Burger Fuel, DUBAI

Burger Fuel, Dubai

Okay, so I have to admit this. No Burger I have had in my favorite city in the world (at least yet, burger I refer to, favorite city it shall always remain!) has matched up to the burgers that I have had back home. And I really, haven't had much, for that matter. So that says a lot. (Nothing Like the Original Big Mac!) 

This place because well, I don't know Dubai and I have to trust my friend when they say this place is good or the best frickin' burgers ever had. Also, it's organic. Everything on the menu is Organic. Not to be rude or something but I almost felt like saying, and I think did even, You know me right??!! (My refrigerator is full of Sadia Chicken Burgers, Sausages, Nuggets and Meatballs). But I have got to say Organic or not the burgers were actually kind of great. I finished the entire thing, which is a new thing for me! Burgers fill me up pretty quickly in my experience. But I had the entire thing and ate again in like 2 hours I think. Is that what they mean when they say organic? Point to be pondered over. 

The place is tucked away amidst the food court that I would have missed it, but for my friend. I guess the world looks a bit different from that height. Why did God make me short?!  The thing I liked most about this place in terms of the way it was set up, was the cozy corners overlooking the crowds passing by the mall, like you are sitting on your balcony and can watch the world pass by downstairs. Time stands still for that little time when you are sitting and enjoying a meal while the world rushes by. That's a different feeling. 

I was more than just a little confused on what to order. At one hand, I wanted to have beef because well, it's not readily available anywhere in Bombay. But on the other hand, burgers are really filling for me. And a beef burger? That is even more heavier. So in the end I decided to go with chicken itself. My friend did order beef, so I thought I could steal a few bites. So the Monster which had beef and Burn out which is chicken was our final orders. We also ordered Organic Coca Cola. Coca Cola and Organic, doesn't sound right? It isn't. It tasted like a cough syrup to me but my proud friend still downed it. Why? Just admit it sucks and leave it. I ordered some organic flavor juice which is all 100% natural or something. Wel, it had mango an stuff in it, which will not taste like cough syrup so it was all okay. Refreshing in fact. The Burgers are messy. I think I am the worst burger eater in the world, I should be eating it in my own home only. I end up using like 100 tissues while eating a messy burger, which this was. And no, I am not exaggerating. Well, a little maybe. But by the end of my meal, I had used up half the tissue box. That says something. Also, this is after they provide like a paper card holder for your burger.  How was the burger? I think I have become a fan of avocado. Though I am still too proud to admit. At least with burgers I think they bring it up a notch higher. And it had bacon. I love how everything has bacon here. Like Aloha! Me so Happy. In burgers, In Pasta, part of your breakfast meal. Bombay, why you not introduce beef bacon for us poor people who can't have the pork version?! I don't have anything against the real bacon, it's just that I have been conditioned to not eating and I just can't make myself break that rule now. Eat whatever makes you happy otherwise. The burger in short, I grudgingly, admit was probably the best I have had. (I hate someone else being right when it comes to food) The only thing is who doesn't order a side of fries or wedges with burgers?! Though, I didn't tell this to my friend at the point, I pretty much thought it but didn't want to complain too much. I am keeping my cribbing streak in check. Though I don't think I am too successful at that. 

WHAT WE HAD - Monster Burger (Yumness)

                           Burn Out Burger (Heavenly)

                           Phoenix Organic Coke (Avoid)

                           Phoenix Organic Mango Drink ( Refreshing)

DAMAGES - AED 100- 120

WHERE -  BurgerFuel., Food Court, Level 3, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, Dubai

IHOP, DUBAI

IHOP, Dubai

So to my imaginary audience, this is the second time I am writing this. In all my school years I have never rechecked my paper before submission, that's how lazy I have been. So Imagine my frustration when I ended up erasing half of what I had written (Well, typed. But at this very moment, I think writing is a better option, at least it doesn't get erased with no fault of yours. Good Old Days -1, Technology & blah di blah - 0 ). 

This wasn't planned and you know how much I enjoy doing that. It is a journey after all. From searching for places, browsing through menu cards and reviews, day dreaming of what I would want to have and the anticipation of it all till you get there. Okay, I have got to say this wouldn't be possible without the Internet and Technology. So, maybe it's not so bad ). Back to IHOP, I didn't even know there was an IHOP in Dubai, so imagine my delight when while taking a stroll in JBR, what do I see? IHOP!! 

I have come to realize that most International food chains look well very standard, there is no x factor to it when it comes to ambiance. It almost looks the same. Hence, there is nothing much to write about the interiors and ambiance except for that it is a cross over between a fine dine and a Fast Food Chain.  

I can't have too much sweet, I prefer savory items over sweet. Though I need my sweet intake as well, I just can't over do it. Hence, ordering a whole stack of pancakes which is what most people would order when they visit an IHOP is never a good idea for me. Though I did want pancakes and hence, the best option turned out for me to combine my love of English breakfasts with Pancakes on the side. I went for the Breakfast sampler minus the veal sausages. Also, Spinach Mushroom and tomato omelette. Don't ask me why we ordered the Vegetarian Omelette. Clearly not my choice seeing that the only thing I liked about it was the mushroom. Moreover who orders a side of hash brown? Whatever happened to the regular Toast? Clearly, I wasn't happy about the choice made by my friend but I kept quiet. But I loved everything on my plate especially the beef bacon. I like my eggs to be sunny side up, I love the squishy yellow part, and turkey ham. I am a turkey fan. So it was all things I love in one plate plus the pancakes. Though they are known for their pancakes, I have got to say that it wasn't exactly the best pancakes I have had. It's good but not great and I imagined it to be great. The Omelette? If only it had meat. I think that's something my friend will have to be taught over time. Not that I mind vegetarian food but I like my food to be cooked. So it was a good fluffy omelette. No complaints there.

Over time I have come to realize that I like the local- not so local restaurants more than the international chains. Not that I don't like the international chains, I like what more they bring to the table in terms of different interiors, ambiance and their own innovation in the little things.

But yeah, I will definitely want more breakfasts at IHOP! 

WHAT WE HAD - Breakfast Sampler (Yumness)

                           Spinach Mushroom & Tomato Omelette (Yum)

DAMAGES - AED 120-150

WHERE -  IHOP, Next to Movenpick Hotel, The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR), Dubai

Dome Cafe, DUBAI

Dome Café, Dubai

This was my first night in the country and since we didn't want to venture too far away, neither did I have the energy for it after the amount of traveling. It might just have been a 4 hour flight but when you haven't slept properly 3 days prior to that (wedding festivities), and stayed up the entire night on the last day because the pheras complete by 7 in the morning and you have to drive down 4 hour from the hill station to the International Airport, you will be nothing but exhausted. Even, exhausted is an understatement. Life Lesson Learnt? I would do it again if I had to. It is all worth it, if it is for the right people and the right cause. 

So after walking through this mall, whose name I clearly don't recall the name but maybe it was Burjaman Centre (At least that looks the most familiar of their outlets from Zomato) This was the safest best as this is one place that is there in Bahrain and my friend's safe bet, so after walking around and checking out every other option, I was like, fine, Dome it is! Nothing else looked very interesting. Open seated café and the interiors like most other cafes around the world. Another problem I see to have is understanding the English of our Asian friends, Pilipino I presume. I have been out of the Middle east for too long. I have truly become an Indian. (That internally creates a sad feeling in me).

So I opted for the Carbonara Pasta and my friend Chicken and Mushroom Au Gratin along with an iced tea. I don't know what made me order the Carbonara here because up until now, I have never had a good experience with it. I had just put it down to things I will probably never completely like. Turns out, you just need the right place. Turns out this was my right place! Also, a huge shout out to whoever decided to make bacon out of beef. (It was added in the Carbonara in case you are wondering why am I bringing this up). Yes, Beef bacon is not bacon but just like Vegetable Biryani is not Biryani. But pyaase ko pani dikhta hai - regular tap water & mineral water nahi. (I know I make so much sense, right?). The Chicken Au Gratin, I well, love anything that has cheese in it , especially when it's melted and baked a little and this is one of the cheesiest dish you could have, so who's complaining. I also had an ice tea on the side. The one thing I like about Iced teas in most places around the Gulf is that they give you the sugar syrup on the side in a small jar, and you can add as per swaad anusar. 

Well, to sum it, I hadn't expected to like this place much. I have always been of the opinion that cafes and coffee shops can never really do complete justice to proper meals (What would you call an improper meal?  Everything I eat probably.  but the heart wants what it wants). I surprisingly wouldn't mind eating again from here i.e. if somebody is generous enough to buy me a plain ticket to Dubai )

WHAT WE HAD - Carbonara Pasta (Yumness Personified)

                           Chicken Au Gratin (Yumness Personified)

                           Lemon Iced tea (Yum)

DAMAGES - 120 -140 AED

WHERE -  Dome Cafe., Level 2, BurJuman Centre, Mankhool, Dubai

Good Food Coffee & Bakery, Dubai

Good Food Coffee & Bakery, Dubai

Most of the things that I tried or wanted to try were kind of pre-decided. I am the kind of person who plans meals in advances and my weekends even more so, allowing me ample time to day dream about it (It is part of the process of enjoying your meal, kind of like being reunited with a long distance friend/lover. The slow torture till you finally meet and the union is even more gratifying. I know I am not wrong ). This however was not that. This was a whimsical decision. Your eyes spotting something and you got to have it moments! That;s another kind of love affair. This belonged to that category. And I am sure as glad that our eyes locked. 

What attracted me about the place was the cylindrical shaped chimneys. If you follow enough food bloggers, travel bloggers and especially if they are a combination of both, you would have identified these chimneys .Exactly why when I spotted them in a crowded Dubai Mall, I knew I had to have it because I didn't think I would find them anywhere but in the streets of a few European countries. 

I had thought I would be ordering one and share it with the friend but I had forgotten my dear friend has a sweet tooth the size of an elephant and he ordered two (We had a heavy lunch as well). So I wanted the not-so-plain french vanilla lined with nutella and he ordered for the apple pie and soft serve. I wish though he had ordered the blue berry one. (I kind of enjoy dictating what others eat according to what I want to try, so I can barter and do half-half if required ) The chimney to me felt somewhere to be a crossover between a donut and a cinnabon and smeared all over with sugar, Some have gone on to say it resembles a donut but at least this one didn't completely. I can't be the judge of it, since this was the first time I had it and have nothing to compare it to. The only alteration I would have preferred is the chocolate being more melted and a little on the warmer side. I think it would have added more character. Otherwise the french Vanilla compliments well this little spherical piece of bread. If you are an apple pie fan, go for it. I unfortunately have never understood why anyone would want to pulp them out and then heat them, does not so appealing to me. But to everyone who does find it so, you will not regret it. 

All I can say now is, is there any thing you do not get in Dubai? Should have stayed longer to find out.

WHAT WE HAD - Chimney Blizzard - French Vanilla (Yumness)

                           Chimney Strudel - Apple Pie (Yumness)

DAMAGES - AED 60-80 

WHERE - Good Food Coffe & Bakery. Near Ice Rink, Level 2, The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, Dubai

                          

Zaroob, DUBAI

Zaroob, Dubai

If you have been to a new city/country, and you haven't really tried their cuisine, why have you even bothered to travel there. It is one of the things that I personally would regret. And hence, this trip would have been incomplete without one. Though technically, I have had the local cuisine before. Not everything but the staple shawarmas, machboos, the grills etc. And honestly, that was what I was expecting when I was taken to this place. Turns out there is much more to the Arabic cusine than what I had known all my life. The names I didn't even recognize and seemed so foreign. 

The place even though had walls all around, yet gave the vibe of an open air restaurant, like you might as well be sitting in a garden under a starry night sky. Maybe, something to do with the entrance which was open rather than the typical fancy fine dine type large doors (for lack of better words to describe this in). Also, the color green, plants everywhere and the wooden picnic type seating. It won me over in terms of ambiance. The best I have been to in whatever little I saw of in Dubai. 

I had left the order placement to my friend who apparently has more knowledge about Arabic cuisine than me (Disappointed me. I happen to love Arabic cuisine more and my one opportunity to show off was taken away from me. In my defense, they have been here before unlike me! ) Also, we went a little overboard with the no. of items we ordered and I knew this even when we were placing the order because, we ended up canceling two items in the end I think, after 2 courses. The final order consisted of Hummus, saj o saj zatar, Fateer (with kraft & honey), sammoun (sandwich with chicken and garlic) & the Koshari. My favorite of the lot had to be the Koshari, which is an Egyptian delicacy made up of layers of rice, lentils, macaroni, spaghetti, some tomato sauce (not ketchup) and some chili sauce, fried onions (what we would call the Biryan) on the side. I have never had rice and noodles together before, but boy! did it work well! I actually like how the arabic cuisine is non-spicy yet so flavorful. Though I do love my spices as well! The second in line would be the Hummus, because well, this was the only otherwise thing I recognize and have grown up on. I have also realized that this is something that you develop a taste for over time. Most of my friends take an instant liking to Shawarmas and Tahina but not so quickly to the Hummus. Then would be the Fateer. this we had actually landed up taking as a take-away and I wish I had had the appetite to have it then rather than later. It would have tasted so much better. Khuboos filled with kraft cheese and topped with honey served Hot. I kind of regret not having it hot now. Then would be the Saj-o-saj zatar. I really don't know what kind of bread would this be (reminded me quite a lot of the dosa! )only this was smeared with Zatar, labneh and some veggies. I don't know what zatar is made of (and I am too lazy to google  but I like it better on khuboos or the pizza kind of bread I have been accustomed to till now). Also, I enjoy vegetarian food but somethings just taste so much better with some chicken added to the mix. This to me was one of those things. (I don't eat a vegetable sandwich which only has lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber. Don't judge me! ). The last was the sammoun which is nothing but a localized version of the sandwich (You eat cheese chilli toast, you get chicken mayyonaise sandwiches and what not just as easily in every nook and corner in the gulf and hence) Though I would generally say sandwich for the win, because I love the local sandwiches like most Indians do their vada pav (And here, I am a little pardesi because I want my chicken burgers and sandwiches). But, I didn't actually end up trying this because I was too full by this time and had also stuffed myself with the fries (These, now were on point!) served on the side. Though the quantity spelled more than just "side". I actually paired these with the Hummus. You can eat anything with Hummus. Hummus is Love. Oh, yeah, the sandwich, the bread apparently, as told by my friend, didn't really feel fresh and over all there are better sandwiches around. Downed all of this with a 7-UP on the side. 

I might be back in the Bay (Bombay) but my heart seems to have taken residence elsewhere. 

WHAT WE HAD  - Koshari (How I miss you!)

                            Hummus (The staple! Yumness)

                            Fateer (Best when had hot, Yumness)

                            Saj-O-Saj Zatar (I Insist on the chicken feeling)

                            Sammoun (Avoidable)

DAMAGES - AED 125-150

WHERE -  Zaroob Restaurant. ,Shop 1, Jumeirah Tower Building, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trade Center Aria, Dubai