Thank you for your votes!

All right Everybody,

I've just won a one day stay at a 5 star hotel (Al Ghurair Reyhaan). Could have not won it with all your votes, support and encouragement. I will try my best to continue being active on my blog as much as I can. Also I shall share with all of you my experience in this luxury suite through my lens :)

regards

-Rubeen

Mezza House - Downtown Dubai - opposite to Dubai Mall

[caption id="attachment_1019" align="aligncenter" width="705"] interiors of Mezza House[/caption]

Mezza house - A house located in a beautiful location just opposite to Dubai Mall(Souq al Bahar) and you could enjoy your dinner or sheesha starring at the Burj Khalifa. Hey, can be a perfect spot for the new year! Enjoy those firecrackers happening at Burj Khalifa while you enjoy your cracking dinner at Mezza house that night. But i know one thing for sure, many residents are thinkin the same.

I visited Mezza House for dinner on a wednesday and even though it was not a weekend it was packed. You had to wait for your table on a wednesday. Surely there's something special about these guyz.

[caption id="attachment_1032" align="aligncenter" width="678"] From right: Chef(Abdel Karim), Me and Roland(Restaurant Manager)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1036" align="aligncenter" width="705"] The view from my table[/caption]

At Mezza House you can either dine-in outside or inside. Inside is a beauty but when the weather is even prettier there is demand for those outside tables. I noticed many people at Mezza House where killing time having sheesha. So if you smoke this can be another plus for you to be here. It was a great atmosphere with cool winds, healthy crowd and great orders to see.

[caption id="attachment_1025" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Hommos with beetroot - Dhs 30[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1022" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Freekeh Soup - Dhs 25 - roasted green wheat slow cooked in homemade chicken stock and cubes[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1026" align="aligncenter" width="705"] lentil salad - Dhs 25 - lentil with green apple, spring onion and truffle oil with lemon dressing[/caption]

We started our dinner with soups, salads and their signature beetroot Hommos and moutabal. Beetroot Hommos was new to me even though i've eaten Hommos from different restaurants before. Their Beetroot Hommos impressed me very much and I made sure I ate the most of it :) All their salads were fantastic, loaded with different types of vegetables and unique. Not those salads that you would find everywhere.

Their Freekeh soup(roasted green wheat slow cooked in homemade chicken stock and cubes) was a good start to my dinner. Most importantly I noticed their ingredients healthy and u really feel good eating them.

[caption id="attachment_1028" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Crab Salad - Dhs 30 - lettuce topped with crabsticks avocado, mushroom and sweet corn with lemon and olive oil dressing[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1027" align="aligncenter" width="705"] burrata - Dhs 65 - burrata served with cherry tomatoes and sticky molasses[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1029" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Beid ghanam(left) - Dhs 35, Fig birds(behind) - Dhs 60, cheese and mushroom - Dhs 30[/caption]

There were some interesting items like lamb testicles and birds in the above picture:

Cheese and mushroom - halloum cheese with fresh mushroom, chopped onion with melted kashkaval cheese
Fig birds - fig birds sauteed in pomegrenate sauce
Beid ghanam - pan fried lamb fries testicules in lemon garlic sauce

Cheese and mushroom we all know but they also had fig birds. These are real cooked birds. They are called fig birds because they eat only figs and grapes. These birds are not found in the UAE though, they are specially brought from Lebanon. You can eat them as it is(not just the flesh). Interestingly it was tasty but there wasn't enough meat on it for someone like me.

[caption id="attachment_1031" align="aligncenter" width="705"] freekeh zotto - Dhs 40 - freekeh cooked in cream, onion, mushroom and topped with halloum and parmesan cheese[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1030" align="aligncenter" width="705"] spicy turkish sojok - Dhs 35 - sauteed spicy lamb cocktail sauteed with fresh mushroom, capsicum & onion[/caption]

The turkey dish in the above picture is one of their specialties. I definitely enjoyed this dish.

[caption id="attachment_1033" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Giant adana kabab - Dhs 65[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1035" align="aligncenter" width="705"] wagyu beef - Dhs 150[/caption]

Main course:

• Giant adana kabab - A jumbo minced meat kabab speciality from turkey, grilled over charcoal with capsicum and onion


• 
  
   wagyu fillet - charcoal grill wagyu beef topped with truffle oil

The Adana kabab was definitely one of the longest kababs I've had. The burgol that came along with Adana kabab was really good. What blew me away was the wagyu beef. It's the best beef you can ask for. High in quality as much as the price. It's the tastiest beef u can have. These cows are specially fed to bring out the maximum quality in them and hence they cost the same.

[caption id="attachment_1041" align="aligncenter" width="705"] othmaliya - Dhs 28 - vermicelli filled with arabic ice cream[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1038" align="aligncenter" width="705"] nasso ghazal beirut - Dhs 28 - candy floss with arabic ice cream[/caption]

All their desserts are served with a big fat scoop of delicious arabic ice cream. It does play a main role in adding up taste to the dessert. My wife enjoyed the Mafroukeh bel ashta which is pistachio dough layers with inner fillings of ashta(cream)which comes along with a scoop of arabic ice cream. I've noticed other guests ordering the same. I enjoyed the candy floss with arabic ice cream and so was my son enjoying it :)

[caption id="attachment_1039" align="aligncenter" width="705"] mafroukeh bel ashta - Dhs 28 - pistachio dough layers with fresh ashta[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1021" align="aligncenter" width="678"] Mezzacolada - Dhs 42 - pineapple, coconut milk with pisatshio and chocolate powder[/caption]

Drinks:

• jellab mojito  - jellab with lime and mint, topped with soda


• cranberry mojito - Cranberry with lime and mint, sugar syrup topped with soda


• mezzacolada - pineapple, coconut milk with pisatshio and chocolate powder

Updated on Dec1, 2013: Mezzacolada is supposed to be their special but once I had their Jellab mojito I couldn't go back to any other drink on the table. Their Jellab mojito was simply fantastic. A top rated one.

[caption id="attachment_1034" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Joey who's been great at service that night[/caption]

website: http://www.facebook.com/mezzahouse

Click on any of the picture to enjoy the below gallery in Full Screen view.

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="1041,1039,1038,1036,1035,1034,1033,1032,1031,1030,1029,1028,1027,1026,1025,1024,1023,1022,1021,1020,1019"]

La Maison Du Chocolat - Paris - Dubai Mall

[caption id="attachment_959" align="aligncenter" width="705"] From right: Me, Wissam(Executive Director), Geoffrey(Managing Director)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_956" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Macarons with ganache - 6 pieces - Dhs 85, 12 pieces - Dhs 170, 24 pieces - Dhs 340[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_988" align="aligncenter" width="705"] La Maison du Chocolat pastries, eclairs, tarts - Dhs 40 onwards[/caption]

I am a strict chocoholic and I am glad to have visited this new outlet in Dubai Mall called La Maison Du Chocolat. It is located at Fashion avenue floor (next to Hermes). A luxury chocolate brand located next to it's rich neighbours but it's not my usual walking space in Dubai Mall. La Maison du Chocolat is the place to find the chocolate in all it's forms. Chocolate bonbons, pastries, confections, chocolate tarts, macarons with gananche, eclairs..etc

The first item I tried from this store was their macarons with ganache. I've eaten several macarons from many other outlets but this was a killer. It's one of the best macarons you can have. They say first impression is the best impression, I tried the macaron with ganache first and it struck me so hard that I suddenly saw La Maison Du Chocolat from a different perspective. The heritage, history, quality, integrity, experience all was highlighted in that taste.

They have different types of Macarons with ganache. I tried 3 of them:

1. Maracuja: Passion fruit pulp unveiled in a luscious dark chocolate ganache.


2. Venezuela: Dark Chocolate from Venezula with spicy, cocoa notes of roasted raw cocoa beans.


3. Figaro: Dark Chocolate ganache with roasted fresh hazelnuts.

Each one had it's own unique taste but I think the secret to their success is the ganache inside.

[caption id="attachment_964" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Macarons with ganache - Box of 6 pieces - Dhs 85, Box of 12 pieces - Dhs 170, B0x of 24 pieces - Dhs 340[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_958" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Chocolate bonbons - 35 varieties - Dhs 960/kg[/caption]

La Maison Du Chocolat got their cacao plantations in Venezuela, Ecuador, Caribbean, Africa and Madagascar. They have a selection of around 35 varieties of chocolate bonbons which includes plain ganaches, ganaches with fruits, ganaches with spices and pralines in dark or milk chocolate. Among the 35 different types of chocolate 1/3 are made of milk chocolate and 2/3 are of dark chocolate. The most emblematic chocolates of La Maison du Chocolate would be:

The PLAIN ganaches:
Caracas: Intense dark chocolate ganache.
Quito: Semi-sweet dark chocolate ganache.
Guayaquil: Dark chocolate ganache, infused with Bourbon vanilla.

The FLAVOURED Ganaches:
Salvador: Dark Chocolate ganache with fresh raspberry pulp.
Andalousie: Dark Chocolate ganache with an infusion of lemon zest.
Zagora: Dark chocolate ganace with an infusion of fresh mint leaves.

The PRALINES:
Traviata: Praline with roasted and caramelized almonds.
Figaro: Praline in dark or milk chocolate with roasted almonds and hazelnuts.
Rocher: Dark or milk praline with almonds and hazelnuts and silvers of roasted almonds.

Whichever you take you can't go wrong. Also they believe that the taste must end on a note of chocolate, so this how the order of taste should be in your mouth when you have their creation:

1. First - Chocolate


2. Second - The flavour(fruit, spice or any other infusion)


3. Third - Chocolate again
   
   [caption id="attachment_957" align="aligncenter" width="705"] chocolate bonbons - Dhs 960/kg - some out of 35 varieties[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_986" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Thin pieces of dark and milk chocolate used to make ganache[/caption]

The 10 commandments of La Maison Du Chocolat

1. The color of a good chocolate should be mahogany brown and slightly glossy.


2. A good chocolate should not be too dark or dull.


3. Ideal temperature for tasting is between 18 and 20 Celsius.


4. A good chocolate should have a very thin coating and should melt in the mouth.


5. The best way to taste chocolate is savour it in small pieces.


6. Chocolate should never be sharp, over bitter or pungent.


7. The flavour of the chocolate should never conceal the intensity of the cocoa (important to achieve perfect balance).


8. The taste of a chocolate should linger on the palate.


9. All ingredients especially chocolate couverture must be of premium quality.


10. A good chocolate is defined by the quality of the chocolate used and not by cocoa percentage.
    
    [caption id="attachment_967" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Art of making ganache being demonstrated by Chef[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_960" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Seasonal packs - 57gms - 12 pieces - Dhs 105[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_961" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Orange chocolate fingers - 150gms - Dhs 135[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_968" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Fruit Pastes - 17 pieces - Dhs 182[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_962" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Chocolate Bars - Dhs 45[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_969" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Chocolate bonbons - 320gms - Dhs 282[/caption]

La Maison Du Chocolat are composed primarily of dark chocolates, packaged in luxurious boxes with grained paper, tied with ribbons in a palette of chocolate tones displaying the legendary codes of La Maison Du Chocolat.

website: http://www.lamaisonduchocolat.com

[caption id="attachment_987" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Chocolate bonbons gift box- 320gms - Dhs 282[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_990" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Gift box of different sizes[/caption]

Click on a photo to enjoy all of it in full screen theater view.

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="990,988,987,986,969,968,967,966,964,963,962,961,960,959,958,957,956"]

Ultra Brasserie - Emaar Square - Downtown Dubai

[caption id="attachment_924" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Berry pancakes with greek yoghurt & berry compote - Dhs 34[/caption]

They say it's very important to start your day with a healthy breakfast. So here I am at an organic cafe by the name Ultra. They are located in Emaar Square located just opposite to Dubai Mall. The inside of this cafe is trendy, surrounded by modern art and color. I love the way the sunlight would pour into this restaurant through it's glass wall. Since it's located in a business area I see and hear people around me talking business and building relations and at the same time its not crowded. Perfect ambiance to start my day. Also notice their colored napkins and glass on our table below.

[caption id="attachment_918" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Lovely colored napkins and glass[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_923" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Hollie not able to give up her fresh Orange Juice[/caption]

One thing I like about eating at ultra is their menu is all organic. Whatever you order you can be assured it free of chemical additives and more nutritious by nature. For Drinks we tried the following:

• Orange Juice


• Strawberry, banana Smoothie with quinoa milk


• Hot Chocolate


• Wheatgrass, Carrot, Lemon Juice

I normally don't have smoothies early morning but when i saw that they were serving with quinoa milk i thought i should try it. I haven't seen this milk in much restaurants. Quinoa milk is supposed to be high in nutrients, proteins, vitamins and antioxidants. Normally when you try to replace your full fat milk with a healthier version there would be a drop in taste but in this case the quinoa milk made a good combination with strawberries and banana.

Oh and I tried the drink with wheatgrass for the first time! after hearing lot about health benefits with wheatgrass. The drink came to my table with it's unique color but after a few sips I realized I can only enjoy the health benefits but not the taste of wheatgrass :(

[caption id="attachment_920" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Orange Juice - Dhs 20 and Banana strawberry in quinoa milk - Dhs 24[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_926" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Wheatgrass, Carrot, Lemon Juice - Dhs 22[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_921" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Hot Chocolate - Dhs 18[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_922" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Double eggs cooked as requested served on whole wheat toast - Dhs 24[/caption]

Our breakfast:

• Double eggs cooked as requested served on whole wheat toast


• Berry pancakes with greek yoghurt and berry compote

I ordered the Pancakes and they've come out wonderful. No flaws here. If you love pancakes then you should enjoy this very much. I love the plate that eggs came in. The Eggs served looked lovely, wish I tried them them but I had my juices and pancakes to finish anyway. They've got so much more to offer in their breakfast menu. You can simply check their menu and pricing on their website: http://www.ultra.ae/



Now here's an interesting one for you. The breakfast experience was lovely, the food was great and reasonably priced(considering the fact it was organic too) and the ambiance was healthy enough to make it a good start to the day until I reached the parking counter of Emaar square. I spent my time at ultra for about 1 hour and 15 minutes and I had to pay 40 Dhs as a parking ticket (I could have ordered one more premium breakfast with that amount at Ultra). So beware of this one but hey the good news for you is that parking is FREE on FRIDAYS which is great for families wanting to eat breakfast or lunch and then probably head to Dubai Mall for some activity.



[caption id="attachment_935" align="aligncenter" width="705"] From left: Hollie, Quissal, Faisal and Myself[/caption]

They all also have other interesting items at the counter for the sweet tooth.

[caption id="attachment_933" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Caramel and Arabian slice - Dhs 14[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_932" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Rocky Road Brownie - Dhs 16[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_931" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Quinoa Slice - Dhs 14[/caption]

click on any photo below to enjoy photos in full screen view.

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="935,934,933,932,931,930,928,926,925,924,923,922,921,920,919,918"]

Mini McArabia chicken - Dhs 6 - value meal - McDonalds Dubai Mall

[caption id="attachment_898" align="aligncenter" width="705"] McDonalds take away packing[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_902" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Value McARABIA chicken - Dhs 6[/caption]

If we were at the food court then most times I get dragged by my son to McDonalds. Not that he is interested in their food specifically but it's that new toy he wants more than anything and they are also smart to change these toys at a high frequency. So this time while I was ordering his Kids Meal I noticed something interesting a mini McArabia value meal for Dhs 6(just the sandwich). That McArabia looked so good on the menu I thought I should try one too. It comes with it's own sauces like the garlic mayonnaise sauce(sometimes u need to ask for it). The packing was great. The chicken was wrapped around an arabic bread which felt wonderful in my hands but when I took my first bite the whole impression when down the drain. It didn't taste as great as it looked unfortunately. I guess McArabia chicken is not for my tongue :(

[caption id="attachment_903" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Value McARABIA chicken - Dhs 6 - exposed[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_904" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Value McARABIA chicken - Dhs 6 - exposed[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_900" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Kids Meal - boys - Dhs 10[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_899" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Kids Meal - Girls - Dhs 10[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_901" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Kids Meal - Dhs 10 - Chicken burger - Fries - Juice[/caption]

I know McDonalds for providing affordable food. In that one item I enjoy is this chicken burger(dhs 5) that comes with kids meal. It's my favourite there.