Located in Index Mall in DIFC, Copala serves up authentic Mexican dishes made with fresh ingredients that are sourced locally or directly from Mexico - plus delicious non-alcoholic mixes, which the head chef whips up for The National in the video above.
The three Mexican restauranteurs behind Copala created it to share the culture and heritage of their homeland through food and to add to Dubai’s multicultural culinary landscape.
The atmosphere at Copala is welcoming, and the restaurant has a casual and relaxed cafe atmosphere with friendly staff.
The dishes on the menu range from what guacamole made with Mexican Hass avocados and Tijuana quesadillas to enchilada rancheras with hand-made corn tortillas. Also on the menu is Mexican truffle rice, tortilla soup and wild mushroom fritters.
A delightful surprise is Copala’s range of mocktails.
As non-alcoholic drinks gain popularity worldwide, the range of options for those who enjoy a fine-dining experience, but would prefer an alcohol-free beverage are increasing. Copala is adding its own twist to the trend with authentically Mexican, unique, colourful and a varied range of mocktails.
The first is the cocktail de tuna or the prickly cactus fig. Don’t let the name tuna fool you — it this is not a fish, but a fruit.
Considered a delicacy, the Mexican tuna from Hidalgo grows from a cactus. While naturally not very sugary, the mocktail is sweetened with Melipona honey from Yucatan, which comes from stingless bees, and has a unique taste and texture that adds a subtle sweet flavour to the drink without overpowering the taste of the fruit. The drink is refreshing, the texture smooth and the taste reminiscent of a sweet pear.
Next is the Michelada, a drink for those who like a sour twist. Non-alcoholic dry beer, lime juice, Maggi and Worcestershire sauces, hints of chilli and served in a salt-rimmed glass, this is sour and spicy, yet refreshing and the perfect way to cool off on a hot day.
For something with a bit of a kick, the tomato-based drink ojo rojo will definitely do the trick. Non-alcoholic dry beer, tomato and clam juice are mixed together with lime juice, Maggi and Worcestershire sauces, and served in a Tajin chilli-rimmed glass.
Then there’s the white Mexican sangria. Jicama, a Mexican sweet turnip, is mixed with roasted pineapple, house-made mango preserve, pomegranate, dry rose wine and watermelon tonic water. Perfect to pair with a light dish, this non-alcoholic sangria is sweet, refreshing and pretty to look at.
Day 5, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Given the problems Sri Lanka have had in recent times, it was apt the winning catch was taken by Dinesh Chandimal. He is one of seven different captains Sri Lanka have had in just the past two years. He leads in understated fashion, but by example. His century in the first innings of this series set the shock win in motion.
Stat of the day This was the ninth Test Pakistan have lost in their past 11 matches, a run that started when they lost the final match of their three-Test series against West Indies in Sharjah last year. They have not drawn a match in almost two years and 19 matches, since they were held by England at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in 2015.
The verdict Mickey Arthur basically acknowledged he had erred by basing Pakistan’s gameplan around three seam bowlers and asking for pitches with plenty of grass in Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. Why would Pakistan want to change the method that has treated them so well on these grounds in the past 10 years? It is unlikely Misbah-ul-Haq would have made the same mistake.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Draw for Europa League last-16
Istanbul Basaksehir v Copenhagen; Olympiakos Piraeus v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Rangers v Bayer Leverkusen; VfL Wolfsburg v Shakhtar Donetsk; Inter Milan v Getafe
Sevilla v AS Roma; Eintracht Frankfurt or Salzburg v Basel; LASK v Manchester United
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group F
Manchester City v Hoffenheim, midnight (Wednesday, UAE)
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Saint-Etienne v Montpellier (10.45pm)
Saturday
Monaco v Caen (7pm)
Amiens v Bordeaux (10pm)
Angers v Toulouse (10pm)
Metz v Dijon (10pm)
Nantes v Guingamp (10pm)
Rennes v Lille (10pm)
Sunday
Nice v Strasbourg (5pm)
Troyes v Lyon (7pm)
Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (11pm)
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
