It’s true what they say, time waits for no man…uh…time flies… no no time marches on! Either way you look at it I have now spent my third Christmas in Dubai, I can’t actually believe it. Seems like only yesterday I was doing the whole family thing times three (yeah divorced parents and one in-law). I can’t complain however, we spent a very merry weekend with some great friends here and had a wonderful time all in all, even if I did miss the fandamily (just a little bit).
The day before Christmas Eve I braved the Mall to do a last spot of shopping – it wasn’t as crazy as I was expecting, but nevertheless Stu would have lost his mind. I can deal with the crowds, tyre-kickers, babies in strollers, you name it (if I have to) but the thing that drives me slowly insane is being bombarded in each and every store by a different cheesy Christmas carol or stars forbid, Boney-M. This year was no exception and seemed actually worse than last year, or maybe I wasn’t this silly last year and had stayed away this close to day.
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Category: food
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festive sand dunes
[our lovely Christmas table] -
good enough to eat
We received a small Christmas gift yesterday at work from one of our suppliers – a clear plastic bauble filled with hand-made choccies – the idea being that you could hang on the tree (well you could if you didn’t devour them all in 1 nanosecond like I did).
Anyway the company that makes the chocolates are a local firm called Chocolat or, as they also like to be known, your Swiss Chocolatiers of the Desert.
Passion has a Taste
I have to say the chocolates were some of the nicest I have had in a while.
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meat free monday
There was an interesting article in the National newspaper’s magazine section this weekend, about what various families and people in the UAE, specifically Abu Dhabi I would guess, spend on a week on groceries. It was quite a wake-up call to see that some families spend a lot less than we do on groceries, and there are only 2 of us (plus some rather fussy felines granted). So Stu was of the opinion that we should try and eat less meat in the week, as meat is really quite expensive here, especially if you are a bit fussy like I am and try to buy organic or free-range where you can.
[I support MFM]
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ooo-la-la
We have just moved to a lovely, brand new, much bigger villa in Sports City. I am really really excited that we now have a proper shower as opposed to a shower attachment above the bath-tub (which for some reason is the norm here), and of course really happy that we are paying less money for more space, but most of all I am thrilled at my brand new discovery – a lovely and seemingly very authentic French bakery.
[macaroons and a yummy choccie eclair]
The bakery is one of the new retail shops along the main street through Uptown Motorcity, just along from the new new Spinneys, apprently the biggest one in Dubai. The only teeny tiny gripe I have is the parking – or should I say the lack thereof. When all the apartments are occupied it’s going to be impossible, especially as there is a very officious security guard phoning the registration numbers of illegal parkers in to Dubai Police (yes we had words). Anyway, please don’t let that stop you from trying “Le Succès” (that’s the bakery). If you would like to pre-order anything, like say a yummy quiche, the number is 04-4474163.
Tres delicieux.
And no, they didnt pay me for this, I just had to share the great news. -
local organic veggies….at last!
I am extremely excited to read about the opening of a farm shop selling locally grown, seasonal, organic fruit and veg – right here in Dubai! The best part is, it’s just around the corner (kinda). The produce is grown at their farm, which is on the Dubai-Hatta road, about 50kms from Dubai.
I will check the shop out Sunday morning I think, and let you know.
The farm’s name is Nazwa and the story in the National can be found here.
Did I mention how excited I am? 😉