DHS 10 JULY 2010 ISSUE 387

My UAE. My Heritage.
 All that glitters is Gold

SMS to win glittering prizes

You could win a host of sparkling prizes and enjoy fun and entertainment for all the family at
The Dubai Mall, Dubai Marina Mall, Souk Al Bahar and Gold & Diamond Park during this yearÕs
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Weekly Prizes: ¥ BMW cars* ¥2 x gold bars ¥ Emirates business class ticket to the golden cities of
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Grand Prizes: ¥2 x Emirates business class tickets to the golden cities of Prague, Amsterdam or Madrid
¥Longines Gold watch from Rivoli ¥ Luxury gold jewellery set
Simply spend AED 200, take your receipts to any Guest Services
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17th June - 7th August 2010 | Mall Trading Hours: 10:00 - 24:00 daily
Log on to our Facebook & Twitter pages to win additional prizes!
www.facebook.com/TheDubaiMall | www.twitter.com/dubaimallnews
Contents
Features
19
100 cheap thrills, for
Dhs100 (or less)
A century of fun
p19
activities for a century
of dirhams, or cheaper

33
The UAE’s best new
brunches
Time to discover a new
world of brunching

40
Mirdif massive
The best places to eat,
drink and shop in this
suburban quarter
of Dubai

44
20 pizzas tested
We gorge ourselves on
a mountain of pizzas to
find the best in the UAE
for you. Yeah, you – you
owe us, Emirates

p44

p46
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 9
The round-up
14 87
Salaam
The month of July in a
handy two-page guide
Sports & outdoor
The UAE’s most famous
football commentator
p51
gives his thoughts on
17 the beautiful game,
Competitions and our fitness expert,
A raft of more generous James Houghton,
prizes for you to get provides some health-
your hands on. Boy, related wisdom
we’re good to you
90
46 Club diary
Films Afrika Bambaataa
The new comic book talks intergalactic
adaptation Scott beings, plus all that’s
Pilgrim Vs The World, happening on the UAE’s
and a preview of M club scene
Night Shyamalan’s sci-fi
epic The Last Airbender 93
Travel
49 Did you know that
Eating out Birmingham, the UK’s
Dining out at Abu second largest city,
Dhabi’s celebrity is a gourmet dining
Chinese, Hakkasan, hotspot? Read on…
plus the country’s best
steakhouses revealed 105
and our pick of the Hot lists
summer menus Which bars, restaurants,
brunches and spas top
63 our illustrious charts
Arts this month?
The hit 1950s coming-of-
age musical Hairspray 114
touches down in the UAE Backchat
this month – producer Dubai 92’s Catboy shows
Julian Chenery tells his sentimental side
us all about it, plus a
round-up of the month’s
best exhibitions

73
Shopping
Check out the bargains
at the Dubai Summer
Surprises shopping
festival, while our new
columnist, Emirates
Woman editor Sophia
Triantafillou, answers
your fashion queries

79
Mind & body
A visit to the Armani

p101
Hotel’s amazing new
spa, plus his ‘n’ hers
treatments at Radisson
Blu Yas Island’s spa

10 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010

 Great Summer Offers at
Dubai’s Most Stylish Beach Resort
* From Dhs 950++ per night (1st June – 8th September 2010)
Stay three nights and enjoy the fourth night complimentary.

One&Only Royal Mirage, your true ‘oasis’, offers 65 acres of lush landscaped gardens, one kilometre
of private beach, eight restaurants, three large temperature controlled pools, an award-winning
One&Only Spa and traditional Oriental Hammam facilities.

Located in the heart of new Dubai, this resort is conveniently located just 10 minutes from the exciting
waterpark ‘Aquaventure’, and minutes from world-class shopping malls, combined with family
entertainment at ‘Ski Dubai’ and its children’s snow park.

*
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AQUAVENTURE WATERPARK: Stay a minimum of three nights and get two complimentary passes,
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INDULGE AT THE SPA: Adults enjoy 50% discount on every second treatment booked at the
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The Palace *
Residence & Spa Arabian Court
* Terms and conditions apply. For further information and to make a reservation, please contact your preferred
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Facsimile: +971 4 399 99 98 Email: reservations@oneandonlyroyalmirage.ae oneandonlyroyalmirage.com
 This month we’ve been...
Editor-in-Chief
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer
Group Editor & Managing Partner
lan Fairservice
Group Senior Editor
Gina Johnson | gina@motivate.ae

Editor
Mark Evans | marke@motivate.ae
Deputy Editor
Helen Spearman | helen@motivate.ae
Senior Designer
Sheila Lyn Carino | sheila@motivate.ae
Contributing Editor On the radio with Catboy, p114
Hugo Berger | hugo@motivate.ae
Features Editor
Gareth Rees | gareth@motivate.ae
Editorial Assistant
Karen Sequeira | karen@motivate.ae
Picture Researcher
Wayne Fernandez | wayne@motivate.ae
Chief Sub Editor
Iain Smith | iains@motivate.ae

Contributors
Victor Besa, James Brennan, Louise Browne,
Vikram Gawde, Alex Hawkes, James Houghton,
Catherine Jarvie, Richard Luck, Farooq Salik,
Visiting Udaipur,
Primrose Skelton, Simon Smedley, Sophia Eating a lot of pizza, p44 p101
Triantafillou

Editor’s note
General Manager
Production and Circulation
S Sasidharan | sasidharan@motivate.ae
Production Manager
Sudhakar Chandran | sudhakar@motivate.ae

General Manager – Group Sales I am, by my very nature, a spender. Money and I just don’t get
Anthony Milne | anthony@motivate.ae
Senior Advertisement Manager on, and every time I have it I seem desperate to give it away,
Dale Isaac | dale@motivate.ae usually to one of the emirate’s myriad of malls. I’m a weapon
Saffron Goodyear | saffron@motivate.ae
Advertisement Manager of mass consumption. It wasn’t always like that – I remember
Varsha Bhatia | varsha@motivate.ae owning a Mr Bump moneybox, that was kind of see-through so
General Manager, Abu Dhabi
Joe Marrit | joe@motivate.ae
you could see the coins drop inside, and all I wanted to do was
Advertisement Manager, Abu Dhabi fill the thing, just to see what it would look like packed with money. I was 27 when
Darryl Wiley | darryl@motivate.ae I owned that. No, OK, I was six (although I’ve not shaken off my obsession with Mr
Bump, the greatest of all the Mr Men), and back then money wasn’t real, it was just a
Annual Subscription GCC Dhs120 other countries US$70
(including Airmail charges) thing that I could drop into Mr Bump to see him change colour on the inside. But, I
suppose, as we get older and, apparently, wiser, money takes on new meaning. Abu
Dhabi is, by its very nature, a money city. Money matters here, there are big deals
to be done, buy, sell, blah, blah, blah. But Abu Dhabi is also a fun city and while you
might not think it, there’s more than enough to do here without it costing the earth.
Don’t believe us? Page 19 onwards declares 100 of those very things, all for Dhs100 or
Head Office: PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 282 4060, Fax: +971 4 282 4436,
less. Read, do, have fun, and leave the heavy spending to me.
E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae
Dubai Media City: Office 508, 5th Floor,
Building 8, Dubai, UAE,
Enjoy the issue.
Tel: +971 4 390 3550, Fax: +971 4 390 4845
Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, UAE,
Tel: +971 2 677 2005, Fax: +971 2 677 0124,
E-mail: editor-wo@motivate.ae
London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road,
London NW1 3ER, UK,
E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae
34,432 copies
June 2009

Printed by Emirates Printing Press, Dubai

12 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010


Salaam!
July abridged
What’s hot
Health
Men don’t really do health. A doctor, like a
dentist, is somebody to stay away
from at all costs. Good news,
then, that the Government has
launched the UAE Men’s Health
Alliance to educate blokes
about their health.
Film stars
The Middle East International Film Festival
has changed its name to The Abu Dhabi
Film Festival, and organisers are promising
big names will be there. We’re hoping too
see Clooney or Jolie on the red carpet.
Funk and soul music
Abu Dhabi has its fair share of house and
R&B nights, but good funk and soul nights
are thin on the ground. The new Hot But-
tered Soul night, at Etoiles on Mondays, is
about to change all that.
What’s not
Al Jazeera Sports
Buying up the rights to all the big sporting
events is fine, but you have to provide a
quality service. Signing up for the World Cup
package proved a huge headache and then…
they lost the picture for at least a couple of
seconds during every match. Sort it out.
GETTY/GALLO IMAGES, ISTOCK AND NAVEED AHMED
Junk SMS
Receiving a text message is a joyful experi-
ence. But not when it’s telling you there’s 20
per cent off at Pencil World. Stop it. You’re
ruining our mobile experience.
Online interruption
Don’t get us wrong, we really love Twitter, but
it’s far from smooth. We don’t care if you’re
busy; we want to tell strangers what we had
for dinner last night. And, Facebook, you’re
not perfect, either.
14 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
We're officially part of the Twitterati.
Follow us at WhatsOnAbuDhabi
for exclusive updates on nightlife,
restaurants and more around the
UAE. Tweet yourself.
July in numbers
Vital statistics
380
is the number of games in the
1,900
English Premier League next
season. We meet the man who’ll be
presenting them in Abu Dhabi, p87
calories in your average plain pizza.
We ate 20 of them to find the best in
the UAE, p44
180
The weight in kilos of the largest
hammour ever caught. We find out
about other fish that you can eat
from the Gulf, p61
105 3
years ago, in 1895, that the word
‘brunch’ first entered the English Number of Michelin stars attained by
language. We check out the 20 best Birmingham’s restaurants – the most of any UK
of the UAE’s version of the meal, p33 city outside of London, p95
This month we’re going to…
RACING SCHOOL
Find out if you can cut it as a driver at the Yas
Marina Circuit. In just one day, you’ll be taught
all the basics of racing, before being allowed
to take either a super-fast Aston Martin GT4 or
a SuperSport SST around the track. And you’ll
leave with an official Automobile Touring
Club licence, and not one speeding fine for
driving over 120km/h.
Yas Marina Circuit, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi,
Dhs1,500. Tel: (02) 4460384. www.
yasmarinacircuit.ae
Five Questions… Le Clown Gordoon Guess list
It was 33 years ago that
Jeff Gordon first slapped
on his red nose and
became his alter ego,
Le Clown Gordoon.
Revered in the circus world
as the father of modern
clownery, he performs with
the Big Apple Circus in
Abu Dhabi this month
The father of modern clownery?
tickets – that’s four tickets a set – and
That tag came in the 1980s when
myself and a few other clowns starting
mixing traditional clowning with new
elements. We did some material that
went over the heads of the children and
only the adults got it.
How did it all start for you?
After I graduated I was interested in
combining my interests in theatre and
athletics. I found the circus was the perfect
way to do that. So I applied to the Ringley
Brothers Clown College and was accepted.
Thirty-three years later, I’m still going.
That’s a long time. Are you worried you’ll When you have three shows a day and
end up bitter and washed up, like Krusty
from The Simpsons?
Not at all. This ‘tears of a clown’ image is
pretty much an invention by the media. I
have met some pretty dour clowns in my
time – but in my experience, most of us are
pretty happy.
We’re a bit scared of clowns…
That’s just another myth that’s promulgated
by the media. You know, it makes for a good
FANTASY ON ICE
If you were a fan of last month’s Lord Of The
Dance spectacular, this is another event you
shouldn’t miss. The action takes place on a
specially constructed ice rink that’s half the
size of a football pitch, where skaters will be
performing some truly astounding dance
routines and stunts.
Jul 4 to 15, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition
Centre, Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi,
8pm, Dhs200, Dhs75 for children. Tel: (02)
6664442. www.summerinabudhabi.com
Some famous faces to keep
your beady eyes out for over
the next couple of months
73%
RYAN GIGGS
The story of English
WIN!
FAMILY TICKETS TO
football may have been
very different if this man
THE CIRCUS
Want to enjoy all the thrills of the had chosen to don the white
circus? We have three sets of family
shirt. Unfortunately for the three
they could be yours. To be in with a lions, Giggs prefers the red dragon of Wales.
chance of winning, log onto www.
winwithmotivate.com and tell us: Rumour has it the Welsh Wizard will be
What is the correct name for the
master of ceremonies at a circus? appearing on Abu Dhabi Sports’ English
a) Ring master
b) Broach keeper
Premiere League show next season. Check
c) Necklace owner out our interview with host Mohammed
Najeeb, p87.
storyline that a cheery, friendly clown is
60%
actually a bloodsucking murderer, like in
Stephen King’s It. The way that I deal with
that is to say ‘that’s your issue not mine. I’m a
clown, not a therapist.’
Please tell us you’re going to do the lots TIESTO
of clowns getting out of a little car gag? Tijs Michiel Verwest,
or DJ Tiesto as he’s now
you’re cramming into a little car with 22 known (we see why
other sweaty clowns, it loses its glamour he changed it) is pre-
pretty quickly. And in Abu Dhabi I’ll be the paring to hop on a flight
only clown in the show so I don’t think it for the capital according
would be that impressive if just one clown to our man in the know. The
gets out the car. Dutch mega spinner might have
Jul 23 to Aug 3, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition move away from his trusty trance sound but
Centre, Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu Dhabi, he still loves a good laser. Expect a big show
8pm, Dhs200, Dhs75 for children. Tel: (02) if this one comes off.
6664442. www.summerinabudhabi.com
28%
STEVIE WONDER
Please, please, please, let
LIWA DATE FESTIVAL this happen. A bona fide
Liwa is the centre of the UAE’s date industry, musical legend with 22
and to mark the harvest the town organises Grammy Awards and
an annual date festival. As well as farmers a host of hits to prove
coming along to show off their crops, there’s it, Stevie has never
also date cooking contests, craft tents and called to say he loves
rides for the children. It’s a bit of a trek, so us and it’s about time
the organisers have put on a free daily bus he did. Our insider says
service, leaving from Marina Mall in Abu he’s heading to the capital
Dhabi at 8am every day. after summer. We’ll be front
Jul 17 to 26, Liwa, Al Gharbia Region, Abu and centre if he does – this could be the
Dhabi, free. Tel: (02) 6212975. www.adach.ae concert of 2010.
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 15
WIN! WIN! WIN!
Want to get your hands on these lovely
prizes? To be in with a chance, click on
www.winwithmotivate.com, register your
details and answer these easy questions
WIN! A FLIGHT IN A MICROLIGHT
Fancy soaring through the skies over the beautiful coastline of Ras
Al Khaimah in an agile microlight plane? Well, that’s exactly what
one lucky reader could be experiencing soon, thanks to our great
competition in association with Dreamdays. You’ll be taught how
to fly the machine, before taking to the skies to co-pilot the mini
aircraft for a 30-minute voyage. To be in
with a shot of winning, just tell us:
Which of these is not a type of
aircraft:
a) Airbus A380
b) Boeing 747
c) Nissan Sunny
WIN! FRIDAY BRUNCH PLUS AN
OVERNIGHT STAY AT THE FAIRMONT
If luxurious, champagne-soaked brunches are your bag, enter this
competition now. The Elements brunch at Abu Dhabi’s Fairmont
Bab Al Bahr hotel and the Spectrum On One brunch at the Fairmont
Dubai are among the best brunches in the UAE, with both of them
being regular top five entries in our brunch Hot List. And you and
a companion could be enjoying either of them, plus an overnight
stay in the hotel thanks to us.
For a chance to win, just tell us:
Which of these days is traditionally seen as unlucky?
a) Friday the 11th
b) Friday the 12th
c) Friday the 13th
WIN! SPA TREATMENTS AT THE
ADDRESS DUBAI MARINA
When it comes to luxury pampering, few places do it like The Spa at
The Address Dubai Marina. And you and a pal could win one of the
signature spa rituals, such as the Balance and Reflection massage
and the Muscle Release massage, use of the pool and fitness centre
then lunch at the quality international Mazina restaurant.
If you fancy your chances of winning this superb prize, answer this:
Which of these would you usually find in a marina?
a) Cars
b) Aeroplanes
c) Yachts
WIN! A WEEKEND STAY AT CROWNE
PLAZA DUBAI PLUS DINNER
Quality French food and a vast selection of wines has made Oscar’s
Vine Society restaurant at the Crowne Plaza a stalwart on Dubai’s
dining scene. We’re giving you the chance to find this out for
yourself with a meal for two at the restaurant, plus a weekend stay
with breakfast at the hotel.
For a chance to win this prize, just answer this question:
Which of these professions would be likely to win an Oscar?
a) Chartered accountant
b) Zookeeper
c) Film director
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 17
 100
CHEAP
THRILLS
DHS100
44444444444444444444444
From cage fighting to crazy
golf, dancing to dinner deals,
we’ve trawled the UAE to find
you 100 boredom beating,
action-packed activities
for less than Dhs100
SAILING LESSONS
If you’re under 16 and dream of sailing your
own boat through the calm waters of the
Gulf, start with these super cheap lessons at
Abu Dhabi International Sailing School.
Abu Dhabi International Sailing School, near
Marina Mall, Breakwater, Abu Dhabi, Dhs100 per
lesson. Tel: (02) 6813446
FOR
(OR LESS)
GO SKATEBOARDING
Heaven is a half-pipe with ramps, obstacles
and more at The Springs bargain skatepark.
The Springs, Emirates Hills, Dubai, 6am to 10pm,
Dhs10 to Dhs15. Tel: (04) 3627790
HIRE A KAYAK
Wedge yourself into a small, wobbly vessel
with a pal and paddle about the waters of the
Gulf for an hour, for only Dhs100 for two. If
you don’t like your friend much, you can have
two single-seater crafts for 90 minutes.
Tel: (04) 4329392. www.dreamdays.ae
LEARN KARATE
Learn the ancient Japanese art of karate
without any catching flies with chopsticks,
waxing cars or painting fences.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Corniche, Abu Dhabi, Mon
and Wed, 6.30pm, Dhs25 for introductory lesson.
Tel: (02) 970272
PLAY VOLLEYBALL
EK Volleyball Club arranges training and
games around Dubai for all abilities, both
indoor and on the beach.
Dhs25 for a two-hour community game. Tel: (04)
3581603. www.ekvolleyballclub.com.
GO PAINTBALLING
If you like to propel paint at people but you
don’t like to spend money, this is for you. All the
equipment and 100 paintballs for just Dhs85
(Dhs5 extra at weekends and on public holidays).
Sharjah Golf and Shooting Club, Sharjah, Dh85.
Tel: (050) 2032288. www.paintballuae.com
i
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 19
100 CHEAP THRILLS FOR DHS100
FALCONRY LESSONS
Enjoy the age-old Bedouin pastime, with a
show above the desert dunes and a lesson for
Dhs100 for two. You’ll also be able to lay your
mitts on an owl, an American eagle and a
vulture. Just try not to ruffle any feathers.
Dhs100. Tel: (04) 4329392. www.dreamdays.ae
HOTEL STAY
The first 100 people to book a stay at the
new Citymax hotel will get three nights for
only Dhs100 per night. Cheaper and much
swankier than your average Travelodge.
From Jul 1, Citymax, Sheikh Zayed Road, Al
Barsha, Dubai, Dhs100. Tel: 8002489629.
www.citymaxhotels.com
PLAY TABLE TENNIS
Channel your inner Forest Gump with an
hour of indoor table tennis.
Insportz, behind Dubai Garden Centre, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dhs20 per hour, including
equipment. Tel: (04) 3475833.
www.insportzclub.com
GO WAKEBOARDING
The Umm Al Quwain Marine Club boasts
some of the best waters in the region, and at
these prices it has to be worth a splash.
Umm Al Quwain, Dhs100 for first 15 minutes. Tel:
(06) 7666644. www.hayakdubai.com/UAQ
NR Y
LC O S
FAESSO N
L Club Stretch, Al Mina Road, Satwa, Dubai.
20 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
SQUASH HIRE
If you’re up for a game of the fast,
heart-pounding sport, the cheapest squash
courts in Abu Dhabi available for hire for
non-members are at the Sheraton Abu Dhabi.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Corniche, Abu Dhabi,
7am to 10pm, Dhs50. Tel: (02) 6773333.
www.sheraton.com
AFRICAN DANCE LESSONS
This energetic lesson will teach you the
traditional African dance style of soukous.
ADCB Building, Salam Street, Abu Dhabi, Sun
and Wed 9am, Dhs40. Tel: (02) 6732222
LASER TAG
Al Wadha Mall’s children’s Fun Zone is, as the
name suggests, a fun place to spend some time.
But our favourite is the Strike Zone, where you
get to shoot your pals with laser tag guns.
Strike Zone, Al Wadha Mall, 11th Street, Abu
Dhabi, 10am to 11pm, Dhs40. Tel: (02) 4437654.
www.alwadha-mall.com
ARCHERY SHOOTING
Hatta Fort Hotel has a 25-metre range with
eight targets, should you fancy yourself as the
new Robin Hood.
Hatta Fort Hotel, Dhs50 for 30 minutes including
equipment. Tel: (04) 8523211.
www.jebelali-international.com
MASTER PASTA-MAKING
Learn how to make the perfect
spaghetti, linguine and ravioli, plus
delicious Italian sauces, at these
two-hour pasta-making classes.
Amalfi, Le Royal Méridien, Al Markaziyah, Abu
Dhabi, Sat 10am, Dhs75. Tel: (800) 101101.
www.starwoodhotels.com
MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES
There are kickboxing and boxing classes
every night in Dubai Marina, each lasting a
calorie-busting 90 minutes. Have a go if you
think you’re hard enough.
Dream Tower, Dubai Marina, Dubai, daily 6pm
and 8.30pm, Dhs60 per class. Tel: (050) 2861673
WATER POLO SESSIONS
The Abu Dhabi Water Polo Club is willing to
teach you how to play water polo, and all for
the tiny price of Dhs25 per session.
Abu Dhabi Country Club, 19th Street, Abu
Dhabi, Wed, 8.30pm, Dhs25 per session. Tel: (02)
6577777. www.adhfc.com
AQUA AEROBICS FUN
We all know keeping slim in the UAE can
be an expensive business. But this aqua
aerobics class at the Hiltonia Beach Club is
ridiculously cheap at just Dhs70 for
non-members and Dhs35 for members.
Dhs70. Hiltonia Beach Club, Hilton Hotel, Abu Dhabi,
Weds, 9am. Tel: (02) 6924205. www.hilton.com
SQUASH LESSONS
It’s a hellish game, and if you don’t know how
to play it you’ll be run as ragged as a hobo.
Fortunately you can sign up for a 45-minute
lesson for just Dhs65, grasp the fundamentals
and take some other fool to the brink.
Dhs65. Al Nasr Leisureland, Oud Metha, Dubai.
Tel: (04) 3371234. www.alnasrll.com
POOL ACCESS
Spending a day poolside can be an
expensive business in Abu Dhabi. Not so
at Traders Hotel, where it costs just Dhs65
to use the pool and Dhs100 to use the pool
and gym.
Traders Hotel, Between The Bridges, Abu Dhabi,
6am to midnight, Dhs65. Tel: (02) 5098888. www.
shangri-la.com
UNLIMITED BIKRAM YOGA
Sweat and stretch it out on the cheap.
First-timers at Club Stretch can get a pass
for unlimited Bikram classes over a week for
only Dhs100.
Dhs100. Tel: (04) 3452131. www.clubstretch.ae
 100 CHEAP THRILLS FOR DHS100

18 HOLES ON A SAND
COURSE
Al Ghazal Golf Club is regarded as the best
sand course in the world. And a quick 18
holes on its compressed sand fairways and
greens won’t break into your savings account.
Al Ghazal Golf Club, near Abu Dhabi
International Airport, Dhs90. Tel: (02)
5758040. www.alghazalgolf.ae

GOLF FOR TWO

UAE residents get a two-for-one deal until
the end of September at Arabian Ranches’
floodlit Par 3 Academy Course. If you and a
pal are looking to improve your games without
breaking out the big bucks, this is for you.
Arabian Ranches, Dubai, Dhs95 for two.
Tel: (04) 3663000.
www.arabianranchesgolfdubai.com

GAME AND CLUBS

Ideal for golfing beginners who haven’t got
their own gear yet, Al Hamra is offering a
game on their Par 3 course for Dhs60 with
club rental for Dhs20.
Al Hamra Golf Club, Ras Al Khaimah, Dhs80.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Tel: (07) 2447474. www.alhamragolf.com

UNDER-17S GOLF FOR

FREE
Until September, anyone under the age of
17 can play completely free at Abu Dhabi
Golf Club if accompanied by an adult.
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Sas Al Nakhl, Abu
Dhabi, free. Tel: (02) 5588990
A ROUND OF GOLF
If you’re sick of parting with Dhs600 a
time for your weekly round of golf, make
your way to Sharjah Wanderers golf club,
pay just Dhs50 and partake of 18-holes on
the challenging sand course.
Sharjah Wanderers Golf Club, Sharjah
Wanderers Sports Club, 6am to 8pm. Tel: (06)
5586239. www.sharjahwanderers.com
DRIVING AND DRINKS
Enjoy a round of drinks after a round of
golf for Dhs99 at Dubai Creek Golf and
Yacht Club this summer. Breeze around the
Par 3 course then relax with two drinks and
reflect on your glory or otherwise.
Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, Deira,
Dubai, Sun to Thurs 9am to 9pm, Dhs99.
Tel: (04) 2956000. www.dubaigolf.com
CRAZY GOLF
Hatta Fort Hotel’s floodlit mini-golf course
costs just Dhs30 for nine holes. Clubs and
lessons are available.
Dhs30. Hatta Fort Hotel, Hatta, Dubai. Tel: (04)
8523211. www.jebelali-international.com
LESSONS
PHOTOGRAPHY LESSONS
If you thought it would be costly to learn
how to become an ace snapper, think again.
The Lightchasers photography group offers
lessons for Dhs20 a week.
Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation, Zayed
The First Street, Abu Dhabi, Dhs20. Tel: (02)
6218053. www.adach.ae
FUN AT THE FAIR
This is not the best theme park in the world.
It’s not even the second best. In fact, it is
so rickety it looks like a set from a zombie
movie. But that’s its charm. Last time we
visited we spent three hours shooting
paintball guns, driving around on various
dodgy looking vehicles, ice-skating and
playing on the swings. Some of the best pics
in the What’s On family album.
Hili Fun City, Al Ain, Dhs15. Tel: (03) 7845542
BARGAIN BOOT CAMP
Burn off that excess UAE fat without
harming your bank balance too much at
these ever-popular boot camps in Abu
Dhabi.
Original Fitness Company, Corniche Beach
and Sas Al Nakhl Beach, Sun to Fri 6am and
7.30pm, Dhs100. Tel: (02) 4069404.
www.originalfitnessco.com
PIZZA-MAKING LESSONS
Pizza has been on our minds a lot this month
(check out our 20 tested, p44) and if we’ve
learned anything, it’s that pizza is a serious
business. So we were shocked to discover
Carluccio’s is willing to let your children loose
in their kitchens for just Dhs70. They’ll even
be given a free apron to take home. And you
will be able to sip a free coffee while your little
darlings are taught how to make your dinner.
Jul 18 and Aug 1, Carluccio’s, Mirdif City Centre,
Dubai, 10.30am to 11.30am, Dhs70. Tel: (04)
2843728. www.carluccios.com
GO TO THE TOP OF THE
BURJ KHALIFA
Take a trip to the top of the world and take in
the view. Our reactions to the height ranged
from amazed to downright terrified. What
will yours be?
At The Top, Dubai Mall, Old Town, Dubai, Dhs100,
Dhs75 for children age 4 to 12 (if booked ahead)
and free for under-3s. Tel: 80028843867.
www.burjkhalifa.ae
JOIN A RUNNING CLUB
Dubai Creek Striders love nothing better than
a brisk jog about Dubai. Join them for Dhs10
per run. If you want a club vest – of course
you do – it’s an extra Dhs50.
Free. www.dubaicreekstriders.com
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JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 21
 100 CHEAP THRILLS FOR DHS100

ENJOY A RELAXING SPA GO RUNNING LEARN HOW TO MAKE

The Rainforest hydrotherapy experience at
The Banyan Tree guides you through steam
rooms, tropical showers, ice caves and
more, ending up in a giant vitality pool. A
truly unique way to spend a relaxing hour.
Until August 31, Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al
Khaimah, Dhs77 per person per hour.
Tel: (07) 206777
HAVE A CLASSIC SHAVE
Whether it’s a special occasion or you
just can’t be trusted with sharp objects, a
professional shave forms the backbone of the
What’s On gents’ grooming schedule. We see
Abed at Nivea Haus a few times a month for a
20-minute tidy up.
Nivea Haus, Dubai Mall, Old Town, Dubai, Dhs50.
Tel: (04) 4340777. www.niveahaus.ae
JOIN THE UAE
PHILHARMONIC
ORCHESTRA
If you’re pretty super with a string
instrument or blinding with a bassoon, the
UAE Philharmonic Orchestra is looking for
you. You will have to audition, of course.
But you’ll be OK. You’re a musical genius,
aren’t you?
www.uaephilharmonic.com
Abu Dhabi Striders is the capital’s biggest and
oldest running club. It costs just Dhs5 to join
them on their twice weekly runs.
Behind Hilton Abu Dhabi, Corniche, Abu Dhabi,
Sun 6.30pm. Corner of 11th and 34th Street,
Wed 6.15pm, Dhs5.Tel: (050) 6670601.
www.abudhabistriders.com
ICE SKATING LESSONS
If, like us, you’re more fell in a ravine than
Torvill and Dean, you’ll need a guru to guide
your glide and turn disgrace into grace.
Put down Dhs70 and in 30 minutes you’ll
be pirouetting like a pro. Well, skating in a
straight line, anyway.
Al Nasr Leisureland, Oud Metha, Dubai, Dh70.
Tel: (04) 3371234. www.alnasrll.com
HIT THE SNOW PARK
Dhs100 gets you access to the 3,000 square
metre snow park at Ski Dubai. Don your
suit then hit the hills for tobogganing,
bobsledding and tubing. There’s also a snow
cavern with interactive experiences and an
observation tower. VISIT
Ski Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, Al Barsha, Dubai,
Dhs100. Tel: 8005347873. www.skidxb.com
SUSHI
Become a sushi-making genius at these
classes at the award-winning Soba restaurant
in Abu Dhabi.
Soba, Le Royal Méridien, Al Markaziyah, Abu
Dhabi, Sat 10am, Dhs75. Tel: (800) 101101.
www.starwoodhotels.com
GO DRAGON BOAT RACING
If you’re unsure if this is the sport for you (all
those early mornings, all those dragons…)
then give it a try for free. The UAE Dragon
Boat Association has 11 clubs all over Dubai
and Abu Dhabi and is always looking
for members. Abu Dhabi and Dubai, free.
www.dubaidragonboat.com

THE
GO KARTING
Hit the indoor track with some mates for
a birthday party alternative, or just to fill
a Friday afternoon. The Arrive & Drive
package costs Dhs100 for 15 minutes and
ANIMALS
includes all equipment and suits. Booking
ahead is recommended.
Dubai Autodrome, Motor City, Dubai, Dhs100.
Tel: (04) 3678700. www.dubaiautodrome.com

TENNIS LESSONS
Last month’s Wimbledon is sure to have had
you striding onto the courts like Federer
only to discover you’re sadly lacking in the
talent department. There’s plenty of time to
boost your skills, by starting with an hour-
long lesson for just Dhs90.
Al Nasr Leisureland, Oud Metha, Dubai, Dhs90.
Tel: (04) 3371234. www.alnasrll.com

GET BENDY
Your posture and your bank manager will
love you if you sign up for these ultra-cheap
but excellent classes at Abu Dhabi’s only
dedicated yoga studio.
Yoga Tree, off 30th Street, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi,
Dhs50. Tel: (02) 6676579. www.yogatree.ae

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JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 23

VISIT THE HISTORICAL
GARDENS
If you’re into agriculture then the lure of a
falaj irrigation system in the palm garden of
Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s 1950s
summer retreat is sure to turn you on. If not,
it’s a lovely little piece of the UAE’s recent
past, and it’s only Dhs1.
Jumeirah, Dubai, Sat to Thurs 8.30am to 8.30pm,
Fri 2.30pm to 8.30pm, Dhs1. Tel: (04) 8521374
JOIN THE CYCLE CLUB
Do you own a bicycle? If you do, this one’s
free. Dubai Roadsters are a club of people who
meet up to cycle at various UAE locations on a
weekly basis. They also organise overseas tours.
Explorer Adrian Hayes is a member. And if it’s
good enough for him…
Free. Tel: (04) 3394453. www.dubairoadsters.com
GO CLIMBING
Scamper up Wafi’s 50ft climbing wall for only
Dhs40 for two hours. Lessons are obviously
recommended for beginners, but once you’re
confident in your climbing kit the sky is the
limit.
Pharoah’s Club, Wafi, Dubai, Dhs40 for
a two-hour session. Tel: (04) 3240000
BOWL A FEW BALLS
Bowling, as we’ve discovered recently, is a
relatively cheap pastime. Nowhere in Dubai
is cheaper than Al Nasr Leisureland, where
you’ll part with just Dhs15 and receive
comical footwear and a frame of bowling. A
beer is Dhs15 as well. Bowling and a beer for
Dhs30. Bargain.
Al Nasr Leisureland, Oud Metha, Dubai, Dhs15.
Tel: (04) 3371234. www.alnasrll.com
SOM E
HOOT
S BULLE TS
100 CHEAP THRILLS FOR DHS100
MASTER FENCING
Dubai Fencing Club has all the gear and a
real idea how to turn you from mouse to
musketeer. It offers classes in epée and foil for
all levels, with equipment such as masks and
weapons included.
Quay Health Club, Mina A’Salam, Al Sufouh,
Dubai, Dhs50 for a group class. Tel: (050)
7944190. www.dubaifencingclub.com
DANCE CLASSES
Expressions Of Dance And Drama teaches
youngsters in dance classes covering 17 different
styles, from ballet to ballroom to salsa.
Royal Marina Health Club, near Marina Mall, Abu
Dhabi, various times, Dhs40. Tel: (02) 6262533.
www.expressions-dance.com
VISIT A MUSEUM
If you’re looking for a dose of culture, why
not head out of the city and pay a visit to the
National Museum of Ras Al Khaimah? The
fort was occupied by the emirate’s ruling
family right up until the 1960s and is now
home to a variety of archaeological and
historical artifacts. Tickets are just Dhs2.
Behind the Police Headquarters, Ras Al Khaimah,
Wed to Mon 8am to noon and 4pm to 7pm,
Dhs2. Te: (07) 2333411
CUT-PRICE HORSE RIDING
With a few of these super-cheap lessons
you’ll be a better rider than the Lone Ranger
and the UK’s Princess Anne put together in
no time.
Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, 19th Street, Al
Mushrif, Dhs50. Tel: (02) 4455500.
www.adec-web.com
CHEAPEST ICE-SKATING
Although there’s a spanking new ice rink at
Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi this old school
rink is the original, the best and the cheapest
in the capital.
Abu Dhabi Ice Rink, Al Madina Al Riyadiya, off
Airport Road, 10am to 10pm, Thurs ladies only,
Dhs10. Tel: (02) 4448458
CHILDREN’S SWIMMING
LESSONS
Not only are these lessons incredibly cheap at
Dhs65 each, you’ll also save a fortune on buying
armbands and inflatable rings for the little ’uns.
British International School, Khalifa A, various
times. Tel: (050) 8838091. www.aiss.ae
SHOOT SOME BULLETS
Throughout the summer, we often head to
Abu Dhabi’s best shooting club to take out
some targets.
Caracal Shooting Club, Armed Forces Officers’
Club, near Musaffah Bridge, Abu Dhabi, 10am
to 11pm, Dhs100 for rental and bullets.
Tel: (02) 441644. www.afoc.mil.ae
TAKE UP PAINTING
Until the end of August you can purchase
a canvas and enjoy the use of all paint and
equipment for four hours for less than
Dhs100. Dhs55 for a 12"x12" canvas, Dhs75
for a 15"x20" and Dhs95 for a 23"x24". Who
said an artist has to struggle?
Jam Jar, Warehouse 45, RKM Properties, Al Quoz,
Interchange 4, Dubai, Mon to Thurs 10am to 8pm,
Fri 2pm to 8pm, Sat 10am to 8pm, Dhs75 to Dh55.
Tel: (04) 3417303. www.thejamjardubai.com
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JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 25
100 CHEAP THRILLS FOR DHS100
Dinner &
for your
ZUMA LUNCH
Try world class Japanese
food – even when you’re on
a budget. The Ebisu Express
lunch menu at Zuma consists of
miso soup and any main course
for only Dhs58. Our pick is the
sliced duck served with somen
noodles, spring onions and
sancho.
Zuma, Building 6, Gate Village,
DIFC, Dubai, Sun to Thurs, noon
to 3pm, Dhs58 (plus ten per cent
authority fee). Tel: (04) 4255660.
www.zumarestaurant.com
SUSHI BUFFET
All we want in life is a sushi
buffet, with sashimi, miso soup
and green tea. The Shangri-La
has been reading our mind
and come up with Sushi-La in
their Lobby Lounge where you
can stuff yourself silly for only
Dhs66.
Shangri-La, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, Sat to Thurs 11.30am to
2pm, Dhs66. Tel: (04) 4052703
Zuma
26 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
Warehouse
RIVINGTON GRILL
LUNCH
Consistently our number one
restaurant in Dubai, Rivington
Grill’s business lunch is a triumph.
Opt for two courses at Dhs80 or
three for Dhs100 and take your
pick from the modern British
menu. Try the Yorkshire pudding
salad then a pie. Then maybe the
lemon meringue ice cream. The
price might be guilt-free, but sadly
the calories still count.
Rivington Grill, Souk Al Bahar, Old
Town, Dubai, Sun to Thurs, noon
to 4pm, Dhs80 to Dhs100. Tel: (04)
4230903. www.rivingtongrill.ae
PAKISTANI FEAST
On Friday evening, the best
Pakistani restaurant in Abu Dhabi
puts on a fantastic food spread
for just Dhs48. Even the decidedly
horrid-sounding lambs’ brain
curry was delicious.
Al Ibrahimi, Electra Street, behind
Sands Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Fri 7pm to
11.30pm, Dhs48. Tel: (02) 6346258
LEVANT DISHES
Sample some of Dubai’s finest
Levant dishes and possibly the
best fattoush we’ve ever had
with this lunch deal from Dhs49,
depending on dishes. Duck out of
work and head to Old Town for a
good feed, Lebanese style.
Mezza House, Burj Boulevard, Old
Town, Dubai, Sun to Thur, 1pm to
3.30pm, Dhs49 to Dhs59. Tel: (04)
4205444. www.mezzahouse.com
WAREHOUSE
DRINKS
One of our favourite bars has
come up with an evening to keep
everyone happy – which means
men get a good deal for once. On
Tuesdays, ladies pay Dhs69 for
unlimited drinks, while the chaps
get change from Dhs100 for the
same. Even better, the first 20
ladies through the door don’t pay
a dirham.
Warehouse, Le Méridien Dubai,
Airport Road, Garhoud, Dubai, Tues
9pm to 11pm. Dhs69 for ladies and
Dhs99 for men. Tel: (04) 7022560
La Mamma
OKKU LUNCH
Get a taste of Okku with their
brilliant midweek lunchtime
deals, ranging from Dhs59
to Dhs99, depending on
the number of courses
you indulge in. We go the
full four-course whack.
Obviously. With the new
summer menu (see page 57)
and these prices you may
want to book ahead.
Okku, The Monarch, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai, Sun to
Thurs noon to 3pm, Dhs59 to
Dhs99. Tel: (04) 5018777
UNLIMITED BEEF
RIBS
Vegetarians beware – on
Monday nights at Spur it’s a
feeding frenzy with unlimited
beef ribs (served with fries
and onion rings) for Dhs98.
Spur, Festival City, Dubai, Dhs98.
Tel: (04) 2738282. www.spur.ae
PIZZA AND A
DRINK
We’ve had more than our
fair share of pizza this month
(see page 44). But we can
never have enough; hence
we often head to this quality
Italian restaurant to enjoy
their pizza and a drink deal
for just Dhs55.
La Mamma, Sheraton Abu
Dhabi, Corniche, 12.30pm
to 3.30pm, Dhs55. Tel: (02)
6970258. www.sheraton.com

Drinks
r Dhs100 international place in the heart of
Abu Dhabi.
City Café, Al Maha Arjaan Hotel,
Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi, noon to
4pm, Dhs95. Tel: (02) 6106622. www.
rotana.com
FRIDAY BRUNCH
Finding decent Irish grub in
Dubai is a battle, but finding a
Friday brunch for Dhs65 sounds
downright impossible. Luck of the
Irish wins through though, with a
main course and three drinks for
Mango Tree that princely sum available each
week at Dubliners.
Dubliners, Le Méridien Dubai,
CHEESE & WINE Airport Road, Garhoud, Dubai,
Wind down from the week or Fri 11am to 6pm, Dhs65. Tel: (04)
get ready for the weekend with 7022560
unlimited cheese and wine in the
Qamardeen Hotel’s lobby lounge. ALL YOU CAN EAT
Qamardeen Hotel, Burj Boulevard, STEAKHOUSE
Old Town, Dubai, Thur and Fri, 6pm This quality restaurant serves a
to 9pm, Dhs99. Tel: (04) 4285923 range of meat, Indian and Chinese
foods, with as much as you can
EIGHT COURSES fit in your stomach costing just
AT AFYA Dhs54 every day of the week.
Take in eight different Chinese Rainbow Steakhouse, Al Muroor
dishes over lunch at the Road, Al Markaziyah, Abu Dhabi,
international Afya restaurant for a 12.30pm to 3pm and 7pm to
ridiculously low Dhs60. 11.30pm, Dhs54. Tel: (02) 6333434
Afya, Traders Hotel, Between The
Bridges, Abu Dhabi, noon to 3pm, MANGO TREE
Dhs60. Tel: (02) 5098888. www. LUNCH
shangri-la.com Stroll across the bridge from Dubai
Mall into Souk Al Bahar to enjoy
ALL YOU CAN their shopper’s lunch. At Dhs80 for
EAT BRUNCH two courses or Dhs100 for three,
An all you can eat brunch, for it’s a great chance to sample the
less than Dhs100? Too good to Thai menu at a great price. The
be true? Not at this great little papaya salad is fantastic and not
100 CHEAP THRILLS FOR DHS100
so heavy that you’ll abandon your
retail adventure for the sofa.
Mango Tree, Souk Al Bahar, Old
Town, Dubai, Sun to Thur, noon
to 3pm, Dhs80 to Dhs100. Tel: (04)
4267313
TWO-COURSE
ITALIAN
For a paltry Dhs45 you can get
yourself a slap-up, two-course
Italian meal at one of the most
under-rated restaurants in
the capital.
Lemon Tree, Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi,
31st Street, Al Muroor, noon to
3.30pm, Dhs45. Tel: (02) 6574858.
www.holidayinn.com
BRUNCH AT
HEROES
The rough and ready underground
pub serves up a cheery Friday
brunch, where you get as much bar
food as you like, plus two drinks at a
rock bottom price.
Heroes, Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi,
Hamdan Street, noon to 4pm,
Dhs65. Tel: (02) 6210000.
www.crowneplaza.com
Margaux
THREE-COURSE
LUNCH
For Dhs100 you can enjoy
a three-course lunch at
Manhattan Grill or Indian
restaurant iZ, including coffee
and water.
Grand Hyatt Dubai, Sun to Thurs
12.30pm to 3pm, Dhs100. Tel:
(04) 3171235. www.dubai.grand.
hyatt.com
LUNCH AT PARK
HYATT DUBAI
Looking for lunch during the
week? For Dhs99 you can
enjoy a mezze buffet, grilled
meat and Middle Eastern
delights from the a la carte
menu, dessert and coffee at
Park Hyatt’s impressive Café
Arabesque.
Park Hyatt Dubai, Deira, Dubai,
Sun to Thurs 12.30pm to 4pm,
Dhs99. Tel: (04) 3172222. www.
dubai.park.hyatt.com
MARGAUX’S TWO-
COURSE LUNCH
We love the work that chef
Chef Sebastien Didierjean and
his team are doing down at
Margaux. You can now enjoy a
two-course lunch with a glass of
wine for just Dhs99, with a list of
daily specials including fricassee
chicken on Thursdays and veal
stew on Sundays. Yummy.
Souk Al Bahar, Downtown,
Dubai, noon to 2.30pm,
Dhs99. Tel: (04) 4397555. www.
margaux.ae
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JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 27
 100 CHEAP THRILLS FOR DHS100

TAKE IN SOME HERITAGE

There’s no better historical way to spend your
weekend than making the trip to the 16th
century village in Hatta’s Hajjar Mountains.
Two watchtowers, a mosque and a number of
traditional houses. All for free.
Hatta Heritage Village, Hatta, Sat to Thurs 8am to
8pm, Fri 2pm to 8pm, free. Tel: (04) 8521374

CHOCOLATE-MAKING FUN
This summer, your children can learn the art
of creating chocolate treats for just a Dhs100.
Best of all, you can eat what they make when
they’re finished.
Choco-La, Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Between the
Bridges, Abu Dhabi, Thurs and Fri, 11am,
Dhs100. Tel: (02) 5098527

SALSA DANCING LESSONS

To some it’s a tangy dip for potato chips, to
others it’s a form of dancing. It’s never both.
If you’d rather move like a whippet than pick
it and dip it, sign up for Shelter’s salsa lessons
for just Dhs40 a session.
Shelter, Industrial Area 4, Al Quoz, Dubai,
beginners Tue 7pm to 8pm, intermediate Tue
8.30pm to 9.30pm, Dhs40. Tel: (04) 4345655.
www.shelter.ae

DISCOVER ARCHAEOLOGY
Visit sites boasting artifacts from the seventh
to the 15th century. It’s free, but you’ll need a
permit to go on site, which can be obtained
from the Dubai Museum.
Behind Emirate’s Hospital, Jumeirah, Dubai,
8.30am to 2pm, free. Tel: (04) 3496874

VISIT THE ANIMALS

If you thought seeing the animals at the
UAE’s best zoo was a pricey affair, think
again. Visiting Al Ain Wildlife Park will cost
you no more than Dhs15 for adults and Dhs5
for youngsters.
Al Ain Wildlife Park & Resort, Sat to Thurs 4pm to
midnight, Fri 10am to midnight, Dhs15.
Tel: (03) 7828188. www.awpr.ae
MASTER THE ART OF
CAGE FIGHTING
You too can be a mean, lean, cage-fighting
machine with classes in mixed martial arts.
We won’t lie, you might throw up, be in
agony for days afterwards and feel the need
to get a dodgy tattoo, but you’ll also get
super fit, super fast.
World Black Belt Centre, Sheikh Rashid Rd, Near
Mazaya Centre, Dubai, Dhs80 for a public class.
Tel: (050) 1045008
SALSA
LESSONS
BECOME A CHI EXPERT
Learn all about the ancient Chinese medical
philosophy of Chi and how to improve your
health at these well cheap classes.
Méridien Tapping Technique classes, Khalifah
Street, Abu Dhabi, Weds, 11am, Dhs30.
Tel: (050) 8641074
SWIMMING LESSONS
Whether you have never progressed further
than a flailing doggy paddle or you’re a
regular swimmer looking to perfect your
butterfly, Speedo is offering a one-hour lesson
for Dhs45 this summer and their qualified
instructors can solve either problem.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Tel: (04) 3944898.
www.speedodubai.net
KIDS’ COOKING CLASSES
Get your little angel well on the way to being
the next Gordon Ramsay (or Jamie Oliver if
you prefer) with these cooking classes at Al
Raha Beach Hotel.
Al Raha Beach Hotel, Sas Al Nakhl, Abu Dhabi, Fri,
10am, Dhs60. Tel: (02) 5080486.
www.al-raha-beach-hotel.com
LOW-COST BOWLING
The cheapest ten-pin bowling we could
find in the capital was at the Armed Forces
Officers’ Club, where it costs only Dhs8 per
game. Steeee-rike!
Armed Forces Officers’ Club, near Musaffah
Bridge, Abu Dhabi, 10am to 10pm.
Tel: (02) 4415900. www.afoc.mil.ae

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 29

100 CHEAP THRILLS FOR DHS100
POTTERY CLASSES
Make a personal gift, entertain the children
or try to re-enact some scenes from Ghost at
Café Ceramique. We like to add a competitive
edge and get the staff to judge. Not
recommended on a first date.
Café Ceramique, Town Centre, Beach Road,
Dubai, 9am to midnight, from Dhs27 including
equipment. Tel: (04) 3447331.
www.cafe-ceramique.com
WAKEBOARDING LESSONS
If you enjoyed the recent Abu Dhabi
Wakeboard Festival, you may want to give the
sport a go. And these 15-minute lessons at the
Golden Tulip Hotel in Ghantoot won’t cost
you an arm and a leg.
Golden Tulip Hotel, Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi, Dhs25.
Tel: (02) 5629100. www.goldentulip.com
A NIGHT OUT ON
THE CHEAP
It’s the end of the month, money is tight, but
it’s approaching cocktail hour on a Thursday.
We’ve all been there. But what can be done?
You make your way over to Cin Cin at
Fairmont Dubai and enjoy a free cocktail
before 10pm. After that they’re just Dhs20
each. That’s six you could sip for the bargain
prices of Dhs100. Bottoms up.
Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Dhs20.
Tel: (04) 3325555. www.fairmont.com/dubai
WHAT’S ON
READER OFFERS After you’ve tried the 97 activities above, relax with one of
THREE-COURSES AT YUM
A three-course set menu and free-flowing
ice tea at the popular noodle bar for Dhs79.
Only if you’re a What’s On reader with a copy
of this issue, mind.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, Dhs79.
Tel: (04) 2227171. www.radissonblu.com
30 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
HIRE AN ART STUDIO
If you’re handy with a brush but have nowhere
to paint, DUCTAC’s open studio policy is a
blessing. For Dhs75 you can have three hours
of studio time, including use of equipment such
as easels. Available times vary so call ahead and
book first.
DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, Sat to
Thurs 9am to 10pm, Fri 2pm to 10pm, Dhs75. Tel:
(04) 7845542. www.ductac.org
RIDE THROUGH HISTORY
The Time Tunnel attraction at Khalifa Park
gives you the chance to sit on a monorail
train tour, with a visual show that teaches you
the 7,000-year history of Abu Dhabi. And
what’s more, it’s only Dhs3 for adults and free
for children.
Khalifa Park, Salam Street, Abu Dhabi, 10am to
10pm, Dhs3, free for children. Tel: (02) 6717000
RENT A BIKE
A gentle ride down Abu Dhabi’s picturesque
Corniche promenade is one of the most fun
and cheapest activities in the capital. If you
don’t have your own wheels, then rent some.
Fun Ride Sports, Corniche, Abu Dhabi, Dhs20 per
hour. Tel: (02) 5566113. www.funridesports.com
GO BALLROOM DANCING
Get with the ballroom dancing fever with
these low cost lessons in Abu Dhabi.
Raha International School, Khalifa City, Abu
Dhabi, Sun 7.30pm, Dhs40. Tel: (02) 6262533
these special What’s On reader offers
BOULAVAR
LUNCH
If you have a copy of this
wonderful issue – which
of course you do – you
can enjoy a huge buffet
lunch at Boulavar for just
Dhs99. Apparently there are more than 99
foods, so that’s one per dirham.
Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Deira Creek, Dhs99.
Tel: (04) 2227171. www.radissonblu.com
CHILDREN’S RIDING LESSON
Every little lady wants a pony. Every little
lad has dreamt of riding into battle astride
a snorting stead waving his sabre at the
enemy. Or is that just us? Make your
nippers’ dreams come true with a 45-
minute riding lesson for Dhs100. Giddy up.
Tel: (04) 4329392. www.dreamdays.ae
DRIVING RANGE
Dhs30 will buy you 91 balls, but for Dhs75
you can swing away to your heart’s content
at an unlimited number of the little white
blighters. The club can provide clubs if
you don’t have your own, and the changing
facilities – with Jacuzzis, sauna and steam
room – are worth the money alone.
Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai Festival City, Dubai,
Dhs30 to Dhs75. Tel: (04) 6010101.
www.albadiagolfclub.ae
VISIT AN
UNDERWATER ZOO
The last thing you’d expect to see within
seconds of New Look and Forever 21 is a
crocodile. But this is Dubai after all. Visit
the zoo at Dubai Mall (tucked behind the
giant aquarium) and you’ll find otters,
penguins, piranha, water rats –
our favourite – and more.
Underwater Zoo, Dubai Mall, Old Town, Dubai,
10am to midnight, Dhs50, Dhs20 for children
under seven. Tel: (04) 4485200.
www.thedubaiaquarium.com
OPTIONS THREE-COURSE
LUNCH
If you have a spare Dhs75 you can eat a
three-course lunch at celeb chef Sanjeev
Kapoor’s Dubai restaurant. During July only.
And don’t forget to take What’s On with you.
Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai, noon to
2.30pm, Dhs75. Tel: (04) 3293293
 2 1 It’s a brunch-eat-brunch
world out there. But with so
many new brunches on
the scene, which one to
choose? Let us guide you
through the best of this
year’s new contenders
The Talk
ISTOCK
THE TALK
CUISINE
The Talk refuses to be pinned down to one
particular cuisine, with a pizza oven, pasta
station, tandoori oven, rotisserie, hot and
cold buffet and a sushi bar.
FORMAT
Food stations galore, plus a buffet.
SELLING POINT
Pastries are delivered to the table by the
very people who created them – The Talk’s
dedicated team of pastry chefs. There are also
stations devoted to vodka and mojitos.
LOCATION
The Talk is the Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah
Beach’s main restaurant and it’s pretty
impressive, offering a private dining room,
lounge bar, serious wine cellar and a roof
terrace for alfresco drinks and dining.
COST
Dhs180 sans grog, Dhs350 if you want to
enjoy unlimited drinks.
Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Beach, The Walk, JBR,
Dubai, noon to 3.30pm. Tel: (04) 4498888.
www.moevenpick-hotels.com
Q
CUISINE
Italian.
FORMAT
Freshly prepared pizza and pasta, a carvery,
barbecue on demand, fresh oysters, vegetable
juice shooters, hot and cold buffet, plus all
manner of desserts and a cheese station.
SELLING POINT
Chef Pierpaolo Fadda worked with the highly
acclaimed Heinze Beck at the three Michelin
star La Pergola in his native Rome. So he
knows a thing or two about Italian cooking.
LOCATION
The Qamardeen Hotel is not much talked
about, but Esca is gaining a reputation for
good grub, especially of the Italian variety.
COST
Dhs295 with bubbles and house beverages,
Dhs195 without.
Esca, Qamardeen Hotel, Downtown, 12.30pm
to 4pm. Tel: (04) 4285923. www.southernsunme.
com/qamardeen
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 33
25 BEST NEW BRUNCHES
Bubbalicious
BUBBALICIOUS
CUISINE
Thai from Spice Emporium, international
buffet at Blue Orange and meat from
steakhouse Hunters.
FORMAT
A blend of buffet and food cooked to order.
SELLING POINT
There’s a petting zoo (yes, you read that
right), cinema, acrobats and smoking
cocktails. Take your pick.
LOCATION
With the action spread across three
restaurants you have the luxury of choice.
Spice Emporium is where the serious eating
goes down, Blue Orange is where the
party’s at and Hunters is nice and relaxed.
During the cooler months we’ll be on the
poolside patio.
COST
Dhs450 with Laurent Perrier and house
beverages, Dhs299 without alcohol.
The Westin Mina Seyahi, Dubai, 1pm to
4pm. Tel: (04) 5117136.
www.starwoodhotels.comn
BLADES
CUISINE
Thai.
FORMAT
There’s a la carte, a cold buffet, a live cooking
station and plenty of desserts, including the
obligatory chocolate fountain.
SELLING POINT
It has to be the a la carte menu. The hot buffet
is dead. Long live freshly prepared victuals.
LOCATION
It’s not that well known and, as a result, it’s
pretty tame, but if you’re looking for a quiet
spot for a sophisticated nibble, this is it.
COST
A bargain at just Dhs199.
Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai Festival City, Dubai,
Fri and Sat noon to 3pm. Tel: (04) 7011128.
www.albadiagolfclub.ae
34 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
THE OBSERVATORY
CUISINE
International.
FORMAT
Chef Kevin Pohl offers up a buffet and an a la
carte menu. There’s also a carving station, but
the highlight is the seafood spread boasting
oysters, mussels, clams, prawns and all
manner of fish.
Esca SELLING POINT
The two happy hours from 6pm to 8pm,
during which drinks are discounted by 50
per cent and bar snacks by 20 per cent.
LOCATION
The 52nd floor, with grand views of Dubai
Marina and the Palm.
COST
Dhs400.
MAYA Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites, Dubai
CUISINE Marina, Dubai, noon to 4pm. Tel: (04) 3194000.
Mexican. www.marriott.com
FORMAT
Huge platters of freshly grilled meat and BICE MARE
fish from celebrity chef Richard Sandoval’s CUISINE
talented team. Italian with an emphasis on creatures from
SELLING POINT the deep blue sea, though there’s some pasta
There’s a live DJ and a mariachi band, but beach and fabulous bread.
and pool access gives this brunch its edge. FORMAT
LOCATION Shared platters of beautifully fresh seafood.
The Playa Buena Vista brunch takes place SELLING POINT
on the beach, in the pool and in one of our The sharing concept makes for a friendly
favourite Mexican restaurants. Couldn’t ask meal with mates.
for more, really. LOCATION
COST Souk Al Bahar is at the centre of Dubai’s food
Beach and pool access with lunch for Dhs300, renaissance and there’s a terrace with a view of
plus a 30 per cent drinks discount from 5pm the Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Fountain.
to 7pm. COST
Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Dubai Dhs190 per person with a minimum of four
Marina, Dubai, 10am to 6pm. Tel: (04) 3165550. diners, with Dhs100 extra for alcohol.
www.leroyalmeridien-dubai.com Souk Al Bahar, Old Town, Dubai, noon to 4pm.
Tel: (04) 4230982
BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ
CUISINE Bice Mare
Belgian.
FORMAT
A cold buffet with some superb meats and
cheeses, salad and fresh bread to keep you
going. Then there’s an a la carte menu of
hearty Belgian classics.
SELLING POINT
The finest selection of quality European beer
in the UAE.
LOCATION
A true European pub atmosphere, something
that’s still quite rare in the UAE, despite the
huge expat invasion.
COST
Dhs199, introduced this year, which took
this brunch from obscurity into the top five
of our Hot List. So cheap we still can’t quite
believe it.
Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City, Dubai, 1pm to
4pm. Tel: (04) 7011128. www.ichotelsgroup.com
 25 BEST NEW BRUNCHES

MEDIA ONE The Observatory

CUISINE
Various, including seafood, roast beef, pizza
and pasta.
FORMAT
It’s mainly a buffet, but the pizzas are made
to order.
SELLING POINT
In winter it would be the outdoor seating.
Nowadays, make sure you ask about the most
recent deals when you book your brunch –
there’s always a bargain to be had, including
room deals at the hotel.
LOCATION
Media One has eased itself nicely into
the brunch scene in this part of town.
COST
Dhs240.
Media One Hotel, Media City, Dubai,
noon to 4pm. Tel: (04) 4271000.
www.mediaonehotel.com

GRAND GRILL
CUISINE
Barbecue.
FORMAT Belgian Beer Café
Based on the South African braai, you
help yourself to as much freshly grilled
meat and salad as you can handle.
SELLING POINT
It’s a barbecue. That’s pretty unique in Dubai.
There’s also a DJ, too, who ensures a real party
spirit with some fun tunes – so expect things
on the boisterous side.
LOCATION
The Habtoor Grand is a pretty fancy address,
but Grand Grill is committed to keeping it
simple. It’s a restaurant, with a grill and plenty
of meat.
COST
Dhs295 with alcohol, Dhs265 without
alcohol. Heroes ASSYMETRI
The Grand Grill Steakhouse, Habtoor Grand CUISINE
Resort & Spa, Dubai, 12.30pm to 4pm. Tel: (04) Covering all corners of the world.
3994221. www.thegrandgrill.com FORMAT
A giant buffet, with live sushi station and
HEROES a barbecue.
CUISINE SELLING POINT
Think bar food – burgers, bangers and chips. This one’s for the nippers. There’s
FORMAT entertainment including a children’s pool,
A huge buffet stacked high with hearty tucker. face painting, computer games and more.
SELLING POINT LOCATION
Heroes is as unpretentious as it can be. No Assymetri’s a cool, modern Italian restaurant
one’s going to look down their nose at you if at the Radisson Blu Yas Island. Once the
you arrive in shorts and flip-flops. weather cools off, grab a seat on the terrace,
LOCATION with its ace views over the nearby Yas Links
The underground pub is the best place to golf course.
escape the summer heat. COST
COST Dhs130 including soft drinks and water,
Dhs65, plus two drinks. Ridiculously cheap. Dhs160 with alcohol.
Heroes, Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Hamdan Assymetri, Radisson Blu Yas Island, Abu Dhabi,
Street, noon to 4pm. Tel: (02) 6166132. 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Tel: (02) 6562000. www.
www.crowneplaza.com radissonblu.com

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 35

Biryani Festival at Handi
for Aed 99/- per person*
*Subject to 20% service charge and municipality fees

P.O.Box 42211, Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Tel +971 4 2232222, Fax +971 4 2278222, www.tajhotels.com
 25 BEST NEW BRUNCHES

COOPER’S CARVERY BED AND BRUNCH PEARLS & CAVIAR

CUISINE CUISINE CUISINE
Joints of roast lamb, turkey and beef, served An international buffet, covering all the Seafood, from fresh oysters to fresh fish,
with all the trimmings. food bases. lobsters and prawns.
FORMAT FORMAT FORMAT
Head to one of the cooking stations and have A lengthy buffet, which covers one end of the An a la carte menu, plus a live cooking
slices of meat cut before your very eyes. restaurant. station, where you can see your choice of fish
LOCATION SELLING POINT being cooked before your eyes.
Cooper’s is a smart, English-style pub with brick A meagre Dhs275 will get you a decent SELLING POINT
walls, leather armchairs and a wooden bar. brunch and a night’s stay in the hotel. Sounds It’s 100 per cent seafood. The best brunch in
COST like a bargain to us. the capital for fish fanatics.
Dhs159, with free flowing drinks, makes for LOCATION LOCATION
an affordable Friday feast. Holiday Inn may not be the most glamorous Pearls & Caviar’s restaurant is impressively
SELLING POINT brand, but the new hotel is smart, modern chic. Once summer is over, the cool upstairs
Ignore the blazing sunshine outside, this could and clean. Ditto the Silk Route restaurant. bar will be open for business too – a huge
be an afternoon lunch in a nice country pub. COST bonus for sundowners.
Cooper’s, Park Rotana, near Khalifa Park, Al Dhs275, with unlimited bubbly plus a room COST
Maqtaa, Abu Dhabi, noon to 4pm. Tel: (02) for the night. The brunch on its own costs Dhs199 with unlimited house drinks or
6573333. www.rotana.com Dhs150 with bubbly, Dhs125 without. Dhs299 with champagne.
Silk Route, Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi, 31st Street, Pearls & Caviar, Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Between
BELGIAN CAFÉ 11.30pm to 3.30pm. Tel: (02) 6574848. www. The Bridges, Abu Dhabi, 1pm to 4pm. Tel: (02)
CUISINE holidayinn.com 5098888. www.shangri-la.com
A swathe of classic Belgian treats, from pots of
mussels, to chunky fries and mayo to waffles. Pearls & Caviar
FORMAT
A la carte, but you can order as much from
the menu as you like.
SELLING POINT
A slice of Europe in the capital – there aren’t
too many places in Abu Dhabi that offer such
a European feel.
LOCATION
The Belgian Café accurately resembles a fin de
siècle European bar. You could easily forget
you’re in the Middle East.
COST
Dhs265 with free-flowing drinks or Dhs165
for just one drink. Cooper’s
Belgian Café, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, 11am to
3pm. Tel: (02) 6666888. www.ichotelsgroup.com

JING ASIA
CUISINE
Just what is says on the tin – Asian food,
including sushi, dim sum, stir-fry and noodles.
FORMAT
Choose your stir-fry ingredients at the live
cooking station, or help yourself from the
buffet. Plus brunch-goers also have access to
the pool.
SELLING POINT
Their huge live cooking station – it has to be
one of the biggest in the capital – plus pool
access too.
LOCATION
An impressively large Far Eastern restaurant,
with an open kitchen slap bang in the middle.
COST
Dhs170 including booze, Dhs125 without and
Dhs60 for children aged 12 and under.
Jing Asia, Crowne Plaza Yas Island, Abu Dhabi,
12.30pm to 4pm. Tel: (02) 6563000.
www.crowneplaza.com

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 37

25 BEST NEW BRUNCHES

Ginger

Silk Route

Assymetri

Yacht Club CHOICES

CUISINE
Take your pick from an international spread
that includes Italian and Arabic food, plus
meat from an outside barbecue.
FORMAT
It’s the classic buffet style all the way.
SELLING POINT
The Mexican cooking station, with its ace
fajitas and burritos, is worth the visit alone.
LOCATION
A 24-hour diner with a colourful interior.
COST
Dhs148 with soft drinks, Dhs178 with free-
flowing wine.
Choices, Yas Island Rotana, Abu Dhabi, 12.30pm
to 4pm. Tel: 6564000. www.rotana.com

Jing Asia GINGER YACHT CLUB

CUISINE
A quality international selection. All the
dishes are fresh and enticing, while the Arabic Japan and Thailand. The sushi is particularly
mezze is particularly impressive.
FORMAT
It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.
SELLING POINT
Book a table for four people, and they throw
in a massage for you in the hotel spa.
LOCATION
Gingers is a bright, clean and modern all day
diner.
COST
Dhs150, including house beverages.
Park Rotana, Al Maqtaa, Abu Dhabi, noon to
4pm. Tel: (02) 6573333. www.rotana.com
CUISINE
Pan-Asian, taking in dishes from China,
good.
FORMAT
Order as much as you like from the menu.
SELLING POINT
It runs from 2pm to 6pm, so no need for an
early start after the night before.
LOCATION
One of the best bars in Abu Dhabi, and once
its outdoor terrace is in use again, it’s the best
bar in the capital.
COST
Dhs165 for as much food as you like, but only
one drink.
Yacht Club, InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al
Bateen, 2pm to 6pm. Tel: (02) 6666888.
www.ichotelsgroup.com

38 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010

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MIRDIF
M ASSI Long hailed as the
reliable suburb for
families, Mirdif has
had something of a
facelift of late, with
the arrival of a new
mega mall. We go
exploring in the ‘Dif
to bring you our top
picks of the shops,
dining and more
MIRDIF SHOPPING
CITY E American
CENTR Eagle Outfitters
Like Gap’s younger cousin,
this shop is full of casual
clobber that won’t break the
bank. The regular sales are ideal
for your holiday wardrobe (we
picked up three cotton tees for
Dhs75) and, while we’re not
normally in favour of cheapo
fashion, the quality of the
garments mean you’ll probably
wash these clothes when you get
back, rather than binning them.
Tel: (04) 2316631. www.ae.com
Bobbi Brown
Queen of the neutrals, Bobbi
Brown has created an empire
(and a fortune) from making
women look like better versions
Yalla! Bowling of themselves. This sleek store
stocks her must-have products,
40 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
all wrapped up in the trademark
black packaging, and offers
make-up lessons for the truly
uninitiated – or just those who
want a mini-makeover before
going out.
Tel: (04) 2843676.
www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com
Boutique 1
One of What’s On’s regular
haunts come payday, Boutique
1 has set up (a massive) shop
at the new mall. Packed – in a
glamorous fashion, of course –
with exclusive labels, the 13,000
square foot store is inspired by
art galleries, so expect white
spaces and items showcased to
stylish effect. In additions to top
togs by the likes of 3.1 Phillip
Lim, Diane von Furstenberg
and Paul & Joe, you’ll also
find books, homewares
and stationery.
Tel: (04) 2843777.
www.boutique1.com
Crate & Barrel
New to the UAE, Crate & Barrel
is what your balcony has been
craving. There are some lovely
interior pieces but the brightly
coloured picnic plates, tablecloths
and plastic tumblers are the main
draw. It’s not cheap, at Dhs300
for a solid wood salad bowl, but
the quality is excellent and you’ll
get a much-needed injection of
energy into your summer.
Tel: (04) 2843151.
www.crateandbarrel.com
 MIRDIF MASSIVE

DIN
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Which o withmotivate.coing, log onto
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Mango Tree Bistro

Carluccio’s Mango Tree Bistro

The man we wish was our Speedier (and considerably
grandfather continues to expand cheaper) than its Souk al Bahar
See By Chloé his UAE empire with a third relation, this Thai pad is a
See By Chloé is a delicious mix of branch of Carluccio’s. Keeping surprisingly good slice of spice
Deepak’s girlie and hip, and is the ideal shop with the duck egg blue theme, in the busy mall. The menu is
Deepak’s is a Satwa classic, if you dream of looking like the this Italian café is a calming spot massive, full of sharing platters,
but if you can’t face the sweaty cute singer in a rough rock band. for refuelling from breakfast until cold and hot starters, classic
torture of Plant Street in July, More youthful (and affordable) supper. Particularly recommended dishes and some specialities.
then head to this branch for your than the main Chloé line, this is the spinach and ricotta ravioli We opted for a beef salad
fabrics. It has everything from store is a welcome addition to this with butter and sage, followed by a then shared a whole barbecue
basic cottons and suit material big brand mega mall. Don’t leave traditional panna cotta. chicken, a red curry with tender
to embellished silks for gowns, without a handbag. Tel: (04) 2843728. duck and a pad Thai packed
but don’t be overwhelmed – the Tel: (04) 2840409. www.chloe.com www.carluccios.com with plump prawns. And then
staff can talk you through the had a little sleep. A nice one for
tailoring process. Fat Burger the evening too.
Tel: (04) 2840785. DINING When What’s On tummies are Tel: (04) 2843635.
www.deepakstextiles.com Abou El Sid rumbling, it has to be a burger. www.mangotreethaibistro.com
People are often encouraging us to And if you’re looking for quality,
Michael Kors walk like an Egyptian, but it’s not lean meat, crunchy lettuce and a MBCo
We developed a soft spot for often that eating like one is advised. fresh bun, Fat Burger is the place This smart Canadian café knows
American designer Kors after he Based on the fine fair on offer at to go. The California burger bar the way to our (increasingly
created Rene Russo’s wardrobe for Abou El Sid, we’d say it’s just as has 95 restaurants around the clogged) hearts: mini burgers.
The Thomas Crowne Affair remake worthwhile. Despite the location, globe, billing itself as ‘the last great There are also a number of
and appeared as a judge on Project it’s a cosy little restaurant and the hamburger stand’ and it’s hard to sandwiches and salads available,
Runway (it’s a very inspiring show, Egyptian staff extend a more than disagree. We especially love that from the grilled three-cheese on
OK?). He was previously at Céline friendly welcome. The food is a the staff harmoniously sing your white, to the somewhat healthier
but now runs his own label, much lot better than your standard mall order and for us it’s always ‘One organic chicken salad. Don’t skip
to the delight of celebs such as grub, with tahini, taameya (falafel) fat burger, one fat fries, one Coke’. dessert though; those clever
Heidi Klum and Jennifer Lopez. and stuffed sausage Abou El Sid’s What could be better than that? It’s French-Canadians make a
If you want a piece of his versatile way – with tasty rice and herbs – like The Beach Boys reassuring you killer crème brulee.
and self-assured style, then this is solid starters and carbtastic koshari about your dinner decisions. Tel: (04) 2843807. www.mbco.ca
the shop for you. – macaroni, rice and a rich tomato Tel: (04) 2843741.
Tel: (04) 2843462. sauce – and fettah (Egyptian www.fatburger.com PF Chang’s
www.michaelkors.com risotto) the pick of the mains. Hailing from the States, this
Tel: (04) 2840040. Lemongrass hugely popular chain of Chinese
Pottery Barn www.abouelsid.com Express restaurants has arrived in the
Made famous worldwide by Sometimes only the spicy, creamy UAE amid much fanfare. Is it
Phoebe’s ‘apothecary table’ in Fat Burger goodness of penaeng chicken worth it? Well, mostly. The lettuce
Friends, Pottery Barn is full of (Dhs38) from Lemongrass can chicken wraps are an ideal snack,
classic furniture and enviable get us through the weekend. while the Mongolian beef with
accessories. It’s all pretty grown- MSG-free and super-quick, this spring onions was surprisingly
up (with prices to match) but the Express branch of the much- tasty. Our advice is to stay away
napkins are gorgeous and a few loved Thai restaurant alone worth from the more ambitious dishes
key pieces should up the game of a trip to the mall. A true star of – scallops served in a mall are
your humble abode. the foodcourt. rarely going to be a winner.
Tel: (04) 6062610. Tel: (04) 2843437. Tel: (04) 2316660.
www.potterybarn.com www.lemongrassrestaurants.com www.pfchangs.com

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 41

MIRDIF MASSIVE
HEALTH &
BEAUTY
Lily Pond
Great for a mid-shop pick me
up massage or quick spruce
before heading out, Lily Pond is
one of the more reliable beauty
salons in Dubai. A manicure is

3BõFT
BOE

a mere Dhs55 so it won’t break
the bank either.
Tel: (04) 2845923
Sister’s Beauty
Lounge
One of our favourite spots for
a facial and (almost) pain-free
waxing, Sister’s is now also open
in Mirdif. Offering hair, body
and beauty services, the friendly
therapists use products by Tigi,
Dermalogica, OPI and Essie to
buff you to perfection. It’s also

DBS
QBSL
TQBDFT
one of the few salons offering
eyelash extensions (Dhs600 for
a full set).
Tel: (04) 2843554.
www.sistersbeautylounge.com
LEISURE
Aquaplay
Children up to eight years old
can dig for gemstones, play
on bumper boats, ride the
flumes and more at this 2,200
square metre water-themed
entertainment centre. They’ll also
meet the Aquapals, a collection of
characters including Muriel the
crab and Nelson the whale.
Tel: (04) 2316306
UPTOWN MIRDIF
A closer look at this buzzing ‘burb
Shopping
While it’s far from the kind of
shopping destination Dubai
dwellers are used to, Uptown
Mirdif has more than enough
to keep its residents happy.
There’s a huge Paris Gallery,
Beyond the Beach and a
wealth of mother and baby
shops, in addition to Spinneys
and several furniture outlets.
42 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
CineStar
Film fans wanting more than the
usual sticky carpets and limited
screens need to book a seat here.
With a whopping 20-metre
screen, two 3D screens, two Gold
Class screens and all manner of
VIP upgrades in all cinemas, this
is the place for a truly luxurious
movie-going experience. See you
in the big chairs.
Tel: (04) 2840001.
www.cinestarcinemas.com
iFly
Yes, you might look a bit of a
wally in the suits, but for a shot
of adrenaline iFly’s wind tunnel
can’t be beaten. This indoor sky
dive is suitable for everyone over
the age of five (unless over 100kg
and/or pregnant), so amateurs
and experts alike can pretend
they’re in Point Break for a few
exhilarating moments. Each
45-minute package includes
equipment, training and two
flights. We recommend reading
the FAQs on the website, which
includes such gems as ‘Is it
possible to eat inside the tunnel?’
That would be a no.
Dhs195, Dhs145 for under-13s. Tel:
(04) 2316292. www.iflysfbay.com
Magic Planet
Yup, you’ll also find the noisy
paradise of Magic Planet at
MCC. Packed with games, rides,
attractions and more flashing
lights than Las Vegas, this is a
great place to let children blow
Dining
Café culture rules in Uptown,
with Starbucks, Le Pain
Quotidien, Mugg & Bean and
Caribou. It’s an alcohol-free
zone, and Desert Palm hotel
and the bars at Festival City are
the nearest watering holes. The
restaurants are more day dining
spots, however, there are also a
couple of places that deserve a
special mention.
off some steam during the never-
ending summer holidays. They’ll
be issued with a rechargeable
card and can win tokens
redeemable against toys and more
games. It’s not strictly for young
ones though, and we don’t mind
admitting that we’ve dabbled on
the dance mat…
Tel: 800 5347873.
www.magicplanet.ae
Yalla! Bowling
We challenge you to wear those
clown shoes without singing
songs from Grease 2. Yalla! is
one of the newest (and cheapest)
bowling alleys in the city, with
loads of super helpful staff,
a graffiti theme and 12 lanes
boasting state-of-the-art video
simulation. “We’re gonna
bo-o-o-wl tonight”.
Dhs20 to Dhs25 per game per
person. Tel: 800 5347873
Magic Planet
Gourmet Burger
Kitchen
The staple food for the suffering
masses come Saturday morning,
GBK’s menu is a shrine to all
things burger. There are some
unusual additions to the usual
meat and bread, including
beetroot, pineapple and
babaganoush. Don’t knock it
until you try it.
Uptown Mirdif, Mirdif. Tel: (04)
3700775. www.gbk.co.uk
ESSENTIAL INFO
t Tel: 8006422.
www.mirdifcitycentre.com
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Boutique 1
Pane Caldo
We first visited this fresh-faced
Italian in Muscat and came
back raving about the antipasti
platters, so we were thrilled to
find one on our Dubai doorstep.
The menu covers many Italian
regions, and includes asparagus
gnocchi, fresh fish, pizzas made
to order and cracking cannoli.
Uptown Mirdif Mall, Mirdif, noon
to midnight. Tel: (04) 2888319.
www.pane-caldo.ae
 www.shangri-la.com

OUR CHEFS WILL

HAPPILY PUT ON
A SHOW FOR YOU.

The New Dunes Café offers you an all-day dining experience with live
cooking stations, where food is freshly prepared by our world-class chefs
as part of our international buffet. Aside from this, an à la carte menu is
available to suit every mood and palate from breakfast through to dinner.

For reservations, please call 04 405 2703. Only at Shangri-La

Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road, P.O. Box 75880, Dubai, U.A.E.
UAE’S TOP 20 PIZZAS

Team What’s On joined

forces with Catboy and
Geordiebird to put the UAE’s
pizzas to the test. Carb
sweats broke out, health was
compromised and here are
the results

EPICURE 800 PIZZA

MARGHERITA
Fresh tomato sauce, more tomatoes and salty
mozzarella on a crispy thin crust. Basic but
beautiful. It’s a great one to nibble on, over a
few drinks on DP’s terrace or by Epicure’s pool.
Dhs55
Epicure, Desert Palm, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3238888
What’s On rating: 19/20
EDITOR’S
DIAVOLA PICK
Covered in bright, shiny discs of
spicy pepperoni, this pizza hits you
like a tasty truck. The charred edges of the
crispy base sealed the deal.
Dhs43
Various locations. Tel: 800 74992
What’s On rating: 17/20

CASA MIA BOCCACCIO

DIAVOLO
The topping of tomato, mozzarella, basil,
sweet marinated onions and peppers with a
chilli kick set the taste buds a-tingling, and
the base was perfect. Thin and crispy, thanks
to a wood-fuelled Italian stone oven.
Dhs36 to 47
Le Méridien Dubai, Garhoud. Tel: (04) 2170000.
What’s On rating: 18/20
RONDA LOCATELLI
DIAVOLA
Simplicity is the key word here. No over-
the-top, piling on of ingredients; just fresh
tomato, cheese and spicy pepperoni, plus the
unmistakable taste of a thin base cooked in a
traditional oven. Just as it should be.
Dhs80
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4262626
What’s On rating: 18/20
44 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
PERCELLINA
A wafer-thin, crispy crust, just the right
amount of cheese and tomato sauce, some
chewy salami and not too much grease. The
best pizza in Abu Dhabi in our books.
Dhs80
InterContinental Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 6666888
What’s On rating: 17/20
LA MAMMAS
ZOLA E SPECK PIZZA EXPRESS
The intriguing sounding pizza zola e speck is SOHO
smothered with tonnes of Gorgonzola cheese This olive and garlic pizza is hidden by a
and smoked Italian meat. The ingredients mountain of fresh, peppery rocket and sliced
combine perfectly to create an unusual, but parmesan so you get your greens and lose the
delicious taste. gloopy cheese. Crunchy, fairly healthy and a
Dhs60 new favourite.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 6773333 Dhs38
What’s On rating: 16/20 Various locations. Tel. (04) 3945616,
What’s On rating: 14/20
ESCA
BAFANA BAFANA CB & GB’S APRES
Wowsers. So loaded with South PICK CAPRICCIOSA
African barbecued sausage, sweet We went off-piste with this quail egg and
peppers, grilled onion and button mushrooms anchovy combo, but wish we’d stuck to the
we could barely see the base. Bursting with sweet chilli chicken topping we know and love.
colour and flavours. Sometimes pizzas can get a bit too exotic…
Dhs40 Dhs66
Qamardeen Hotel, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4286888 Mall of the Emirates, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3412575
What
What’s On rating: 15/20 What’s On rating: 14/20
 UAE’S TOP 20 PIZZAS

MARZANO PIZZA HUT

CAPRICCIOSA CROWN CRUST HALF &
Turkey ham and mushrooms galore. Marzano HALF GRILLED CHICKEN
is a proven cure for the morning after the night It’s a crown shaped pizza with a crust as
before, but the thin crust stops it being too chunky as a well fed Italian mama, decorated
stodgy. And it tastes even better cold. Fact. with balls of cream cheese, meat balls,
Dhs50 chicken, peppers, tomato sauce, mushroom,
Soul al Manzil, Dubai. Tel: (04) 4201136 onion and black olives. It looks like a child
What
What’s On rating: 14/20 made it and is far from authentic.
Medium Dhs32, Large Dhs45
PREGOS Various locations. Tel: 600569999
PIZZA CALABRESE What On rating: 8/20
What’s
We went for the salami and pepperoni at this
popular Italian. Plus, there’s an open kitchen, DOMINO'S PIZZA
so you can see your pizza being created. EXTRAVAGANZZA FEAST
Dhs80 AMALFI The worst base we’ve ever tasted. Like
Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 6979000 MEAT CALZONE cardboard. The topping of pepperoni,
What On rating: 14/20
What’s The calzone pizza served at Le Royal sausage, beef, onions, green peppers,
Méridien had a crispy outer shell and ample mushrooms and olives was far from inspiring.
SPACCANAPOLI cheese and tomato sauce. But the chefs could Small Dhs23, medium Dhs37, large Dhs47
MIXED METRE-LONG have been more generous with the pepperoni Various locations. Tel: (04) 3455151
This huge, one-metre long pizza is a feast for the we were promised. What’s On rating: 6/20
eyes and the appetite. But quality matches the Dhs70
quantity with tonnes of topping, a thick, crunchy Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 6742020 CAPRI GRILL
base and an even thicker layer of cheese. What’s On rating: 13/20 CALABRIA
Dhs50 Not a winner in our books. Looked more like
Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 6210000 LEMON TREE a quiche and tasted like a poor man’s pie. Sadly
What’s On rating: 14/20 VEGETARIAN we won’t be adding this one to our speed dial.
The vegetarian pizza had just the right Dhs38
ROUND TABLE quantities of cheese, tomato paste and World Trade Centre, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3314673
YOUR CHOICE vegetable topping and, as it was cooked in a What’s On rating: 4/20
This beast would easily feed all the knights wood-fired oven, had a nice, smoky taste. Our
of the round table. Toppings include crunchy only slight complaint was that it could have
courgette, spicy beef and too many others to done with a tad more cooking.
mention. Dhs45
Dhs54 Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) 6574888
Various locations. Tel: (04) 3966999 What’s On rating: 12/20
What’s On rating: 13/20
CERTO
ITZZA PIZZA PEPPERONI
VEGETARIAN A nice effort from the chefs at this quality
As green as Al Gore, this veggie delight boasts Italian, however, the pepperoni pizza we
courgette, peppers and broccoli. As carnivores ordered was somewhat oily and the base was
we missed a bit of meat, but it’s a cracker for a bit too floury and stodgy.
our leaf-loving friends. Dhs69
Dhs43 Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02)
Various locations. Tel: (04) 2888192 5581161
What’s On rating: 13/20 What’s On rating: 9/20

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 45

 FILM
Salt
Salt
WHO? Angelina Jolie, Chiwetel Ejiofor,
Liev Schreiber, Zoe Lister Jones,
Yara Shahidi, Phillip Noyce
(director)
TAGLINE ‘Who is Salt?’
ONCE UPON A TIME... Top CIA operative Evelyn Salt
(Jolie) had to go on the run
after a Soviet defector (Daniel
Olbrychski) accused her of being
a Russian spy.
IDEAL IF YOU’RE IN THE See Brad Pitt’s beautiful beau in
MOOD TO... a film that appears worthy of her
remarkable talents.
WATCH THIS IF YOU Sharp, action-friendly spy
LIKE... thrillers such as No Way Out,
the Jack Ryan movies and the
Jason Bourne saga.
TOP TRIVIA Law Abiding Citizen scribe Kurt
Wimmer wrote Salt with a male
lead in mind. Angelina Jolie only
came on board after first choice
Tom Cruise dropped out.
WHAT’S ON TEN WORD We should be in for a Jolie
REVIEW good show.
RATE OR SLATE? PREVIEW
46 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
Scott Pilgrim Vs The Last
The World Airbender
Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth
Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Anna
Kendrick, Jason Schwartzman,
Edgar Wright (writer-director)
‘An epic of epic epicness’
The nerdy Scott Pilgrim (Cera)
discovered that, in order to win
the heart of the comely Ramona
(Winstead), he must vanquish her
seven ex-boyfriends!
Either open up a can of whoop-
ass on your love rivals or see
what happens when cinema and
computer gaming collide.
Edgar Wright’s oeuvre which in-
cludes romzomcom Shaun Of The
Dead, Home Counties cop movie
Hot Fuzz and the sublime slacker
sitcom Spaced.
Ramona’s exes include the
incumbent Superman Brandon
Routh and the future Captain
America Chris Evans.
Edgar’s right on the money,
yet again.
★★★★✩
Jackson Rathbone, Dev Patel,
Nicola Peltz, Cliff Curtis, Noah
Ringer, M Night Shyamalan
(writer-director)
‘Four nations, one destiny’
Young avatar Aang (Ringer) was
entrusted with saving the nations
of Water, Earth and Air from the
war-like nation of Fire.
See whether the once hot M
Night Shyamalan (The Sixth
Sense, Unbreakable) has lost it
once and for all.
Recent Shyamalan films such as
Lady In The Water and The Hap-
pening, in which case you prob-
ably need psychiatric help.
Based on the hit TV show Avatar:
The Last Airbender, Shyamalan
had to change his film’s title fol-
lowing the release of a certain
James Cameron epic.
If this isn’t a hit, it could be good-
night, Shyamalan.
PREVIEW

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
The Sorcerer’s
Apprentice
Nicolas Cage, Alfred Molina,
Monica Bellucci, Alice Krige,
Jay Baruchel, Jon Turteltaub
(director)
‘From the director and producer
of National Treasure’
Ordinary Joe Dave Stutler
(Baruchel) found himself
recruited by master sorcerer
Balthazar Blake (Cage) to save
New York City from evil warlock
Maxim Horvath (Molina).
Enjoy a brand of live-action
adventure that Disney Studios
once specialised in and are still
rather good at.
The Harry Potter pictures and the
similar-but-not-to-the-extent-
anyone-could-sue Percy Jackson
& The Olympians.
If supporting actress Alice Krige
looks familiar, it might be because
she played the villainous Borg
Queen in Star Trek: Voyager.
Should please lovers of bona fide
family entertainment.
★★★✩✩
The Expendables
The
Expendables
Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph
Lundgren, Bruce Willis, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Sylvester
Stallone (writer-director-star)
‘Choose your weapon’
Soldier of fortune Barney Ross
(Stallone) assembled a team of
mercenaries to overthrow a brutal
Latin American dictator.
Revisit a time when Stallone, Willis
and Schwarzenegger were more
famous for breaking heads than
for smuggling growth hormones,
supporting George W and running
California into the ground.
Action movies where engaging
the brain isn’t the first (or, for that
matter, the last) order of business.
Chemical engineer-turned-karate
champion Dolph Lundrgren has
killed more people on screen that
Arnold, Bruce and Sly combined.
A film more fun in theory than
in practice.
★★★✩✩
Raavan
Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek
Bachchan, ‘Chiyaan’ Vikram,
Govinda, Prithviraj, Mani
Ratnam (writer-director)
‘Ten Heads. Ten Minds. A
Hundred Voices. One man’
Bandit Beera Munda (Bachchan)
kidnapped the wife (Rai) of the
policeman who murdered his
sister. Naturally, it’s only a matter
of time before the bad guy and
the good woman fall in love.
Familiarise yourself with
Bollywood’s ultimate power
couple, Abhishek Bachchan and
his wife and former Miss World
Aishwarya Rai.
American action movies but
would prefer there to be as
much emphasis upon acting
and emotion as there is on
blowing things up.
Raavan was ‘remixed’ for
Western audiences by Brett
Ratner, director of the Rush
Hour movies.
Bacchan and Rai could
teach Brangelina plenty
about superstardom.
★★★★✩
FILM | NEW RELEASES
Raavan
Predators
Adrien Brody, Topher Grace,
Danny Trejo, Laurence
Fishburne, Alice Braga,
Nimród Antal (director)
‘Fear is reborn’
The world’s finest
warriors became prey
for the be-dreadlocked
stars of the Predator series.
Watch a pulpy, highly entertain-
ing feature of the sort we’ve
come to associate with Predators
producer Robert Rodriguez (the
Spy Kids movies, Sin City, Once
Upon A Time In Mexico)
John McTiernan’s original
Predator film or Kontroll,
director Nimród Antal’s highly
diverting debut.
Robert Rodriguez came up
with the idea for Predators
way back in 1994 when he was
shooting his first Hollywood
picture, Desperado.
A definite improvement upon
the dire Alien Vs Predator films.
★★★✩✩
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 47
EATING OUT
“Not that you can tell from my rather
flattering headshot – the extra chin
is hidden beneath the facial hair –
but we like food, a lot. Fortunately,
it is dotted about this month’s issue
like a sumptuous feast on a royal
banquet table. There’s the UAE’s
newest brunches and our pizza
test up front, then here in the Eat-
ing Out section you’re about to find out what we
thought of Dubai’s West Beach Bistro (p51), the
mighty Hakkasan (p53) at Emirates Palace in our
glorious capital, plus our essential guide to steak-
houses (p54), a round-up of all the new summer
menus (p57), The Critic (p60) muses on designer
restaurants and we tell you what fish you should
be eating (p61). Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomor-
row we, well, we do it all over again.”

Gareth Rees, Features Editor

TERRA FIRMA STEAKHOUSE

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 49

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 EATING OUT

West Beach Bistro

Chef de cuisine

PHOTOGRAPHED BY NAVEED AHMED

Jason Wass
launches an
exhilarating menu at
the Mövenpick Hotel
Jumeirah Beach
West Beach Bistro. It really should
be on a beach. The name suggests
as much but, unfortunately, it’s
not. It’s on The Walk, in an overly
large room at the Mövenpick
Hotel Jumeirah Beach.
Nevertheless, a valiant attempt
has been made to create the kind of
casual dining atmosphere one might
enjoy at a beachside restaurant.
Sure, there’s a bar, its empty
stools bereft of barflies. And,
yes, there’s the band playing the
odd jazz classic – Chet Baker’s
My Funny Valentine swayed
nicely through the air on our
visit. Unfortunately the lighting’s
not quite right, the design is a
little utilitarian (where are the
private booths?) and the waiting
staff ’s uniforms are a bit too
Burberry check. The space lacks
soul. But we’re being picky here,
because chef Jason Wass’ tidy and
appealing menu certainly does not.
After all, people visit restaurants Artichoke soup with black slurped straight from the bone,
primarily to eat. And they will eat truffle didn’t come with the naturally. You may not like it, but
well here, beach or no beach. salsify chips aspromised, but you will respect the marrow.
An eminently talented chef, was delicious. Rich, creamy, all For dessert, we had everything.
Wass plied his trade with London the things it should have been. The chef ’s special, a platter of six
luminaries Pierre Koffman and Small chunks of poached lamb of the eight desserts – the missing Need to know
Tom Kitchen before joining the fillet were delightful, but an ones being cheese and roasted
team at Gordon Ramsay’s Verre unnecessary accompaniment to fig – boasted baked custard tart, Location: Mövenpick Hotel
in Dubai in 2008. But the dishes the meaty sweetbread – always an spiced apple soufflé, rhubarb and Jumeirah Beach, JBR, Dubai
gracing the menu at West Beach exciting ingredient – and shallot strawberry strudel, cappuccino Tel: (04) 4498888
Bistro are pure gastro pub, albeit ravioli with sweet onion confit. cheesecake, pear and almond Web: www.moevenpick-
presented with a finesse honed in A good size roast rack of lamb, tart and chocolate fondant. All hotels.com
high-end restaurants. It is one of cooked medium as requested and consummately prepared, if we had Open: 6.30pm to 1am
the most exciting we’ve seen of late. served with a warm couscous to pick, which we clearly don’t, it Cuisine type: European
Eight starters, eight mains salad, spiced aubergine (egg plant would be the fondant. Must eat: prime beef
and eight desserts. Eight being to some) and mint yoghurt, was West Beach Bistro. Life’s a tenderloin
the magic number. Any more pink, tender and as warming as a beach. This is a restaurant. And a Bill for two: Dhs500
becomes confusing. Any less woolly jumper on a cold day. Beef fine one at that.
seems stingy. There were also tenderloin, bloody and rare – just
chef ’s specials that would benefit how we like it – and the size of In Tweet form… West Beach Bistro.
from being advertised on a a man’s fist was as plump as a My Funny Valentine, a talented chef
board rather than whispered by panda’s paunch and as juicy as the and an exciting gastro pub menu that
the waiters and soon forgotten. gossip at a coffee morning. And it follow me
makes up for the setting. Follow us at
Though we remembered the razor came with lovely shreds of braised WhatsOnDubai and WhatsOnAbuDhabi
clams, which were excellent. oxtail and roast bone marrow –

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 51


Hakkasan
The Emirates Palace
muscles in on the
celebrity restaurant
scene with its chic
Chinese offering
It’s a tried and tested formula –
take a successful brand from one
of the food capitals of the world,
set up a branch in the UAE and
watch the tables fill up with eager
diners.
Dubai’s achingly cool Japanese
spots Nobu and Zuma set the
benchmark in the region for this
trend. Abu Dhabi, never one to
lose ground from its somewhat
showy neighbour, followed suit
with the opening of Marco Pierre
White’s steakhouse, and now
they’re at it again. Hakkasan, at
the Emirates Palace, is the latest
incarnation of the bring-a-brand
merry-go-round, making the
jump from its London base (they
have a branch in Miami, too) to
the UAE.
Created by Alan Yau, the
man behind the hugely popular
Wagamama fast-food chain
(although expect little in the way
of similarity), Hakkasan was the
first Chinese restaurant to win
a Michelin star, and is, as you’d
expect, adored by the good and
the great of London.
Over in our own capital, it’s
pretty much as you were, with its
intricate and alluring (and, dare
we say, expensive) décor sure to
please the eye of even the most
A-list of celebrities.
As for the food, first mention
must go to the house speciality of
dim sum – a basket of perfectly
steamed dumplings packed with
culinary oddities such as jellyfish
and venison.
Amongst the other starters,
the jasmine tea smoked beef
ribs were a standout dish, with
chunks of super-soft beef,
smothered in a smoky, sweet
sauce so tender it disappeared the
moment it hit our tongue. While
roasted mango duck – alternating
slices of crisped duck and mango,
swimming in a syrupy, tart lemon
sauce – was also a delight.
Make sure your feast continues
with the charcoaled silver cod in
champagne and honey sauce. The
flaky chunk of silver cod is seared
black on the outside and doused
in subtly sweet gravy, and would
put up a decent fight against any
of its famous Japanese miso cod
counterparts.
The wild prawns in a delicate
green tea sauce were a treat,
although when it came to dessert
the heavy chocolate soufflé
with banana icecream was our
fifth choice, after our (very)
apologetic waiter informed us
our previous choices weren’t
available yet. Admittedly, this was
only Hakkasan’s second day of
business, so we’re sure this will be
rectified by the time of our next
visit. Which, given the standard of
the rest of the meal, will no doubt
be very soon.
In Tweet form… Hakkasan. International
success arrives at Emirates Palace. Chinese
delights that don't disappoint. Order dim
follow me
sum and tea smoked beef ribs. Follow us at
WhatsOnDubai and WhatsOnAbuDhabi
EATING OUT
A taste of
things to
come
New eateries
worth venturing
outside for
RED BOX LOUNGE
Being trapped in a
box is a childhood
fear, but we won’t
delve into those murky
waters. We will, however,
pop into the Red Box Lounge at
Galeries Lafayette and sample
the ‘pretty multinational’ cuisine
on offer. Cakes, risotto, salads and
a seafood grill. Remember: big
fish, little fish, Red Box Lounge.
Galeries Lafayette, First Floor,
Dubai Mall, Dubai, Sun to Wed
10am to 10pm, Thurs to Sat
10am to midnight. Tel:
(04) 3827300. www.
thedubaimall.com
BRUNETTI
The list of delights
on offer at Aussie-
born Italian café
Brunetti had us out of our
seat and hot footing it to Dubai
Mall even before we reached
the bit about the 24 varieties of
cake. It has a gelateria offering
gelato (ice cream), a cioccolateria
for the chocoholics, a pasticceria
producing pastries by the basket
load, a menu of traditional Italian
dishes and some exciting teas
and coffees. Really, what more
can one ask of an Italian café?
Ground Floor, Dubai Mall, Dubai,
Need to know Sun to Wed 10am to 10pm, Thurs
to Sat 10am to midnight. Tel: (04)
339 8173. www.brunetticaffe.com
Location: Emirates Palace
Tel: (02) 6907733 MEZLAI
Web: www.hakkasan.com It’s a strange
phenomenon in Abu
Open: 6pm to 11.30pm
Dhabi that you can
Cuisine type: Chinese eat food from almost
Must eat: silver cod in any country in the
champagne and honey world apart from the
sauce UAE itself. That’s all about
Bill for two: Dhs1,200 to change with the opening
later this month of Mezlai at the
Emirates Palace, a restaurant
specialising in contemporary
Emirati cuisine. Expect spiced rice
dishes, seafood and roast lamb to
figure large.
Emirates Palace, opening hours
TBC. Tel: (02) 6907999. www.
emiratespalace.com
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 53
 Essential...
STEAKHOUSES
Steak – it’s enough to bring out the
growling, salivating cave person in all
of us. There’s nothing more primal or
more comforting than a beautiful bit
of flesh cooked to juicy perfection.
This month Marco Pierre White
Steakhouse & Grill's executive chef
John Cordeaux imparts his knowledge
of the mighty meat, plus there’s our pick of
the UAE’s steakhouses
JOHN CORDEAUX ON… I would always eat a rib-eye before
…THE INGREDIENTS
NEEDED TO COOK A
GOOD STEAK
A properly aged, well-marbled
piece of beef, salt, pepper and but-
ter. I’m not a fan of steak spices and
rubs for great cuts of beef as they
smothers the natural flavours.
…SERVING A STEAK
Simply grilled served with béar-
naise sauce, grilled new potatoes,
Roma tomato and balsamic salad.
…TESTING FOR
DONENESS
Press the steak gently with the tip
of your finger. Rare should be soft
and supple, well done should be
firm and medium inbetween. I like
mine medium-rare.
…THE BEST STEAK IN
THE WORLD
Personally, I prefer US Prime, be-
cause of its distinctive flavour,
superb marbling and value for mon- will never forget those flames from
ey. Wagyu is fabulous and a great
treat, but I like to chew my beef and splash of brandy. And beef, as I had
savour the flavours. Wagyu tends to never tasted before.
melt in your mouth like butter.
…THE BEST CUTS
This is a matter of opinion, but our
guests at the MPW Steakhouse
overwhelmingly prefer tenderloin
and rib-eye. I would suggest beef
tenderloin is the most popular. But
54 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
WIN!
DINNER FOR TW
O
RE WHITE
AT MARCO PIER & GRILL
STEAKHOUSE w you have the
and no
He's talked the talkt if Marco Pierre White
chance to find ou executive chef John
& Gri ll's
Steakhouse a chance
lk the walk. For
Cordeaux can wa inwithmotivate.com
w.w
to win, go to ww following question.
and answer the comes from
A rib-eye steak al?
which anim
a) Parrot
b) Orangutan
c) Cow
tenderloin – the marbling gives a
rib-eye a more juicy texture and a
greater flavour profile.
…A GREAT
STEAKHOUSE
Is all about great food, simple
cooking, clean and tasty presenta-
tions – no fluffy hype, just profes-
sional, friendly and knowledge-
able service. The quality of the
sides is always key. Many forget
how important it is to make a
great mashed potato or hand cut
French fries. Simple desserts and
a robust wine list that caters to
all tastes but does not break the
bank. Comfortable chairs, quality
stemware and flatware, appropri- JOHN CORDEAUX’S
ate music and superlative service.
PERFECT STEAK
…HIS FIRST STEAK
MEMORY Follow this formula and you will never ruin a beautiful cut of
My grandfather took my father and meat again
I to London’s Sloane Club when I
was eight and we were treated to INGREDIENTS
steak Diane ‘flambéed’ tableside. I A steak of your choice, groundnut oil or melted butter, salt,
pepper
the headwaiter’s rather generous
PREPARATION
Make sure your steak is at room temperature for 20 minutes
prior to cooking. Heat a griddle or frying pan over a high heat
…THE BEST STEAK EVER until hot, but not smoking. Brush the steak with oil and season.
The best steak I’ve ever eaten was Place the steak in the pan (it should sizzle). For medium, cook on
a 350g rib-eye at a Morton’s steak- one side without touching for three to four minutes, reduce to a
house in New York City. My desert medium heat and cook for a further two to three minutes. Turn
island steak would be a strip loin and cook for a further six minutes. Remove from the pan and rest
served with a rich creamy green to allow the meat to hold its juices.
peppercorn sauce.

STEAKHOUSES
Our pick of the UAE’s meaty eateries
TERRA FIRMA EXCHANGE
STEAKHOUSE GRILL
ATMOSPHERE It can be pretty quiet at
Terra Firma, but it’s ideal
for a romantic meal –
especially if the evening
is cool enough for the
veranda.
INTERIOR Clean and
contemporary with
soft lighting, dark floors
and furniture and a
star-studded feature
wall illuminated with
lilac light.
FOOD Spot on for a steakhouse,
with pan-fried scallops
in whisky sauce and a
superb lobster bisque to
start, juicy Aussie beef
from David Blackmore
for mains – the 300g
Angus is our pick – and a
mischievous half-cooked
chocolate cake to finish.
LOCATION The restaurant is a
bit of a hidden gem,
unless you’re a golfer.
But it’s worth asking
your caddy (or us) for
directions.
PRICE Dhs1,000 for two
(excluding drinks).
WHAT'S ON The most impressive
SAYS steakhouse menu in
Dubai.
INFO Al Badia Golf Club,
Dubai, Tue to Sun
7pm to midnight.
(04) 7011128. www.
albadiagolfclub.ae
Traditionally a little
formal, but new
chef Fabio Pineda is
promising to ditch the
fine dining and make
things more exciting.
Dark leather, dark walls
– one adorned with
bow ties (you heard)
– and crisp, white
table linen. Classic
steakhouse with that
dab of eccentricity.
A new two-course
lunch menu is just
Dhs140 with dishes
such as strip loin
sarnies and Wagyu
burgers on offer.
Dinner is a pricier affair,
but again, chef Pineda
is shaking things up
with prime rib-eye for
Dhs195.
Fairmont Dubai is
nice and central and
has just undergone
a Dhs35million
refurbishment project.
Dhs850 for two
(excluding drinks).
We’re excited to
see what other
improvements are in
store for this Dubai
institution.
Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai,
7pm to midnight. Tel:
(04) 3118316. www.
fairmont.com/dubai
EATING OUT
HOT
LIST
RUTH’S CHRIS MPW RODEO
STEAKHOUSE STEAKHOUSE GRILL
& GRILL
Dark and alluring, Warm and intimate. Always busy, with
but with just enough It’s like being in a cosy a chatty, warm
reserve. There’s a small little barn. atmosphere to
but lively cocktail bar match.
for pre and post-dinner
tipples, too.
Shadowy lighting The dark walls, dark Pictures of cowboys
envelops the bright furniture and dim on the walls and
furnishings at lighting mean you silver statues of
dinnertime, and we should remove your bucking broncos. Yep,
love the high-back sunglasses before this is an American
chairs. entering to avoid restaurant.
injury.
We’ve worked the hot Australian Wagyu and The US theme
grill at Ruth’s Chris and Angus beef steaks continues with
it’s all about meat and share the menu space dishes like Louisiana
heat – with a lot of with classic English crab cakes, and
butter. Forget calories, dishes, like fish and Philadelphia
this is pure indulgence. chips and Cornish crab cheesecakes, plus,
Pick your preferred cakes. of course, there are
cut of US prime steak, some fine, chunky
devour it and then steaks to be had.
order the utterly
devine cheesecake.
The Monarch Dubai British super chef The nearby Pregos
has earned its place Marco Pierre White restaurant has a great
on the UAE culinary couldn’t have picked a wine bar, and is a
map with the hugely cooler location in the perfect spot for your
successful Japanese UAE than the glitzy post-meal tipple.
restaurant Okku and, of new Fairmont Bab Al
course, the meaty fine Bahr.
Ruth’s Chris.
Dhs1,000 for two Expect a bill for two Around the Dhs700
(excluding drinks). to come in at around for two.
Dhs800.
Grill burning at 1000°C. Marco, we take our hat All-round excellence
Check. Huge slab of off to you, sir. You’ve means the capital’s
prime US beef. Check. graced Abu Dhabi first US-style
Butter. Check. Cheque, with a seriously good steakhouse is up
please. steakhouse. there with the best.
The Monarch Dubai, 1 Fairmont Bab Al Beach Rotana, Tourist
SZR, Dubai, Sun to Thurs Bahr, Between The Club Area, Abu Dhabi,
7pm to 11.30pm, Fri and Bridges, Abu Dhabi, noon to 3.30pm and
Sat 7pm to midnight. 7pm to 1am. Tel: 7pm to 11pm. Tel:
Tel: (04) 5018666. www. (02) 6543333. www. (02) 6979000. www.
ruthschris.ae marcopierrewhite.org rotana.com
NEXT MONTH… CAFÉS
 Catch the
World Cup Finals
LIVE
and

The other begins

Watch the
Tri Nations
LIVE
Metropolitan Palace Hotel, Al Maktoum Street Deira 04-228-9466

Summer lovin’
Nothing has food
lovers jumping
with joy quite like
a new menu. Enjoy
our round-up of
the summer’s best
new offerings
CAFÉ CHIC
Nobody does lunch quite
like the French, and Café
Chic doesn’t disappoint with
it’s new three-course lunch
menu offering Gallic classics
like escargot and Pot-au-Feu
for the traditionalists, along
with some fine fish dishes.
The sea bream in citrus sauce
with a nice glass of white is
a great shout.
Le Méridien Dubai, Garhoud,
Dubai, Sat to Thurs 12.30pm
to 2.45pm, Dhs170 to Dhs190.
Tel: (04) 2170000. www.
starwoodhotels.com
BISTRO
MADELEINE
At this time of year,
Europeans rave about
asparagus – seriously, there's
some passionate debate
between food nerds – and
this month, Bistro Madeleine
has a three-course menu
honouring the gorgeous
green spears, served with a
carafe of wine for Dhs180.
Our pick? Asparagus mousse
with white chocolate.
InterContinental Dubai Festival
City, Dubai, noon to 5pm and
7pm to 11.30pm, Dhs180.
Tel: (04) 7011128.
www.ichotelsgroup.com
TERRA FIRMA
Summer is truffle time, ladies
and gents. Now, people react to
the fabulously expensive fungus
in different ways. Some are
indifferent. While others go
completely bonkers for the
fungal little blighters. We’re
firmly in the bonkers camp.
Our favourite Dubai
steakhouse is offering a
four-course truffle-heavy menu
for Dhs325 this month.
Al Badia Golf Club, Dubai Festival
City, Dubai, Tue to Sun 7pm to
midnight. Tel: (04) 7011128. www.
albadiagolfclub.ae
EMBER
Foie gras and truffle terrine,
caramelised sweetbread tart
(yes, please) with summer
truffle and chocolate fondant
with honey truffle ice cream.
What do they all have in com-
mon? Yep, it’s more truffle. All
three dishes are from the five-
course Italian truffle tasting
menu available this month for
Dhs350 at Ember.
The Address Dubai Mall, Dubai,
6.30pm to 11.30pm, Dhs350. (04)
4388888. www.theaddress.com
SEVILLE’S
Why are there not more Spanish
tapas restaurants in the UAE?
Hungry diners are gobbling up
the tasty little morsels across
Europe and we think it’s about
time tapas replaced sushi as our
cuisine de jour. Seville’s saw the
light years ago and with sous
chef Carles Colomé’s new menu,
offering adventurous delights
like black squid ink paella with
vongole clams, it’s sure to stay
ahead of the game.
Okku
Wafi, Oud Metha, Dubai, Sat to
Mon midday to 1am, Tue to Fri
noon to 2am. Tel: (04) 3244777.
www.wafirestaurants.com
EXCHANGE GRILL
It’s all new at Exchange Grill,
with chef Fabio Pineda intro-
ducing both a new lunch menu
and a revamped dinner menu.
The Dhs140 lunch menu prom-
ises wagyu burger, crab cakes
and seared tuna, whilst the din-
ner menu offers beautiful steaks
and a fair few seafood dishes.
You can see a full review of the
new menu in our August issue.
Fairmont Dubai, Sheikh Zayed
Road, Dubai, Sun to Thurs
12.30pm to 3.30pm, daily 7pm to
midnight. Tel: (04) 3118317. www.
celebrateaclassic.com
RHODES
MEZZANINE
Last time we talked to Gary,
the celeb chef was looking
forward to working with Mezza-
nine head chef Paul Lupton on an
exciting new menu. The result is
EATING OUT
enough to make a grown man
cry with happiness. Roast fillet
of beef with snail, garlic and
parsley risotto, braised squab
pigeon, red mullet with spring
onion champ potatoes. There’s
also a ‘pudding plate’ with
bread and butter
pudding, jam roly-poly and
sticky toffee pudding.
Grosvenor House Hotel,
Dubai Marina, Dubai, Mon
to Sat 7pm to 11.30pm.
Tel: (04) 3176000. www.
grosvenorhouse-dubai.com
NOODLE HOUSE
Following a recent
visit from celebrity chef Sam
Leong, Noodle House is
incorporating a number of
new dishes into its menu,
including the chef ’s speciality
wasabi prawns and delights
such as steamed noodle with
crab and ginger and salt and
pepper calamari. Chopsticks
at the ready, noodle fans.
Various locations, Dubai and
Abu Dhabi. Tel: (04) 3749536.
www.thenoodlehouse.com
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 57
 EATING OUT

MARGAUX And you can bet chef Chris FINZ

Chef Sebastien Didierjean
is really changing things up
for summer at Margaux with
new lunch and dinner menus.
Slip out of the office for the
two-course daily Dhs99 lunch
menu – we’ll be there Tuesday
for mussels in white wine with
homemade chips, and Friday
for bouillabaisse – and enjoy
chilled pea soup, cold lobster
with Greek veg and lamb
ravioli for dinner.
Souk Al Bahar, Downtown,
Dubai, noon to 11.30pm. Tel:
(04) 4397555. www.margaux.ae
OKKU
Okku has never disappointed
us, so it’s no surprise that the
new menu is an unmitigated
success. We tried it recently
and with every nibble our
taste buds fell further under
Okku’s spell. By the end of the
night they were ready to elope.
Miso baked lobster on crispy
rice, truffle fried rice, grilled
sansho-pepper rib-eye, grilled
foie gras and eel – need we
go on?
The Monarch Dubai, Sheikh
Zayed Road, Dubai, noon to
3pm and 7pm to midnight. Tel:
(04) 3998888. www.okkudubai.
com
Lester and his team will do
the produce proud.
Souk Al Bahar, Downtown, Dubai,
noon to 11pm. Tel: (04) 4230903.
www.rivingtongrill.ae
BORD EAU
Our favourite Abu Dhabi res-
taurant has introduced a new
five-course blind tasting menu,
with surprise chef 's choices
(don’t worry, dietary preferenc-
es are checked beforehand). We
recently ate some jaw-dropping
blue lobster soup, crab ravioli
and a tender Black Angus steak.
Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri,
Between The Bridges, Abu
Dhabi, 6.30pm to 11pm, Dhs333.
Tel: (02) 5098888. www.shangri-
la.com
There’s nothing like seafood
for the summer, and we
recommend trying the new
set menu at the excellent
Finz restaurant at the Beach
Rotana. The three-course meal
starts with a king crab salad
and gazpacho soup, followed
by a seared tuna loin with
quinoa and fruit chutney,
finishing off with a chilled
charentais melon with mint
and yogurt sorbet. Better still,
this will only cost you a mere
Dhs225. Expect to see us on
the table next to yours.
Beach Rotana, Tourist Club
Area, Abu Dhabi, 12.30pm
to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm,
Dhs150 for two dishes, Dhs225
Exchange Grill for three. Tel: (02) 6979000.
www.rotana.com
Rivington Grill

RIVINGTON GRILL
Always on the ball when it
comes to seasonal produce –
albeit the British seasons – RG
will be incorporating a host
of fruit into their menu this
summer. Expect cherries,
strawberries, raspberries,
gooseberries, Tayberries,
peaches, nectarines and
Mirabelle plums, as well as
salad leaves like dandelion and
watercress, marsh and rock
samphire and, come August,
skate wings to all make an
appearance. July’s star is the Ember Café Chic
Scottish girole mushroom.

58 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010

 THE CRITIC
A warning for those with sensitive
ears, you’re about to hear a name
get dropped. Gordon Ramsay
(whoops, butterfingers...) once told
me that he could have lots of res-
taurants around the world and not
cook in any of them, for the same
reasons that Giorgio Armani can
have his name on millions of suits
without committing a single stitch.
And he had a point. Just because
you made your name as a chef,
it doesn’t mean you can’t trade
off it as a restaurateur. But what
about people who became famous
for their achievements outside
the culinary world opening up
restaurants? Fashion designers, for
example. Like Giorgio Armani?
The recently opened Armani
Hotel in Burj Khalifa is everything
you’d expect from this doyen of
Italian style and sophistication,
with its cool clean lines and
filthy rich guests. Of course,
the place is meticulously fitted
with Armani-branded dining
options, from the elegant Italian
fine-diner Ristorante, to an
Indian restaurant (Amal) and the
obligatory contemporary Japanese
(Hashi). But why should we trust
restaurants that bear the name
of fashion designers any more
than we’d trust pharmaceuticals
designed by David Hasselhoff?
60 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
“WHY SHOULD WE TRUST
RESTAURANTS THAT BEAR
THE NAME OF FASHION
DESIGNERS ANY MORE
THAN WE’D TRUST
PHARMACEUTICALS DESIGNED
BY DAVID HASSELHOFF”
It’s all about image. Today’s
undisputed and infallible heroes
are not world leaders, musicians,
film stars or chefs. They are the
people who can make us look
good. The more we wear them, the
more we buy into their brand and
lifestyle, so that hotels, homes and
restaurants are the logical next step.
It’s a little too soon to be
conclusive, but the early signs
for Armani’s restaurants are
good. And with all the power and
money behind the Armani brand,
you’d expect them to be. Are
there better, cheaper restaurants
in town? Undoubtedly. But that’s
missing the point. Just as they’ll
happily pull on an Armani suit,
people will eat in his restaurants
in the hope that some of that
understated cool, refinement and
finesse will rub off on them.
Of course, Giorgio isn’t the only
designer with a finger in the UAE’s
James Brennan knows Armani Ristorante
food. Having written on
everything from bhajis
to burgers for a string of
international publications,
James is now the
Middle East chairman
of the World’s 50 Best
Restaurants judging panel.
Don’t miss his monthly
musings every issue
Cavallli Club
restaurant pie. At the other, more
spangly end of the bling-o-meter is
Roberto’s eponymous Cavalli Club,
though the results are rather less
palatable. Yet the place is regularly
jam-packed (presumably with
people for whom sparkly things are
more important than tasty ones).
And a Gucci hotel – no doubt
with one or two shockingly
stylish eateries –is slated to open
in Dubai at the end of the year.
Designer restaurants may
well be here to stay, but will we
see chefs start to turn the tables
on their sartorially superior
counterparts?
The rumours are unconfirmed,
but I have heard that Gordon
Ramsay has put his name to his
own brand of designer jeans.
Apparently they’re somewhat in-
your-face, exceptionally uptight
and a little too far up your own
backside for comfort.
 EATING OUT

Fishy business On the

Everyone loves
hammour. But the
species’ future is in
danger. Time to try
some sustainable
alternatives.
We all like a nice piece of fresh
fish. In fact, more than 66 per
cent of us eat fish at least once a
week, according to the Emirates
Wildlife Society (EWS) and the
World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
The problem is, 60 per cent
of the time that fish will be
hammour. And lovely though
the national fish is, stocks
have declined by 87 to 92 per
cent since 1978 due to over-
fishing, according to a recent
assessment carried out by the
Environment Agency Abu
Dhabi (EAD).
And it’s not the only Gulf
fish that is in danger – also to
be avoided is Shaari, Fersh,
Zuraidi, Kanaad, Yemah, Safi
Arabi and Qabit.
“Sixty per cent of fish caught
locally is being fished above
sustainable levels,” Nessrine
Alzahlawi, spokesperson for EWS-
WWF’s recently launched Choose
Wisely consumer awareness
campaign told us. “It’s high time
consumers were made aware of
the problem and informed about
what alternative sustainable
varieties are out there.”
www.choosewisely.ae
menu
Some seriously
juicy food news has
made the specials
board this month
BETTER BY HALF
It’s the age-old
problem – what type
of cuisine to choose
for dinner? Maybe
the answer lies on the
first floor of the Fairmont
Dubai, where Spectrum On One
offers Indian, Thai, Japanese,

Fishy you can Chinese, European or Middle East

cuisine. And the best bit? Until
September 11 you’ll have your bill
put on your dishy sliced in half. That’s right, 50 per
cent off.
Spectrum On One, Fairmont Dubai,
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, 6.30pm
to 1am. Tel: (04) 3118316. www.
fairmont.com/dubai
Faskar
Two bar sea bream FAMILY YUM
Asado – the very word
conjures up memories
of sizzling flesh and
succulent steaks.
It’s time you made
another booking
at our favourite
Argentinean restaurant,
Anfooz and this time for the whole
Yellow bar angelfish clan. Dhs180 per person for the
Jesh Um al hala Fiesta de la familia (family feast)
Orange spotted trevally set menu is as reasonable a price
as one could ask for. It’s where the
What’s On family dinner will be
taking place this month. Do not
disrespect the family.
Asado, The Palace, Downtown,
Dubai, 7pm to midnight, Dhs180. Tel:
Ebzimi (04) 4287888. www.theaddress.com
Black streaked FRENCH REVOLUTION
monocle bream We love to go for a
Naiser spin in Le Royal
Méridien Abu
Ehrenberg’s snapper Dhabi’s revolving
restaurant Al
Fanar. So we’re
pretty excited about
the menu changes
promised by new French
PHOTOS COURTESY OF EWSWWF

Yanam chef Alain Roin, who earned his

Sordid sweetlips spurs under Michelin-starred
chefs such as Alain Ducasse and
Bernard Loiseau.
Al Fanar, Le Royal Méridien, Al
Shaari Eshkeli Markaziyah Abu Dhabi, noon to
Pink ear emperor 3pm and 7pm to 11pm. Tel: (02)
6742020. www.starwoodhotels.com

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 61

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JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 63

 ARTS

Top of the Pops

One of the leading
international
musicals of the past
decade is about to
hit the Dubai stage.
Mixing homegrown
performers with West
End stars, theatre
producer Julian
Chenery takes time
out of rehearsals
to talk big hair, big
numbers and even
bigger moves

So why Hairspray?
When I first saw it in London two
or three years ago, I was
immediately struck by how much
fun it is. The music is infectious
and it leaves you with that feel
good factor. The songs are so
uplifting – to be in the audience
is exciting enough, but to be on
stage performing these numbers
has got to be one of the most
uplifting things you can do. It’s
got things for so many different
people and it’s full of comedy.
It’s just a wonderful show. What
we aspire to do is very common have professionals at the highest
in the UK, where we’re based.
During the summer, professional A brief history level working every day with
the students to teach them what

theatres across the country will
have a youth-style workshop
where they’ll take a show – usu-
ally a musical – and people come
and join a summer workshop
scheme and they prepare as pro-
fessionally as they can to put on a
show to a paying audience.
Sounds good, but what makes
this special?
We decided not only are we
going to use very high-quality,
professional creative people, like
my choreographers, co-directors
and musical directors, to work
with local people and young
adults to put on the show, but
we thought it would also help to
of Hairspray
they’ve been taught themselves.
For Hairspray, we have the
Olivier Award-winning Leanne
Who’d have thought, all the way back in 1988, when the man who Jones playing Tracy Turnblad.
is arguably America’s greatest – or at least strangest – alternative Leanne opened the show in
film auteur, John Waters, released his celluloid tale of dance, hair London as the lead and played
and race relations, that it would have a life beyond late-night her for 18 months and she is ab-
re-runs and DVD curiosity? Set in suburban 60s USA, it brought solutely delighted to be coming
the world Ricki Lake, gave Sonny Bono (former musical partner to Dubai. But more importantly,
of the inimitable Cher) a late career boost, and featured the glori- as a young performer herself, she
ously ironically named Divine as Tracy’s dragged-up mom, Edna knows what it’s like to go up the
Turnblad. So far, so B-movie. But one Broadway adaptation and its ladder – how she started, and
inevitable Hollywood remake later, and Hairspray the musical is a how she enjoyed working with
multi-award-winning keeper – a stalwart of stages from Broadway people who can directly teach
to the West End, and now, of course, Dubai. With great tunes, great you skills, tricks, tips and pass
energy and some crazy costumes, what’s not to love? As the song down information just by work-
says, you can’t stop the beat. ing together and putting on a
show together on a daily basis.

64 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010

 Camp-tastic
With more people staying in the
UAE over the summer months
than ever, there’s a growing need
to offer fun, indoor activities for
children to participate in: hence
the rise of the summer camp.
Where better to send your bud-
ding Kahlo or Van Gogh than to
one of the art summer camps that
are springing up like Warhols on a
printing press all over the UAE?
The Farjam Collection’s inaugural
Art Camp has been created in con-
junction with Zayed University and presided over by students
from the UK’s prestigious Oxford, Cambridge and Durham
universities. Its philosophy, according to the Farjam’s exhibitions
and collections manager, Emilie Faure, is “to create, explore and
enjoy”, giving kids the chance “to discover art in all its varieties”.
Over at trusty old DUCTAC, meanwhile, the creative brief is wider
still. All aspects of the arts are catered for, from art and pottery
to dance and film-making. If there’s a better way to keep your
artist-in-waiting occupied this summer than one of these camps,
we’ve yet to discover it.
Jul 18 to Aug 12, Art Camp at the Farjam Collection, Dhs500,
including all craft materials and activities. Tel: (04) 3230303. www.
farjamcollection.com
Jul 4 to Aug 12, Art Summer Camp 2010, Mall of the Emirates, Dhs900
for one week, Dhs1,500 for two. Tel: (04) 3414777. www.ductac.org

Any other plans for this year?
My main company, Shakespeare
for Kids, is extremely successful
in the Middle East and Gulf –
we’ve just returned from bringing
our version of Macbeth to Dubai
and Bahrain. And we return to
Dubai in January with A
Midsummer Night’s Dream – we’re
just going through final audi-
tions for that. We have got a lot
of other surprises to spring in
other shows that we’re bring-
ing over, other shows, plays and
musical concerts – I think there’s
a big demand for high-quality
theatre, music and culture from
all over the world in Dubai. We’re
delighted to be part of it.
There’s an argument that too
much of what shows in the
UAE comes from international
touring companies. What are
your thoughts on that?
I think the legacy, or the history,
of why a lot of stuff has been im-
ported from overseas is the way
that theatres in the region have
traditionally worked with pro-
moters and producers to bring
l
shows in. There hasn’t been an
unti
alid 0
infrastructure for theatres to
become production partners,
r v
the promoter has been the
s o ffe y 201
‘inbetweener’, if you like, link-
i l
ing the venue and the show.
*Th 1st Ju
That said, there should be more
3
5 %
1 sc nt
homegrown stuff and I hope
that something like Hairspray
o u ay
s
will help that. I think that peo- d
ple like ourselves who inspire Dni we ek
young people to look at the per- o
forming arts as something that’s
important to them can become
the cornerstones of companies
that are based in Dubai and
the UAE. With the number of
different cultures and nationali-
ties represented in the region,
it would be lovely to create
our own hybrid mix of theatre,
which would be inclusive to eve-
ryone. That would be the really
exciting thing.
Jul 13 to 17, Centrepoint Theatre
DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates,
Dubai. Tel: (04) 3414777. www.
hairspraydubai.com

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 65

 The Rotana
20,000
one night stay
giveaway

Spend AED 699 in one of our

53 Rotana restaurants across the UAE
and get a complimentary night stay
in one of our UAE hotels & resorts.

Wherever your culinary mood takes you, we have the choice

for you across our 53 Rotana restaurants, where you can spend
AED 699 and receive a voucher to scratch and find out in which
of our UAE hotels & resorts you won the one night stay.

Why not go with a group of friends and earn more than one
voucher, after all, you get one complimentary night with
every AED 699 you spend.

That’s not all! Rotana Rewards Exclusive members will also

benefit from their regular summer promotion and will get a
dining voucher worth 50% off, redeemable on their next visit.

To learn more about the participating Rotana restaurants,

simply visit www.rotana.com/699

*Terms & conditions apply.

rotana.com

COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND THE THIRDLINE
Wider World
There’s no doubt that the interaction and
antagonism between the Middle East and
the West has been at the heart of early 21st
century history. The legacy of the attack on
New York’s World Trade Centre in 2001 and
the subsequent wars that resulted from it
are finding an increasing presence in art on
the international stage, two examples of
which make it to Dubai this summer in very
different ways.
As a photojournalist, Tina Hager describes
herself as “crouching in the corner of
history”. Modest, considering her fascinating
record of the Iraq war that begins at the
West Wing of the White House (where
Hager served as an official photographer)
and continues to this day. Iraq: Transition
To Peace, reveals a country recovering from
turmoil and, for all its pictures of George W
Bush and Condoleezza Rice, goes behind
the headlines to reveal the fortitude of the
land and its people with admirable restraint.
ARTS
An entirely more dazzling, but no less
thought provoking, approach is taken in
The Third Line’s current group exhibition,
I. U. [Heart]. While ostensibly a show about
Iran filtered through the eyes of individual
Iranian artists, it too takes a broader look
Y
PORTFOLIO GALLER
at the nation’s recent history with the USA,
the most obviously striking of which is
Shahab Foutouhi’s Towards Salvation (In
Commemoration Of Epic 11 September), a
monumental installation of dragonflies
encircling two ‘towers’ of light, that is the
largest single installation the gallery has Until Aug 15, Iraq: Transition To
ever shown. Other witty out-takes in a show Peace, Portfolio Gallery, Al Quoz,
that aims to identify, among other things, Dubai, free. Tel: (04 3232395. E-mail:
the interaction between Iran and the US, portfolio.uae@email.com
include Mahmoud Bakhshi’s red, white and
blue carpet of stripes with no stars.
The language may be less literal than Until Jul 31, I. U. [Heart], The Third
Hager’s, but both exhibitions offer a Line, Al Quoz, Dubai, free. Tel: (04)
powerful insight into the world we’re living 3411367. www.thethirdline.com
in today.
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 67
 ARTS

Five to see
ÉXVA SUMMER
EXHIBITION
Another group show featuring
the likes of UAE and XVA
first-timer, US artist Sameer
Reddy, and gallery regular
Saba Qizilbash. Contrasting yet
complimentary, Reddy’s bold,
bright photographic imagery
works beautifully against some
of the exhibitions the more
studied works. Continues in
September.
Until Jul 31, XVA Gallery, Bastakiya,
Bur Dubai, Dubai, free. Tel: (04
3535383. www.xvagallery.com

ÑVIVID, VIBRANT AND

IRANIAN
Doing exactly what the name
says, this colourful selection of
largely abstract art sets out to
uncover some of Iran’s freshest
new talents, including Shahpour
Pouyan, Mansour Rafie, Mohsen
Jamalinik.
Total Arts at the Courtyard,
Courtyard Building, Al Quoz 1, ÅBLUE SKIE’D AND CLEAR
Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 3475050. Group photography show at the Al Quoz gallery, in which six
www.courtyard-uae.com international practitioners prove there’s rather more to their
photographic method than mere point-and shoot. At times lyrical
and beautiful, it’s a worthwhile introduction to ‘art’ photography.
Until Sep 25, Carbon 12, Street 8, Al Serkal Avenue, warehouse D37,
Al Quoz, Dubai, free. Tel: (050) 4644392. www.carbon12dubai.com

ÇA STORY OF ISLAMIC EMBROIDERY IN

NOMADIC AND URBAN TRADITIONS
Last chance to catch this historical look at the significance – not
to mention the skills – of this most ancient of Islamic crafts. If you
haven’t already done so, trip along to Emirates Palace this month
while you still have the chance.
Until Jul 28, Gallery One, Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, free. Tel: (02)
6908207. www.artsabudhabi.ae

ÅSET ME FREE FROM MY CHAINS

For her first solo show in the UAE, 2009 Abraaj Capital Art Prize
winner Zoulikha Bouabdellah employs her now-familiar neon forms
to create installations of Arabic letters that evoke both human
movement and the spirit of legendary Egyptian performer, Umm
Kolthoum. Stunning.
Until Jul 23, Gallery IVDE, Al Serkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, free. Tel:
(04) 3403965. www.ivde.net

68 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010

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SHOPPING

p74 Scorching summer

bargains
p76 Sophia says...

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 73

 SHOPPING
Scorching
summer bargains
With outdoor activities grinding to a halt, it’s time to crank up
the air-con and get ready for Dubai Summer Surprises. With
giveaways galore in shops across the city and stuff to do for
all the family, you need not sit in front of the TV for the next
couple of months
The mercury is rising and Modhesh is back.
When the strange yellow creature appears
it can only mean one thing: Dubai Summer
Surprises (DSS). The shopping festival runs
until August 7 and is costing a whopping
Dhs60 million, with organisers saying it is
bigger and better than ever.
Shopping is a pastime in Dubai, but there
is nothing better than saving money – while
spending, of course. This year, 25 malls and
6,000 retailers are participating in DSS, with
40 of Dubai’s most renowned spas also of-
fering special rates on selected treatments
and therapies for women and men. Plus
there are numerous free events to keep all
the family entertained this summer. As DSS
heats up, we look at what’s in store.
FASHION
From high street to high-end,
retailers are offering up to 75 per
cent off much of their stock. And
it’s not only last season’s clothes
being dusted off from the stock
room floor – there are lines from
the current summer collections,
too. Credit cards at the ready.
For casual everyday wear head
to Aéropostale, which has up to 60
per cent off everything from T-shirts
and jackets to shorts and vests. For
catwalk trends look no further
than Forever 21, which is
offering a part sale on six keys ranges
including ‘trendy’ and ‘denim’, and
Mango which has 50 per cent off
selected items from maxi dresses
to jeans, bags and belts.
Shoe emporium Aldo is
74 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
offering massive reductions of up to 60 per
cent on a range of styles for both men and
women. Ladies, grab the gorgeous gold sky-
high stilettos and save them for winter –
you won’t regret it. Debenhams is doing
a buy-two-get-one-free promotion on
labels including perennial favourites
Warehouse and Oasis, as well as
Designers at Debenhams, Coast and
Dorothy Perkins, while Next is giving
the first 150 daily customers who spend
Dhs600 a voucher worth Dhs300 – get your
winter wardrobe stocked up now.
For luxury designer gear head to department
stores Bloomingdale’s in The Dubai Mall and
Harvey Nichols in Mall of the Emirates which
are offering from 30 to 50 per cent off selected
items including shoes, clothes and accessorise
from top labels including Helmut Lang.
Upmarket fashion chains BCBGMAXAZRIA
and Escada have 50 to 70 per cent off selected
dresses, while Galeries Lafayette has incredible
offers on labels such as See by Chloe, Vanessa
Bruno and Nicole Miller. What’s On found
Burberry heels down from Dhs3,095 to a
more affordable Dhs2,160 and a pair of Diesel
jeans at Dhs489, down from Dhs699. For
more unusual pieces, head to Wafi where
Desert Rose has sales on unique jewellery
and Boutique 1 in Jumeirah Beach Residence
which has slashed prices on many big designer
names including 3.1 Phillip Lim, Diane von
Furstenburg, J Brand and Paul & Joe.
ELECTRONICS
If you still haven’t got round to getting a new
TV for the World Cup, there are just two
weeks left to enjoy the beautiful game on
a decent sized telly. Customers who spend
Dhs500 at Jacky’s Electronics will get a free
meal at Americana and be
entered into a draw for the
chance to win a 42” LCD
TV. There are also a range of
incredible deals on Notebooks
and laptops. Every Notebook sold comes with
a scratch and win voucher where customers
can walk away with free accessories worth
up to Dhs500, and for every Dhs399 spent in
store customers receive free food at a range of
outlets including KFC, Pizza Hut and Krispy
Kreme – now that’s what we call a sweet deal.
Jumbo Electronics, Plug-Ins and Harman
House are also giving away free vouchers
and gifts on selected purchases and there are
discounts throughout each store across all the
malls on cameras, laptops and other electronic
items. There are also piping hot deals at
Carrefour at Mall of the Emirates, Deira City
Centre and Mirdif City Centre with selected
electronics marked down by 25 per cent. We
found portable CD players starting from
Dhs199, a top-of-the-range Canon camera at
Dhs599 and mobile phones from an incredibly
low Dhs139.
HOME AND GARDEN
Now is a great time to do up your
house or apartment. There’s
no guilt about being inside,
and it’s cheaper to get great
looking home accessories
and furniture. Head to The

ISTOCK
Dubai Mall for discounts at iwanngohome
and Index Living Mall where a huge range of
items from furniture to kitchenware, through
to bedding and household accessories all have
up to 75 per cent off.
In Miri at Mall of the Emirates, hand-
painted ornaments and rugs have up to 50
per cent off. At ID Design, spend Dhs500
and get a gift voucher worth Dhs250 and at
Home Centre customers get a Dhs50 voucher
for every Dhs250 spent. Lifestyle has slashed
prices on home accessories with vases,
dried flowers and glasses all hugely reduced.
And Dubai Garden Centre has a range of
discounts and promotions
on selected outdoor
furniture.
SPAS
This year DSS is
offering a variety of
packages aimed at both
sexes. Spa enthusiasts
can enjoy amazing discounts of up to 50
per cent, two-for-one offers and pampering
complimentary extras on a number of
treatments including therapies massages,
scrubs, reflexology sessions, Ayurveda
treatments and Moroccan baths.
Raffles Amrita Spa has a host of summer
packages including hot stone therapy,
massages and scrubs, as well as wraps and
facials. The treatments start from Dhs599 for
SHOPPING
CHILD’S PLAY ENTERTAINMENT
SEGA Republic Fashion show
Featuring 17 games and Check out the latest fashions in abayas from
rides, including a rollercoaster and simulators, local and GCC-based designers.
loads of fun awaits at SEGA Republic. We When: July 8 to 11
challenge you to survive the half-pipe. Where: The Dubai Mall
When: From July 1
Where: The Dubai Mall Min Bladi Al Emarat
Explore the traditions of the UAE and get a
Kids Olympic Games unique insight into Emirati culture through
Grab the kids and head down to Mirdif presentations, shows and activities.
where they can work off some energy at this When: July 17 to 26
competitive event. Children from nine months Where: The Dubai Mall
to 10 years are welcome and even parents can
join in. Collectors Show
When: July 25 to 31 Featuring amazing artefacts and collections
Where: Mirdif City Centre from fashion and jewellery to coins and cars,
this unique exhibition is well worth a visit.
Kids Fashion Week Where: BurJuman
Dedicated to young fashionistas across the When: July 12 to 24
emirate, this show has little ones walking the
catwalk for the likes of Benetton, Pumpkin Fame the musical
Patch and Kenzo. Relive those childhood
When: August 1 to 7 memories of one the world’s
Where: Deira City Centre best loved and most popular musicals as The
First Group Theatre puts on this hit show.
Hello Kitty Jungle Party When: July 13 to 17
Head to the Star Atrium for live musical shows Where: Madinat Jumeirah.
from the colourful cast of Hello Kitty. www.madinattheatre.com
When: July 1 to 31
Where: The Dubai Mall Hairspray
Professional actors from London’s West End
join Dubai youngsters to perform this funny
60 minutes. At Amara at the Park Hyatt Dubai, and charming musical set in the 1960s. It will
guests can rejuvenate with two summer offers have you dancing in the aisle.
– the Spirit Of The Summer or the Sensual When: July 13 to 17
Summer Ritual. See page 84 for details. Where: DUCTAC, Mall of the Emirates.
The Spa at The Hilton Jumeirah has 30 per www.ductac.org
cent off facials, massages and body treatments
from 9am to 4pm on weekdays and the
Ritz-Carlton Day Spa is offering use of the
pool and hotel facilities for Dhs200 when a MODHESH WORLD
massage or facial is booked.
A great way to make the most of the DSS Nothing says DSS quite like Modhesh,
promotions is to grab a friend and head and as the mascot of the festival
to a spa together. Cleopatra’s in Wafi is he quite rightly has his very own
offering buy-one-get-one-free on exfoliation amusement park. Spread over 37,000
treatments followed by a full body massage square metres at Airport
for Dhs710 between two. Expo, Modhesh
One distinctive of this year’s spa packages is World is made
the emphasis on men, with several of the city’s up of 40 themed
finest offering anti-fatigue massages and salon zones and includes
grooming packages specially created for gents. popular attractions such
Elixir at the Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa has as Magic Planet. Plus,for
the Ultimate Men’s Energiser for Dhs630 and worn out parents there
Raffles Amrita Spa has The Noble Man – a are live games from the
deep-cleansing facial designed for the skin World Cup.
care needs of men.
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 75
 SHOPPING
Sophia says...
We dragg the oh-so stylish Sophia Triantafillou away
from the helm at Emirates Woman into the grubby
What’s On office to answer your wardrobe woes
I’ve noticed some men around Dubai
with the bottoms of their trousers rolled
up, exposing a bit of (usually white)
ankle. What’s that about?
Ali, 32, The Greens, Dubai
Unless you are over six feet tall, tanned and
devilishly handsome, this trend is not for you.
Best suited to men of the French or Italian
variety, cropped or rolled up trousers is a
trend that is difficult to pull off with panache.
If you do want to give it a go, you will need
to invest in pair of Capri pants (three quarter
cargos are a no-go zone) and the footwear
of choice should be loafers, or flip-flops if you
are heading to the beach.
I have some boat parties coming up
so I need a few new bikinis – the only
problem is that in this plastic fantastic
town there are a bevy of inflated
beauties around and I’m a little lacking
on top. What styles, colours etc, will
give me a ‘boost’? I can’t face detagging
photos that make me look like a Ten-
year-old boy.
Desperate of Dubai
Avoid bandeaus altogether as this will flatten
you completely. Think halter all the way.
You can even get these with padding if
you are so desperate for a ‘boost.’ The busier
the colour the bigger the breast, so knock
yourself out with Pucci-esque prints.
76 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
Necklace:
New Look
Headband:
Aldo
Top:
Reiss
Blazer:
Mango
Jeans:
Diesel
Dress:
Hoss Intropia
Bangles:
Mango
Finances are on the (very) tight side, but
every time I open my wardrobe in the
morning I want to weep. I desperately
need some new clothes – what should I
be buying to update what I’ve already
got? Please don’t make it designer…
Nadia, 19, Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi
You can, without a doubt, look fabulous on
any budget – you just have to be creative
and always remember that money doesn’t
buy style. First on your fashion agenda
should be to choose your style. Are you
a boho beauty, rock chick or do you love
classic elegance? Once you have established
this, head to your favourite mall to stock up
on your basics – things that you can build
an entire wardrobe around. Whatever your
style, you will need a great pair of blue jeans,
a good quality (cotton) white T-shirt or vest, a
black dress that can be worn by day or night
and a day jacket – think boyfriend, biker
or blazer. If you have any dirhams left, buy
some great bangles, a chunky necklace and
pretty headband to perfect your look.
Got a fashion
question for
Sophia?
E-mail
editor-wo@motivate.ae
Summer is well and truly here and I’m
already sick of wearing linen. Is there a
cool alternative? I’m a size 14 and not a
massive fan of skirts or shorts so feel a
bit stuck. And look rather crumpled.
Pippa, 26, JBR, Dubai
For starters, you shouldn’t be wearing linen in
the first place. Possibly the most unattractive
fabric ever invented, it crumples, hangs
and sweat stains in all the wrong areas. It’s
all about cotton. Think easy summer shirts
teamed with cropped trousers and stylish
slip ons which will keep you cool on the
fashion (and weather) front.
My girlfriend’s birthday is coming up
and it’s a bit soon to give her jewellery,
so I was thinking about clothes. She says
she’s a UK size 10 to 12 and I can spend
up to Dhs500. Can you help?
Dan, 34, Old Town, Dubai
FACT: It is NEVER too early to give a girl
jewellery. I’m not talking five carats, but she
may like a pretty bangle or brooch. If this is
still ‘too soon’ for you, stay away from clothes
altogether, it will stress you out trying to
find them and her more so when she has to
pretend she likes them. Opt for a nice canvas
bag and fill it with goodies she loves like
picture frames, perfume, CDs and sweets.
Frame:
Zara Home
Canvas bag:
New Look
Perfume:
The Body Shop
MIND & BODY

THE SPA, THE PALACE, OLD TOWN

p81 His ‘n’ hers

p82 Armani/Spa
p82 Dermalogica facial
p84 Spa deals

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 79


His‘n’hers
We take a nap and get iced at Radisson Blu Yas Island
His
DEEP SLEEP
TREATMENT
TALK US THROUGH IT…
A complete body rubdown,
starting with your toes and
working up to a head massage.
The emphasis of the massage is
on gentle strokes, rather than
pain – you’re rubbed down in
chamomile and sandalwood oils,
which are renowned for their
calming properties – so it’s soon
snooze time.
THE BEST BIT?
The deep back massage from
Karen the masseuse was sublime.
She should insure her magic
hands for millions.
ANY AWKWARD MOMENTS?
Not really, apart from the fact I was
constantly dropping off during the
massage. But I think that was pretty
much to be expected.
HOW WERE THE DISPOSABLE
PANTS?
Large, stretchy shorts. I would
have worn them home if
they hadn’t been a tad on the
transparent side.
SLEEP FACTOR?
Half way through the treatment
I suddenly found myself sharing
a taxi with Megan Fox, Yoda and
Carlton from The Fresh Prince
Of Bel-Air. Yes, I was dreaming
and was well and truly out for the
count.
WHO SHOULD GET
INVOLVED?
Insomniacs, jet-jagged travellers
or those that like to stay up well
past their bedtime.
HOW MUCH AND HOW
LONG?
Dhs375 for two hours.
MIND & BODY
Hers
INDIGO ICE
INDULGENCE
TALK US THROUGH IT…
There are three parts to this
deep cleansing and anti-wrinkle
treatment for the face, neck and
décolletage. It begins with a gentle
exfoliation, followed by a soothing
facial massage. The final firming
and tightening of the skin is done
by the application of anti-ageing,
nutrient-packed ice cubes, which
melt into your skin on contact.
THE BEST BIT?
The ice cubes. Believe it or not,
after being soothed into a state
of relaxation with the massage
and facial treatments, the ice
cubes are not too cold, just
very refreshing and they smell
amazing – lavender, nice.
ANY AWKWARD MOMENTS?
I was a little bit apprehensive
before the ice was applied. But it
was nothing to worry about.
HOW WERE THE DISPOSABLE
PANTS?
Pretty standard. White and badly
fitting. Nothing to write home fresher skin – which is probably
about. all of us. And as it leaves no red
marks, it’s great for a special
SLEEP FACTOR? occasion or a night out.
The ice cubes aren’t applied
until the end of the hour-long HOW MUCH AND HOW
treatment, so surprisingly, sleep LONG?
factor remains high. The soft Dh355 for 55 minutes, with a
face and neck massage along facial analysis thrown in.
with some temple rubbing soon
ensures you’re nodding off. The Spa, Radisson Blu, Yas
Island, Abu Dhabi, 9am
WHO SHOULD GET to 9pm. Tel: (02) 6562000.
INVOLVED? www.radissonblu.com
Anyone looking for brighter,
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 81
 MIND & BODY
Dermalogica
Facial
WHERE?
In one of the many villas that line Al Wasl
Road, Dubai is Pastels, a beauty salon and
hairdressers. Behind unassuming gates
lie some seriously skilled therapists and
luxurious products, with treatments to
sort you out – literally – from head to toe.
WHY?
Our skin has taken something of a
battering of late. Between late nights,
sunburn, the UAE’s smoggy air and not
drinking our recommended two litres
of water a day, it was time to bring in
the professionals. Juliette at Pastels
suggested a Deep Cleansing Facial from
Dermalogica, ideal for younger skin that
needs de-clogging and hydrating. We
didn’t envy her job.
HOW?
Dermalogica is unique in that it uses face
mapping to determine various problems
and the massive range of products mean
your facial will address each one. The face
is split into 14 ‘zones’ that the therapist
studies – we had some problems in zone
two (between the eyebrows) which can
mean we may indulge in rich foods a little
too often. No comment. A recent poolside
toasting session had left its mark too, so
after steaming and extractions (the least
painful we’ve ever had) there was some
intensive moisturising. A quick massage
and we were done – sporting super-soft
skin and promising to wear sunscreen.
Pastels, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah, Dubai, Sat
to Thurs 9am to 7pm, Dhs330 for 75 mins.
Tel: (04) 3947393. www.pastels-salon.com
PHOTOGRAPHED BY NAVEED AHMED
82 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
Armani/Spa
Armani is a foreign country:
they do things differently
there. We take a trip to the
spa to see if la dolce vita
is waiting
Imagine a restaurant with no menu. Where
you simply book a table, answer some
questions and your meal is decided for you.
That’s pretty much the concept at Armani/
Spa. There’s no treatment list as such, so
your only decision is how long to make your
appointment, from 90 minutes to a full day.
Upon arriving you have a brief consultation
with a therapist who discusses options with
you; wraps, massages, facials, body parts,
pressure, complaints… Then a customised
treatment is devised. Kooky.
For those who haven’t visited Armani
yet, its dark neutrals, minimal design,
masculine overtones and that inimitable
style (they have black shower caps for crying
out loud) conspire to create a hotel truly
unique to Dubai. The spa is no different.
Far from the oh-so popular Asian-inspired
spa retreats we see throughout the region,
Armani is bringing some Italian chic to our
dusty shores. It’s all cool greys and marble,
linear lines and long corridors. The space is
luxurious but stark, no doubt appealing to
the moneyed businessmen we saw stalking
around (several looked remarkably like Mr
Armani himself, which was momentarily
thrilling). It’s unlikely, however, that Giorgio’s
offering will become the destination du jour
for Dubai’s ladies who spa – it simply feels
a little too functional and is missing the all
important free use of a sauna/steam/Jacuzzi,
although there was some lovely dried fruit in
the relaxation lounge and guests are free to
use the outdoor pool.
Back to the treatment. For our 90 minutes
we were prescribed a deep tissue massage
and mini facial with scalp massage. It was
excellent. Our South African therapist was
exceptionally well trained, the gorgeous
room was studded with tiny glass tiles
and completed with an electronic bed for
maximum comfort, while the massage was,
quite simply, one of the finest we’ve ever
had. Warm compresses were placed down
the spine and a custom-blended Armani
cedarwood oil was used to coax muscles into
a state of somnolence. Our brain wasn’t far
behind and, despite the pressure points and
deep massage, a little nap was had. The mini
facial followed but was something of a sleepy
blur, so it was a nice surprise to wake up
looking fresh and glowing.
In short, the products are beautiful, the
staff are fantastic, the space is knock-out
and the treatment was one of the best. If
you’re looking for an effective massage at an
impressive address then look no further, but
if you need the feminine touches of a day spa,
then Armani might not be in fashion for you.
Armani/Spa, Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa,
Dubai, daily 9am to 9pm, Dhs650 for 90
minutes, Dhs800 for two hours, Dhs1,100
for three hours, Dhs1,500 for a half day and
Dhs2,500 for a full day. Tel: (04) 8883888. www.
armanihotels.com
 H O B R ING
E P E O PLE W
H D A Y.
FROM T E V E R Y
YOU N E W M U SIC
M E N U .
N D N E W
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A B AE’S NEW MENU IS HERE. oks.
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CHEF J for food th
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Get ready ri d ay. The Ya
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Feed you

For bookings and information, Call InterContinental Abu Dhabi on 800 423463
 MIND & BODY

DSS
SPECIAL!
Spa Deals
Go from rough to rockin’ with our pick of
the best discounts in Spa Land
EXCLUSIV
E
READER
OFFER!
The spa at Le Méridien Dubai is offering What’s On
readers a whopping 50 per cent off a hot oil hair and
scalp massage followed by a blow-dry. Present this
page and you’ll pay half price.
Natural Elements, Le Méridien Dubai, Airport Road,
Garhoud, Dubai. Tel: (04) 2170000
MANDARA SPA
The name says it all. Revitalise
yourself at the Monarch Dubai
with their Rejuvenating Summer
ceremony. Take 110 minutes out of
your busy schedule and get an aroma
foot ritual, traditional body scrub, back
neck and shoulder massage and a foot
massage all for Dhs595. This package also
includes access to the sauna, steam, Jacuzzi and swimming pool.
Mandara Spa, 3rd Floor, The Monarch Dubai, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai. Tel: (04) 5018270
THE SPA AT THE PALACE
Take a break and indulge in a De-Stress
Massage with Detoxifying Clay Mask at
The Palace. You’ll get a footbath, then
a thoroughly relaxing massage and
body treatment plus a selection of
herbal tea and fruits, for Dhs685 (one
hour and 30 minutes). Also included
is access to the fitness centre, oriental
bathhouse (complete with steam
room, Jacuzzi and monsoon showers)
and the outdoor pool overlooking the
Burj Khalifa.
Until Aug 31, The Spa, The Palace, Old Town, Dubai. Tel: (04)
4287805

AMARA SPA
Get into the spirit of DSS at one of our
favourite spots, Amara Spa, with the
Spirit Of The Summer package for
Dhs350 from Sunday to Thursday
(Dhs400 for Friday and Saturday).
You’ll start with an outdoor rain
shower in a private terraced
garden, get a foot and hand rose
petal bath, and a 45-minute body
massage with soothing oils. There's
also complimentary full-day use of the
25-metre swimming pool, fragranced steam
room, lounges and gymnasium.
Amara Spa, Park Hyatt Dubai, Deira, Dubai. Tel: (04) 6021660. www.
dubai.park.hyatt.com

MAN/AGE
The chaps aren’t left out this month with
cash back vouchers from Man/Age.
Spend Dhs300 and you’ll get Dhs50
to spend either at the spa or at M2M
tailors. Splash Dhs500 and you’ll
receive a voucher worth Dhs100.
That’s our kind of mathematics.
Man/Age, Rimal, The Walk, Jumeirah
Beach Residences, Dubai Marina, Dubai.
Tel: (04) 4355780.

84 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010

 h t M y F i r e
Re l i g ly
i d a y 9 t h Ju
F r
 SPORT & OUTDOOR
Man of the match
Mohammed Najeeb
is the face of UAE
football, having
presented sports
shows for 35 years.
He'll be fronting
the English Premier
League coverage
next season for Abu
Dhabi Sports, who
recently won the
rights to broadcast all
of the games
Picture the scene. The UAE
football team is embroiled in a
crucial qualification game for the
1990 World Cup with China.
With less then three minutes
left on the clock, the UAE are 1-0
down, needing to win to secure a
place at Italia ’90.
Then, suddenly, a reversal of
fortune leads to the UAE firing in
two quick goals. They win the match.
Watching in the television studio
is the UAE’s most famous football
presenter, Mohammed Najeeb. As
the camera cut to him after the
final whistle, instead of providing
expert analysis on the glorious
victory, he’s choking back the tears.
“I was in the studio with my
pundit and when the second goal
went in, we were just overcome
with emotion,” recalls Mohammed.
“Before we scored, I was saying
‘it’s not fair, we’re playing better
then them and we’re still down.’
All of a sudden we were winning.
“We both had tears in our eyes
and the director was yelling ‘for
God’s sake, get it together. We
will be on air very soon.’ But we
couldn’t help it, we were so taken
"WE BOTH HAD TEARS
IN OUR EYES AND THE
DIRECTOR WAS YELLING
‘FOR GOD’S SAKE, GET IT
TOGETHER. WE WILL BE
ON AIR VERY SOON"
– MOHAMMED NAJEEB
aback,” he chuckles.
The event has gone down in the
UAE’s footballing folklore and
helped make Mohammed a star
to the country’s local population.
But he’s also renowned for his
forthright opinions on footy the
scene in the Arab World. Once he
even offended the whole of Saudi
Arabia by claiming the country’s
football clubs weren’t up to scratch.
And whenever a football
Sports scooped the rights to
broadcast the English Premier
League (EPL) from ShowSports.
Mohammed – a diehard
Manchester United fan – will be
involved in both the Arabic and
English coverage of the sport.
“We’re all so excited because
the EPL is still the best league
in the world,” he boasts. “Why?
Because when a great team
like Manchester United plays a
small team like Hull City, there
is competition. Any team can
beat any other team. This doesn’t
happen in Spain or Italy.
“In fact, when I heard from the
EPL that we had been successful
in our bid, tears came to my eyes
again. It was almost as emotional
as when we beat China back in
1989.”
HOW TO
WATCH…
t Abu Dhabi Sports will
be showing all 380 EPL
games live.
t Satellite viewers will need
to buy a Humax HB decoder
and smartcard, which will
cost Dhs999 in total.
t Users with a Humax
decoder can buy a smartcard
for Dhs370.
t Cable users can subscribe
through their cable provider.
legend has visited Abu Dhabi, The EPL package should cost
Mohammed’s the man who around Dhs75 a month.
comes to meet them. Now he t Internet users can also stream
counts footy legends such as the matches online. It will cost
Bobby Charlton, Bryan Robson Dhs370 for all the matches,
and Lionel Messi, who he met although it is recommended
when Barcelona played the World you have a broadband width
Club Championships in Abu of at least 2Mb to view the
Dhabi last December, as pals. games clearly.
And he’s set to become a Tel: (02) 4144000.
household name for the country’s www.admcsport.com
expat population after Abu Dhabi
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 87
 Got a fitness
question for
James?

SPORT & OUTDOOR

E-mail
otivate.ae
editor-w @m
o

Mr Fitness at the right times, you’ll have more energy

Our resident exercise guru
answers your health and
fitness questions
What is the best way to get back into a
fitness routine after not exercising?
Dennis, Discovery Gardens, Dubai
Getting back into an exercise routine is a
fantastic step forward. Where I find most
people fall down is that they get frustrated
that they cannot pick up where they left
off. What we need to realise is that times
change and our bodies adapt to our way of
life. Use it or lose it. With this in mind, I
would suggest that firstly you go and have a
check-up with your GP, just to ensure that
you are all good to get back into things. As-
suming everything is OK, you could then
either enlist the help of a fitness trainer or
go it alone. If you decide to go it alone, then
set yourself small, realistic and measureable
targets. As an example, start with body-
weight exercises and create yourself a small
circuit. Repeat the circuit two to three
times and time how long it takes. Once you
have your benchmark time, aim to improve
it upon your next attempt and so on and
so forth.
What are the best exercises to get rid
of the dreaded ‘love handles'?
Sohail, Karama, Dubai
Despite the endearing name, the fat on the
sides of your abdominals is often the last to
go when you’re losing weight. Firstly, you
did not get love handles overnight and they
won’t go away overnight. Secondly, you can’t
simply ‘spot-tone’ and do movements that
focus on this specific area. Although it’ll
strengthen the ab muscles underneath, it
won’t get rid of the fat on top.
To lose your love handles, you need to
reduce your overall body fat. That means
focusing on your nutrition and training
hard. Ask yourself if you’re been slacking
off on either weight training or Energy
System Development (ESD), or cardio,
since even the most dedicated athlete
often favour one or the other. Focus on
compound movements with short rest
periods between exercises.
Should I eat before I exercise, or is
it better to exercise on an empty
stomach?
Marcus, Jumeirah, Dubai
Some people say that training on an
empty stomach burns more fat. However,
in my opinion, and what I have learnt
from some of the world’s best nutrition-
ists and coaches, is that in order to build
strength and lean muscle you need to fuel
your body properly before and after your
training session. By eating the right foods
to train, you’ll recover better from intense
workouts and you’ll maximize the muscle
building process.
Is there such a thing as the ‘fat-
burning zone’?
Grace, Dubai Marina
Ah, the legend that is the fat-burning
zone. It states that a certain level of
exercise results in a larger number of
calories burned being derived from fat.
This does not mean that stored body fat is
the selective source. It only describes the
relative percentage of utilisation of three
substrates: fat, carbohydrates and protein.
The truth is, the fat-burning zone actu-
ally describes the percentage of calories
burned that are derived from fat as an
energy source. Do you know when you
are burning the most calories from fat?
Sorry, but the highest percentage of fat
utilisation is at rest. The more intense the
exercise becomes, the more carbohydrate
is used as a source.
Losing weight is about the number of
calories burned, not the number of those
calories that come from fat as a source. If
the fat-burning zone idea actually worked,
we could get extremely lean by simply
sitting still.
Unfortunately, I feel that the fat-burn-
ing zone has been the culprit for many a
boring and wasted workout.
What Mr Fitness James Houghton
doesn't know about staying healthy
isn't worth knowing. In his seven
years as a personal trainer, he's
helped West End actresses lose the
pounds and worked with the Arabian
Gulf rugby sevens team to keep them
in peak condition.

wagamama
The Greens
Tel 04 361 5757
wagamama
Al Fattan Towers
Tel 04 399 5900
PROUDLY OPERATES (Open daily 12noon to 12 midnight, deliveries until 11.30pm)
info@rmalhospitality.ae www.rmalhospitality.com/wagamama.asp

88 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010

 Proud to be SAFARI LEADERS

E n j o y t h e t h r i l l a n d f u n o f

DESERT SAFARI

Programme Includes:
Dune Bashing Sand Boarding & Camel Riding
BBQ Dinner - Arabic Tea & Coffee Soft Drinks & Refreshments
Photograph in Local Dress Henna Painting & Tattoos Per Person Dhs. 200/-
Enchanting Belly Dancing Show Sheesha (Hubbly-Bubbly) Pick-up & drop-back facility included
& lots more entertainment throughout the evening Timing: Pick up: 3:00 - 3:30pm - Drop off: 9:00 - 9:30pm

24 Hrs. Reservation
E-mail: optdubai@emirates.net.ae Web: www.opdubai.com ISO 9001:2008 Certified
 CLUB DIARY
Get your groove on
1
Ministry of Sound @ Sanctuary
MoS heavy hitters Gareth Cooke and
Scott Langley bring Summer Sessions to
Sanctuary, while Mass Ramli and Mark
Pickup keep the back rooms busy.
Sanctuary, Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah,
Dubai, 9pm to 3am, Dhs100, ladies free
before 11pm. Tel: (04) 4475532. www.
sanctuarydubai.com
8
Terry Francis @ iLL Communications
15 Stanton Warriors @ SYNF
We go to battle with Dominic, one half
of breakbeat duo Stanton Warriors, to
find out how hard he really is…
What’s the most dangerous thing
you’ve ever done?
Played breakbeat music to a thousand
house-loving Italians on the Space
terrace in Ibiza. Not fun.
Could you hot-wire a car?
No, but Mark can re-wire a keyboard.
What’s the longest you’ve gone
without sleep?
Four days. You end up going a bit mad.
Ever punched a wall in anger?
I punched a window once and slashed
my hand up. Far more hardcore than
punching a wall.
What’s the best thing you’ve
‘liberated’ from a hotel room?
The entire mini bar most weekends.
Do you have any good scars?
One on my thumb from punching
that window.
Ever spent a night behind bars?
Never. Prefer hotels.
Could you start a fire without a
lighter or matches?
With the right bassline, yes.
Complete the sentence. My
handshake…
…works well on the turntables.
Alpha, Le Méridien Dubai, Garhoud, 9pm
to 3am, Dhs100, free for ladies before
11pm and Dhs75 after. Tel: (04) 7022640.
www.stantonwarriors.com
90 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
2
Leeroy Thornhill @ SYNF
Former Prodigy dancer Leeroy shows his
skills on the Alpha decks. Should be fun.
Alpha, Le Méridien Dubai, Garhoud, 9pm to
3am, Dhs100, free for ladies before 11pm
and Dhs75 after. Tel: (04) 34479479. www.
platinumlistdubai.com
6
WEEKLY
Asylum
The lunatics are taking over the asylum,
well, 400 Club anyway, with the Sheikh
Zayed Road venue transformed into
a clubbing madhouse. Expect white
padded walls, drinks served in syringes
and models in straitjackets dancing in
cages. Sounds crazy…
The 400 Club, Fairmont, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 3324900
8
Terry Francis @ iLL Communications
Top British DJ Francis is a legend in
clubland, famed for his blend of electro-
techno and earthy house.
Rooftop, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm to
3am, Dhs130, ladies and FACE card holders
free before 11pm. Tel: (050) 7258277.
www.ohmrecords.com
15
Cassy @ iLL Communications
DJ Mark Pickup @ Relax@12
Fresh from his Sanctuary gig, Mark Pickup
heads to Abu Dhabi with his box of San
Fran deep house.
Relax@12, Aloft, Abu Dhabi, 8pm to
late, free. Tel: (02) 6545138. www.
aloftabudhabi.com
Charl Chaka @ Blizzard
The football maybe all but over but
Barasti’s megadome is still in demand.
Charl Chaka plays jackin’ house for the
music-loving masses.
Barasti, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai, 5pm
to late, free. Tel: (04) 3181313
9
WEEKLY
Step On @ Home
New addition Rude Larry adds more
mayhem to your weekly indie fix.
Chi @ The Lodge, Al Nasr Leisureland, Dubai,
8pm to 3am, Dhs100, free before 11pm,
ladies free before midnight.
Tel: (04) 3379470
WEEKLY
Blizzard @ Barasti
Head down to the beach for 70s, 80s and
90s music from ‘Retro Jedi’ Rohan Nunez.
And it's all in air-conditioned comfort.
Barasti, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai, 5pm
to late, free. Tel: (04) 3181313
10
WEEKLY
Just Sundays
DJ Enzo Mirak helps you get over the back
 CLUB DIARY

to work blues with commercial house and

radio hits.
Cavalli Club, Fairmont, Sheikh Zayed Road,
Dubai, free. Tel: (04) 3329260 20 Afrika Bambaataa @ MUZIK
13
WHAT'S ON PICK

There was no problem, because we were
conscious of our roots and all I did was
WEEKLY return my ancestral name back to me.
Bewitched@ Relax@12 You went in search of those roots with a
Progressive house and more at the ever- trip to Africa as a young man. How did
popular capital city spot. that influence you?
Relax@12, Aloft, Abu Dhabi, 8pm to late, Africa was amazing. To see many places,
free. Tel: (02) 6545138. www.aloftabudhabi. speak to the people, feel the vibration
com of the land, music and animals. To hear
The peace prize? Wow. Weren’t you
involved in gangs growing up?
All armies or gangs always had songs,
chants or music to cheer you up for
battles, to sooth, to relax, to dance, or to
love or kill. Music plays a major role in
everything we do on this great planet.
What about hip hop?
Hip hop today is controlled by

15
Kiko Navarro @ Armani Prive
Pacha DJ Navarro takes a break from Ibiza
with a night at Prive. Expect deep house,
afro fusion and a very glam crowd.
Armani Prive, Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa,
Dubai, 10pm to 3am, free. Tel: (04) 8883888.
www.armanihotels.com
Cassy @ iLL Communications
Covering all manner of musical and
cultural influences, Cassy is guaranteed to
bewitch Rooftop goers with her blend of
European house.
Rooftop, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm to
3am, Dhs130, ladies and FACE card holders
free before 11pm. Tel: (050) 7258277.
www.ohmrecords.com
We get deep, meaningful and a bit
bizarre with the Godfather of hip hop,
the one, the only… Afrika Bambaataa
You started life as Kevin Donovan.
How did the folks react when you
Brother Fela Kuti and Afro-beat music for
the first time. It was dynamic, spiritual,
exciting and powerful.
And now you’re in your 50s. Are you still
able to embrace music and technology
like you used to?
Now, how you know I am in my 50s? I am
way older than that and way younger than
that. I am as ancient as the sun, moon and
stars but as young as a newborn flower. I
love technology when it is used to help all
beings on this planet, but dislike it when
it’s used to cause destruction. That is why
intergalactic beings from other planets
and dimensions are now watching what
our world leaders and scientists do.
Oh. Erm, back here on planet Earth –
you were inducted into the Rock’n’Roll
Hall of Fame. How did that feel?
It was nice to hear I was nominated, as it
is now nice to hear there are petitions all
over the net to honour me with The Nobel
corporations. But hip hop culture is still
being taught by the true pioneers of
the movement. These are the ones that
need to be running these so-called hip
hop labels.
Any advice for someone starting out
in the business?
To know what you’re getting into. To
do the research. Without a clear study
of whatever art or profession you are
entering, then you can get hurt down
the line, become a slave to the rhythm
as Grace Jones sang, and without
knowledge anyone with knowledge
can trick or trap you, even without you
knowing.
How long will you be doing it for?
I will be making music in this life and
beyond this life.
Rooftop, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm
to 3am, tickets Dhs150, ladies and FACE
card holders free before 10pm. Tel: (050)

22
changed your name? Peace Prize. 7258277. www.ohmrecords.com

Derrick Carter @ We Are Chi
Chicago’s finest DJ and producer
graces the decks at Chi, blasting out
underground house.
Chi @ The Lodge, Al Nasr Leisureland, Dubai,
8pm to 3am, price TBC. Tel: (04) 3379470
Mr Mr @ Relax@12
Dubai favourite heads to the capital to
give Abu Dhabi dwellers a dose of house.
Relax@12, Aloft, Abu Dhabi, 8pm to late,
free. Tel: (02) 6545138.
www.aloftabudhabi.com
Matthew Charles @ Blizzard
Barasti’s beach dome is put to good use
with Matthew Charles and his beats.
Barasti, Le Méridien Mina Seyahi, Dubai,
5pm to late, free. Tel: (04) 3181313
30
22
WHAT'S ON PICK
Zane Lowe @ Home
The big man in a beanie is back. His last gig
was an eclectic spectacular of drum‘n’bass,
indie, R&B and more, voted by one What’s
On staffer as ‘the best DJ performance he’s Derrick Carter @ We Are Chi
seen in the UAE’. Unmissable.
Chi @ The Lodge, Al Nasr Leisureland,
Dubai, 8pm to 3am, Dhs100, free for
FACE card holders all night and ladies
before midnight. Tel: (04) 3379470. www.
thelodgedubai.com
Dirty Disco @ SYNF
Nu disco, classic house and more from
Da:Funct, Just Some Kid and Matt McBriar.

23
Alpha, Le Méridien Dubai, Garhoud, 9pm to
3am, Dhs50, free for ladies before midnight.
Tel: (04) 7022640

Lady Lea @ Home

Big in South Africa, Lady Lea visits our
shores for a night of funky, progressive
house, SA style.
Chi @ The Lodge, Al Nasr Leisureland,
Dubai, 8pm to 3am, Dhs100, free for FACE
card holders all night and ladies before
midnight. Tel: (04) 3379470

29
WHAT'S ON PICK
M.A.N.D.Y
Minimal German techno served up by one

30
of the finest acts in dance. Don’t miss it.
Rooftop, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm to
3am, Dhs130, ladies and FACE card holders
free before 11pm. Tel: (050) 7258277. www.
ohmrecords.com
GETTY/GALLO IMAGE

Battle of the DJs @ Relax@12

It’s Stew Magoo vs Chad Phunk in this battle
of the funky house DJs. Sure to be a winner.
Relax@12, Aloft, Abu Dhabi, 8pm to late, free.
Tel: (02) 6545138. www.aloftabudhabi.com Zane Lowe @ Home

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 91

TRAVEL

p95 Birmingham
p101 Udaipur

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 93

FULL RANGE OF OFFSET PAPERS
Print 2 or 5 Books? Leather or Hard Cover?

50 Postcards?

Wide Range of FSC Certified &

100% Bright White Recycled Paper
Full Color at No Extra Cost
 TRAVEL
Yummy Brum WORLD
TRAVEL
Take a culinary tour
of Birmingham,
England’s second
city, a metropolis
bursting with flavour

It’s probably better known for

its Dunlop tyre factory than its
Michelin-star restaurants. But
while Birmingham was once the
industrial powerhouse of Britain,
now it’s gaining a worldwide
reputation as a culinary force. With
its rich manufacturing heritage,
Birmingham is still famous for
global food brands like Cadbury’s
chocolate, HP Sauce, Bird’s
Custard and Typhoo Tea. Yet it’s
Birmingham’s kitchens, rather than
its factories, that are whetting the
appetites of epicureans in search of
the UK’s next gastronomic hotspot.
In Purnell’s, Simpson’s and
Turner’s, it has three restaurants
with a Michelin star, which is more
than any other English city outside
of London. On top of that, Lasan,
an upscale Indian restaurant in the
city’s historic Jewellery Quarter, was
recently named Britain’s best local
restaurant on Gordon Ramsay’s
F-Word TV show. It’s one of a glut
of up-and-coming eateries vying
to grab Birmingham’s next haul of
Michelin accolades. Together they
make up a burgeoning movement
of high-end restaurants that for the
last few years have been at the heart
of a gourmet renaissance.
But it hasn’t always been this way.
For many years the London press
took great delight in lambasting
Birmingham as a food and
restaurant backwater – a fact that
local chef Glynn Purnell knows
only too well. “It is frustrating,”
he bemoans in the understated
reception room at his restaurant in
the financial district. “When I first Selfridges and St Martin’s
started up in Birmingham in 2003, Church at dusk
it was named a culinary desert. It
was supposed to be the second city,

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 95

 TRAVEL | BIRMINGHAM

ISTOCK
Victoria
Where to eat Square

MICHELIN STAR FUTURE STARS

Simpson’s Love’s
20 Highfield Road, The Glasshouse, Canal Square,
Edgbaston, Birmingham. Tel: Browning Street, Birmingham.
(+44) 121 4543434. www. Tel: (+44) 121 4545151.
simpsonsrestaurant.co.uk www.loves-restaurant.co.uk

Turner’s of Harborne Edmunds BALTI

69 High Street, Birmingham. 6 Central Square, Brindleyplace,
Tel: (+44) 121 4264440. www. Birmingham. Tel: (+44) 121 6334944. 186 Ladypool Road,
turnersofharborne.com www.edmundsbirmingham.com
Purnell’s Lasan
55 Cornwall Street, Birmingham. 3 to 4 Dakota Buildings,
Tel: (+44) 121 2129799. www. James Street, St Paul's Square,
purnellsrestaurant.com Birmingham. Tel: (+44) 121
2123664. www.lasangroup.com/
restaurant
Opus
54 Cornwall Street, Birmingham.
Tel: (+44) 121 2002323.
www.opusrestaurant.co.uk
Al Frash
Birmingham. Tel: (+44) 121
7533120.
www.alfrash.com
Shabab and although there have always
136 to 165 Ladypool Road, been great places to eat, it was all
Birmingham. Tel: (+44) 121 roll-your-sleeves-up, faggots and
4402893 mushy peas, Chinese, baltis, curries,
curries and curries. When I first
Shahi Nan Kebab opened people were scratching
353 Stratford Road, their heads wondering why it didn’t
Birmingham. Tel: (+44) 121 say Patel’s on the front, let alone
7722787 Purnell’s.”
It’s true that the city’s diverse
multicultural population has
helped to shape its restaurant scene.
This is the birthplace of the balti,
invented in the Sparkbrook area of
the city by Pakistani and Kashmiri
migrants in the 1970s. Cooked and
CORBIS

served in a wok-like steel bowl,

and traditionally eaten with scoops
of naan bread rather than cutlery,
the no-frills curry can be found
ay

in hundreds of small independent

lew
dd
Mi

Summerfield
restaurants in Birmingham, and
od

A
wo

d Park
wa

yR
dy

Cit many more across Britain.

ns
La

ee
Qu

Edgbaston National
Indoor Arena But the balti is most ubiquitous
BIRMINGHAM
Reservoir
Birmingham
Museum & in its ancestral heartland – the
La
Art Gallery network of streets a few miles
dy
wo
od south of the city centre known
Islin
as the Balti Triangle. It’s there,
Hagley Rd
gton
Row in a tiny balti-house called
Bristol Rd

orne
Rd Highgate
Shahi Nan Kebab that we share
Harb
Park a table with Andy Munro – balti
Birmingham aficionado, spokesman for the
Stratfor

Botanical Belg
Gardens rav Asian Balti Association and the
d Road

eM
iddle Farm Park
Edgbaston way
Hig
man who’s trying to reclaim the
hga
te R
oad
balti for Birmingham. As we get
d

stuck in with our hands, he tells

re R

Calthorpe Park
sho

t
hS
Hig
me about his application to get
Per
Rd
tol

the Birmingham balti granted

Bris

Edgbaston
protected geographical status,
Stra

Park Edgbaston
Edgbaston
tfor

Rd
like Cornish clotted cream or
dR

Edgbaston
oad

Pool Arbroath smokies.

University of
Fish Pond “I’m going to call it the
Birmingham ‘Birmingham balti’, because that’s
where it started,” he says over his
steaming chicken and mushroom

96 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010

 TRAVEL | BIRMINGHAM

ISTOCK
ISTOCK

balti. “I don’t really care – if anyone

says they want to do a balti chicken,
they can. They can do it in Scotland,
and do it badly for all I care. But
what I want is the Birmingham balti (Above)
to be the Birmingham balti.” While On the canal
the balti has long enjoyed legendary
status and a devoted following that’s (Right)
bordering on the fanatical, it’s only The BT Tower
recently that Birmingham began
to flourish at the other end of the
culinary compass.
Birmingham, or Brum as it
is affectionately nicknamed, is
traditionally a working class city.
During the Industrial Revolution
it was known as ‘the workshop
of the world’ before it became a
manufacturing hub for the British
motor industry, producing the
Mini and Rover car marques.
Brummies are typically among
the most down-to-earth people in
Britain, customarily self-effacing
and usually with an irreverent sense
of humour. No wonder it’s taken a
while for them to get used to the
idea of fine dining.
“As soon as people hear the
words ‘Michelin star restaurant’
it puts the fear of God into them,”
says Purnell with a distinctive
Birmingham twang. “They think
it’s going to be too expensive, full of
people in dicky-bows and waiters
with serious faces. We take our
food seriously, but we’re also in the
hospitality industry. Our job is to
invite, to make people feel at home.
It’s executed at a very high level, but
anyone can understand it wherever (Above)
they’re from, from Buckingham Sea bream at
Palace to a council estate.” Lasan
Purnell’s own council estate
CORBIS

upbringing in Birmingham

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 97

 TRAVEL | BIRMINGHAM

Birmingham be dismissed as the

Food festivals in Brum

concrete jungle it was in the 1960s
and 1970s. Inner city decay has
made way for urban regeneration,
and recent developments like the
TASTE OF BIRMINGHAM BBC GOOD FOOD Mailbox, the Bull Ring and the
Featuring local restaurants, plus exhibitors from SHOW canal-side Brindleyplace complex
all over Britain, from Aga Rangemaster See the likes of Gordon have brought exciting shops, bars
ovens and kitchen appliances, to Yum Ramsay, Jamie Oliver and and restaurants to the city, along
Yum Tree Fudge. James Martin cooking live with a new lease of life.
Jul 16 to 18, Cannon Hill Park, at one of Britain’s biggest and Next to Purnell’s in the Michelin
Birmingham, Dhs80 to Dhs229. best food shows. Guide is Simpson’s, a modern
E-mail: info@marketingbirmingham. Nov 24 to 28, NEC Birmingham, Birmingham. French restaurant occupying a
com http://taste.visitbirmingham.com www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com grade II-listed Georgian townhouse
in the Edgbaston area, not far from
the Botanical Gardens and the
resonates throughout his food. One Cornflakes in a Michelin-star map is evident in his restaurant, famous cricket ground. Owner
of his signature dishes is poached restaurant? You’d better believe which is full of grainy monochrome Andreas Antona and executive chef
egg yolk with smoked haddock it. From the sauce to the garnish, photographs of the city’s diverse Luke Tipping have retained their
infused milk foam, scattered with Purnell’s food is strewn with and often maligned architecture. Michelin star since the restaurant
curry oil and cornflakes. “My mom childhood references, quirky “I paid a guy to go and walk moved to Birmingham from nearby
used to cook me haddock,” he flourishes and post-modern gags. around within a square mile of Kenilworth in 2004. Then there’s
reminisces. “We used to go down “My food’s got a sense of humour,” the restaurant and take pictures. Turner’s on Harborne High Street,
the Bull Ring market and get the he says with a mischievous grin. Now people have lunch and they which offers one of the cheapest
smoked fish, which she’d put in “If you know me and you eat my say, is that New York, or is that the Michelin star lunches available
a pan with milk on the electric food, then you get it. If you’re going Parthenon in Athens? No, it’s the anywhere, at Dhs130 for three
cooker. She’d poach the eggs in the to put Birmingham into the shell town hall in Birmingham.” courses. Owner and head chef
milk, because the milk tasted more of a person, that would be me. I’ll Indeed, a stroll around the Richard Turner, like Glynn Purnell
of haddock than the haddock did. tell you how it is. We do have a joke town centre reveals a city with a and Luke Tipping, was born and
So my dish is basically egg with about ourselves, but at the same rich history, a vibrant present and bred in Birmingham.
smoked haddock foam. And then time it’s quite a nice way of looking a penchant for reinventing itself. They are three young chefs who
cornflakes because I was always at yourself. You can’t take yourself Grand Georgian and Victorian have sparked the city’s restaurant
starving and my pockets were always too seriously.” designs sit beside undulating renaissance, but the hope is that
full of cornflakes. I used to go in That Purnell is deadly serious modern edifices like the Selfridges many more will follow in their
the cupboard, get the box, grab a about establishing Birmingham store at the revamped Bull Ring footsteps. “It’s make or break in the
handful of cornflakes, whack!” as a destination on the culinary shopping centre. No longer can next couple of years, I think,” says
Purnell. “For me, Birmingham has
just started to make a bit of noise,
we need to maintain that and just
embrace what we have. My dream
is to have a three-star restaurant in
Birmingham. Now we’re one step
closer.”

Need to know
How to get there:
Emirates flies daily from
Dubai to Birmingham, from
Dhs3,495

Accommodation:
The City Inn hotel on
Brindleyplace is within
walking distance of the bars
and clubs of Broad Street,
the Bull Ring, the Convention
Centre and the Mailbox bar
and restaurant complex. From
Dhs400 per night

Currency:
Lasan GBP1 = Dhs5.3

98 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010

DESERT SAFARI
A COOL EVENING IN THE MYSTERIOUS DUBAI DESERT
Dune Bashing - Sand Boarding - Camel Riding DHS 150
Henna Tattoos - Shisha - Belly Dance Per Person
& Lavish Buffet cum BBQ Dinner - Coffee - Soft Drinks
Pick-up and drop by 4WD
Timings: Pick-up 3.30 to 4.00pm, Drop Back 9:00 to 9:30pm (approx.)

DHOW CRUISE WITH DINNER

AN EVENING OF CHARM & ELEGANCE
On a Traditional Two Tier Arabian Wooden Dhow DHS 120
Two Hours Cruising - Soft Music Per Person
Lavish Buffet Dinner -Tea - Coffee - Soft Drinks
Timings: 8.30pm to 10.30pm (approx.)

MOUNTAIN SAFARI TO HATTA WADI

DUBAI RED DUNES, MOUNTAINS & WADI SPECTACULAR
Dune bashing at Big Red, Sand Boarding, Thrilling
Mountain & Wadi drive, Hatta Freshwater Pools, DHS 300
Heritage Village, Lunch at Hatta Fort Hotel Per Person
Pick-up and drop by 4WD
Timings: Pick-up 8.00am, Drop Back 2.30pm (approx.)

DEEP SEA FISHING

A MUST DO DUBAI DAY OUT EXPERIENCE DHS 400
Sharing Per Person
Exclusive charter or on Sharing basis in the hottest sailfish 0
venue in the world. Fishing equipment - Equipped & Fully DHS 200
e Upto
Exclusiv
Insured - Experienced Skipper & Crew - Light Refreshments 8 Pax.
Pick-up and drop-back facility included

AMAZING DIBBA
HAVE A PRO-ACTIVE DAY OUT
Cruising - Swimming - Snorkeling - Banana Boat ride & DHS 320
hand line Fishing Refreshments & Buffet Lunch served on board. Per Person
Pick-up and drop back facility included
Timings: Pick-up: 7.00 to 7.30am, Drop Back: 6.30 to 7.00pm (approx.)

SPECTACULAR KHASAB
HAVE A GREAT DAY OUT
Cruise to Scenic Fjords, Swim, Snorkel & Do Dolphin Watching DHS 520
Refreshments & Lunch served on board. Per Person
Six Hours Dhow Trip from Khasab Harbour
Pick-up and drop back facility included
 TRAVEL | UDAIPUR

City Palace In Udaipur,

Rajasthan, India

REGIONAL
TRAVEL

A royal welcome
Rajasthan is rich palace roof and the royal treat- with the ecological effect on Lake
ment officially begins. The red Pichola, has inevitably sucked
with magic, mystery carpet, although dutifully present, some of the grandeur and mys-
and adventure, but is hardly worth a mention. tique from the palaces. Measly
Welcome to Udaipur, a fairy- monsoons in recent years have
only in Udaipur is tale concoction of palaces that left the once huge expanse of wa-
it possible to fully stretch over city blocks, float ter little more than a large pond
experience the upon lakes or hide above the during the summer months,
clouds. A fantasy turned reality sprouting a ring of green vegeta-
former wealth and by the ruling dynasty of Udaipur, tion around the lake’s former
splendour of the the Maharajas, in the mid 16th banks. Yet with the present-day
century, who, wishing to trump Maharaja astutely converting part Gangaur boat
Maharaja the splendour of rival Rajasthani of its current residency into an
rulers, set about enlarging Lake impressive museum and allowing
The arrival of a boat at the jetty of Pichola, before planting two both floating palaces to become are firmly lost in the subconti-
the Lake Palace Hotel never goes sparkling white palaces slap bang luxury hotels, Udaipur still offers nent. Endless shops selling every
unnoticed. The towering figure of in the middle of the water. With hospitality fit for a king – albeit conceivable form of Rajasthani
an authentically clad Indian butler, the City Palace Complex also with a touch of faded charm. handicraft spill out into the path
with his refined moustache and stretching dominantly across the Cropped behind the City of the unwary passerby and the
uniform glistening in deep red eastern shore of the lake and the Palace Complex, the old city occasional meandering cow. Here
and gold, is immediately on hand Monsoon Palace perched upon certainly adds an element of the tradition of Rajput painting
to guide you under the shelter one of the distant hillsides, the rough and tumble. All the city’s is still in visible flow. Local artists
of an equally large and elegant Maharaja had smugly created an narrow winding streets lead up- beaver away in shady courtyards
parasol up the hotel’s winding exotic palace playground. hill to Jagdish Temple, where the recreating the formulaic two-
stairs. Once at the top, a shower Modernity and expansion of chaotic explosion of colour, smell dimensional, yet deeply intricate
ISTOCK

of regal petals descends from the the surrounding city, combined and sound reminds you that you miniatures that were once used

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 101

 TRAVEL | UDAIPUR
ROYAL
PURSUITS
LRe-watch the 1983 film
Octopussy, where Mr Bond
suavely frolics in the Lake
Palace, Monsoon Palace and
Old City.
LSip on a decadent dry
Martini, shaken not stirred
of course, in the open air
Sunset Terrace at the Fateh
Prakesh Palace Hotel. The
terrace boasts arguably the
best views of the nearby
Lake Palace Hotel and you
will be served by an elegant
waiter in white Rajasthani
uniform complete with
saffron-coloured turban and
regal sash.
LBecome a court
painter for a day
and spend a few
hours under the
talented eyes of
one of the city’s
artists who will
help you create
your very own Rajput
miniature using traditional
techniques on vibrant silk.
Help can be stretched to its
euphemistic limits for those
less artistically inclined.
LDine like a Maharaja on
the finest local cuisine at
Ambrai. Set within the
walls of the stunning Amet
Haveli Hotel on the western
banks Lake Pichola, the
restaurant’s evening views of
the illuminated Lake and City
Palaces are nothing short
of magical. They do a mean
tandoori chicken, too.
LVisit the Maharajas’
impressive collection of
vintage and classic
cars at the
Garden Hotel.
An automobile
fanatic’s
paradise, it
includes the
1934 Rolls Royce
Phantom featured
in Octopussy and
comes with a delectable all-
you-can-eat vegetable thali
and soft drink for the not-so
kingly sum of Dhs12.
102 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
to portray the ex-
travagant lifestyle of the
Rajasthani elite. Today
these artists exist not only to
delight tourists, but also to help
restore colour to the whitewashed
city walls. Life-sized paintings of
princely figures from the royal
court atop noble elephants are
found in their former glory dot-
ted around the Old City and City
Palace Complex.
To view the best examples of
these, while getting maximum
royalty for your rupee, buy a
package entrance ticket for the
City Palace Museum, which
also includes a tour of the lake.
Although only roughly 30 per
cent of the City Palace Complex
is open to the general public – the
majority remains the private resi-
dency of the Maharaja – the
museum alone is worth a
good half day’s wander
owing to its exhausting
collection of Mughal
statues, regal paintings
and evocatively col-
oured rooms. The tour
leads you through bright
bedrooms with stained glass
windows – where meticulous
miniatures depicting royal tiger
hunts or famous past battles have
again been given a fresh lick of
paint – and up through winding
has seen better days. While it is a
Lake Palace Hotel.
sures, the palace was once an obvi-
Lake Pichola
Sajjan Niwas
Suite at Taj
Lake Palace
to the top. Although far less aes-
staircases to the palace’s upper
terraces. The views from the top
are some of the finest of Lake
Pichola.
A short walk along the bank
of the lake leads to Bansi Ghat
jetty, which has a production line
of small boats that follow one
another across the murky water
like a chain of idle ducks. The
boat tour provides a tranquil way
to absorb the imposing lakeside
palace walls and distant cascad-
ing hillsides. After ten minutes
or so, it stops off for a brief visit
to Jagmandir Island, home to the
Maharaja-owned palace-cum-
hotel. Guarded by a façade of ag-
gressive looking stone elephants,
the entrance to Jagmandir is
striking but the interior is less
“Welcome to Udaipur, a fairytale
concoction of palaces that
stretch over city blocks, float upon
lakes or hide above the clouds”
so. There is little but a central
courtyard to explore inside,
which although large, mainly
comprises redundant space and
pleasant and shady enough spot
to enjoy a refreshing beverage or
two, it is impossible not to glance
enviously across at the ethereal
These days, the only way to
infiltrate the Lake Palace’s watery
defences is to splash out on one
of the hotel’s 66 rooms or 17
suites. The palace was leased to
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces in
1971, which has since completed
extensive restoration work to the
property, helping to make it one of
India’s most unique hotel experi-
ences. With its fountain-filled
courtyards and pillared enclo-
ous cool retreat for the Maharaja
during the summer and a similar
rationale can be applied now.
However, as tempting as it
would be to stay forever in the
marble womb of the Lake Palace,
the definitive spot for sunset in
Udaipur lies at the top of the
Avaralli hills. Sajjan Garh Palace
– or the Monsoon Palace – is a
half hour’s rickshaw ride away
from the city centre, followed by
a brief but hefty climb in a jeep
thetically pleasing and far more
neglected than Udaipur’s other
palaces, it nevertheless offers un-
rivalled panoramic views. And
it’s the pink desert sun’s closing
ceremony that really captures the
imagination, providing a suit-
ably rich and sumptuous royal
farewell to the city, lake and hill
palaces of Udaipur.
GETTING THERE
Flights from Dubai to
Udaipur with Emirates via
Delhi cost from Dhs3,000. The
rail journey from Delhi to
Udaipur City takes 12 hours
and will set you back a mere
Dhs150 for a first class ticket.
A BUSINESS HOTEL
THAT SPECIALIZES
IN HAVING FUN.

HOW COME?

When it comes to Family Fun,

we mean business.

Welcome to Cristal Hotel.

For the executive who’s on the
go all week, Friday offers you a
relaxed, extra special family treat.
International buffet in GEMS
Restaurant with kids entertainment
including a magic show, face painting
and Coco the clown, all for only
AED 119* per person.
(Children under 5 free)

Call us a Hotel if you want,

we prefer to be thought of as
dynamic hospitality.

Try us, you will enjoy.

Call 02 652 0000

HOTEL / ABU DHABI
Zayed the 1st Street, adjacent to Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre
Part of the Cristal Group.

* Subject to 10% service charge and 6% tourism fee DYNAMIC HOSPITALITY

THE HOT LIST
THE TEN BEST BRUNCHES, BARS, RESTAURANTS AND SPAS THIS MONTH

Key
*
–
New entry

Non-mover
„ Up

‰ Down

p106 Brunches
p108 Bars
p110 Restaurants
p112 Spas

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 105

 THE HOT LIST BRUNCHES
OUR PICK OF THE BRUNCH BUNCH
Sofra
1 Elements –
Lively without being rowdy, so
you can safely take your mum
ATMOSPHERE
without her being offended.
A grand selection of
international cuisine. Our
FOOD
favourite is the sushi.
You’re on the doorstep of the
Between The Bridges area,
LOCATION
which is packed with bars and
clubs should you want to extend
the party.
BEST FOR
Birthdays, leaving parties or
any other special occasion.
Dhs399 with Moët & Chandon
PRICE
champagne, Dhs299 with wine
and beer, Dhs222 without
alcohol.
Why not take advantage of
WHAT’S ON
the Fairmont’s summer offer,
where you can get a room plus
the champagne brunch for
SAYS...
Dhs1,299?
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr,
Between The Bridges, Abu Dhabi
11.30am to 3pm
Tel: (02) 6543000
www.fairmont.com
106 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
Chamas
2 LeVendome
Brasserie –
Classy and exclusive. Raucous
behaviour is not welcomed at
the Emirates Palace.
The finest, most opulent brunch
spread in the capital. From the
lobsters and salmon to the umm
ali dessert, it’s all impeccable.
The Emirates Palace is the
world’s most expensive hotel.
Says it all.
Hanging out with the jet set.
Dhs565 includes the
finest Laurent Perrier
Rosé champagne.
You’re paying through the nose
for this brunch, but it is pure,
unadulterated class.
Emirates Palace, West
Corniche, Abu Dhabi
12.30pm to 3.30pm
Tel: (02) 6907999
www.emiratespalace.com
3 Sofra –
Chilled with a capital C. Sofra
brunch is a great way to unwind
after a hard week at the office.
It’s a bit of a trek from the tables,
but worth the walk as it’s a
superb international spread.
The terrace is a no-no during
the summer months, unless
you’re a lizard, but there are
worse places to be than the
smart interior.
The huge restaurant is spacious
enough to accommodate
revellers and families.
Dhs220 for unlimited wine and
soft drinks. About average for
Abu Dhabi’s brunching scene.
Head to the Shangri-La’s
purpose built World Cup tent to
watch the few remaining crunch
games of the tournament.
Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri,
Between The Bridges, Abu Dhabi
noon to 4pm
Tel: (02) 5098888
www.shangri-la.com
4 Chamas –
With the live South American
band playing and the smell
of barbecued meat drifting
across the restaurant, there
are few more pleasing
environments in which to
brunch in Abu Dhabi.
On arrival, you’re handed a
two-sided card. Turn it
to green to keep the meat
coming, turn it to red when
you’re ready to explode.
The InterCon is a bit out on
a limb, but great bars such as
Yacht Club and Belgian Café
should keep you from heading
elsewhere.
Meat, meat and more meat.
Dhs165 with one cocktail is
good value, but if you want to
down drinks you could notch
up a hefty tab.
The finest meat restaurant in
the capital. Full stop.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi,
Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi
1pm to 3pm
Tel: (02) 6666888
www.ichotelsgroup.com
5 Al Fanar –
Where is everyone this
summer? Probably dining at
this hugely popular brunch.
Best to book in advance.
A fine array of fresh seafood
and salads.
Avoid if you have a fear
of heights as the revolving
restaurant is 31 storeys up. But
you get some astounding views
from up there.
A memorable brunch in a truly
unusual restaurant.
Dhs220 with wine. It’s slap bang
in the middle of Abu Dhabi’s
brunch price range.
“Food tastes better when
you’re revolving.” So said The
Simpsons’ Principal Skinner.
And he’s right.
Le Royal Méridien, Khalifah
Street, Abu Dhabi
12.30pm to 3pm
Tel: (02) 6742020
www.starwoodhotels.com

One To One
6Yacht Club „
A relaxed a la carte menu in a
cool bar.
Pan-Asian dishes. That means
Chinese, Japanese and Thai choices.
The outdoor terrace is just a pipe
dream. Time to get acquainted
with the cool interior.
As the Yacht Club brunch finishes
at 6pm, it drifts perfectly into an
evening out.
The Dhs165 includes only one
drink, so can get a bit pricey
if you want to drink cocktails
all afternoon.
More of a mixture of lunch and
dinner than a classic brunch. But
still a great way to spend four hours
during the summer.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al
Bateen, Abu Dhabi
2pm to 6pm
Tel: (02) 6666888
www.ichotelsgroup.com
THE HOT LIST BRUNCHES
ARTS
HOT ON
THBrEunHchE, RaEdiLssSon Blu
11 Friday
Yas Island ne Plaza
Brunch, Crow
12 Gardens u Dhabi
Ab ch,
d Shine Brun
13 Rise An u Dhabi
eraton Ab
Sh ne Plaza
Brunch, Crow
14 Oriental s Island
Ya ,
cht Brunch
15 Shuja Ya
éridien
Le Royal M
Pearls & Caviar
7 Belgian 8 Pearls & 9 One To One ‰ 10 Rosebuds ‰
Brunch – Caviar „
Expect the chatter and stir of a Becoming more popular by the Fun, friendly and cheery. Rosebuds has a Cuban band
friendly pub lunch. week. There’s a healthy hustle playing, but it’s more of a family
developing here. occasion than a party brunch.
From meatballs to mussels, it’s the Seafood is king at Pearls & Caviar. Three fine restaurants stacked Steaks, curries, roast meats and
kind of hearty grub that’s associated The finest fish cooked right before on top of each other with three a live omelette cooking station.
with the Belgian Café. your very eyes. different cuisines. It’s Oriental food Even the fussiest eater won’t feel
from Wokcano, steaks from 18oz left out.
and international from Resto.
The Belgian Café is so Pearls & Caviar’s waterfront The One To One hotel is a bit tricky Brauhaus and Trader Vic’s, two of
convincingly European in location has great views of the to find, but it does have a couple of Abu Dhabi’s best bars, are right
style it’s easy to forget you’re in Grand Mosque. good bars and a nightclub. next door.
the Middle East.
A quiet pub lunch or a merry Seafood fanatics. Groups of friends who want Enjoying your brunch without
afternoon out. a knees-up without breaking your children getting bored, as
the bank. a clown and face-painter are on
hand to amuse the little angels.
Dhs165 will get you mountains of Dhs299 with champagne, Dhs199 Dhs200 with alcohol and Dhs140 The Dhs174 includes one glass of
food and one beer. Not excessively with other drinks. On the upper without. Pleasantly affordable. beer or wine. This isn’t the place
expensive. end of the scale, but bubbly’s to knock back endless drinks.
included in the bill.
The Belgian waffles are worth the It’s getting busier by the week. One To One drops a few spots this It’s too hot to take the youngsters
entrance fee alone. Once the upstairs bar comes back month as the nearby alfresco The to the beach, so take them to
into play, expect a rapid rise up the Village pub is strictly out of bounds Rosebuds instead.
charts. over the summer.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, One To One Hotel, Al Nahyan, Beach Rotana, Tourist Club
Bateen, Abu Dhabi Between The Bridges, Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Area, Abu Dhabi
1pm to 4pm 1pm to 4pm noon to 3pm 12.30pm to 4pm
Tel: (02) 6666888 Tel: (02) 5098888 Tel: (02) 4952000 Tel: (02) 6979000
www.ichotelsgroup.com www.shangri-la.com www.onetoonehotels.com www.rotana.com
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 107
MARCH
 ARTS
THE HOT LIST BARS
THE FINEST FOR BEVERAGES AND BITES
Left Bank
1 Left Bank –
ATMOSPHERE
Packed out at weekends with
friendly punters.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri, which is
LOCATION
full of bars should you fancy a
change in surroundings.
Either a springboard for a big
BEST FOR
night out or a few lively drinks
with pals.
Beers and wines are quite cheap,
PRICE
cocktails aren’t.
Left Bank has the coolest
interior in the capital. So
WHAT’S ON
while drinks on the terrace
are just a distant memory,
SAYS...
it’ll rule the roost.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri,
Between The Bridges, Abu Dhabi
Sat to Wed 7pm to 1am,
Thurs and Fri 7pm to 2am
Tel: (02) 5581680
www.emiratesleisureretail.com
WHAT’SON
108 WHAT’S ON JULY
MARCH
20102010
2 Belgian
Café –
A happy mix of all ages and
nationalities mingle to enjoy
the European hospitality.
Chamas and Yacht Club are
both just yards away.
A relaxing drink after work
or a nice spot for dinner, it
all works.
Don’t expect a cheap night out,
but then you are paying for
quality Belgian beers.
Order up a Leffe blonde, a bowl
of mussels and a Belgian waffle
and you’re in for a great night.
InterContinental Abu Dhabi,
Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi
6.30pm to 12.30pm
Tel: (02) 6666888
www.ichotelsgroup.com
3 Relax@12 –
A newcomer on Abu Dhabi’s
bar scene, Relax@12 is generally
packed out at weekends.
On the roof of the 12-storey
high Aloft Hotel, the bar has
great views over the whole of
the city.
A starting point for a night out
on the town.
Reasonably cheap and cheerful.
One of the capital’s hottest
new night spots. The bar’s lofty
location is a big draw.
Aloft Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi
National Exhibition Centre,
Khaleej Al Arabi Street
5pm to 2am
Tel: (02) 6545000
www.aloftabudhabi.com
12
13 Sh
4 NRG „
Noisy, with a boisterous horde
of discerning sports fan
congregating to cheer on
their teams.
Le Méridien Village is a dated
but cheery collection of bars
and restaurants.
Watching this summer’s packed
sporting calendar.
Booze is cheap, but the bar food
can be a bit pricey.
The place to catch what’s left of
the World Cup.
Le Méridien Abu Dhabi,
Tourist Club Area, Abu Dhabi
4pm to 1am
Tel: (02) 6446666
www.lemeridien.com
HOT ON
THOEceanHs, E ELS
Le Royal
11
Meridien ays
Ja zz Ba r/ Hemmingw Beri
o Ch o, So uk Qaryat Al
tana Yas Isla
nd
14 Y Bar, Ro
15 Th e Ta vern, Sheraton
Abu Dhabi
5 Brauhaus „
The German watering hole has
a warm, welcoming vibe.
The Beach Rotana is one of
Abu Dhabi’s classiest hotels. It’s
a shame the nearby roadworks
sometimes create traffic
gridlock.
If it’s a large a stein of
German lager or some quality
Teutonic dishes you’re after,
then Brauhaus is your man.
You’ll pay a little bit extra for
the unusual German beers
on offer.
Brauhaus is where you should
choose to hide during the sum-
mer months, hence its rise up
the charts.
Beach Rotana Hotel, Tourist
Club Area, Abu Dhabi
12.30pm to 11.30pm
Tel: (02) 6979000
www.rotana.com
 THE HOT LIST BARS
ARTS

Yacht Club

Trader Vic’s

6 Yacht Club „ 7 Heroes ‰ 8 Chameleon „ 9 Stills ‰ 10 TraderVic’s ‰

Nice and chilled to begin with, but This underground bar is packed, Small and intimate, with subdued The contemporary design and The live Cuban band lay down a
there’s a nightclub vibe later on. noisy and smoky at weekends. Just lighting and cosy alcoves. lengthy bar make Stills feel like a Samba beat to create a party vibe.
how a real bar should be. trendy, city bar.

With great bars and restaurants, the Its central Abu Dhabi location Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is a sparkling Barouk and Jing Asia are two Some of the city’s best food and
InterCon is a one-stop shop for a makes for easy access but difficult new out of town stopover. quality restaurants both within beverage outlets – such as Pregos
night out. for parking. walking distance of the bar. and Benihana – are housed at
this hotel.

Proving to visitors Abu Dhabi does Playing air guitar to the rock Fine cocktails and fine wines. A relaxing couple of post-work Cooling down this summer with
have a good nightlife. classics being churned out by the pints and a pie. a giant fruity cocktail.
house band.

Eye-wateringly expensive. The prices are low and they get Too many nights out at Chameleon Beer is about average for the capital, Your bar tab might resemble the
even lower during the many happy won’t impress your bank manager. while the food is slightly pricey. debt of a Third World country
hour promotions. if you order too many rounds of
cocktails.

A chart topper during the winter Heroes is the perfect place to escape The classiest venue to catch the Stills’ fish and chips are made Try the Mai Thai. It’s the drink
months thanks to its great terrace. the summer heat. few remaining games of the 2010 with cod, not hammour. So it’s that made the Trader Vic’s brand
But the interior’s pretty cool too, World Cup. authentically English. world famous.
and the ace line-up of DJs playing
here this month – including Said
Mrad, Hosse and Malik Alari –
merits a rise up the chart.

InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Al Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Between Crowne Plaza Yas Island, Beach Rotana, Tourist Club
Bateen, Abu Dhabi Hamdan Street, Abu Dhabi The Bridges, Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Area, Abu Dhabi
12.30pm to 3.30pm and 7pm to noon to 1am 6pm to 3am noon to 12.30am 12.30pm to 3.30pm and 7pm to
1am, Thurs and Fri, 7pm to 2.30am Tel: (02) 6210000 Tel: (02) 6543333 Tel: (02) 6563000 11.30pm
Tel: (02) 6666888 www.crowneplaza.com www.fairmont.com www.ichotelsgroup.com Tel: (02) 6979000
www.ichotelsgroup.com www.rotana.com

JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 109

MARCH
 ARTS

THE HOT LIST RESTAURANTS

THE ELITE OF THE EATING OUT SCENE
MPW Steakhouse & Grill

Toki

1 Bord Eau – 2 MPW Steak-

house & Grill –
3 Hakkasan
* 4 Chamas – 5 Ushna „

As soon as you walk through The joy of diners – all glad It’s been open less than Any given day of the week Chic and sophisticated, but
Bord Eau’s doors, it’s as if you’ve to be eating at Marco Pierre a month, but Hakkasan’s Chamas will be teaming with definitely Indian.
ATMOSPHERE

been whisked away to a luxuri- White’s Abu Dhabi outpost – is celebrity name is already hungry carnivores chewing
ous Parisian dining room. It clearly evident. drawing the punters in. their way through mountains
has charm and sophistication of meat.
in spades.

Think Paris – oil paintings, The dim lighting, dark walls The small alcoves divided by A cavernous, modern Warm lighting, earth-coloured
chandeliers, linen tablecloths and roaring fire (albeit a fake carved wood panelling create restaurant, with an open walls and comfortable seating
INTERIOR

and silver cutlery. It’s grand one) in the corner, create a an intimate atmosphere and kitchen in the corner create an inviting atmosphere.
without being stuffy. snug, warming atmosphere. conceal the fact that this is a bringing the place to life.
huge restaurant.

The finest ingredients, flown An uncluttered menu, full Think traditional Chinese Ignore the delicious selection of Delicately spiced curries that
in direct from Europe, and of simple but superb English dishes, with a touch of bread and instead wait for the are world’s apart from the less
Chef Jean Hurstel’s imaginative dishes. From the Cornish crab seven-star luxury. The dim charred beef, lamb, turkey and subtle versions served in many
FOOD

menu packed with classic cakes to the Lancashire hotpot sum are astounding, as is the chicken that are sliced straight back street diners.
French dishes explain why Bord to the Eton mess, it’s all faultless. silver cod in champagne sauce. onto your plate by the waiters.
Eau is the best in the capital.
LOCATION

With plenty of designer stores The shiny, new Fairmont Bab Al The Emirates Palace has an The nearby Belgian Café and You can’t turn your nose up at
and cool bars, the nearby Souk Bahr is also home to ace Italian ATM machine that dispenses Yacht Club are great bars for a the amount of quality bars and
Qaryat Al Beri is worth a joint Frankie’s and super-cool real gold. Need we say more? soothing drink post-meat feast. restaurants at the Souk Qaryat
postprandial visit. Chameleon bar. Al Beri.

Dhs800 is about average for a As you have to pay extra for Your bill’s going to hit the Dhs600 for two is still a bargain. You’re meal shouldn’t cost more
PRICE

three-course meal for two. And vegetables, you could rack up four-figure mark. Expensive, than Dhs500, sans alcohol.
it’s worth every fil. a hefty bill. Dhs800 is about but understandably so.
average.

Iron a shirt or put on your best Marco may not be in the We love Hakkasan. And once it We’ve eaten at Chamas almost When we feel like a curry,
WHAT’S ON

frock for a meal in Abu Dhabi’s kitchen these days, but if his irons out a few minor teething every month since it opened Ushna’s where we head.
most elegant restaurant. name’s above the door you can troubles, it could well challenge two years ago. And we’re yet to
trust the chef who is. for top spot in our Hot List. tire of the place.
SAYS...

Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Emirates Palace, West InterContinental Abu Dhabi, Souk Qaryat Al Beri,
Between the Bridges, Abu Dhabi Between the Bridges, Abu Dhabi Corniche, Abu Dhabi Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi Between The Bridges, Abu Dhabi
6.30pm to 11.30pm 7pm to 1am 7pm to 11pm 7pm to midnight 12.30pm to 11.45pm
Tel: (02) 5098888 Tel: (02) 6543333 Tel: (02) 6909000 Tel: (02) 6666888 Tel: (02) 5581769
www.shangri-la.com www.fairmont.com www.hakkasan.com www.ichotelsgroup.com www.cplmg.com

WHAT’SON
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20102010

Kazu
6 Toki ‰
Toki’s quickly becoming the
capital’s favourite Japanese
restaurant, so you’d better book
if you want to guarantee a table.
The dark walls and neon lighting
create a sophisticated, sexy and
decidedly Japanese feel to the place.
A vast menu full of regional
Japanese dishes that you won’t find
anywhere else in the Emirates.
Hilton Abu Dhabi’s at
the traffic-free far end
of the Corniche.
You’ll pay about Dhs300 per
person, without drinks.
Toki is still the best Japanese
restaurant in the capital. But
on our last visit, it seemed a
tad empty. Hopefully it’s just a
temporary summer blip.
Hilton Abu Dhabi, Corniche,
Abu Dhabi
7pm to 11pm
Tel: (02) 6814151
www.hilton.com
HOT ON
THE H EELStana
l, Beach Ro
ril
11Rodeo G lace
Emirates Pa
12 Etoiles, Abu Dhabi
ia,
13 Sardin
Country Club s Palace
na, Emirate
14 Mezzalu InterContinental
ket,
15 Fishmar
Abu Dhabi
Finz
7 Nautilus ‰ 8 Kazu –
Modern and stylish. With views Lively, with the large open
of the luxury marina and F1 kitchen and sushi bar in the
racetrack, this is Abu Dhabi centre powering the restaurant.
glamour at its finest.
Minimalist, with pristine white Like the rest of the Yas Hotel, it’s
walls and neon lighting. minimalist and modern, while the
rows of bamboo rods are a nod to
the Far East.
The freshest fish, crabs, lobsters The sushi’s superb, but it’s the
and shellfish cooked to perfection succulent meats and fishes from
in a range of purées. the robatayaki grill that are the
standout dishes.
If you haven’t been to Yas Hotel Once you arrive at Yas Island,
yet, get there now. It’s a stunning you’ll find there are more than
landmark. enough bars and restaurants to
have made the trip worthwhile.
Expect to cough up Dhs800 for You can quite easily enjoy a
three courses for two people. satisfying three-course meal for
less than Dhs500.
The best seafood restaurant in A recently introduced new menu,
Abu Dhabi. Simple as that. with numerous new dishes, earns
Kazu a place in our Hot List.
The Yas Hotel, Yas Island, The Yas Hotel, Yas Island, Abu
Abu Dhabi Dhabi
7pm to 11pm 12.30pm to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm
Tel: (02) 6560600 Tel: (02) 6560600
www.theyashotel.com www.theyashotel.com
THE HOT LIST RESTAURANTS
ARTS
9 Finz –
The waterside chalet is a tranquil
and romantic dining spot.
A nautical theme, with fishing
nets, lobster baskets and shark
skulls adorning the walls, as well
as a giant fishtank in the corner.
Either choose one of the a la carte
dishes, or the catch of the day in a
variety of sauces.
We recommend heading to the
nearby Trader Vic’s for a refreshing
post-meal cocktail.
Expect your wallet to be Dhs700
lighter after a meal for two here.
Freshly-caught fish and top
quality European ingredients
make for fine dishes. It’s a simple
equation that the chefs at Finz
live by.
Beach Rotana, Abu Dhabi
12.30pm to 3.30pm and 7pm
to 11.30pm
Tel: (02) 6979000
www.rotana.com
MARCH
10 Mombasa
Grille –
Busy without being heaving.
You won’t feel you have to rush
your meal to make way for
incoming diners.
Think the Lion King or Tarzan,
with spears, masks and animal
skins lining the walls.
Named after the cosmopolitan
Kenyan port of Mombassa, the
restaurant serves up an impressive
range of international food. From
African ostrich steaks to Indian
curries, it’s all top notch.
We recommend hitting our
number one Abu Dhabi bar, Left
Bank, after your meal as it’s mere
yards away.
Three courses for you and your
companion shouldn’t set you
back more than Dhs600.
If you thought international
restaurants were jacks of all
trades, masters of none, think
again. Mombasa Grille destroys
this myth.
Souk Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi
Sun to Thurs, 3pm to 11pm,
Fri, noon to 3pm and 6pm to late
Tel: (02) 5581868
www.mombasagrille.ae
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 111
 THE HOT LIST SPAS
THE DADDIES OF THE HEALTH AND LEISURE SCENE

Anantara Spa

Eden Spa

1 Anantara 2 Chi Spa „ 3 Zen Spa ‰ 4 Anantara 5 The Spa „

Spa – Spa „
They’re masters in the art of Professional and friendly. Not They’re all about making sure The predominantly Thai A multinational team of
THERAPISTS

pampering. The therapists much in the way of unwanted you feel comfortable. They want therapists are charming, therapists, hailing from as far a
are among the best in the small talk, and that’s a good to make sure the temperature of friendly and welcoming. field as Zimbabwe and Nepal.
business. thing in our book. the room and the music being
played is to your liking.

In a word? Luxurious. From Filipino Hilot massages Loads of choice and the All your usual massages, Two different menus for men
Treatments such as Journey to caviar facials, it’s extensive to creative team are always plus some unusual ones too, and women, both packed with
MENU

To The Island of Java and say the least. devising new treatments. including exfoliating sand baths imaginative options.
Gateway To Arabia are as and water-based Vichy spas.
opulent as they sound.

A palatial spa, set in its own A total of ten tranquil treatment Modern, clean and spacious. Enjoy a rub down on the There’s a functional feel
THE SPA

wing of the world’s most rooms, all decorated with dark massage table as you gaze with minimalist décor and
expensive hotel. wood walls, giving a Tibetan through the windows at the dim lighting.
Buddhist temple vibe. undulating desert dunes.

It’s a seven-star hotel and on the The Chi Spa is pretty costly, but It’s a five-star hotel but prices Expensive, but not We’d say it was mid-range.
PRICE

pricey side. A 60-minute back your treatment will be so good aren’t excessive. For example, unreasonably so.
massage is Dhs475 and that’s you won’t feel short-changed. the aromatherapy massage costs
the cheapest treatment on offer. Dhs348 for an hour.

Book the caviar facial and We recommend getting here The signature treatment, The spa itself is a good enough We tried the Deep Sleep and
reason to visit this luxurious
WHAT’S ON

you’ll come out feeling a early to relax before your spa in which combines Thai Indigo Ice treatments this
million dollars. the huge hot tub. massage, acupressure and desert retreat. month (p81). Both are simply
aromatherapy, is up there sublime.
SAYS...

with the best massages we’ve

ever had.

Emirates Palace, West Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Beach Rotana Hotel, Tourist Qasr Al Sarab, Liwa Desert, Radisson Blu Hotel, Yas
Corniche, Abu Dhabi Between the Bridges, Abu Dhabi Club Area, Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Island, Abu Dhabi
10am to 10pm 10am to 10pm 10am to 10pm 10am to 10pm 9am to 9pm
Tel: (02) 6909000 Tel: (02) 5098888 Tel: (02) 6979000 Tel: (02) 8862088 Tel: (02) 6562000
www.emiratespalace.com www.shangri-la.com www.rotana.com www.qasralsarab.anantara.com www.radissonblu.com

WHAT’SON
112 WHAT’S ON JULY
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20102010

Zen Spa
6 Serenity Spa ‰
They’re friendly, welcoming
and genuinely concerned about
giving you just the treatment
you want.
The full gamut of massages,
plus a few unusual ones
thrown in. We particularly like
the Aroma Massage, which
combines body exfoliation and
a deep tissue massage.
On the mezzanine floor above
a shop, this Renaissance-style
spa has rooms for facials,
massages, Moroccan baths
and hair styling.
Reasonably priced. Dhs450 for
the 90-minute Aroma Massage
is an undisputed bargain.
A hidden gem that deserves
to be found. Probably the best
female-only spa in the capital.
Serenity Spa, above Paris
Gallery, Zayed The First Street,
Khalidiyah, Abu Dhabi
10am to 10pm
Tel: (02) 6778880
www.uae-parisgallery.com
11 Zenzu Sp ul Health Club & Spa,
13 Orient
7 Hiltonia Health
Club & Spa ‰
Like a every British granny they’ll
offer you tea, tea and more tea. We
love our grannies and we love a
nice cup of tea.
A wide-ranging menu, including
waxing, manicures and luxurious
treatment packages.
A cosy little spa with Oriental
themed décor. No complaints
from us.
Surprisingly affordable. The Tropical
Bliss massage costs Dhs695. And as
you have two masseurs rubbing you
down it’s pretty good value.
Hiltonia has the perfect location,
as there’s rarely any traffic jams in
the area, making for easy access
for a lunchtime treatment.
Hiltonia Beach Club, Corniche,
Abu Dhabi
10am to 9pm
Tel: (02) 6924324
www.hilton.com
THE HOT LIST ARTS
SPAS
HOT ON
THa,EAlH EELS y Hotel
Diar Regenc
So
12 Body & ach Hotel
Al Raha Be Street,
al Sp a & Fitness, 32nd
Al Bate en
a Mall
Spa, Marin
14 Man/Age ealth & Fitness,
H
15 Le Club um Hotel
Millenni
Abu Dhabi
8 Eden Spa ‰ 9 Sharinas 10 The Lounge –
Wellness Spa ‰
They’re all knowledgeable, but Unobtrusive and knowledgeable, A crack team of hairdressers and
therapist Fe has been there for 15 the girls here are consummate masseurs. They’re all dedicated
years and is a bona fide genius, experts in the art of massage. to making the men-folk look and
particularly when it comes to mas- feel better.
sages and facials.
With a spa, hamman and hair From waxing to blow dries, The whole spectrum of
salon, it’s extensive to say the least. Sharinas covers all the treatment treatments – from haircuts
bases to make ladies look better. to hammam baths.
The huge relaxation pool is It’s based in a huge villa in Khalifa A large villa that’s centrally located
the centrepiece of this bright A. A decadent escape from the but also has plenty of parking.
and airy spa. hectic pace of city life.
The Spa Prestige Moisturising You’ll pay less than you would Dhs240 for a full body massage
Facial will set you back Dhs660. for the equivalent treatment in a isn’t going to break the bank.
About mid-range for the capital. hotel spa.
Try the ultimate pampering A ladies’ only spa that’s a great girls’ For those of you with a Y
experience. It’s one of the best day out. Perfect for a hen outing. chromosome, this is the best
treatments we’ve ever had. male-only spa in town.
Le Méridien, Tourist Club Area, Corner of 35th and 62nd Street, Khaleej Al Arabi Street, Abu
Abu Dhabi Khalifa A, Abu Dhabi Dhabi
9am to 11pm 9am to 9pm 11am to 10pm
Tel: (02) 6446666 Tel: (02) 5562601 Tel: (02) 6677377
www.starwoodhotels.com www.sharanisspa.com www.thelounge.ae
JULY 2010 WHAT’S ON 113
MARCH
 Backchat
Whilst speaking to my parents the other
day I was saddened to hear that my aunt is
selling her house. Auntie Stella has lived in
this simple two-up two-down for as long I
can remember. It has been a constant in my
life since my life began.
This is the house where I discovered that
real butter would always taste better than
margarine on toast (made with white sliced
bread, of course). It’s the house where I went
to over 30 birthday parties, ate countless
butterfly cakes and played numerous games
of pass-the-parcel, wishing for the prize but
dreading the forfeit.
This is the house where my cousin Lindsey
(now a lawyer in the Big Smoke that is
London, and who will kill me for writing this)
and I recorded make-believe radio station
tapes, talking in-between David Bowie tracks
and interviewing each other about nonsense.
If only somebody had put a stop to it then,
maybe you wouldn’t have to endure what you
do now on the drive to work every morning .
I have a million other memories and
snapshots of this little house. Stella always
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114 WHAT’S ON JULY 2010
has a real Christmas tree and it is always,
without fail, too big for the room. Every
Christmas evening my ever-growing family
would crowd into the kitchen and living
room to eat, drink, laugh, reminisce and
while away the evening before heading off
to different homes in different cities and,
in my case, a different continent. Other
than a few emails or an occasional hello on
Facebook, that annual festive get-together is
the glue that bonds a family.
Part of me was tempted to ask Auntie
Stella how much she wanted for the house.
I’m at that age where I’m drowning in a sea
of change, clinging on to every memory I
can before they float away forever.
I have been wondering if I’ll ever feel
this way about my time in the Middle East.
Some expats leave Dubai when they’ve
had enough. They feel like they’ve been
chewed-up for however long before being
spat-out straight into the departure lounge.
They leave wanting nothing more than to
never see another replica Burj Al Arab for
the rest of their days.
with Catboy
I’m not there yet, and probably never will
be. I love it here. There are things I don’t get
along with, but there were plenty of those
feelings in Britain, too. For the most part, life
is pretty good in the Emirates and has been
since I arrived here.
So, earlier this week I thought I’d have a go
at summoning some short-term nostalgia.
I drove to my old villa in Mirdif. I lived there
for my first four years in the UAE and only left
because the landlord had perfected his Basil
Fawlty impression a little too well.
I started thinking about how many drives
home from the studio I’d done along that
road past Festival City. Everything I drove
past held a different memory. Uptown
Mirdif – that was just a Spinneys and a
pile of bricks when I arrived. Open House
takeaway, where I’d spent at least a quarter
of my wages on butter chicken. And the
villa itself, where there had been barbecues,
pool parties, karaoke nights, numerous cat
experiences, neighbours who became good
friends, and others I was glad to see the
back of. Lots of late nights and even more
early mornings.
I realised that at any point throughout the
rest of my life I would be able to return to
this little corner of Mirdif and these feelings
would return… Or, at least until someone
builds the world’s biggest, solid-gold,
diamond-encrusted, camel-shaped hotel on
top of it.
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