Ramadan 2018: Iftars and Meet Ups

Weeks before Ramadan commenced, I received a couple of invitations for Iftar preview. I won't lie, Iftar is the Ramadan tradition I always look forward to. I am not a Muslim, however, I immensely adore the essence of the holy month, most especially the concept of bringing the family closer by sharing a meal after a day of fasting.

I accepted three invitations. And in line with the true meaning of the season, I took it as an opportunity to personally meet and share a meal with my online family aka my blog readers.

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Seafood Night in Mercure Barsha Heights

When you're welcomed to a restaurant by a harmless-looking pirate, you know you're in for a treat!

Ed and I were caught by surprise when Captain Jack Sparrow - I mean, a staff dressed in a pirate costume - greeted us at the entrance door of Day & Night restaurant in Mercure Dubai Hotel in Barsha Heights.

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3 Years in the Blogosphere + 3 Fantastic Foodie Giveaways

My little pink blog turns 3! 

Gosh, where did the time go? It seems like it was just yesterday when I published my very first blog post which is more of a boring photo essay rather than a helpful hotel review. I was really shy when I started blogging and I felt like a weirdo talking to imaginary friends; hence I photo dumped grainy pictures and wrote a little. What was I thinking? Hahah! Yes, I always laugh at myself whenever I get the chance to read my first few entries. :)

  

This blog has helped me more than you can imagine. Putting feelings into words is a therapeutic tool whenever I'm so stressed out, learning how to communicate better is something that I really need in this crazy big city, and of course, receiving love and support from the people I haven't met yet is very humbling. I am SUPER grateful!

So, let's celebrate Lady and her Sweet Escapes' Year 3, shall we?

"Lady and her Sweet Escapes" through the years

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Ginger All Day Dining at Park Rotana

During our recent staycation in Abu Dhabi, Ed and I had five consecutive meals in the same restaurant. You may think it's boringly monotonous - same ambiance, same food for three days, but it was definitely NOT! 

For 3 days and 2 nights, we had our meals in a culinary powerhouse that managed to transform its ambiance and offerings from laid-back, to lively, to lavish in matter of hours. Ginger, Park Rotana's all day dining, is as versatile as the aromatic spice it was named after! 

Ginger All Day Dining in Park Rotana 

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Moroccan Iftar at Medley in Pullman Dubai

The holy month of Ramadan is about to begin. I am not a Muslim; hence Ramadan used to be a month of difficulties for me especially during my first year in the UAE. I can say I kinda got the hang of it after seven long years, but deep within is a sincere appreciation of the culture. 

Now, I see Ramadan as a season of respect, generosity and togetherness. 

Togetherness is best seen during Iftar; an evening meal after the sunset. It is a special time when family and friends gather at home or in a restaurant. It is a religious observation that even non-Muslims look forward to. 

Iftar invitations started to arrive in my inbox as early as mid-May. I am honored! If only I can be in every Iftar event, I would. But since I have a full-time job, I'll be missing some. In fact, I already missed my first Iftar preview invite. Fortunately, the people behind the event were so kind to reschedule my visit. So, on the first day of June, Ed and I got a little sneak peek on the Iftar offerings at Medley restaurant this Ramadan 2015.

Medley Restaurant in Pullman Hotel

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International Iftar Buffet at Millennium Plaza Hotel

Since the work hours are reduced to six and I'm having more morning shifts this Ramadan, I had the pleasure of attending the Media Iftar at Millennium Plaza Hotel last Thursday. Honestly, the word 'media' send shivers down my spine. Though I've been blogging for almost two years now, I still get a little shy around the real media people, but I just couldn't let the invitation pass. I love Iftars! I love dining at restaurants I haven't been to! And once and for all, I'd love to overcome timidity! :)

At sunset, Ed and I approached the concierge at the lavish lobby of Millennium Plaza Hotel at Sheikh Zayed Road. A staff then guided us to Metro! restaurant at the 5th floor where we were warmly greeted by the hosts. There was a very welcoming table of dates, nuts and dried fruits at the entrance; a wonderful sight for both fasting and non-fasting guests!    

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Traditional Iftar at Na3Na3 at The Address Dubai Mall

Ramadan Kareem! 

As an non-Muslim expatriate in the UAE, Ramadan is the season when I have to be more modest and extra careful with my actions. The holy month of Ramadan is a time of fasting and reflection for the Muslim community. While for me and most expats, it is a time of cultural immersion. At first, the prohibitions are quite hard to grasp, but with full respect, I eventually learned to appreciate and see the beauty of this season. 

One of the Ramadan traditions that I look forward to is the Iftar, an evening meal taken after a day of fasting. It is a traditional feast shared with family and friends. Early this week, I was invited to experience an amazing Arabic Iftar at Na3Na3 at The Address Dubai Mall.    

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South East Asian Night at The Californian

Ed and I declared the first week of October as No Diet Week. We both love to eat, and that week was the peak of our gastronomic escapade. We had four buffet meals in five days!!! If there's an expertise badge on Buffet Dining, I'd probably have one now! =) It all happened because my Birthday and our Anniversary fall on the same week. We had Seafood buffet on my Birthday, International buffet for breakfast and dinner on our advanced Anniversary getaway, and Asian buffet on our Anniversary night. 

We celebrated the 1st year of our blissful married life at Dusit Thani. Out of the many restaurants in the hotel, we chose to dine at The Californian because of the South East Asian theme on Monday nights.  

I used my phone's camera to take the photos. Sorry for the low quality! 

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Dining Under the Stars at Kempinski

Before anything else, I got a confession to make. I love food and dining out, but I can honestly say that food blogging is my weakness. I can tell you how beautiful the restaurant looks and how lovely the food is presented. When it comes to taste description, I can only give the basics, nothing like the complex description food bloggers can give! Anyway, I just want to share my wonderful dining experience the best way I could.

Moving on, here's something special on our weekend at Kempinski Hotel Ajman: a romantic dinner at Cafe Kranzler.

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Seafood Night at Rose Rayhaan by Rotana

Thirty! Oh my, I just turned Thirty! 

Some said I don't look like one. Actually, I barely feel like one. I guess I'm still trapped in a body and mind of a girl in her early twenties. I'm still waiting for the feeling of being 30 to sink in, but I am ready to make more mature decisions now. I am ready to accept whatever life brings, including the wrinkled skin and body fat that comes with ageing. 

On the day I turned 30, my husband took me to Petals Restaurant at Rose Rayhaan for a dinner buffet. Though I'm trying to lose few inches in my belly, special occasions have been my  excuse to eat more and forget about dieting (for a moment). That night, I didn't care about the calories. All that matter was I am celebrating my special day with my special someone, with delicious seafood waiting for me at the buffet table! 

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