A local once told me, “Dubai is exactly what you want it to be.” I understood the true meaning of this sentence on a short holiday in the Arab country that has something to offer every kind of traveller. Be it a Hummer ride across the sand dunes, an option to skydive from the Burj Khalifa, or even go deepsea diving in the Arabian Gulf. But what beats it all is the variety of food on offer in this vibrant country.
FOOD FOR THE SOUL
Most of the food consumed here has travelled a lot of food miles. Fresh food comes from Pakistan, Iran, Lebanon, Africa, Morocco, North and South America, New Zealand and the UK. One must try the traditional Emirati cuisine, also known as the modern cuisine of the UAE. Be it the Balaleet (saffron pancakes with vermicelli for breakfast), machboos (rice, lentil and meat preparation spiced with saffron, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon), meat-stuffed sambosas (that inspired our good ol’ samosas) or the luqaimat (deep-fried dough balls topped with sesame seeds and drizzled with a honey-date syrup), the rich flavours are a treat. Traditionally, camel meat was not eaten by Emiratis, but modern chefs in the city are increasingly trying their hand at cooking everything from camel sliders to camel biryani, burgers and stews.
HAUTE PICKS
Next on the must-try list is a meal of Levantine cuisine. Levantine cuisine, known in Arabic as the Bilad ash-Sham or Land of the North, is the true traditional cuisine found in the Levant region, which today spans the modern states of Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, southern Turkey and Cyprus. Think hummus, baba ganoush, dolma, baklava, falafel, ka’ak, kebabs, manakesh, muhammara dips. If you think you will get tired eating the traditional cuisines of the Middle East, Dubai boasts of some of the best international cuisine restaurants too. But on a balmy evening, a visit to a food truck is a must. From German doner kebabs, Indian curries, to BBQ steaks, the city has one of the largest food truck cultures. Trucks are modified into vibrant service models, each playing a character of the food they serve. Be it at Palm Jumeirah, the beachside or the Downtown area, your cravings will find a nearby food truck. To keep the good food habit going, make it a point to stop by the spice souk in the old part of town to take home some spices, salts and herbs.
GOURMET AFFAIR
There’s nothing like getting to know a place through its fresh food markets. Buy seasonal organic vegetables, dried fruits, delicious regional cheese, freshly baked bread, exotic raw honey and more at the city’s many colourful bazaars and gourmet grocers held across the city from Jumeirah Beach Road to Zabeel Park. For six months of the year, in the shadows of the world’s tallest building – Burj Khalifa, a group of the country’s organic farmers sell their best locally-grown produce. Once the taste buds and hunger pangs have been satisfied, the city offers a maze of malls, stretched across storeys and floors. Be it luxury shopping or flash sales to get the best buys on a shoestring budget, you have something for all kinds of shoppers. Don’t forget to sample some scents.
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