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EXCLUSIVE!
JAMIE OLIVER
ARRIVES IN
DUBAI
54 WAYS TO IMPROVE
UAE DHS 10 OMAN RO 1.000
16
Backstreet curries
We’ve scoured Bur
Dubai and beyond for
Dubai’s spiciest secrets
21
New year, new you
Yup, it’s that time of
p12
year again. Make your
resolutions and stick to
them with our essential
guide
p34
JANUARY 2011 WHAT’S ON 3
The round-up
p52
10 55
Salaam Sport and outdoor
Everything you need to Mr Fitness tackles your
know about January, January issues, plus
plus a chat with a we meet a triathlete
National Geographic and show you how to
photographer prepare for the Dubai
marathon
14
Win win win 61
Your chance to win an Music and clubs
extra special night at Musician Jay Wud gets
Zuma, on us. Bubbles chilly, plus which dance
and nibbles included floors you should be
hitting this month
28
Films 65
Heavy hitters from the Travel
silver screen including Swiss bliss in Ascona,
Black Swan, The Green the top travel deals and
Hornet and Simon going on holiday with
Pegg’s latest offering, the founder of Lonely
Paul Planet
31 73
Eating out Hot lists
Exciting Arabic at Who will start the year
Zaroob, the new at the top of the table?
farmers’ market, a
visit to Stay by Yannick 90
Alléno, the latest Backchat
openings and more Catboy kicks off 2011
with an anti-resolution
40 resolution
Art
Behind the scenes at
Shakespeare 4 Kids,
five minutes with Syrian
painter Kais Salman
and the exhibitions you
must see this month
44
Shopping
Our must-have buys
of the month, plus the
sartorially chic Sophia
helps out readers in
need
47
Mind and body
We investigate at-home
spas, visit the capital's
Zayna Spa, check out
p40
the new Talise spa and
find the best beauty
bargains
Senior Editor
Mark Evans | marke@motivate.ae
Deputy Editor
Helen Spearman | helen@motivate.ae
Features Editor
Gareth Rees | gareth@motivate.ae Cooking with local produce, p36
Chief Sub Editor
Iain Smith | iains@motivate.ae
Senior Designer
Sheila Lyn Carino | sheila@motivate.ae
Editorial Assistant/Picture Researcher
Karen Sequeira | karen@motivate.ae
Picture Researcher - Gulfpics
Wayne Fernandez | wayne@motivate.ae
Contributors
Naveed Ahmed, Victor Besa, James Brennan,
Louise Browne, Vikram Gawde, James Houghton,
Catherine Jarvie, Russell Kempson, Richard Luck,
Conor Purcell, Farooq Salik, Thomas Shambler,
Simon Smedley, Sophia Triantafillou,
Trying spas at
Adam Workman Completing our training, p55 home, p50
Cover
Antoine Corbineau/folioart.co.uk
General Manager
Production and Circulation
S Sasidharan | sasidharan@motivate.ae
Editor’s note
Production Manager
Sudhakar Chandran | sudhakar@motivate.ae OK, I’m going to let you in on a secret – I’m actually writing this
Production Controller
Murali Krishnan | muralik@motivate.ae before the new year.
I know, I’m sorry, I’m spoiling the magazine magic here, and I don’t
General Manager – Group Sales
Anthony Milne | anthony@motivate.ae want to go all Marty McFly on you, but the fact is New Year, New
Senior Advertisement Manager You is still about two and half weeks away for me at this stage. So
Dale Isaac | dale@motivate.ae
Advertisement Manager while I’d dearly love to extol the virtues of a sound mind and body,
Varsha Bhatia | varsha@motivate.ae as Team What’s On have done so beautifully from page 21, Team What’s On’s Editor
General Manager, Abu Dhabi
Joe Marrit | joe@motivate.ae is busy eating Pad Thai and drinking a can of fizzy orange. But don’t let my example
Advertisement Manager, Abu Dhabi bother you – come new year (which, er, is now for you), I’ll be right there with you,
Darryl Wiley | darryl@motivate.ae
sorting both mind and body. We (and I say ‘we’, but I mean ‘the team’ – I’m busy with
Annual Subscription GCC Dhs120 other countries US$70 that Pad Thai, remember?) have come up with the definitive guide to a better 2011
(including Airmail charges)
and, ultimately, a better you. From finances to finding new friends, from getting in
shape to this year’s trendiest travel destinations, we’ve got you covered.
And, come January (for me – we’ve already established that’s now for you), I’ll be
joining you and ditching the Thai food for carrots and all the rest of it. But for now,
keep that a secret.
Head Office: PO Box 2331, Dubai, UAE
Tel: +971 4 282 4060, Fax: +971 4 282 4436, Happy New Year, and all the best for 2011.
E-mail: motivate@motivate.ae
Dubai Media City: Office 508, 5th Floor,
Building 8, Dubai, UAE, Enjoy the issue.
Tel: +971 4 390 3550, Fax: +971 4 390 4845
Abu Dhabi: PO Box 43072, UAE,
Tel: +971 2 677 2005, Fax: +971 2 677 0124,
E-mail: editor-wo@motivate.ae
London: Acre House, 11/15 William Road,
London NW1 3ER, UK,
E-mail: motivateuk@motivate.ae
Salaam!
Follow us at WhatsOnDubai for
exclusive updates on nightlife,
restaurants and more around the
UAE. Tweet yourself.
90%
(that’s us) is launching a
nationwide photography
exhibition. Send in your best
pics illustrating the culture,
heritage and history of the MARCO PIERRE WHITE
UAE and, if you win, your Having flown to London to interview the
snap will be included in a coffee table purportedly fearsome chef in 2009, we ended
book – plus you’ll receive US$1,000. up dining at Frankie’s in Abu Dhabi with the
Deadline Feb 20. man (and, oddly, the Queen of England’s
www.motivatepublishing.com cousin) last time he was out to visit his UAE
restaurants. So we’re looking forward to his
We told you so...
Eco-fridge next visit, which we hear could well be in PHARRELL WILLIAMS AND N.E.R.D
We like to do our bit for the environment, February. Oh, we’re good. We broke this one
so we were mighty impressed with this months ago, and, indeed, hip hop/R&B
35%
little gizmo. The Eco-fridge doesn’t use star Pharell and his band N.E.R.D will per-
electricity; instead, the polystyrene fridge form in the UAE, at the Gulf Bike Week,
uses a dry ice compartment to cool Feb 10 to 12.
perishables simultaneously saving your
frozen goods and the environment. What EVERYTHING EVERYTHING MACY GRAY
will they think of next? The art rock outfit from England’s Manches- We heard a rumour about this one early
Carbonic International, Attar Centre, ter are being hailed as the next big thing in last year, and sure enough, American R&B
opposite BurJuman Centre, Bur Dubai, their home country. Howard from Take That songstress Macy Gray is coming to the
Dubai, Dhs49 is a big fan, apparently. We’re pretty tight UAE, and will appear at the Dubai Jazz
with the drummer’s sister, and she tells us the Festival, Feb 17.
band is keen to pay us a visit in 2011.
What’s not
Thursdays
According to figures recently released by
This month we’re going to…
Dubai Traffic Police, 135 people died in traffic
accidents in the first ten months of 2010 – 27 DUBAI SHOPPING FESTIVAL
of those deaths occurred on Thursdays. The Christmas is over and you’re suffering from
total number of deaths declined by 30.4 per the January blues. What better way to cheer
cent, though, so it’s not all bad news. Just be yourself up than bagging some bargains
careful next Thursday. at the Dubai Shopping Festival? A few tips.
Make sure you save some money (we always
Temperature complaints forget DSF and spend all our money early in
It’s not cold. It’s still 20-odd degrees. The sun the month), shop strategically and go early –
is shining. Half of Europe is buried under on the first day, if possible. Happy shopping.
snow, with minus temperatures – that’s cold. Jan 20 to Feb 20, Dubai. www.
ISTOCK
down… until now. Jamie Oliver. Gennaro Contaldo at London’s Neal Street handkerchief full, bursting into tears on his
PUKKA
From the Hindi word meaning genuine or
perfectly done. Used during Oliver’s The
Naked Chef at least 100 times an episode,
but later replaced with delish, which
means something entirely different.
LOVELY JUBBLY
Stolen from David Jason’s dodgy dealer
Del Boy from 1980s British comedy TV
show Only Fools And Horses. Oliver also
purloined cushty from Del Boy.
WHACK IT IN
THE OVEN
Meaning put that item in the oven in
an enthusiastic manner and be quick
about it.
DELISH
Those edibles look delicious and are
causing me to salivate and lick my lips.
GO ON, MY SON
Meaning keep doing what you’re doing
in exactly the manner you are currently
doing it in. This doesn’t have to be
directed at your male progeny, though
we are sure Oliver says it to little Buddy
Bear Maurice Oliver on a daily basis.
US TV show Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution sceptical view and question whether the which will never get a Michelin star.”
because the tubby citizens of Huntington, chef ’s motives are entirely pure – and many Maybe not, but at just 35 Oliver seems to
West Virginia didn’t take kindly to him or have – his obvious and ongoing passion be doing OK without one, and his love of
his urges to eat healthier food. makes it seem unlikely that he simply started Italian food, and the fact that the his mentor
“The whole crying thing comes up a lot,” the campaign to prolong his time in the Gennaro Contaldo has had a hand in the
he sighs, resignedly. “It’s as if no one watched limelight. menu, should ensure that Jamie’s Italian is as
the rest of the series – just the scene with It is perhaps harder to understand why an big a hit in Dubai as it has been in the UK.
the crying. That was very early on, and I obviously talented chef didn’t wait to make “As with everything I do, I’m all over
was getting grief all the time. I was missing a name for himself in the kitchen, like Gary it – menus, design, everything down to
home and it all just got on top of me. But if and Gordon, before jumping in front of the cutlery,” he promises. “What to order?
you watch the rest of the series, it gets better, the TV cameras. After all, surely TV glory Anything you like, although you must try
people’s opinions change, the kids and parents meant losing the race for culinary glory, the anti misti planks and I know the fresh,
are amazingly supportive and by the last show including the chance of the much-coveted locally caught fish cooked in the wood-fired
the town’s moving in the right direction.” Michelin stars? oven is going to be incredible.”
But that wasn’t Oliver’s first success. “I never regret that for a minute,” he Come the end of the month, ladies and
As a result of an earlier campaign for shoots back in an instant. “I’d much rather gentleman, you can find out for yourself –
healthier school meals in the UK, the be doing the campaigns and writing the finally.
British government made a pledge to tackle books that I put my heart and soul into and Jan 26, Jamie’s Italian, Festival Centre, Dubai
the issue. So while it’s tempting to take a doing wonderful food at Jamie’s Italian, Festival City, Dubai. www.jamieoliver.com/italian
WIN! AN EVENING AT
ZUMA WITH WHAT’S ON
We’re kicking off our new Saturday Sessions afternoon at Zuma
and want you to be there. Starting on January 29, What’s On’s
favourite Japanese restaurant will be hosting us every month
for a winning mix of jazzy, loungey beats and their award-
winning setting from 4pm to 7pm. There’s a table waiting with
champagne and canapés for you and three pals and for your
chance to win, simply answer the following question correctly…
Zuma won what accolade at the 2010 What’s On awards?
a) Favourite American pie
b) Favourite Japanese restaurant
c) Favourite Scotch egg
ON
CLICHKMOTIVATE.CDOS
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IT A
.WINW ND LO
WWW TER THIS A ITIONS
TO EN PET
COM
MORE
ISTOCK
cuisine at bargain prices
VENUS VEGETARIAN
RESTAURANT
High quality vegetarian food at budget
prices is a formula that guarantees Venus
is always crowded, with long queues on
Fridays and Saturdays. The crisp paper dosa
is complemented nicely by sambar and
several chutneys, a cauliflower-based dish
of dry gobi Manchurian is truly magnificent
and the creamy Venus special curry is perfect
with a butter naan.
Best dish: dry gobi Manchurian
Bill for two: Dhs50 a la carte
Opposite Dubai Central Laboratory, Karama,
Dubai, 7am to 11.30pm. Tel: (04) 3352113
Gazebo
MEZBAAN AKBAR’S
On the outskirts of Karama, Mezbaan offers Just three minutes from Al Rigga metro station,
an assortment of Indian and Chinese dishes, Akbar’s serves a mean mixed kebab platter
but specialises in Hyderabadi cuisine. Go for and a flavoursome dum mutton biryani, but
the mixed tandoori platter, which is exactly the chicken kurchan is the star, displaying the
what it says on the tin: moist chicken tikka best traits of Indian home cooking. The menu
kebab, mutton sheek kebab, resmi kebab, is dominated by North Indian dishes, but there
tandoori chicken with green chutney, biryani are also Chinese offerings and, somewhat
rice, bhagarey baigan and a soft rumali roti. brilliantly, a chat counter.
After that lot, don’t expect to have room for Best dish: chicken kurchan
anything else. Bill for two: Dhs100
Best dish: mixed tandoori platter Rigga Road, Deira, Dubai, noon to midnight.
Bill for two: Dhs80 Tel: (04) 2288789
Al Musallah Road, Karama, Dubai, noon to
midnight. Tel: (04) 3517863 BOMBAY CHOWPATTY
It may be in a mall food court, but serving
GAZEBO cuisine from both North and South India,
The words 'extensive menu' seem to have including street food, mains, juices and
been created just for Gazebo, which boasts sweets, means Bombay Chowpatty is no run Bombay Chowpatty
a huge menu. Always busy, there’s a real of the mill junk food stall. Kalli mirch chicken
buzz about the place, with staff on hand to and chicken Manchurian with paratha are
help you work your way through that menu, the people’s favourites, but it was the chicken
which includes a huge choice of superb tikka roll that reminded us of Mumbai.
dishes from Lucknow and Hyderabad. The Best dish: chicken tikka roll
murg chettinadu in a spicy masala is pretty Bill for two: Dhs60
fiery if you like things hot, but don’t miss the Lamcy Plaza, Karama, Dubai, 10.30am to
dum pukh biryani, which is cooked slowly midnight. Tel: (04) 3349489
over a fire and served in an earthenware pot.
Best dish: dum pukh biryani RANGOLI
Bill for two: Dhs100 Starting off with the cheese masala dosa
Al Mankool, Bur Dubai, noon to 3pm and 7pm before hitting the buffet is a good idea to stir Rangoli
to 11.45pm. Tel: (04) 3598555 up a massive appetite in preparation for the
VIVA GOA
Viva Goa is one of those venues that’s in
such an odd location, it’s a surprise anyone
can find it. That anyone does is down to its
reputation as a lively, sometimes boisterous,
venue that feels half underground club, half
backstreet diner. Colourful murals grace
the walls, while attentive staff serve a wide
variety of Goan dishes – including delicious
Goan sausages marinated in spices, tomato,
onion and green chilli, prawn curry and chilli
fried squid. Resident duo Conny and Vinny
keep diners entertained with a repertoire
of Goan and Mandos songs, courtesy of a
sound system that would do itself justice in
any nightclub.
Best dish: Goan sausages
Bill for two: Dhs150 and Dhs250
Al Nasr Leisureland, Oud Metha, Dubai, from
7pm until late. Tel: (04) 3371234
LUCKY
Parking’s a major issue here, so Lucky mainly
focuses on deliveries and takeaway, but
if you can bag one of the restaurant’s five
tables, eating in is possible. Lucky’s forte is
Mughlai cuisine, but they also offer Chinese,
albeit altered for the Indian palate. Their
biryani is the most stand-out dish and can
be traced to Lucky’s main Mumbai branch,
Bandra, opened, we’re reliably informed,
in 1938.
Best dish: biryani
Bill for two: Dhs85
Al Fahidi Street, opposite Mussalla Post Office,
Meena Bazaar, Bur Dubai, noon to 4pm and Viva Goa
7pm to 10.30pm. Tel: (04) 3534563
THE BOMBAY
As well as the vast meat and seafood
offerings, The Bombay offers plenty of
choice for vegetarians and even has a Jain
section. The Omani lobster with saffron is
an indulgent treat, but the pulao rice with
fruits and nuts is an unexpected star – laced
with not just the expected dried fruits and Paratha King
nuts, but also finely-chopped fresh kiwi
fruit, strawberries and grapes. The décor is
a strange mix of old and new, but there are primarily for takeaways), the purely vegetarian
some beautiful old photographs of Bombay, fare is a treat for any fan of budget Indian
with live music in the evening and classic cuisine. Flat bread stuffed with a wide variety
Bollywood hits playing throughout the day. of fillings (potato, cauliflower, onion, spinach,
Best dish: pulao rice cheese, green peas etc), offer a mouth-
Bill for two: Dhs300 watering choice, but the paneer tikka paratha
Marco Polo Hotel, Deira, Dubai, 12.30pm to is an instant hit, with the distinct Indian cheese
3pm and 7.30pm to 2am. Tel: (04) 2720000 mixing beautifully with various spices. If you
opt for a meal deal – costing a mere Dhs16 –
PARATHA KING your parathas can be accompanied by dal, raita
The paratha is the epitome of cheap and or chick pea curry.
cheerful Indian food, and none more so than Best dish: paneer tikka paratha
those served by Paratha King in Karama. Bill for two: Dhs32
The Bombay Although the restaurant offers only the Karama, Dubai, 10am to 3pm and 6pm
basic requirements necessary for eating (it is to11pm. Tel: (04) 3979110
Travel more
If you’re looking for adventure in
2011, Open Skies editor Conor
Purcell says you should buy your
ticket, pack your bags and take
off to one of these alternative
Take up a
challenge
Three ways to challenge yourself in 2011
DUPLAYS
Meet fellow sporty sorts at DUPLAYS, which
organises leagues for everything from
bowling to ultimate Frisbee.
www.duplays.com
Dubai Indie Film Group) to the downright events, this is a good one if you’re new in
WWW.MEETUP.COM bizarre (see The Carpet Appreciation Meet town. The forums are friendly and you can
Wowsers. Organised by city, this Up Group – sorry lads). join (very) special interest groups, such
mammoth website allows you to set up www.meetup.com as Social Fire Circles, which meets up to
and join groups, as well as contribute to practice playing with fire. Other groups just
a calendar for your city. The topics are WWW.SOCIALCIRCLESUAE.COM like to go out for a nice dinner.
diverse, ranging from the cultural (such as With over 5,000 member and plenty of www.socialcirclesuae.com
Give up smoking
Our resident social smoker THE VERDICT
braves hypnotherapy in an I was keen, both to try something I hadn’t
tried before and, of course, to quit the
attempt to kick the ciggies ciggies, but I have to admit I was nervous the
morning before my session. I didn’t like the
Put your hand up idea of losing control. But let me bust one
(the one without myth right from the off – hypnotherapy will
the cigarette in not leave you in a zombie state in thrall to
it) if you enjoy a your therapist. And you will not be made to
crafty smoke or 20 bark like a dog. If I was, I could have said no.
on a night out or “It’s like that state you’re in in the morning,
after dinner and when you’re not asleep but you’re not quite
a few glasses of awake,” explained Eileen during our pre-
something pleasant treatment chat. It was, indeed, just like that.
from Argentina. I was asked why I wanted to give up social
GAR E T H I’m imagining smoking and how much on a scale of one to THREE OTHER WAYS
R E ES hundreds of digits
reaching for the
ten. Then Eileen explained the purpose of the
hypnotherapy and how it would rid me of my
TO RID YOURSELF
clear blue desert skies little problem. OF THAT FILTHY
right now, and one of them is mine. To put it simply, the reason I was a social HABIT
I’ve been promising to quit ‘social smoking’ smoker is that I associated smoking cigarettes
for some time. Probably about three years. with having a good time and feeling relaxed,
I’ve tried will power, but when it comes to because when I smoked I was with friends NICOTINE GUM AND PATCHES
this little problem it seems my will is not that and in a positive state of mind. The purpose If you’re going to use the force to quit,
powerful. Now it’s time to take drastic action. of the hypnotherapy was to break that it’s best to have a trusty lightsaber
I’m running a marathon this month. connection – to condition my subconscious on hand to help you beat your Darth
So, despite my fear of being made to mind not to associate smoking with having a Vader. For the quitter, nicotine gum
quack like a duck or something worse, good time, but rather see it as the disgusting and patches are your versions of Luke
I called up Synergy Medical Centre’s habit it truly is. Skywalker’s mighty whooshing weapon.
personal development trainer and certified Next time I go out for a drink with my Super-Care Pharmacy, Dubai Mall, gum Dhs15,
hypnotherapist Eileen Meehan and asked for friends, I simply won’t want to smoke, patches Dhs76. Tel: (04) 4341687.
an appointment. according to Eileen. www.thedubaimall.com
There are various professionals at Synergy So what exactly went down in that small
that can help with this particular problem. room at the Synergy Medical Centre? CHAMPIX
Martine Nates, for example, employs Well, after our initial conversation, I sat in This non-nicotine tablet is the trendy
acupuncture techniques to help you quit and a reclining chair (all a little bit Freud, but of quitter’s method of choice at the moment.
Dr Parviz Rashvand a computer programme course it would be), put my feet up and closed The hipster’s method reduces cravings
called QXCI to reduce cravings, which may my eyes while I was covered with a blanket and makes the whole process a lot more
well appeal to the more scientifically minded. to protect me from the A/C. You have to feel comfortable, apparently.
But I’ve always fancied being hypnotised so I completely comfortable. Super-Care Pharmacy, Dubai Mall, Dhs198. Tel:
went for that. First I was asked to imagine a ball of energy (04) 4341687.
First things first, though. This is not magic. travelling through me and relaxing my whole www.thedubaimall.com
You have to be prepared to work with your body, from head to toe. Then came the time
therapist to achieve the result you’re hoping line therapy. Essentially travelling back into ACUPUNCTURE
for. your past and telling your younger self not Dubai Herbal And Treatment Centre
“The most important thing is that you do to take up smoking, then into the future to provides a consultation with a doctor
want to quit as we can’t influence anyone see yourself in a situation where you would (Dhs300) and tailor acupuncture sessions to
to do anything that they don’t want to do,” usually smoke, not smoking. help you quit smoking. One session will set
warned Meehan. I don’t want to give the whole game away, you back Dhs200 or you can wage a full on
The good news is that if you do really want because it’s quite an individual experience. assault on your habit with a package of five
to give up smoking, it should take just one or But you should ‘wake up’ full of energy and sessions for Dhs750.
two sessions to do the job. in a positive frame of mind. Did it work? So Dubai Herbal And Treatment Centre, Dubai,
I confirmed that I did indeed want to quit far so good; I’ve been smoke-free ever since. Dhs500 to Dhs1,050. Tel: (04) 3351200.
and went off to write a list of reasons why Synergy Medical Centre, Al Wasl Road, Dubai, Dhs500. www.dubaihtc.com
before our session. Tel: (04) 3485452. www.synergyctrdubai.com
2
What is diversifying December 2010
LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CREDIT CARDS your portfolio?
YOU HAVE, MAKE PAYMENTS BY THE Diversification is the
Follow managing director of Du- Dhs1,628,291
PAYMENT DUE DATE, KNOW THE INTEREST process by which an bai’s Meem Gallery, art historian Studio apartment
investor distributes his
RATES AND DON’T EXCEED 80 PER CENT or her investible wealth and collector Charles Pockock’s International City
OF YOUR CREDIT LIMIT September 2010
across different asset beginner’s guide to art investment Dhs281,726
It’s hard to keep track of multiple payment classes [eg cash, bonds
December 2010
and stocks] in order to
dates and missing payments will cost you reduce risk and improve
I genuinely believe that people should buy Dhs243,947
money and lower your credit score. Choose the quality of returns by art because they love it. That’s the most
One-bedroom
one card and cancel the others. And don’t providing more stable, important thing of all. Motor City
let anyone persuade you signing up to a new less volatile long-term You need to go to a number of advisers.
returns. September 2010
card is a good idea. Make sure they have a good, clean reputation Dhs681,264
We hear investing in in the market and access to a reference December 2010
Dhs645,768
Statistics provided by
to significant falls as www.propertyfinder.ae
make it easier to manage your expenses investors rotate out of Remember that. It’s vital.
and act as a useful reference should any this safe haven asset. We If you’ve got Dhs5,000, go and buy
believe that the price
discrepancies arise. of gold is no longer
lithographs – limited editions prints.
attractive at these levels They won’t appreciate as quickly in value as
Get fit
Join one of our three
favourite classes and sweat
Detox
It’s the classic resolution. Cut back on your bar bill, give
in good company your liver a rest, have the tin of Quality Street wrenched
from your clammy grasp and get healthy. Frankly, we
can’t be trusted to do it alone, so here are a few
KINETIC ZOO programmes to kick-start 2011 the right way
Billed as the anti-boot camp, KZ is run by our
very own Mr Fitness James Houghton and
What’s On marathon guru Chris Miller. The lads THE ULTIMATE
promise that the group fitness programmes will
change once a month (so you won’t get bored),
WELLNESS
boost metabolism, increase RETREAT
strength and generally In order to break out of your couch potato
make you feel better. The routine, a change of scene will help. The Ultimate
sessions are just 45 minutes Wellness Retreat includes six days and five
and you will be provided nights at Bab al Shams desert resort, then a final
with fat burning meal plans night at Meydan racecourse hotel. Your stay
and recipes, recovery and will include full board (with nutritious food,
regeneration strategies and of course), health assessment, use of the pool
a weekly body fat analysis. and spa facilities, group fitness sessions, daily
These guys don’t mess about. personal training, yoga, tai chi and meditation,
From Jan 2, Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum Al private mentoring, inspirational talks, cookery
Maktoum Sports Hall, Street 25A, off Al Wasl classes, activities including archery, horse riding
Road, Dubai, Sun, Tue and Thurs 6.15am to 7am, and falconry, plus star gazing and astrology. This
Dhs800 per month. Tel: (050) 4762704. www. week of wellness aims to see you shed 3 to 5kg
theantibootcamp.weebly.com and introduces you to health and fitness experts RECIPE
from PTX who will tailor your programme
based on the results of your assessment, giving Avocado Iced Tea by
TRX you the know-how to carry on with good diet Jimmy at Zuma
Ever fancied becoming a Navy Seal? OK,
pretending to be a Navy Seal? Well TRX and regular exercise once you leave the hotel.
was created by one of those sea-going hard From Dhs9,000 per person (based on two Gently detoxifies the liver, with natural sugar
men who wanted a way to train at any time, people sharing a double room). Tel: (056) for an energy lift
wherever he happened to be. We’ve tried 7894026. ultimatewellness@ptxdubai.com
it. It’s a strange, springy contraption that Ingredients
can be used to work out any part of your Half an avocado
body, anywhere, any time. Or, at one of The THAI DETOX One lemon
Aviation Club’s three weekly sessions. The lazy option, this one-hour treatment 20ml of organic agave syrup
The Aviation Club, Garhoud, Dubai, Sun, Mon involves massage and warm herb and mineral Green tea
and Wed from 6.15pm, Dhs50 per session. Tel: compressions to relax and detox muscles. Much
(04) 2833071. www.aviationclub.ae more enjoyable than drinking wheatgrass, and Method
more comfortable than colonic irrigation. t Start by steeping the green tea in hot water,
Biolite Skin Clinic, Healthcare City, Oud Metha, making sure to leave it for no more then 30
CONTENDER MMA Dubai, Dhs250. Tel: (04) 2096802 seconds to avoid a bitter taste. Once infused,
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is the in thing at the allow it to cool down.
moment, probably due to those angry chaps
ripping chunks off each other on the TV in the
ELECTRO-DERMAL t Peel the avocado, then place it into a mixer
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The SCREENING glass - ‘muddle’ it with a wooden spoon (do
Contender Mixed Martial Arts Training Centre It sounds complicated, but this simple test is not blend as you want to keep the thick
in Dubai offers you the opportunity to unleash one of the most accurate ways of finding out consistency of the avocado).
your mean streak in a controlled environment. which foods you’re intolerant to. Your skin’s
Pay a one off Dhs100 joining fee and you can electrical activity is used as a marker for how t Add the juice of a freshly pressed lemon, then
enjoy MMA, Muay Thai and boxing sessions for your body responds to external stimulation, the cooled green tea and the agave syrup.
just Dhs80. and after a pain-free hour you will have a list
Contender Mixed Martial Arts Training Centre, of what you should avoid. t Shake with ice cubes, then pour into a long
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, joining fee Dhs100, The Dubai Mall Medical Centre, Dubai Mall, glass.
Dhs80 per session. Tel: (04) 3469990. www. Dubai, Dhs550. Tel: (04) 4495111
contendermma.com
Move house
We know moving house in this part of the world can be a giant
Learn…
headache (deposits, connections, movers, lost Allen keys…) but for
a new lease of life in the UAE, it could be just what you need. And
prices are looking good. Here’s the best bargains and latest trends in
property for 2011
Improve Be
charitable
your image If you open your THREE ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR EVERY
What can you spare?
AN HOUR
Riding for the Disabled are always
wardrobe each WOMAN’S WARDROBE looking for volunteers
morning with a
sinking feeling,
1 BLAZER The beauty of this item is that it
does a tango between the masculine and
feminine, the formal and the casual, the preppy
to help with sessions.
You don’t need any
experience with horses
and the trendy, the smart and the sexy. Buy (although it helps
then a bit of expert it oversized or unconstructed to maximise its if you’re confident
advice might be in order. fashion value. around them) as
volunteers simply
La Vie en Mode helps you
chuck out those clothes you 2 LBD There is the classic LBD, and then there
is the avant-garde black dress. Own one of
lead the horse or walk
beside it, offering
assistance to the students.
should have given up years both. The first should be a body-hugging Audrey
Hepburn sheath style, and the second should be There are morning sessions at 9am and
ago, assists on buying key crafted of something utterly unexpected like lace, 10am and afternoon sessions at 4pm
items, sources tricky to find corduroy, beaded chiffon or leather. and 5pm on various days through the
week.
pieces and offers personal
styling.The beauty and brains 3 STILETTOS This shoe combines the
emotions of euphoria, admiration, panic
and justifiable credit card debt. You can never
www.rdad.ae
behind the operation Sonia have enough. The right pair will help define the FOOD
Sheikh shares her top tips for curvature of your leg, offer height, confidence Helping Hands regularly puts together
sorting out your image and sass. care packages for labour camp workers
so next time you do your weekly shop,
THREE MUST-HAVES FOR MEN pick up the following; Thai, Jasmin
JUNK
THREE TIPS FOR REVAMPING YOUR
EXISTING WARDROBE 2 WHITE DRESS SHIRT The quintessential
white shirt can be worn a number of Well, maybe not total junk, but if you
TAGLINE ‘From the director of The ‘A new comedy from writer- ‘Prepare to meet Paul’
Wrestler’ director James L Brooks’
ONCE UPON A TIME... Top ballerina Nina Sayers (Portman) Former athlete Lisa Jorgenson Sci-fi convention nerds Graeme
found herself in line for the lead role (Witherspoon) became one and Clive (Pegg and Frost)
in a production of Swan Lake. But corner of a love triangle when run into a real genuine extra-
fellow dancer Lily (Kunis) also has she fell for both ageing corporate terrestrial (essayed by Knocked
her eye on the prominent dual part type Charles (Nicholson) and top Up’s Rogen).
of the Black and White Swans. baseball player Matty (Wilson).
IDEAL IF YOU’RE IN THE Watch a superb celebration of Remember what a good Watch the new Morecambe and
MOOD TO... dance that’s also a sublimely romantic-comedy looks like. Wise strut their wonderful stuff.
twisted psychological thriller.
WATCH THIS IF YOU Previous Darren Aronofsky films As Good As It Gets, a film whose Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz
LIKE... like the awesome drug drama similarity to How Do You Know and Spaced, the ace Pegg/Frost
Requiem For a Dream and The might have something to do with sit-com that could been created
Wrestler, aka the movie that restored it also being written and directed with guys like Graeme and Clive
Mickey Rourke to high estate. by James L Brooks. in mind.
TOP TRIVIA It took a decade to knock the If being an Oscar-winning film- Keen to get the part of Paul the alien
Black Swan screenplay into shape. maker wasn’t impressive enough, down, Seth Rogen consulted the
James L Brooks also helped create prince of performance capture Andy
The Simpsons. Serkis, who played Gollum in the
Lord Of The Rings films and the
great ape in King Kong.
WHAT’S ON TEN WORD The film of 2011 might have It’s nothing new, but it’s hard to Can our favourite Brits
REVIEW already arrived. fault the execution. succeed in alien
territory?
‘A new film from the director of ‘Can’t you feel the buzz?’ ‘Someone has to fix the problems’ ‘Only one has the power to save
Three Kings’ their souls’
‘Irish’ Micky Ward (Wahlberg) Suave newspaper publisher Britt Veteran assassin Arthur Bishop Serial killer The Riverton Ripper
found himself transformed Reid (Rogen) decided that writing (Statham) decided that the best returned from the dead to
from journeyman to world title about crime wasn’t enough. His way to get back at the men who murder seven teens born the
contender by his half-brother plan? To tackle the problem head killed his boss Harry McKenna night he died.
Dicky Eklund (Bale). on ‘neath the guise of The Green (Sutherland) was to train up his
Hornet. mentor’s son Steve (Foster).
See a corking sports movie whose See a superhero movie that’s in Spend a couple of hours finding Watch a once great horror
improbable storyline is that much no danger of taking itself too out whether Jason Statham director destroy the legacy of his
more remarkable for being true. seriously. measures up to Charles Bronson, greatest creation, the sweater-
star of the original Mechanic. wearing, talon-twirling Freddy
Krueger Esquire.
Priceless pugilism pictures such as The Iron Man pictures, since Previous Statham slugfests such Poor slashathons such as I Know
Raging Bull. And if you enjoyed they’re also films in which the as the Transporter and Crank What You Did Last Summer.
David O Russell’s Gulf War comedy hero is unlikely to collapse under pictures.
Three Kings, you’ll long to go 12 the weight of his own worthiness.
rounds with The Fighter.
Boxing fans should keep an eye Jay Chou, who plays Reid’s The Mechanic is based on that Rogue Pictures sought to
out for cameos from Sugar Ray partner Cato, is a hugely popular rarest of things, a Michael promote My Soul To Take by
Leonard, Roy Jones Jr and George singer in his native Taiwan. Winner film that’s actually quite orchestrating a fake stabbing at
Foreman. entertaining. the film’s premiere. Amazingly,
no one lost their job over this
tasteless fiasco.
The Fighter is Mark Wahlberg’s The action’s hum-drum, but the Could The Mechanic secure Here’s hoping Wes Craven has
best movie since Boogie Nights. jokes have some sting. Statham’s position on the action an encounter with Mr Krueger.
A-list?
ZAROOB
On the
menu
Stay by Yannick Alléno
the usual suspects were present
A trio of tasty – ripe cherry tomatoes, olives,
potatoes, green beans, hard-boiled
morsels to fill your egg and canned tuna (seared loin
new year belly would have given it an edge).
Mains, we have to say, were a
little disappointing. A roasted duck
breast cooked rare wasn’t bad by
THE STEAKS AREN’T HIGH
Few things warm the cockles
any stretch of the imagination, yet
like a carvery. A traditionally it lacked that silky richness that
English feast, forget the characterises the best of birds. But
roadside restaurants so endives soaked in an orange sauce
sadly associated with the gave it a little extra zing. Then there
meaty meal and have was the Dublin Bay prawn ravioli
lunch at The Exchange
Grill, where you can pile
that sounded so promising. The
your plate with wagyu pasta was cooked to perfection, but
beef rump or the daily special there wasn’t a trace of lemon in the
(roast lamb, chicken, tuna or lemon butter sauce and as a result
salmon), carved at your table. the dish tasted solely of butter.
You’ll also get a house salad and Michelin-starred chef – the only one of the three that Simply too rich.
your choice of garlic mashed
Yannick Alléno brings carries the Frenchman’s name – is Thankfully a jolly sommelier,
potato or jalapeno creamed corn,
all for Dhs99. And if you go on his pièce de résistance. friendly waiter and dessert, or
Sunday or Monday, it’s buy one
another French The interior is certainly rather desserts, saved the day.
carvery get one free. restaurant to Dubai. impressive. Done out in black You can visit the pastry library
The Exchange Grill, The Fairmont, and white with silver chairs and and see your meal’s finale being
Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, Sun to But can it compete? purple velvet booths decked with prepared. We just sat back until
Thurs 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Tel: (04)
3118316
cushions and boasting a ‘pastry presented with a yard of the finest
There are already a lot of French library’ – Stay’s speciality – it rivals looking puddings we’ve seen in
WINE FOR DHS39 restaurants in Dubai. Good Pierre Gagnaire’s Reflets in the a long while. They’re only Dhs45
We love Terra Firma, but it has ones at that. So one would think fancy pants stakes. But does the each and the best of them were a
completely stolen our hearts that opening yet another Gallic food measure up? And is it worth meringue snowball filled with cold
with this grape-soaked offer. Visit culinary emporium to do battle travelling to the farthest reaches of fruit sorbet, a sweet quince confit
this top-notch steakhouse for a
two-course meal during January
with the likes of Reflets par Pierre The Palm for? tart, a Pims (a giant Jaffa Cake) and
and February and you can add Gagnaire, Traiteur and What’s On Well, it all started off nicely a mille feuille boasting beautifully
free flowing red or white wine favourite La Petite Maison would with a delicate eel and potato brittle pastry. Worth the trip alone.
for an extra Dhs39. Yup, you read be a prospect to daunt even the salad consisting of a handful of Stay. Should you go? Yes.
that right, less than Dhs40 for most self assured chef. diced beetroot, several pieces of
unlimited vino. Add to that the fact that Stay potato and too few cubes of the
Until end of Feb, Terra Firma,
Al Badia Golf Club, Festival
by Yannick Alléno, or rather the deliciously smoked fish. Smoked Need to know
City, Dubai, Sun to Tue 7pm to lavish new One&Only hotel it calls eel is one of the most delectable
midnight. Tel: (04) 7011127 home, sits a good 15 minute drive flavours known to man, you have Location: One&Only, The
down the trunk and around the to agree – and this was drizzled Palm, Dubai
FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS West Crescent of The Palm and with a beetroot mousse, which was Tel: (04) 4401010
SEVILLE’S! you begin to see how the odds were more of a thin sauce, really. Web: www.thepalm.
To celebrate its tenth birthday,
Seville’s isn’t just having a
stacked against the multi-Michelin The ‘modern riviera salad’ oneandonlyresorts.com
cake – it’s sharing the love with starred chef from the get-go. was a traditional salade Niçoise Open: Tue to Sun 7pm to 11pm
you guys. Throughout January But that’s just it; Yannick presented slightly differently or Cuisine type: French
the lovely Latinos are offering Alléno is no run of the mill onion brought up to date, depending Must eat: smoked eel and
selected Torres wines for Dhs10 chopper. Chef at Le Maurice, the on your perspective, by sitting potato salad
per glass, Spanish beers for Parisian restaurant awarded its the ingredients on three halves of Bill for two: Dhs600
Dhs10 and a selection of tapas
priced at Dhs10. Do you see
third Michelin star in 2007, he is crunchy gem lettuce rather than (without alcohol)
a pattern yet? Even better, one of the most touted talents in the customary bed. Otherwise all
everyone who dines there this The City of Light. And he doesn’t
month could win a trip to Spain. do things by halves.
In tweet form… Dubai’s newest French
Seville’s, Wafi, Oud Metha, Dubai, Alléno has had a hand in restaurant just about competes with
daily from noon to 1am on all three of the One&Only’s
Sat, Sun and Mon and 2am on the big boys offering some of the
Tue, Wed, Thurs and Fri. Tel: (04)
restaurants. Zest serves up Middle follow me
A taste of Zaroob
things to A stylish new star on
come Sheikh Zayed Road
Market day
The Baker & Spice
UAE Farmers’ Market
at Souk Al Bahar is
back, offering local,
seasonal produce
from farms across
the Emirates. We
spent a morning
sniffing fresh basil
while, Yael Mejia,
the woman behind
the market told us
why it’s madness not
to eat local
Yael Majia at her stall
Why did you start the Farmers’
Market?
Two years of sitting here and
crying over the stuff people
were eating. Watching what the
supermarkets were selling made
me realise that people place no
value on produce that is grown
here in the UAE. A farmer selling
his produce like this is an old way
of life that needs to be brought
back to remind people where their
food comes from. It doesn’t grow
in plastic on a supermarket shelf. Going shopping with
Why do you think that is? Rivington Grill's Liz Stephenson
Urban societies are so removed
from food and where it comes
from that they’ve forgotten when and complete abandon and those strawberries that come here on an
it grows. So they’re happily global businesses have then gone aeroplane? No.
buying plums in the supermarket on to abuse it. Is it possible to eat regional all
that are six months old at the So why should people be year round?
moment and the apples are a eating local? You could only eat regional
year old. People don’t know that For their health, for the flavour. produce, yes. An area called The
so the supermarkets can do what The produce at the Farmers’ Fertile Crescent, just north of
they want. Market gets picked at the right here, is where agriculture began.
People just aren’t thinking moment because the journey Local, no. The season runs from
about these things? from field to plate is reduced December to April or May and
The Internet is there. Information by a factor of 1,000. So nothing that’s it. Then it all dies down.
is there. How can you not think has to be picked unripe then go But then the rest of the region
about something you are forced through picking, packing, storing, starts producing. So India, Iran,
to do three times a day? But some shipping; 3,000 hands with Afghanistan, Lebanon and Syria
people don’t, and supermarkets are everyone wanting a cut. It leaves all burst into bloom.
the result. Simple as that. People more money in your pocket. And right now?
have ceded responsibility for their Isn’t that a good reason? It’s good The winter season is wonderful.
health and their daily bread to for the environment. Isn’t that a Now everything is available. The
global business with an innocence good reason? Do you have to eat rest of the time I buy from Oman,
Time to
cook
Rivington Grill head pastry chef
Liz Stevenson shows us what
to do with our fresh, seasonal
ingredients
WHAT’S ON'S SHOPPING purple spinach, 30g goats’ cheese, cut into small
BASKET cubes, pinch of sea salt and cracked black pepper
to taste.
Two tomatoes (Abu Dhabi
L Two
Organics, Dhs2) METHOD
L Bunch of chives (Abu Slice the peppers in half and remove the seeds
Dhabi Organics, Dhs10) and inner white flesh. Cut into large cubes. Place
L Six eggs (Abu Dhabi in a bowl with the basil. Tear the basil, rather than
Organics, Dhs10) chop it, as this will spare the leaves from bruising.
L Mixed peppers (Abu Dhabi Organics, Dhs30) Wilt the spinach in a steamer, microwave, or on
L Purple spinach (Abu Dhabi Organics, Dhs9) top of a small cooling rack placed over a pan of
L Granola (Baker & Spice, Dhs18) boiling water. Remove from heat, cool and place
L Laban (Abu Dhabi Organics, Dhs20) in the salad. Add the goats’ cheese and drizzle
L Award-winning honey (Abu Dhabi Organics, with olive oil. Season with sea salt and cracked
Dhs100) black pepper.
L Box of dried dates (Abu Dhabi Organics, Dhs20)
GRANOLA
OMELETTE
INGREDIENTS
INGREDIENTS 100g (one cup) of granola,
One tbsp olive oil, four eggs, 150g (just over a cup) of laban,
one tomato, three or four one tbsp honey, 20 to 30g (four to five
chives, salt and pepper pieces) chopped dried dates
METHOD METHOD
Blanch the tomato in boiling water for 30 seconds Place the granola in the base of a bowl, pour the
and submerge in ice water. Peel off the skin, laban over top and drizzle with honey. Add the
wonderful agriculture there. I quarter, remove the seeds and dice into small chopped dates.
buy from India, Lebanon, Syria pieces. Chop the chives and set aside. Break the
and Jordan. Why do I have to buy eggs into a bowl and season with the salt and
from the USA and Australia? pepper. Do not over mix the eggs, as this will be
And how should regular done in the pan. Heat a small saucepan over a
consumers shop? medium heat with the olive oil. Add the eggs and
People should go to markets mix with a fork, moving quickly. Allow the base to
instead of shopping clinically. set slightly and place the tomatoes and chives on
In the Deira fruit and veg top. Fold half of the omelette on top of itself and
market you’ll find regional food. continue to cook until the centre is just set (not
Carrefour does a lot of regional runny, but nice and loose).
stuff. The French love their food
and these guys have done their
homework. And read the labels. SALAD
Simple.
Fridays, UAE Farmers’ Market, next to INGREDIENTS
Baker & Spice, Souk Al Bahar, Dubai, 150g mixed peppers (red, yellow, green, purple or
10am to 5pm. Tel: (04) 4252240. orange), five leaves of torn fresh basil, 20 to 30gm
www.bakerandspiceme.com
5
James Brennan knows long by seemingly every two-bit I want them to wait on me, not Lay off the
chef from Jumeirah to Jakarta. chat me up, sit on my lap and hammour
food. Having written on It’s no longer innovative or then spoon-feed me. Wire them It’s overfished and over-
everything from bhajis impressive. Besides, it looks vile. up to some kind of electric shock used, so isn’t it about time some
to burgers for a string of At best it’s like the scum left on equipment and give me a button. high-profile restaurants gave
international publications, a beach after a chemical spillage; As soon as they come too close, the poor hammour a bit of a
James is now the at worst it looks like something or ask me if I’m enjoying my meal breather? Make it your new year’s
Middle East chairman hocked up by a Jebel Ali docker. the second I place a huge forkful resolution not to eat hammour
Let’s call it a day, shall we? of steak into my mouth, zap! A for at least 12 months, and
of the World’s 50 Best
few well-placed volts should put perhaps they’ll get the message.
2
Restaurants judging panel. Go easy on the things right. Knowing my luck, the new
Don’t miss his monthly tuiles craze for 2011 will be Peruvian
4
musings every issue. In case you don’t know More local hammour in culinary foam
them by name, tuiles are wafers, ingredients with a nougatine tuile wedged
which these days appear to Sounds so simple, doesn’t up its backside, delivered by a
A year ends and another begins, adorn every single dessert on the it? But something odd is going psychopathically over-familiar
and the restaurant world girds its face of the planet. I have nothing on with locally grown ingredients waiter, but you can always hope.
metaphorical loins for another against them in theory, but they from the estimated 40,000
12 months of grub. It wouldn’t be are often badly executed and farmers in the UAE. Most of
an act of clairvoyance to predict totally superfluous. Biscuit tuiles, their produce is exported, while
what chefs and restaurateurs have when used appropriately, I can the majority of the food we eat
got in store for us this year. But tolerate. But all too frequently I is imported. I understand that
here are five food trends that I’d find sticky, stodgy tuiles made some items can’t be grown here,
like to see in 2011. from sugar or nougatine, sticking but until we start promoting and
out of a scoop of perfectly good respecting the locally grown stuff
1
The abolition of ice cream, like a flap of peeled we’ll have a carbon footprint like
culinary foam paint that’s fallen off a damp Sasquatch in moon boots.
Yes, yes, we all know that ceiling. And if I really want to
it’s used to bolster the flavour clog my teeth up with gunk, I’ll “IT’S LIKE THE SCUM LEFT ON
of a dish without bulking it up
with thick sauces and heavy
chew on a tube of superglue.
Thanks.
A BEACH AFTER A CHEMICAL
reductions, but does it have to SPILLAGE; AT WORST IT
Puck-er Up
This month, UK drama group
Shakespeare 4 Kids returns
to Dubai with its acclaimed
production of one of the
Bard’s best-loved comedies,
A Midsummer Night’s
Dream. Leading man
Noel Andrew Harron
tells us more
Yeah, pretty much! Myself and Bottom [the Mall of the Emirates, Sheik Zayed Road, Dubai.
character Puck turns into a half-donkey in the Tel: (04) 3414777. www.ductac.org
play], we do go off on a tangent sometimes.
Five to see
ÉRSTW
Last chance to catch this
impressive round-up of
mid-20th century American
greats, including Ed Ruscha, Cy
Twombly and UAE favourite
Andy Warhol, brought together ÅEDUCATING THE HORSE
from the private collection of Art and politics meet in Nicky Nodjoumi’s first solo show in the UAE.
one the leading gallerists of our Slightly surreal, apparently incongruous imagery of encounters
time, Larry Gagosian. Yet another between (a well-dressed) man and beast form the metaphor for the
taste of things to come at Abu Iranian artist’s musings on the relationship between East and West
Dhabi’s soon-to-be cultural hub. in layered references to situations and events drawn from the
Until Jan 24, Manarat Al Saadiyat, daily news.
Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi. Tel: (02) Until Jan 14, Gallery IVDE, Al Serkal Avenue, Street 8, Al Quoz, Dubai.
6435781. www.artsabudhabi.ae Tel: (04) 3235052. www.ivde.net
E WOR LD ’S BEST-
TH ADGET
SELLING GE IS NOW...
His plays have been translated into every living language and
are performed more than any other playwright in history – it’s
E
MAGAZIN
N
probably fair to say that William ‘the Bard’ Shakespeare needs
LI
little introduction. But as profound and prolific as he was (about
ON
38 plays and four times as many sonnets alone), the man himself
remains steeped in intrigue and mystery. It’s agreed that he was
born in Stratford-upon-Avon in the UK in 1564, where he married
Anne Hathaway aged 18, before heading to London as one of
the King’s Players theatre troupe and finding fame. The idea
that the man who, by the 18th century had widely come to be
known as the greatest playwright of all time, could have come
from such humble origins, however, has lead to countless claims
over the years that Shakespeare was a front for another writer (or
writers). In a series of plot twists worthy of the great man himself,
English writers from Francis Bacon to Christopher Marlow have
all been mooted as the 'real' Shakespeare over the years. These
days, however, such considerations generally rest alongside man
never walking on the moon in the dustbin of conspiracy theories
and it’s generally believed that, give or take a few possible early
collaborations, his writing was his and his alone. Either way, the
work lives on – and that’s entirely as it should be.
Stylish
laptops
Why shouldn’t accessorising extend to our technology? Black-
Berrys and iPhones have their own little rubber and knitted
outfits, but laptops are taking it that step further with HP col-
laborating with snow sports brand Rossignol to create the his
and hers HP Pavilion DV6 Rossignol editions, complete with
graffiti-style graphics on the casing (and matching skis). Sony
Vaio has always lead the PC pack with its ‘lifestyle’ approach,
HP Pavilion and the new super-light (and super-expensive) P-Series with
its eight-inch screen is the latest addition to the colourful
DV6 Rossignol family, while Acer’s Aspire One Happy comes in sickly sweet
editions, tones (one for the girls) and merrily juggles both Android
and Windows 7. So which one should you get? The one that
price TBC matches your T-shirt, of course.
Shambler
says...
THE EXPERT
Stuff magazine’s
Thomas Shambler
Sophia says...
editor-wo@motivate.ae
A P H S E V E R T A K E N
THE BEST PHOTOGR E S !
A R A B E M IR AT
OF THE UNITED
In celebration of 25 years of book publishing, Motivate Publishing is
looking for the best culturally iconic images celebrating the history, Submission guidelines
heritage and diversity of the UAE. Each successful contributor will be
SUBMIT IMAGES TO: images@motivate.ae
credited and receive a complimentary copy of the hardback book
Submission deadline: 20 February 2011
worth Dhs 245.
Image size: 300 dpi, 280 x 280 mm
If we feature your image on the cover of the book, you win US$1,000! Maximum 5 submissions per person
NEW
Zayna Spa
OPENING
Instant
Tightening
Serum
Don’t believe the hype
and shell out your dirhams
until you’ve read this. No
jargon, just the truth
ED
TEST
The capital’s latest – and placed on key body parts, along the spine and
largest – health club and in the palms of the hands to relax muscles
so the therapist can bust deep knots with-
spa opens its doors out using excessive pressure. The warmth is
obviously comforting, but is also known to
Abu Dhabi at rush hour. A hastily printed map help with problems such as back pain and WHY? Drink plenty of water, get eight
in hand, which soon ends up under the brake insomnia. A nice bonus. hours sleep, blah blah blah... The festive
pedal. Fairly choice language being muttered. Following a footbath, our therapist dimmed season was a heavy one, so it’s time to
Then, a breakthrough. A sign. Literally. To Al the lights and set to work on some seriously pull out the big guns to sort out our
Wadha Complex. The spa almost in sight… stressed shoulders. The hour flew by, as each knackered skin.
A new hotel opening brings good and bad – limb was warmed and manipulated into a state
the lure of somewhere exciting, maybe a fresh of slumber, leaving only our racing mind to fol- THEY SAY? The Instant Tightening
favourite, offset by the possibility that it’s not low sleepy suit. Not sure what they put in basalt Serum by Clinicans Complex uses
the greatest thing since sliced manakish and a stones these days, but it could knock out a horse. high-tech chemicals, 'superior bimodal
total pain in the proverbial to find. So would the It was with a deep sigh that we hopped back polymer' and elastin molecules for a
Grand Millennium’s new spa (at the largest health into the car and returned to the traffic, but the 'face-lift effect', to reduce lines and
club in the city, no less) live up to the hype? after-effects of the massage managed to keep wrinkles in seconds.
Far from the stuffy business hotel with the temper in check all the way home. A true
token spa that we feared, Zayna Spa is big and test of a spa treatment in the capital. WE SAY? Instant tightening indeed.
beautiful, with ten treatment rooms, relaxa- Zayna Spa, Grand Millennium Al Wadha, Hazza We looked like we’d stepped into a
tion areas, steam, sauna, rainforest showers Bin Zayed Street, Al Wahda Complex, Abu wind tunnel and it made our skin feel
and Jacuzzi. It also smells fantastic. Odd Dhabi, Dhs440. Tel: (02) 4439999. unnaturally tight. It wore off pretty
observation, but go with it. www.millenniumhotels.com quickly though. You wouldn’t want to use
After being greeted with a cool towel and cold this every day, but for emergencies and a
juice, it was time for some hot stones. Despite pre-party fix it could be a good addition
being one of the staples of any self-respecting “The hour flew to your beauty kit.
spa menu, the hot stone massage is still a bit of
a mystery to us. Could you get the same effect
by, as each limb Dhs250. www.clinicanscomplex.com
with a handful of gravel and a hot water bottle? was warmed and
After some research at home, apparently not. manipulated into ALSO RECOMMENDED: Guerlain
Hot stone massage uses smooth, flat basalt Midnight Secret, Dhs330 from Debenhams
rocks (known for retaining heat), which are a state of slumber”
JANUARY 2011 WHAT’S ON 47
MIND & BODY
His‘n’hers
Our guy and gal hit the Talise Spa at Emirates Towers to test the luxury pampering
His Hers
LOMI LOMI FLOATATION
HAWAIIAN MASSAGE POOL
At home
spas
Forget the magical spell of
post-massage bliss being
broken by rush hour, a new
wave of spas are bringing
their expertise to you
N Style
This popular nail salon has added at-home
services to its already lengthy list of reasons to
love it. Famed for its clients watching Friends
while they get their nails done at its many mean we’ll have to start drawing up plans for
salons, you can now enjoy its charms from the that George Costanza-style under-desk bed.
comfort of your own armchair. It’s not that N Style. Tel: (04) 3401564. services@nstyleintl.com
we’re lazy but… well, we are, actually. When
the price is the same, you don’t need to worry Azur Spa
about parking, can order pizza and watch Mo- The doorbell rang and two smartly dressed
ment Of Truth (don’t judge) you know this will therapists, armed with enough luggage for
revolutionise your beauty regimen. How about a trip round the world, quickly filled the
waking up after a particularly bubbly brunch flat. In lightning speed a massage bed had
and ordering a Thai massage with your Dial- popped up behind the sofa and a nail station
A-Whopper to sort you out? appeared. Candles were lit, turquoise towels
We tried the Soho pedicure (Dhs190) which draped and the mood was transformed from
includes soak, scrub and masque to leave cooking and MTV-watching chaos to a little
you with the feet of a giant newborn and a sanctuary on a Monday night.
back, neck and shoulder massage (Dhs65 for Azur’s ‘spa on wheelz’ service – so good we’re
30 minutes). With three therapists for two willing to overlook that z – is one of the few
of us, the evening passed in a speedy blur of companies that offer at-home treatments to
nail polish and mumblings of ‘we should do both men and women, so is great for a night in
this again’ as another knot was massaged into with the other half. Once the, frankly bizarre,
submission. The ‘at-office’ service is appealing concept of being on a massage bed in your liv-
too, but a lunchtime reflexology session might ing room had been overcome, we couldn’t have
been happier and opted for a neck and shoulder
massage (Dhs70), pedicure (Dhs60) and reflex-
Who else will Smile Dubai Express ology (Dhs45) each, followed by dinner. Wild
indulge you with Fear the dentist? What if the dentist came
to you? While we might be a few years
times. It was such a treat to sit in pj bottoms
getting a foot rub without having to get back in
some pampering at off at-home root canal work (shudder), the car after a spa sesh. But the big surprise was
your pad? if you want teeth whitening from actually the quality of the treatments – thera-
your couch then read on. Smile Dubai pists Aileen and Grace were charming, efficient
Chez Toi Express specialises in teeth whitening and superb at their jobs, leaving baby soft skin
Kick-start your day with an express parties (they also have a doctor who can and knot-free muscles in their wake. Azur’s staff
facial or get ready to relax with a hot administer Botox, too), so you can either can turn their hands to all manner of treat-
stone massage. Chez Toi has a minimum host a night of your own, or go along to ments, from eyelash extensions, spray tan and
spend of Dhs120 and caters to all-female one of their gatherings where you can an up-do before a party to waxing, threading
gatherings like baby showers and meet like-minded people with similarly and Korean cupping (it the kind of things you
birthday parties, with monthly offers and gleaming gnashers. might not look your best after), and the prices
competitions on the website. Smile Dubai Express, Dubai, Dhs1,500 for are really reasonable. You need never leave the
Chez Toi, Dubai. Tel: (04) 3397117. teeth whitening including after-care kit. house again…
www.cheztoibeauty.com Tel: (050) 8967781 Azur spa on wheelz, Dubai. Minimum spend
Dhs300. Tel: (04) 4475284. www.azurspa.com
Spa news
pamper package then read on. We have
two spa visits to give away and for your
chance to win, simply visit
www.winwithmotivate.com and
The best beauty bargains and answer this question:
Senso is in which hotel?
news this month a) Radisson NAVY
b) Radisson BLU
c) Radisson RED
NEW
OPENING
LA CONTOUR SPA
This new spa is offering their VelaSmooth Pro slimming treatments
at a discounted rate throughout January to get your weight-loss
campaign off to strong start. Using radio frequencies, infrared and SENSO WELLNESS CENTRE
deep tissue manipulation, this technique shifts fat deposits and Start the year off feeling good and looking great with the two and
smoothes skin. Sign up for eight sessions this month and you’ll half hour New Year’s Resolution package from Senso. You’ll get a
pay Dhs4,480 instead of Dhs6,400. full body massage of your choice, Anne Semonin facial to sort out
La Contour Spa, Tiffany Tower, JLT, Dubai, Dhs4,480. Tel: (04) 4473626. any peaky cheeks, then either a manicure or pedicure.
Senso Wellness Centre, Radisson Blu Hotel, Dubai Media City, Dhs550.
CLUB OLYMPUS Tel: (04) 3669111
A family day out doesn’t have to involve food courts and mall
mania. This month the spa at Hyatt Regency Dubai is offering a AMARA SPA
package that includes a 60-minute aromatherapy massage for the Our favourite spot for a
parents, while up to three children have swimming lessons. pamper session, Amara is
Club Olympus, Hyatt Regency Dubai, Deira, Dubai, Dhs600 per family. offering a discounted price on
Tel: (04) 2091234 the Total Relaxation package
for January, reduced from
THE HEALTH CLUB Dhs958 per person to Dhs810.
Anti-ageing is the aim of the game at the Sheraton this month, The ritual begins with a hand
with a package to help turn back the clock and undo the damage and foot rose petal bath, you’re
done at Christmas parties (well, they’ll try their best – but some then treated to a 75-minute
of you pushed your luck). The facial takes 75 minutes and uses Ideal Carita facial and 45
Vivrecel products to promote cell regeneration for lifted, plump minutes of reflexology. Lunch
skin and freshness around the eyes. from the poolside menu is
The Health Club, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Corniche Road, included.
Abu Dhabi, Dhs390. Tel: (02) 6773333 Amara Spa, Park Hyatt Dubai,
Deira, Dubai, Dhs810. Tel: (04)
THAI PRIVILEGE SPA 6021660
Enjoy five and a half hours of
luxury at TPS this month for TIPS & TOES
Dhs2,100 including a healthy Bargains aplenty in the January
lunch from the spa menu. sales at Tips & Toes. This month
Your day will be packed with you’ll receive 20 per cent off
traditional Thai spa rituals and massage treatments, enjoy a
hand-picked herbal products full body massage for Dhs160
to custom-design the most instead of Dhs200 or when
relaxing time possible. you book a mani-pedi add on
Thai Privilege Spa, 1074 a 20-minute head, neck and
Uttamah Villas, Al Wasl Road, shoulder massage for Dhs56.
Jumeirah, Dubai, Dhs2,100. Tel: Tips & Toes, Dubai. www.
(04) 3489679 tipsntoeshaven
As you read this, there is either only a short Team What's On put
couple of weeks until the Dubai Marathon on through their paces
January 21 or you’ve been incredibly slack, not
picked up the first What’s On of 2011 and it’s
already over. We will assume that you serious UAE, even during winter, the heat can be quite
runners out there, those mighty marathon dehydrating when you’re exercising outside.”
warriors who joined us on our righteous quest But you’ll need more than good ol’ H20 to
and signed up to run the race beside us, fit get you through. Exercising for more than 90
into the former category and need to hear our minutes will deplete the energy resources in
marathon guru Chris Miller’s final pearls of your muscles, so you will have to replenish
running wisdom. So here they are. them with energy drinks to avoid suffering
Firstly, if you’re going to buy a new pair of from cramps. And make sure you stick to the
trainers, do it at least two weeks before the drink you’ve used during your training.
race so you can run them in. Do not, whatever “If you’ve found a good energy drink that
happens, don a virgin pair of pumps on the doesn’t upset your stomach and you’ve been
day. You will get blisters. using it for a while, whatever you do, don’t
“Tone down what you are doing a couple change it,” warns Chris.
of weeks before the race,” advises Chris. “Just “I said there’s nothing worse than running
nice easy runs, especially in the last week, with blisters, but there’s definitely nothing
and nothing in the last two to three days worse than running with diarrhoea.”
beforehand.” Other than that, warm up properly and
During those last few days you should book ready your mind.
yourself a massage, make sure your mobility is “Remember it’s your race, you don’t have to
good and do plenty of stretching. prove anything to anybody. You make it over
And the night before the big day? the line, you get a medal just like everybody
“It’s a big thing,” says Chris. “People, else,” says Chris. “And when the gun goes, don’t
especially if it’s their first marathon, get go for broke. It’s a long way 42km and you have
nervous or excited, but it’s important you get a to run your own race, run how you’ve been
good night’s sleep.” Chris Miller training, don’t let the excitement of the day get
But before you hit the sack you should eat a dispenses the advice to you too much so you burn out too early.”
healthy meal with plenty of carbs and protein, Good luck. See you at the finish line.
make sure you have all your kit laid out, ready
for the morning, and drink plenty of water. RUN WITH US!
“Make sure you hydrate,” warns Chris. “You Join our free weekly What’s On training session with Chris and Mr Fitness at Safa Park, 6.30am every
Monday. For more information, contact gareth@motivate.ae. Also keep an eye on our Twitter
should be doing that anyway, but the day before
(twitter.com/WhatsOnDubai) and Facebook (facebook.com/WhatsOnDubai) for updates and our
make sure you drink enough and on the day blog (www.runwhatsonrun.wordpress.com) for more detailed advice.
itself make sure you stay hydrated. Here in the
Got a fitness
question for
Mr Fitness James?
E-mail
editor-w @m
o otivate.ae
Our resident exercise
that you should be doing
guru answers your aren’t all that different
health and to those female body
builders or other female
fitness questions athletes do. The major
difference is female body I prefer to avoid gyms and
builders generally train at exercising in public, so I've
The free weight area in a much higher volume and decided to invest in some
my gym is full of well- frequency than the average equipment to use at home. I
muscled types and is pretty trainee, and they consume can afford one machine and
intimidating. As a result I a lot more food. I’m glad some weights. What do you
stick to the machines – am I that you recognise the need recommend I buy?
missing out? to strength train and would Praveen, Bur Dubai
James, Palm Jumeirah love it if you trusted me
when I say that, if done The equipment needed to
My gut instinct is to say yes. properly, you won’t get get awesome results at home
However, it depends on your bulky. Some of the exercises doesn’t need to be particularly
reason for training. If the I would recommend are split complicated. One of my
free weight area is full of squats, dead-lift variations, former clients got fantastic
people that you want to look pull-ups (or a regression of ) results using just Power
like, then I would say get is a simple saying, ‘if you own and an overhead pressing Blocks (adjustable dumbbells),
in there, get to know some it, you’ll eat it’. So, if you are movement. a rowing machine and a TRX.
of them and get involved in craving something that you
their training. That is not to feel is not good for you, then
say that the machines won’t the simplest thing to do is not
help you out to a degree, but have it in the house or fridge,
if you have been training therefore you simply cannot
for more than a few months eat it. Protein and good fats
then I would suggest that tend to me more satiating,
you are ready to progress to which means they leave you
the free weights. feeling more full. By ensuring
that your last meal of the
day is based on these two
macronutrients, you should
I eat pretty well during the hopefully not feel the need to
day but sometimes wake up snack late at night.
in the night with cravings.
How can I curb the late
night fridge raiding?
Beverly, Tourist Club Area, As a woman I want to be
1/4 AD
Abu Dhabi well toned and know I
should be doing strength
Without knowing more about training, but I really don’t
your nutritional habits or want to bulk up or look
what it is you are craving, it like a female body builder.
is going to be difficult to give What exercises should I be
you the right strategy to curb doing?
your late night fridge raiding. Tina, Jumeirah
Here are a couple you might
want to try though… There In all honesty, the exercises
VOTING IS EASY
and can be carried out in one of 3 ways!
1 By completing a voting slip when next dining out at a nominated restaurant
2 SMS the name of your favourite outlets and events along with your email
address to 3908(Etisalat)* or 4478(du)* (*Dhs3 charge applies for every SMS vote)
3 By logging onto www.whatsonawards.com
MUSIC BANTHDE
OF TH
MON
Jay
Wud
Jay Wud’s album New Blood has the
perfect title, he’s so far from the man-
ufactured, reality TV pop acts and
even contrived wannabe rebel ‘musi-
cians’, that there’s a unique, other-
worldly feel to this soulful rocker. But
with his velvet jacket, quiet smile and
affable manner, the man belies the
music and lyrics on his debut record,
which is packed with raw chords, po-
litical references to his hometown of
Beirut and international influences.
Overwhelmingly though, what will
scream from your speakers is rock ‘n’
roll, making it all the more impressive
that this 27-year-old is the sole musi-
cian on the self-penned album; from
vocals and guitar to production, New
SHOT ON LOCATION AT SKI DUBAI
1
Big Day Out @ Nasimi Beach
Infusion Magazine presents 36 of Dubai's
7
D*I*R*T*Y D*I*S*C*O @ SYNF
Back-to-back asterisk-strewn disco delights
7
D*I*R*T*Y D*I*S*C*O
@ SYNF
top DJs dropping trip-hop to funk. from local residents Da:Funct, Just Some Kid
Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai, 2am to 2pm, Dhs50 and Bicep.
to Dhs100, free for ladies 2pm to 6pm. Tel: Trilogy, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm to
(050) 8717493. www.atlantisthepalm.com 3am, Dhs80 to Dhs100. Tel: (055) 8825675
3
Skylite, The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi, 4pm
to 2am, free. Tel: (055) 6160643. www.
musthavesoul.com
Solomun @ Trilogy
WEEKLY Expect redefined Euro house from the
Afif Trio featuring Phillippa @ It's Alive German-based co-founder of the Diynamic
Jazz standards garnished by Phillippa's label. Definitely worth checking out.
sultry vocals. Trilogy, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm to
Cavalli Club, Fairmont Hotel, Sheikh Zayed 3am, Dhs100 to Dhs130, ladies free before
Road, Dubai, 8pm to 11.30pm, free. Tel: (04) 11pm. Tel: (050) 7258277.
14
3329260. www.cavalliclubdubai.com
6
WEEKLY
Afroboogie @ NEO Nights
Franck Roger @ Trilogy
French deep house don/Real Tone label
boss Roger recreates a slice of 1990s
Deep, percussive and banging tech Parisian spirit for the always-up-for-it Trilogy
monsters from Afroboogie. regulars. Fun, fun, fun.
Sensation, Crowne Plaza, Sheikh Zayed Road, Trilogy, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm to
Dubai, 10pm to 3am, free. Tel: (04) 3324383. 3am, Dhs100 to Dhs130, ladies free before
www.afroboogie.com 11pm. Tel: (050) 7258277.
1 14 Hisham Zahran
@ Audio Tonic
Big Day Out @
Nasimi Beach
21 28
Dorian Paic @ Trilogy
21 David
Vendetta @
WHAT'S ON PICK
Craig Richards @ Trilogy Sven Väth's Cocoon-associated spinner lines
Long-time resident at legendary London up a set of quality German techno/house.
nightspot Fabric rolls out his patented tech Trilogy, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm to
Diablo Red
house eclectica. 3am, Dhs100 to Dhs130, ladies free before
Trilogy, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 10pm to 11pm. Tel: (050) 7258277.
3am, Dhs100 to Dhs130, ladies free before
11pm. Tel: (050) 7258277. WHAT'S ON PICK
27
Steve Mill @ Audio Tonic
Carpet
Grecian goodness from producer/DJ
aligned with respected UK house imprint
Urban Torque.
360°, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai, 4pm to
DJane Simone @ Zenith Party 2am, free. Tel: (050) 1076405. www.stevemill.
German house lady brings an invasion of com
funky beats and sexy tribal rhythms.
Sheraton Abu Dhabi, Corniche Road, Abu
Dhabi, 9pm to 3.30am, Dhs100, couples and
ladies free. Tel: (02) 6773333
3
Afif Trio featuring
French house head Do you enjoy playing Dubai?
Every time I've performed there I was
Phillippa @ It's Alive David Vendetta found very impressed by the clubs, the sound
favour in the Middle quality and the resident DJs. People
East with hit single are very open-minded; they truly love
13 Bob Sinclar @
music and listen with interest. My radio
Yama Layali, featuring show is a huge success in Dubai. It’s a
Lebanese singer Haifa real pleasure to perform there and an
Wehbe, from last year's honour to play the opening of Diablo.
Atelier
Diablo is Spanish for devil. Do you
album Vendetta. He harbour a devilish dark side?
graces Diablo’s swanky I won’t say devilish, but as a DJ I have
a dark side, which emerges when I’m
opening weekend playing clubs. During the day I'm David
Atelier’s season-closing party
Paparusso and I have normal activities:
presents the French house Did you notice your popularity in I work in my studio, I’m with my family.
star behind globe-straddling the Middle East increase after Yama But by night I become David Vendetta
hits Love Generation and Layali? and I’m absorbed in music.
Yes. I decided to work with Haifa
Rock This Party (Everybody Diablo, IBN Battuta Gate Hotel, Dubai,
Wehbe because I wanted to offer my
Dance Now). His latest single fans a track entirely sung in Arabic. It is 10pm to 3am, free (reservations only).
Tel: (050) 9666408/(050) 9666414. www.
Tik Tok, featuring Sean Paul, is a gift to them. davidvendetta.com
out now
21
to recreate the theme they had in 1979 have stadiums with air conditioning,
for the Serge Gainsbourg album Aux but Qatar can do that. They have huge
Armes Et Cætera. I’m a big fan of him. ideas. Maybe there is only desert, but
The album is up for a Grammy. Are they like to entertain people.
you attending the ceremony? Chi @ The Lodge, Al Nasr Leisureland,
Yeah. I have two invitations, so if I go Dubai, 10pm to 4am, Dhs150 to Dhs450. Craig Richards
with my mother she will be very proud. Tel: (04) 3379470. www.bobsinclar.com @ Trilogy
Lake Maggiore
do in Ascona: see the village sights and walk to the
The ever-popular Entertainer book allows you to enjoy the best the UAE
has to offer for half the price. Choose from five books for 2011, with deals
for restaurants, attractions, travel and more across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain,
Dubai, the Northern Emirates and abroad.
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extended for one year for any renewal subscriptions. All Entertainer books are subject to availability. The Entertainer books cannot be exchanged or refunded. The offer is valid
in the UAE only. Other terms and conditions apply and are available at http://www.thenational.ae/subscribe
TRAVEL | ASCONA
24 HOURS IN MILAN
A guide to how to spend your brief
time in the Italian style capital
Need to know
WHERE TO STAY
Boat trip: take a boat trip across Hotel Eden Roc
Lake Maggiore and see Ascona If you’re visiting Ascona, you’ll be looking to
from a different perspective make the most of one of the most relaxing
environments in Europe, and there’s no
better way to do so than checking into the
and the Japanese teahouse and garden. And Hotel Eden Roc. The five-star hotel excels
on your way back down, make sure to pause at understated, European style and luxury
for a moment to enjoy the panoramic views of (none of the extravagance found in the
Ascona and Lake Maggiore below. UAE) with friendly and extremely helpful
If you want to see Ascona from a different staff led by manager Jens Wycisk, a variety
perspective, hire a motorboat and pilot from of large suites facing Lake Maggiore as
the hotel’s marina. You can spend an hour well as a number of cheaper rooms. There’s
skidding across the crisp waters, past the also the lovely new Eden Roc Spa where a
house of the current owner of the Falke sock masseuse soothed our aching muscles after
empire (he owns a handsome boat as well, our long hike, several restaurants, including
which can be seen bobbing about near his chef Rolf Krapf’s Le Brezza where we ate
own personal jetty). Cruise past the botanical a multi-course gourmet meal, and the
gardens on Isole di Brissago (a boat daily hotel's own private marina and water sports
service ferries tourists to the island), and the school. The hotel will also happily assist
surrounding hills and various colourful house with tours of the town, boat trips and hiking
lining the shore. After your boat trip, pop into expeditions.
the Eden Roc Marina restaurant, order a glass Hotel Eden Roc, Ascona, Switzerland. Tel: +41
of the local white wine and some fresh fish (0) 917857171. www.edenroc.ch
and enjoy the view of the lake your lunch used
to call home. HOW TO GET THERE
Finally, no matter how slothful you are Flight
feeling, you must go hiking. It’s the best way to L Emirates Airline flies direct from Dubai to
relish the dramatic natural bounty of the area. Making a splash: adventurous Milan with prices from Dhs4,185 return and
We caught a bus from outside the train types leap from the Ponte dei Qatar Airways goes via Doha with prices
station in Locarno and started the long chug Salti bridge in Lavertezzo from Dhs3,065 return
up the winding slope towards Sonogno – L Etihad Airways flies direct from Abu Dhabi
the final village in the eye-poppingly scenic to Milan with prices from Dhs4,115 return
Verzasca Valley. During the hour-long journey enjoy the scenery without worrying about
you will pass the dam featured in Bond movie getting lost in the wilderness. As you follow Train
Golden Eye, the impressive 17th century Ponte the Verzasca, shrouded by the grassy slopes Regular trains run from Milano Centrale
dei Salti Bridge in Laverezzo and numerous of the valley and under the shadow of lanky to Bellinzona and from Bellinzona on to
charming villages. When you reach Sonogno, trees and luscious green foliage, you will pass Locarno, just a short taxi ride from Ascona.
you will be 919 metres above sea level and at the odd cow, historic villages replete with grey Ticket prices from Dhs150.
the start of what is billed as a two-hour hike stone buildings in various states of repair and
(we did it in 90 minutes) to the picturesque a dairy farm before reaching Gerra. And then CURRENCY
village of Gerra further down the valley. The you’ll know exactly why you decided to visit CHF100 = Dhs380
trail is very well signposted allowing you to Switzerland in the first place.
Tony Wheeler
What’s the best holiday you’ve ever had?
I joined a bunch of ‘been everywhere’ travellers
on a month-long trip up the west coast of Africa
in a chartered aircraft – a 50-year-old Convair
580. How often do you get to go from Capetown
to Casablanca via Namibia, Angola, Benin,
Gabon, Central African Republic, Mali and
other countries on the ‘seldom visited’ list? In
fact, a lot of my best trips have been in Africa
– a year ago I bicycled 1,000km through
Lonely Planet founder and Tanzania and Malawi, the year before I
climbed Mount Kilimanjaro,
director Tony Wheeler was the year before that I drove guidebook so you can escape the
born a traveller, growing from London to Banjul in Gambia. airport and go look around the town or
up in the UK, Pakistan, West What’s been your biggest travel disaster? somewhere else nearby.
Touch wood, I’ve always got back and started What do you never travel without?
Indies and the USA. He thinking about the next trip, so really nothing My GPS. I like to know where I am, where I’m
produced his first travel book could qualify as a disaster. going and how fast I’m getting there.
after a trip across Asia in If you could advise people to visit one What destination serves the best food?
destination, what would it be? Melbourne in Australia. So many different
1972, and went on to create China. It’s heading rapidly towards becoming cuisines, so much food culture (chefs are
a company that has more the world’s number one tourist destination, celebrities) and Melbournians take coffee
it’s big in every measure and going through seriously – how many cities have forced
than 500 travel titles in print so many changes, so fast that if you just stand Starbucks to pack their bags and go home?
today still for ten minutes everything shifts. It’s also www.lonelyplanet.com
getting easier and easier to travel around and
yet it can still spring surprises on you.
What are your three top tips for surviving “I like to know where I am,
a long airport stopover?
A good novel, a laptop with Wi-Fi so you
where I’m going and how
can catch up on work or contacts and a good fast I’m getting there”
ISTOCK
Gotta get out of this place?
Read on for top travel
bargains
KERALA CAPE TOWN
ROME Forget the frantic The weather is amazing
Walk off those Christmas calories and take city of Delhi, verdant, at the moment in
in some spectacular sights with this reduced peaceful Kerala in Southern India couldn’t cosmopolitan Cape Town, so
priced mini-break. It’s time for a Roman be more different to the rest of the country. it’s the ideal time to explore
holiday. Until March 31 you can get return This Air Arabia package will whisk you the beaches, vineyards,
flights, four nights in the elegant De La Ville to the backwaters where you’ll stay for mountains and fishing villages.
InterContinental Hotel Rome, daily three nights in a premium resort. The This special offer luxurious break includes
breakfast, one complimentary Dhs2,130 price tag includes return flights, return flights accommodation at the
dinner and taxes included from accommodation, boat trips, Ayurvedic One&Only hotel with breakfast, and if you
Dhs4,985 per person based on massage and full board, taxes, surcharges buy three nights you’ll get the fourth free.
two people sharing. and visa for India. From Dhs8,910.
www.dnataholidays.com www.airarabia.com www.emirates-holidays.com
Al Salam Street, p.o.box 128967, Abu Dhabi, UAE. t. +971 2 4952000 f. +971 2 4952001
info.thevillage@onetoonehotels.com onetoonehotels.com GPS coordinates +24° 28' 31.11", +54° 23' 16.84"
THE HOT LIST
Key
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Up
Down
p75 Bars
p79 Restaurants
p83 Brunches
p87 Spas
BICE
PO Box 2331 Dubai UAE Tel +971 4 282 4060 Fax +971 4 282 7898 books@motivate.ae
PO Box 43072 Abu Dhabi UAE Tel +971 2 677 2005 Fax +971 2 677 0124 motivate-adh@motivate.ae
THE HOT LIST THE
FINEST FOR
BEVERAGES
BARS AND
BITES
1
Filled with pretty At the centre of Meet friends for a It’s far from cheap Building 3, DIFC,
Great Dubai, Sun to Thurs
girls and men with a DIFC, Caramel’s quick post-work – neighbourhood
atmosphere, the 11am to 2am.
pretty healthy bank leafy terrace offers drink, be tempted hazard – but ladies
chance of celeb- Tel: (04) 4256677.
balance, Caramel respite from the by the menu then get half price
spotting and www.carameldubai.
is packed with the concrete jungle, settle in until cocktails from
Caramel seriously good com
beautiful people. while inside you’ll midnight. Try the 6pm to 9pm on
food. We’re sold.
find a city-style bar. kobe sliders. Tuesdays.
2
Depends when you Slap bang in the Music and serious Ouch. The dirhams We’re willing Jumeirah Beach Hotel,
go. It’s chilled on Arabian Gulf, we posing. Dubai’s finest stack up if you Al Sufouh, Dubai, Sun
to overlook the
Friday and Saturday recommended break out their finery arrive early and to Thurs 5pm to late,
slow service for Fri and Sat 4pm to
afternoons but catching a golf come Friday for leave late. the tunes and 2am. Tel: (04) 4068769
once the sun sets, buggy up the jetty those all-important views.
360˚ the party goes off. to 360’s gangplank. photos ops.
3
Well slick. Glass, Zuma was the first Break out the Hugo You can go a Come along Building 6, DIFC,
dark wood, low big-hitter to set Boss, shine those bit wild on the Dubai, Fri to Wed noon
from 4pm on
slung sofas and a up shop in DIFC, shoes and get your wine and sakes, to 2am, Thurs noon to
January 29 3am. Tel: (04) 4255660.
terrace perfect for starting quite the best garb on. This but cocktails are to enjoy the www.zumarestaurant.
post-work drinks. trend. It’s still at lounge is anything reasonable. High new Saturday com
Zuma the heart of this but casual. prices at a high Sessions with
nightlife hub. quality bar. What's On.
4
Miami pool party. Media City. One Mingling. This Pretty decent, Try the evening Media One, Dubai
DJ under the stars. of the last places place is packed actually, with high Media City, Dubai, Tues
brunch on a
That constant you’d expect to find with revellers both rollers getting to Sat noon to 3am. Tel:
Friday then head (04) 4271000. www.
threat of being watery debauchery. post-brunch and poolside tables. out to the pool mediaonehotel.com
thrown in the deep mid-week. Go with to continue the
M Dek end. We love it. a group. party.
5
Varies wildly Right on the beach. Quiet sundowners What's going on The Marmite Le Méridien Mina
between laid-back Split between with the sand with the Dhs100 Seyahi Resort &
of the bar
cool on the beach, poolside and between your toes. entry cost? Not Spa, Dubai Marina,
scene, you can’t Dubai, 11am to 2am.
to mania at the bar – beachside, there’s When the hoards of impressed. deny Barasti’s Tel: (04) 3993333.
it’s a brave man that usually a quiet or sunburnt tourists popularity. www.lemeridien-
Barasti pushes to the front hot spot depending turn up it’s your cue minaseyahi.com
on a Friday night. on what you’re after. to leave.
6
The wooden pews Don't dismiss If you’re in the There’s a Monday Crowne Plaza Festival
Nab a table on City, Dubai, Sun to
are packed with Festival Centre mood for some night all you can eat the terrace and
friends having as the land of European charm, moules and beer Mon 6pm to 2am, Tue
watch the sun to Wed noon to 2am,
dinner, while IKEA, the BBC is this is the only pub affair for Dhs199. set over the Thurs and Fri noon to
outside on the king of a huge to go to. Bargain Belgian. skyline with a 3am. Tel: (04) 7012222.
Belgian Beer terrace it's a bit swathe of bars and beer in hand. www.ichotelsgroup.
Cafe more romantic. restaurants in this com
down part of town.
7
Civilised, with Right on the creek A few drinks, Reasonable given Don’t leave Park Hyatt Dubai,
outdoor tables at one of the most lovely canapés the stunning Deira, Dubai, Sun to Fri
without
overlooking the beautiful hotels in and picking out setting and quality from 6pm to 1am, Tel:
sampling the (04) 3172222. www.
yachts and killer the land. which boat you’d of fare. raw bar. dubai.park.hyatt.com
cocktails. have. The Pershing,
The Terrace please.
8
Fix up, look sharp In the tallest Money to burn? As steep as the Burj The bar is Armani Hotel, Burj
and bring your building in the This is the place for Khalifa. Order at Khalifa, Old Town,
beautiful but
A-game to this world. Dress to you. Also great for your peril. Dubai, Mon to Sat
definitely one 10pm to 3am. Tel:
tres swank Armani impress Giorgio. people watching for special (04) 8883888. www.
outpost. and wondering occasions. armanihotels.com
Armani/Prive how you’ll pay the
bill.
9
Pretty buzzing At the heart of Great BOGOF value Not bad at all, even We nicknamed Aquara, Dubai Marina,
most nights, but Dubai Marina, with and the weather outside of happy Dubai, daily from
it The Youth
out of control come the water literally a is perfect for hour. 6pm to midnight. Tel:
Club last winter (04) 3627900. www.
Thursday when the stone’s throw from this place at the – lots of young dubaimarinayachtclub.
world and his pal the vast deck. moment. pups. com
The Yacht turn up for happy
Club hour.
10
Calabar comes into Right at the centre Cocktails and chat. Above average, but Did we mention The Address
its own during the of Old Town, Don’t expect super this isn’t the kind Downtown Dubai,
the beanbags?
winter, when you affording you great speedy service, of place to chuck Emaar Boulevard,
can crash out on views of the Burj though. pints down your Downtown Dubai,
daily from 6pm to
the beanbags with Khalifa from said throat. 2am. Tel: (04) 436 8888.
Calabar some pals. beanbags. www.theaddress.com
1
Like its White Simple and DIFC, where We went to DIFC, Gate
We voted it
neighbour panelled walls, intimate is the LPM and Zuma town and Village 8,
were relieved Best Newcomer Dubai, Sun
Zuma before contemporary name of the watch over
of Dhs930 at the What’s to Fri noon
it, LPM is never artworks, dark, game at LPM, proceedings
(without On Awards, to 2.30pm
lacking in loyal bare wood with sharing like two culinary
La Petite alcohol), but and with good and 7pm to
customers, so floors, a long bar, encouraged. colossuses. two could eat 11pm. Tel: (04)
Maison reason.
it’s always best crisp tablecloths Best cheesecake well for Dhs650. 4390505. www.
to book ahead. and romantic in Dubai. lpmdubai.ae
lighting.
2
Head down Serious dining Still going strong DIFC and Zuma Dhs1,000 for We’ll never Building 6, Gate
to our first in the bright despite the are synonymous two. Ebisu Village, DIFC, Sat to
tire of saying
Saturday downstairs recent departure with each other. Express lunch Thurs 12.30pm to
it. Zuma is the 3pm, Sat to Wed
Sessions on restaurant, or of chef Colin menu (miso best Japanese 7pm to midnight,
January 29 and casual nibbles Clague, the plus main) restaurant in Thurs and Fri 7pm
Zuma catch us on and drinks in kitchen is as Dhs62, Ebisu Dubai. to 1am. Tel: (04)
the decks, 4pm the upstairs inventive and (miso plus 4255660. www.
to 7pm. Win a lounge and bar consistent as three courses) zumarestaurant.
table, p14. area. ever. Dhs120. com
3
The team at A cosy If you haven’t Grosvenor Dhs900 Just go and eat Grosvenor
Indego is always restaurant with eaten chef House. When (without there and tell House, Dubai
welcoming and several statues John Sinjobi’s you’ve had your alcohol), which us it’s not the Marina,
the restaurant of golden gods renderings of fill skip out to is a bargain for best Indian in Dubai, Sun to
and a cabinet Bhatia. Dubai. Go on. Thurs 7pm to
comfortable Vineet Bhatia’s the terrace for a
Indego by of shoes on one We dare you. 11pm. Tel: (04)
and relaxed. wall to remind dishes, you coffee. 3176000. www.
Vineet haven’t eaten
you you’re grosvenorhouse-
eating Indian. contemporary dubai.com
Indian cuisine.
4
RG has come Open kitchen, Try the Dhs80 Book a table on Dhs400 for two. Table on the Souk Al Bahar,
into its own white walls and Dhs100 the terrace. Level 3, Old
terrace Saturday
now that winter and linen and, lunch menus. Town, Dubai,
at 6pm, please. noon to
is in full flow. of course, We’ll be having 11pm. Tel: (04)
Make sure you daily specials the roast beef 4230903. www.
Rivington book ahead. scribbled on and Yorkshire rivingtongrill.ae
Grill chalkboards. pudding.
5
Since Ramsay’s From the chef’s Scott Price and The wrong end Dhs395 for What have you Hilton Dubai Creek,
visit and chef table to the the team know of town, but three courses Sun to Fri, 7pm to
got in store for
Scott Price’s private dining exactly what it’s Dubai’s first and Dhs495 for 11.30pm. Tel: (04)
the six-course us this year then, 2277550. www.
What’s On Chef room, Verre is they’re doing. celebrity chef Scott?
menu. Chef’s gordonramsay.
Of The Year contemporary Order the beef restaurant and
Verre table Dhs695 com
award there’s fine dining 101. Wellington. its clientele (us per person.
been a renewed included) is
buzz at Verre. loyal.
PRICE
ATMOSPHERE WHAT’S
INTERIOR
ON INFO FOOD LOCATION PRICE WHAT’S ON INFO
SAYS... SAYS...
6
People visit Purple carpet, We ate a Hop in the Dhs1,000 and Go for lunch,
InterContinental
Pierre Gagnaire’s pink chandeliers bubblegum exclusive Reflets then some, but Dubai Festival
and mahogany lift and travel then save up, City, Dubai, 7pm
Dubai outpost flavoured sauce the three- and go back for
for a special balloon-back at Reflets last to the exclusive course lunch to 1am. Tel: (04)
chairs. It’s très, Reflets floor. dinner. 7011128. www.
occasion, so month. The menu, available
très French. ichotelsgroup.
Reflets there’s always man’s an artist. Monday to com
Par Pierre the tingle of Sit back and Friday, is a
Gagnaire’s excitement in let the kitchen bargain at just
the air. create. Dhs180.
7
If you have a Marvel at the Chef Franck Park Hyatt. Our Three courses for Start off 2011 Park Hyatt
date or it’s your high, vaulted Detrait and the favourite Dubai two for around in your other Dubai, Deira,
anniversary, book ceiling and lads specialise in hotel. Dhs615. Dhs280 Dubai, Sun
half’s good
a table at Traiteur. breath in the French brasserie per person for to Fri 7pm to
cooking like books and midnight. Tel:
Its that kind of smells wafting the three-course book a table at
Traiteur Jimmy Page (04) 3172222.
place. from the open specialises in set menu. Traiteur. www.dubai.
kitchen. guitar. park.hyatt.com
8
The West 14th New York, Order the 300g Beside the Dhs550 for It has some Oceana Beach
buzz has died New York. Low Australian rib beach at two without strong Club, The Palm
down but we’re lighting, a eye medium- Oceana Beach alcohol, making competition, Jumeirah,
still expecting cocktail bar and rare. Club, which it cheaper but West Dubai, noon to
than your 14th is still 3pm and 6pm
the Marina exposed brick is not an easy
West 14th average Dubai our favourite to midnight Tel:
hordes to make in the gents’ place to find steakhouse. (04) 4477601.
steakhouse.
it their Thursday toilet. How cool (print the map www.west14th.
post-work is that? on the website). ae
gathering spot.
9
The name Gary’s ‘gangster’ It’s a grill and you They’re thinking We spent Book a table Le Royal
Rhodes has paradise boasts have a choice of of renaming Dhs630 on a Méridien Beach
upstairs. It’s
them coming Jack Vettriano everything from Dubai Marina meal for two. Resort and Spa,
more intimate. Dubai, 7pm
from far (Abu prints and some sauces to sides. Gary’s Place. You could easily
to midnight.
Dhabi) and wide nice splashes of Order the lamb spend more, or if Tel: (04)
Rhodes (Garhoud) so purple. Velvet rack rare. you were careful,
Twenty10 3995555. www.
it’s best to book waistcoats. So a little less. garyrhodes.
ahead. on trend. com
10
Terra Firma Book a table The steaks at OK, so it’s the Buy two courses Thirsty? A bit Al Badia Golf
is not usually on the terrace Terra Firma wrong end of this month skint after Club, Dubai
busy, but we overlooking the mount a serious town and a little and for Dhs39 Christmas? Festival City,
have a feeling golf course. challenge to the out of the way, extra you’ll get Terra Firma is Dubai, Tue to
the place to be Sun 7pm to
that’s going best in Dubai. but it’s worth as much red or midnight. Tel:
Terra Firma to change this the trip. white wine as this month.
Steakhouse (04) 7011127.
month. you like. www.diningdfc.
com
1
Dubai’s From a cheese There are three Impressing your It’s Dhs495, Madinat
Best brunch in Jumeirah,
favourite trolley and rooms full of parents, your which is a lot of the UAE and
brunch never made-to-order food and a friends, potential money. Dubai, 12.30pm
with a What’s to 4pm. Tel: (04)
lacks custom. steak to sushi terrace so you business On Award to 3666730. www.
Book ahead. and oxtail won’t be short partners or a prove it. jumeirah.com
Al Qasr burger, Al Qasr of space. significant other.
has everything Impressing
you’re likely to anyone, really.
desire.
2
A live jazz Classic French Go all out and Anyone with a Up to you – Don’t be stingy, Park Hyatt
band and a brasserie, just book the private sense of style, Dhs295 sans go for the limo
Dubai, Deira,
bustling open like a la carte dining room superb taste and alcohol, Dhs425 Dubai, noon to
kitchen drive or just nab a option. You 4pm. Tel: (04)
except you can a penchant for with house know you want
things along at conveniently 3172222. www.
help yourself to classic French beverages, to.
Traiteur Traiteur. located table dubai.park.
as much as you near the open food. Dhs550 with hyatt.com
like. kitchen. The Veuve Cliquot or
terrace is nice, Dhs1,500 with a
too. limo pick up.
3
Brunch is always Fresh sushi and While away the The best Kitsu (no If you like Building 6, DIFC,
fully subscribed sashimi and a afternoon post- Japanese food alcohol) Dhs315, Dubai, 12.30pm
Japanese food,
so make sure wide array of brunch in the in Dubai. Kowaku to 4pm. Tel: (04)
this is the only 4255660. www.
your name is in dishes from the upstairs lounge. Dhs425 (with brunch for you. zumarestaurant.
the book. exciting regular alcohol) and com
Zuma menu. Kyasha (with
champers) for
Dhs550.
4
Book a table We recommend Right on the A sedate winter Dhs225 with It really is a Park Hyatt
on the terrace the duck noodle water at the afternoon with alcohol. Cheap. bargain.
Dubai, Deira,
and chat with soup and the Park Hyatt, our friends. Extremely Dubai, noon to
your plans while papaya salad. favourite hotel cheap. 4pm. Tel: (04)
dreaming of 3172222. www.
It’s all brought in Dubai.
owning one of dubai.park.
Thai Kitchen the boats in the to the table. hyatt.com
Marina.
5
The recent Live cooking Step out onto There’s Dhs395 with Not many Anise,
addition of stations dolling the terrace for something for alcohol, Dhs295 InterContinental
brunches have
a live band out Peking a prime view of everyone. The without. Dubai Festival City,
live bands, now, Dubai, 12.30pm
has injected duck, pizzas, the always- band entertains do they? to 4pm. Tel: (04)
some life into barbecued cuts, impressive the party crowd, 7011111. www.
Anise proceedings. curries and Dubai skyline. but it’s not too ichotelsgroup.
more. rowdy. com
PRICE
ATMOSPHERE WHAT’S ON
FOOD INFOLOCATION BEST FOR PRICE WHAT’S ON INFO
SAYS... SAYS...
6
If you want Champagne, At this time of A group of your Dhs425. Madinat
We spent
luxury but steak, year it’s nice on closest friends Jumeirah,
can’t handle the terrace. Grab Christmas Day Dubai, 12.30pm
seafood, sushi. or some special
the crowds at a duck wrap at Mina A’Salam. to 4pm. Tel: (04)
Everything you visitors.
Al Qasr, visit its from one of the That’s how good 3668888. www.
would expect
Mina A'Salam quieter next- outdoor cooking it is. jumeirah.com
door neighbour. at a high-end stations and
brunch. ogle the turtles
swimming in the
water below.
7
The most Authentic Do you fancy If the sky is clear Dhs300 for We visited Le Royal
relaxed brunch Mexican from the beach? How and the sun is pool and beach Maya this
Méridien Beach
in Dubai. A Maya restaurant. about the pool? shining, right access from Resort & Spa,
spot of sartorial Platters of Neither? Then now. 10am to 6pm, month and Dubai Marina,
advice – wear grilled meat and go and check plus lunch we’ve never Dubai, 10am to
swimmers and fish between out the live and a 30 per left a brunch 6pm. Tel: (04)
Maya flip-flops. 1pm and 4pm mariachi band. cent beverage feeling so 3165550. www.
on the Maya discount relaxed. leroyalmeridien-
terrace. between 5pm dubai.com
and 7pm.
8
It’s the Armani Sushi buffet, The Burj Khalifa. An afternoon Dhs290 How many Armani Hotel,
Hotel. It’s pretty robati grills, Fancy enough of luxury (soft drinks), hotels are
Burj Khalifa,
swish, with a DJ platters of for you? with the little Dhs380 (house Old Town,
beverages), located at the Dubai, noon
and some lovely nibbles brought ones. There’s Burj Khalifa?
Dhs585 to 3.30pm. Tel:
views from the to the table and a supervised One, that’s how
Armani/Hashi (Bollinger) (04) 8883888.
terrace. a la carte mains play room. and Dhs145 many. www.dubai.
that are worth They think of (children aged armanihotels.
the brunch everything four to ten). Go com
price alone. these guys. for the Bolly.
9
It all depends “BBQ the South At this time Those who like A bargain at The South The Grand Grill
on your waiter. African way” is of year, take a to eat animal Dhs295 with Africans know Steakhouse,
Ours was a what The Grand table outside flesh in large alcohol or how to do BBQ. Habtoor Grand
hoot, offering Grill prom- for the real BBQ quantities. Dhs225 without. Resort & Spa,
excellent Dubai Marina,
ises. That means experience.
The Grand banter, filling Dubai, 12.30pm
our glasses and meat – a lot of to 4pm. Tel: (04)
Grill meat.
feeding us a lot 3994221. www.
of protein. thegrandgrill.
com
10
A long time Eight kitchens The first floor of Eating your Dhs550 for Go for the Fairmont
favourite serving cuisine Fairmont Dubai. way around the the full bubble Dubai, Sheikh
Hops and
with Dubai from Europe, Spectrum owns world. experience, Zayed Road,
Thailand, China, Vines option. Dubai, noon to
brunchers, it. Dhs395 for the Who needs
India, Japan and 3pm. Tel: (04)
Spectrum is Hops and Vines champagne
Spectrum the Middle East, 3325555. www.
never lacking plus a port and option or Dhs295 when you have fairmont.com/
On One custom. sans booze.
cheese room. eight kitchens? dubai
1
Knowledgeable There’s a lengthy One of the most There are monthly Park Hyatt Dubai,
Amara starts
and professional, and luxurious list beautiful spaces offers that take Deira, Dubai,
these relaxation of treatments on in Dubai, Amara another year 9am to 10pm.
the sting out of
experts will take offer. Grouped has a courtyard in the number Tel: (04) 6021234.
the steep prices –
you from stressed by theme, there’s with daybeds, a one spot. And www.dubai.park.
but the quality of
Amara out to blissed out. an emphasis stunning outdoor it deserves to hyatt.com
We recommended on rituals and pool and each products, spa and
be there.
Sue if knots are your packages that treatment room therapists more
main problem. include pool and has a private than justify them.
health club access. outdoor shower.
2
Quiet, kind and Innovative and Asian chic with Choose wisely and That ginger tea The Beach Club, Al
with a firm hand imaginative, you’ll splashes of jewel you’ll get an hour- alone makes Nafura, Shoreline
when necessary, find treatments tones; the cosy long massage for it worth the Apartments, The Palm
Sensasia’s staff you never knew rooms are a true Dhs310. trip, but the Jumeirah, Dubai,
treatments are 10am to 10pm.
are trained to the you needed. retreat. And the Tel: (04) 4227115.
Sensasia highest standards. We love specific dressing gowns are amazing too.
www.sensasiaspas.
Urban Spa massages like the best in town. com
the Hi Heeler for
aching feet.
3
There’s a mix Talise sets itself The treatment Various, but the The Optimal Al Qasr, Al Sufouh,
of nationalities apart with its rooms are linked 80-minute Royal Dubai,
Health
and specialities, naturopath, life by leafy outdoor Hammam is a fair 9am to 10pm.
Assessment Tel: (04) 3666818.
from massage coaching and pathways, with Dhs450. is superb. See www.jumeirah.com/
therapists to a GP. medical testing, an outdoor pool page 21 for its talise
Talise Spa This spa is packed in addition to the tucked away for Bab al Shams
with experts. large spa menu. those day-long spa detox retreat.
sessions.
4
Modern zen There are You’d never expect It’s pricey, but Quiet and The Address Dubai
awaits at this separate menus this shrine to worth it for luxurious, with Mall, Old Town, Dubai,
vast spa, with for ladies and de-stressing to the quality of quality added 9am to 9pm. Tel: (04)
experienced gents. Particularly be mere minutes treatments and extras, this 4388888.
spa is a true www.theaddress.com
therapists on recommended from the hectic snooze you’ll enjoy.
The Spa hand to guide you is the Jet Lag Dubai Mall. It’s the sanctuary.
from reception to treatment. perfect antidote
relaxation. to an afternoon of
shopping.
5
An international There’s no As stylish as you’d Not as bad as The unique Armani Hotel, Burj
mix of staff. treatment menu expect from you fear, with 90 Khalifa, Old Town,
'decide for you'
We had a as such, just book Giorgio. It’s a minutes costing Dubai,
approach is 9am to 9pm.
knot-busting a time slot (from sleek space with Dhs650, up to great for spa Tel: (04) 8883888.
South African. 90 minutes to a dark greys and Dhs2,500 for a newbies. www.dubai.
Armani/Spa Impressive. full day) and the clean lines. Very full day. armanihotels.com
therapist decides. masculine indeed.
2010 WHAT’S
JANUARY 2011
OCTOBER WHAT’S ON
ON 87
87
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Desert Reso
6
Male and female The menu invites Shared steam and Mid-range, with a Desert Palm, Al
What could be
therapists are you to 'drop sauna facilities 60-minute Anne Awir Road, after
available with your robe, cares make it an ideal better than a International City,
Semonin massage
their extensive and guard'. destination for rub down then Dubai, 9am to 9pm.
for Dhs450 and an
knowledge. Cheeky. There are couples. We steak at Rare? Tel: (04) 3238888.
hour of reflexology
Lime Spa They’re happy to Anne Semonin especially like the Not a lot. www.desertpalm.ae
answer questions, treatments, plus clever two-way for Dhs395.
or just let you a choice ranging windows so you
nod off. from ear candling can look out over
to sculpting rituals. the polo fields.
7
The female Each month Hidden away in Well priced at Check out page 1074 Uttamah
therapists at this brings new an Al Wasl villa, around Dhs350 52 to find TPS's
Villas, Al Wasl Road,
ladies-only spa treatments and the spa is a cosy for an hour-long Jumeira, Dubai,
undergo two discounts. You’ll escape with a massage. Keep an special January 10am to 10pm. Tel:
years of training find everything lovely garden for eye out for special discount deal. (04) 3489679. www.
and the results from blow-dries to yoga. offers, too. thaiprivilegespadubai.
Thai Privilege are impressive. luxury rituals, all com
Spa with a Thai flavour.
8
The team at The extensive list It’s an impressive You’re on The Palm A spa that Atlantis The Palm,
Atlantis will greet covers gentlemen’s spa with a huge so expect to pay will have you Palm Jumeirah, Dubai,
you with ginger shaves, expert staircase, beautiful the big bucks, 10am to 10pm. Tel:
with two-hour wanting more (04) 4261020. www.
tea, treat you to pedicures, lengthy 'floating' walkway (and asking for
packages costing atlantisthepalm.com
some high quality rituals and more. and underwater- a pay rise).
Spa & Fitness Dhs1,000. They’ve
pampering then Particularly themed treatment priced it with
Centre bring more tea. recommended are rooms. tourists in mind,
the Clarins facials. but it’s worth
treating yourself.
9
Expert, Not a huge An unexpected Definitely on the ' Check out our Emirates Towers,
unassuming and selection, but sanctuary in the more expensive Dubai, 9am to 11pm.
His 'n' Hers
happy to talk you everything you depths of Emirates side, which is no Tel: (04) 3198181.
review on www.jumeirah.com
through what could want from Towers. Previously surprise given page 49.
they're doing and rituals to tanning. H2O male spa, it the hotel and
Talise Spa why. Excellent. has opened its neighbourhood
at Emirates doors to the ladies. it's in.
Towers
10
Super friendly Try the fourhand Seriously soft Slightly above Enjoy a The Monarch, Sheikh
and dedicated to Mandara dressing gowns, average at Dhs470 Zayed Road, Dubai,
massage
making your me- Massage. You’ll Elemis facials for the 65-minute 9am to 10pm. Tel:
and lunch at (04) 5018888. www.
time as enjoyable be pushed, pulled and the beautiful Muscle Ease Okku or Ruth’s themonarchdubai.
as possible. and pulverised steam room were massage. Chris for only com
Mandara Spa into a state of our highlights. Dhs299. Sweet.
somnolence.
Dhs
145
AARON MAREE
presents
I N N O VAT I V E M I D D L E E A S T E R N
NEW AGE D E S S E R T S
F O R T H E N E X T G E N E R AT I O N
“I hope this book is a learning tool for someone else. If even one
apprentice can use it to succeed or to re-ignite that flame of passion for
the industry that I love, then I, too, will have succeeded.”
PO Box 2331 Dubai UAE Tel +971 4 282 4060 Fax +971 4 282 789 books@motivate.ae
PO Box 43072 Abu Dhabi UAE Tel +971 2 677 2005 Fax +971 2 677 0124 motivate-adh@motivate.ae
Backchat with Catboy
up and think, “must lose the equivalent of a
13-year-old child from the space between my
nipples and belly button”.
There are resolutions that aren’t actu-
ally resolutions at all, but actually just the
machinations of life. Each January I make a
resolution to be more frugal and not fritter
away as much money on things I don’t need.
By the end of January I’ve normally managed
to keep this resolution, though not through
choice. I’m just broke from squandering all
There’s method in our man Well, now I’m a magazine columnist I can my money in December on chocolates, gifts,
tell you resolutions are a fine idea. Let me gadgets and wilting fir trees.
on the radio’s madness. explain why over the next couple of hundred Each year I make the usual resolutions,
Although it’s still madness… words… but I also try to throw in one or two that
First of all, it’s something to talk about will give me something to talk about on
when you go back to work, plus it can last Dubai 92’s breakfast show. In previous years
I guess I should warn you about the you pretty much the whole of January. So all I’ve resolved to take and publish one photo
obligatory new year column that you’re those awkward stop ‘n’ chats first thing in the per day, I’ve committed myself to learning
about to read. As the cover for this edition morning when you’d normally be stood at to play the piano and one year I even went
of What’s On proudly proclaims, it’s a New the printer, slack-jawed and half-asleep, need so far as performing regular random act of
Year, New You. No doubt, as you read this, not be a worry anymore. Just throw in a “this kindness. None of these lasted past the first
some of you are in the throes of your first, diet is killing me”, roll your eyes, move on, week, so I figured if I’m going to fail, I might
painful sessions with personal trainers, then repeat daily until February. as well fail at something outrageous. And
others will be miserably munching on a Resolutions are also a great distraction. with that, I give you my new year’s resolu-
fistful of leaves whilst, due to nicotine- For me, they take my mind off the fact that tions for 2011…
withdrawal, others will be biting-off the my next holiday will be in six months. That’s I resolve to finish La Sagrada Família
heads of anyone who dares say hello. roughly 120 4am alarm calls. I can cut that cathedral in Barcelona, make more money
Many of you will have already broken your down by a considerable amount by instead than JK Rowling, win Eurovision for the
resolutions and then there are those who concentrating on hating jogging, detesting United Kingdom with a song about how the
refuse to make them and brand the whole Weight Watchers milkshakes and biting back rest of Europe is rubbish and destroy every
thing poppycock. profanities aimed at fellow road users. Black Eyed Peas CD in Dubai before this
That used to be me. The whole shebang Having a few targets in life is no bad thing, year’s Rugby Sevens.
seemed utterly pointless. Just another way either. Resolutions are basically to-do lists
for gyms to sell memberships, supermarkets on a grander scale. All you’ve got to do is Catboy hosts the Catboy & Geordiebird
to sell salad and lazy magazine columnists program yourself so that rather than waking Breakfast Show, Sun to Thurs, 6am to
to fill a page. up and thinking, “must get milk”, you wake 10am, Dubai 92. www.dubai92.com