Date Night at Fish Beach Taverna

While having a relaxing daycation in Mina Seyahi last week, Ed and I stumbled across a lovely restaurant by the sea. As far as I can remember, I've seen photos of it on Instagram last year, but I never really paid attention as we were too focused on traveling overseas. Little did I know, it is a gem that is definitely worth a visit! 

I'm talking about Fish Beach Taverna!

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Date Night in Al Dawaar Revolving Restaurant and Lounge

Over 10 years of "dating", Ed and I unconsciously created a Date Night Bucket list. We don't talk about it, but this list of dining venues seem to pop up whenever we decide where to celebrate a special occasion.

One very unique restaurant on our list is Al Dawaar - a revolving restaurant and lounge perched in the 25th floor of Hyatt Regency Dubai.

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Carnival by Tresind: A Showcase of Postmodern Indian Cuisine in Dubai

Chic presentation, whimsical colors and state-of-the-art food theatrics made me a serial stalker of Carnival by Tresind on social media. The restaurant has not opened its doors yet, but already gained quite a number of excited fans. That includes me! And - surprise, surprise - I got to have a sneak peek before the restaurant officially welcomes Dubai's foodie population on the 3rd of September! 

Here's what to expect at the highly-anticipated Carnival by Tresind. 

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Valentine's Date Night at Carlton Palace Hotel

I couldn't let the LOVE month end without blogging about our Valentine's date night at Carlton Palace Hotel in Dubai. It has been fourteen days and I am now on the other side of world (currently having the time of my life in the Philippines), but I still couldn't forget the wonderful dinner that we had. 

Carlton Palace Hotel may sound new, but it is actually the former Metropolitan Palace which is already an established name in the hospitality industry. Our memorable Valentine's evening commenced with a warm welcome to the luxurious property. We felt like we were transported to another era when we walked in the Baroque-inspired hotel lobby. An elegant double staircase and romantic pieces from the piano tugged at my heart strings!  

Carlton Palace Hotel in Deira, Dubai

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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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Unlimited Tasting Night at Shanghai Chic in Movenpick Ibn Battuta Gate

I remember those days when I had to cross the pedestrian lane from Ibn Batutta metro station to the shopping mall but couldn't keep my eyes off the imposing structure on my far right, those days when I had to stop at the grassy area just for a photo of the luxurious facade with a grand arch. By merely staring at its grandeur from afar, I was pretty sure inside of it are gems, I mean perfect date night venues, I must discover.

Last weekend, the astonishment happened again. I kept my eyes fixed at Movenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate, but I was no longer in the middle of the street or at the lawn. I was finally walking towards it, hoping my first impression is right, wishing I'd find a new culinary gem to love.

Movenpick Hotel Ibn Battuta Gate

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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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A Taste of India in Gazebo Restaurant

My taste buds and my stomach are as fragile as my emotions, hence I was scared of Indian food. I was afraid of its intensity; the sting, the spice, everything! Then one day, I was lured by India, particularly Jaipur, through a travel documentary. So, I made a deal with myself. Before anything else, I must get over that senseless fear. I don't want to go hungry while travelling. :) 

Ed and I decided to go on an Indian date night for the first time three months ago. As most of our friends said that Gazebo is the safest choice when we want to acquaint ourselves with Indian cuisine, we went to the restaurant's branch in Deira City Centre.

Indian date night in Gazebo in DCC

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Serafina Italian Restaurant: A Piece of Northern Italy in Souk Al Bahar

Two hours. Three-course Italian meal. Four musical fountain shows. 

That's how our Satur-date went. It may sound like our normal date night in Downtown Dubai, but behind those words is an extraordinary dining experience. Ed and I were given the wonderful opportunity to have a taste of the authentic Northern Italian cuisine at Serafina Italian Restaurant in Souk Al Bahar. 

Serafina is a popular celebrity dine-out spot in New York. It is an intimate yet trendy Italian restaurant that has been welcoming famous stars like The Kardashians, Lady Gaga and Tom Cruise. It is well-loved by celebrities and non-celebrities, hence apart from its 10 locations in New York, Serafina also conquered the International scene. Today, it has branches in Moscow, Brazil, Tokyo, Mumbai and Dubai!  

Serafina Italian Restaurant in Souk Al Bahar

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Sumo Sushi and Bento: Date Night in Al Qasba

I have been a maki monster lately. I've had California Maki almost every weekend, to the point that Ed already thinks my appetite is extremely weird. No, it's not what you think! Even during our recent date night in Al Qasba in Sharjah, I still bugged him for Japanese rolls although his palate was screaming for change. 

Ed wanted some peri-peri roast chicken. I, being submissive (sometimes), had our Entertainer voucher for the Portuguese restaurant ready. But, it turned out that the restaurant is under renovation! Hah! Good news for me in this case! Don't get me wrong, I love that peri-peri restaurant too. It's just that I desperately needed to go to Sumo Sushi and Bento to give in to my cravings! :)   

And so, it was Japanese night once again!

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RICH Cafe: British Bites at Mall of the Emirates

RICH, in striking capital letters, scared me away several times. 

I'm talking about RICH Cafe at Mall of the Emirates. It is very inviting and certainly charming, yet its posh name sounds like a nightmare to the food budget. So, I often wince and walk straight to the food court. It was only last Saturday that I noticed the cafe's buy1get1 coupons in my precious Entertainer book! Why haven't I seen it all along?

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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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Deliziosa Cena at Filini

Ed stayed in Italy for a year, I think that turned him into an Italian by heart. He loves the cuisine and can speak the language. For his love of Italian food, we had a "Delicious Dinner at Filini" on his birthday. 

When I was web-searching for good restaurants at Yas Island, Filini at Radisson Blu came first with excellent reviews. Since we stayed at Radisson for a night, we didn't want to miss the chance of dining at the famous contemporary Italian restaurant.

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