Mado - Delicious Turkish Dondurma

In lieu of my recent trip to Istanbul, I feel like I have to talk about the not so best kept secret of the city, DONDURMA! Or ice cream to us anglophiles. In this perennial palace of sweets, (scattered in almost every neighborhood) you'll find baklavas, cakes, and syrup drenched kunafas that will hug your hips and thighs tight as you munch them down your shameless mouth. It's a carnival of sweet sin in here. You'll have to walk it off by climbing one of the seven hills this city has on offer. And believe me, each hill is steeper than the next!

My favorite flavor is sade, or plain. Ok so it's basically milk. It's Turkey's answer to my Italian favorite Fior di Latte. Ice cream or Gelato's oriental cousin is special in that, it's umm chewy. So chewy and thick that some eat it with a knife and fork! What gives it it's unique texture is the addition of mastic resin and sahlep powder. Both these ingredients change the structure of the ice cream and lower its melting point. Thus when the mixture is partially frozen, they use large paddles to whisk, knead or beat the ice cream to develop elasticity. Mystery solved!

So the next time you find yourself in the Orient, have a go at Mado. Let me know which flavor is your favorite! 

PS. The kunafa with a scoop of ice cream is dangerous. Proceed at your own risk. 

MADO can be found all over Turkey. It's like Chilis or something.

MADO in Dubai is located at DIFC and Dubai Mall.

Fauchon - Fabulous French Food

 

     Fauchon really needs no introduction. In the summer of 1995, little me (and my family) wandered into the Madeline outpost of Fauchon on a hot summer's day in Paris. I distinctly remember a large staircase, bright pink neon lights, and a sea of waiters dashing in and out of the dining room. The steak I had for lunch that day was marvelous. The fact that I still remember that, astounding. Fast forward 9 years later, I walk in to find that everything as changed. (Duh, new decade, what was I thinking!) The wonderful subterranean cafe transformed into large retail section. The cafe was downsized and moved to the first floor. The menu? A complete overhaul! I was crushed. 

      Fast forward 9 more years later we arrive at 2013. The year I took these photos. (I know I'm late. Oops.) The menu is more or less consistent these days and the delicacies of this fine french establishment has found its way closer to home. Last December I found myself in Abu Dhabi, where I had a sampling of their new menu. The savories were alright. A very satisfying lunch. But what I particularly enjoy chez Fauchon is the chocolate ganache tart. Every single time, without fault, I'd end a meal with that. Or just have it with my coffee/tea over an afternoon chat with a visiting family member. The vanilla millefeuille deserves a special mention. Ultimately, Fauchon is a great global example of delicious French products, chocolates, jams, and perfectly cooked steaks of a bygone era. 


United Arab Emirates

• Mall of the Emirates 
  Mall of the Emirates Fashion Dome, Ground Floor
  Dubai
  +971 4 399 02 89
• FAUCHON Café Dubai Mall 
  Dubai Mall, Fashion Avenue Ground Floor Unit 25
  Dubai
  +971 4 339 80 24
• Etihad Towers 
  Ground Floor
  Abu Dhabi
  +971 2 667 26 90
  
  

Kuwait

• Crowne Plaza Hotel 
  PO Box 18544
  81006 Farwaniya
  +965 2 473 21 00 ext.7556
• Salhiya Real Estate Co.
  Mohd. Tunayan Al Ghanim St. P.O Box 23413
  13095 Safat
  +965 2 299 64 46
• Salon de Thé '360 Shopping Mall 
  360 Mall Sixth Ring Road, South Surra Al Zahraa Area - P.O Box 29060
  13151 Safat
  +965 2 530 96 20
  
  
  
  

Qatar

• Souk Najd 
  Salwa Road PO Box 2044
  DOHA
  +974 4 432 48 88
• Royal Plaza 
  Al Sadd Street
  DOHA
  +974 4 435 55 88

Shake Shack - Awww YEAH!

   Shake Shack. Oh Shake Shack. I don't need to go into details here. I'm sure the masses are familiar with the deliciousness that hit our shores recently. Shake Shack is one of those places that one would look forward to visiting at the end of a long working week. It's the go to treat land for my taste buds and naughty nutritious (or lack thereof) conscience. That burger. Those hot dogs. Those shakes! But before I sing their praises any further I have to put forth some qualms I have regarding some of my experiences at said establishment. 

1. In one of my earlier visits to the MoE branch of SS in Dubai I ordered a Chicken Dog with sauerkraut. To my absolute delight it was everything I had hoped for in a chicken hot dog. The "dog" itself is my favorite. So juicy and so flavorful. Split down the middle and perfectly seared on a flat top. With the random combination of apple and sage, it is truly the most well-rounded, robust, and dare I say elegant type of "dog" I've ever come across. It was like a piece of New York migrated east. I loved it!

2. Naturally during my next visit, I order said "dog". To my dismay there was no more sauerkraut. "What?!", I asked the clueless staff. "What do you mean no sauerkraut?..."         "I don't know what that is", she said. I proceeded to explain. But even before I started to I knew there would be no more sauerkraut. Not now. Not ever. I thought to myself, maybe the Arabian market wasn't so receptive to pickled cabbage. Oh well, as long as I still got my chicken dog, everything was going to be alright.

3. Fast forward to a few visits later. I walk up to the counter, eagerly awaiting my next chicken dog. "I'm so sorry ma'am. But we don't have that on the menu anymore..." This was what I felt like at the time...

                        

Oh the insolence! Oh the utter dismay! My secret elegant order has disappeared! Forever! Nevertheless, the beef hot dog is still there. Wake up people! Shake Shack started out by selling hot dogs on a cart in Madison Square Park! Its what they do BEST! Ugh...I'm so over this.

Moving on.

My favorite milkshake: Strawberry

My favorite burger: Shack Burger (no tomato)

The fries are alright...I guess.

I don't have a favorite custard "concrete", (which is their way of saying freaking ICE CREAM) because they are inconsistent. Sometimes they're great, other times they're not worth the calories. And if it's one thing I downright despise it's inconsistency at restaurants. Let alone franchises! One cool thing about this dessert is there is a customized one for every branch/location. 

BUT! I can not deny that Shake Shack serves up a mean burger. One that has amassed an innumerable amount of fans. So whatever I say won't matter. Because no one understands the loss of that wonderful and delicious chicken dog! (They still serve it stateside! So I may be reunited with my favorite item on the menu again!)

**Note: I have their hot dogs plain. No mustard. No ketchup. It's that good on its own.

Locations worldwide: USA, UK, Turkey, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, (and hopefully Bahrain...we are waiting AlShaya! It's inevitable!)

Pictured: Shack-cago dog

Black and White Milkshake

RIP Chicken Dog with Sauerkraut