Monte-Carlo Beach Club Executive Chef Gavin Gleeson says it's his responsibility to produce high quality dishes.
My first memories in the kitchen are of starting as an apprentice at Dromaland Castle, in Country Clare Ireland. I was 15-years-old and upon arriving in the old castle's kitchen I was instantly mesmerized by the array of produce on offer, from herbs I'd never heard of, to plucking pheasants, it was an entirely new world to me. It was my first experience of working in a kitchen and the head chef was notorious for his short temper and tendency to scream during service. if it wasn't for me being so scared of him, I think I would have left there and then.
The first dish I remember making as an aspiring chef was Foie Gras terrine. I had been in the kitchen for three years at that stage and had only ever been responsible for sandwiches, breakfast and vegetables, which never really felt like cooking to me. I was so proud after making my first terrine, it'll be a memory that will always stick with me and a dish I'm still very fond of today.
I was once told: 'When you are right, you are right and no one can ever tell you wrong.' What this means is that as a chef is you should never send a dish you are not willing to lay your name to. It's my responsibility to produce dishes that are up to the appropriate standard for where I am cooking. If I haven't done that then I've only got myself to blame.
If I could choose one dish for my last meal it would be smoked salmon, Irish brown bread, Kerry gold butter (very important), loads of capers and onions
What makes me happiest is when I'm developing a new menu and my staff are excited about learning it. Exactly what I've been doing recently at Monte-Carlo Beach Club, Saadiyat.
For me, the culinary scene in the UAE is a lot of trial and error to find the good places but so worth it when you do.
Monte-Carlo Beach Club is on Saadiyat Island. For details go to www.montecarlobeachclub.ae
Top investing tips for UAE residents in 2021
Build an emergency fund: Make sure you have enough cash to cover six months of expenses as a buffer against unexpected problems before you begin investing, advises Steve Cronin, the founder of DeadSimpleSaving.com.
Think long-term: When you invest, you need to have a long-term mindset, so don’t worry about momentary ups and downs in the stock market.
Invest worldwide: Diversify your investments globally, ideally by way of a global stock index fund.
Is your money tied up: Avoid anything where you cannot get your money back in full within a month at any time without any penalty.
Skip past the promises: “If an investment product is offering more than 10 per cent return per year, it is either extremely risky or a scam,” Mr Cronin says.
Choose plans with low fees: Make sure that any funds you buy do not charge more than 1 per cent in fees, Mr Cronin says. “If you invest by yourself, you can easily stay below this figure.” Managed funds and commissionable investments often come with higher fees.
Be sceptical about recommendations: If someone suggests an investment to you, ask if they stand to gain, advises Mr Cronin. “If they are receiving commission, they are unlikely to recommend an investment that’s best for you.”
Get financially independent: Mr Cronin advises UAE residents to pursue financial independence. Start with a Google search and improve your knowledge via expat investing websites or Facebook groups such as SimplyFI.
THREE
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Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
Naga
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2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now
Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.
The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.
1. For those who have worked between one and five years, on a basic salary of Dh10,000 (calculation based on 30 days):
a. Dh10,000 ÷ 30 = Dh333.33. Your daily wage is Dh333.33
b. Dh333.33 x 21 = Dh7,000. So 21 days salary equates to Dh7,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service. Multiply this figure for every year of service up to five years.
2. For those who have worked more than five years
c. 333.33 x 30 = Dh10,000. So 30 days’ salary is Dh10,000 in gratuity entitlement for each year of service.
Note: The maximum figure cannot exceed two years total salary figure.
