Smiling BKK

My tongue is burning as I type this.

Mind you, I am not complaining. In fact, this is very good indeed.

My friend and I had been intending to check out Smiling BKK for ages and ages, and today we finally got round to doing it. We are both huge lovers of Thai food. And it was a good thing we did.

I had read previously that the place was a bit hard to find. Well, I was adamant that I would not get lost. And so armed with a map and directions, I made my way triumphantly and waited for my friend who wasn't too far off.

5 minutes after getting in, I get a call.

Him: "Hey! Where are you?"

Me: "I'm here! You?"

Him: "Me too! I'm inside."

Me: "I'm inside too..."

At this point I should point out that the restaurant is tiny. Trust me, if he had walked in, I would've noticed him.

Me: "Um......"

Him: "Are you in Al Wasl?"

Me: "Ye-es...."

Him: "Near Safa Park?"

Me: "Ye-ees"

Him: ........ *pause*

Him: "In the Al Wasl Square?"

Me: ".... there's a branch in Wasl Square?"

Him: "There's a branch OTHER than Wasl Square?!"

And so Smiling BKK managed to thwart me despite my best preparations...

Anyhow, we managed to meet up, at the Wasl Square branch in the end, which is much newer and bigger than the one I had initially gone to. The concept was the same though; the walls dark, the decorations colourful, the Mona Lisa moustachioed. It's quite different from anything I had seen in Dubai before, but it would be right at home somewhere like London.

The menu is quite extensive, and its known for its funny dish names, but I will let you enjoy them. There is page after page of noodles, seafood, curries, starters, the works. We decided to go for our usual favourites: prawn crackers, tom yum soup, green chicken curry with rice, Pad-See Eiw (flat rice noodle stir fry with beef) and I got myself some cold Japanese green tea.

Prawn Crackers

Now I must give you a warning:

THAI FOOD IS SPICY. IT IS VERY, VERY SPICY. IF YOU CANNOT HANDLE SPICE, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EAT HERE. WHATEVER YOU ARE IMAGINING, IT IS MUCH, MUCH SPICIER THAN THAT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! 

Tom Yum Soup (chicken)

                  

Now that you have read that warning, let me tell you about the Tom Yum soup. You be thinking, "oh, that's not so bad, it looks quite mild". IT IS NOT MILD. We were asked about how spicy we would like our dishes, and everything was put at medium. We were fooled by this soup, thinking it looks relatively harmless, but oh boy were we wrong. It BURST with flavour. It was DELICIOUS. But 5 minutes in, we were starting to sweat like pigs and it was just the beginning.

Thai Green Chicken Curry

Pad See Eiw Beef

I very much enjoyed the mains too. They were not as spicy (I could handle more than one try), and they too were full of lovely Thai flavour. The curry was creamy and well made, and the noodles too were just asking for attention. My only criticism would be the amount of noodles in the dish, as it seemed to have more cabbage than noodle. But still, it was really good.

Smiling BKK is definitely the place to go for Thai. It has a great atmosphere and you will be assaulted with flavours. When you go for Thai, you know that the word "bland" does not exist. This place certainly proves that.

                      

Awani : Levant Cuisine

After walking through JBR during the construction process and seeing the intimidating blocks of grey buildings that did not match the sleek sand like towers that were already there,  I could only expect the worst: a blocked view of the beach, blocked access to the beach and yet another mall with your run of the mill restaurants and shops.  Walking down that street all I could do was shake my head in disappointment and wait for the inevitable doomed fate of this beautiful area. Well, thank God I do not make a living out of my hunches because boy was I wrong!  Somehow, they managed to bring these inanimate blocks to life creating an area with unlimited possibilities.  The lighting design alone is a work of art that you could enjoy and gawk at as you move from one area to another.

What is definitely the highlight of this new area is the lineup of restaurants. The variety is refreshing, unexpected and happily welcomed. Needless to say I will not rest until I have tried them all!!

Having planned this visit mischievously and for selfish reasons, with the expectation of trying out a new restaurant to review such as Aprons and Hammers, Leopold’s or even Sushi Art; I was in for a surprise or two. Not always is the restaurant decision making up to me, so when I saw I was being directed towards a shisha place I was kicking and screaming. I was gracefully, not suggesting, but insisting we try any other place.Sadly my puppy eyes and pouting lips did not work.

The restaurant we ended up at is called Awani: Levant Cuisine. The view from upstairs is quite perfect, you  do not feel like you are in Dubai especially with the amount of wind blowing you away. As much as we would have liked to stay seated in the outdoor area it was way too cold. The staff was very friendly and tried to accommodate us as much as possible, allowing us to move from one table to another until we found the perfect one that was nice and warm. When you look around you will see that the interior’s main focal point is a colorful wall of Turkish plates that would feel out of place if it weren’t for the matching upholstery.

You will notice that the menu has a wide variety of options from all over the Mediterranean with a stronger influence from Jordan and Lebanon. I was pleasantly surprised with the dishes offered and suddenly felt quite excited to try the food. You will certainly not be prepared for the adventure your taste buds are about to go on, I wasn’t.  We ordered a bunch of cold and hot Mezzas to try out. The first dish was the Eatch which is an incredibly delicious Armenian dish that comprises of burghul, onions, diced tomatoes, parsley, fresh lemon juice and oil. Burghul is not traditionally eaten alone without the aid of some laban to mask the dryness. Somehow, the combination of ingredients blend together to create such incredible flavor. So much has been done with such a simple and not so traditional ingredient. One of the dishes I was looking forward to trying was the Mushroom Awani, a small plate of mushrooms cooked in butter with the addition of spices. Such an unassuming dish with a few ingredients somehow turns into this unbelievably delectable option that you will not get enough of.Last but not least was my favorite choice Hindbeh Awani, it was not something I had ordered or even something I was planning on trying but my God was it delicious!The ingredients include tahini, garlic, red bell peppers, Arabic chili, parmesan cheese and olive oil. The parmesan cheese is the most dominant ingredient, and adds a real kick to the flavor.

Two other dishes that were just as drool worthy include the  Freeki Bil Fukhara which was a favorite on our table made from wheat, parmesan cheese,  mushrooms and cream and the  Eggplant Salad ,which disappeared in a matter of minutes, had a delicious tangy flavor thanks to the pomegranate molasses that brought the whole dish together.

I highly recommend visiting Awani, each and every dish will surprise you, the simplest of ingredients will be turned into delicious concoctions swimming in flavor.Sit outside if you get the chance, great food and a beach view, what more can one ask for?

April Weekend

If you're liking our pics, do follow us on instagram @young_andhungry!

Now, let me tell you about my weekend...

Day 1) Mandi from Maraheb Mandi & Madfoon. This happened:

Chicken and Meat Mandi

2) Then, Friday lunch #1 at Zurna:

A happy chef making some delicious kebabs

This chicken doner was kind of to die for

Oh-so-juicy lamb kebab

 3) And THEN, came lunch #2: Burgers at The Counter!

Parmesan fries. We drooled all over ourselves.

BF's burger

My burger - suddenly I forgot I had already had lunch that day!

 4) And then, it was all over with a safari. Apologies for lack of food pics. But after all that deliciousness it was time to look at some scenery.

Goodbye :)

Almaz by Momo

Almaz by Momo is consistently in one of my top 5 restaurants in Dubai. Here's a few reasons why:

Entrance to the restaurant

1) Location, location, location. It's a great place to pop by after a tough day of shopping at the Mall of Emirates. You can come in, relax, and enjoy the food and great company. 

2) The atmosphere. I love the mood of the restaurant, with its colourful Arabic-style decor, comfortable seats and always some good beats playing in the background. Their selection on music is a type of modern Arabic mixed with some clubby beats. There is no confusion here about what type of restaurant this is, the message is clear.

3) Last but certainly not least, and definitely the most important - the food! It is really absolutely delicious. There is a nice variety of dishes, from the traditional tajines, couscous etc as well as some lebanese appetisers such as fattoush, as well as general items like steak. If you come here you must order the Couscous Mechoui! It's not something you'll want to miss and the portion is great. We were a table of 4 and ordered the portion for 1 person (there is also the option to order for 2). It comes with lamb shoulder, which is divine, just melt-in-your-mouth soft and full of flavour. The couscous is a gentle and necessary accompaniment, and the veggies in their bullion provide the finishing touch of moisture and texture. This dish also comes with a small side of chickpeas with raisins and a spicy sauce - the latter is my favourite addition of flavour to an already wonderful dish.

Couscous Mechoui

Couscous Mechoui Continued

Starters- fattoush and cheese pastry

We also had ourselves some chicken tajine - the chicken was again tender and the dish was full of Moroccan flavour, with some sweetness to the sauce.

Chicken Tajine

Perhaps the only drawback may be that the service is not always at its best, though this almost nitpicking as it has only happened one or two times from the many occasions I visited. Be warned too that the restaurant is pricey - though I think it is very much worth it. It is best to visit for an occasion, and an indoor sheesha area will also serve any smokers wanting to also try out the food.

House of Curry

Indian food rotates in my top 3 of cuisines with Mexican and Japanese. The food is almost always full of flavour and tradition, you enjoy it immensely and you know what to expect. Garlic, coriander, spice, rich sauces and lentil - it can be a meal made of perfection.

House of Curry is a new place that opened up in Downtown in one of those little shacks on the boulevard. It's a charming place and easy to get to. It was empty when we visited, but I really hope that it gets popular enough soon, because this restaurant deserves it. 

I almost always order the same things whenever I go for Indian food. For the curries, I usually get some Butter Chicken for something creamy and flavourful, and Mutton Rogan Josh for the meat and something a little spicier. Both did not disappoint in this case, and the chicken was the winner of the two in this case. My only criticism of the mutton is that it contains bones, though really in all honesty I accept that all the flavour is in the bones. Still, if you like me don't really enjoy picking through bone I'd advise you to watch out for that. We did ask for the mutton to be spicy but we didn't find it to be particularly so.

The Tadka Daal, on the other hand, was a great compliment to the meal and provided the heat that was missing elsewhere. And, as always, I like to scoop everything up in my garlic naan, which did not disappoint and was just the right amount of garlic, butter and crispy. The mango lassi, too, gave a nice balance to the heat and helped extinguish the fire a little bit.

It's a nice little place and has a fair price. The service is friendly and the food is flavourful and plentiful. Obviously there are many other well-known Indian places that are far cheaper and more authentic (I'm not even going to mention Karama), but compared to its peers I think this place is great. The location helps too, and you could easily visit after some shopping and then head somewhere else to digest.

The bill:

- Mango Lassi: AED 22

- Mutton Rogan Josh: AED 60

- Butter Chicken: AED 55

- Tadka Daal: AED 35

- Garlic Naan: AED 8

- Plain White Rice: AED 25

For a total of: AED 205 for a group of 4, AED 52 each.

Miyabi Sushi and Bento

Hi, my name is Pauline and I am a sushi addict. It is crazy how addictive sushi can be, and as you can see, Dana and I are lovers of sushi and in the future a chunk of our reviews will probably be directed towards Japanese restaurants. Dubai seems to be flooded with Japanese restaurants but somehow there still doesn't seem to be enough. We are always looking for new places to try out and if ever you have any suggestions please do share with us we would love to try them out :)

I have been hearing rave reviews about Miyabi Sushi and Bento for quite some time now, so I figured why not give it a proper shot? It is tucked away in Media City in an office building making it slightly hard for customers to know about. My date has been living 5 minutes away for years now and has never heard of it. The place is quite cozy and spacious with a very friendly team of staff.

The menu features a paramount amount of options, the choices of sushi seem endless. We decided to be a bit adventurous and mix it up by trying out the more quirky looking options. We ordered: the 49er's, the Crunch California Roll and the Lion King Roll. Each one was beautifully plated and presented. The 49er's is a California Roll topped with some Salmon and a very thin slice of lemon. It tasted quite nice and flavorful, it was a simple option but simple sometimes goes a long way. Next was the Crunch California Roll, a California Roll topped with some shredded crabsticks, eggs and Tobiko. I always order sushi rolls very similar to this one, it is one of my favorites (especially at Scoozi). Having had high expectations I was slightly disappointed with this version which was too salty and too dry for my liking. The final dish was the Lion King Roll, which is a California Roll topped with cooked salmon and a hot sauce (california rolls seem to be the theme of the night I guess). The plate looks like there is a lot going on, and there is, but somehow all the elements come together and blend harmoniously, although I do recommend that you share it since it might be too much for one person. 

We also ordered a plate of Salmon Sashimi and Volcano Shrimp. The Sashimi tasted fresh and did not have a lingering taste of the sea. The Shrimp was a combination of the TNT dish at Manga Sushi and the Dynamite Shrimp at PFChangs, combining the best of both worlds but still somehow missing the mark.

Granted I have had sushi that is much more delicious and addictive but something about the overly friendly staff, the quiet and close location and the abundance of options gives me a feeling that I will probably be coming back for more. The Sake Don was definitely calling out to me, that is going to be next on my list for sure. 

Gelato Mio

Gelato Mio is a British gelato brand that was brought to Dubai by two of my dear friends. Having lived in London for some time, I already knew of the brand and the city's high standards when it comes to anything to do with dessert.

It is located at a kiosk in Dubai Outlet Mall. It may seem some distance away, though really I find it a good excuse to go somewhere different than the usual malls I seem to spend every weekend at. It's a good place to do some shopping either way; you might just find something that you otherwise couldn't because it was out of stock anywhere else. 

Gelato Mio by far has the best quality gelato I've had in Dubai. The texture is just right; it's creamy but not heavy, and it's cold but not frozen. When you go to a gelato place where the server has to fight with the container in order to get a scoop, you know it's not right. This is not the case with Gelato Mio. Another thing that I like is that like in London, the gelato is heaped onto the cup with a spatula-type spoon, not with a round scoop. This makes a difference; though the cups are small, the actual amount is really quite generous.

My friend and I went for 2 medium-sized cups. Out of old habit, I chose to mix two of my favourite flavours, which are Strawberry and Biscotti. I tend to prefer fruity flavours when it comes to gelato, it's just more fresh and vibrant. In either case the two did not disappoint; I finished my cup with much enjoyment. My friend went for Tiramisu and Hazelnut. The Hazelnut I think was the best of all the 4 flavours we tried, it reminded me of nutella, and of course anything to do with nutella is instantly a winner. The Tiramisu was good too, though I would have liked the flavour to be a bit stronger. It could be that we did not choose the right two flavours to mix; if you visit, I would strongly suggest a mix of something fruity with something creamy, like I did.

I've been as often as I could to visit the kiosk, and honestly I would go even more often if it was closer to me. But it's worth the trip when I do go; since having Gelato Mio I tend to avoid the other gelato places in Dubai, the quality is just nowhere near. Plus with the benefit of generous portions, I am happy with the price too.