kulfi,
tawa mithai chaat
Recipe
Chandi kaliyan
Ingredients
Eight boneless chicken breasts,
2tbsp ginger paste, 2tbsp garlic
paste, 2tbsp malt vinegar, 2-3
cups fresh cream, half cup grated
cheddar cheese, 1tbsp chopped
coriander leaves, half tsp green
cardamom powder, quarter
tsp mace powder, quarter tsp
nutmeg powder, salt, butter,
silver varq.
TOTAL
SCORE
16 ⁄ 20
mixture for a further four or five
hours in the refrigerator. Skewer the
tikkas and roast in a moderately hot
tandoor (or the oven) for ten to 15
minutes. Remove, baste with butter
and roast for two minutes. Remove,
garnish with silver varq.
Dream guest list
My mum, dad and two little
sisters, my boss, Chef Sanjeev
Kapoor, my former head chef,
Aanada Solomon from Taj
Mumbai, my dream girl, my DREAM
favourite actress, Kajol, Sachin GUESTS
Tendulkar and Anna Kounikova.
The scores
Chef Colin Clague, Zuma
“Excellent evening,
great food, pleasant
company. Have to go
on a diet now, though.”
8/10
Chef Scott Price, Verre

Method
Cut chicken breasts in half, apply
ginger paste, garlic paste and malt
vinegar and allow to marinate for
“I liked the ‘classic’ Indian
restaurant style. We ate
a variety of different
meats and vegetables
from the tandoor, all very
different breads and chutneys
to complement each dish, and Kuldeep's
the raita was excellent. When the five top tips
coconut mousse came out inside
a coconut I was quite full. Then we

1
GETTY/GALLO IMAGES

30 to 40 minutes in the refrigerator.
Mix the egg, fresh cream, cheese,
coriander leaves, green cardamom
powder, mace powder, nutmeg and
salt. Marinade the chicken in this
tasty and cooked and seasoned
well. I particularly enjoyed the
butter chicken. A couple of the
dishes were a little too spicy for
my taste, but still good. Lots of
went on to petit fours. We were very
well looked after all night and the
food was what you would expect
from a good Indian restaurant.”
8/10
Use premium quality
fresh ingredients.
2 Select your menu with
your diners in mind (find
out their likes and dislikes,
allergies etc).

3 Present the food in an

impressive manner.

An Italian cookery masterclass 4 Good service is

paramount. You must
be attentive to your guests.
Feeling inspired by all these recipes and tips? Already planning your dinner party? E-mail us the ten people
that would come to your dream dinner party and you could learn how to cook the perfect three-course
Italian meal, with a masterclass by Chef Paolo at Southern Sun Qamardeen Hotel. As Chef de Cuisine at the
ever-popular Esca restaurant, Chef Paolo will share the secrets that give all his dishes an authentic Italian touch
5 It may sound obvious, but
the food must taste good.
Put some effort in, make sure
during your own private couples’ cooking class. Win the class and you can dazzle your guests at your next you do your research, prepare
dinner party by passing the delicious menu off as your own. and practise.
Simply e-mail your fantasy guest list to editor-wo@motivate.ae by September 30 and we’ll pick the best.

22 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010

 DISHING OUT THE WORLD’S MOST ORIGINAL

ingredients
Walk into LuLu and you'll find a world of difference in
everything we bring to table. Fresh foods, ready-to-cook,
fruits & vegetables, spices, cheese, seafood… anything you
need to cook up your favorite meal is flown in daily from
around the world.

With 83 branches in easy-to-reach locations and award

winning customer service catering to over 410,000 shoppers
a day, no wonder the world comes to shop at LuLu.

www.luluhypermarket.com

HYPERMARKETS | SUPERMARKETS | DEPARTMENT STORES

ABU DHABI AL AIN DUBAI SHARJAH AJMAN UAQ FUJAIRAH RAK

COME DINE WITH US
AKA At home catering
Invite the gang to
your place for a
dinner party – without
spending a moment
in the kitchen
The venue
Your place. Easy. Your mates know
where to go, there’s no dress code
(unless you dictate it) and going
home is just a short distance from
the table. Getting help to feed your
friends takes the pressure off big
time, it’s just a matter of speaking
to the catering company to create a
bespoke menu depending on your
criteria. Lime Tree Café dropped
off the platters with simple
instructions for the few dishes
that needed heating and we were
tucking in within no time. They
just need 48 hours notice.
The people
Your mates, your family or
business colleagues. Just think
about the guests before you get
carried away on the Lime Tree
website – who likes what? Any
fussy eaters or allergies? How
hungry will everyone be? We had
ten chums around to sample the
café’s fare (very willing volunteers
they were, too) and a civilised
evening of canapés and bubby
descended into a sing-off. Not
pretty, but a cracking night.
The food
The team at Lime Tree Café
are used to catering gatherings
requiring everything from giant
gourmet salads and mini salmon
burgers, to children’s parties and
boardroom bashes. We were spoilt
for choice with trays of tiny treats, a
cheese platter and two desserts.
The details
Lime Tree Café & Kitchen, Dubai, from
Dhs75 per person. Tel: (04) 3256325.
www.thelimetreecafe.com
24 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
The Menu Lime Tree
Café’s top
Parmesan shortbreads and tips for
minted pea puree
Pumpkin blini with Gorgonzola the dream
and pistachio dinner
Smoked salmon mini-quiche
with potato crust
party
Roasted kumara with rare
roasted NZ lamb
Rice paper rolls with crisp
vegetables and mango
1 Know your guest list
inside out. Your guests
might be pregnant ladies or
The Burger (gourmet mini-beef a pack of hungry, hairy men,
burgers) either way, plan a menu that
Gourmet cheese board suits them best. Know dietary
Mini-chocolate tarts with a requirements ahead of time
coconut crust to avoid the embarrassment
Mini-raspberry cheesecakes of having nothing to feed
with a black pepper crust a special guest. It’s always
safe to have at least one
vegetarian option and a few
non-seafood/fish options.
2 Outsource to the pros.
If you are too busy with
work, kids, or are just too hot
and flustered to cook and still
enjoy yourself, then it’s better
to enjoy the time with your
Dish guests and get someone else
to do the hard work.
Hot catering company, Dish, serves up barbecues in the desert, The Lime Tree Café &
canapés at cocktail soirees and birthday cakes at parties across Kitchen can take care of the
town, not to mention bringing great food to yachts, beaches, whole event, from the food to
launches and more. A quick look on their website should get your the flowers, staff and serving
tummy rumbling and the ideas flowing. Prices depend on head equipment and they can even
count and menu, but a three-course sit down dinner costs Dhs200 prepare customised party
per person, based on a minimum of ten guests and ingredients favours for your guests.
include quail, snapper and lamb. This is no ordinary food delivery
service and it doesn’t come on the back of a bike.
Dish, Dubai. Tel (04) 4221613. www.dish.ae 3 Don’t forget the drinks,
ice and glasses – you
always need more than
The Club you think.
If you’re having a dinner party in the capital but can’t be bothered
to cook, one of the most popular options is to order food from
The Club. Whether you’re a member of the exclusive club or not,
4 Remember, too much
food is always better than
not enough and everyone
prices start at Dhs125 a head, and you can choose from seven set loves leftovers.
menus, with dishes such as brandy-glazed rack of lamb or angus
beef medallions with mushroom and wine sauce. You can also hire
waiters, for Dhs40 an hour for members, or Dhs50 for non-members.
The Club, Mina Port, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 6731111. www.the-club.com

AKA The private dining room
Why slum it with the
mere mortals of the
world, when you can
feel like you own the
joint with your very
own private dining
room experience?
The venue
Let’s face it, Okku’s a nice place
to eat. Housed in the Monarch
hotel, complete with its cool
‘Number One Sheikh Zayed
Road’ address, the Japanese
restaurant will impress anyone,
be they date or friend, family or
business cohort. Yet just when
you think they’ve hit the top
of the cool-o-meter, they pull
out their big guns – the private
dining room.
Perched, literally and
metaphorically, above the rest
of the diners, the private room
is your own secluded space
where you and your pals can
dine the night away without
the distraction of Joe Public.
Resplendent with dropdown
walls, which can be enclosed for
total privacy or left open to see
and be seen (yeah, guess which
one we opted for), plus your
own army of waiting staff, there
really is no finer, or opulent,
way to dine.
The people
With the dining room split into
two to create one smaller room
at one end, and one larger room
at the other (both completely
separated from each other,
naturally), the choice of just
how many of your friends to
invite is all yours. We opted for
a group of eight – it seemed like
a good round number – and
taking the smaller of the two
rooms, we fitted nicely around
our own table. A somewhat
boisterous crowd – although
strictly in the fun sense, of
course – it made sense to
separate us from the rest of the
restaurant, allowing our gang
to lord it up in our own private
space without disturbing the
restaurant’s regular diners.
Definitely a win-win situation
for all concerned.
The food
“Instead of ordering from the
menu, would you like us to
choose some of our favourites
for you?” Words of genius from
our hosts, who then proceeded
to bring out wave upon wave of
Japanese dishes, each one a hit
for all who tried them. Wasabi
mushrooms? Yes please. Yellow
tail carpaccio? Just the ticket.
Wagyu beef and fois gras? Yeah,
just leave the tray down there,
thanks very much, we’ve more
than got this covered…
The details
Okku, The Monarch Dubai, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai, from Dhs350
per head (without alcohol). Tel: (04)
5018777. www.okkudubai.com
Frankie’s
Abu Dhabi’s ever popular
Italian has its own private
dining room. Book for eight to
12 guests, and although you
can choose from the a la carte
menu, there is also a set list of
courses. Booking the room,
you also get your own maitre
d’ and sommelier, as well as a
chance to escape the bustle of
the busy restaurants.
Frankie’s, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr,
Between the Bridges, Abu
Dhabi, set menu from Dhs300
per head, a la carte Dhs2,000
min spend. Tel: (02) 6543333.
www.fairmont.com
COME DINE WITH US
Other
options
Private Dining by
Gordon Ramsay
at Verre
Continuing the concept
started by the man himself
in London, Verre’s private
dining space is a bespoke
experience for up to 20 guests.
Decorated in the signature
simple style, the room boasts
a private entrance, exclusive
bar and wine cellar, plus its
own dedicated team of staff,
including a maitre d’ and
sommelier. Chef Scott Price
personally oversees the menu,
bringing you and your guests
Gordo’s finest foods.
Hilton Dubai Creek, Deira, Dubai,
from Dhs395 per person. Tel:
(04) 2277550
Traiteur
We’ve had a masterclass with
Traiteur’s Chef Franck Detrait,
so we know that you’re in
safe hands at his special table
in the open-plan kitchen.
Seating six to ten, you can
watch the staff whipping up
French fancies, or if you’re in
a larger group, then take over
the stylish Cave Privee. Both
options offer a set menu.
Park Hyatt Dubai, Deira, Dubai,
from Dhs280 per person. Tel:
(04) 6021804
Italian Big
Night Out
On September 16, The
Bonnington is inviting fans of
Italian fare to meet Executive
Chef Thomas Gagliardi and
Giacomo Puntel, the hotel's
Italian food and beverage
expert. These clever chaps
will talk you through an
evening of home-made
dishes paired with fine wines
from the boot-shaped isle. If
you’re the proud owner of an
Italian passport, you’ll even
get a 20 per cent discount.
The Bonnington, Jumeirah
Lake Towers, Dubai, Dhs600 per
person including house wines,
teas and coffee. Tel: (04) 3560400
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 25
COME DINE WITH US
AKA The chef’s table
Get up close and
personal with
Thiptara’s head chef
in his busy kitchen
The venue
For a dinner party with a
difference, Thiptara, The Palace’s
luxurious Thai pad, invites you into
the kitchen. Surrounded by fire
torches and adorned with intricate
woodcarvings, the restaurant is
nestled at the base of Burj Khalifa,
with 360-degree views of the lake
and fountains.
The chef ’s table is separated
from the sizzle of the hot plates
by a pane of glass, leaving you
feet from the drama. Watch as
the team duck and weave around
Murder Mystery Night
For a truly unique
dining experience,
turn super-sleuth
with the Yas Hotel’s
Whodunit Package
Ace female racing driver, Jo
Shooie, has tragically died after
a horrific crash during a Formula
17 motor race.
Subsequent investigations
prove that her car’s brake cables
were tampered with, meaning
that this is… a murder case.
Police are baffled by the
crime, despite many of her
cohorts from the Formula 17
sport having a motive to knock
Jo off.
The nine sleuths/suspects
tonight are a team of What’s
On staffers. Gathering at
the Yas Hotel’s Noodle Box
restaurant, the game starts
26 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
each other, chopping faster than a giant sharing platter of crab
the speed of light. cakes, corn cakes, beef satay,
salads and more, to the array
The people of mains. The sharing concept
The table can fit four, so this is (‘family style’) allows you to
a good one for family groups try a range of dishes, including
(even better if you don’t get along crispy sea bass and corn-fed
very well – Chef Mac is utterly chicken green curry, but the
charming and visits the table star of the show is a roasted,
regularly to explain dishes and marinated duck with tamarind
have a chat). The experience is also sauce and tempura onion. After
a strong choice for entertaining being bombarded with flavours,
clients or for a small celebration, the dessert selection is welcome
as house beverages are included respite, with exotic fruits,
and the sharing makes the evening chocolate spring rolls and a
warm and friendly. You might want refreshing coconut ice cream.
to avoid inviting people with spice
issues though – this is authentic The details
Thai cuisine, ie darn hot. Thiptara, The Palace, Old Town, Dubai,
Dhs490 per person for four courses
The food and house beverages. Tel: (04)
Chef Mac will guide you from 4287961. www.theaddress.com
with each participant being
assigned a character. These
include pompous team owner,
Pat McDonald, the outrageously
misogynistic Mike Hacker and Jo
Schooie’s sister, Wendy, who is
suspiciously chipper considering
her recent family bereavement.
And one of the nine is the
ruthless killer.
After sitting down for the start
of the delicious three-course Ramona – is tasked with finding And with a hearty meal, an
meal, your aim is to talk to as out who ends up winning the overnight stay in the Yas hotel,
many contestants as possible to F17 season. nice drinks and a brilliantly
glean some info about Jo’s death. The rolling of dice and dealing entertaining role-playing game
Quick tip. It pays to thoroughly of cards determine the races. To to take part in for less than
memorise your backstory. When be honest, it lacks the thrill of a Dhs1,000, the hotel owners
asked a probing question, you real race, but it’s still fun. Plus the clearly aren’t the ones making
don’t want to have to refer races take place between courses, a killing here.
to your character info on the so it doesn’t detract from the
laminated A4 sheet. While trying enjoyment of the evening. Whodunit Package, Yas Hotel,
to unravel the mystery, there are We won’t give too much away Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Dhs640
also the last few races of the F17 about the plot, all to say that for double occupancy, Dhs840
season to win. Here, the game’s Formula 17 is a sport so shady it for single occupancy.
host – in our case a cheery and makes the scandal-hit F1 look as Tel: (02) 6560600.
patient hotel employee called innocent as a children’s tea party. www.theyashotel.com
 EID ESCAPES
How far should you go this Eid?

START
........
ARE YOU NO
A LAZY
SO-AND-SO? Lucky you. Into the
environment?

Feel your shoulders.

YES
Are they tense? NO YES

YES NO

And how deep are I’m, umm, looking after

your pockets? the fils, to be honest.
Maximum budget of THE C
I
If you fa TY RESORT
Dhs1,000 nc
I’m pretty comfortable can’t fac y getting away
e a leng
choice. A thy journ from central Ab
at the moment, thanks lt ey uD
capital, th hough it’s only , Yas Island is th habi, but
2 e
recomm e island still has 5-minutes drive obvious
for asking e a
get you nd the Crowne holiday resort fe om the
fr
an overn Plaza’s E el. We
on the is ight stay id deal. Dh
la in
restaura nd, breakfast a one of the sm s499 will
nt that is nd dinn
Crowne Jing Asia er in the artest hotels
GETAWAY P . quality O
THE LUXURYeh? Even high-end hotels in the Tel: (02) laza Yas Island, Y
6563030 a
riental
Like a little luxur
y,
. The Shangri-La . www.c s Island, Abu D
er a bargain at Eid pyas.com habi, Dh
Maldives can off a special four-night package s499.
s
Villingili Resort ha , which includes one free
r 18
until Septembe turn domestic
e are booked, re
night when thre Gan for two, daily breakfast,
to
flights from Male o beds free of
Arabic dinner, tw
complimentary under 12 and 25 per cent
ren
charge for child . The boutique-
if a se co nd villa is booked Chi, the centr e of
di scou nt
res the five-star
spa
E SPA BREAK rub down. Isolated in t-coloured sand
style resort featu villa catering, bicycle tours TH
you need
e
a
rolling apri
co
tel in
Adventur e Zo ne , in-
from private Sounds lik sert, surrounded by e most relaxing ho ith
accommodation e th
the Liwa D Al Sarab is probably ent Arabian fort, bu s also
tw
of the island and pical tree house villas. r ci re’
tro
ocean retreats to Resort & Spa, Maldives, dunes, Qas to resemble an an five-star hotel, the a. With
uilt a sp
Shan gri-L a Villin gil i
0) 6897888. the UAE. B cons you’d expect in lous Thai-themed g
per night. Tel: (96 e m o d d a fa bu b oo kin
from Dhs3,860 all th
e rb re
an se
staurants of Dhs700, we advi us than just
.com su p d rate ro
www.shangri-la two
id weeken more adve
ntu
el rides or
a special E u fancy something ; you can book cam
if yo n d
now. But ol all weeke
by the po 00. Tel: (02
)
lounging n s. habi, Dhs7
o
ISTOCK

ery le ss , Ab u D
arch ese rt
rab, Liwa D tara.com
Qasr Al Sa w.qasralsarab.anan
8 . w w
886208
28 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
 TAKE A TRIP
Ok, but does the idea of TO IFLY AT
Willing to MIRDIF CITY
a quick stroll get your YES NO CENTRE.
rough it?
heart pumping? DHS195.
WWW.IFLYME.
COM

NO YES

NTURE selves, we
THE ADVEill be using Eid to gorge them, biking and
While many w active in Nepal, with hiking are home to
get lls
suggest you ng. The verdant, tropical hi for testing your
Do you like history? Ruins fti
whitewater ra d fast flowing rivers, perfe odation might
ct
an m
and the like? NO trekking trails sense of adventure. Accom d a tent you’ll
du ranc e an d e bu g sp ra y an
en m in
be the fin es t, but with so nigh ts is en ough to take
not p. Fo ur or five ith ex pe rt
ort tri , all w
be set for a sh rafting and explore on foot ld a trip
Kathmandu,
go
ft N ep al ca n custom-bui
yo ur crew . Ra ud in g fo od and
support from y D hs22
cl
0 per night, in tt Regency in
ug hl
YES for you for ro advice? Book into the Hya r all that river
ur te
equipment. O 430) for your last night. Af ur life.
JUST hs
Kathmandu (D u’ll have the best shower of
yo
HAVE A yo
water action,
al.com
WALK www.raftnep
AROUND
SAFA
PARK

TOUR to this
THE NATURE a rep for decadence, but there’s more nature
Mauritius may ha
ve ise for
ssage oil. A parad
rose petals and ma nal Park is teeming with wildlife
destination than
us Black River Natio ns, waterfalls, THE CULTURAL TRIPseen to be believed. A mini-break to
lovers, the enormo s native and unique to the area. Lio
red s of pla nt ata is off eri ng a stay at Petra, quite simply, has to
be
and hund ait. s totally tropical. Dn y beach beside the Indian
It’ r nights will allow you to pac
k in the
d mo re aw Jordan of five days and fou
dolphins an d white sand Jerash and Amman’s
ated on a seclude la are Dhs973 s to the Rom an city of
Sankhara Villas, loc r night rates in a three-bedroom vil guests. Book sights, from Petra’s ruin four-star hotel,
pe o price is a double room in a
Oc ea n. Per pe rson,
ts, or Dhs1,70 4 for tw old town. Included in the uba i offers flights
,217 for four gues ber 30, the offer transfers and travel, free insu
ran ce and taxe s. Flyd
for six guests, Dhs1 l only pay for five. Valid until Septem ildren under
s an d yo u’l rag es . Ch from Dhs1,600.
seven night selected beve 7. Tel: (04) 2868759. Flyduba
i, from
lunch, dinner and Pro Holidays, Dubai, Dhs1,71
includes breakfast, dnata.com
w. com
12 stay for free. ww Dhs1,600. www.flydubai.

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 29

 WATER
WATER
EVERYWHERE
Have a splashing good time this month with What’s On’s pick of watery sports and fun

YACHT MINI-CRUISE
A mini-adventure that’s big SUITABLE FOR
Sightseers with very steady camera arms.
on high-seas excitement
Want to see the sights of Dubai, but by sea? DETAILS
Then hop aboard Dreamday’s mini-cruise Dreamdays, Dubai, from Dhs700 per hour.
voyage, which sets sail from Dubai Marina’s Tel: (800) 2080. www.dreamdays.ae
Yacht Club and heads to the Burj Al Arab, via
the Atlantis Hotel and Palm Jumeirah.
Now, we’re not going to lie to you – things can
get a bit, well, ‘choppy’ on this cruise. On our trip it
was all we could do to stay standing upright, never
mind kick back and take it easy. All thoughts of a
gentle meander whilst enjoying a relaxing drink
or two were quickly replaced with a trip of the
more swashbuckling kind, and bar an appearance
by Captain Jack Sparrow himself we would have
thought we were the stars of our very own pirate
adventure. That’s not say it wasn’t fun – it’s hard
not to be impressed (and impress those you sail
past) when you’re in an ever-so-expensive yacht,
and all those on board certainly had fun, even if
they did leave a little green around the gills.
The whole trip lasts around one hour 30
minutes – 45 minutes to zip to the Burj, quick
U-turn, and zip back again.

EXHAUSTION LEVEL
6.5/10 Surprisingly high, considering the
ISTOCK

word cruise is involved.

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 31

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

TOP
SUP TIP
Stay safe by getting the

WATER-
right equipment and a good
instructor to help you with
the correct technique. It’s all

SKIING
about starting off with
the right education
for the water.
Mimic your favourite
action hero with this
tricky sport
The Beach Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi
has one of the capital’s oldest water-
skiing centres.
The instructors here claim they can
teach anyone the basics within an hour.
The trick to water-skiing is to keep
your body
relaxed as you’re
pulled out of
the water, then
keep your
balance on the
balls of your
feet. Keep your
knees bent, legs together, head up,
weight leaning backwards and arms
straight – quite a lot to remember,
especially when a powerful speedboat
is pulling you along.
STAND UP PADDLING
On our first attempt, inevitably, the Master the art of standing body workout and exhaustion – mixed
handle slipped from our hands and up on a floating board with elation – saw us paddle swiftly back to
we ended up smashing into the water sturdier ground.
face first. Undeterred, we tried again As adventurous water sports go, SUP is
and our persistence paid off. Despite Stand up paddling (SUP) is, quite simply, easy to master, sociable, good exercise, fun
a couple more spectacular falls, by standing on a board and paddling. Having (plus it’s a combo of ‘tan and train’), and it’s
our second lap of the bay we were done our research (FYI, it’s one of the definitely an energising way to start the day.
able to stand up for a few seconds fastest growing water sports today), we did Are we hooked? Quite possibly, but ask us
before the inevitable splash. wonder how standing and paddling could be again when our muscles return to life.
Back on dry land, and with an considered a ‘sport’, let alone a workout – but
impressive bruise forming on our leg, our lesson was about to be learnt. EXHAUSTION LEVEL
we were already dreaming of trying The first ten minutes of the class were 6/10 Getting up isn’t the hard part, paddling
some snazzy ramp tricks. spent with Surf Dubai instructor, Scott, going using your arms and body, whilst balancing
through a safety debrief and a ‘this is the with your legs, means almost every muscle
EXHAUSTION LEVEL board, this is the paddle’ dummy’s guide to is used.
8.5/10 Keeping your balance and a firm SUP. Fully prepped, we grabbed our boards
grip on the handle is hard work. and headed out to sea. SUITABLE FOR:
The first surprise was how easy it was going Water babies and adventurous types looking
SUITABLE FOR: from kneeling and paddling to standing – just for something a little bit different.
Thrill seekers who don’t mind a bit of pain. a small spring in your step and voila, you’re
up and full on SUPing. DETAILS
DETAILS Then, after 30 minutes of doing just this Surf Dubai, Street 3, Umm Sequeim 3, Dubai,
Beach Rotana Hotel, Tourist Club Area, around the Burj Al Arab, plus honing our Group lessons from Dhs150 for 60 to
Abu Dhabi, Dhs60 for two laps of the ‘turning skills’ (which included several 90 minutes. Board/paddle hire Dhs50
bay. Tel: (02) 6979000. www.rotana.com kamikaze wipe-outs) the second surprise per hour. Tel: (050) 5043020.
came: the tiredness. SUP is quite the all-over www.surfingdubai.com

32 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010


SCUBA-DIVING AT
DUBAI AQUARIUM
Come face-to-face with
hammerhead sharks at
Dubai Mall’s giant aquarium
It’s one thing to go scuba-diving with mere
fish, but with sharks? We’ve all walked past
Dubai Mall’s incredible aquarium, with its
myriad of ocean wildlife swimming hyp-
notically around, but have you ever thought
about actually getting in and going for a
dive? Probably not – have you seen the size
of some those sharks? – but that’s exactly
were we found ourselves, staring, literally,
into the fishy abyss.
We have to admit, when our instructor,
Ryan, started briefing us with the dos and
don’ts, we were a bit scared. There’s a big
difference between Nemo and Jaws. Throw
in what seemed like ten pages of various
forms to fill in to ascertain that we were
of sound mind and body (the word ‘will’
flashed through the mind about now), and
our bottle wasn’t just gone, it was out the
door, up the street and off home to hide
under a bed.
However, Ryan knew exactly what
he was doing and his confidence and
professionalism soon put us at ease. And,
let’s face it, this was not exactly the high
seas – it was a giant aquarium in a vast
mall, with happy shoppers strolling along.
What could go wrong?
Well, for a rank amateur like us, the dive
to the bottom isn’t as easy as you’d think,
and we resurfaced not once but six times
– yeah, you read that right, six – before we
were able to muster the skill and courage to
reach the foot of the tank.
Ryan – ever the professional – had
complete patience, and finally after around
half an hour or so we were able to get to
grips with the underwater breathing and
descend to the depths the aquarium. The
joy and elation we felt can’t be described. It
was an amazing feeling to peer out of the
tank – we could see a bunch of children
waving at us through the glass. Swimming
with the scalloped hammerhead shark and
other fish was so incredibly therapeutic,
any fears we had quickly floated away.
For an unusual and unforgettable day
out, swimming with the sharks in a giant
fish bowl surely has to be up there with
the best of them, and it’s certainly one
that will stay with us for a long time.
EXHAUSTION LEVEL
9/10 Diving is not for the faint-hearted or
weak-lunged. Expect clogged ears afterwards.
SUITABLE FOR:
Adventurous types, marine lovers.
DETAILS
Arabian Adventures, Dubai, Dhs1,025 for
beginners, Dhs625 for certified divers. Tel: (04)
3034888. www.arabian-adventures.com
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
OUR PICK
OF THE
BEST BEACH
CLUBS
1
AL SHALAL BEACH CLUB
This boutique-style club
boasts an infinity pool, bar,
Mediterranean restaurant and a gym
– and, best of all, with daily rates you
don’t even need to live on The Palm to
live like a footballer on his summer hols.
Palm Jumeirah, between Shoreline
Apartment buildings Al Nabat and Al
Haseer, The Palm, Dubai, Dhs100 per day,
excluding gym, Dhs150 including gym.
Tel: (04) 4309466, www.ifa hotelsresorts.com
2
CLUB MINA
At 1.2km, this ginormous stretch
of sand is home to hundreds of
loungers, a vast choice of water sports
and Dubai’s favourite beach bar, Barasti.
A day pass will also get you access to five
swimming pools and the health club.
Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort
& Marina, Al Sufouh Road, Dubai, Sun to
Thurs Dhs175, Fri and Sat Dhs250. Tel: (04)
3993333. www.lemeridien-minaseyahi.com
3
GOLDEN TULIP AL
JAZIRA BEACH CLUB
Beach bums should read on. This
friendly club is a real community (it even
has a dog), but is still welcoming to new
members. There’s a gym, spa and health
club in the hotel, but the main draw is the
stretch of beach and water sports on offer,
not to mention that all important feeling
of being out of the city.
Golden Tulip Resort, Al Ghantoot,
Abu Dhabi, beach, gym and sauna access
Dhs100. Tel: (02) 5629100.
www.goldentulip.com
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 33
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

ISLAND
HOPPING
Discover Abu Dhabi’s
many islands
The waters around Abu Dhabi are
teaming with idyllic desert islands.
However, many of these are owned
by Sheikhs and are strictly out of
bounds, so rather than risking arrest
by the police, it pays to charter a boat

SAILING again). It ain’t easy, but when you succeed you

company to take you out to the ones
you can legally camp and picnic on.
Empros is one such firm, and will
Feel the wind in your hair can immediately wave goodbye to your old take you out on a tour of the islands
with a sailing lesson landlubber self and embrace your inner on a 37-foot boat. We visited Bahraini
salty seadog. Island, where we were able to enjoy
We’ve actually been trying to sign up for a nice picnic and played some beach
Ahoy there, me hearties. What rugged, red- sailing lessons at Dubai Offshore Sailing Club football before returning home.
blooded adventurer doesn’t want to learn how (DOSC ) for two years. It’s not easy. It seems Overnight camping is also legal on
to sail? Aside from the sense of freedom and everyone wants to take to the high seas, and the island, making it a popular spot
fun, there’s the windswept look – hair slightly the waiting list is long. But now, at last, we for locals and expats to party. You
bleached by the sun, tanned skin blasted by all have our chance. There’s a weekend group can also visit the nearby Lulu Island
the wind and waves, piratical glint in the course, Friday and Saturday from 10am to and its pristine beaches, although the
eye – and, of course, there’s nothing cooler 5pm, or a private mid-week course consisting centre of the island has been earmarked
than being able to brag to your buddies (or of eight two-hour lessons. Pay a visit to for development and is closed to the
the ladies) about life on the ocean waves. But DOSC to check availability and add your public, and a ban on overnight camping
before you reach that stage, there’s a lot of name to the waiting list for one of the courses is strictly enforced.
hard, and wet, work to be done. starting this month (the sooner the better), If you want to take your own boat
Our extremely patient instructor, Wren pay Dhs500 deposit and wait for the call. you’ll need a seafaring licence, which
English, gave us an intensive two-hour costs about Dhs3,000 a year.
introductory lesson on a laser – a one man, EXHAUSTION LEVEL
single-sail dinghy – starting with a brief run- 7/10 Two hours is pretty tiring. You’re going to EXHAUSTION LEVEL
down of the nautical terms. There are quite a capsize the boat a lot, which means heaving 1/10 Lounging on a boat and eating
few of them, it seems: boom (pole attached to yourself back on board. sandwiches on the beach requires no
the sail), rudder (used to steer), stern (rear), effort at all.
bow (front), sheet (rope used to control the SUITABLE FOR:
sail). And then it was straight into the water Energetic folk with a good level of basic fitness SUITABLE FOR:
to start learning tacking (turning). Two who don’t mind getting a bit wet and have the Anyone looking for a relaxing day out
hours later and we’d just about managed to temperament to repeat the same actions over on the ocean waves.
tack successfully a couple of times, a feat that and over until they get it right.
involves several simultaneous movements DETAILS:
(pushing the rudder away from your body, DETAILS Empros, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al
letting out the sail by loosening your grip Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, Beach Road, Bateen, Abu Dhabi, Dhs300 per hour.
on the sheet and ducking under the boom Jumeirah, Dubai, Dhs1,600 to Dhs2,000. Tel: (02) 6736600. www.empros.ae
as the laser turns, before straightening up Tel: (04) 3941669. www.dosc.ae

34 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010


KITESURFING
Harness the power of the
wind and off you go
Kitesurfing is one of those activities you look
at with a mixture of mild awe and envious
yearning, thinking, “I would love to do that.”
You gaze from your lazy sunbathing spot as a
bunch of kitesurfers cut dynamic curves across
sea and sky. It looks so impressive – the grace
of the kite as it traces an arc up to its zenith and
then swings with the wind to propel the surfer
rapidly across the waves. Then it’s headphones
back in, and back to your tan. Yearn no more.
You can not only throw caution to the wind,
but learn how to control it with a course of
kitesurfing lessons from Air Water Earth. This
company offers expert tuition on how to go
from dunce to dude in as little as six hours.
We opted for the beginner’s course and our
instructor, Osama, was as cool as they come.
He’s a multi-skilled outdoor sportsman who
teaches everything from paragliding to rock
climbing. First off it’s the all important safety
features and some basic wind theory before you
get to grips with a training kite. This is great fun
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
and something of the inner kid comes out as
you draw figure eights in the sky, getting used to
how the bar works, angling it to steer, drop, raise
and land the kite. Once comfortable with the
small kite, you advance to the 14-square-metre
beast with an inflatable edge.
To control this bad boy, you need a harness
and a bit of confidence and strength – these
things are powerful. Once you can launch, land
and control your kite, you’re ready for the water.
Kitesurfing is not a dangerous sport, but you
can do yourself a mischief if you don’t learn
properly. If you get the right teacher and stick
to the rules though, there’ll be no more looking
on from a distance – you’ll be the one zipping
across the horizon.
SUITABLE FOR:
EXHAUSTION LEVEL Beach lovers and adrenalin junkies.
8/10 Kitesurfing is not quite as easy as
the professionals make it look. There are DETAILS
technicalities to observe and some serious Air Water Earth, Umm Suqeim 1, Street 2C,
wind power to control. However, with these Beachside, Dubai, 90-minute introductory
elements duly respected, it’s a great way to course Dhs250, six hours Dhs1,995.
keep fit while enjoying the sun and sea. Tel: (050) 5586190
FLOW-RIDER
No, not the tattooed rapper with a
fondness for ‘boots with the fur’, we’re
talking about body boarding at
Wild Wadi. With
some help
from the
pros, you
too could
be on those
much-
watched
YouTube
videos of surfers
dominating
this simulator,
impressing guests
and splashing
spectators. Actually,
if you do get good
at flow-riding, please don’t do that. It really
is very annoying and we saw a man’s
digital camera get damaged last time.
And be sure to book ahead, there’s only
ten slots per class.
Wild Wadi Waterpark, Beach Road, Dubai,
Sat 7.30am to 9.30am, Dhs75, spectator
pass Dhs15. Tel: (04) 3484444.
www.wildwadi.com
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 35
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE

FISHING
It’s a life on the ocean waves
for us – even if the fish don’t
want to oblige
Fishing in Dubai is a world away from soggy
afternoons in a smelly anorak. We booked
an afternoon trip with Al Wasl Fishing &
Cruising through Day Out Dubai, rounded
up some non-squeamish troops and set off to
find our sea legs.
Behind the rickety Dubai Creek dhows
we climbed on board a sleek fishing liner,
all leather lined and boasting fresh fruit and
chilled drinks. Our little yacht even came
with a bedroom, complete with circular bed.
Very What’s On.
Setting sail (or starting motor) at 4pm,
we’d missed the searing heat of summer
and travelled up the creek and out to sea. A
quick look at our passports at the checkpoint
and we were off to…? How far could we
we go in four hours? After vetoing Muscat,
Mussandam and Norway, we found ourselves
sailing past the QE2 to a quiet spot where our
captain assured us another group that very
morning had caught the equivalent of Dubai
Mall’s aquarium. We weren’t so lucky.
After loading the rods with bait, we cast off.
Nothing. This was a fish-free zone.
Luckily, with hot tea and enough Pringles
to sink the Titanic, we were happy to sit on
the deck in the fading light, waiting. Finally
we landed one! And another, and then one
more. We suspect they were all the same fish,
one that had developed a taste for celebrity
and being papped, but the point is we’d
caught the critter.
Our happy clan returned at dusk, snaking
up the creek as Bur Dubai and Deira were
coming to life. We hadn’t caught enough fish
for the feast we’d envisioned, but an afternoon
of sea air, views and gentle (OK, brutal)
competition made for a fine afternoon.
EXHAUSTION LEVEL
5/10. They weren’t biting for us, but if the fish
are leaping onto your rods you’ll need some
strong biceps to reel them in. All the fresh air
will wipe you out though. Zzzzz...
SUITABLE FOR:
Lovers of seafood and sunbathing.
DETAILS
Day Out Dubai, Dhs2,800 for up to eight
people on a 33ft fishing boat.
www.dayoutdubai.com.
JET-
SKIING
Jet off into the sunset
The turquoise waters surrounding the
capital are so inviting it seems a shame
to waste your weekends messing about
on solid ground.
Jet-skiing is hugely popular in
Abu Dhabi and at weekends swarms
of water sports fanatics can be seen
darting around the coastline.
It looks easy enough, but for
beginners there are some important
lessons to learn before you’re allowed
to start, the most important of which
being attaching the engine stop off to
your wrist. This means if you’re thrown
off, the engine will stop.
However, the biggest danger is
collisions. As the Yamaha VX 700s have
top speeds of 80km/h and no brakes,
if you’re going too fast you’ll end up
smashing into rocks, sandbanks or
other jet-skiers.
Thankfully, on our day out we had
our experienced guide, Umar, keeping
our speeds low as we headed out to sea.
Once we reached open waters, it was
time to let loose. It takes a bit of time
to get used to the feel of the machine,
but once we mastered turning and
going over waves it was an exhilarating
experience.

HAPPINESS IS A SWIM-UP BAR EXHAUSTION LEVEL

6/10 Manoeuvring a jet ski requires
We’ve found the finest a bit of brute strength.

1 2
LE MÉRIDIEN DREAMLAND
AL AQAH AQUA PARK
Granted, you need Wild Wadi and
to travel to the east coast Aquaventure might have
to sample this chlorine- cornered the flashy waterpark
soaked gem, but the giant market, but for some bargain
frozen margaritas, fun in the sun, a vast range
live music (the of slides and a cold brew,
Madonna covers Dreamland can’t be beaten. The
were a delight) swim-up bar is usually packed
and friendly staff with people regaling tales of a
make the journey terrifying trip down the family
worthwhile. tyre ride (not recommended
Le Méridien Al with six fully grown adults and
Aqah, Fujairah. Tel: no children).
(09) 2449000. www. Dreamland Aqua Park, Umm
starwoodhotels.com Al Quwain, Dhs100 (Dhs70 for
under12s). Tel: (06) 7681888.
www.dreamlanduae.com.
3
H2O AT HILTON SUITABLE FOR:
Do a few laps, pull Anyone wanting to blast across the
up an underwater open seas at high speeds.
bar stool, enjoy a fresh
juice and pretend you’re DETAILS
on holiday. We, at What’s Empros, InterContinental Abu Dhabi,
On, have a dream. A dream Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi, Dhs280 per hour.
of owning a private pool, Tel: (02) 6736600. www.empros.ae
with a swim-up bar and
personal mixologist. Until
we sell the film rights on
this magazine, the Hilton’s
offering will have to do. It’s
not a bad stop-gap.
H2O, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah
Resort, Dubai Marina, Dubai.
Tel: (04) 3991111.
www.hilton.com

36 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010

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 Meat in a bun is always fun, but
so many get it so, so wrong. We
team up with Dubai 92 DJs Tom
and Dan to discover where to buy
the best burger in the UAE. Go on,
you know you want to

BURGERS

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 39

21 BURGERS: TESTED

CLASSIC DOUBLE OVERALL

9/10 WINNER
This is fast food at a good price, but the
difference is the quality of meat. Fatburger
uses USDA choice beef, imported from the US,
and you can tell. This double patty is topped
with cheese, grilled onions, mustard, relish,
pickles, mayo, lettuce and tomato, all between
soft buns, just like they’ve been serving since
1952. If it ain’t broke… Great value, top quality
and they even chant your order back at you.
Fatburger, Dubai Mall, Dubai, Dhs24.
Tel: (04) 3398493

TRIPLE PRIME BURGER

9/10
The must-eat choice for the committed
carnivore, the Triple Prime Burger is, as the
name suggests, chock-full of top-quality
beef and when it’s cooked this well, it just
can’t be faulted. The melt-in-the-mouth bun
perfectly partners the fresh crisp salad, with
the addition of garlic mayo an inspired touch.
Put them all together and it’s an unbeatable
combo. Totally scratches the burger itch.
Ruby Tuesday, Rimal Building, JBR, Dubai,
Dhs45. Tel: (04) 4243771.
PETITE KOBE SLIDERS
8.5/10
Brioche and beef might not sound DEP ED
like a winning combo, but this trio HELEN’S
PICK
of mini-burgers makes it work. High
quality beef, the sweetness of the glazed
bun, a hit of flavour from the pickles and
condiments and you’re in burger heaven.
Share with a few drinks or go for the hat-trick
and eat all three yourself.
Caramel, Building 3, DIFC, Dubai, Dhs80.
Tel: (04) 4256677
MUSHROOM BURGER
8.5/10
For those of a vegetarian persuasion not
wanting to miss out, this burger has it all. The beef and comes in a butter-toasted bun
huge grilled Portobello mushroom packs a
meaty punch, while the cheddar, rocket and
pesto add the prerequisite extras. Stacked so
high it’s almost impossible to eat, gently attack on in the capital.
with cutlery and indulge guilt-free. An order of Jones The Grocer, Al Mamoura Building, 4th
‘skin on’ fries is essential.
GBK, Lower P, Marina Mall, Dubai, Dhs30.
Tel: (04) 2889057
DELUXE BURGER
8/10
Jones the Grocer is one of our favourite spots
in the capital to enjoy high-end café food.
Its deluxe burger might be an expensive
bite, but it’s made from super-soft wagyu
with caramelised onions, truffle-infused
mayonnaise and olive oil-fried chips. Simply
delicious. The best burger we’ve ever snacked
and 15th Street, Abu Dhabi, Dhs99.
Tel: (02) 4438764.
THE CHEF’S SPECIALITY
RIB BURGER 8/10
Not technically a burger, but
too good to leave out, this rib
sandwich is packed with tender TOMPICK & DAN’S
meat (braised for three hours),
sweet onions, crispy lettuce and chunky
Roma tomatoes.
Ribs & Rumps, Dubai Mall, Dubai, Dhs65.
Tel: (04) 4340468
HOME-MADE BLACK
ANGUS BURGER 8/10
There are a number of factors that FEATURES ED
GARETH’S
make up a great burger – premium PICK
meat and a fresh bun being the most
important – but the main rule is, don’t mess
about too much. Epicure has it just right, with
a thick, well-seasoned, 180g patty of quality
black angus beef, served in an airy sourdough
bun with lettuce, tomato and sweet onion
jam. A classic combination.
Epicure, Desert Palm, Dubai, Dhs80.
Tel: (04) 3238888
CHEESE BURGER
7.5/10
No frills here, just angus beef, traditional
cheddar, jammy caramelised onions and a
tasty sauce conspiring to create a burger
that tastes home-made. A true star of the
foodcourt at a cracking price.
Ribs & Rumps, Dubai Mall, Dubai, Dhs35.
Tel: (04) 4340468
MEDIA ONE SPECIAL BURGER
7/10
A burger, is a burger, is a burger? Well, not
exactly. The special chicken burger from
Media One is a delightful mix of fresh meat,
onions, coriander and chillies. It’s chunky
enough on its own, but the addition of raw
onions and fresh tomatoes create a juicy
tower. The toppings on offer range from
fried egg and ham to different cheeses, and
the mushroom sauce will make your mouth
water. However, this is a burger that deserves
chunky chips, not the sad fries it comes with.
CaféM, Media One Hotel, Dhs50. Tel: (04) 4271000

40 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010


ROCKET SINGLE BURGER
7/10
Laid-back and packed with stuff-your-face
atmosphere, this is what a burger joint
should be. There are over 15 types of
burger, from its beefy namesake, the Rocket
single, to the gut-busting bacon cheddar
double, all are big, all are tasty, and all make
you want to come back for loads more. We
suggest you start with the single and work
your way up.
Johnny Rockets, various locations, Dhs32.
Tel: (04) 3447859
TANDOORI CHICKEN TIKKA
BURGER 7/10
With a fresher taste than the traditional beef
burger, this lightly spiced chicken surprise sat
happily in a soft wholemeal bun, with crunchy
vegetables and a sweet mango chutney. This
feels like a healthy choice (but probably isn’t).
The Conservatory’s Gourmet Burger Bar,
Qarmadeen Hotel, Old Town, Dubai, Dhs55.
Tel: (04) 4285888
EDITOR’S
PICK
MIRABEL BURGER
7/10
The owner of this new mall-based restaurant
boasted to What’s On that his burgers were
the best in the capital. And to be fair, the
tender angus beef, caramelised onions and
deliciously toasted bun were definitely up
there with the finest we’ve sank our teeth into.
Mirabel, Fotouh Al Khair Mall, Airport Road, Abu
Dhabi, Dhs55. Tel: (02) 6315111
BEEF ‘N’ CHEDDAR MELT
7/10
The Beef ‘N’ Cheddar Melt boasts thin slices
of roast beef and onion, smothered with red
sauce and cheddar cheese, all inside a toasted
sesame seed bun. It was made to order, a
welcome change from the usual foodcourt
fodder. And a bargain.
Wendy’s Arby’s, Dubai Festival City, Dubai,
Dhs17. Tel: (04) 2328500
21 BURGERS: TESTED
BLEDISLOE BURGER
6.5/10
This upmarket sports bar has wowed us with
its ribs, and the burger didn’t disappoint.
Stacked high with quality meat, egg,
beetroot and more, it’s a man-sized meal fit
for Jonah Lomu. A bit too big for us, though.
Nezesaussi, Al Manzil Hotel, Old Town, Dubai,
Dhs65. Tel: (04) 4285927
LONG’S BEEF BURGER
6.5/10
Despite the shoe-leather beef bacon, this
is a delightful burger. Juicy beef, tangy red
onion and a perfectly-fried egg are finished
off with a slice of tasty Swiss cheese. Creamy
coleslaw on the side is the perfect addition
to this mammoth sandwich, at least two
bites in height. A good, solid mid-week
burger with no fireworks, just try to wrap
your jaws around it – but be sure to whip off
the beef bacon first.
Long’s Bar, Towers Rotana Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Road, Dhs57. Tel: (04) 343 8000
WAGYU BEEF & FOIE GRAS
BURGER 6/10
More of a visual treat than a taste sensation,
this extravagant affair comes in its own
velvet box, and is topped with gold leaf.
Oh so Dubai. Despite being served with
caviar tomato salsa, truffle aioli, purple
mustard and cep mushroom croquettes, the
flavours are a bit underwhelming, but the
presentation is guaranteed to impress.
Majlis Al Bahar, Burj Al Arab, Al Sufouh, Dubai,
Dhs280. Tel: (04) 3017600
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 41
 21 BURGERS: TESTED

COLUMBIA BURGER
6/10
A steady effort from the café at the Beach
Rotana Hotel. The thick wad of meat is served
in a bun with a huge layer of lettuce and
giant slices of tomato. Use a knife and fork,
as you’d probably suffer from lockjaw if you
tried to get your mouth around this super-
thick sandwich.
Columbia Café, Beach Rotana Hotel, Tourist
Club Area, Abu Dhabi, Dhs59. Tel: (02) 6979000.
www.rotana.com

HALF-POUND PATTY
6/10
One of the newest restaurants in the capital,
Hawksbill’s giant burger is just what you need BLACK ANGUS BURGER
to build up your energy after a tiring 18 holes. 5/10
As well as half a pound (that’s 227g in new One of our favourite places to escape the
money) of nicely cooked meat, it comes with summer sunshine, and when we visit we
bacon, fried egg, cheddar cheese and grilled always order one of their monster burgers.
onions. Even heavyweight golfer John Daly Nice, tender ground angus beef and plenty of
would struggle to finish this one. cheese. Our only complaint was that it could
Hawksbill, Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, have done with a bit more salad.
Dhs60. Tel: (02) 5578000. www.sbgolfclub.ae Heroes, Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Hamdan
Street, Abu Dhabi, Dhs78. Tel: (02) 6210000.
www.crowneplaza.com

HEMINGWAY’S BURGER QUARTER POUNDER

5/10
This old-school bar is a multiple What’s On
Award-winner for its hearty pub grub, and the
burger served here doesn’t fail to disappoint.
Expect a massive portion of meaty burger
with plenty of cheese and salad.
Hemingways, Hilton Abu Dhabi, Corniche,
Abu Dhabi, Dhs55. Tel: (02) 6911900.
ISTOCK
WITH CHEESE 4/10
Ah, the classic. Big beef burger, two slices
of cheese (that have probably never seen a
cow), pickles, onions and that lip-smacking
ketchup-mustard combo, all inside a sesame
bun. It won’t be winning a Michelin star any
time soon, but it’s a cheap, reliable choice.
McDonald’s, various locations, Dhs11.

www.hilton.com Tel: (04) 3440911

42 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010

FROM BELGIUM TO BRAZIL,
DISCOVER THE FLAVOURS
OF THE WORLD

InterContinental Abu Dhabi offers you a delicate combination of world-class cuisine and waterfront dining. From
the classically European experience of the new Belgian Café, to Chamas, the region’s rst Brazilian churrascaria
and bar, to the authentic taste of Italy at Boccaccio, to the beachfront favourite, Fishmarket, offering the freshest
Thai seafood. Overlooking Abu Dhabi’s most picturesque marina, the ever stylish Yacht Club, provides an exquisite
Pacic Rim cuisine while Selections serves up an international menu for all day dining.

Do you live an InterContinental life?

For further information or reservations

call: 800 423 463
email: abudhabi@icauh.ae
intercontinental.com
 FILM
Let Me In
Let Me In
WHO? Chloe Moretz, Kodi Smit-
McPhee, Richard Jenkins, Jimmy
‘Jax’ Pinchak, Elias Koteas, Matt
Reeves (writer-director)
TAGLINE ‘From the director of Cloverfield’
ONCE UPON A TIME... A put-upon kid called Owen
(Smit-McPhee) became close
friends with Abby (Moretz), a
young girl with an appetite for
blood and a thing for crucifixes.
IDEAL IF YOU’RE IN THE Watch the Swedish masterpiece
MOOD TO... Let The Right One In but can’t be
bothered with all those fiddly
subtitles.
WATCH THIS IF YOU Efficient Hollywood reworkings
LIKE... of overseas horror movies such
as... hmmm... give us a minute...
there must be something... no,
sorry, it’s gone.
TOP TRIVIA Matt Reeves’ first movie was the
David Schwimmer romantic
drama The Pallbearer. His follow-
up, the monster movie Cloverfield,
was made over a decade later.
WHAT’S ON TEN WORD Not bad, as American remakes of
REVIEW European horror movies go.
RATE OR SLATE? ★★★✩✩
44 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
The Slammin’ Salmon
The Slammin’
Salmon
Michael Clarke Duncan, Jay
Chandrasekhar, Jeff Chase,
Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, Kevin
Heffernan (writer-director-star)
‘Bring a bib, it’s gonna get messy’
A Miami restaurateur tried
to get the local Mob off his
back by arranging a potentially
lucrative contest.
See a group of people who should
know better suggest that they
probably don’t.
The Broken Lizard ensemble’s
previous motion pictures, namely
the self-explanatory, the sexed-
up comedy thriller Club Dread
and the Police Academy-esque
Supertroopers.
Broken Lizard alumnus Jay
Chandrasekhar also directed
episodes of Arrested Development
(yes!) and the big screen adaptation
of The Dukes Of Hazzard (no!).
The Broken Lizard boys remain
an acquired taste.
★★✩✩✩
The Way Back
Colin Farrell, Mark Strong,
Saoirse Ronan, Jim Sturgess,
Ed Harris, Peter Weir
(writer-director)
‘From the director of Master And
Commander and The Truman Show’
A band of soldiers broke out of
a Siberian gulag, only to find
themselves miles from anywhere
with only the excruciating cold
for company.
Watch an epic story of survival,
such as superior TV drama
Endurance and top doc Touching
The Void.
Colin Farrell, whose appeal has
eluded most of the world with the
notable exception of Hollywood’s
casting directors.
The biographical book upon which
The Way Back is based was recently
exposed as a work of fiction.
Peter Weir’s yet to make a
completely useless film.
PREVIEW

Perrier’s Bounty
The Resident
Hilary Swank, Jeffrey Dean
Morgan, Christopher Lee, Lee
Pace, Michael Massee, Antti
Jokinen (writer-director)
‘You’re never alone...’
Dr Juliet Dermer (Swank) moved
into a palatial Brooklyn apartment
only to discover that her landlord
had become obsessed with her.
Watch a woman being frightened
to within an inch of her life in the
name of entertainment.
Women-in-peril pictures such
as Rosemary’s Baby (which is
awesome), Dark Water (which
is OK) and Single White Female
(which is a relic from the dim and
distant days when Bridget Fonda
was famous).
Finnish writer-director, Antti
Jokinen, was instrumental in
helping heavy metal trolls
Lordi win the 2007 Eurovision
Song Contest.
The scares are there, but so are the
boring bits.
PREVIEW
Mesrine: Death Perrier’s Bounty I Hate Luv
Instinct/Public Storys
Enemy #1
Vincent Cassel, Gérard Depardieu,
Cécile De France, Ludivine Sagnier,
Mathieu Amalric, Jean-François
Richet (writer-director)
‘Vincent Cassel is Mesrine’
France’s most infamous bank
robber, Jacques Mesrine, (Cassel)
went on the rampage and then
spent his time in jail writing about
his remarkable life.
Watch two very good movies about
a bloke few people have heard of
this side of Marseilles.
Pulsating crime biopics, such as
Peter Medak’s The Krays, Michael
Mann’s Public Enemies and
Bronwen Hughes’ Stander.
Eva Green (Casino Royale, The
Golden Compass) and Marion
Cotillard (La Vie En Rose, the
aforementioned Public Enemies)
were originally set to play the
women in Mesrine’s life.
The first film’s fine, but part two is
truly superb.
★★★★✩
Mesrine: Death Instinct/Public Enemy #1
Cillian Murphy, Brendan
Gleeson, Jim Broadbent, Jodie
Whittaker, Domhnall Gleeson,
Ian Fitzgibbon (director)
‘Blood is thicker than water.
Nothing is thicker than thieves’
Dublin Mr Big, Darren Perrier,
(Gleeson) set out to avenge the
death of his right-hand man.
See Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent,
Batman Begins’ Cillian Murphy
and the utterly brilliant Brendan
Gleeson savour a heady cocktail of
blood, violence and wry Irish wit.
Irish crime comedies such
as The General (also starring
Brendan Gleeson), Ordinary
Decent Criminal, Intermission and
Divorcing Jack.
The voice of the Grim Reaper
(don’t ask) is provided by Usual
Suspects star Gabriel Byrne.
Perrier’s Bounty’s a little flat, but it
bubbles with enthusiasm.
★★★✩✩
FILM | NEW RELEASES
Sonam Kapoor, Imran Khan,
Sammir Dattani, Samir Soni,
Aseem Tiwari, Punit Malhotra
(writer-director)
‘A new comedy from
a new director’
Jay (Khan), a cynic
with little time for
love, encountered Simran
(Kapoor), a dreamer besotted
with the very idea of romance.
Find out whether Sonam
Kapoor’s the equal of her old
man Anil, the Bollywood legend
who starred in 1942: A Love
Story and Slumdog Millionaire.
The fact the Bollywood romcom
is currently in far ruder health
than its Hollywood equivalent
I Hate Luv Storys was a top five hit
at the UK box office, in spite of it
opening opposite DreamWorks’
Shrek Forever After.
Slight, but superior to, say, your
average Meg Ryan mawkfest.
★★★✩✩
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 45
 The Essential Arabian Library
In celebration of the centenary of the birth of Sir Wilfred Thesiger, the last of the great
explorers, we offer 17 books and a limited edition print from The Arabian Heritage Series.

Described as a This book is a The authorised biography

“Masterpiece” in The breathtaking pictorial of Sir Wilfred Thesiger
Times, this classic of travel edition of the travel investigates this fascinating
literature is a must-read classic Arabian Sands, figure’s family influences,
for anyone interested in and contains the same his wartime experiences, his
the Arab world. The special fold-out map which philosophy as a hunter and
Centenary Edition celebrates appeared in the first conservationist, his writing
the anniversary of Thesiger’s edition of Arabian and photography, and his
birth in 1910, and includes Sands in 1959. friendships with tribal people.
84 photographs and a
old-out map.

Dhs 120 * Dhs 185 * Dhs 165*

normal retail price

This title by Daniel and Serga Nadler takes an A wonderfully illustrated book that covers Arabian Destiny is an insightful autobiography
in-depth look at the world of silver and the fascinating history of shawls from their and a very personal account of the life of the
how it is valued for its many purposes by earliest origins. The history of the Kerman late Edward Henderson – a man whose life was
different cultures around the globe. shawl, is one of its delightful highlights. inextricably linked to the history of the UAE.

Dhs 295 * Dhs 295 * Dhs 55 *

This enchanting book is a showcase of the A wonderful photographic memoir by world This personal record of the seafarers of the In this concise, yet thorough, description of
people of the Emirates during the mid-20th renowned photographer Ronald Codrai. This Emirates focuses on a time when the Gulf the Arabian countries benefiting most from
century. A superb collection of photographs by book focuses on Codrai’s time spent in the was home to the largest merchant-sailing 21st century affluence, Edward O’Sullivan
Ronald Codrai, documenting times gone by. Arab world during the past half-century. fleet in the world. summarizes years of experience.

Dhs 185 * Dhs 185 * Dhs 185 * Dhs 85 *

Tel +971 4 282 4060 Fax +971 4 282 7898 books@motivate.ae

Tel +971 2 677 2005 Fax +971 2 677 0124 motivate-adh@motivate.ae Order online:
 SUMMER OFFER
Entire collection now only Dhs 1450
including free delivery in the GCC
A saving of over 50% off the normal retail price of Dhs 3000

Free Limited
Edition Print
Worth Dhs 350
Launching a Dhow, Abu Dhabi, 1948 by Sir Wilfred Thesiger (16” x 12”)

Dubai
an aerial tour

Dubai is an emirate of spectacular sights.

Dubai

With post-modern architecture and high-rise

towers that jostle with one another, the city’s
aerial views provide a magnificent insight
into its different landscapes – be they man-

an aerial tour
made islands or landscaped villas, magnificent
highways or grand hotels, verdant green parks
or giant shopping malls – taking the reader on
an awe-inspiring scenic tour.

Beyond the city’s limits, turquoise-blue

waters with sandy beaches, symmetrical palm
trees and ancient desert landscapes provide
photographers with many opportunities.

International aerial photographer, Dirk Laubner,

has produced a fine portrait of the emirate
that reveals why Dubai is such a popular
tourist destination. Published in a single,
five-language edition, Dubai – An Aerial Tour
is a collection of brilliant images of the emirate
and a fascinating record of Dubai from the air
as we see it today. Placing tourist attractions
and significant landmarks in perspective, it
provides a magnificent aerial tour for visitors
and residents alike.
Dirk Laubner

Dirk Laubner

This book by internationally acclaimed This intimate and colourful view of the Emirates is This book is part of the ‘Noor Ali Rashid’s Royal
photographer Dirk Laubner takes you on a a reproduction of one of famed British artist Trevor Collection’, and includes beautiful historical images,
breathtaking aerial tour around the emirate Waugh’s journals, kept while travelling the length highlighting the 40 years of remarkable transformation
of Dubai. and breadth of the land. undergone by the UAE.

Dhs 125 * Dhs 145 * Dhs 185 *

Patrick Lichfield’s photography has

spanned four decades of change. His
Dubai

iconic images from the early 1960s to the

present day, include notable personalities
and events that characterised their times.
A cousin of Queen Elizabeth, The Earl of
Lichfield, launched himself as a photo-
grapher in 1962. He soon progressed from
photographing London’s party set to
editorial work for national daily news-


#&
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papers. Success in notable London

magazines, such as the highly influential

magazine, led to commissions from
,  and #&
! magazines in the
United States.
Since that time, his pictures – ranging from
formal and informal portraits, including
many members of royalty as well as
celebrities, prominent figures from the
world of fashion and beauty to high profile
advertising – have become well known
around the world.
In recent years, Patrick Lichfield has been
a frequent visitor to Dubai, a destination
he admires and enjoys and one which
certainly provides a wealth of fascinating
subjects for his camera. 
'


#&

!#!# is the outcome of these visits; it is
a rich study of one of the world’s most

Dubai
dynamic and fastest growing cities.
Patrick Lichfield

"
%#
#
"!#


!#


#&
!#!#
P a t r i c k L i c h f i e l d

Patrick Lichfield’s portrait of Dubai presents A beautiful heartfelt tale of two cultures, and A compilation of poetry by Dubai’s leader, Dr Frauke Heard-Bey’s definitive history of
images of a cosmopolitan city, a vibrant a love and understanding between a Western Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. the UAE is a must-read about life in the seven
emirate and a dynamic people in tribute to and Arab family. The Times called it “a deeply Sheikh Mohammed reveals his passions but Trucial States before the wealth of oil, and
one of the fastest growing cities in the world. sympathetic evaluation of a culture”. tempers them with justice and tolerance. events leading up to the 21st century UAE.

Dhs 185 * Dhs 55 * Dhs 75 * Dhs 120 *

EATING OUT
As you may have guessed,
restaurants are very much our
thing. That’s why this November
we will host the ninth What’s On
Awards at Dubai Media City’s
impressive Ampitheatre, to reward
the establishments that you, the
people, have decided are the best
in town. If you haven’t made your
decision yet, turn to page 51 for full voting details.
If more proof of our attachment to all things edible
is required, there are enough pages dedicated
to grub in this issue to sate even the greediest
gastronome’s appetite. If you haven’t already
enjoyed our Come Dine With Us cover feature (p19)
and discovered where to ingest the best burger in
the UAE (p39), do so, immediately, if not sooner.
Then make your way swiftly back to these Eating
Out pages to read what we thought of our pal
Gary’s Rhodes Twenty10 (p50), Armani’s Indian
eatery Amal (p52) and DIFC’s new sports bar cum
restaurant, The Gramercy (p53), plus The Critic on
the effect of social networking on people’s dining
habits (p54) and rare restaurants in the capital
(p55). Hope you’re hungry, ladies and gents.

Gareth Rees, Features Editor

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 49

 EATING OUT
On the
menu
Three things that
UAE foodies need
to know
CLAWS FOR THOUGHT
With its rustic beach hut setting
and amazingly fresh seafood
buffet, Fishmarket at the
InterCon is one of our
favourite dining spots
in the capital. It's closed
during Ramadan, but
will open again on
September 12 when
you can enjoy a slap-up
lobster dinner and unlimited
champagne for just Dhs395.
Fishmarket, InterContinental Abu
Dhabi, Al Bateen, 12.30pm to 3pm
and 7pm to 11pm.
Tel: (02) 6666888. www.icauh.ae
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Hilton Dubai Jumeirah is
celebrating its tenth anniversary,
but you’re the ones
receiving all the presents.
It will be deals galore
until October 31, with
Italian eatery Bice
offering a three-course
menu served for ten in
its private dining room
at lunch or dinner for Dhs210
per person, Friday brunch for 10
at Oceana for Dhs100 per person
or Caiparinhas for just Dhs10 each
at Pachanga. A great deal better
than a box of Roses and a bunch of
forecourt flowers in our books.
Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Dubai
Marina, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3182502.
www.hilton.com
KIDS’ MEAL
If you’re ever going to persuade
your little darlings to move out of
the house and leave you in
peace they’ll need to learn
how to survive out in the
big, bad world. Why not
start them off young
with some cooking
lessons? DIFC Italian
Sana Bonta will teach your
bundles of joy to prepare a
lunch menu and dress it up as a
fun time with cake and party hats
for just Dhs80. You’ll never have to
cook again, until they leave home,
that is.
Sana Bonta, Level 1, The Gate
Building, DIFC, Dubai, 11am to 11pm.
ISTOCK
Tel: 800 26682. www.sanabonta
50 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
Rhodes Twenty10
Celebrity chef Gary
Rhodes’ new Dubai
grill is something a
little bit different
The blinking jewel in the UAE’s
culinary crown is, undoubtedly,
its smattering of restaurants
patronised by globally
distinguished ‘celebrity’ chefs.
Those with the keenest glimmer
are responsible for ensuring
the Emirates at least warrant
a mention from international
critics and commentators, and at
best has chefs – including Gary
Rhodes – calling it a food hub.
So the opening of Rhodes
Twenty10 is a big deal. If nothing
else, it shows that the world’s
recent and ongoing financial woes
have not dulled Dubai’s luster. It is
still an appealing sandpit for the
big boys to come and play in.
But, unlike previous celeb
restaurants, Rhodes Twenty10
doesn’t bill itself as a fine dining
establishment. It’s a grill, pure
and simple.
Of course, Gary claims there is
a ‘twist’. Having visited a number
of Dubai’s many grills, he felt
there was something missing –
customer choice. So the menu
is compiled of 12 sharing plates,
various grilled meats and fish with
a choice of sauces, salads and sides
for mains and, finally, desserts.
OK, so it’s not a revolution, but it
doesn’t do any harm.
The décor is, according to Gary,
“a little bit gangster”. There’s even
an intriguing, smoking cocktail
named the Purple Gangster (which
begs to be tried). Again, as with
the concept, there’s nothing radical
about the design, but it’s perfectly
nice. A comfortable bar area hung
with Jack Vettriano prints sits
beside the lower floor’s dark wood
floors, booth seating and statement
chandeliers. Upstairs is a smaller
dining area with a wine wall and
friendlier lighting.
The food itself is simple and
skilfully prepared.
We shared several plump pieces
of sesame-glazed duck with orange
In tweet form… Much talked about grill
with a twist from celeb chef Gary Rhodes
offering simple, well-prepared food and
something a little bit gangster. Follow us
follow me
at WhatsOnDubai and WhatsOnAbuDhabi
and maple dressing on a bed of
bean shoots (duck a l'Orange with
a nod to Asia), a tangy minestrone
soup with lobster and eel, fried in
fine brioche breadcrumbs, which
tasted sublime – one bite coating
the mouth with the intense, fatty
fish flavour.
Next up, perfectly pink lamb
chops – the meat buttery, with
a lovely, flavourful crunch of fat
at the edges and served with a
restrained mint sauce and an
extra Café de Paris butter with a
subtle curry edge. And then a huge
chunk of meaty, organic salmon
with a thick lemon butter sauce.
For sides, crunchy, sweet carrots,
fluffy, new potatoes tossed in
butter, salt, and a peppery rocket
and Parmesan salad.
With just enough space for
dessert, we ordered the warm
treacle tart with marmalade ice
cream and custard. The tart, as
soft and warm as a hug on a cold
day, was followed up nicely by the
slight bitterness of the marmalade.
Paddington Bear would have loved
it, and we did, too.
Gary Rhodes may be a big
name, but if it’s pretentious plates
and pernickety presentation
you’re after, go elsewhere. Rhodes
Twenty10 specialises in homely,
honest grub and accomplished
cooking. And we’ll raise a Purple
Gangster to that.
Need to know
Location: Le Royal Méridien
Beach Resort and Spa, Dubai
Tel: (04) 3995555
Web: www.garyrhodes.com
Open: 7pm to midnight
Cuisine type: grill
Must eat: roast rack of lamb
Bill for two: Dhs630 (without
alcohol)
What’s On
Awards 2010 –
VOTE NOW!
The people’s choice awards are
back – it’s time for you to have your
say. Here’s how to start voting for your
favourite restaurants

There’s nothing restaurants

love more than a sparkling
plaque to proudly hang in the
entrance to their eatery and,
as a result, there are plenty of
awards ceremonies around.
But we like to be unique here
at What’s On, so our awards,
launched in 2001, are the only
major prizes presented to the
UAE’s restaurants voted for by
you – the dining public.
The power is in your hands.
Now here’s how you can use it.
The more observant of you
have probably already spotted
the voting cards currently
adorning the tables of the UAE’s
finest venues, and may even
have already cast your vote.
If not, there are now three
ways to vote for your favourite
restaurant, café, bar, brunch,
concert, club, sporting event,
festival and getaway. The old
fashioned way entails filling
in one of those marvellous
voting slips already mentioned
(they should come with
your bill if you’re eating at a
nominated establishment),
but this year – for the first time
– you can also vote online at
our dedicated awards website
(www.whatsonawards.com)
and via SMS for a measly Dhs3
charge, by texting the name of
the nominee you would like to
vote for along with your e-mail
address to 3908 (Etisalat) or
4478 (Du).
And, because we’re not only
the best-selling entertainment
magazine in town but the
nicest too, casting your vote
will ensure you’re entered
into a draw to win our grand
prize – a five-night stay at the
luxurious Four Seasons Resorts
in the Maldives, with return
flights.
When you’re on the What’s
On Awards site, be sure to
check out the delectable
discounts offered by our
award sponsors MasterCard.
Venues across town are giving
MasterCard holders money off
their bills, just for using their
flexible friend.
Last year’s awards were a
resounding success, especially
for our favourite Japanese
restaurant Zuma who walked
away with four What’s On
Awards. Now, it’s down to
you to ensure the What’s On
Awards 2010, to be held at the
impressive Dubai Media City
Ampitheatre on November 2,
are just as special.
Will Zuma triumph again? Or
will one of the UAE’s many new
restaurants walk away bathed
in glory? It’s up to you.
Now get voting.
www.whatsonawards.com

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 51

 EATING OUT
A taste of Amal
things to Doing it the designer
come way, at Armani’s
contemporary Indian
New places to
satisfy your hunger
ZAFRAN
Michelin-starred Indian-British
chef Atul Kochhar – proprietor
of London’s famed Benares
restaurant – has had
a hand in creating
the impressive Zafran
menu. Head chef Ankur
Chakraborty will serve up
delights such as tandoori
murg, duck confit with citrus
fruit jelly and tomato green
apple and coriander soup. The
restaurant also offers a fine range
of chutneys, but its speciality, as
the name suggests, is dishes with
saffron – everything from salad to
biryanis and well-known dessert
kulfi. Pass the poppadoms.
Mirdif City Centre, Dubai, Sun to
Wed 10am to 10pm, Thurs to Sat
10am to midnight. Tel: (04) 2840987.
www.mirdifcitycentre.com
MIRABEL
Eating in malls can be a pretty
depressing experience. But finally
Abu Dhabi has a place that
bucks the trend with the
opening of this new
French bistro. Serving
some fantastic European
cuisine, we’re counting on
Mirabel to take mall dining
to a whole new level.
Fatouh Al Khair Centre, Airport
Road, Abu Dhabi, 10am to 10pm.
Tel: (02) 6315111
FRESHII
If we keep the financiers healthy,
maybe they will keep the economy
in good nick. Freshii, purveyors
of fast, healthy food, set up
shop in Canada in 2005,
spread across North
America and have now
decided that Dubai needs
to eat clean and green,
opening its first Middle East
branch, where, post-Ramadan,
you will be able to build your own
salads, burritos, wraps, soups and
rice bowls. The moneymen should
keep their beady eyes out for the
VIP coupons due to be handed out
at DIFC. Expect Freshii to spread
across the city soon.
ISTOCK
DIFC, Dubai. www.freshii.com
52 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
Armani, Armani Armani. These
days it’s entirely feasible to put
on an Armani suit, splash on
some Armani aftershave, drive an
Armani inspired Mercedes-Benz
to Dubai’s Armani Hotel, go to an
Armani restaurant, gorge yourself
on Armani food and then crash
out for the night in an Armani
room under Armani sheets on an
Armani bed.
But that all comes with an
Armani price tag, so a Marks &
Spencer two-piece, a blast of
deodorant and a taxi will
do. You don’t necessarily
have to shell out for the
Armani room, either,
but you might not want
to miss out on dinner at
Armani/Amal.
This contemporary Indian
restaurant might well have
been a snagged thread in the
Armani restaurant fabric.
While the brand’s translation
to an Italian, Mediterranean or
modern Japanese format was
always going to be relatively
seamless, some felt Indian
cuisine – vivid, bold and rarely
synonymous with understated
sophistication – might be a stitch
too far. But Armani has a way
of weaving things together, so
that the exciting elements of the
Indian restaurant experience
don’t overshadow the brand’s
trademark neutrality.
Take the live music, for example.
Instead of having the sitar and
tabla players in the dining room,
where a misplaced twang could
easily cramp one’s style, they can
be found in the uncluttered and
serene reception area. Out here
you can choose whether to sit and
listen to the mellifluous musicians
before you eat, or not. They don’t
intrude, they invite. Which is all
very Armani.
Bearing all this in mind, what
Amal doesn’t do is dazzle you
with the strong and pungent
flavours you In fairness, the aam phirni
might expect mango and rice pudding, with its
from Indian gold leaf embellishment, or the
food. Just as the soft, apricot cream with coconut jelly
downplayed beige/grey tones and and apricot foam, are perhaps the
linear simplicity of classic Armani showiest items in the restaurant.
design won’t blind you, neither But even if you don’t wholly buy
will the food bash your taste into the Armani brand, Amal’s
buds into submission. You might temperate approach will ensure,
start with the samundari milan if nothing else, that you remain
crispy tiger prawns, but instead cool in every sense. Isn’t that
of a surge of shuddering spice, what Armani is all about in the
you’ll be more taken aback by the first place?
texture of the seafood, or the mild
piquancy of the pomegranate and
cinnamon dip. Need to know
Likewise, as you unravel the
delights of the slow-cooked Location: Armani Hotel,
braised lamb shanks with pickled Burj Khalifa, Dubai
mashed potato, you won’t feel Tel: 800 276264
the need to gulp cooling lassi in Web: www.dubai.
between mouthfuls – although armanihotels.com
the occasional sip comes highly Open: Open 7pm to 11pm
recommended. The seared seabass Cuisine type: Indian
with crab meat and moilee sauce Must eat: samundari milan
will reveal further evidence of the crispy tiger prawns
ingredients being complemented Bill for two: Meal for two
rather than dominated by herbs Dhs650 (without alcohol)
and spices.
In Tweet form… Armani/Amal, a seamless
blend of high fashion and contemporary
Indian cuisine, stylishly positioned in
follow me
the world's tallest building. Follow us at
WhatsOnDubai and WhatsOnAbuDhabi
The Gramercy
A lively bar serving
decent food at
reasonable prices
We would like to describe The
Gramercy as a gastropub – and
we’re pretty sure they wouldn’t
mind if we did, either – but it’s
not. For in a gastropub, food
is the main draw. Whereas
The Gramercy has, it seems,
primarily gone for the sports bar
angle, complete with a multitude
of big screens showing whatever
main game happens to be on.
This, we think, is a shame, as
they’re really selling themselves –
and their menu – somewhat short.
It is predominantly French,
but there are a few Yank and
Brit classics thrown in to shake
things up a bit. There are a
couple of soups, a handful of
salads, a list of sandwiches,
including a burger and a club,
mains ranging from moules
marinière to bangers and mash,
a few sides and several, mostly
Gallic, desserts – the most
appealing of which is a trio of
crème brûlée.
We ate a garden’s worth of
fat snails in parsley and garlic
‘foam’ (butter), soaking up the
remaining butter with slices
of crusty white bread. This
dish alone would be ideal for
lunch, accompanied by a glass
of restorative rouge. Then
there was the winter buffalo
mozzarella and tomato, which
was supposed to come with
crostini (little toast) but didn’t.
Instead we were presented with
fist-sized chunks of cheese on
a raft of tomato slices, drizzled
with pesto and a scattering of
pine nuts. This dish alone could
see you through the winter.
The soft cod in crunchy
batter, served with a tart tartare
sauce would be acceptable in
any respectable British pub.
It’s just a shame the ‘chips’
were in fact fries – a rooky
error, unforgivable in the UK,
bothersome yet understandable
in the UAE. The hungry
carnivore should splash out the
not too extravagant Dhs155
for the entrecote steak with a
velvety béarnaise sauce, served
– quite properly this time – with
thin-cut fries.
As a sports bar, The Gramercy
isn’t a bad option to catch your
big game (although it was
showing ladies basketball when
we visited, which didn’t seem
to be anybody’s game, big or
otherwise). But we think as a
place to eat, it’s better still.
Need to know
Location: DIFC, Unit 7,
Level 2, Building 3, Dubai
Tel: (04) 4377511
Open: noon to midnight
(food to 10.30pm)
Cuisine type: Pub grub
Must eat: escargot persilles
Bill for two: Dhs350
(without alcohol)

In Tweet form… A busy sports bar slap

bang in the middle of DIFC serving
surprisingly good grub at startlingly wallet
friendly prices. Follow us at WhatsOnDubai
follow me

and WhatsOnAbuDhabi

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 53

 THE CRITIC
James Brennan knows
food. Having written on
everything from bhajis
to burgers for a string of
international publications,
James is now the
Middle East chairman
of the World’s 50 Best
Restaurants judging panel.
Don’t miss his monthly
musings every issue
In the Middle East, eating is
a social act. From the Levant
to the Gulf, food is all about
sharing – as anyone who has ever
been faced with a table plastered
with a mind-boggling spread of
mezze will testify. Perhaps this
goes back to the Bedouin origins
of the region, when hospitality
became a cornerstone of the
culture. But since the family is
a huge part of modern life in
the Arab world, it’s rare not to
share – especially during festive
periods such as Ramadan.
So consider the plight of those
who arrive to work in the UAE
without family and friends.
When new work colleagues are
all otherwise engaged with their
ISTOCK
own lives, it can be tough trying
54 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
to avoid being ‘Billy No-mates’
when eating out. You’ve all seen
him. He’s the solitary chap in the
corner of the restaurant, staring
vaguely into space and trying to
single-handedly work his way
through a fattoush the size of
a football stadium. He needs
a spot of help. He needs social
networking media.
Somebody once described
Facebook as a place to get in
touch with old friends, and
Twitter as a place to meet
new ones. So the Twitter
phenomenon of the food ‘tweet-
up’ (tw-eat-up?) – where people
arrange to meet and eat – can
be a lifesaver for the solo diner.
Members of the UAE’s steadily
growing community of Twitter
users – or tweeps, as they are
sometimes called – regularly
arrange restaurant rendezvous
such as the recent #dxbparatha,
where fans of the famous Indian
flatbread met up at Paratha King
“MEDIA-SAVVY RESTAURANTS
ARE GETTING IN ON THE ACT
TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES
AND BECOME AN ACTIVE
PART OF THE SOCIAL
MEDIA COMMUNITY”
in Dubai for a night of flour-and-
water-based fun and games.
But it’s not just the punters
who are using Twitter to
their advantage. Media-savvy
restaurants are getting in on the
act to promote themselves and
become an active part of the
social media community.
Local food heroes, Wild
Peeta, helped to spread the
word about their revolutionary
fusion shawarmas through
very skilful use of Twitter. And
D’fusion Indian restaurant, at
the Grandeur Hotel in Dubai,
offers a 20 per cent discount
to all Twitter members who
follow them – which is ideal for
tweeting, meeting and eating.
Despite the many top-end
restaurants in the UAE, not
to mention the broad sweep
of independent places, it’s a
relatively new dining culture
here. Where other cities, such as
London, New York and Tokyo,
have sophisticated food and
restaurant counter-cultures – with
secret restaurants and supper
clubs in private homes – this has
yet to materialise in the UAE. But
social media may change all that.
The grapevine is spreading, who
knows where it’ll end up?
 Far from the
madding crowd
Looking for somewhere to
eat in the capital that’s
slightly off the beaten track?
Look no further

CUISINE: Russian
NAME: Russian Waterfalls Café
Once you find this hidden café, you're in for a real treat. The décor
may be slightly on the old side, but the service is friendly and
the Russian-style food is truly superb – think plenty of authentic
soups, stews and pastries to choose from.
MUST EAT: Beetroot borsch
Khalifa Bin Zayed Street, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi,
noon to 10.30pm. Tel: (02) 6311662

CUISINE: Mongolian
NAME: Mongolian Chinese Restaurant
Forget the unimaginative name, this is one of
the best Far Eastern eateries in the city. Many of
the dishes are your usual Chinese fare, but there
are plenty of Mongolian options as well. Our favourite dish is the
Mongolian special noodles, which is rammed with beef, chicken,
nuts and dried fruit.
MUST EAT: Mongolian special noodles
Opposite Beach Rotana Hotel, Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi, noon
to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm. Tel: (02) 6451500

CUISINE: Romanian
NAME: Transylvania
There’s certainly nothing run-of-the-mill about
this Eastern European café, with a menu that
boasts, among a vast array of dishes, such
delights as brains, lungs and various other
internal organs. Quite. But if offal is not up
your street, there are plenty of other delicious
options waiting to be discovered. So for the more timid diner, we
recommend the delightful ostropel puicupiure – diced chicken
served in a mild tomato sauce.
MUST EAT: Ostropel puicupiure
Hamdan Street, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi, noon to 11pm.
Tel: (02) 6311662

CUISINE: Nepalese
NAME: Kathmandu Café
A ramshackle little joint it may be, but the
Kathmandu café serves up an amazing
selection of Nepalese treats. Don’t miss the
momos – chicken dumplings you dip in a mild
curry sauce. Expect the place to be packed – good
food tends not to stay secret for long.
MUST EAT: Momos
Electra Street, Al Markaziiyah, Abu Dhabi, 11am to midnight.
Tel: (02) 6344912
ISTOCK

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 55

ARTS

p58 Seeking Shelter

p59 Vocal Adrenalin
p59 September’s courses
Gundlach Kopie

and events
p60 Five to see
p61 Fashion Forward

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 57

 ARTS

Seeking Shelter
As a drop-in business centre for the crea
tive industries,
ing the wider
Shelter has proved surprisingly adept at serv
creative writing
arts with a series of workshops ranging from
. Communications
and photography to entrepreneurial skills
marriage of art
manager, Janine Fiveash, tells us how the
tch
and commerce proved to be a perfect ma

Shelter’s been open for about 18 months now –

how has it developed over that time?
We’re primarily a business centre – we offer a full
range of drop-in facilities for self-employed and
small-business professionals – and we also have
the membership facility. What has grown from all
this, meanwhile, is all the events, all the workshops
and classes that we run – from photography and
creative writing courses to IT workshops. In this
type of space, your clients are your customers, so it’s
all developed organically – all the classes have been
developed by people in the community coming and
telling us what they need.
So the business centre is set up is to encourage
that sort of interaction?
It is. That’s the whole idea. We’re for the creative
community, anything from publishing to PR to
graphic designers. It’s really important when people
are in the creative industries to network, to share
ideas, because those types of industries are so
reliant on each other. Our idea is for people to be
able to use Shelter as a space to meet people and
other interactions could come from that.
A lot of your most popular courses, such as
writing and photography, are creative rather
than simply practical. Why do you think there’s
such a thirst for that?
Everybody does their job during the day and has
hobbies or something they’d like to develop on the
side. Workshops focused on learning about how been wanting to develop for a long time, and now’s
to use specific software tend to attract people who the opportunity to do it.
need the skills in their work, but if it’s writing, or if Do you run exhibitions in the space?
it’s photography, a lot of it comes down to personal We don’t really have the capabilities of a gallery to
interest. There’s a lot of self-development that people put on exhibitions, but if it’s something more multi-
want to do on the side [of their day jobs]. That said, media then we can accommodate it – we recently
quite a bit of what we’ve got going on at the moment we had a skateboard exhibition, for example. We
is entrepreneurial workshops – for Dhs50 a session have our store at the front where people in the
anybody looking to start up a business can come and community can showcase their art or anything
listen to different entrepreneurs from the UAE talk they’ve created – it could be notebooks, it could be
about their experiences and offer advice. T-shirts. So there is the opportunity for local artists
Do you think people’s growing interest in and designers to showcase their talents at Shelter.
pursuing creative or entrepreneurial work is a You recently opened a branch in Sharjah, right?
result of recent economic events? Yes – we have a lot more focus on students in
Very much so. There are a lot of people who have Sharjah because of the universities there. And also,
lost their jobs but had ideas up their sleeve they’ve a lot of people who live there don’t want to come to

58 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010

 ARTS

Vocal
Adrenalin
If you’ve ever had a
secret yearning to
see your name up
in lights, this little
number could be
right on the money
for you. The Desert
Monologues is a
seven-week, 16-hour
course of acting
workshops that takes
participants through
various drama-based
activities, working on
voice, presentation
and stage craft, among other things, and which
culminates in a recorded live performance,
complete with lighting, sound, make-up and
costume – just the thing to kick your show reel
off in style.
Courses are open to all levels, from
experienced performers to first-timers, and
it’s not just budding actors who benefit. “A
lot of people take the course to help them
with their confidence in public speaking or
business presentations,” explains Tiffany Shultz
of Drama Workshops Dubai, the group behind
the programme. Better yet, she notes, the
Monologues offer “a great way to overcome
shyness and come out of one’s shell in a fun
and supportive environment”.
The next course is scheduled to start at
“Most people walk out Ductac in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates at the
with a good feeling end of this month (although there are some
planned for Abu Dhabi, too; find out more
about the space, they through the website). Plenty of time, in other
come back again, they words, for you to get ready for your close-up.
tell their friends” Sept 30 to Oct 2, Drama Workshops Dubai.
www.dramaworkshopsdubai.com

Dubai to use the space here. They’ll maybe come

September
every two weeks, whereas with the space in Sharjah
we wanted to create a community for the people
there. We’re located on the first level of the Maraya
Arts Centre – there are two galleries above us, so
it’s a great creative space, too. There might be the courses and
possibility for us to move into Abu Dhabi as well.
We’re still in negotiations, but there’s the potential
for that.
events
It shows how popular the initiative’s been... ● Go Solo Entrepreneurial Workshops
Exactly – it’s growing. Most people walk out with (Wednesday, September 8, 8pm to 10pm)
a good feeling about the space, they come back ● Internet Marketing Training (five weekly
again, they tell their friends about us. sessions from Monday, September 20)
Shelter, Warehouse 209, 318 Road, Al Quoz, ● Speak Dating (Sunday, September 26)
Industrial 4, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4345655. ● GeekFest (Thursday, September 29)
www.shelter.ae

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 59

 ARTS

Five to see

ÅSUMAYYAH AL SUWAIDI’S RAMADAN

ART BAZAAR
Abu Dhabi’s Ghaf Gallery has been “overwhelmed”, it tells us, with
the community spirit of the Holy Month and is giving a little back
ÅTHE STORY OF ISLAMIC ART IN 99 OBJECTS courtesy of this impressive show. Original work by 24 artists is on
This exhibition in honour of Ramadan – the culmination of an display and all for sale – at no more than Dhs400 per piece. The
educational partnership between the Farjam Collection and idea is that almost everyone is given the opportunity to own an
Zayed University – sets out, as the name suggests, to offer an original artwork. A noble cause indeed.
overview of the history of Islamic art, from the first to 14th century Until Sept 9, Ghaf Gallery, Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi, free.
AH. Encompassing manuscripts, Qurans, calligraphy, metalwork, Tel: (02) 6655332. www.ghafgallery.com
jewellery, miniatures and more, it’s an enticing introduction to the
centuries-long creative history of the region. ÉSUMMER
Until mid-Sept, Farjam Collection, Gate Village 4, DIFC, off Zabeel Road, COLLECTION
Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 3230303. www.farjamcollection.com After a half-time break for
August, this fascinating group
show is back on XVA’s walls for
another few weeks. If you were
unlucky enough to miss it the
first time around (all the way
back in July), don’t make the
same mistake again. The bold
and colourful photography
from new-to-the-UAE artist,
Sameer Reddy, is worth the visit
to Bur Dubai alone.
Until September 22, XVA Gallery,
Bastakiya, Bur Dubai, free. Tel: (04)
3535383. www.xvagallery.com

ÑKALIMAT
Translating from Arabic to
English as ‘words’, Kalimat is a
group exhibition of pieces that,
ÅA STORY OF ISLAMIC EMBROIDERY IN while they all contain elements
NOMADIC AND URBAN TRADITIONS of the written word, reveals the
Not so much back by, as still here by, popular demand, A Story depth to which traditional and
of… has been extended until the end of September. And there are current practices are brought
several more reasons to visit if you haven’t already – namely a series together in contemporary
Artist: Salman Al Hajiri

of workshops throughout Ramadan, including one that teaches Middle Eastern art.
you to create your own llgich wall hanging. Don’t miss your very Until Sept 13, Ductac, Mall of the
last chance (we think) to catch this impressive show. Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Until Sept 25, Gallery One, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, free. Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 3414777.
Tel: (02) 6908207. www.artsabudhabi.ae www.ductac.org

60 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010

Fashion
Forward

WATSON

Zafran
spices up Mirdif City Centre
with Indian contemporary cuisine

Up until the middle of the last century, fashion photography

was mostly confined to the studio, a largely formal exercise in
displaying the wares in as straightforward a way as possible. Sir
Norman Parkinson, however, changed all that with a series of Welcome to an experience full of
photoshoots – for Vogue, among many others – that not only flavors in Zafran, NOW OPEN
took models outside, but into exotic locations that few readers at in Mirdif City Centre.
the time would have had the chance to visit. Where he led others
followed, and the ‘location’ shoot became commonplace, as much Zafranʼs Chef Ankur Chakraborty
a part of the fashion story as the smocks and frocks themselves.
has reinvented Indian cooking
A new exhibition at the Empty Quarter gallery sets out to
offering a wide selection of
showcase this with a typically Middle Eastern slant. Not only
traditional favorites, unusual and
because the deserts and monuments of the region held a special
modern tastes coupled with a
fascination for snappers from FC Gundlach to William Klein, but
range of dishes featuring saffron
to reveal a link to fashion heritage that has perhaps up until now
in homage to its name.
not necessarily been associated with the Middle East.
Alongside classic fashion imagery from the trade’s most
Enjoy Indian contemporary cuisine
legendary 20th century names, this is done with a special focus
with a twist, presented in a bright
on the life – and wardrobe – of Parveen Shaath, who worked
tirelessly through the latter part of last century to bring fashion and modern setting.
to the women of Saudi Arabia, building an unrivalled collection
of couture garments along the way. Featuring imagery as well
Indian Contemporary Cuisine
as garments from Shaath’s collection, the show succinctly
proves that art and fashion are most certainly cut from the same Central Galleria, 1st Floor, Mirdif City Centre, Dubai, UAE
aesthetic cloth. T: +971.4.2840987 | F: +971.4.2840915
Sept 17 to Oct 14, Empty Quarter Gallery, Gate Village building 02, zafranmirdif@zafran.ae | www.landmarkgroupme.com
DIFC, off Zabeel Road, Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 3231210.
www.theemptyquarter.com

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 61

SHOPPING

p65 Catwalk countdown

p68 Sophia says...

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 63

 THE DUBAI MALL
DEIRA CITY CENTRE
MERCATO
BURJUMAN
MIRDIF CITY CENTRE
ARABIAN CENTER
MARINA MALL
AL WAHDA MALL
AL JIMI MALL
gap.ae

The styles that matter, the designers who

count and how to pull it all together this
coming autumn/winter

MENSWEAR Sasha Pivovarova

the New Stretch
Legging Jean

DSQUARED2
DENIM DELIGHTS
Ever since the 1980s, the jacket, tee and
jeans combo has fought valiantly to cast
off its Miami Vice references, causing
chaos for legions of men stuck in a
dubious smart-casual wasteland. The call
to arms this autumn came in the shape
of nicely tailored jackets in a restrained
colour palette, with nary an eye-poking
shoulder pad in attendance. Pair with
raggedy-chic jeans and a decent dose of
‘don’t mess with me’ attitude as seen at
DSquared2, or prep it up Moschino style.
Don Johnson may have won the battle,
but it looks like good taste could yet
bring home the war.
LANVIN

© Gap 2010
MAN OF MYSTERY
This is a look that says: ‘Yes, I have just paraglided
out of that top floor window to escape my evil
nemesis and save the world’, with its sharp suiting
so playfully tucked into bovver boots. Nice. Although,
truth told, we’re not sure just how well it’s going to
translate on the mean streets of DIFC. Versace typically
took things a little too literally on the tight trousers
memo with some gasp inducing leather numbers (ditch
their glovelets, too; the world isn’t quite ready for a
Prince style revival). That aside, neat cuts are key in slim-
Gap’s Best Fitting
line trousers and natty jackets. The devil is in the detail: Premium Jeans
finish with a tiepin and well-polished boots, a la Lanvin.
Are Now All
DOLCE&GABBANA In The Details
HARD KNOCK LIFE Born To Fit
While womenswear designers (with the exception of spring/summer’s
egalitarian dalliance by Ralph Lauren) steadfastly refuse to make any sort of
aesthetic nods to the dastardly recession, menswear is altogether a little more
realistic. The dress down working man hoisted up his haversack and hitched
a ride to fashion week. While a little bit of us died inside at the news of the
resurgence of cargo pants, this trend does have much to recommend it, not
least the excuse to really dress down. Opt for scruff-luxe over gone for broke by
smart colour blocking and upmarket accessories – read good shoes and belt.

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 65

WOMENSWEAR

BACK IN BLACK
If ‘black tailoring’ sounds more like
M&S’ menswear suiting department
than a bona fide fashion trend, this
autumn/winter may cause you to
think again. Supremely cut, head-to-

© Gap 2010
toe noir dominates, running the full
stylistic gamut, with more variety
LANVIN
of shape than a bag of pick-n-mix.
Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton proudly
GUCCI
announced ‘breasts are back’ with
fabulous, uplift bestowing, cinched
in waist, full skirted 1950s dresses
paired with cute cropped jackets,
ALTUZARRA
while the likes of Altuzarra had
raided the dominatrix dress-up box
for laced leather numbers. Elevate
this from the ranks of yawn-dom by
ensuring the tailoring is determined
and the fit is flattering.

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON Sean O’Pry

Straight
SplitPocket

GOLD INDEX
With the price of the bling stuff on every savvy investor’s
watch list, it’s only inevitable that glitz features large
on the fashion radar. In this town, oh so beloved of all
that sparkles and shimmers, stay classy by selecting the
more burnished hues, and dilute with monochrome
and tan bedfellows in the style of Mary Katrantzou and
LANVIN Lanvin. Further avoid tack-orama by ensuring the fit
is more tailored than tight and please, by great Odin’s
raven, never ever wear gold whilst flashing both legs and
décolletage; unless, of course, lady of the night is the
look you had in mind.

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

MOSCHINO
SUNSET SPECTRUM
It’s that magical hour of dusk when
the sky is filled with a veritable
rainbow of shades: from deep brick
red, through flame orange, to peachy
pink. Osman experimented with coral,
a bold departure from his all white
last season, while more autumnal
hues of burgundy highlighted the
Gucci collection. This spells a brilliant
compromise between winter’s darker
side and the joy of colour; and good
news that purple, so long ruling the
cold weather roost, has seen its day. BOTTEGA VENETA
The piece de la resistance sashayed its
way down the runway in the form of
flowing pink Bottega Veneta, the very BOTTEGA VENETA
epitome of summer’s last sunset.

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 67

 Got a fashion
question for
Sophia?
E-mail

Sophia says...
editor-wo@motivate.ae

We drag the oh-so stylish Sophia

Triantafillou away from the helm
at Emirates Woman into the grubby
What’s On office to answer your
wardrobe woes

What height high heels should I be
looking out for this season?
Susan, Mirdif
It’s not so much heel heights this season, but
the height of the styles themselves. As we
now turn the corner into A/W10, there are a
plethora of boots on offer from shoe boot,
over the knee, flat and yeti style –
the shelves are stocked with them
all. If boots are not on top of your
shopping list, high heels should be
as bigger (or in this case higher) is
best this season.
All shoes available
from Boutique 1
I’m off to Italy soon for a holiday. What
items should I take to fit in with the
stylish locals?
Benjamin, Bur Dubai
First things first – leave your socks at home.
Your jeans should be replaced with chinos
(the more colourful the better) and a crisp
Jasmine Tookes
white shirt and pinstriped jacket will see you
suitably dressed for dinner at any palatial
the Graphic
Cuffed Real palazzo. For the beach, a V-neck T-shirt
Straight
with your swimsuit will suffice and if you
really want to give the Italians a run for their
money, don a pair of espadrilles or Gucci
loafers for a classic Mediterranean look.
Where should I be shopping for a
good lightweight suit? I don't want to
look like the man from Del Monte, but
everywhere I look seems to sell regular
fabrics.
Carlos, Dubai Marina
© Gap 2010
White jeans. Too Liz Hurley and a
laundry disaster waiting to happen?
Or a good fashion staple for this part of
the world? I'm conflicted. Help!
Karen, Al Ain
In our warm climate, white jeans are a
wardrobe do, so knock yourself out trying
different styles. If you have a special place for
skinny jeans, Gap 1969 and Top Shop (Baxter
style) are the best and H&M also do a great
slim fit. The one, very important
key to white jeans is to keep
them clean and white, so soak
them overnight before putting
them in the washing machine.
If you want to take a step in a
fashion forward direction, try this
new take on white jeans from
Zadig & Voltaire and accessorise
with autumnal colours for a cool
look at a summer classic.
I travel a lot for work and need to invest
in a good winter coat. Any suggestions
on style?
Ali, Abu Dhabi
The coat of choice for men this winter is of
the double-breasted variety. Whether it’s
long or short, leather or cashmere, this coat
is a classic that has been born again this
season and it is a stunning as ever. To stay
on the safe side, don’t buy it so big that it
swamps you, but make sure it's big enough
to fit a shirt or sweater underneath.

As far as I am aware, the racing season has

not begun in the UAE, therefore there is no
reason for you to purchase a lightweight suit
that is associated with such events. Trust me
and go with the ‘regular’ fabrics – a wool and
cashmere mix is best and guaranteed to keep
you as cool, and far more fashionable, than a
suit made from any other fabric.

68 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010

MIND & BODY
p73 His ‘n’ hers
p75 Slim with us!
p76 Spa deals
p77 The verdict:
back waxing

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 71

 A DIVISION OF LANDMARK RETAIL LTD.

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this Ramadan

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Walk in to Home Centre and pick up your favourite painting from this year's
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will be contributed to Unicef.

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6814050, Dalma Mall: 5502415 • Sharjah, Sahara Centre: 5316116, Al Qassimia Road: 5668899 • Fujairah: 2232630 • Al Ain, Al Jimi Mall: 7621002 • Ras Al Khaimah: 2271555
Saudi Arabia • Kuwait • Bahrain • Qatar • Oman • Jordan • Egypt • India www.homecentre.net

His‘n’hers
Our guy and gal check out the Fairmont’s spa
His
DEEP MUSCLE
MELT
TALK US THROUGH IT…
A ten-minute steam in the vast
Hammam-style steam room, a
quick Jacuzzi among the kitsch
Roman columns and then one of
the best massages I’ve had in some
time. Ginger and black pepper
(two of my favourite smells)
essential oils are liberally applied
and then a deep tissue massage of
the highest calibre is administered,
honing in on all the achy bits with
finger point accuracy. Throw in
foot and scalp massages and you’re
golden.
THE BEST BIT?
Having asked the therapist to
concentrate on my upper back –
sore after my beginner’s sailing
lesson (p31) – it has to be the
blissful few minutes the talented
gentleman spent kneading away
the pain.
ANY AWKWARD MOMENTS?
It’s always the pants, isn’t it?
Willow Stream doesn’t keep them
in the lockers, which means there’s
an awkward ‘would you like
undergarments, sir?’ moment. You
never know, do you? Fortunately, I
said yes. Wouldn’t want to Jacuzzi
au naturel. It’s just not done.
HOW WERE THE DISPOSABLE
PANTS?
It was pretty snug in those navy
net briefs, but not too bad, so all
was well in the end.
SLEEP FACTOR?
You don’t want to fall asleep
ISTOCK
during this one. You’d miss all the
fun. The pleasure is in feeling the
pain retreat. This is truly expert
muscle manipulation.
WHO SHOULD GET
INVOLVED?
Anyone who likes a no fuss
massage that gets the job done,
but in a luxurious setting.
HOW MUCH AND HOW LONG? the faint aroma of vanilla ice
A not too expensive Dhs550 for 90 cream for a few hours afterwards.
minutes – but you’ll wish it lasted
just a little bit longer.
MIND & BODY
Hers
ENRICH LUXURY
MASSAGE
TALK US THROUGH IT…
Arrive early to use the Grecian-
style steam rooms and Jacuzzi,
then snuggle down on the heated
massage bed. This one-hour
treatment uses Aromatherapy
Associates’ Enrich oil, a
nourishing blend of rose and
vanilla (definitely one for the
ladies), to hydrate your skin while
muscles are manipulated into a
state of slumber.
THE BEST BIT?
The oils smell delicious, so I had
ANY AWKWARD MOMENTS?
Nope, none. Quite the feat for
What’s On’s clumsiest kid.
HOW WERE THE DISPOSABLE SLEEP FACTOR?
PANTS? High. There was a bit of chat with
Stretchy, navy knit mini-shorts. the English therapist, then the
M&S might want to get in touch conversation stopped abruptly
about selling them. when I fell into a coma.
WHO SHOULD GET
INVOLVED?
The oils are really hydrating, so
it’s great if you’ve spent too much
time in the sun or just want to feel
and smell fantastic.
HOW MUCH AND HOW LONG?
Dhs420 for an hour of sweet
smelling, muscle relaxing bliss.
Willow Stream Spa, Fairmont
Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai. Tel: (04) 3118800. www.
celebrateaclassic.com
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 73
VOTE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN
A TRIP FOR TWO TO A DREAM
DESTINATION
VOTE NOW FOR YOUR FAVOURITE INSPIRATIONAL WOMAN AND YOU COULD WIN VIP TICKETS TO THE
EVENT, A NIGHT AT PARK HYATT DUBAI PLUS A TICKET TO A DREAM DESTINATION COURTESY OF ETIHAD
AIRWAYS. CLOSING DATE FOR VOTING IS OCTOBER 31, 2010. SEE WEBSITE FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
VOTE AT:

WWW.EMIRATESWOMANAWARDS.COM

Slim with us!
It’s all about girl power
this month, with a team of
Dubai 92 listeners signing
up for a clash of the sexes
World War 92. A bloody battle of nerve,
strength and fitness. Two teams, two genders,
one goal – to improve the most in 12 weeks.
I unwittingly volunteered for the challenge,
swept up in captain Nathalie’s enthusiasm and
turned up for the first session. It all became
worryingly clear. We were up against the
boys’ team and, with the help of Amy from
Urban Energy Fitness, it was our mission
to get fighting fit and beat them at a series
of exercises. Panic swept through the group
– how could we, a bunch of girls, compete
against an army of hairy men when it came
to burpees, push-ups and worse?
Luckily, it’s all done on a percentage
improvement so we wouldn’t be expected
to do more than the men, just beat our own
fitness levels. But first, our fitness would have
to be tested. For anyone who hasn’t done the
‘beep test’, I hope for your sake it stays that
way. Many of us had immediate flashbacks
to smelly sports halls, unflattering gym kits
and sadistic PE teachers with whistles. A
quick check confirmed that trainer Amy had
a whistle. The test involves running between
two cones 20 metres apart before the beep
sounds, with the beep getting gradually faster.
Sounds simple, but it’s truly horrendous.
After that little gem (no, I’m not telling you
how I did – but let’s just say I wasn’t leading
the pack…) we moved on to one-minute
challenges. With 60 seconds on the clock
we partnered up and did as many push-
ups – no knees on the ground here – as we
could manage. Then the same for sit-ups
MIND & BODY
FOLLOW MY BLOG ON….
http://dubaidietdiary.wordpress.com
and burpees. The stopwatch came out again
to see how long we could last doing a wall
squat, with superstar Simone barely breaking
a sweat at four minutes, and we ended with
the plank, many of our broken bodies barely
lasted past the 30 second mark.
Admittedly, if we were a dishonest bunch
we could have underperformed in this initial
test, so our improvement was exaggerated 12
weeks later, but we were all keen to show we
deserved a place on the team so sweated it out
and suffered the subsequent aches and pains.
We recently reached a month of training
so our fitness was tested again. With many
of us doing more classes with Urban Energy,
like kick-boxing on Mondays and circuits on
Wednesday, in addition to our weekly Sunday
sessions, we predicted big changes. I won’t say
too much in case Dubai 92’s Tom and Dan are
reading (check out my sabotage on p39), but
there was massive progress across the board
and with two months to go, we’re bound to be
crowned the queens of fitness. Watch out lads.
And lay off those burgers.
Urban Energy Fitness.
www.urbanenergyfitness.com
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 75
 MIND & BODY

Spa deals
The best beauty bargains this month
THE SPA AT THE PALACE
Only have an hour but need some
EXCLUSIVE serious pampering? The Palace’s
READER 60-Minute Wonder package allows
you to choose three treatments from
OFFER! a list, including a hydrating facial,
Oriental scalp massage, foot and
ankle massage, Oriental body scrub,
hot stone massage and a neck and
back massage. Each treatment lasts
20 minutes and you can then enjoy access to the relaxation room,
Oriental bathhouse, steam room, Jacuzzi and outdoor pool, if you
have time, all for Dhs360.
The Spa, The Palace, Old Town, Dubai, Sun to Wed 9am to 10pm.
Tel: (04) 4287805

CHI SPA
Book a signature massage at
Take this page to Natural Elements Spa at Le Méridien the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri’s
Dubai and you’ll get 50 per cent off when you book tremendous Chi Spa this month
a iLa Kundalini back massage (usual price Dhs400). and they’ll offer you 50 per cent off
This treatment uses breathing techniques and gentle the detoxifying coffee scrub. The
massage to awaken the powerful Kundalini energy treatment, which normally costs
at the base of the spine, to balance chakras, relax Dhs400, is guaranteed to perk you
and energise. up and is much better for you than
Natural Elements Spa, Le Méridien Dubai, Airport Road, a vanilla frappuccino.
Garhoud, Dubai, Sat to Fri 8am to 10pm. Tel: (04) 2170000 Chi Spa, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri,
Abu Dhabi, 10am to 10pm. Tel: (02)
5555888. www.shangri-la.com
PASTELS
Pastels is giving you plenty of add- THAI PRIVILEGE SPA
ons this month. Book a Guinot or Until September 15, the talented
Dermalogica facial and you’ll get team at TPS are offering a special
free eyebrow waxing or threading. Eid package, valued at Dhs525, for
Or, if you opt for a full set of eyelash just Dhs350. It includes henna on
extensions, you can complete the the hands, an organic natural hair
look with a complimentary eyebrow treatment, wash and professional
tint or threading. Hands and feet aren’t neglected, with a half price blow-dry followed by a 30-minute back massage. It’s perfect for a
paraffin wax treatment when you book a manicure or pedicure. pre-Eid party pamper.
Pastels, Villa 873, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah, Dubai, Sat to Thurs 9am to Thai Privilege Spa, 1047 Uttamah Villas, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah,
7pm. Tel: (04) 3947393. www.pastels-salon.com Dubai, 10am to 10pm. Tel: (04) 3489679

THE SPA AT THE ADDRESS ZEN SPA

Spoil yourself this summer with a Being wrapped in Cellophane is
cheeky trip to the spa. Ladies can not a treatment designed for the
enjoy a 30 per cent discount on claustrophobic. But if you can
treatments, plus free access to the brave the restricting experience
fitness centre and pool Sunday to for an hour, it’s one of the most
Thursday, from 10am to 2pm at The beneficial therapies out there. The
Address Dubai Mall until the end of treatments, which use a variety
September. Choose any treatment of skin revitalising oils, including
from the vast menu then enjoy the frankincense and vanilla, all cost
facilities at this downtown hotel. Dhs377.
The Spa, The Address Dubai Mall, Old Zen Spa, Beach Rotana Hotel, Abu
Town, Dubai, 10am to 10pm. Dhabi, 10am to 10pm. Tel: (02)
Tel: (04) 4388025 6979000. www.rotana.com

76 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010


The verdict:
back waxing
Need to rid yourself
of a bit of excess fur?
Try Man/Age spa’s
back wax – if you’re
brave enough
THE SALES PITCH:
Aside from a dentist, there’s
probably nobody we would wish
to annoy less than a person who
is paid to rip strips of hair from
your body. So it’s with some
trepidation that we edge slowly
into Dubai Media City’s Man/Age
spa, where we’ve been promised
one of the most dreaded of all male
grooming treatments – the back
wax. It’s all smiles from the staff
inside – well, it would be – who
assure us that we have nothing to
fear. In fact, they insist the back
wax is increasingly popular with
men, pointing out that many
a Hollywood star flaunts their
hairless back on the silver screen
these days and that ‘manscaped
metrosexuals’ are all the rage in the
pages of glossy fashion magazines.
Struggling to think of a hairy-
backed movie star, bar maybe King
Kong or Clyde from Every Which
Way But Loose, we concede the
point, and feel happy when our
therapist points out that it is also
more hygienic to be hairless. So
making the transition from hirsute
yeti to something resembling a
bald bodied Daniel Craig is not
just a sign of vanity. We’re doing
it to stay clean, and the ladies will,
apparently, love it.
THE TREATMENT:
Ah. We knew there’d be a catch to
this movie star treatment. Despite
the soothing music being piped
in, we can’t help but feel, well, a
“Despite the soothing music,
we can’t help but feel, well,
a little nervous as we lie face
down on the massage table”
/GADGETS
/GEAR
/TECHNOLOGY
/ONLINE
little nervous as we lie facedown
on the massage table. A liberal
spreading of antiseptic to the skin,
plus a magnolia numbing cream
to minimise the pain, doesn’t
really help with the nerves, before
the hot wax is spread on our back.
Placing a strip on the wax, the
therapist quickly tears it off, taking
with it the wax, a lot of hair and
a small part of our dignity. We’re
not going to lie to you – it was
no picnic. The process becomes
more painful as the therapist nears
the neck, but after 45 minutes
our back was as bare as a baby’s
proverbial and it wasn’t as bad
as we first feared. Indeed, our
therapist even says that one of her
regular clients is so used to it he
OR LD ’S BEST-
falls asleep (what a man he must
THE W
ADGET
SELLING GE IS NOW...
be), so maybe we’re just on the
wimpy side?
E
MAGAZIN
LIN
THE VERDICT:
ON
If it’s good enough for Beckham
and Bond, it’s good enough for
us. There was, shall we say, the
odd pang of pain, but the smooth
results made it worthwhile, and
the friendly and knowledgeable
staff put us at ease.
Arjaan Bld, Media City, Dubai, back
and shoulders Dhs190, full body
Dhs550. Tel: (04) 4370868
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 77
 Got a fitness
question for
James?

SPORT & OUTDOOR

E-mail
otivate.ae
editor-w @m
o

Mr Fitness extensions. Now that we have the exercises

Our resident exercise guru
answers your health and
fitness questions
I’ve just signed up for a 10km run. At
the moment, I can just about jog once
round Safa Park.
Neil, Bur Dubai
The important thing to remember is that
plodding around at a comfortable pace is not
necessarily going to equal a fast time. Make
sure you are getting in the gym and working
with weights to get your muscles, tendons
and ligaments as strong as possible and ready
for the job in hand. You should look to start
doing some interval work around Safa Park.
So rather than just jogging all the way round,
run harder for a set distance, then walk/jog
until you have recovered and repeat. One of
the things that made me faster was doing a
hard hill program on a treadmill once per
week, alongside the intervals, as well as one
long, slower run. On top of all this, if you are
carrying excess weight then get your diet in
check and watch the body fat drop off. Lastly,
whatever happens, run your own race and
finish it. Next time you will have a time to
compete against.
What’s the benefit of protein shakes
and when should I have them?
Praveen, Jumeirah
First, let me be clear. I would always
recommend trying to get all of your
sources of macronutrients (protein, fats and
carbohydrates) from whole food as a first
choice. However, this is not to say that I
don’t recommend supplementation, where
appropriate. One of the most important
times is directly after you have finished your
training session. At this point your body
is under extreme stress and is looking for
nutrients in order to help it start re-building
itself, so I would definitely recommend a fast
ingesting carb/protein style drink with ratio
of 2:1. If you feel that you are going to go a
long time without being able to eat a proper
meal, then I would also suggest a protein
supplement of some sort. If you are looking
to drop body fat, then base most of your
meals around sources of proteins and good
fats and save the protein and carbohydrate
meals for training time. You can eat
vegetables to fill you up in abundance.
Are tricep dips enough to keep the
dreaded 'bingo wings' at bay?
Yvette, Dubai Marina
Effective tricep dips are performed with
body weight, off parallel bars (imagine a
gymnast) as opposed to the version which
are done off the side of a bench (insert
all sorts of shoulder dysfunctions). If you
struggle with ‘proper’ dips then look to
substitute them with close grip dumb-bell
or barbell press variations or lying tricep
out of the way, we need to focus on the
rest of the story. Flabby triceps, or ‘bingo
wings’ can be closely linked to low levels
of androgens, ie testosterone, which is why
it generally affects the female population.
So alongside a well-structured training
programme, here are some lifestyle changes
that will aid in their reduction: Limit your
alcohol consumption; eat more vegetables;
up your protein intake; stay hydrated;
consume red meat; get adequate sleep.
Can you recommend a quick 25-
minute training programme that I can
do each morning? I need to lose about
5kg and have given myself a month.
Jeff, Mirdif
Firstly, losing 5kg in a month is possible,
but it is going to take commitment. Just
ensure that you put the same energy into
getting your nutrition right, as that is
perhaps more important than exercise.
For a workout, try a variation of something
called Energy Density Training (EDT).
Choose two big movements, such as the
body weight squat and push up. Alternate
these two exercises, completing six to eight
reps of each, in sequence, for ten minutes
and record the number of total rounds
completed. Then rest for three minutes and
do the sequence again using two different
exercises. The aim is to complete more
rounds than your previous workout.
What Mr Fitness James Houghton
doesn't know about staying healthy
isn't worth knowing. In his seven
years as a personal trainer, he's
helped West End actresses lose the
pounds and worked with the Arabian
Gulf rugby sevens team to keep them
in peak condition.

wagamama
The Greens
Tel 04 361 5757
wagamama
Al Fattan Towers
Tel 04 399 5900
PROUDLY OPERATES (Open daily noon to midnight, deliveries)
info@rmalhospitality.ae www.rmalhospitality.com/wagamama.asp

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 79

 SPORT & OUTDOOR
Sports shorts
High-octane happenings
Rock‘n’bowl
Some may argue bowling is not a real sport, but we share the great
Homer Simpson’s love of garishly coloured balls and silly shoes. So
our bowling fingers began twitching at the news that a new ‘state-
of-the-art’ bowling centre is open in Ibn Battuta Mall. What exactly
makes it so different isn’t clear, but Switch Bowling promises not just
12 lanes, but billiard tables and four karaoke studios as well. It’s like
rock ‘n’ bowl.
Switch Bowling, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai, Sun to Wed 10am to 10pm, Thurs
to Sat 10am to midnight. Tel: (04) 4405961. www.ibnbattutamall.com
ISTOCK
Enter the dragon
The Abu Dhabi Dragon Boat Festival is now in its third year and has
become one of the highlights of the capital’s sporting calendar.
You’re invited to form a team with your mates and row your way to
glory this October. It costs Dhs10,000 for corporate or social teams,
Dhs2,000 for schools or universities or Dhs500 for single entries,
which includes two training sessions, use of a boat and tickets to the
after-party. Each team can have up to 20 members, but you’ll need to
get your entries in by September 23.
Oct 8 to 9, Abu Dhabi Dragon Boat Festival, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri,
Abu Dhabi. Tel: (04) 3944048. www.sirenconsulting.com
80 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
Start your engines
If the vicarious rush of November’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix doesn’t
sufficiently jiggle your juices and you think you could do a better job
behind the wheel than Button, Hamilton and co, October’s Formula
Gulf 1000 is just the thing for you. If you are between 15 and 25,
hold a FIA National Race Licence in a Gulf country, have competed
in three races in a recognised race series, have one year of karting
experience or have completed a race school, you have September
to sign up for one of the 15 FG 1000 places. Oh yes, and you’ll need
Dhs309,400. But for that you’ll be schooled in the art of driving by
top professional coaches and take part in 16
races at Yas Marina and Dubai Autodrome
for the chance to win a scholarship to
compete in the UK’s Formula Renault
BARC Championship. This could be
the first step on the road to F1 glory.
Only serious petrol heads need
apply. The rest of us can watch come
October, though.
Tel: (04) 3415438. www.fg1000.net
ISTOCK
Hoop dreams
Duplays, the UAE’s biggest sports league organisers, will be starting
up a weekly basketball tournament in the capital this month. Here’s
your chance to show that you’re a better baller than LeBron James
and Shaquille O’Neal put together. We’ve always dreamt of doing a
spectacular slam-dunk, which shatters the glass board behind
the hoop.
Duplays, Al Jazira Sports Club, Airport Road, Abu Dhabi, Tuesdays from
Sept 21, 7.30pm, Dhs400 for individuals, Dhs3,200 for teams. Tel: (055)
2240186. www.duplays.com
 THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN & AROUND DUBAI
VE ON YOUR OWN-WITH
GET ACTI FAMILY OR FRIENDS
DESERT SAFARI
A COOL EVENING IN THE MYSTERIOUS DUBAI DESERT..
Dune Bashing - Sand Boarding - Camel Riding
Henna Tattoos - Shisha - Belly Dance DHS 170
& Lavish Buffet cum BBQ Dinner - Coffee - Soft Drinks Per Person
Pick-up and drop by 4WD
Timings: Pick-up 3.30-4.00pm , Drop Back 9:00 to 9:30pm (approx.)

DHOW CRUISE WITH DINNER

AN EVENING OF CHARM & ELEGANCE
On a Traditional Two Tier Arabian Wooden Dhow DHS 140
Two Hours Cruising - Soft Music Per Person
Lavish Buffet Dinner -Tea - Coffee - Soft Drinks
Timings: 8.30PM To 10.30 PM (approx.)

MOUNTAIN SAFARI TO HATTA WADI

DUBAI RED DUNES, MOUNTAINS & WADI SPECTACULAR
Dune bashing at Big Red, Sand Boarding, Thrilling
Mountain & Wadi drive, Hatta Freshwater Pools,
DHS 300
Per Person
Heritage Village, Lunch at Hatta Fort Hotel
Pick-up and drop by 4WD
Timings: Pick-up 8.00 AM, Drop Back 2.30 PM (approx.)

DEEP SEA FISHING

A MUST DO DUBAI DAY OUT EXPERIENCE
Exclusive charter or on Sharing basis in the hottest sailfish
DHS 500
Sharing Per Person
venue in the world. Fishing equipment - Equipped & Fully 0
DHS ive240
Upto
Insured - Experienced Skipper & Crew - Light Refreshments Exclus
8 Pax.
Pick-up and Drop-back facility included

AMAZING DIBBA
HAVE A PRO-ACTIVE DAY OUT
Cruising - Swimming - Snorkeling - Banana Boat ride & DHS 320
hand line Fishing Refreshments & Buffet Lunch served on board. Per Person
Pick-up and drop back facility included
Timings: Pick-up: 7.00 -7.30 AM, Drop Back: 6.30 - 7.00 PM (approx.)

SPECTACULAR KHASAB
HAVE A GREAT DAY OUT
Cruise to Scenic Fjords, Swim, Snorkel & Do Dolphin Watching
Refreshments & Lunch served on board. DHS 520
Six Hours Dhow Trip from Khasab Harbour Per Person
Pick-up and drop back facility included
Timings : Pick-up 6:30 - 7:00AM, Drop Back : 6:30 - 7:30PM (approx.)

Other Experiences: Sea plane spectaculars - Dining in Burj Al Arab

Luxury Yacht Cruising - Water Sports - Scuba Diving - Heli Sightseeing and many more...

24 Hrs. Reservation
Tel: 04 2959948 - 04 2959949
E-mail: reservation@dayoutdubai.com Web: www.dayoutdubai.com
 PLEASE NOTE
NIGHTCLUBS

CLUB DIARY
WILL NOT
BE OPEN
UNTIL AFTER
RAMADAN

As the new clubbing season gets into full

swing, we provide the low-down on what’s
happening in the UAE’s hottest nightspots

Rooftop
WHY? The awesome views of the Burj Al
Arab and Madinat Jumeirah are worth
coming for alone. Throw in some chilled
out beats and a few drinks, and you’ve
got all the makings of a perfect evening.
Not cheap, but a must-visit venue. After
Ramadan, OHM Records will launch the
award-nominated club brand DIGITAL,
which will host international DJs, visual
artists and live performances. DIGITAL will
take place every Friday night at the mega
club – the giant space is spread over three
floors providing ample space for 1,500
clubbers to shake their thang.
GO: For the views, stay for the music.
Rooftop, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm
Sanctuary
WHY?? The founder of Bhudda
Bar certainly knows how
to create an all-out clubbing
experience. This Baroque-style, state-
of-the-art club boasts an outdoor terrace
and an awesome sound system, so if
electro is your thing and you’ve got some
cash to splash, this is one of your best
options. From house and funk Mondays,
to Russian Saturdays and Sanctuary’s
signature Fridays, complete with circus
performers, live artists and renowned
international DJs, it guarantees to please.
GO: If you’ve got ‘professional clubber’
on your CV.
Sanctuary, Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah,

to 3am. Tel: (050) 7258277. www.jumeirah.
com/MadinatJumeirah
Cavalli Club
Dubai, 9pm to 3am. Tel: (04) 4260561.
www.sanctuarydubai.com
WHY? There's black quartz and
Swarovski Crystal everywhere you look,
but would you expect anything less
from Dhs110 million superclub from
one of the world's top designers? This
is where the fabulous people go, with
fabulous wallets to match. Starting off
the working week in fine form is Just
Sundays with DJ Enzo Mirak playing
the hottest tunes in the charts. Those
looking for an opportunity to dig out
their animal-print partywear will rejoice
at the news that Cavalli turns one in
October. It’s expected to be the party
of the year!
GO: If you want to see, be seen, or
simply laugh at those trying far too hard
to look cool.
Cavalli Club, Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed
Road, Dubai, 7pm to 2am, free, guest list
only. Tel: (04) 3329260. www.fairmont.com

Nasimi Beach
WHY? This beachfront location is a
playground for socialites and the sartorially
confident. Opening season starts on
September 10 with an epic pool party,
expect stilt walkers, fire breathers and a
BBQ. Play is Nasimi's Saturday blow out,
with top DJs offering a laid-back end to the
weekend. For hardcore dance fans, there’s
Ministry of Sound on the September 17,
while September 24 sees the return of the Alpha
Full Moon pool party. Keep October 15 free
in your diaries for a mega 12-hour music WHY? Alpha celebrates a return to the
festival from 3pm to 3am. Acts include party scene with some unbeatable
Zero 7, Chicane and Armand Van Helden. promotions. From Saturday to Thursday,
GO: If you’re looking for a touch of the 9pm to 1am, drinks cost just Dhs3 for
Balearics in Dubai. women, plus there’s no entrance fee,
Nasimi, Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah, while football fanatics are well catered
Dubai, 4pm to 1am. Tel: (04) 4260700. to with Premier Weekends screening
www.palmjumeirah.ae live matches. If that wasn’t enough, the

Tiësto in the capital infamous Dhs149 late brunch also returns

on Fridays with DJ Matt Grieves spinning
indie tunes. In honour of its recent
Fresh from Ibiza and en route to Miami, the legendary DJ Tiësto brings his record birthday, Alpha has also undergone
breaking Kaleidoscope World Tour to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre on a facelift. Those expecting to see the
October 1. Inspired by U2’s huge stadium concerts, the biggest DJ tour in history relics of Aphrodite – Alpha was a Greek
will get clubbers raving with lasers, light shows and giant LED screens, plus some restaurant in its former life – will be
of the biggest tracks of the summer, including hits from Tiësto's fourth album, pleasantly surprised with the makeover.
Kaleidoscope, played on one of the world’s most powerful sound systems. GO: If you’re looking for the top DJs, live
Oct 1, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi, music and a guaranteed great night out.
Dhs150. www.ticketingboxoffice.com Alpha, Le Mériden, Garhoud, Dubai, 9pm to
3am. Tel: (04) 7022640. www.alphaclub.ae

82 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010


Warehouse
WHY? Wine bar, restaurant, nightclub,
we’re not altogether sure what Warehouse
is, but it’s one of the few swish options
around that doesn’t ram its opulence
down your throat. From September
10, every Friday will be Desi night with
DJ Tushar. For live action, Urban Band
perform a blend of R&B, funk and soul
from Saturday to Thursday. Tuesdays may
be ladies night, but men get a good deal,
too. Visit between 9pm and 11pm and pay
just Dhs69 (women) and Dhs99 (men) and
drink as much as you like, plus the first 20
ladies in enjoy free drinks all night.
GO: If you want to avoid both spit and
sawdust and high society.
Warehouse, Le Mériden, Garhoud, Dubai, noon
to 3am, free, Fri Dhs100, ladies free. Tel: (04)
7022560. www.diningatmeridiendubai.com
Chi at the
Lodge
WHY? While Chi maintains its regular
performers, September brings a
plethora of DJs to the decks. On
September 16, Aggro Santos performs
in Dubai for the first time, while
underground UK garage star, DJ EZ,
comes to the club on September 17,
and Mobo-winner DJ Shortee Blitz spins
his tunes on September 23. DJ Scottie B
and MC Harvey, of So Solid Crew, fame
end the month with performances
Relax@12
WHY? Whether it’s for sundowners, ladies
night on Tuesdays, house night Thursdays
or mojito night on Saturdays, Relax@12
is an all-encompassing hot spot, and the
fact it’s a rooftop bar with mesmerising
views of the Gulf makes it all the more
appealing. DJ David Craig starts the
celebrations on September 16 with his
popular, soulful beats. As Relax@12 is one
of the chicest nightlife options in Abu
Dhabi, we recommend booking ahead as
it's likely to fill up quick.
GO: To experience the stunning
panoramas of the captial.
Relax@12, Aloft Hotel, Abu Dhabi, 8pm to late,
free. Tel: (02) 6545138. www.relaxat12.com
on September 30. British rapper,
Professor Green, is also due to make an
appearance this month, but dates are
yet to be confirmed. We can, however,
confirm Edward Maya will be live on
October 21 as part of a 45-minute
show followed by a two-hour DJ set.
Tickets are priced Dhs150. And October
also sees the grand reopening of Chi's
massive garden.
GO: If you want an evening reminiscent
of a student night out, albeit without
the cheap drinks.
Chi at the Lodge, Oud Metha, Dubai,
9.30pm to 3am. Tel: (04) 3379470. www.
chinightclubdubai.com
CLUB DIARY
GETTY/GALLO IMAGE
ONE TO
LOOK
OUT FOR
Armin Van Buuren
in Dubai
The Dutch spinner seems to like Dubai, a lot. The world’s preimier trance DJ is back
once again for one night only on October 15. If his previous shows at the Dubai
World Trade Centre Arena are anything to go by, this is sure to be a big night.
Oct 15, Dubai World Trade Centre Arena, Dubai, 9pm to late, Dhs120 to Dhs400.
Tel: (050) 3571113
Armani/Privé
WHY? One of the newest clubbing
options in Dubai, Armani/Privé brings the
chic of Milan to the desert. With high-end
design and top-level service, it’s the sort
of place where the staff anticipate your
next drink order with almost telepathic
skill. Resident DJs play to a stylish
crowd, while those who make it to the
VIP lounge can have the pleasure of
listening to international turntable stars.
For something more exclusive, be sure
to experience 360 degrees of sound and
visuals at From The Speakers, the season’s
opening party on September 16.
GO: If you want to feel special.
Armani/Privé, Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa,
Dubai, 10pm to 3am, free. Tel: (04) 8883308.
http://dubai.armanihotels.com
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 83
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 TRAVEL

p87 How to change

your life with
one holiday
p92 Aleppo
ISTOCK

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 85

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 TRAVEL
How to change
your life
with one holiday
Venturing out on a It’s midnight, we’re 5km above
challenge holiday sea level and we’re about to spend
the next six hours attempting to
is more than just a scramble up the vertical slope of a
physical journey, as volcano.
we discovered when The stinging minus 20 winds,
combined with a lack of oxygen,
we tackled Africa’s makes every step a colossal
highest peak in the achievement. Lines of head torches
create a procession of the damned.
name of charity We’re truly testing ourselves on
this bizarre pilgrimage, throwing
tired limbs at the mercy of Mount
Kilimanjaro, the world’s largest
freestanding mountain.
A light dashes out of the line
and runs to a boulder, doubles
over it and wretches violently into
the darkness.
We had only just begun and
the journey ahead was already
looking a grim prospect. Our
water supplies had frozen and
those who had suffered the effects
of altitude sickness were paying
the price of dehydration.
Toes numb with cold and dawn
hours away, all we could
ask was: ‘What on earth are
we doing?’
FIVE MONTHS EARLIER
Feeling that something was
missing in our otherwise
comfortable lives, we thought it
was high time to give a little –
hey, that’s just the kind of people
we are – and what better way
CHARITY
TRAVEL
to give than combing charity
with adventure? GulfForGood,
a UAE-based group specialising
in trips to locations around the
world while raising money for
charity, was going to attempt to
climb the highest mountain in
Africa – Kilimanjaro – so we
signed up and set about begging,
borrowing, but never stealing (we
promise) money for a Tanzanian
school that needed classrooms
and equipment.
Training feverishly by regularly
climbing Dubai’s Marriott
Harbour Hotel’s many steps, we
built up our volcano-beating
calf muscles. You know you have
begun a surreal voyage when
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 87
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you find yourself traipsing up
a stairwell in a five-star hotel,
dressed in full climbing gear and
rucksack. Before we knew it we
were packed and ready to face
the challenge of a lifetime. Were
we scared? Yes. Excited? Yes.
Prepared for what we were about
to experience? Not in the slightest.
THE CHARITY VISIT
Our group was a mix of people
of various ages, professions and
personalities – a ragtag bunch
of nerves and anticipation, all
ready to battle Kilimanjaro for
different reasons.
Following a ten-hour dirt track
journey from Kenya, we fell asleep
in the town of Arusha before the
following day heading out to visit
the school where our charity money
was destined to end up.
Jumping from the coach, the
vastness of the African landscape
and the sound of melodic singing
drifting towards us as the school
came into view left a lump in our
throats.
After a tour of the classrooms
(ones we thought needed to be
demolished were in fact the good
ones, broken window panes are
not an issue) we realised the
school had no electricity.
Sat in front of the assembled
students, we were treated to a
dance by the local Masai women,
although artistic differences within
the group brought about an early
end to the performance.
As we returned to the coach,
a young Tanzanian girl said in
perfect English, “thank you very
much”. Hearts in mouths we waved
our goodbyes, the silence on the
minibus testament to the humbling
experience we’d just had.
ISTOCK
THE CLIMB
Our focus turned to the mountain
and the following morning we
watched 44 porters prepare for the
off. Yes, 44 porters. Our 20-strong
group clearly thought, despite
popular belief, the kitchen sink
would be necessary.
We were told of the dangers
and delights of the trip and
recommended to “throw Imodium
down our throats until it became
like cement” if necessary.
Within half an hour we were at
the gates of Kilimanjaro National
Park, before plunging into the
thick rainforest.
Golden Rule number one – ‘pole
pole’, Tanzanian for ‘slowly, slowly’.
Due to the height of Kilimanjaro,
people need to give their bodies
every chance to acclimatise. It’s
recommended you only gain 500m
in altitude a day, but we would be
doing 1000m.
We were told to “walk as
if in the garden with your
grandmother”, one participant
piped up he would have to dig
her up first – a moment that cut
through a bit of the tension.
TRAVEL | AFRICA
A CHALLENGE
FOR YOU
THE REVOLUTIONARY RIDE 2010
WHERE? Cuba
WHEN? November 4 to 13, 2010
WHAT? Over five days following a 328km
route from the infamous Bay of Pigs through
national parks, lush countryside and sugar
plantations, over hills and mountains and
along the shimmering Caribbean coastline.
Above: THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE
African girls MULTI-CHALLENGE 2010
Below: WHERE? Northern Thailand
Mount WHEN? November 11 to 20, 2010
Kilimanjaro WHAT? Roam high amongst the hills of
Northern Thailand and visit the remote hill
tribes that foreigners rarely see. Cycle on rural
back roads through rolling hills, kayak through
the jungle past remote riverside villages and
stay in a jungle camp and village longhouse.
EVEREST BASE CAMP CHALLENGE 2011
WHERE? Nepal
WHEN? October 14 to 29, 2011
WHAT? An adventure to the mightiest
mountain in the world with 12 days on the
trail, including two rest days.
Explore altitudes of more than 5,500m
where, surrounded by the majesty of these
mountains, life will surely take on a new
perspective. The terrain is immensely varied
with rhododendron forests, roaring mountain
rivers, alpine meadows and impressive
glaciers, all towered over by the awesome
backdrop of the snow-capped Himalayas.
SIMIEN MOUNTAIN TREK 2011
WHERE? Ethiopia
WHEN? March 10 to 19, 2011
WHAT? Adventure in Ethiopia among the
rugged peaks and sheer cliffs of the Simien
Mountains. Although in Africa and not too
far from the equator, snow
and ice appear on the
highest points and
night temperatures
often fall below
zero. The trek will
pass through
cultivated lower
slopes, mountain
grasslands (fescue
grasses, heathers,
Red Hot Pokers,
Giant Lobelia) and
alpine regions.
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 89
 TRAVEL | AFRICA
The first night was spent in a
hut and the following morning we
necked porridge and black tea and
started walking.
Emerging out of the monkey-filled
forest onto moorland, we were greeted
by staggering scenery as we bested the
clouds – a view we had only ever seen
from an aeroplane’s window.
But while we beat the clouds,
altitude sickness began beating its early
victims. Three and half kilometres
up and sickness, diarrhoea and
splitting headaches were an all too
unpleasant reality.
A rest day followed, but the day after
we walked seven hours to Kibo Hut, the
last camp before the summit attempt.
We ate a little dinner before trying to
get some sleep.
THE SUMMIT
Woken at 11pm, anxiety was rife as the
dark dampened people’s spirits. Had
we known what was about to ensue, we
would have returned to bed, but none
the wiser, we were corralled together
and headed into the night.
For six dark and freezing hours we
zigzagged up a scree hill. Freezing
winds made a mockery of our modern
clothing and thick gloves made
refuelling with chocolate frustrating.
Within two hours, our water had
frozen. Futile attempts to keep this
from happening by using old socks
only added a terrible whiff to the icy
contents of our bottles.
Some decided enough was enough at
this point. Diarrhoea and vomiting were
making hydration a near impossibility,
Like a shell-shocked caterpillar, we
crawled up the mountain face, losing
90 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
TOP TEN TIPS ON
CHANGING YOUR
LIFE WITH A HOLIDAY
● Pick an experience you think
you will enjoy
● Go with an open mind
● Find a charity you believe in
● Prepare yourself mentally as
well as physically
● Leave your day-to-day
life behind
● Bring a sense of humour
● Get a good camera to record
your trip
● Take a friend or family member
● Find another challenge when
it is over
● Take what you learn and apply
it to your life
children at the school, loved ones and
all those who contributed towards the
fund raising – it was just enough.
After what seemed like a lifetime the
sign appeared.
After a few rushed photos we started
to head back down. Emotions ran
through those that had any energy left
to have them.
Months of anticipation, dreaming of
the peak were over in minutes. We were
too tired and nauseous to revel in the
Top: energy and heart with every step. We bizarre lunar landscape, the staggering
Group of trekkers had walked in the garden with granny views, the enormity of the glacier, all we
on their way hundreds of times, but it never felt wanted was oxygen and water.
to School Hut, like this. A few of our group had to be
Kikelewa Route, Then came the boulders, and any stretchered down, people had given
Kilimanjaro, remaining energy was stripped everything they had and more, and the
Tanzania away as small steps were replaced next few hours were spent crawling
Above: with clambering. down the slope we had just conquered.
The summit of But then dim shapes were spotted As oxygen become more plentiful and
Mount Kilimanjaro outside of the direct beam of the head a rest back at Mandara Hut took effect,
seen from the torches. A look around showed we were the smiles began to return.
aeroplane minutes from the crater rim and that All agreed it was far harder than they
dawn was approaching. expected, but an incredible experience
We stood in exhausted ecstasy as we all the same.
watched dawn break over Africa to our A day later we were heading back to
left and night cling to itself on our right. our lives in the UAE.
Now we were faced with a decision. The intention was to give something
Should we go for the true peak, another back – make a positive change in
three-hour round trip across the glacier someone’s life who hadn’t had the
on the crater rim? advantages that we had been fortunate
A few of us started stumbling enough to have.
towards the famous wooden signpost, However, while the children
but not all made it. benefited from the money raised, with
Exhaustion and dehydration cut all the experiences we gained from
through the challengers like a German this holiday challenge, we know we
footballer through an English defence. probably took a lot more than we gave.
Charles, our lead guide, told us to fall And we’re already asking, what’s next.
in behind him and take it one step at GulfForGood, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3680222.
a time. We reminded ourselves of the www.gulf4good.org
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 TRAVEL REGIONAL
TRAVEL

Aleppo
During its 8,000-year history
Syria’s second city, Aleppo,
has played host to Agatha
Christie, Lawrence Of
Arabia, and its souks and
markets still teem with life
“You Christian?” asks the driver the second
we climb into his battered yellow taxi. His
craggy mouth is like an old letterbox beneath
window-sized spectacles. We can barely offer a
shrug before he says, “I Christian,” and points
to a dog-eared, sun-bleached portrait of the
Virgin Mary – one of several religious images
that surround his rear-view mirror. By the
haphazard way he drives out of the airport, we
can tell he doesn’t look up there much.
The ramshackle Iranian-made vehicle
swerves into a swarm of traffic, miraculously
avoiding a collision with the throngs of dented
cars and trucks that swing and veer across the
road. On the streets people play out a similar
scene: women in flowing black abayas weave
through the crowds, old men move slowly to
avoid broken slabs, while young boys heave
their bundled carts in the sun. In some places
life plods along. In Aleppo, however, it courses
like a flash flood.
It’s not a modern phenomenon. People have
been thriving here for 8,000 years. Alongside
the Syrian capital, Damascus, it’s one of the
oldest continually inhabited cities in the world.
As one of the main stops on the Silk Road
between China and Europe, Aleppo became
a commercial centre that prospered from the
flow of goods, money, people and ideas. Hittites,
Assyrians, Neo-Babylonians, Persians, Romans,
Mongols, Mamluks and Ottomans have all
overrun it. Today, a rather less fearsome force
is invading Syria’s second city: What’s On. And
we’re coming into town in a taxi held together A taxi in front of the
by duct tape and the grace of God. Citadel, Aleppo, Syria
We’re amazed when the car pulls up outside
our hotel without so much as a scrape. The
driver turns around, points at the faded
portrait again and cackles through a wrinkled “The ramshackle taxi swerves into a
grin. The Sheraton Aleppo is a shiny modern swarm of traffic, miraculously avoiding
edifice, plonked somewhere between the
dusty, traffic-choked streets of the Old City a collision with the throngs of cars and
and the New City. trucks that swing across the road”
If we’d wanted character, we’d have gone to

92 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010


Aleppo, Syria
the venerable Baron Hotel nearby. Built 100
years ago, it was once one of the finest hotels
in the Middle East, playing host to such early
20th century luminaries as TE Lawrence and
Theodore Roosevelt. It is said that Agatha
Christie began writing Murder On The Orient
Express at The Baron. These days, with its
name written in flickering neon and its
grandeur faded, its retro bar is a bigger draw
than its tired rooms.
We waste little time in getting out on
Aleppo’s streets and exploring on foot. We
know we’re moving in the general direction
of the Old City, the famous souks and the
imposing Citadel, but the map stays in the
backpack. This allows Aleppo to do what it
does best – throw up surprises from its manic
streets and twisting alleys. By a crumbling
wall, we step on something soft and sticky,
a fig shed from a tree that’s spreading
its branches over an old black 1970s
Chevrolet. Less surprising are the numerous
photographic tributes to the current
President, Bashar al-Assad, on almost every
shop window, wall poster or building-side.
Although Syria was once considered part of
George W Bush’s ‘axis of evil’, the people here
ISTOCK
are anything but. After an hour of trudging
Old bazaar
along Aleppo’s sun-baked streets, an old man
beckons us into his tiny shop by the Citadel.
He offers us a plastic chair and water to drink
and wash our sweat-streaked face and hands
with. We’d heard many stories about Aleppo’s
legendary hospitality, a trait that survives
from the Bedouin days, when desert-weary
travellers and nomads would be encouraged
to take refuge and refreshment at their
camps. We end up paying for the bottle of
water, but it’s the thought that counts.
The man points us in the direction of the
Citadel, and soon the giant fortified mound
is looming before us. Although the majority
of the current structure was built by the
TRAVEL | SYRIA
Mamluks in the late Middle Ages, the hill
was used as a temple in the third millennium
BC. It’s believed that the prophet Abraham
pastured his flock on the hill, distributing
the milk to the poor. Even today, Aleppo is
known colloquially as ‘Halab’, Arabic
for ‘milk’.
We climb the steps leading to the
impressive fortified keep, and enter a
labyrinthine walkway through elaborate
doorways guarded by stone-carved lions to
the remains of the Ayyubid Palace. Walking
through the old amphitheatre, we wander
down some renovated steps into an ancient
hammam, where a crowd of naked plastic
mannequins preserve their modesty with
modern towels that might have been bought
in Aleppo’s souk.
And what a souk. Opposite the Citadel,
we find one of the largest, most evocative
and authentic market places in the Arab
world. The winding alleys vibrate with colour,
movement, noise and smells that intensify
under cavernous stone ceilings. Women carry
their shopping on their heads and old men
run their empty carts through the crowds
as thousands of feet pound on cobbles worn
smooth by centuries of trade. We criss-cross
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 93
 TRAVEL | SYRIA
Trips from
Aleppo
Dead Cities – Spooky is a
good word to describe this
cluster of ancient and abandoned
ghost towns. The town of Jerada is close
to the Aleppo-Hama highway, and its
ruins include a fifth century Byzantine
church. Buses and service taxis are
available from the Pullman bus station.
Qala’t Samaan – Just
north of Aleppo is the
Saint Simeon basilica,
a ruin named after the
enigmatic holy man who
in the fifth century AD
decided to live on top of
towering pillars as an exercise
in asceticism. The church and basilicas
were built around the pillars.
Palmyra – The jewel in Syria’s
archaeological crown,
Palmyra (City of Palms) is a
spectacular collection of
restored ruins stretching
across a 50-hectare site.
The palm oasis in the
north-eastern desert was
colonised by the Romans in the second
century AD, and then fell under the rule of
Queen Zenobia, who went on to conquer
Palestine and part of Egypt. Bus journeys
can be arduous, so take a taxi and stay
the night.
from stalls selling brightly hued textiles, to
jewellery shops and rope merchants; from
spice traders and bakeries to the blood-
spattered walls of butchers, who hang their
animal carcasses, bundles of entrails and
sculpted lobes of fat for all to marvel at. We
eventually strike a deal for some olive soap,
handmade in Aleppo and stamped with a
decorative pattern to prove it.
We lose all sense of time and direction in
the frenetic, chaotic souks, but we stumble
out just at the right spot. We find ourselves
almost floating in a sea of tranquillity at the
Great Mosque. Also known as the Umayyad
Mosque, it still has its original minaret dating
back to 1092, although an earthquake has
caused it to lean a little. Inside all is quiet, but
for the shuffling of shoeless feet on the hot
“We lose all sense of time and direction in the
chaotic souks, but we stumble out at the right spot”
94 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
Souk
marble floor. Around 90 per cent of Syria’s
population is Muslim, yet as a young man
keen to practice his English later tells us:
“Muslim, Christian or me, we are all Syrian.”
Later, we explore the Christian/Armenian
neighbourhood of Al-Jdeida for another of
Aleppo’s famous attractions: its food. It is here merge into the flow and walk.
that several old traditional Syrian homes have
been converted into guesthouses with cafés or have faith.
restaurants. Beit Sissi dates back to the 17th
century, yet has recently been restored to its
former glory. Its restaurant – one of Aleppo’s
best – is set in a beautiful courtyard, richly
decorated with dark wooden carvings and
fine-spun carpets, enclosed by walls of thick
pale stone.
We sit down to a vibrant fattoush salad with
hunks of white cheese and a muhammara dip
of roasted red peppers and walnuts sweetened
with pomegranate molasses. And we can’t leave
without trying the speciality of the region, the
kebab d’Alep – a tender minced lamb kofta
Umayyad Mosque
ISTOCK
sprinkled with chopped parsley and wrapped in
flatbread to soak up the meat’s glorious juices.
Due to its position on the Silk Road, not to
mention its Ottoman and Armenian influences,
the cuisine of Aleppo has a depth of richness,
sweetness and spice that sets it apart from all
other Middle Eastern food.
It’s dark by the time we leave Beit Sissi,
but the streets are still abuzz. A soft orange
glow from an occasional lantern is all that
illuminates the enchanting alleyways of
Al-Jdeida. Many of the shops and businesses
are rolling down their shutters for the night,
and we make our way through the narrow
backstreets to the broad main road of Al-
Quwatli. Between our hotel and us is a gush
of incessant traffic. Buses heave and splutter,
trucks wheeze and little yellow taxis sheer and
pullulate. With no pedestrian crossings, traffic
lights or breaks in the stream of vehicles to
help us cross, we summon courage, step out,
In Aleppo, sometimes, you’ve just got to
Need to know
How to get there
Flydubai flies direct to Aleppo from
Dhs1,080
Accommodation
The Sheraton Aleppo, (963)(21) 212 111,
occupies a superb location for exploring
both the old and new parts of town, and is
an ideal place to unwind after a hard day’s
trudging round the souks – you’ll never be
more thankful for a dip in the pool
Currency
100 Syrian Pounds = Dhs7.8
 At your leisure
Abu Dhabi Golf Club,
serving up the best in quality entertainment
and leisurely dining options.

WATCH LIVE TRI NATION RUGBY

This August and September @ 1001 Nights

THE ‘KEEP WALKING’ GOLF SERIES

Every Wednesday until September 29th @ 4:30pm

ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI

From 13th September Every Monday @ 6pm

FRIDAY
FRID NIGHT LIVE ACOUSTIC GUITAR WITH DANNY SHIRRAN
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HAPPY HOUR
From 17th September Every Friday @ 9-12pm
THE HOT LIST
THE TEN BEST BRUNCHES, BARS, RESTAURANTS AND SPAS THIS MONTH
DUE TO THE
HOLY MONTH OF

Key
RAMADAN SOME
OUTLETS MAY NOT
OPERATE REGULAR

*
–
New entry

Non-mover
OPENING HOURS.
CALL AHEAD FOR
DETAILS.

„ Up

‰ Down

p98 Brunches
p100 Bars
p102 Restaurants
p104 Spas

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 97

 PLEASE NOTE

THE HOT LIST BRUNCHES

BRUNCHES WILL
NOT BE AVAILABLE
UNTIL AFTER
RAMADAN

OUR PICK OF THE BRUNCH BUNCH

Zuma

Traiteur

1Thai Kitchen – 2 Belgian Beer 3 Zuma – 4 Traiteur – 5 Al Qasr „

Café –
Popular with families and One of the few proper pubs in Always busy but never With a live band and open It’s terrifically expensive,
ATMOSPHERE

groups of friends. With its Dubai guarantees a lively time. disorderly. It’s worth kitchen, this sophisticated but that doesn’t seem to put
open kitchen, Thai Kitchen booking ahead. brunch sways to its own people off. It’s always busy and
caters to all tastes and is neither relaxed rhythm. definitely requires an advance
rowdy nor dull. booking.

As many small plates of tasty The Belgians know how to feed Fresh sushi and sashimi and Chef Franck Detrait and his It’s quite a spread. If you want
Thai treats as you can handle. people. Take your pick from a a selection of dishes from the team produce the best French it, Al Qasr is likely to provide
Sharing is the name of the plethora of hearty dishes on the regular menu. brasserie dishes in Dubai. it. From oxtail burger to sushi,
FOOD

game here. a la carte menu and tuck into a stopping off at every cuisine in
lip-lickingly tasty buffet. between. And a lot of it is made
to order.
You should be able to The terrace should be back in DIFC is right at the heart of the Traiteur is the most memorable Three rooms to pick from and
brunch alfresco by the business come the end of the city and Zuma is right at the restaurant in the city, thanks a terrace that, with the cooler
LOCATION

end of the month. month, reminding you just heart of DIFC. to its vaulted ceiling – an weather, will soon be the place
why living Dubai is actually architectural delight. Eating to be.
quite pleasant. alfresco will also be an option
when the heat relents.

A sophisticated, and Lining the stomach with some The best Japanese food Lovers and serious eaters. Anybody who’s feeling flush.
BEST FOR

parsimonious, afternoon honest chow while glugging in Dubai. But any self-respecting
with your closest friends. down a few pints with your pals. bruncher must visit Al Qasr
It’s an extended pub lunch. at least once a year.

Dhs225 with alcohol. Yep, Dhs199, making it one of the Dhs385 with alcohol. It’s Up to you. Dhs295 sans alcohol, Dhs495. No, we’re not joking,
PRICE

that’s why it’s number one. best value brunches in town. worth splashing out for Dhs425 with house beverages, that really is the price. We’ve
Chef Colin Clague’s always Dhs550 with Veuve Cliquot or pleaded with them to lower
innovative creations. Dhs1,500 with a limo pick-up. it, but to no avail.

Ease yourself back into Pint of Leffe and a bowl of chips Zuma is, without doubt, the With the cooler days of We know it’s too much, but
brunching with a laid-back, and mayo, please. Cheers! best Japanese restaurant in autumn/winter approaching we are destined to hand over
WHAT’S ON

wallet-friendly brunch. the UAE. It is yet to put a foot Traiteur will come into its own. our hard earned dirhams for
wrong in our book. eternity. Nobody does it quite
SAYS...

like Al Qasr.

Park Hyatt Dubai, Crowne Plaza Dubai Building 6, DIFC, Dubai Park Hyatt Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai
Deira, Dubai Festival City, Dubai 12.30pm to 4pm Deira, Dubai 12.30pm to 4pm
noon to 4pm 1pm to 4pm Tel: (04) 4255660 noon to 4pm Tel: (04) 3666730
Tel: (04) 3172222 Tel: (04) 7011128 www.zumarestaurant.com Tel: (04) 3172222 www.jumeirah.com
www.dubai.park.hyatt.com www.ichotelsgroup.com www.dubai.park.hyatt.com

98 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010


Spectrum On One
6 Spectrum On
One ‰
Things should quieten down
at Spectrum now that the
summer is on its way out, but
it’s still worth booking ahead to
avoid disappointment.
With eight kitchens serving up
cuisine from Europe, Thailand,
China, India, Japan and the Middle
East, even the fussiest eater will find
something to fill their belly.
Spectrum has its very own floor
(floor one, unsurprisingly)
dedicated solely to food, drink
and merriment.
Those extravagant people willing
to pay the exorbitant price.
Dhs550. The best we can say is
that Spectrum isn’t following
the current trend for value for
money brunches.
Treat yourself every once in a while,
but visit every week and you’ll soon
go bust. Or, enter our competition
to win brunch for four, p17.
Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai
noon to 3pm
Tel: (04) 3325555
www.fairmont.com/dubai
7 JW Marriott
Dubai
*
It’s pretty popular, but the action,
and the food, is spread across three
restaurants so it’s not too manic.
Polynesian, Indonesian and Thai
treats amidst the kitsch huts
and bridges of Bamboo Lagoon,
eveything from sushi to steaks at
The Market Place and authentic
German cuisine from Hofbräuhaus.
JW Marriott is in the depths of
Deira, but the hotel seems to have
the once crippling Deira taxi issue
under control.
A meeting of the entire clan, plus
guests. Turn up hungry and leave
thirsty for more.
Dhs333 with house beverages is a
pretty good price when you consider
the variety of food on offer.
A superb way to recover from the
morning after the night before.
Abu Baker Al Siddique
Road, Deira, Dubai
noon to 4pm
Tel: (04) 2624444
www.marriottdiningatjw.ae
HOT ON
TH E HEchEtLClS
ub
Aquara, Ya
11
ee, Souk Al
12 Mango Tr Badia Golf Club
ades , Al
13 Bl
14 Media O
m ba , Le M éridien Dub
15 Yalu
8 Maya –
It’s unique in that most of the fun
goes on outdoors. Revellers soaking
up the sun and sipping sangria by
the pool and families frolicking on
the beach.
Authentic Mexican from the team
at Chef Richard Sandoval’s Maya
restaurant. Platters of grilled meat
and fish with jugs of sangria served
between 1pm and 4pm on the
Maya terrace.
In the pool, on the beach, prostrate
on a sun lounger, enjoying a tipple
on the terrace. Take your pick.
Alfresco fun.
Dhs300 for pool and beach access
from 10am to 6pm, plus lunch and
a 30 per cent beverage discount
between 5pm and 7pm. Bargain.
With full access to Le Royal
Méridien’s pool and beach, a live
DJ and mariachi band, good times
are guaranteed.
Le Royal Méridien Beach
Resort & Spa, Dubai Marina, Dubai
10am to 6pm
Tel: (04) 3165550
www.leroyalmeridien-dubai.com
THE HOT LIST BRUNCHES
Bahar
ne
ai
9 Bubbalicious –
A live band, acrobats and a
giant feast ensure Bubbalicious
is never quiet.
Ten live cooking stations across
three restaurants (Spice Emporium,
Hunters and Blue Orange).
Dubai Marina, which leaves plenty
of options for a post-brunch tipple.
Those who simply can’t attend a
brunch without a petting zoo and
a cinema.
Dhs450 for free-flowing Laurent
Perrier, cocktails, beer and wine,
or Dhs299 excluding alcohol. The
cocktails are worth the extra cash.
It has a petting zoo. What more
can be said?
The Westin Mina Seyahi,
Dubai Marina, Dubai
1pm to 4pm
Tel: (04) 5117136
www.starwoodhotels.com
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 99
10 Esca
*
Sedate, but in a pleasant way.
Go with your other half or a
good friend, have a quality
chinwag and enjoy the food and
the tranquillity, but don’t expect
a party.
Pizzas, pasta and seafood all
prepared to order, plus a soup
station, carvery, a buffet of salad
and cold dishes, a cheese table
and an outdoor BBQ. You will
not go hungry.
The Qamardeen is just across the
street from Dubai Mall and this
would be the ideal pre or post-
shop brunch.
Peace, quiet and the
outdoor BBQ.
Dhs295, which is pretty
reasonable, we think.
If you can’t handle a rowdy
brunch but want fine food and
a glass of something invigorating,
then Esca is for you.
Southern Sun
Qamardeen Hotel
12.30pm to 4pm
Tel: (04) 4285888
www.southernsunme.com
 THE HOT LIST BARS
THE FINEST FOR BEVERAGES AND BITES
Neos
1 Belgian Beer
Café –
ATMOSPHERE
Bustling, with friends chatting
at the bar, groups tucking into
moules at wooden tables and
the post-work crowd taking in
the skyline from the terrace.
BBC is the crown jewel of the
LOCATION
Crowne Plaza Festival City.
Lovely views, valet parking and
no traffic. Sweet.
The food is fantastic, the drinks
BEST FOR
selection is even better, and the
easy, European vibe will keep
you coming back.
Some of the beers will set you
PRICE
back over Dhs50, but there are
cheaper options and the food
is reasonable.
Who doesn’t love good food,
cold drinks and great chat in a
WHAT’S ON
cosy bar?
SAYS...
Crowne Plaza, DFC, Dubai
Sun to Mon 6pm to 2am, Tue
to Wed noon to 2am, Thurs to
Fri noon to 3am
Tel: (04) 7012222
www.ichotelsgroup.com
100 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
2 Caramel „
City slickers unite at this DIFC
hotspot. And they unite in
their masses.
At the heart of the financial
district, Caramel has created an
oasis of air-conditioned cool on
the patio. Clever kids.
Head there for a few cocktails,
order some snacks to share and
the next thing you know it’s late.
We speak from experience.
Far from cheap (not surprising
given the neighbourhood), but
ladies get half price Cosmos on
Tuesdays from 6pm to 9pm.
Mini lobster tacos, a corking
cocktail list and that chilled
outdoor space keeps Caramel
riding high in the Hot List.
Building 3, DIFC, Dubai
Sun to Thurs 11am to 2am,
Fri 5pm to 2am
Tel: (04) 3993333
www.carameldubai.com
3 Zuma „
While it’s primarily a restaurant,
the terrace and lounge upstairs
at Zuma is packed with work-
hard, play-hard minglers.
Downtown chic at DIFC, one of
the newest gastro destinations
in Dubai. This area is set to get
even bigger.
Feeling like a grown-up in
designer togs, see if you can
nab a table then get stuck into
the sake.
It’s a world-class bar and
prices can reflect that. You
have been warned.
The smart international
crowd, hot bar staff and one
of the best brunches in town
makes Zuma one of our
favourite places.
Building 6, DIFC, Dubai
Fri to Wed noon to 2am,
Thurs noon to 3am
Tel: (04) 4255660
www.zumarestaurant.com
Zuma
4 Blends ‰
Packed with mixed groups
gearing up for a night on the
town. This place is relaxed
during the week but revs up
come the weekend.
It’s the much needed bar that
Dubai Marina has been waiting
for, and is a great shout for hot
summer nights.
The deals. Ladies can get free
Cosmos on Thursdays and
Fridays. Freebies in a smart
bar? We like.
Mid-range. Unless you’re a lady
at the weekend, in which case
leave your purse at home.
You probably won’t spend your
whole evening there, but Blends
is a great meeting point. We
love the cigar lounge. And the
nachos. But not together.
The Address Dubai
Marina, Dubai
7.30pm to 2.30am
Tel: (04) 4367777
www.theaddress.com
5 Neos –
Dominated by a jaw-dropping
window and art deco pillars,
Neos is very smart, very adult
and reassuringly expensive.
On top of the world (nearly). It’s
on the 63rd floor – and you’ll
need to take two lifts to reach its
lofty, luxurious heights.
Checking out the skyline.
This view, when paired with a
Martini, will impress even the
most jaded Dubai dweller.
Ouch. Spirits are as steep as the
Burj Khalifa, but cocktails cost
around Dhs50.
With its 1920s style in the
middle of Bladerunner
skyscrapers, Neos is a great
choice for wowing visitors, a
first date or business contacts.
The Address Downtown
Dubai, Dubai
6pm to 2.30am
Tel: (04) 4368927
www.the address.com
 THE HOT LIST BARS
HOT ON
THE H EELSn
i, Le Méridie
11 Barast
Mina Seyahi l,
si Gril
12 Nezeaus
otel
Al Manzil H ien Dubai
se, Le Mérid
13 Warehou r, The Address
14 Cala ba
Dubai
Downtown Park
e Terrac e,
15 Th
Hyatt Dubai

Caramel

6 Armani Prive ‰ 7 The 8 Left Bank – 9 Long’s Bar ‰ 10 Fibber

Sultry. Illuminated booths, a vast

LED screen showing clips from the
Armani catwalk and a sweeping
staircase conspire to create a
fashionable spot.
Gramercy
*
High-end sports bar. The Gramercy
has screens dotted around the
panelled walls, nicely offset by
chandeliers from the high ceilings,
cosy booths and homely touches.
It might stop serving at midnight,
but Left Bank is still a reliable
choice for a casual date or
impromptu night out.
Long’s is the place to be during
Ramadan, so it’s holding on tight
to its Hot List spot. Expect to find
it rammed.
McGee's –
With cheesy chips and a
cracking pub quiz, there’s no
room for pretension here.

In the Armani Hotel in the base of
the world’s tallest building. Quite
simply, Prive has the best address
in town.
DIFC. Again. See what we mean
about this area becoming a
hospitality hub?
Souk Al Bahar is the hub of the Old
Town action, packed with some
of Dubai’s finest restaurants. LB
is a popular shout for pre or post-
dinner drinks. Or both.
On the classic Sheikh Zayed Road
stretch, the Towers Rotana hides
this basement bar below. You’ll find
dark wood, a small dance floor and,
of course, a very long bar.
Tricky. If you’re planning your
Fibbers debut then take a regular.
It’s on Sheikh Zayed Road near
the Crowne Plaza. Good luck.

Dropping your dirhams and some The gastropub-style menu is the Meeting people. Commandeer a Finding people during Ramadan. It’s home to people pretending
high-end people watching. This is main draw, but Tuesday’s ladies booth or set up shop at the high they’re not in Dubai. It’s a
the newest bar for flashing the cash. night, draught beers and a chic table near the bar. We always bump proper pub.
crowd also keep the bar busy. into a familiar face.

Sip. Slowly. It cost us Dhs400 Surprisingly reasonable for food and A (top quality) cocktail will set you Pub prices, with hefty bar food for a Cheap and cheerful, with
for three drinks. mid-range for drinks. A welcome back about Dhs50. The bar snacks decent number of dirhams. regular promotions.
change for DIFC. are pricey but worth it. Can’t beat a
Corona and calamari.

Prive is basically one giant VIP
lounge. No blaggers, just Dubai’s
wealthiest party people. Sadly, this
also means a few idiots.
This new addition is the perfect
complement to the swanky likes of
Zuma and Caramel. Just as good
for lunch as a post-work drink,
expect The Gramercy to explode
post-Ramadan. Find out more
on p53.
With just the right level of glitz,
Left Bank is a ‘solve-all’ destination.
Not too dressy, but not flip-flop
territory either, and with its central
location, it’s one of those bars that
keeps everyone happy.
Call it tradition, call it an Surprisingly good grub,
institution, all we know is that charmingly scruffy décor and
you won’t stop hearing about reliable regulars. What
Long’s until after Eid. a refreshing change.

Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa, DIFC, Unit 7, Level 2, Souk Al Bahar, Old Town, Towers Rotana, Sheikh Between Crowne Plaza
Old Town, Dubai Building 3, Dubai Dubai Zayed Road, Dubai and Fairmont, Sheikh Zayed
Mon to Sat 10pm to 3am noon to midnight 7pm to midnight noon to 3am Road, Dubai
Tel: (04) 8883888 Tel: (04) 4377511 Tel: (04) 3684501 Tel: (04) 3122202 noon until late
www.armanihotels.com www.rotana.com Tel: (04) 3322400

SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 101

 THE HOT LIST RESTAURANTS
THE ELITE OF THE EATING OUT SCENE
Traiteur
Rhodes Mezzanine
1 Zuma –
Zuma was fairly quiet
throughout the Holy
ATMOSPHERE
Month, but there’s sure to
be a post-Ramadan rush of
loyal Zumarites (Zumans?),
especially for dinner. So, as
always, book ahead.
Bright and clean in the
downstairs dining room with
INTERIOR
a busy sushi counter and
always full tables. Head to the
sexy upstairs bar for pre and
postprandial drinks.
We’ve dined with Chef Colin
Clague four times this month.
He’s thoroughly nice, can spin a
FOOD
cracking yarn, and he ain’t too
bad in the kitchen, either. Try
the veal cutlet and the king crab
with chilli mayo.
LOCATION
DIFC is fast becoming a foodie
kingdom – look out for Le Petite
Maison next month – and Zuma
sits on the culinary throne.
Dhs1,000 for two. A grand
PRICE
well spent.
The best Japanese – not to
WHAT’S ON
mention our current favourite
restaurant – in Dubai.
SAYS...
Building 6, Gate Village, DIFC
Sat to Thurs 12.30pm to 3pm,
Sat to Wed 7pm to midnight,
Thurs and Fri 7pm to 1am
Tel: (04) 4255660
www.zumarestaurant.com
102 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
2 Rivington
Grill –
The Riv is unstinting in its
adherence to one golden rule –
all produce must be fresh and
seasonal – making it utterly
unique in the UAE, as a result
it’s built a loyal client base.
Book ahead.
Fresh, simple and stylish, just
like the food. White walls, dark
wood floors and chalkboards for
the daily specials. There’s plenty
of places like it in London, but
there’s only one in Dubai.
We tried a range of seasonal
delights with Chef Chris Lester
this month, and the effort that
goes into sourcing the freshest
produce and creating dishes to
show off the flavours at their
best is truly outstanding.
Overlooking the Dubai Fountain,
the Riv is prime Dubai property.
And soon it will be cool enough
to return to the terrace.
Dhs400 for two. The Dhs100
lunch menu returns post-
Ramadan.
Dining at Rivington Grill
is guaranteed to put a smile
on your face, especially if
your visit coincides with the
Saturday roast.
Souk Al Bahar, Level 3,
Old Town, Dubai
noon to 11pm, Ramadan
7pm to 11pm.
Tel: (04) 4230903
www.rivingtongrill.ae
3 Traiteur –
Discretely hidden away on
the ground floor of the Park
Hyatt, Traiteur is never
heaving. It’s quiet, but the
superb design, open kitchen
and fabulous French food
create an aura of romance.
Uncomplicated elegance, with
an open kitchen and a vaulted
ceiling that is one of the most
memorable restaurant design
features in the city.
Chef Franck Detrait and
his team do classic French
brassiere, they do it well, they
do it better than anyone else
in the city.
Our favourite hotel, Park
Hyatt Dubai.
Three courses for two for around
Dhs615. Dhs280 per person for
the three-course set menu.
When things start to cool
down, book a table for two
outside and order a bottle of
something special.
Park Hyatt Dubai,
Deira, Dubai
Sun to Fri 7pm to midnight
Tel: (04) 3172222
www.dubai.park.hyatt.com
4 Verre –
Modern fine dining –
sophistication without
the stuffiness.
Low-key elegance, with nothing
extravagant to detract from the
dining experience. Make sure
you ask about the chef’s table
and a private dining salon.
We ate at Verre for our Come
Dine With Us feature (p19)
and weren’t surprised to find
that the standard is as high as
ever. Order the beef Wellington
special, a nod to the chef’s time
at London’s Claridge’s.
Deira is never going to be the
best location for a restaurant, but
it’s worth crossing the floating
bridge for one of Verre’s calibre.
Dhs395 per person for three
courses and Dhs495 for the
six-course menu.
Verre runs like clockwork and
Chef Scott Price has big plans
for Ramsay’s Dubai outpost.
Watch this space.
Hilton Dubai Creek
Sun to Fri 7pm to 11.30pm
Tel: (04) 2277550
www.gordonramsay.com
HOT ON
ELS
THE HEux
11 Marga
a
12 Terra Firm
13 Rare
14 Asado
hen
15 Thai Kitc
5 Armani
Ristorante –
People are talking about
Armani Ristorante. If the talk
translates to tables, then head
Chef Alessandro Salvatico and
restaurant manager Roberto
Di Pierno, who like to work
the room, will have a lot more
chatting to do.
At Ristorante, the lighting is
spot on, there’s a pleasant view,
comfortable booth seating and a
bright open kitchen. There’s
also an impressive private
dining room.
Simple Italian dishes cooked
with a flourish and presented
as works of art.
The Burj Khalifa. Can’t say
fairer than that.
Dhs850 for two.
An Italian restaurant that
you really have to visit.
Armani Hotel Dubai, Burj
Khalifa, Old Town
midday to 3pm and 7pm
to 11pm
Tel: (04) 8883888
www.dubai.armanihotels.com

Okku
6 Reflets Par
Pierre Gagnaire –
The diners gracing the tables at
Pierre Gagnaire’s place are happy
to be there – dining at Reflets is a
special occasion. Men should don
a suit and the ladies should pop on
a nice frock.
Think Paris, think glamour, think
ever so slightly camp.
Order the tasting menu and
marvel at plate after plate of
culinary art. The cooking skill on
display is truly astounding.
The InterCon DFC is a fine hotel,
and Reflets has its very own floor.
We’re talking north of Dhs1,000
so it’s a treat to save for. On the
other hand, the Dhs230 lunch
menu is a bargain.
The lunch is back post-Ramadan.
Our table is already booked.
InterContinental Dubai
Festival City, Dubai
7pm to 1am
Tel: (04) 7011128
www.ichotelsgroup.com
7 Rhodes
Twenty10
*
It’s been open less than six weeks,
but Gary Rhodes’ second Dubai
restaurant is already the talk of
the town. We visited this month.
Downstairs was half full, every
table upstairs was occupied. Post-
Ramadan, you’ll definitely have to
book in advance.
Gary likes to describe it as
‘gangster’. So we’ll go with that.
It’s a grill, but before you bemoan
the fact that Dubai has more grills
than one can shake a pair of tongs
at, remember it’s a Gary Rhodes
grill. Simple food, well cooked.
Order the lamb rack rare and you
won’t be disappointed.
Le Royal Méridien, not far from
Grosvenor house – home of Rhodes
Mezzanine. Gary seems to like Dubai
Marina, and so do we.
We spent Dhs630 on a meal for two.
Lots of things in our review, p50.
Le Royal Méridien Beach
Resort and Spa, Dubai
7pm to midnight
Tel: (04) 3995555
www.garyrhodes.com
8 Okku ‰
Busy, busy, busy. Book ahead.
Dark, sexy and as chilled as a
frozen Margarita.
Order the miso lobster with crispy
rice, and then go and shake the
chef’s hand.
Number One Sheikh Zayed Road.
Can’t argue with that address.
Dhs700 should buy three courses,
sushi and sashimi, leaving you with
Dhs300 more in your wallet than
after a meal at Zuma or Nobu.
If you like Japanese but your budget
won’t stretch to Zuma prices, Okku
is waiting to tickle your taste buds.
The Monarch Dubai, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai
7pm to midnight
Tel: (04) 5018777
www.okkudubai.com
THE HOT LIST RESTAURANTS
Indego
9 Rhodes
Mezzanine ‰
Despite the arrival of Rhodes
Twenty10, those who seek the finer
things in life will continue to visit
Gary’s fine dining restaurant.
White with the odd touch of neon
and a tiny, tantalising glimpse of the
busy kitchen.
Try the roast beef fillet with snail,
garlic and parsley risotto.
Grosvenor House is home to both
Rhodes and Vineet Bhatia’s Indego.
Chefs of that calibre don’t open
restaurants anywhere, you know.
Around Dhs760 for two.
There’s a new Rhodes restaurant in
town stealing Mezzanine’s limelight,
but it’s just too good to drop from
the top ten.
Grosvenor House, Dubai
Marina, Dubai
Mon to Sat 7pm to midnight
Tel: (04) 3998888
www.grosvenorhouse-dubai.com
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 103
10 Indego ‰
Vineet Bhatia’s place is never
short of punters eager to sample
his inimitable Indian cuisine.
Warm lighting, modern design
and comfortable furniture.
A delicious blend of Michelin
and Mumbai.
Outside of Bhatia’s other
restaurants you won’t be able to
eat food like this anywhere else
on Planet Earth.
Grosvenor House. Home to both
Bhatia and Rhodes. That’s just
greedy, now, isn’t it?
Around Dhs800 for two.
Vineet Bhatia produces the most
innovative Indian cuisine we’ve
ever tasted.
Grosvenor House, Dubai
Marina, Dubai
Sun to Thurs 7pm to 11pm
Tel: (04) 3176000
www.grosvenorhouse-dubai.com
 THE HOT LIST SPAS
THE DADDIES OF THE HEALTH AND LEISURE SCENE
Banyan Tree Al Wadi
1 Amara „
Inconspicuous and very
THERAPISTS
professional, these guys make
your experience at Amara
truly pleasant.
Vast and decadent. Treatments
MENU
are grouped by theme and
there’s an emphasis on
pampering packages. The food
menu is great, too. Try the
barbecue chicken.
Just gorgeous, with rooms
THE SPA
boasting their own garden and
outdoor shower. There’s even a
music menu.
Far from cheap, but there are
PRICE
monthly deals, and this is a
retreat worth every fil, especially
when you use the pool.
Book a treatment costing more
WHAT’S ON
than Dhs460 at the weekends
(or longer than an hour during
SAYS...
the week) and you can use the
pool, steam room and gym all
day. And what a pool it is.
Park Hyatt Dubai,
Deira, Dubai
9am to 10pm
Tel: (04) 6021234
www. dubai.park.hyatt.com
104 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
SensAsia Urban Spa
2 Banyan Tree
Al Wadi ‰
The staff are among the best
in the business following
extensive training at Banyan
Tree academies.
Extremely luxurious. The
Asian-inspired treatments will
take you from the desert sands
to distant shores.
The treatment rooms are
lovely, but The Rainforest
hydrotherapy experience is
the reason to make the trip.
This is a five-star retreat and on
the pricey side, but an hour in
The Rainforest is only Dhs77,
or free if staying at the resort.
Walk through The Rainforest
and discover an ice igloo,
brine cave, tropical rain
showers, hammam and more.
Not what you expect in Ras
Al Khaimah.
Banyan Tree Al Wadi,
Ras Al Khaimah
10am to 10pm
Tel: (07) 2067777
www. banyantree.com
3 SensAsia
Urban Spa –
Quiet and charming, they get
the job done without causing
a fuss, but can answer any
question you may have.
Loads of choice and the
innovative team behind the
brand are always coming up
with new treatments. We love
specific massages like The
High Heeler.
Small and intimate, it’s the
ideal place to escape on a hot
weekend. And the dressing
gowns are amazing.
Pick wisely and treatments
are reasonably priced, with an
hour-long Balinese massage
for Dhs310.
Allow some time afterwards to
enjoy the amazing ginger tea
and vegetable crudités in the
turquoise relaxation room.
Seriously, that ginger tea is
golden nectar.
The Palm Jumeirah Beach
Club, Dubai
10am to 10pm
Tel: (04) 4227115
www.sensasiaspas.com
THE HEyESpLa,S
One&Only
12 Lilypond
13 Timeles ge, JBR
4 Armani /
Spa –
Staff have come from all over
the world to work for Mr
Armani. Our therapist was
from South Africa and a pro at
knot-busting.
There’s no treatment list as such,
you just book a time slot (from
90 mins) and the therapist
decides. Our deep tissue
massage was outstanding.
As stylish as you’d expect from
Giorgio. The spa is slick, with
dark greys and clean lines. The
sauna and steam rooms are now
open, too.
Actually, it’s not as bad as your
bank manager might fear, with
90 minutes costing Dhs650, up
to Dhs2,500 for a full day.
Answer some questions and a
treatment is suggested for you.
Great for spa amateurs, but not
so suited to the control freaks
out there. Our treatment was
top-notch. Recommended.
Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa,
Old Town, Dubai
9am to 9pm
Tel: (04) 8883888
www.dubai.armanihotels.com
HOT ON
11One&Onl Mirage
Royal
, Old Town
aha
s Spa, Al M
14 Man /A
,
15 Assawan
Burj Al Arab
5 Talise Spa –
A mix of natioanlities and
specialities, from a GP to a
naturopath, this spa is packed
with experts.
There’s a large spa menu, but
Talise sets itself apart with the
addition of medical tests and
life coaching.
The treatment rooms are linked
by leafy outdoor pathways. You’ll
also find a large pool tucked away
for those day-long spa sessions.
Various, but the Royal
Hammam treatment is a
fair Dhs450 for 80 minutes.
For top to toe beauty (inside
and out) Talise is your one-stop
shop. You’ll leave with an
armload of supplements and
a head full of good intentions.
Al Qasr, Al Sufouh, Dubai
9am to 10pm
Tel: (04) 3666818
www.jumeriah.com/talise

The Spa
6 Thai Privilege
Spa –
The female therapists at this
ladies-only spa undergo two years
of training and the results are
impressive.
Extensive, with everything from
waxing and blow-dries to luxurious
packages. They are pretty hot on
discounts, so give them a call to
see what the monthly deal is.
In a villa on Al Wasl Road, it’s
a decadent escape with a lovely
garden for yoga.
Surprisingly reasonable at around
Dhs350 for an hour-long massage,
but they always have deals going on.
The pick-up service (in a Porsche
Cayenne or Mercedes no less) and
knowledgeable staff make for a
truly relaxing spa experience.
1047 Uttamah Villas, Al Wasl
Road, Jumeira, Dubai
10am to 10pm
Tel: (04) 3489679
www.thaiprivilegespadubai.com
7 Lime Spa –
The all-female staff will talk you
through your treatment or leave
you to snooze, depending on your
preference.
From massage and body polishes to
reflexology and ear candling, plus
manis, pedis and haircuts, it’s all
here. We haven’t tired of returning
again and again.
Clever one-way windows in the
treatment rooms allow you to gaze
onto lush green polo fields as you
are indulged.
Sixty minutes of reflexology is a
quite reasonable Dhs400.
Enjoy a sauna, steam room,
Jacuzzi and heated recliners
before and after your treatment.
Then head to Epicure or Rare for
a top feed.
Desert Palm, Al Awir Road,
after International City, Dubai
9am to 9pm
Tel: (04) 3238888
www.desertpalm.ae
8 The Spa –
Modern zen awaits you at this vast
spa, with experienced therapists on
hand to guide you from reception
to relaxation.
With separate menus for ladies
and gents you’ll be spoilt for
choice. The Aromatherapy
Associates treatments are highly
recommended and the Jetlag
package has saved our sanity.
You’d never expect this shrine to
relaxation to be within a mere five
minutes of the manic Dubai Mall. A
welcome surprise.
It’s steep, but the quality of
treatments, therapists and post-
massage snooze justify the bill.
Make time to nibble on the juicy
dates and sip tea in the relaxation
room. They nearly had to ask us
to leave.
The Address Dubai Mall,
Old Town, Dubai
9am to 9pm
Tel: (04) 4388888
www.theaddress.com
THE HOT LIST SPAS
9 Spa & Fitness
Centre –
The team at Atlantis will greet you
with ginger tea, treat you to a top
quality pampering then bring you
more tea. We were chuffed.
The extensive menu covers
everything from expert pedicures
and shaves to rituals to revel in.
Particularly recommended are the
Clarins facials.
It’s an impressive space with a
vast staircase, beautiful ‘floating’
corridor and underwater-themed
treatment rooms.
It’s expensive, with two hour-long
packages costing around Dhs1,000,
but you’ll emerge a more relaxed
and glowing version of yourself.
We were pleasantly surprised by
Atlantis’ spa offering. Far from a
token hotel effort, this is truly a
destination spa that will have you
coming back for more.
Atlantis The Palm, Palm
Jumeirah, Dubai
10am to 10pm
Tel: (04) 4261020
www.atlantisthepalm.com
SEPTEMBER 2010 WHAT’S ON 105
10 Mandara
Spa –
Super friendly and guaranteed to
make your spa time as enjoyable
as possible.
Try the four-handed Mandara
Massage. You’ll be pushed, pulled
and pulverised into a state of
somnolence by two therapists.
The softest dressing gowns
in town, Elemis facials and a
beautiful steam room are our
highlights.
We’d say it was mid-range. The
excellent Muscle Ease massage is
Dhs470 for 65 minutes.
If you’re lucky enough to work
nearby, keep an eye out for
Mandara’s mid-week hook-up
with restaurants in The Monarch.
Lunch and a massage for
Dhs295? Sign us up.
The Monarch Dubai,
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai
9am to 10pm
Tel: (04) 5018888
www.themonarchdubai.com
 Backchat
This month, our favourite
radio star battles his
insecurities – not to mention
his local lifeguard – in a
tale of life, love and one
man’s curly mullet
There are certain things in life – halitosis
for instance – that you can never be sure
about unless you ask someone. There are
those extremely lucky alpha-types who
are actually good at everything so don’t
have to worry. There are delusional fools
who have the self-belief to go through
life assuming that they'll pass everything
with flying colours, and, finally, there is the
category that I (and, I expect, most of the
world) fall into. Our group are the incessant
worriers; lying awake at night, gnawing
our nails down to the quick; feigning
happiness, but secretly feeling the crushing
weight of insecurity. It seems every
decade of our lives, from our teenage years
Don’t miss next month’s What’s On for – the best in
evening brunches, plus a look at the UAE’s live
music scene, aerial sports and much more
106 WHAT’S ON SEPTEMBER 2010
onwards, brings a new set of worries. For
me, as a teenager in the 80s, it was pretty
typical questions. Was my curly mullet
attractive to girls? Was my Pringle sweater
and Farah slacks combo attractive to girls?
At our school discos, was the random flailing Dubai 92 Breakfast Show, whip off my shirt
of my arms and legs whilst snarling like Elvis and get the belly underwater as quickly as
after a stroke attractive to girls?
Of course, come the 1990s, I was in
my 20s and had matured immeasurably.
However, insecurities remained. Was
being in a very amateurish rock’n’roll band
attractive to girls? Could I sing, or were
these people coming to my gigs as part
of a collective ironic joke? Would driving a
Citroen 2CV be seen as getting a 15-year
jump on all hipsters, or could people see it
was all I could afford?
Roll on the noughties. The decade I
conquered the world of broadcasting (or
to be more correct, the decade I managed
to blag a gig in radio and maintain an
adequate standard to ensure employment). insecurity shared is an insecurity halved.
Don’t get me started on the insecurities
that brought with it. My first boss once
told me he felt more like a therapist than a
with Catboy
radio professional, because all he ever did
was listen to the paranoid blathering of
broadcasters. We are a very whiny breed,
but then if you’ve heard the show, you know
that already.
That pretty much brings me to the
present. I have spent plenty of time
analysing and rationalising my own
insecurities and have been fairly forward
in asking people for honest answers about
my singing, dancing, good/bad breath,
hairstyles and weight, and I finally thought I
had discovered Zen.
Then a new one surfaced. In an effort to
not die of a heart attack this year, I have
taken to swimming considerable distances
every day. I plod along to the pool after the
possible, so as not to cause fainting women,
crying children and uncontrollable mayhem.
The problem is, I taught myself to swim as
a kid and have had no proper training, ergo,
my technique is not one formally recognised
by most sporting bodies. Half the battle is
explaining to the lifeguard that he must
stop dragging me out of the pool, as I am
not in the throes of epilepsy.
You may giggle at the mental image of a
bright red, overweight, panting Brit being
wrestled poolside by a slight Indian lad, hell-
bent on administering the kiss of life, but
ask yourself this… Are you really sure your
technique isn’t stupid? There you go. An
Catboy hosts the Catboy & Geordiebird
Breakfast Show, Sun to Thurs 6am to
10am, Dubai 92. www.dubai92.com
3 dhs