Sweet treats
Sometimes we want just a bite of something decadent and don't want to be consumed with calorific guilt. That's when we at M get a mini cupcake or a mini fruit tart - or a dozen of them to share - from Bon Appetit coffee shop, a convenient stone's throw away from us on Muroor Road. While the patisserie offers a full line of baked goods, and the coffee shop side of it boasts shisha for those who indulge, it's the cunning little treats - white or dark cake topped with various icings, or lemony custards adorned with glazed fruits - that keep us coming back for more. At only Dh3 or Dh3.5 each, they're certainly affordable. And yes, we must admit: sometimes we take two, they are very small.
Bon Appetit, Muroor Road between 15th Street and Delma Street, 02 443 9432, bon.appt www.gourmetabudhabi.ae
A recipe for the perfect culinary extravaganza
Mix together a good measure of Abu Dhabi's finest restaurants, add a sprinkle of international master chefs and pâtissiers, throw in a fantastic celebrity guest line-up and blend well. Indulge and enjoy. Gourmet Abu Dhabi is back for the third year running to tickle the capital's taste buds. From February 2-17, the food festival promises plenty of culinary masterclasses, celebrity dinners and opportunities to taste some of the best international cuisine.
Bookings for Gourmet Abu Dhabi can be made by e-mailing info a laid-back lounge best suited to a light lunch or afternoon tea, and the restaurant specialising in grilled prime cuts and seafood. The low-key décor belies an elaborate menu with a modern international edge; think Australian slow-cooked salt bush lamb with glazed pumpkin (Dh260), Kobe beef sirloin (Dh440) and grade seven Australian wagyu sirloin (Dh450). Time to start dropping hints to your loved one in time for Valentine's Day, we reckon.
At.mosphere, Burj Khalifa, Downtown Dubai, 04 888 3828, www.atmosphereburjkhalifa.com
Keeping up with the Joneses
Fans of the Australian brand Jones the Grocer can rejoice as three more stores are planned for the UAE. Since Jones opened in Abu Dhabi in 2009, those of us in the capital have thoroughly enjoyed indulging in their large dining area and bringing home goodies from their delicatessen, bakery, fromagerie and grocery. The first new store opening will take place on Wednesday in Khalidiya. That will soon be followed by another Jones in Raha Gardens and Dubai's first store, on Sheikh Zayed Road, later this spring.
Food for thought
This Gourmet Abu Dhabi we're going to feed not only ourselves but also the children of the world, simply by getting this "Feed" teddy from The One. The bear is made from organic cotton and burlap and raises funds for malnourished children around the world and for the production of "Plumpy'nut", a nutritious therapeutic paste used in famine relief. The booklet hanging on the bear's ear tells a children's story about the idea behind "Feed".
Dh149, The One, Zayed The First Street, 02 681 6500; Jumeirah Beach Road, 04 345 6687 and elsewhere
An egg-citing start to the day
Whether you are a dab hand in the kitchen or a novice chef, there is perhaps no simpler dish than a boiled egg. Prepare one in style with these fabulous character egg cups and you will impress your family and friends.
Ritzenhoff Friends Ceramic Egg Cups with Egg Cosy, Dh118, Harvest Home, Jumeirah Centre, 04 324 0225
Take a stand
Imagine the kitchen scene: sticky fingers, and flour, sugar and sauces everywhere. Don't you just hate it when your cookery book gets covered in food mess before the dish even hits the oven? Now here's a good idea, a cookery book holder that has a see-through cover so you can protect your favourite recipes from the splashes and smudges of your food preparation. You could even use it for Marco Pierre White's recipe on page 41.
Cookery book stand, Dh119, available from Crate and Barrel, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, 04 399 0125
