Le Petite 'Mazing

We celebrated Daniel's university acceptance at Le Petite Maison in DIFC. It also happened to be our last night in Dubai. As the following comments will tell you, there was no better way to end an amazing month in Dubai than Le Petite Maison. 

Calamars Frits
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45 Dhs 

The system at Le Petite Maison is to order a variety of dishes and share between your party. I felt reluctant to share the calamari, as I could've gone for seconds with how perfectly crisp and chewy these were. -Mari

The calamari was scrumptious. It was perfectly crispy and had a little unique twist that I've never tasted before. It was easily in the top five calamari I've ever had. -Daniel

Crevette Ti'des - l'Huile d'Olive
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 70 Dhs

The essence of olive oil with these plump shrimps were exquisite! -Mari

With each bite of the juicy shrimp there was a subtle hint of olive oil. Simple and delicious. -Daniel

Salad de Haricots Verts au Foie Gras
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70 Dhs

It's green beans with foie gras people. What more can I say. -Mari

Poulpe Finement Tranchés
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105 Dhs 

The thin sliced octopus was delicious. It wasn't chewy at all, and tasted like it was just pulled out of the water. -Daniel

Aubergine Grillée, Mozzarella et Crevettes au Pistou
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125 Dhs 

My absolute favorite appetizer of the night! It's literally all my favorite things (eggplant, cheese, shrimp) grilled to an absolute mouthwatering masterpiece. -Mari

Coquelet au Citron Confit
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120 Dhs 

I remember being a little skeptical when my dad first ordered this, as when we ordered it on a previous visit it wasn't up to its usual LPM standards. Hence I was pleasantly surprised when it was tender and juicy. -Mari

The chicken was delicious. The skin was crispy, the chicken was juicy, and the citron confit gave just the right amount of umph. -Daniel

Entrecôte Grillée
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265 Dhs

Perfect. -Mari

This steak was the definition of amazing. It was grilled to perfection in an awesome salt rub. It came with two sauces, but I only tried the horseradish. The steak itself was so good after one bite with horseradish I enjoyed it alone and do not regret my choice. -Daniel

Salmon Grillé
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185 Dhs

I wasn't able to accept the salmon as much as the other dishes. There was a distinct taste of the salmon that I wasn't so sure of.  -Mari 

The salmon was too fishy for me. -Daniel

Rigatoni aux Cépes
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160 Dhs 

I'm not the biggest fan of creamy pastas, but boy did this change my mind. The cream wasn't overwhelming or heavy- it melted in my mouth with every bite. -Mari 

This pasta was delicious. Each bite was extremely pleasurable, and I would love to eat it again. -Daniel

Tarte Fine
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40 Dhs

This is how every apple tart should be. The ratio of apple to crust should be 5:1. Warm, soft, baked apple topped with malt ice-cream, need I say more? -Mari

The apple tart was perfect. The crust was thin and wasn't the main attraction. -Daniel

Pain Perdu et sa Glace aux Epices
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45 Dhs 

I can't even comment about LPM's french toast without getting excited/emotional. All I can say is you have to have this simple dessert in order to understand what I'm feeling right now. -Mari

Before we went to dinner Mari was raving about the french toast. She kept saying how amazing it was, and she was right. This french toast was so simple yet so different. It's crispy on the outside but fluffy and delicious on the inside. This with spiced ice cream is divine. -Daniel

Mousse au Chocolat Chaud et Glace à l’Orge
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60 Dhs

Simplicity at its finest. Hot, gooey chocolate cake topped with creamy ice-cream. Who doesn't like that combo? -Mari

*NEW* Caramel Mousse
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This is one of LPM's new desserts! You know when you don't know what to expect when you try something new? The mouthgasm you experience when you first put this to your tongue is incredible. It was all the humanly divine textures possible in a small bowl. -Mari

We just want to thank everybody who's viewed our blog so far! The feedback and love we receive is what keeps us going :)

Zaroob-ing for Lunch

Today was our last day to eat whatever we wanted in Dubai. Going to Zaroob for lunch was a no brainer for us! 

Falafel 8 pc
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10 Dhs

 These are literally fried to perfection. Crunchy on the outside, moist and flavorful on the inside. They're not too oily and I couldn't help but soak them in the garlic sauce for that extra "Umph". -Mari

10/10 would eat again. Best falafels EVER. Perfect in every single way possible. -Daniel

Lebanese Hummus
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16 Dhs

The hummus was good, but it had a little too much olive oil and could have done with a bit more garlic.  -Daniel

Creamy perfection in every bite. Can't stop with the bread.

Fried Haloumi
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18 Dhs

 I'm crazy for cheese, so fried haloumi at Zaroob was a must have. It hit the spot like it always does. The saltiness mixes perfectly with the sweet grilled tomatoes. -Daniel

Chicken Shawarma Platter
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26 Dhs

Every ingredient of a shawarma piled generously on a huge plate. We were so full from the starters we had to take some home. Everything about this platter is amazing. The fries have an awesome paprika seasoning, the chicken is terrific for a shawarma, and the garlic butter was divine. Add in pickle, lettuce, and tomato and you have a bite of perfection. -Daniel

OVERALL

Zaroob is a must if you're visiting Dubai. It's extremely reasonable versus most restaurants, and the food quality is extraordinary. Service inside needs a little work, but the service outside is awesome (and the atmosphere is too if the weather is good). -Daniel

Dapoer Kita in Al Karama

 If you are serious foodies like us, you know that hole-in-the-walls are the best place to get your fix for authentic foods. Dapoer Kita serves authentic Indonesian cuisine, and I mean the good stuff. It's totally worth the messy parking in Al Karama. 

Dapoer Kita

Tempeh
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On the way to Al Karama, I literally put my hands together and prayed that there would be some Tempeh left in the hot plate. These go really fast if you don't get there early enough as they're a staple for Indonesian cuisine. Something so oily couldn't taste any better than this. You have to have them! -Mari

Soto Ayam
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18 Dhs

Nasi Goreng with Sate Ayam
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22 Dhs

I remember stuffing my mouth for my first bite. I also remember having the most intense mouthgasm ever. I can confidently say that this Nasi Goreng tasted just as good as the one they had at the local hawker stalls down in South East Asia. My personal favorite is cutting a chunk of the Tempeh and eating it with the rice, do it next time you have the chance. You'll thank me later. -Mari

Kwetiau Goreng Seafood
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22 Dhs

 Having been away from home for a while I had to get my fix of Southeast Asian food. When I saw Indonesian kwetiau goreng I knew it would hit the spot and more. It tasted amazing; just like the char kuey teow at the hawker stalls five minutes from my house in Malaysia. -Daniel

Nasi Campur
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Price varies depending on items (and amount) chosen

Bateel Brunch

Friday morning brunch at Bateel.

There's a reason why this Date Balsamic Vinegar is 59 Dhs for just 100ml, it tastes divine. I personally loved the fig and olive roll with the combination of olive oil and balsamic vinegar (aged 6 years). -Mari

Qahwa (served traditionally in dallah pot with dates)
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21 Dhs

This is a traditional Arabic coffee and it has no caffeine. This coffee is for relaxing instead of energizing. It has the scent of cardamom and it's very mellow. -Mari

Belgian Waffles
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30 Dhs

The waffles were so light and fluffy yet crisp on the edges. The option of combining it with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and raspberry coulis was pure luxury. -Mari

Eggs Benedict
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36 Dhs

Perfection. This was easily the best eggs benedict I've ever had. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this dish. -Daniel

No time to look at the camera.

Bento-Ya (Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!)

Bento-Ya is a safe haven for the Japanese expats living in Dubai. It's definitely the closest thing to hit 'home' when you're living abroad, with everything from bento boxes to sushi rolls and Mugi-cha.

Torikara (Spicy)
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42 Dhs

 Maybe just a little bit too oily for me, but I loved that there wasn't any chicken cartilage or gross fat. Japanese fried chicken is my absolute comfort food. -Mari

The chicken was extremely tender and tasted awesome. It wasn't overwhelmingly spicy, but it was a bit too oily. -Daniel

Mini Moyashi-Miso Ramen
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35 Dhs

Mini Katsu-Don
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~40 Dhs

 Regarding both the mini ramen and katsu-don, they're actually from the hidden Japanese menu! It's great that you can enjoy two meals that are usually polar opposites of each other in smaller proportions (without falling into a food coma).

Ten Chili Roll (26 Dhs)
Salmon Crunchy Roll (30 Dhs)
Crunchy California Roll (32 Dhs)
Overall: ✭✭✭✭✩

You can't order California Rolls or Salmon Rolls and look at them from an authentic point of view. For what it is, it's delicious. Definitely hit the spot- Mari

The ten chili roll was really tasty with the ebi tempura and chili sauce. I liked the simplicity of the salmon crunchy roll. I'm not a huge fan of california rolls though so no comment there. -Daniel

Aji Tataki and Aji Fry Bento Box
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70 Dhs

At home it's hard to be able to create both Fried Aji and Aji Tataki. So to be able to enjoy both at such convenience is great. Simple and satisfactory. - Our Sponsor

It's an awesome little hole in the wall if you're craving Japanese food in Dubai, and they've even got a grocery store (Gourmet-Ya) down the street. -Daniel

"Eating is an agricultural act."

Have you guys heard of Eataly? Everything is fresh and straight off the plane from Italy. You can watch your food go through the process of being made from scratch. I think it's a nice getaway lunch from the busy scene of Dubai. - Mari

Nothing goes better with crisp fluffy bread than olive oil and balsamic vinegar (and a pinch of salt)!

Mozzarella in Carrozza
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35 Dhs
(Picture credit to our wonderful sponsor!) 

I could barely stay still and patiently take angle shots of the fried mozzarella when they were laid in front of us. It was fried to the perfect golden crisp, and I'm not sure if it's because I was absolutely starving, but they tasted like heaven in fine breadcrumbs. -Mari 

I stuffed my face furiously with bread while waiting for Mari to get the right photo for the fried mozzarella. These fried mozzarella triangles were divine and had the perfect amount of dried tomato and pesto. The only bad thing about this appetizer was that it ended. -Daniel

Look at this bad boy.

Tagliatelle Alla Genovese
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52 Dhs 

"Eat your greens" doesn't sound so bad when you have this on your plate. -Mari

Lasagne Alla Genovese
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56 Dhs 

This dish defies the stereotype of lasagna having to be meat/tomato sauce based. It was a unique texture and I loved it. It was my favorite vegetables (yes, potato being one of them) covered in pasta and cheese. -Mari

Elegante
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49 Dhs

The sliced pears accented this salad perfectly. The cherry tomatoes were the perfect hardness and the cheese, oh my goodness the cheese- it pulled the whole salad together. It's hard to find an enjoyable salad, but I definitely felt satisfied after eating this one. -Mari 

Spaghetti Alla Chitarra in Pecorino Cream Sauce
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56 Dhs

I had a craving for cheese today and this definitely hit the spot. This mountain of spaghetti had a generous amount of cheese and was lightly peppered. I opted for the parmigiano reggiano on top and the mix of the two cheeses was mouthwatering. If I need any future cheese fixes I know exactly where to go. -Daniel

Overall the Eataly experience was satisfying. The only complaints we had are minor and not food related. The tables could have been a bit farther from the products though as it felt like people kept walking by. The chairs could have also been a bit sturdier. Service was excellent and we will probably return again when we're craving Eatalian. -Daniel

"好吃吗?" (Is it good?)

Getting ready to review Royal China!

Jasmine Flower Tea
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~30 Dhs

It was like any other tea, just with flower petals going into your mouth every sip. -Mari

Mixed Seafood Lettuce Wrap
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48 Dhs

We would have to agree that this was our favorite dish of the night, the aperitif. We loved the texture of the seafood and water chestnut combined, topped with dark soy sauce and wrapped in crisp lettuce.

Mixed Seafood on Crispy Fried Noodle
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52 Dhs

It was bland and soggy by the time I got to it. Tasteless and definitely needed some more vinegar or soy sauce for flavor. Half way through the noodles became a hassle to eat- I had to question the 'crispy' part of the name. -Mari

I didn't even bother once I took the first bite of the noodles. The flavor was extremely plain and the noodles were at an awkward state between crispy and soggy and there was plenty of good food on the table. -Daniel

Fried Rice with Diced Chicken and Salted Fish
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42 Dhs

No chinese meal is complete without a good bowl of fried rice, and this just did the trick. -Mari

Braised Bean curd with Mixed Seafood
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78 Dhs

Thinking back, this dish wasn't memorable at all. Like the 'crispy' fried noodles it lacked flavor, and the tofu was really dense. -Mari

We had braised bean curd? - Daniel

Lemon Chicken
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68 Dhs

I would say this dish is more for the Western customers, somewhat similar to the 'fried chicken' concept. The chicken is tender and crispy. Not much to complain about here! - Mari

I have to agree with Mari on this one. When I was in China I did not see lemon chicken in any restaurant we went to, and have never seen it featured as "Chinese" until today. Regardless, it was good chicken.  -Daniel

Garlic Pak Choy
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48 Dhs

Whenever I'm at a Chinese restaurant, I have to order greens. I always contemplate between Kailan and pak choy, and it has to be garlic sauteed or XO sauce. Today I chose the garlic sauteed Pak Choy, it just compliments the rest of the dishes so well! -Mari

Royal China's garlic Pak Choy was similar to Din Tai Fung's (which is amazing) and was a nice part of the meal. -Daniel

Toffee Banana with a scoop of Vanilla Ice-cream
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50 Dhs

The toffee banana was a great way to end the meal. The crispy toffee shell complimented the moist banana inside really well. The ice cream was the cherry on top and made this dessert perfect. - Daniel

The atmosphere was nice but very cliche, the food was quality Chinese food. The only thing I would change if I could is the service. Our waiter was very antsy/nervous and gave off an uncomfortable aura. Overall though the experience at Royal China was good. - Daniel

Being Asian, there's something about walking into a restaurant that stereotypes what 'Asia' is. When they use modern decorations such as red velvet curtains and white leather seats it throws me off of what's supposed to be 'authentic' Chinese food. Otherwise, I enjoyed our dinner. Nothing completes a good meal like good company. -Mari