It is with great excitement that I can announce that the winner of the FABULOUS Westinghouse’s new FlexSpace™ French Door Fridge with FlexFresh™ Convertible Drawer! (RRP AUS $3,199.00) is MARIANNA SARAN! Congrats Marianna! Please private message me so that I can arrange delivery of your incredible prize! Thank you SO much to everyone for entering! Stay tuned for more fabulous giveaways to come!

In addition to this announcement there is some more exciting news…..

Westinghouse has teamed up with Jessica Rowe, Beau Ryan and Dr. Joanna McMillan to launch Australia’s first ‘un-glossy’ magazine. A celebration of real family life, The Un-Glossy takes the ‘gloss’ off the unrealistic and often perfect portrayal of parenting. 

Launching TODAY, The Un-Glossy aims to empower Australian families by celebrating the messy kitchens, bursting laundry baskets, temper tantrums and belly laughs that busy families experience every day. The Un-Glossy is stacked with tips, tricks and recipes from a few of Australia’s favourite parents who know first-hand that parenting isn’t always as picture perfect as it seems. 

Jessica Rowe, much-loved journalist and mother of two, stars on the cover and shares an insight into her terrible cooking and why ‘Crap Housewife’ is a badge she wears with pride. 

Jessica says: “I’m not ashamed to admit that our children run our household. While my dear husband is the organised one who cleans before the cleaner comes, I’m someone who happily lives in chaos and mess. I just move the laundry baskets around the house, they don’t get unpacked, just moved. 

“Too often, we mythologise motherhood and parenthood instead of just being honest about the good but also the struggles – which is why I jumped at the chance to celebrate raw and real family life with Westinghouse’s The Un-Glossy.” 

Former NRL player, radio presenter and dad of two, Beau Ryan, exposes the #dadhacks that help him balance his chaotic but joy-filled family life. With a reputation for gags and love of dress ups, Beau shares his advice and inspiration to help parents tackle Book Week, Halloween and birthday parties head on. 

Beau says: “The look on my daughter’s face, and now my son’s, is why I love dressing up. I try to impress and entertain people for a job, but it’s them that matter most. I get in a lot of trouble off my wife for hyping them up before bed, but that’s all part of the Un-Glossy parenting journey!” 

To help make healthy living easier for Aussie families, one of Australia’s most trusted health and wellbeing experts, Dr Joanna McMillan, reveals The Great Aussie Grocery List and meal plan to help minimise food wastage and maximise fridge and kitchen space. 

Joanna says: “Being organised and having a well-stocked fridge and pantry with what your family will need for the week ahead really is key to making healthy eating easier, minimising food waste and sticking to your budget.” 

Westinghouse has been a part of Australian households for over 60 years, inspiring simple solutions for everyday family dilemmas with a really clever range of kitchen appliances. 

To read The Un-Glossy, visit theunglossy.com.au 

Dr Joanna McMillan with her sons 

August is kind of the ‘hump day’ of the months.

Gone is Summer, it’s still Winter, it’s cold, dreary, even the PHOTOS of the European summer have stopped appearing in our social media time lines…. hang on, that’s actually a good thing… But I digress…

Christmas is still months away and I kind of feel like I am in need of a bit of cheering up……like NOW! And as you know, nothing makes me happier than a giveaway!

May I introduce to you, the “need some cheering up NOW” giveaway to end all giveaways!!!

With HUGE THANKS to the beautiful people at Westinghouse, ONE PHOODIE READER WILL WIN A BRAND NEW Westinghouse’s new FlexSpace™ French Door Fridge with FlexFresh™ Convertible Drawer! (RRP AUS $3,199.00)

And the best part of this giveaway, is that entering could not be easier!

There are three ways in which you can enter, and for a greater chance of winning, I suggest you enter in each of the ways!

• Via the BLOG – In the comments below, simply name the person who you think deserves to win this fridge! You can name as many people as you like but make sure that each name is entered as a new comment.

• Via FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE) On the PHOODIE FB page, ‘LIKE’ the PHOODIE FB page and then in the comments under the Westinghouse photo, TAG the person who you think deserves to win this fridge! You can tag as many people as you like but make sure that each name is entered as a new comment.

• Via INSTRAGRAM (CLICK HERE) FOLLOW @phoodiegram, and in the comments under the Westinghouse photo, TAG the person who you think deserves to win this fridge! You can tag as many people as you like but make sure that each name is entered as a new comment.

Good luck! And may the “coolest” person win! Get it? Coolest? Get it!? That was a joke….. albeit a Dad one….

Competition opened to Australian residents only. Competition commences 27/08/18 with individual winner selected at random and announced and notified 3/09/18.

For more information on Westinghouse’s new FlexSpace™ French Door Fridge with FlexFresh™ Convertible Drawer, read below:

 Designed to make kitchen life easier for modern families, Westinghouse has launched a new French Door Fridge with FlexFresh™ Convertible Drawer. 

Perfect for the keen entertainer or busy family, the French Door design features two separate drawers – the traditional freezer drawer, plus the new fridge-to-freezer Convertible Drawer – to provide customisable storage solutions and flexibility. 

With the touch of a button, the Convertible Drawer can be set from -23°C to 7°C, offering the widest temperature range on the market. 

Boasting five handy settings, the Convertible Drawer can keep meat and fish in optimum condition for longer by maximising the fresh texture and reducing moisture loss using the UltraChill setting (-2°C), cool drinks to the perfect ice-cold temperature (0°C), store deli snacks for easy entertaining and perfect serving (3°C), chill wine at the optimum temperature (7°C), or be used as additional freezer space (-23°C to -18°C). 

The Westinghouse French Door Fridge with FlexFresh™ Convertible Drawer is available now, RRP AUS $3,199.00.

Details of the new Westinghouse FlexSpace™ French Door Fridge with FlexFresh™ Convertible Drawer:

• Family sized 680L capacity with FlexStor™ storage solutions: Whether you’re preparing to entertain or looking for extra freezer space, the flexibility of the Westinghouse large French Door fridge doesn’t go unnoticed
• SmartSplit Doors: These optimally split doors provide more usable space in your fridge so you can reach for larger items easily without opening both doors
• Dual Cooling: The cooling system allows the fridge and freezer compartments to work independently to maintain the optimum temperature and humidity needed to keep foods fresh or frozen
• FreshSeal Crispers: The two crisper drawers are fitted with automatic humidity control to preserve and extend the life of fresh produce. The easy glide crisper bins open effortlessly and provide easy access even when they’re full
• SnackZone™: The ideal compartment to ensure healthy snacks are always in reach for even the smallest family members
• Flip Up Shelves: The flexibility to flip up your shelf makes fitting-in those extra tall items a piece of cake

Continued on from PART 1….

NOTE: If you haven’t read PART 1 of my INCREDIBLE Culinary adventures in Dubai then CLICK HERE and get readin’!!

DAY THREE

SHEIKH MOHAMMAD CENTRE OF CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING (SMCCU)

I was really excited when I saw on our itinerary that we would be coming here. I had visited the website to get a proper taste of what we would be experiencing and I was pumped that the day had arrived.

Here is little background from the SMCCU website;

“Dubai is a uniquely modern and cosmopolitan city and the United Arab Emirates is home to families from all over the world, each with their own distinctive culture. Expatriates and UAE nationals are neighbours; however they can also be strangers. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, saw the need to reach out and educate expatriates in the traditions and customs of the UAE. His vision led to the creation of The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) in 1998.”

Our trip to the SMCCU involved us having a question and answer session with a local Emirati woman over a delicious, traditional breakfast. No questions were off limits and we were encouraged to ask anything and everything that we could think of. We discussed traditional dress, the local foods, religious celebrations, marriage, courtship, children, schooling and much much more! I thought that I knew quite a bit about Dubai, it’s culture and Islam but my eyes were certainly opened and I definitely left with a much deeper understanding of this enchanting city and it’s beautiful people.

Below: SMCCU

Below: The meal area set up for our Emirati breakfast in the Wind Tower House at the SMCCU

Below: Water, tea, coffee and fragrances

Below: When hosting guests, your never ever fill their coffee cup when you pour it. Filling the cup implies that you are choosing to be a lazy host and also that you wish for them to drink their cup and leave. Rather, you fill their cup halfway up or less, to demonstrate that you are there to refill as required. When a guest would like more coffee they simply raise their glass and it will be refilled. When a guest is finished with their coffee they will raise the cup up and gently tilt it left to right holding it with their thumb and pointer finger to signal that they are done. In addition to this, when you are offered anything, a business card, a drink, a plate of food, you always accept it with your right hand.

Below: (Left) A  traditional egg and vermicelli dish and (Right) An Emirati chickpea dish.

Below: Emirati shakshouka.

Below: Emirati flat bread.

Below: Saffron pancakes.

Below: Emirati ‘doughnuts’ covered in date syrup – AMAZING!

SPICE SOUK

After an awesome morning at the SMCCU we walked down to the Dubai creek, boarded an Abra (traditional boat made from wood) and headed across the water to the Spice Souk. I have two words to describe the Spice Souk and they are ‘sensory overload!’

The smells! The colours! The textures! It was just PHENOMENAL! Not everything on display is designed to be used in cooking. As well as a huge range of spices, there are herbs, incense and many traditional medicinal products available. The vendors are generous in their knowledge sharing and also in giving you plenty of things to taste, smell, and touch! Be sure to haggle with them before purchasing, however, or you might just end up with some very expensive dates.*

*this is not a random example! This may or may not have happened to me! :) :)

Below: Phoodie on an Abra

Below: An abra.

Below: Camel milk gelato at the Spice Souk.

Below: Some of the offerings at the Spice Souk.

Below: Camel milk chocolate – surprisingly delicious!

Below: Saffron by the kilo!

RAVI RESTAURANT

It’s been nearly an hour since we last ate (oh my goshhhhh!) so it is DEFINITELY time for another meal! I am excited to try the food at Ravi as I have heard it serves some of the most authentic Pakistani and Indian food in Dubai.

As we enter, I become immediately aware that this is a place where the locals eat. And any “professional eater” knows that that’s a GREAT thing. If it’s white tablecloths and a fancy interior that you’re after, this is NOT the place for you. But if you want to eat genuine Pakistani and Indian fare with a bunch of Emirati locals then you have come to the right place!

The other girls do the ordering as Pakastani and Indian food is something that I am not overly familiar with…. well I didn’t used to be! Everything we ate was totally scrumptious and (according to my travel companions who regularly eat this cuisine) very authentic. I was too busy shovelling food in my mouth to take many snaps, but my favourite thing from the meal was the cheese-stuffed naan. Check it out below;

Below: The incredibly delicious cheese-stuffed naan.

We head back to the St Regis hotel, which is to be our home for the remaining 2 nights of our trip… and boy are we in for a treat!

ST REGIS DUBAI

As we pull up to the hotel I feel like I must be living in a dream. It is an absolutely breathtaking building. So incredibly grand with an elegantly wide-paved driveway. And if I thought the outside was amazing, the inside is REALLY about to blow me away! The website describes it more articulately than I ever could;

“The St. Regis Dubai extends the legacy of the Astor family to Dubai. It is located on the arterial Sheikh Zayed Road, the hotel’s interiors are influenced by the city’s beaux-arts architecture of the original St. Regis in New York, and accentuated by bespoke elements such as the grand staircase and carefully selected artworks dotted across the hotel.

Part of Al Habtoor City, Dubai’s first-ever integrated urban resort, the hotel sits alongside two other hotels, three high-rise residential towers, as well as a Las Vegas-style theatre that are collectively located on the banks of the breathtaking Dubai Water Canal.”

And that staircase really is something else. The way it drapes from the first floor down to the grand entrance is divine. The rooms were decadent and spacious, and delicious treats and beautiful personalised welcome notes greeted us upon our arrival. The service and care at the hotel was also next level. I would absolutely love to stay here again in the future. Check out some snaps below;

Below: The grand staircase.

Below: The first level bar.

Below: The swimming pool and surrounds.

Below: The grand staircase in the evening.

PLATINUM HERITAGE – PLATINUM LUXURY DESERT SAFARI

After grabbing a coffee and settling in to the hotel, we regroup back in the lobby ready to face the next adventure; a Platinum Luxury Desert Safari with the friendly folk from Platinum Heritage! I am completely pumped for this experience as we are about to…. Drive through the Dubai Desert Conservation reserve, watch a Falconry demonstration, enjoy sunset canapés, ride camels, devour a six course dinner and view the ‘Flaming Sands of Arabia’ fire show! Phew!

At about 4pm, we were picked up in 2 Range Rovers and taken straight to the desert, about a 45 minute drive away. I don’t know why, but I was genuinely surprised to see wildlife (such as the Oryx’s pictured below) living in the desert! I’m such a city girl! Upon arrival we were each able to choose a coloured headscarf that was then wrapped properly around our heads and necks to protect us from getting sand and wind in our eyes for the remainder of our journey. We posed for a bunch of photos (see the JUMP snap below!) and were on our way!

Apart from the delicious food that we ate at our final destination ‘camp site’, my favourite part of the adventure was the camel ride. They are such gorgeous creatures and being led through the desert on them was a once in a lifetime experience that I feel very blessed to have had. I’m not sure if it was because they knew that I was Lebanese, or just because they sensed that I am an all round legend (jokes!) but the camels took a massive liking to me, with one of them going straight in for a big kiss and refusing to take no for an answer (see below awkward camel selfie!)

I cannot recommend this experience more highly, it was fabulous! See some snaps below;

Below: Oryxes in the desert.

Below: Paolo fixing my scarf for me.

Below: Falconry demonstration.

Below: The Spice Girls take Dubai!

Below: Told you the camels loved me!

Below: Inside our private dining space at the ‘camp site.’

Below: Incredible selection of Middle Eastern food to begin our meal with.

Below: Some of the mains that we enjoyed.

Below: Our ‘camp site’.

DAY FOUR

After a wonderful night’s sleep we meet again in the lobby of the hotel, jump in our car and are taken off to meet our tour guide, Nahla, from Frying Pan Adventures! She is about to take us through the city on a Middle Eastern Food Pilgrimage and I cannot wait!

MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD PILGRIMAGE

There were so many highlights of my trip, but this tour was definitely one of them! Don’t get me wrong, I love a fancy restaurant and a white table cloth as much as the next person, but what REALLY excites me when travelling is uncovering all of the secret eating spots within that particular city or town, the places you would never normally walk in to but you do because you know that they are famous for the delicious treats that they serve. This food pilgrimage was exactly like that. Special secret spot after special secret spot. Unfortunately I cannot name each of the places we visited but if you want to sample some of the best, most authentic cuisine that Dubai has to offer, book in with Frying Pan Adventures ASAP! Click here to visit their website!

Check out some of my drool-worthy snaps below;

Below: Falafel (chickpea fritters with coriander & parsley) – I have NEVER experienced falafel like this. Freshly fried, texture of a cloud and bright green (from the fresh herbs) on the inside. I will never, ever be able to eat heavy, brown, solid, room temperature falafel again!

Below: The first table of Middle Eastern Goodness that we were presented with. We were also each given Lebanese bread and invited to make our own sandwiches using any of the food below that we liked!

Below: The best hummus I have ever eaten.

Below: Falafel mahshi (chickpea falafels stuffed with chilli paste called shatta, sumac spice and onions)

Below: Fried cauliflower and eggplant.

Below: Lebanese bread.

Below: Tea to soothe and prepare the tummy for many more delicious delights!

Below: We were lucky enough to watch this ‘Knafeh’ (also known as ‘Kunafa’ – Nabulsi cheese pie with kataifi noodle pastry on the top, cooked in ghee) be made from scratch. We were then served it piping hot, fresh off the stove. THERE ARE NO WORDS.

Below: Our next stop was an incredible Lebanese sweet shop. We were served ‘Gahwa’ (Arabic coffee with cardamom), ‘ma’amoul madh’ (spiced date bar), ‘natef’ (cream made from the roots of the soapwart plant) and ‘bukaj’ (the Baklava shaped like a cloth knapsack.) Everything was delicious but my favourite was the baklava!

Below: After the Lebanese sweet shop we ate ‘Feteer’ with basturma (beef pastrami), veggies, mozzarella cheese, aged Egyptian ‘roomi’ cheese served with a side of spicy ‘shatta’ sauce.

Below: Our second last stop was a local restaurant specialising in Emirati food. We ate ‘Sherbet Adas’ (lentil soup), ‘lama madfoon’ (goat traditionally slow cooked underground) with ‘Bukhari’, ‘Kabsa’ and ‘Machboos’ rice. We also tried the delicious ‘daqoos’ (spicy tomato and green chilli sauce.)

Below: Our final stop is a Persian sweets shop where we try ‘Faloodeh’ (icy sweetened noodles with rosewater and lemon juice) and saffron ice cream. It is very sweet, which I love, and tastes like nothing I have ever had before!

Below: ‘Faloodeh’

J&G STEAKHIUSE @ ST REGIS

It is incredible to think that we could eat again that WEEK, let alone that same day, after our morning and afternoon pilgrimage but…. here we are! At The St Regis hotel’s J&G Steakhouse!

“The J&G Steakhouse offers a sophisticated collection of American steakhouse favourites presented with a modern flair.” says the restaurants website, and it’s spot on. We are all very excited to experience everything on offer.

It’s ‘Tomahawk Tuesday’! So, no prizes for guessing what we ordered first….

On top of the incredible Tomahawk we also ate a huge selection of sides and starters… oh and mains and desserts… see below!

Below: Crispy baby calamari with basil salt and lemon dip.

Below: Grilled black pepper octopus.

Below: Black truffle fritters with Comté Cheese.

Below: The TOMAHAWK!

Below: The mustard trolley.

Below: AACo Master Kobe MB11 – melted in the mouth!

Below: Creamed spinach.

Below: Truffle macaroni and cheese.

Below: Potato gratin with Comté Cheese.

Below: We tried all of the desserts but this was my favourite; Salted caramel parfait with popcorn and chocolate sauce.

DAY FIVE

I was incredibly sad to wake up with the realisation that today we would be leaving the St Regis and heading home. “I want to stay here longggggger!” I cried to my travel companions – they also agreed!

ST REGIS BREAKFAST

There was no way I was leaving Dubai without trying the amazing breakfast on offer at the St Regis! I started my meal with my favourite drink; Mint and Lime Dubai ‘Lemonade.’ I then proceeded to work my way through the fresh pastries, the smoked salmon and the multiple types of labneh cheese. It was all scrumptious! Check below for some snaps;

Below: Dubai ‘lemonade.’

Below: Fresh Madeleines

Below: Chocolate croissants.

Below: Za’atar croissants.

Below: doughnuts, muffins and pastries.

Below: Za’atar labneh balls in olive oil.

Below: Chilli and za’atar labneh.

Below” Smoked salmon, fresh bread and freshly squeezed orange juice.

Below: Mini za’atar manoushe.

So there you have it. My trip of a lifetime, all summed up! BUT I don’t think ‘trip of a lifetime’ is the right way to describe it, as that implies it was a one off and won’t happen again, and I can tell you RIGHT HERE and RIGHT NOW I am doing everything in my power to ensure that I get back there (with my husband and kids this time) as soon as possible!

We are looking at possibly travelling to Greece over the summer and Dubai is the PERFECT stop over destination for anyone wanting to go to Europe from Australia. After everything you’ve seen above, it is obvious that no matter whether you have a few days to spare on your stopover or simply 8 hours, there is PLENTY of reason for you to get out of the airport and out of your hotel and START EATING!

I was so impressed with the level of service every single step along the way on my trip and also by the amount of genuine and heart-felt hospitality shown to me by all of the locals, from people in the souks to the malls to the cafes and small, local restaurants. I could not speak more highly of a city. And that’s the honest truth.

Kali Orexi,

Phoodie

Take your shoes off.

Sit down.

Close your eyes.

Relax.

Imagine a place where the sun is shining, the people are smiling and all of your culinary dreams can come true…..

WAKE UP.

It’s real!

The place is DUBAI, it ACTUALLY exists and you CAN and SHOULD go there!

Not only is Dubai the perfect place to travel to for a vacation, it’s even AWESOME as a ‘stop off’ on your way to Europe or anywhere else! Stop over trips here are perfect because due to the wide range of places to visit, activities to do and (my favourite!) THINGS TO EAT, you will feel so refreshed for your journey onwards!

Last week I was fortunate enough to travel to Dubai with 3 other food and travel writers / bloggers. We were invited to experience an array of the many culinary delights that this wonderful city has to offer. The great thing was that our visit coincided with the Dubai Food Festival, so we really did leave no stone unturned when it came to sampling all of the city’s delicious treats!

I know lots and lots of you follow me on Instagram and Facebook and so you’ve seen some snippets of my amazing trip, but allow me to share with you below, ALL of the juicy details plus a stack of new ‘not seen before’ snaps that will have you drooling left and right over your keyboard!

DAY ONE

After getting off my Emirates flight (which went very smoothly, with amazing on board service) we were greeted at the airport and taken to our first hotel, the recently opened Renaissance Downtown Hotel.

THE RENAISSANCE DOWNTOWN HOTEL

“The spectacular new Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai is theatrical, unexpected and sets the stage for discovering Dubai’s newest neighborhood,” said Brian Povinelli, Senior Vice President & Global Brand Leader, Renaissance Hotels. “With its bold, artful design, vibrant global dining scene and engaging experiences around every corner, the hotel embraces a spirit that inspires guests to discover something wonderfully new every time they travel.”

The Renaissance is located in the Business Bay district, and has approximately 300 guest rooms. The hotel’s design inspires a sense of spontaneous discovery at every turn: from the incredible art installation of Dubai’s cityscape that takes center-stage upon arrival, to the massive and very cute photography (of a camel up close!) in each guestroom, complemented by a Pablo Picasso’s famed camel sketch reimagined into a 3D iron rod sculpture – all are playful jests to reframe your stay.

Check in is quick and simple and we are offered (what is set to become) my FAVOURITE drink of the whole trip; lime and mint ‘Dubai Lemonade’.

See below some snaps of the hotel.

Below: The reception area and check in pods.

Below: The lobby fireplace.

Below: The BHAR dining room.

Below: Executive suite bedroom.

Below: Pool view.

Below: ‘Touch’ suite treatment area; part of the ‘Six Senses Spa.’

Below: BHAR Sunset terrace.

We unpack, shower (oh and boy is it a good shower) and get whisked away to our first food stop; the Etisalat Beach Canteen.

ETISALAT BEACH CANTEEN (PART OF THE DUBAI FOOD FESTIVAL)

Dubai Food Festival (DFF) celebrates the city’s extremely diverse food scene. Over the years, the two-week long festival has become a way for people to connect over food with its signature calendar of events and promotions.

Restaurants participate in the DFF by offering special set menus and deals. There are also cooking masterclasses, chef demonstrations and free giveaways all across the city as part of this incredible event.

The Etisalat Beach Canteen is also part of the DFF and is our first stop on our 4 day culinary adventure! In summary, the Beach Canteen is a dining and entertainment beach hot spot with loads and loads of food trucks. Everything from celebrity chefs, home-grown restaurant concepts and fantastic family-friendly activities are featured here. It’s located at Sunset Beach and is a free community festival, suitable for people of all ages. No pre-registration is required.

We are fortunate enough to try pretty much everything that appealed to us, (despite the fact that we were headed directly to dinner from here!) and let me just say it was ALL mouth-wateringly delicious! We ate some incredible baos, some delicious truffle mayo and truffle balsamic, lots of scrumptious polish food, burgers, fried chicken and waffles, tacos, doughnuts and much more! Can I point out that the highlight for me was the Churros Ice Cream Sandwich with Dulce de Leche! Oh, and the Knafeh, who could forget the Knafeh!

Here are some snaps;

above and below: ‘Knafeh’ – a delicious middle eastern dessert made from fried kataifi pastry, local hard cheese, which melts and stretches much like mozzarella, sugar syrup and a dusting of pistachios to serve.

Below: fried chicken bao with kimchi slaw.

Below: Traditional Polish open-faced sandwich (‘Zapiekanka’) with smoked chicken, mushrooms and béchamel.

Below: The VERY Famous ‘Hottest Tortilla Chip in the world’ was available to purchase for around $25!

Below: Churros ice cream sandwich with dulce de leche.

Below: Fried chicken pieces in a waffle cone with a delicious chilli mayo.

fOLLY BY NICK AND SCOTT

So, because that wasn’t enough food for one dinner (JOKE!!!!) we then jumped in our car and drove to our second dinner located in nearby Souk Madinat Jumeirah, ‘folly by Nick and Scott.’ As part of the Dubai Food Festival, the restaurant was offering a delicious and exclusive 4 course dinner menu and so that’s what we had!

Owners of ‘folly’, Nick Alvis and Scott Price worked for Gordon Ramsay for fifteen years in London, Paris and Dubai, before venturing out to launch their own restaurant in 2011. Their business partner, Viktorija Paplauskiene, was the one who greeted us upon arrival and she is both in charge of Front of House and is also the restaurant’s Sommelier. It was definitely not hard to see why these guys had won a string of awards and accolades over the past two years. All of our food was delicious (the second course an absolute highlight!) and the service was also attentive and efficient.

Our first course was interesting, but divided opinions, with the use of MARMITE! as a key ingredient! For the second and third courses, the Fried Bread with Sage and the Lamb Saddle respectively, were favourites. Dessert hit the spot with the soft and fluffy Chocolate, Hazelnut and Malt dish. Here are some snaps;

Below: Pink grapefruit with chilli and soda (non-alcoholic).

Below: Fried bread, sage, onion and spelt.

Below: Lamb saddle, whipped pine nuts and salsa.

Below: Chocolate, hazelnut, malt.

DAY TWO

After a delicious night’s sleep we are picked up and promised that GREAT COFFEE will meet us on the other end of our journey. Despite the great sleep, I for one, am still feeling a little tired so I am hoping what has been promised, delivers! Let’s see….

TOM & SERG

Walking in to Tom & Serg makes me feel very happy. There’s something inherently ‘Aussie’ about it; the interior, the vibe, the ambience, I dunno, there just is…. So it makes GOOD SENSE when we find out that the ‘Tom’ part of ‘Tom & Serg’ is actually an Australian himself! (The ‘Serg’ part is Spanish!)

Their website states that their aim is: “to make great, specialty coffee and nutritious, gourmet food accessible to all of us in a place that’s honest,  casual and, above all, easy to be in.”

And let’s just say they NAILED it when we visited! The coffee was some of the best I’ve ever had (their ‘Head of Coffee’ came to our table to explain all about the different options we could order and trust me, he knew his stuff!) and the food was incredibly tasty, there was a large variety of choices and flavours to suit everyone and the portions looked beautiful and were generous too. This place is a MUST for anyone passing through Dubai!

Below: Cold brew with sugar syrup and milk.

Below: Lobster and avocado salad with chilli mayo (A special for ‘Avocado Week’.)

Below: Masala poached eggs; green garlic oats, tandoori roasted cauliflower, chilli cashew, red onion and coriander raita.

Below: Green apple bircher; crushed raspberry, apple puree, toffee crabapple and lime leaf sugar.

Below: Warm banana bread with smoked butter and roasted hazelnuts.

Below: Green Shakshouka; charred green pepper veloute, kale, pickled Lebanese chilli.

Below: Cold brew with sugar syrup and milk added.

BULGARI HOTEL

Our next stop after breakfast is, of course, lunch! And today something very special has been planned for us. We are heading to the recently opened, extremely glamorous and totally luxurious, Bulgari Resort Dubai for lunch and a tour of the facilities and rooms.

The Bulgari Resort & Residences Dubai is situated in Jumeira Bay, an island carved into the shape of a seahorse and adjoined by a bridge to central Dubai coastline. With it’s unique and breath taking design it is a true ‘urban oasis’, for visitors and residents alike. The resort has a Mediterranean village feel and the complex features the Hotel, six residential buildings with 173 sea facing apartments, 15 private mansions, and Bulgari’s first-ever Marina and Yacht Club. It really is incredible.

Our lunch took place in the famed ‘Il Ristorante by (renowned Michelin starred Italian chef,) Niko Romito’. It was superb in every way, a real treat! Just in the same way that architecturally, no detail is missed or left unconsidered in this resort, each course of our lunch paid such attention to the fine detail and this is what made our experience world-class. The design of the hotel is extraordinary and much of it is inspired by classic patterns and textures of original Bulgari jewellery pieces.

Have a look below at some photos of the facilities and also of the amazing food we ate for lunch!

Below: The lobby.

Below: The private beach.

Below: Il Ristorante by Niko Romito.

Below: Incredible bread selection with individual olive oil dipping dishes.

Below: Basil pesto pasta with shaved hazelnuts or in other words, the best pasta I have ever eaten.

Below: Monkfish with a delicate Cacciatore sauce.

Below: The best Tiramisu I have ever eaten, the coffee layer was OUTSTANDING!

Below: Lemon Tea after the meal.

Below: The deck outside the restaurant overlooking the marina.

Below: One of the spa areas.

Below: The beautifully pool tiled with intricate metallic mosaics.

Below: Il Cioccolato, the chocolate boutique, offers artisanal haute couture chocolates, known as the ‘chocolate gem’ creations of the Roman jeweller. There are 11 different flavours to choose from, including the Gorgonzola and Orange Peel’ one pictured two photos below.

BLEU BLANC @ THE RENAISSANCE HOTEL

We roll back to the hotel for some down time as we know we must gather all of our strength to conquer tonight’s ‘double dinner extravaganza’ which comprises firstly of drinks and dinner at The Renaissance Hotel’s ‘Bleu Blanc’, and secondly, of a trip to one (of the 4) ‘Last Exit Food Truck Parks’, but I’ll get to that later…

After a lie down we are ready to get going! Dinner tonight will be in one of the restaurants attached to our hotel, we are told. This makes getting there very easy! Bleu Blanc by David Myers, is described as serving “Refined French Farmhouse Flair in the heart of Dubai.” And to be honest, that’s pretty spot on.

The focal point of the restaurant and its menu is the wood-fired grill, which represents the fire that often is reminiscent of the heart of a French farmhouse – a source of warmth that brings loved ones together. The restaurant has a relaxed feel despite the stunning interior and the gorgeously dressed patrons that are dining there.

We eat a variety of different foods, which are all superbly delicious, and we enjoy great conversation while reflecting on events of the past 24 hours. Can I just throw in here that the Truffle Mac ‘n’ Cheese was potentially the highlight of the trip for me, food wise… actually, there were so many highlights but it was DEFINITELY one of them!

Check out the snaps below to see what we ate!

Below: Inside Bleu Blanc

Below: Sturia caviar flatbread with creme fraiche and herbs.

Below: Maine lobster rolls with charcoal bread and saffron aioli.

Below: Tomato salad with marinated chèvre.

Below: Charred king prawns with chilli and herb oil.

Below: Truffle mac ‘n’ cheese; black truffles, comté and cheddar.

Below: Dark chocolate and cherry cream triffle.

After dinner was done, we had 2 minutes to go back to our rooms, grab a scarf or wrap and get back down again to the lobby to be taken off on another extremely unique adventure. We were headed for ‘The Last Exit food truck park’ at Al Khawaneej!

THE LAST EXIT FOOD TRUCKS

Last Exit is a first of its kind themed food truck concept offering a selection of fresh (generally made to order) and yummy gourmet street food in a fun and super relaxed atmosphere. There are four different ‘Last Exit Food Truck’ locations, each one can be found at a different exit out of Dubai along the highway. Each location has its own unique theme and there is also entertainment for all ages to explore and discover.

The closest one to our hotel was the park at Al Khawaneej (Last Exit D89) and considering it was already 10.30pm we thought it was a wise idea to drive to this one! The park seems to pop up in all it’s fairy light glory, out of NOWHERE, all of a sudden on the highway! I have never seen anything like it! There are loads of people both walking from truck to truck and also driving on the carefully arranged “roads” in between the trucks but it doesn’t feel at all crowded or unsafe. On the contrary it feels very well organised and has a buzzing atmosphere!

What could we possibly do (or eat!!) next? You’ll have to wait and see!

DUBAI POST CONTINUES WITH PART 2 – STAY TUNED!

Feel free to email me or message me on Social Media with ANY questions you have about Dubai in general and / or the trip that I did. PHOODIE travelled to Dubai with great thanks to DTCM and Visit Dubai.

‘Chinese Salt and Pepper Chicken’ (Image Supplied by www.hellofresh.com.au)

One of my favourite ingredients to cook with for mid-week meals is chicken. Chicken is such a versatile ingredient as there are not only a variety of different cuts to work with but also a large range of techniques that can be used to prepare it. In addition to this, many different countries have signature dishes that use chicken as a hero ingredient. This also allows you to cook it multiple times in a week without your evening meal feeling like ‘Groundhog Day!’ Let’s take a closer look at some of these concepts in more detail.

A SUM OF ALL ITS PARTS

The very first thing that I was taught when I attended the Le Cordon Bleu Cookery school in London was how to break down a chook. Although it should be noted that they didn’t call it a ‘chook’ but rather ‘le poulet’…. or was it ‘un poulet’… Moving on…

Breaking a chicken down into it’s eight parts (two breasts, two thighs, two wings and two drumsticks) is one of the handiest tools you can learn in the kitchen. Not only does it allow you to cook the varying parts of the bird using your technique of choice, but it saves you a tonne of money, as in the longer term it is always cheaper to buy and use the whole chicken as opposed to purchasing all the individual parts.

SPICE UP YOUR LIFE!

Chicken is cooked as a main source of protein in many different countries across the world every single day. By adding different spices, vegetables, stocks, sauces and so on, you could eat it five nights a week without getting bored due to the differences in flavour that can be experienced.

The Greeks make a killer Chicken Souvlaki, In India it’s Butter Chicken, Chicken Dim Sum are on offer in China, Japan is well known for it’s delicious Teriyaki Chicken, a good old fashioned English Roast Chicken lunch is one of my favourite meals, Aussie’s love a classic Chook Pie, and the list goes on!

SO MANY WAYS

Ask ten different people on the street their favourite way to cook chicken and you will most likely get ten different answers. From poaching to steaming, roasting to frying, barbequing to baking, and braising to broiling the list of techniques that can be used is seemingly endless.

So after reading all of that, if you’re still stuck for mid week chicken dinner inspiration, or if you’re just so confused by all of the choices put before you, and you’d like someone to simplify it, you should try Hello Fresh’s deliciously authentic Chinese Salt and Pepper Chicken recipe . Visit the Hello Fresh website and see how it really is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

Until next time, Kali Orexi!

Above: ‘Cajun Chicken with Feta and Lentils’

Above: ‘Lemon Oregano Chicken’

Above: ‘Thunder Chicken’

Above: ‘Thai Sweet Chilli Chicken’

All images supplied www.hellofresh.com.au

Christmas is my FAVE time of year… for so many reasons, the food, the catch ups and parties, the music and the overall Summer fun…

That said, I realise it’s not everyone’s favourite time, in fact for some, it can be a super tough time…..

I know I can’t help everyone, but brightening up December for just one person is still absolutely worth it, sooooo…..

May I introduce to you, the Christmas giveaway to end all Christmas giveaways!!!

With HUGE THANKS to the beautiful people at Westinghouse, ONE PHOODIE READER WILL WIN A BRAND NEW Westinghouse 605L Stainless Steel French Door refrigerator!!!!!!!!!!! (RRP AUS $2,599.00)

And the best part of this giveaway, is that entering could not be easier!

There are three ways in which you can enter, and for a greater chance of winning, I suggest you enter in each of the ways!

• Via the BLOG – In the comments below, simply name the person who you think deserves to win this fridge! You can name as many people as you like but make sure that each name is entered as a new comment.

• Via FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE) On the PHOODIE FB page, ‘LIKE’ the PHOODIE FB page and then in the comments under the Westinghouse photo, TAG the person who you think deserves to win this fridge! You can tag as many people as you like but make sure that each name is entered as a new comment.

• Via INSTRAGRAM (CLICK HERE) FOLLOW @phoodiegram, and in the comments under the Westinghouse photo, TAG the person who you think deserves to win this fridge! You can tag as many people as you like but make sure that each name is entered as a new comment.

Good luck! And may the “coolest” person win! Get it? Coolest? Get it!? That was a joke…..

Competition opened to Australian residents only. Competition commences 13/12/17 with individual winner selected at random and announced 20/12/17.

For more information on the Westinghouse 605L Stainless Steel French Door refrigerator and the giveaway prize, read below:

This year, enjoy a hassle-free Christmas with a brand new Westinghouse 605L French Door fridge to stock up with all your Christmas goodies. Made to fit neatly into a standard Australian 90cm kitchen cavity and boasting a huge internal capacity, this fridge can be customised to fit in all your food and drinks, even after the biggest Christmas grocery shop! 

We have some tips for storing everything from the Christmas ham to trifle and champagne:

• Christmas ham: store on the middle shelf where the temperature is most stable
• Prawns: uncooked prawns belong on the bottom shelf, along with other raw meats. Always store in plastic containers or bags so they don’t contaminate other items
• Fresh berries for the Christmas trifle: Keep in the crisper drawer to stay fresh, along with all of your other salad items
• Beer and champagne: keep on the middle shelves or in the fridge door

About the new Westinghouse 605L Stainless Steel French Door refrigerator

• Large capacity French Door design – Made to fit neatly into a standard Australian 90cm kitchen cavity, the new Westinghouse French Door fridge has a huge 605L capacity to fit even the biggest of grocery shops
• See all contents at first glance with FlexSpace™ – The extra spacious French Door design delivers a wider fridge capacity with FlexSpace™. Perfect for party platters or lots of fresh food, you’ll love having everything at eye level so you can easily check all the contents with just a glance
• Customise your storage solutions with FlexStore™ – Low on fridge space entertaining? As the family changes and grows, so do the requirements of your fridge. With FlexStor™ you enjoy the convenience of being able to easily change the configuration, whatever your needs. Adjust the height and position of the door bins to fit in large and smaller items and arrange your fridge your way
• Provides greater storage flexibility with FlexFresh™ Crisper – Not every grocery shop is the same. Sometimes you need extra room for things like celery, while other times you need equal space for your fruit and vegetables. That’s where the adjustable crisper divider comes in. Created to provide greater flexibility, it can be adjusted lengthwise to give you the space you need
• Keep items away from prying fingers with FamilySafe™ – Use the FamilySafe™ lockable compartment to keep medicines or treats out of reach from the little ones

The Westinghouse 605L Stainless Steel French Door refrigerator is available now. RRP AUS $2,599.00. For more information, visit  www.westinghouse.com.au

I was on Instagram some time last month clicking the ‘like’ button on several delicious photos whilst I ‘watched’ my kids play soccer… You know, just a regular Friday afternoon…

A couple of weeks later I was SO excited to see that the folks from Dr Oetker had emailed me, noting that I had ‘liked’ several of their instagram snaps and wanting to know if I would be keen to work with them.

The backstory to this is that my in-laws have been Dr Oetker fans for a very, very long time. They were the ones who introduced me and my family to Dr Oetker’s deliciously thin and crispy pizzas. I have in turn introduced pretty much everyone I know (and potentially those I don’t know, when I see them lurking in the frozen food aisle unable to decide on dinner!) to this taste sensation.

It’s always good when a product or brand that you genuinely love and already purchase becomes someone who wants to work with you, because talking or writing about it is so easy! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Dr Oetker pizzas and I am thrilled to say that their brand new Chocolate Dessert Pizza is now on the love list too! This is the first time Aussies have been able to enjoy a frozen chocolate pizza!

To enjoy it, you simply take it out of the freezer, remove the packaging, bang it straight on the rack and cook it in the oven for 10 or so minutes. That’s it! Straight from freezer to oven and ready in a jiffy! This makes it the perfect treat to always have on hand in the freezer for unexpected guests, and let’s face it, unexpected sweet cravings…. Or expected sweet cravings!

Having never had a sweet pizza before I can tell you that I wasn’t sure what the outcome was going to be. I was surprised to learn that I LOVED this chocolate pizza just as much as I adore all of it’s savoury cousins! Smooth, warm, melted chocolate, on a thin, sweet and crispy base, it’s jam-packed with flavour! What’s not to love!?

Available nationally and online from Woolworths.

About Dr. Oetker

Dr. Oetker has revolutionised the quality of frozen pizza, with the Nielsen Scan & Homescan MAT released in April 2016 revealing Dr. Oetker Ristorante is Australia’s number one frozen pizza brand. Before Ristorante launched in 2010 the frozen pizza category was dormant for 40 years and seen as low quality. Ristorante has started to change consumer expectations by delivering an authentic pizzeria taste and we will continue to do so by launching new exciting flavours.

Originally a baking brand from Germany and a family run business dating back nearly 130 years, Dr. Oetker came onto the Australian market in 2010. Over generations, for the consumer, the Dr. Oetker brand has been a sign of outstanding taste, the highest quality and a guarantee of perfect results every time – re-enforcing consumer choice. The brand always meets consumer expectations and prides itself in meeting ever changing consumer needs with new and innovative products.

Ohhhh yeah….

Someone is going to be doing a happy dance in about a week or so…

Yes. They. Are

“WHY?” you ask…

Oh, just because, thanks to the amazingly generous folks at Breville, we have NOT 1, NOT 2 but 3 awesome appliances to give to that lucky, lucky person!

That is correct.

A PHOODIE reader will be winning the Luxe Collection set of appliances in stunning silver! This includes –

A Luxe Collection Kettle RRP $199.95

A Luxe Collection Toaster RRP $199.95

AND…… drumroll please….

A Luxe Collection Bench Mixer RRP $749.95

That’s a prize with a grand total value of $1149.85!!!!!!!!

Holy Batman people!

Holy. Batman.

SO…………..

WHO

WANTS

TO

WIN!?

EVERYONE!!!!

I KNOOOOOOW!!!!!!

Well, guess what?! The best part of this giveaway, is that entering could not be easier!

There are THREE ways in which you can enter, and for a greater chance of winning, I suggest you enter in each of the ways!

1) Via the BLOG – In the comments below, simply leave your name! Yup, that’s it!

2 ) Via FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE) On the PHOODIE FB page, 1) LIKE the PHOODIE page and 2) In the comments under the BREVILLE MEGA PRIZE photo, TAG a friend! You can tag as many people as you like to increase your chances of being selected as the winner!

3) Via INSTRAGRAM (CLICK HERE) 1) FOLLOW @phoodiegram and 2) In the comments under the BREVILLE MEGA PRIZE photo, TAG a friend! You can tag as many people as you like to increase your chances of being selected as the winner!

Best of luck to each and every single one of you!

Phoodie :)

Some more info about the incredible Luxe Collection:

Open plan living has brought many kitchens to the ‘centre stage’ of the home and appliances are their star attractions. Breville designers have considered interior styling themes to create contemporary collections that can be displayed, admired and enjoyed every day.

When it comes to adding a touch of luxury to the kitchen, the new Luxe Collection from Breville delivers a retro twist on classic designs. Available in five striking colours, this premium range of co-ordinated benchtop appliances, including a kettle, toaster and bench mixer, blends classic soft lines and polished chrome highlights to deliver long term style and performance.

Blueberry Granita, Royal Champagne and Silver are ideal for those with a keen eye for fashion and love of soft metallics, while the boldly black Salted Liquorice and red Sour Cherry will make a statement of sophisticated elegance.

The Soft Top™ – Luxe kettle classic design is complemented by its gentle, soft open lid, comfortable to hold handle and curved metallic buttons.

The Toast Select features a stylish retro dial-style with five bread settings, white, brown, grain, fruit, rye and an LED progress indicator which takes the guesswork out of toasting bread.

Completing the look, is the award-winning Bakery Boss™ bench mixer with an ultra-high 1200W heavy duty mixer that’s ideal for heavy doughs and batter. Delivering increased torque and longer continuous running times, the Bakery Boss is the most powerful in its class, and the world’s only glass bowl mixer with a dual sided scraper beater.

Phoodie would like to thank BREVILLE for giving her readers this awesome opportunity.

Competition opened to Australian residents only. Competition commences 23/02/17 with winner selected at random and announced 02/03 /17.

Why in the world would you shop anywhere else?!

SERIOUSLY.

WHY?

Everything a food lover could possibly want or need, lies within the walls of this iconic pink building on Sydney’s Anzac Parade (or within its’ corresponding website! Click here :) )

Permission from Phoodie to shop all the things! You’re welcome :)

But moving on, I’ve got something very exciting to announce! And like I said on Facebook, it will be LIFE CHANGING for any foodie or food-lover!

The wonderful folks at Peter’s sent me a delivery last week…. and with that delivery came a promise to give THE SAME GIFT that they gave me, to one of my fabulous readers! THAT’S YOU!

So what did I get?!??!

Oh…. you know…. just a…… BRAND NEW SHINY ‘HOT SAUCE’ RED KITCHEN AID ARTISAN MINI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a read below for all you need to know about this incredible appliance!

Just because it’s a little smaller, don’t underestimate the Artisan Mini! It’s everything you love about KitchenAid’s popular KSM150 model…just a bit smaller. Boasting the same energy-efficient motor, exceptional planetary mixing action that gets to the very side of the bowl, dozens of attachments and of course the all-round retro look and feel, the Artisan Mini is here in a range of fresh colours to reshape your kitchen for good.

Artisan Mini Stand Mixer with Spiraliser Attachment features:

• Assembled in the USA.
• Die-cast metal construction with anti-slide feet on base.
• Beautiful, durable enamel finish.
• 25% lighter than previous models.
• 20% smaller footprint than previous models.
• 3.3-litre stainless steel mixing bowl.
• Powerful yet energy-efficient 250 watt motor with direct drive transmission.
• Planetary mixing action ensures ingredients are mixed quickly, evenly and efficiently.
• Slide bar helps you select from ten different mixing speeds.
• Tilt-head design allows easy access to the beater and bowl.
• Multi-purpose attachment hub lets you attach other KitchenAid attachments, available separately.
• Spiraliser attaches to power hub on your stand mixer and uses the power of the motor to operate hands-free.
• Spiraliser includes multiple width stainless steel slicing/spiralling blades for slicing fruits and vegetables.

Includes:

• Stainless Steel Wire Whisk.
• Dough Hook.
• Flat Beater.
• 3.3 Litre Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl.
• Spiraliser Attachment.

SO…………..

WHO

WANTS

TO

WIN!?

EVERYONE!!!!

I KNOOOOOOW!!!!!!

Well guess what?! The best part of this giveaway, is that entering could not be easier!

There are three ways in which you can enter, and for a greater chance of winning, I suggest you enter in each of the ways!

Via the BLOG – In the comments below, simply leave your name! Yup, that’s it!

Via FACEBOOK (CLICK HERE) On the PHOODIE FB page, In the comments under the KITCHEN AID MINI photo, TAG a friend! You can tag as many people as you like to increase your chances of being selected as the winner!

Via INSTRAGRAM (CLICK HERE) 1) Follow @phoodiegram AND follow @petersofkensington and 2) In the comments under the KITCHEN AID MINI photo, TAG a friend! You can tag as many people as you like to increase your chances of being selected as the winner!

Best of luck to each and every single one of you!

Phoodie :)

To read more about Peter’s of Kensington, CLICK HERE!

Phoodie would like to thank Peter’s Of Kensington for giving her readers this awesome opportunity.

Competition opened to Australian residents only. Competition commences 31/10/16 with winner selected at random and announced 07/11 /16.

As most of you know, PHOODIE was nominated as a finalist in this year’s BUPA BLOG AWARDS!

I’d like to thank all of you who have voted for me in the ‘People’s Choice Award’ category and I have fingers crossed for both that and overall winner! Not long to wait now!

All that aside though, as part of the ‘prize’ for being nominated as a finalist, I have been lucky enough to have been invited to several workshops, seminars and webinars over the past few months. All of these programmes have been focused on assisting me (and the other finalists) in improving our online skills; be they relating to our specific content or our social media accounts, our readers and a number of other aspects relating to the running of a blog.

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to fly down to Melbourne and attend a food styling workshop with some of the other awesome finalists.

We were shown how to create short and helpful recipes videos, we got to work with different props and back grounds to see the effect it had on our photography and we also got to take part in a ‘Masterchef style’ cook off – which was super fun and massively chaotic…… well definitely at my bench anyway!

Below are some photos from the day. All of them were taken with my phone and are very ‘in the moment’!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Bupa SO MUCH for running this incredible initiative. I have learnt so many new things over the past months and just as importantly, I have made and connected with a great bunch of new friends!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE FOR THURSDAY!

And if you haven’t done so yet, you can vote for me BY CLICKING HERE! (I am in the VISUAL category) Thank you!

Phoodie :)