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

SAPORI di BLEGH

Bice Italian has a pretty good rep due to their amazing food, so when we saw Sapori di Bice we needed to give it a try. 

English Breakfast
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70 Dhs 

I ordered the American Breakfast set, but the waitress had brought out the English breakfast. I figured oh well it's been 20 minutes and it looks okay, so I said no worries. When she set it down I was saddened by the presentation. The egg yolk was popped and dried, the sausages were cold, and the food quality was not equivalent to the price. The best part of my breakfast was honestly the yogurt and cereal. -Daniel 

Smoked Salmon and Scrambled Eggs on Toast
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42 Dhs

The salmon was pungent and overpowered the rest of the food. 

Belgian Waffles with Seasonal Berries
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42 Dhs

Since I wasn't able to get my Belgian waffle fix at Cafe Belge, I was excited when I saw they had it for breakfast on the menu. Sadly, not only did it take 40 min for the waitress to bring it to the table but the waffle was the most pathetic looking waffle I had ever seen in my life. The taste was bland and soggy (probably from sitting in the kitchen for 30 min before it came out). One piece of strawberry even made me gag because it tasted like the inside of a fridge. -Mari

OVERALL

The service was extremely slow and lacking (like the food). She kept making the excuse that they were extremely busy, but there were only three tables of customers. We ordered a second orange juice and it never came but was on the check. We asked if they could remove it and they brought it out when we were trying to pay to leave. The waitress also promised us syrup for our pancakes and the waffle, which, once again, never showed up. 

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

Rice and Creamy

I scream, you scream, we all scream for rice cream... wait what? After a heavy dinner, we had no intentions of putting anything in our mouths for the rest of the night. That is, until we walked past Rice Creamery. 

Crunchy Munchy topped with Crushed Almonds
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(Size S) 15 Dhs

More S'More topped with Rice Crispies
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(Size M) 25 Dhs

I'm a rice lover no doubt, but I wasn't too sure whether I wanted rice for dessert when I first walked into Rice Creamery. I was absolutely in love as soon as I had a taster of all the different flavors available (Red and Velvety, Choco Loco) and even if my stomach was absolutely against putting anymore food in my mouth, I went against my rationality. The cup of rice pudding never got boring, and for our More S'More the marshmallows added that 'Umph' of perfection between crispy and chewy. The store interior lacked a lot and seemed a bit awkward with its designing, but the taste of these puddings made up for it no doubt. -Mari 

Endless combinations with twenty different flavours and over thirty different toppings were possible. The product was just as amazing as the idea. In my first bite I got a small chewy chunk of marshmallow, crispy rice crispies, and creamy chocolate rice pudding. The flavour was perfect; it wasn't too sweet, and wasn't bland. I almost didn't want to share with Mari (especially after what she said about the interior). I thought the interior really suited the idea. The design was very unique and minimalistic. There was also just enough space between the tables and the counter so that people weren't awkwardly standing in food stealing range. - 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

One Meat-er please.

Having been to Turkey before, I was really excited to re-visit Turkish cuisines tonight at Turkish Village. The neon lights and cartoon-y signs threw me off a little bit, but I was more than delighted when we received our food. Here's what we ordered: 

Turkish Shepard's Salad
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20 Dhs 

Simple and refreshing! I loved the hint of lime juice. -Mari

Tasty simple salad with some pepper and lime juice to top it off. No complaints. -Daniel

Fresh Zaater Salad
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18 Dhs

 It looked like garden weeds. It was a little sour and the black pepper was very prominent in my mouth. -Mari

The lemon was overwhelming and the thyme had a very strong presence. The tomatoes were very juicy and fresh, and the greens weren't too soggy. - Daniel

Istanbul Borek (dip in yogurt with herbs)
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20 Dhs

 As soon as I asked the waiter what borek was and he replied it was crust filled with cheese, I had to order it. It was so crispy on the outside and the cheese just melted into your mouth. I'm already craving  this again. -Mari

When my eyes ran past borek in the menu I knew I wanted it. When Mari ordered it I did a little happy dance inside, and then another once I took my first bite. -Daniel

Cheese Pide
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35 Dhs

 What can I say, I'm a sucker when it comes to melted cheese and bread. I didn't want this Pide to finish. -Mari

I had my eye on the kawarma and cheese pide but decided against it since we were already going to have a meter of kebab, and I'm happy I did. The melted halloumi on the cheese pide was perfect and I savoured every bite. -Daniel

One Meter Adana Kebab
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275 Dhs

Crispy on the edges and juicy in the middle, perfect kebab- and it was a meter long! -Mari

I was amazed when over three feet of kebab was laid in front of us.  Being a meat lover it felt like I was in heaven. The meat was perfect and I got to eat at least half of it (I love being a vacuum cleaner). The only thing you need to watch out for is the green chiles that line the sides. I thought they were green beans and stuck two in my mouth and instantly regretted my decision. -Daniel

Künefe
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30 Dhs

 I always stay away from the overly-drenched-in-syrup desserts, but when I heard that the Kunefe was freshly made on the spot, I had to try it. It was beyond sensational. Crunchy, moist, syrupy, added with that cream was just absolute perfection. -Mari 

The Kunefe came out still warm from the kitchen and tasted amazing. I devoured the piece I had and will probably dream about the taste tonight. -Daniel

Baklava with Turkish Ice Cream
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25 Dhs

A little bit too sweet and heavy for my taste! Still I could tell it was great Baklava. -Mari

The Baklava was perfect. It was flaky, rich, and the sweetness was perfect. It was complimented extremely well by the traditional Turkish ice cream, and perfected with a warm glass of Turkish tea (10Dhs). -Daniel

The restaurant looked like a tourist trap from the outside, but the tastes proved otherwise. The food was authentic Turkish food and really hit the spot. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and the decorations were modest. The service was great; our waiter (Roy) was very attentive and friendly. Overall I feel this restaurant was a great experience and I would love to go back. -Daniel