Nestled in the heart of bustling Business Bay is Kimchi Nom Nom, a cloud kitchen launched in January. Its menu takes diners on a culinary journey through the vibrant streets of Seoul and, as the name suggests, kimchi is a part of a variety of dishes.
However, the real highlight of Kimchi Nom Nom – which regularly caters to educational institutions, including Khalifa and Zayed Universities, and events, particularly K-pop gatherings – is the renowned chef behind the brand. Maha Nakli brings 27 years of culinary expertise and is celebrated for her innovative dishes.
“From curating experiences for elite London clientele, I have transitioned to a private freelance chef in Dubai's luxurious communities where I am the orchestrator of opulent gastronomic experiences,” Nakli tells The National.
Fusion of interests
The chef was also part of the cooking segment on the popular MBC morning show Sabah Il Khair Ya Arab for three years. One might wonder how Nakli, who is originally from Syria and has an Italian passport, mastered Korean cuisine. “I am fuelled by an insatiable passion for Korean culinary traditions,” she says. “Kimchi Nom Nom is not just a kitchen, it's an invitation to savour the magic when experience and passion meet on the plate.”
Nakli’s right hand and partner is chef Hye Yeon Lee, who grew up on Korean food. “As an international student surviving in foreign countries, I struggled to find home-flavoured food,” Lee says. “However, a trip to Turkey led me to a small, authentic Korean restaurant in Istanbul, reminiscent of my grandmother's cooking.
“This encounter fuelled a dream to open a restaurant that offers genuine, unaltered flavours that evoke a sense of home.”
For all that, Kimchi Nom Nom has several fusion dishes on its menu. Think beef bulgogi tacos, kimchi fried rice burritos and cheese corndogs.
Although the bulgogi is on the sweeter side for my taste buds, the tender meat pairs perfectly with the taco. As a burrito fan, the kimchi fried rice version is mouthwatering and offers a satisfying crunch and a perfect blend of spicy and savoury flavours. The cheese corndog is another standout, with its crispy exterior and gooey cheese providing a deliciously indulgent treat.
“Fusion cuisine allows us to experiment and create innovative dishes that offer new and exciting flavour combinations, appealing to adventurous eaters,” says Nakli.
If your tastes are a bit more traditional, here are three dishes to try that still benefit from Nakli's tweaks.
Tteokbokki rice cake
A blend of rice cake, fish cake and cream sauce, this tastes like traditional tteokbokki, but the added cream balances the spiciness perfectly. The cream also adds a thick texture that complements the chewy rice cakes and the savoury fish cakes, creating a blend of flavours.
The restaurant’s take on this classic dish is a comforting, hearty option that showcases the chef's ability to innovate while staying true to authentic Korean flavours.
Beef bulgogi bento
For those seeking a variety of dishes on one plate, the bento box might be a good option. It includes bulgogi, two types of kimchi, rice, egg rolls, salad and kimbap.
A unique element in this dish is the salad, a refreshing twist to the traditional Korean lunch box. Although salads are usually the last thing I would reach for in a meal, this one is served to clear the palate after every bite.
The kimchi-heavy box is perfect for fans of the fermented vegetable dish. “It is renowned for its tangy, spicy and umami-rich flavours,” explains Nakli. “As such, it adds depth and zing to any dish, making it more exciting and delicious.”
Kimbap ‘triangle’ rice balls
If, like me, you are a fan of K-dramas and variety shows, where characters often pop into stores to grab banana milk and kimbap, Kimchi Nom Nom's “triangle” kimbap is one dish you'll definitely want to try. While the packaging can be tricky to open, the taste is exactly as you'd imagine. The seaweed, rice, mayo and tuna blend make for a beautifully satisfying treat.
Catering to all requirements
While meat lovers can indulge in bulgogi and braised short ribs, and seafood enthusiasts have seafood pancakes and kimchi jjigae with tuna, Kimchi Nom Nom even has vegetarians and vegans covered. Enjoy customisable bibimbap, glass noodles, kimbap, kimchi fried rice, kimchi jjigae and even vegan tteokbokki.
“Adaptability is key to our success. We stay agile by closely monitoring market trends and proactively responding to evolving needs,” says Nakli. It is little wonder, then, that Kimchi Nom Nom is set to evolve from a delivery-only kitchen to a space with outdoor seating come winter.
The specs
Engine: 2.9-litre, V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: seven-speed PDK dual clutch automatic
Power: 375bhp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh332,800
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Feeding the thousands for iftar
Six industrial scale vats of 500litres each are used to cook the kanji or broth
Each vat contains kanji or porridge to feed 1,000 people
The rice porridge is poured into a 500ml plastic box
350 plastic tubs are placed in one container trolley
Each aluminium container trolley weighing 300kg is unloaded by a small crane fitted on a truck
Racecard
%3Cp%3E8.30pm%3A%20Wathba%20Stallions%20Cup%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(PA)%20Dh70%2C000%20(Turf)%201%2C200m%3Cbr%3E9pm%3A%20Yas%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C400m%3Cbr%3E9.30pm%3A%20Saadiyat%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3Cbr%3E10pm%3A%20Reem%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%202%2C200m%3Cbr%3E10.30pm%3A%20Arabian%20Triple%20Crown%20Round%203%20%E2%80%93%20Group%203%20(PA)%20Dh300%2C000%20(T)%202%2C400m%3Cbr%3E11pm%3A%20Al%20Maryah%20Island%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh80%2C000%20(T)%201%2C600m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: Aston Martin DB11 V8 vs Ferrari GTC4Lusso T
Price, base: Dh840,000; Dh120,000
Engine: 4.0L V8 twin-turbo; 3.9L V8 turbo
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; seven-speed automatic
Power: 509hp @ 6,000rpm; 601hp @ 7,500rpm
Torque: 695Nm @ 2,000rpm; 760Nm @ 3,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.9L / 100km; 11.6L / 100km
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
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The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
THE APPRENTICE
Director: Ali Abbasi
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
