Rasa Sayang: Malaysian Restaurant in Dubai

Food has always been a part of our weekend conversations, especially when we're stuck at home without a scheduled activity and with an empty fridge. While having the usual talk last weekend, Malaysian food came in to the picture.  

Ed and I have heard about this Malaysian restaurant called Rasa Sayang in Oud Metha a couple of years ago. We were interested back then, but because it is located quite far from the metro station, we totally forgot about it.

Since we had the time in our hands last Friday, we finally decided to go on a Malaysian food hunt. 

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China Grill: Asian-inspired World Cuisine at The Westin Dubai

Saturday night, Ed and I were introduced to one of New York's finest restaurants that has just arrived in Dubai: China Grill at The Westin in Mina Seyahi. It is not a "Chinese" restaurant. It is a culinary destination where East meets West. NYC's award-winning restaurant, now the freshest and the hottest dining spot in Dubai, serves Asian-inspired World Cuisine; a beautiful combination of international recipes and Asian touches.  

The ambiance at China Grill is beyond compare. The feel is upmarket; from the elegant red elevator that whisked us to the trendy lounge to the sophisticated main restaurant located a level below. We were invited to have some drinks at the bar before we proceed to dinner, but we politely declined as Ed was nursing a cold and I don't drink. But I guess that's how dining at China Grill should be; commence with a few drinks at the lounge, then head to the main restaurant once you've succumbed to the chill vibe.   

China Grill at The Westin

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Kris with a View: Fine Dining with a View at Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel

I've heard great things about Park Regis Kris Kin, from the annual New Year's Eve countdown party at the rooftop pool bar to the delectable Pan-Asian cuisine being served in the restaurants. So, last Saturday, I was really excited when we were whisked away to the 19th floor of the fancy five star hotel within our neighborhood. Yah, we live a hundred and one steps away (or maybe a little more), but we have never been there before. Shame, I know. 

Ed and I were cordially invited to dine at the hotel's flagship restaurant, Kris with a View, to try the new menu that has just been launched by Chef Rong Wei. And it was then that we noticed how lovelier our beloved Karama can be from up above, and how wrong I was to seek for a fancy Asian meal somewhere else when I can have it in the comforts of my own neighborhood! 

Kris with a View restaurant at Park Regis Kris Kin Dubai

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Hanoi Naturally: Vietnamese Fare in JLT

I was in my early 20s when I had a bowl of pho, a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, for the first time. It was in a Vietnamese restaurant chain in Manila right after my first International trip. The sting of the travel bug lingered as I opened my taste buds to an unfamiliar pleasant flavor. The feeling of wanderlust was new to my senses, but that moment, it became clear to me that food and travel go hand in hand. I fell in love with the subtle Vietnamese noodle soup and wondered what it would be like having it in the streets of Vietnam. So, it went down on my travel list.

Several months after my first pho (pronounced as "fuh", by the way), I moved to Dubai and my dream to travel to Vietnam was temporarily pushed aside. I still have it on my list though, and while I'm waiting for it to happen, I satisfy my pho cravings in a humble Vietnamese restaurant in JLT.

Hanoi Naturally in JLT Dubai

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Betawi: Authentic Indonesian Restaurant in Karama

Ed and I are residents of Al Karama for almost four years. Rent is a little high compared to some residential areas, but I don't think we'd move out anytime soon. Our humble home which is a four-cornered room in a flat is the most convenient place for us to be at as of the moment. Convenience for me means reaching the workplace by feet on weekdays and taking a short stroll to metro station on weekends. It also means having some perks around the corner, like a hidden foodie alley of pocket-friendly restaurants!

Al Karama has an answer to Sheikh Zayed Road's bustling foodie strip. With cuisines ranging from Indian to Nepalese, Filipino to Indonesian, the dimly-lit 4B street has something for every palate. One of my favorite hidden gems along that lane is Betawi.  

Betawi Indonesian Restaurant in Karama

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Chimes: Crab Fest and Dishes from the Far East

I love October! This time of the year is typically jampacked with awesomeness! :) Other than getting a year older and celebrating a journey to forever, October is filled with wonderful events. Just to name a few, there's the Oktoberfest funfair, the spooky Halloween parties and the annual Crab Fest at Chimes!  

For seafood lovers, Crab and Festival are two words that goes so well together. Think about succulent crab meat drizzled with scrumptious special sauce at a bargain price! So, the weekend after our short sweet escape in North India, Ed and I returned to Chimes; our crab haven in Al Barsha!

October Crab Fest 2014 at Chimes

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Dragon's Place: Asian Fusion Restaurant at The Ajman Palace

Due to my husband's obsession with Manga and my fascination with different forms of dining, we have fallen in love with Japanese cuisine. We have witnessed a culinary entertainment in a Teppanyaki table, dined in a contemporary ramen bar and grabbed some sushi from the conveyor belt. Traditional Japanese-style dining in a private room with a low table and floor cushions is what we wanted to experience next. It has been in our foodie bucket list for quite awhile and it was finally fulfilled during our stay at The Ajman Palace Hotel and Resort. Believe me when I say that the magic of spontaneity truly works! :)

An hour before the Japanese dinner date happened, I was contemplating where to dine at The Ajman Palace. The hotel has eight dining options! Part of me already wanted to steer away from confusion and just call for a room service, until I clicked on the online menu of Dragon's Place. The Asian Fusion restaurant offers Thai and Japanese cuisine, which simply means I can have a flavorful chicken satay and a delicate Japanese roll in one sitting! The prices are not that bad either! So, I dropped the room service plan and asked my husband to take me to Dragon's Place instead.  

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