Magnolia Bakery - Jumeirah Beach residence - The Walk

[caption id="attachment_3457" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Specialty cup cakes - Dhs 15 per piece[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3469" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Me along with Daniel(Staff at Magnolia Bakery)[/caption]

Yum it's a been a sheer delight to visit the newly opened Magnolia Bakery at THE WALK, JBR. It's one of those unlocked hours where you don't count calories but the pleasure is to enjoy the bite one after the other. It's their third store in Dubai and this bakery comes all the way from USA to treat us their signature cup cakes, puddings and more.

[caption id="attachment_3455" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Variety cup cakes showcased at Magnolia bakery[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3454" align="aligncenter" width="705"] counter at Magnolia bakery[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3453" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Collectors items - Aprons, cookbook, tshirt, sprinkle jars etc[/caption]

This store is located in a tricky corner where it's not easily noticed. Should find this one behind MotherCare. The moment I got in and saw their different types of cupcakes stretched on their counter(different colors, flavours, toppings, cakes) you have such a tough time to decide which ones to pick. So here's a few of those speciality cup cakes we picked.

[caption id="attachment_3456" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Specialty cup cakes - Dhs 15 per piece[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3459" align="aligncenter" width="705"] inner beauty of the red velvet specialty cup cake with cream cheese icing - Dhs 15[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3461" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Speciality cup cake - chocolate cup cake with meringue buttercream - Dhs 15[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3460" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Speciality cupcake - Pumpkin Pecan - Dhs 15 - maple cream cheese icing topped with toasted pecans[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3464" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Fruit crisp - Dhs 12 - homemade blueberry with a crumb topping[/caption]

All of them were really nice and had it's unique combinations and taste. The red velvet cup cake easily finished but I'd say my favourite was their chocolate cup cake with meringue buttercream. Out of their cakes I enjoyed their dark chocolate cake as it was really rich in chocolate. The maple cream cheese icing was my favourite icing ;). Their classic cup cake is Dhs 13 and speciality cup cake is Dhs 15.

[caption id="attachment_3468" align="aligncenter" width="705"] special gift wrapped boxes to make an impression[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3449" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Maglonia Bakery take away customized cup cakes, banana pudding (Dhs 15-smallest size) and cookies(Dhs 5)[/caption]

You can present their beautiful cupcake in a lovely packing by putting it in their favor box(Dhs 4 additional), and now that single piece looks even more special in that elegant favor box which can say a 1000 words to that someone special ;) They can also customize the cake for you for dhs 4 by adding an image on the cupcake like how you see above (how they've done my blog name on it). The box you see above with 2 cupcakes in it is complimentary(you don't have to pay anything extra for the plain white box packing), it's only if you want the favor designer boxes that comes with a ribbon.

[caption id="attachment_3467" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Banana pudding - 340 gms - Dhs 25[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3451" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Banana pudding - Dhs 15 - smallest size[/caption]

The banana pudding is my favourite at Magnolia Bakery. If you are visiting in here then you better not miss this one. Too good that you just can't stop poking it. They also have them in different sized packing for Dhs 15, 25 and 35. The Banana cream pie below had a similar taste to the banana pudding but the server was telling me that inner content is not the same as banana pudding although I couldn't really taste anything different in particular.

[caption id="attachment_3466" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Banana Cream Pie - Dhs 35 - Nilla wafer crust layered with fresh bananas and vanilla pudding, topped with fresh whipped cream[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3463" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Turkey and brie sandwich - Dhs 45 - Smoked turkey, brie, crisp green apples and lettuce on french bread drizzled with our homemade honey-mustard dressing[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3462" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Creamy salmon - Dhs 65 - tagliatelle with smoked salmon in a herbed cream sauce. Smothered in grated parmesan cheese[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3458" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Homemade lemonade - Dhs 15[/caption]

They do have a dinner and lunch menu which I doubt if anyone notices. Probably they need to put some bigger posters of their meals as the sugar dominate this bakery in a big way. We did try their pasta and sandwiches and I was very impressed with their Turkey and Brie sandwich. Fresh bread, green apples and that special cheese in it makes this sandwich  WOW. The portion size was impressive and it would be difficult for one person to complete it. Their homemade lemonade was just lime and water so no real magnolia magic in here.

[caption id="attachment_3470" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Pecan bar - Dhs 15[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3465" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Mini cheese cake Blueberry - Dhs 30[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3452" align="aligncenter" width="705"] cookies - Dhs 5[/caption]

They have different types of cheese cake and we went after the regular blueberry cheesecake. The berries on top surely rock and the cheese cake tastes more natural but not my type though. I wish I tried some of their other cheesecakes like the chocolate or red velvet cheesecake :( Their cookies were soft and the chocolate chunk cookie is my pick here. Over all I am happy with the quality they have to offer. I am just not sure if I can afford them all the time :( . Click pictures below to view them in full screen view. Click here to see their full menu on their website.

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AriO'Rotti - Mutton Biriyani - Dhs 20 - Madina Mall Dubai

[caption id="attachment_3417" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Ariorotti interiors[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3421" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Biriyani - chicken(dhs 15), mutton(dhs 20) and fish(dhs 19)[/caption]

So here I am at one of the most hyped keralite restaurant this month called Ariorotti. Ariorotti claims to deliver some of the best Thalassery dishes onto your plate. To some of you, Thalaserry(currently known as Tellicherry) is located in the northern part of kerala and is very famous for their tantalizing dishes. So here's a restaurant trying to breath and bring the spirit of Tellicherry to Dubai which has been started by a bunch of entrepreneurs. The restaurant was inaugurated few weeks back and the marketing has done a good job in getting the reach to their audience. Now let's see if the restaurant can stay up to their hype.

[caption id="attachment_3418" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Telicherry - The Paris of Kerala[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3420" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Ariorotti interiors[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3419" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Ariorotti interiors[/caption]

It's my first visit to Madina Mall. Out of the restaurants located in Madina Mall food court, Ariorotti had an elegance to it with its interior design of beautiful wallpaper along with pictures, frames, chandeliers and colored windows. The history of Thalasssery is told well on their walls and you can actually begin to feel the spirit in them. Their menu had some very interesting dishes which you might not find else where and we decided to try a little of everything. The disappointment came when the restaurant informed us that they could only offer us biriyanis, 2 types of curry and only porottas for saturday lunch. Too late, I've driven all the way to Madina mall so bring what you have!

[caption id="attachment_3422" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Biriyani - chicken(dhs 15), mutton(dhs 20) and fish(dhs 19)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3423" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Fish Biriyani - Dhs 19[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3425" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Mutton Biriyani - Dhs 20[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3424" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Chicken Biriyani - Dhs 15[/caption]

The first came the biriyanis and they came with the expected bells and whistles such as the pickles, curd and pappads. The biriyanis tasted impressive. The mutton biriyani was my favourite out of the lot. The biriyani taste did take me back to Thalassery. Surely they got that one right. I also specifically enjoyed their pickle, it tasted more like a homemade pickle and making pickles at home is quite trendy in Tellicherry. Mind you the portion size of the biriyani is limited to one person only, I felt the portion size was a little less compared to other restaurants.

[caption id="attachment_3427" align="aligncenter" width="705"] Alsa - Dhs 10 - Traditional dish based on wheat grain and chicken[/caption]

Then I tried their Alsa which is normally the starter at any Thalassery weddings before the maincourse. You pour sugar and have it licking. It looked pretty but we really couldn't feel the wheat grain and chicken in it. This one could have been better. My guests that accompanied me had the same impression.

[caption id="attachment_3428" align="aligncenter" width="705"] RIGHT - Fish Mulakitttah - Dhs 15 and LEFT- Chicken Malli Curry - Dhs 20[/caption]

The only 2 curries that were available for the afternoon were impressive enough. I was specially happy with fish mulakittah cause not all restaurants get it right. Normally they just throw lot of color and spice in it but the one here was well prepared and definitely went well with the hot and crispy porotas. By the way I loved their porotas and unfortunatley I missed taking pictures of it :( We did get some complimentary sweet called mambayaram payasam at the end which needed improvement. I've had better ones from Thalassery and I am sure they can work on it.

[caption id="attachment_3426" align="aligncenter" width="705"] complimentary sweet[/caption]

Overall I am happy with their maincourse and it does taste homemade. This restaurant is definitely worth a visit specially those who are not from Thalassery. The one downside is that they still can't offer all that they mention on their menu. Even the basic milk tea is not available. Right now they have an excuse of newly opened restaurant but not sure how long they can keep that excuse. Otherwise I'd like to visit them again specially if they can deliver what they mention on their menu. Click pictures below to view the full screen view:

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Emirates - Economy Class Dining

After years of flying in Emirates, here's my first insight to EMIRATES meal. Whenever you book a flight in Emirates you can always choose the kind of food you want in their flight. Emirates offers a selection of special meals to suit special medical, dietary, or religious requirements. I try to be normal and try to go for their default as I try to take less chances in air.

[caption id="attachment_3409" align="aligncenter" width="705"] breakfast menu[/caption]


[caption id="attachment_3397" align="aligncenter" width="705"] kids meal[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3399" align="aligncenter" width="705"] an aromatic breakfast preperation of semolina and tomato with spices, lentils flavored with currey leaves and served with steamed fermented rice batter and a vegetable stew[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3398" align="aligncenter" width="705"] slow cooked peas curry served with chicken and paneer kofta and batter fried bread dumplings[/caption]

Unfortunately this time the food provided for both my flights in Emirates wasn't that great. It was better last year though. I felt they offered the kids meal better. My all time favourite which I enjoyed at Emirates was their ravioli pasta. Their breakfast was really not enticing but their dinner was ok if I consider the Murg chetinnad on their dinner menu. Gulab Jamun was nice and so was the muffins provided for the kids. In short you try to satisfy yourself with their desserts, salads and fruits. Maincourses were no show this time :( Oh and I forgot to mention I love their slim chocolates that come along their menu.

[caption id="attachment_3401" align="aligncenter" width="705"] EK560 dinner menu[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3403" align="aligncenter" width="705"] marinated chicken cooked in South Indian style, served with buttered pulao rice and gobi kali mirch[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3402" align="aligncenter" width="705"] kids meal[/caption]

Oh yeah and that tiny little fizzy drinks and some hot tea/coffee makes you tuned for a quite nap in the cold plane. Seats are not great, I felt they had the most uncomfortable chairs and so is the leg space :(. But their inflight entertainment keeps you entertained so you don't take much notice of them ;) By the way this was an economy class dining experience. I am sure the dining experience at their first and business class should be on a different level :(