TEAM WHAT’S ON PICK THEIR FAVOURITE THINGS IN THE UAE RIGHT NOW
These are our favourite things in the UAE right now…
Sunday lunching in style at… The Guild
Dubai’s best roast dinner is a hotly contested subject, and while I recognise it’s somewhat subjective, I think The Guild’s is a seriously strong contender. There’s something gloriously glamorous about The Salon – The Guild’s main dining room where crisp white table clothed tables are neatly arranged around an impressive show kitchen, which serves up cooked-to-order meats with fluffy roasties, glazed root vegetables, tasty Yorkshire puds and bowls of seasonal vegetables to share. Just be sure to save room for the gold-sprinkled chocolate mousse. – Alice Holtham-Pargin, Group Editor
Getting ready for a summer holiday with… Chic Le Frique
Linen sets have become my summer wardrobe staple, and one of my favourite places to get them from is homegrown brand, Chic Le Frique. When I moved to Dubai almost a decade ago, there was such limited choice of where to buy clothes from, especially online and if you wanted to avoid the chain stores. But in recent years the homegrown fashion scene has flourished, and Chic Le Frique is really at the forefront of that for trendy but timeless pieces that you’ll wear season after season. While I love their two-piece sets for beach days in Dubai, I’m also excited to pack them for my upcoming Euro trip. – Alice Holtham-Pargin, Group Editor
Realising I’m slowly turning into… My father
My dear old dad passed away a few years ago – and you never fully recover from that. And that’s OK, I don’t think you’re really supposed to. I miss his advice, I miss his humour, I miss the way his story-telling skills could turn the reading of a salary SMS into a gripping drama. One thing I don’t miss however, sorry dad, are the summer maths gulags he subjected me to. “It’s the summer holiday, why do I have to do schoolwork?” Feels like a reasonable line of protest, but it was washed away by the churning rhetorical current of “well you don’t want your brain to go soft over the holiday do you?” In truth I’d have been quite happy for my brain to go soft if it ment a few more minutes on the Sega Mega Drive or smashing plastic air balls through “jumpers for goal posts”. Resistance was futile, the gulag always wins. But now, as a father myself, I get it. I totally get it. There has to be balance in life. I’ve spun on a dime. I’ve just bought my son a Key Stage 2 maths book for (I’d argue more friendly version of) Maths Gulag 2.0. You were right dad. Once again, you were right. – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Editor, What’s On Dubai
Watching all the sci-fi on… Apple TV+
Sometimes the cupboards of my watchlist ARE bare. The river of decent series rUnneth dry and I must resort to waterboarding my social media friends with request for good show recommendations. Right now is not one of those times, with series 3 of The Bear on Disney+, the second season of Meet the Targaryens on OSN+, Supacell on Netflix, The Boys on Prime Video and literally all the Euros knockout games. But up first is the trove of nerdy treasures available via Apple TV+ – Constellation, Dark Matter, Foundation. Looks like I’m all set for a summer sci-fi hibernation. – Miles Buckeridge, Deputy Editor, What’s On Dubai
Waiting to celebrate sport with…The Olympic Games
While I’m almost always watching one sport or the other, it isn’t often you get to witness those such as pole vaulting, synchronised swimming, sailing and taekwondo. I wait eagerly for four years to elapse so we’re back at an Olympic summer, and watching some of the world’s elite athletes leave it all out there for national glory is inspiring, to say the least. Less than a month away now, and I can’t wait for it all. Also, make sure to catch the opening and closing ceremonies. – Dinesh Ramanathan, Deputy Editor, What’s On Abu Dhabi
Trying to understand the misunderstood…with Milton Waddams
“Who?” I hear you hoot. Mike Judge, also the mind behind King of the Hill, Silicon Valley, and other iconic productions, wrote and directed an incredibly funny movie called Office Space back in 1999. Milton Waddams, played by Stephen Root, is the office’s misunderstood voice – a shy, introverted employee that is almost never heard and not allowed to keep his favourite stapler, among other things. In between laughs, you get the message. Bonus: if you’re ever in the What’s On offices, come hang out where my colleague Miles and I sit – chances are you’ll hear us impersonate our boy Milton. – Dinesh Ramanathan, Deputy Editor, What’s On Abu Dhabi
Watch it on @disneyplusmena
Enjoying South Indian food with Team What’s On from… Paprika
You probably already know this, but we here at What’s On HQ love food, any food… all food. So when we got a South Indian platter delivery from Paprika, it was off to the pantry to tuck in. All of us enjoyed the dishes from this artisanal catering and cloud kitchen brand including the humble idlis which we dunked in the sambar mixed with chutney. The paneer korma was an absolute delight, too. The platter comes neatly arranged on a wooden tray, so it’s perfect if you want to order it to your home and impress your guests or your family. It can easily serve five to six people. – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter
Playing a game of whodunnit it at… Tabu
Tabu at the St Regis in Downtown Dubai has launched an all-new immersive mystery night called House of Tabu which takes place every Thursday. It includes dinner and drinks but the focus is on the thrilling story that unravels as the night goes on. You will get to interact with the actors (who double as amazing singers), ask them questions, and judge their behaviour, but sometimes, this can lead to more questions than answers. Without giving away too much, you will surely find yourself doubting everything (and everyone). At the end of the night, everything pieces together and all is revealed. – Aarti Saundalkar, Online Reporter
Heading for some after-school fun to Dubai’s chic new soft play… Ribambelle
As a mum, I feel guilty to admit that I do not enjoy going to soft play areas. At all. It’s completely selfish of course. They’re sweaty, loud, and not at all relaxing for the parents so no matter whether you get your laptop out and attempt to send an email, it’s just not happening. But it’s summer in Dubai and other than stay at home and stare at screens all days, indoor play areas are one of the best ways to keep the little ones entertained. Enter: Ribambelle. Located on Bluewaters, Ribambelle is a brand new (licensed) restaurant with an adorable jungle-inspired play area and daily workshops from baking to arts and crafts. And while the parents enjoy the extensive food menu and a drink or two upstairs, there’s whimsical entertainers to keep the little ones busy with games, hide and seek, and more. If you’re looking for an indoor activity that both the grown-ups and little ones will enjoy this summer, head to Ribambelle and you might just get a minute to yourself. – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter
Trying out Dubai’s new ‘Transformer’ pilates studio… KARVE
London’s renowned ‘Transformer’ Pilates studio, KARVE, has finally opened in Dubai, and I was super excited to be one of the first to try their unique (hardcore) workouts during the soft launch last week. Unlike any Pilates class I’ve done before, the intense low-impact, high-intensity sessions feature dimmed lights, loud music, and focus on strength training and driving the metabolism through slow, resistance-based movements on the custom-designed reformer machines. Not for the faint-hearted, this was a TOUGH workout but well-worth a try if you’re looking to switch up your current routine and reap the results in no time. Oh and don’t forget a post-workout matcha latte, you deserve it. – Tamara Wright, Online Reporter
Eating my body weight in… Fix Chocolate
Look, at first, I was apprehensive to jump on the hype train. But let me just tell you, the hype is so valid and understood. I get it, some people just prefer a basic Cadbury bar – and I can appreciate it as well. But this isn’t just a slab of generic chocolate that melts in your mouth. It’s a dessert chocolate, that makes has an entirely new experience and taste. It’s not just about the chocolate coating (which is delish) it’s about the filling, the entire visceral experience, from tearing the beautiful wrapping to cracking open that stuffed chocolate and then taking a bit of the oh-so-worth-it slab. I understand the Knafeh and pistachio hype, but let me tell you where it’s really at. Pick Up A Pretzel – That will change your life. – Shelby Gee, Junior Reporter
Listening to music in the office with… The Kabin Crew
The song has taken TikTok and Instagram by storm and it is an earworm that we just cannot get enough of. I appreciate that it is a sampling of DJ Fresh’s Gold Dust but The Spark by Kabin Crew is such an absolute banger. These kids are going places and get a collective golden buzzer from us here at What’s On HQ – not that that counts for much. But we see you. – Shelby Gee, Junior Reporter
Tasting the season at…Bageri Form
This past weekend, my mum and I went on a girly day date to Bageri Form, where we sampled some incredible creations from their new summer menu. Fresh, fruity, flaky and filled with the flavours of European summers, the pastries were the highlight of my day. There were sweet and savoury options, and unconventional pairings made with choices like miso caramel, fresh figs, salted honey custard and asparagus, to name a few. There’s nothing better than starting your day with a freshly-baked pastry, and if they’re anything like what we had, you’re in for a treat. – Manaal Fatimah, Junior Reporter
Unlocking HD Pro-Max colours with…new glasses
I’m about 94 per cent sure I’m considered legally blind in many parts of the world. Considering how high my power is, that would not be surprising, but that also means that my visual aid is a downright investment. After months of putting it off, I finally got a new pair last week, which I was in dire need of. As a teenager, I was terribly insecure of wearing my glasses outside home and started wearing contacts early, but as I’ve grown older and learnt to appreciate myself more, reaching for them sometimes isn’t so bad, and I think that’s a personal win. I’m keen to start wearing them as an accessory more often and with these new art-curator-chic frames, I think I’m going to enjoy that. – Manaal Fatimah, Junior Reporter
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