Sho Cho - Always a Good Idea

Sho Cho is a part of me, and a part of my group. We hold our new school year dinners here and our good-bye dinners too. We have fond memories, and it’s not just about the food. It’s about the ambience and our time together. Every Thursday night, the place comes alive by way of the fresh tracks and mixes of their resident DJ. On Friday afternoons, the outdoor terrace proves to be a glamorous location for an alfresco family lunch. Whenever we choose to go, we’re always assured a good time.

The Japanese restaurant scene in Abu Dhabi has grown by leaps and bounds since I first got here. What Sho Cho offers is a concise menu of the classics as well as their own twist on things. 

My order will always consist of: Calamari Salad, Rock Shrimp with Chili Sauce, California Maki; and on occasion Salmon Sashimi and Tempura Maki. 

You can not go wrong with any of the above. And they’re rarely if ever, inconsistent with the quality. It always gets better. That’s what you pay for. 

The Rock Shrimp is better than I’ve had in most places back home. (Even though the Japanese restaurants in Bahrain are better on the whole.) This is the one thing I miss (foodwise) when I’m not in Abu Dhabi. Truly. Fried food is known to bring happiness to empty bellies, and unappeasable palates. The golden morsels of fried doughy shrimp are coated with a generous helping of creamy oleaginous sauce, that is as delicious and addictive as it is fattening. This is as far as I can glamorize this sin of a nutriment. It just tastes good. 

The California, a beginners standard, is really delicious at Sho Cho. It’s simplicity and quality ingredients make it one worth ordering again and again. The Tempura Maki is a variation on the delightful aforementioned Rock Shrimp, only this time covered in Nori. That same unctuous chili sauce makes it’s grand appreance above the little parcels of shrimp, rice and seaweed. The Calamari Salad, with its tangy dressing is a crowd pleaser in its own right. 

A meal at Sho Cho is always a good idea. It hasn’t failed me yet...

Souk Qaryat al Beri

Bain el Jessrain

Abu Dhabi

+971 (0) 25581117

12pm-3pm
6pm-Midnight

Raspberry Tart on Vimeo

I just found this video. I had to share. Enjoy! 

raspberry tart from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

Angelina - Quel Délice!

In lieu of a post on a restaurant in the region, I figured I'd go through my archives and talk about: Paris. Yes, Paris! Fashionistas will note that today marks the first day of the A/W13 fashion week in the French capital; so in honor of that, (and for sheer nostalgia) je vous parler de Paris. 

Two Novembers ago I took a girl's trip with my sister, you know, for a sort of refreshing mid semester break to show her my old haunts. Upon our arrival to the hotel early in the am, we were informed that our room wasn't ready. As expected. And so naturally, being so close to rue Rivoli, I had the brilliant idea of having hot chocolate for breakfast at (where else) Angelina. 

Everyone has their own experience with Angelina's hot chocolate. Mine was as follows: I remember immediately rating Laduree's a close second. I remember closing my eyes and smiling, and then opening them to watch my sister do the same. We started laughing. We were entranced. Lost in a world of cocoa and cream and unicorns. Pure chocolate delirium. A sort of high that can only be achieved through the surrender of your own conscious; to feel no guilt after the consommation of such an alarmingly calorific substance. 

Coupled with that, the most delectable, decadent Mont Blanc I have ever come across. Soft strands of chestnut paste lay on top of each other, concealing beneath them a layer of whipped cream that only the most self-indulgent eater would dare uncover. Say good-bye to lunch because you're not going to be able to eat anything until dinner time. 

A good idea after such a crime meal would be to walk through the Tuileries, like we did. I showed her my favorite bench, my favorite fountain, and where I like to sit and read on my off days. The air was crisp, but not chilly, we were lucky that it was a sunny day. I was happy to be in a familiar place, one that I love dearly. 

Attends-moi Paris! Je serais très bientôt avec vous.

226 Rue de Rivoli 
75001 Paris, France

+33 1 42 60 82 00

Mon-Fri: 7:30 - 19:00

Sat-Sun: 8:30 - 19:00

Nolu's - Worth the Drive

I have always found myself describing meat as beautiful. When I was 7 years old I remember coining the term "laham jameel" [beautiful meat] to describe what is commonly known as filet mignon. It occurs to me now that this may be a little odd. How can you taste something and have it characterized as beautiful, when beauty is so strongly associated with what can be seen? Like a painter's visual prowess, I am more attuned to my sense of taste. This is my craft. You can find beauty conventionally, e.g. what can be perceived. But I feel beauty in it's most abstract sense when I'm enjoying my food. Not like, *tosses hair back* "Ooh I'm so beautiful mmm *yum* steak". Just in the sense that, for the moment, everything is right in the world. And that this animal didn't die in vain. By now you may have gathered that I'm more of a carnivore than a piscivorous eater.(I'm so sorry vegetarians.) 

Here I speak of the Black Angus Beef Kabob, served with Afghani brown rice and a side of marvelous yogurt. If anything is worth a 35 minute drive from mainland Abu Dhabi it's this. Not to pick up your family at the airport. No. This. (I'm kidding, love you fam...) I won't go into too much detail but I'll just say that if this is good enough for the head honcho in town, then it's good enough for me. (HH.MBZ)

For starters, the Afghani dumplings came highly recommended. Dumplings may seem normal to some but they're an acquired taste for me as I'm not a huge dumpling fan. Ok ok I'm not a fan at all. But I can admire the beauty of the Mantoo. Look at it, just look at it will you! This is just one dumpling (I think you get 4-5). The herbs, the beefy sauce, the yogurt. That is one good lookin' morsel of Mantoo (cue wolf whistle.) 

There's even a 'customize your own burger' option. The beef itself is wonderful but yet again the bun fails to measure up to its contents. If its going to be a carb day at least make it worth my while! (Who am I kidding? Everyday is a carb day!) I think what I didn't appreciate was the messiness and inconsistent placement of ingredients. I get some pickle, some onion, some sauce. I like a little of everything all at once. But I get it if they're trying to be spontaneous, never the same bite twice! Ha! Kind of exciting really. Multi-dimensional food is cool wouldn't you agree? Over all I was very satisfied, it was delicious. 

The desserts aren't on the menu but if you ask your server or walk by the display I'm sure you won't be able to resist. The chocolate cake is everything you could ask for from a chocolate cake. True to its DNA, it was chocolatey and creamy and RICH. I was very pleased with my order until I had a little taste of the cheesecake. Mmmm that no bake cheesecake! It's like the ones you used to make as a kid with your mom or aunt...but BETTER!! [Why do I feel like I'm insulting my own childhood here?] Sooo creamy, sooo sweet, sooo good! I could swear there's a hint of salt in the crust, which we all know salty/sweet combos are a heavenly mélange. I thought I had won by ordering the chocolate cake. I thought I won... I didn't.

Oh and if you want to end your meal with a dose of funky, order the Moroccan mint tea. I'm not sure what to make of this. At the time I was really into the color mint green. So when I saw this gliding by our table to our neighbours', I asked the waiter for "one of those." It looked pretty. And proved to be a very photogenic beverage. But *sigh* it was weeeird. Like Loch Ness swamp water weird. I believe its a mix of black tea with milk, vanilla, and what I think is mint syrup. Syrup! Props for the (blasphemous) creativity but this little funkalicious specialty tea combo just didn't work for me. No sir.

The children's menu looked good! I commend them for the 'Nothin' but butter' pasta option. They do know their little clientele's taste very well. Oh the times my little brother asked for 'just pasta, no sauce' and the servers would look at us quizzically. Kids want what they want, and Nolu's knows how to deliver to the young and young at heart.

I'm excited to go back and make my own pastrami sandwich, try the Cobb salad or have a weekend breakfast. I foresee an everlasting future for Nolu's on the Abu Dhabi dining circuit. It didn't win best restaurant for nothing.  

Take a look at the menu! 

**Update** The Golden Gate sandwich is TDF! Chicken & Brie & Pear & Arugula. So chic!

Cheesecake update: It seems they have a mercurial baker. Last night they changed the regular Digestive crust to an Oreo crust! That didn't sit well with me. Next time I think I'm going to call ahead and ask about the crust. Don't switch them just because you feel like it please! Ipso facto, the yumminess only applies to the Digestive crust.  

Al Bandar, Abu Dhabi, UAE

T: +971 (0) 25579500

Sun to Thurs: 8am - 11pm

Fri-Sat: 9am - 11pm

Saffron by Jena - Makes Bahraini's Proud

What can I say about Saffron by Jena that hasn’t already been said? The unparalleled success of this cozy cocoon of nostalgia speaks for itself. With three locations, now in operation, and all in under a year, well...that’s the proof in their (oh so delicious) pudding!

For me personally [and I’m sure you’ll agree], Saffron is a place I as a Bahraini am proud of. Every time I get the chance to host an out of town guest, I’d take them to Saffron 1 for breakfast. I’m always delighted to hear what they have to say about the food and the ambiance. (They almost always sign the guest book with fervent glee.) That radio, the music, we were enjoying the sounds of our very own bygone era. It is all these elements combined that make Saffron not just a place to eat, but an entire experience. One would be remiss if one didn't mention the focal point of the floor at Saffron. A lucky happenstance while renovating the building led them to discover an old medbassa or date cellar. That's what you see when you first enter, and that explains the transparent floor.

 I’m lucky enough to be on ‘holiday’ when I’m back home so I make sure to head there on weekday mornings. (Ha-ha) [I’ve heard that they’re packed on the weekends.] I get excited every time I dine here, and that is a very hard thing for an establishment to accomplish. Constant appeal. But I wouldn’t worry about Saffron. They’ve got that down to a science. What with all this yumminess under one (or three) roof(s)!

The allure of Saffron 1 is the location. [Which is not so straight forward mind you, you’ll need a local to help you get there.] All you need to know is that it’s in Muharraq, and Muharraq itself has a different sort of air. The sun shines brighter, the sea breeze is more poignant, and the people are friendlier. It is the heart and soul of our little island. 

The food. (I have a smile on my face just thinking about it.) Note: The breakfast for one is enough for two. You get 3 mini bowls of yum to dip your doughy ‘khubiz khabbaz’ in. There’s foul medemes (yum), eggs and tomato (double yum), and ohmyGod I’m never eating baked beans out of the can ever again! Saffron’s version of this English breakfast staple knocks the (argyle) socks out of this patron! Believe it or not I don’t like balaleet*. But I can finish the one they serve here all by myself. That for me is the sign of a great establishment. If Ottolenghi can make me eat beetroot, Saffron can make me eat balaleet.*sweet vermicelli noodles with saffron and egg

The mini sandwiches...You get one with kebab or something and another (what I believe is called a zinjebari?!) that I’d kill for. It’s melted cheese and (key word: tangy) onions in a fun triangular bun. Tastes kinda like Branston’s pickle. I always try to convince whoever I’m dining with that it’s not that good just so I can have theirs. No I kid. But I think I’ll do that next time.

The tea, the buns, the trini jam (aka. Ponderosa lemon), everything is just yum yum YUM! Even down to the last shot of complementary maay liggah [or palm tree water] with saffron that they serve with the bill. 

Don’t ask questions. Just chug it down.