Anyone who's dipped crusty bread into balsamic vinegar and olive oil or twirled a fork through spaghetti aglio e olio would agree with Chef Marcello Rivetti when he calls olive oil "a pillar" of Italian cuisine.
"Extra virgin olive oil is one of the principles of good, healthy Italian food," says Rivetti, the executive corporate chef for Bice International - headquartered in Dubai - which oversees Bice restaurants outside the US.
We're on the terrace of one of the newest, Bice Mare, looking out on the pool and fountains between Souk al Bahar and Burj Khalifa. Between us stand several slender bottles with silver spouts, three of the nine varieties of olive oil used in the restaurant. "This one," Rivetti says, turning the bottle so I can see the label, "is numbered. The company produces only 2,000 bottles a year. Maybe."
But maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves. I still don't understand the difference between extra virgin olive oil and plain olive oil, except that I prefer the deeper, stronger flavour of extra virgin, even for baking.
"Extra virgin is the simplest process," explains Rivetti, who's worked in Italian restaurants from Seoul to Singapore, Paris to New Zealand. "The olives are picked, then mashed within 48 hours. More than 48 hours and the acidity level and bitterness will be too high. Extra virgin can only have up to point eight per cent acidity. If there's more, it's olive oil."
Mashing is also critical. "The best is when the olives are mashed cold," says Rivetti, adding that the machinery is simple: a massive stone wheel that turns, crushes and macerates the olives. "A mill basically, with the stone keeping the oil cold." And the pits? Rivetti smiles. "They're mashed right into the oil."
This little primer is, of course, a drop in the bottle. One could talk and read and write about olive oil forever, including debating whether the first olive trees were grown on Crete or in Syria. (The Romans were the first who actually produced olive oil.) Still, there are several points Rivetti wants to impress upon me.
First, the health benefits: "Extra virgin olive oil is good for our hair, skin and metabolism. It's full of vitamins, contains 'good' cholesterol and antioxidants. It's the doctor of olive oils."
To find the healthiest blends, he suggests a careful read of the label. "Look for cold-pressed extra virgin and nutrition facts, such as the acidity level. A serious company will include this."
Of course, Rivetti, whose childhood was spent in his grandmother's kitchen in Breschia wearing an apron and standing on a chair next to her ("something in my DNA"), knows numbers tell only part of the story.
"There are a thousand things that affect the taste. Different climates have different soils. In Italy we have more than 100 different varieties of olives, which are then combined into an unlimited number of blends. In Tuscany, for example, the salinity from the sea carried by the wind gives a particular flavour to the olive oil." Diners have begun filling the tables around us - it's nearly lunch time and the chef is needed. But for that moment he's somewhere in an olive grove in Italy.
Yes, it's great for frying, cooking and whisking into dressings and marinades. But what about sweet baking with olive oil? Chef Rivetti created the cake below for one of his earlier restaurants and loves its "fragrant taste" and "light consistency". Makes 20 squares.
Ingredients
200ml orange juice, freshly squeezed and strained (about 3 oranges)
¾ tsp baking soda
4 eggs
370g caster sugar
180ml extra virgin olive oil
225g plain flour
2 heaping tsp baking powder
50g cocoa powder
Method
Pour the orange juice into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in the baking soda (it will fizz) and leave to cool for 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Grease a 23cm x 30cm x 5cm baking pan with olive oil and set aside. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and olive oil with a mixer. Sift the flour, baking powder and cocoa together into another large bowl, then whisk to thoroughly combine. In three additions, combine the dry ingredients with the olive oil mixture, beating well. Mix in the cooled orange juice. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35-40 minutes until the cake is risen and firm and a cake tester comes out clean. (Be careful the edges don't burn before the centre is fully baked - you may need to tent the outer edges with foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.) Run a knife around the edge and cool completely.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20NOTHING%20PHONE%20(2a)
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
On sale: now
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Changing visa rules
For decades the UAE has granted two and three year visas to foreign workers, tied to their current employer. Now that's changing.
Last year, the UAE cabinet also approved providing 10-year visas to foreigners with investments in the UAE of at least Dh10 million, if non-real estate assets account for at least 60 per cent of the total. Investors can bring their spouses and children into the country.
It also approved five-year residency to owners of UAE real estate worth at least 5 million dirhams.
The government also said that leading academics, medical doctors, scientists, engineers and star students would be eligible for similar long-term visas, without the need for financial investments in the country.
The first batch - 20 finalists for the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinction.- were awarded in January and more are expected to follow.
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.
The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?
My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.
The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.
So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The team
Photographer: Mateusz Stefanowski at Art Factory
Videographer: Jear Valasquez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Model: Randa at Art Factory Videographer’s assistant: Zanong Magat
Photographer’s assistant: Sophia Shlykova
With thanks to Jubail Mangrove Park, Jubail Island, Abu Dhabi
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
Sheer grandeur
The Owo building is 14 storeys high, seven of which are below ground, with the 30,000 square feet of amenities located subterranean, including a 16-seat private cinema, seven lounges, a gym, games room, treatment suites and bicycle storage.
A clear distinction between the residences and the Raffles hotel with the amenities operated separately.
Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe
Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
More on Quran memorisation:
Miss Granny
Director: Joyce Bernal
Starring: Sarah Geronimo, James Reid, Xian Lim, Nova Villa
3/5
(Tagalog with Eng/Ar subtitles)
INFO
