Table 9 - International Cuisine Restaurant

Table 9 - Hilton Dubai Creek, Deira, Dubai
I’m totally speechless!
Don’t know where to start! Place? Food? Service? OH MY GOODNESS!
Simply not enough words to convey how perfect this place is.
I've chosen one of the tasting menu's to try as much dishes as possible, so tasting menu consists of four smaller plates (Appetizers), one larger plate (main course) & two desserts.

 

Homemade bread & butter (so fresh & delicious)

 



Complimentary speciality

Smaller plate # 1 - lobster, coconut, mango (amazing combination)

Smaller plate # 2 - veal pastrami, carrot, yogurt (Pastrami is sooo good, the very simple thin crunchy crostini on top added texture)

 



Smaller plate # 3 - quinoa, beetroot, horseradish (Lots of textures, the beet flavor is surprisingly mild given the vibrant color of the quinoa, lovely sweetness *drools* CHEERS For the love of quinoa & beetroot)

 

Smaller plate # 4 - sole, cauliflower (the BEST sole I've ever had, cooked to perfection - NO exaggeration)

Larger plate - lamb, smoked aubergine, scratchings, tomato (the meat was unbelievably tender, everything on the plate was equally delicious)

Dessert # 1 - apricot, macadamia, custard (very light and refreshing)

 

Dessert # 2 - chocolate, hazelnut, caramel (it's mainly chocolate mousse but also consist of chocolate in different textures and forms - Highly recommended)

Oh well, and that's generosity in a bag! - a special homemade treats from the chefs

 

Finally, got the chance to meet Nick & Scott the amazing chefs of table 9

 

 

Oj Says: a contrast of flavors and textures! I urge you to book a table for what I think is currently one of the most exciting dining experiences in town.

Food Rating: 9.5/10

Overall Experience: Totally dazzled and literally can't wait to go back in a month to try their new menu!

 

~ My wonderful M.AlShamsi Thank you for making this experience super special.

xx,
Oj

Rock n Sole Plaice - Fish and Chips

Rock n Sole Plaice - Al Safa Centre (Park n Shop), Al Wasl Road, Dubai
Every once in a while when I like to treat myself to fried food, I come here.
Not that "Rock n Sole Plaice" servers any fresh fish. unfortunately, they didn't make use of local fish, all are shipped frozen all the way from UK.
On the other hand, they are super tender and flaky, not overcooked at all, the crust is crispy but not the hard as a rock crunchy, tastes so good you don't even need the tartar sauce, just a tiny bit of  malt vinegar and you're good to go. I've tried Cod, Plaice, and Calamaris. Honestly, I love them all!
Now speaking of the "CHIPS" - really good, perhaps because I like my chips partially soggy. Besides, they taste like real potatoes!

Since there is limited seating & it smells like oil indoors, eating outdoors is always the best choice

My Plaice and Chips (plaice is a flatfish, so mainly it comes as a thin fillet nicely battered and fried - besides, this fish melts in your mouth like butter "OOOOH YEAH, BUTTTEERRR BABE" so you get the textures contrast of the crispy batter and buttery fish YUM)

My friend had Codfish - was really moist but thicker than my plaice

 

 

Oj Says: Might not be the perfect fish and chips but they're really good. Always dine in, takeout gets soggy quickly.

Food Rating: 6/10

Overall Experience: Always happy!

 

xx,

Oj

 

The Rivington Grill - British

The Rivington Grill - Souk Al Bahar, Downtown Dubai
After hearing so many glowing reviews from my friends about their burger, I decided to pay Rivington a visit. Although the menu was full of delicious British goodies thought I would go for the burger I heard much about, and so I did!

First visit:

Entrance

 Lovely Interior
 



Complimentary - Freshly baked bread

Waiter's recommendation (Ordinary) 

 "The Burger" listed as one of Rivington's Favourites - well seasoned, nice homemade BBQ sauce on the side. Thick burger patty & thick bun - not my kinda burger though (was chewy & hard to eat, didn't enjoy much)

finishing off my meal with Sticky Toffee Pudding - deliciously moist, warm and rich with an incredibly gooey toffee sauce and a good scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side (You gotta try this)

 My friend's dessert was Chocolate Puddle Pudding with Peanut Ice-cream - baked to perfection (HEAVENLY)

NEVER, coming back soon!

 

 

Second visit:

So, two months later "Oj" decides to give Rivington another try, but NO BURGERS this time. And so never followed any reviews and thought of picking whatever my tummy screams out YUMMY.
 





 Chose to be seated outdoors at the terrace overlooking the Burj Khalifa

Again waiter's recommendation (This is a truly refreshing mix of peaches, oranges and almond syrup)

 



 Saturday special Roasted Beef with Yorkshire Pudding and Roasted Veggies - this is one of the best meals I've ever had! Beef was juicy, veggies were nicely seasoned (Unbelievably delicious - Highly Recommended)

Gloriously puffed-up Yorkshire Pudding (One of the best)

My friend's Fillet Steak - toootally DRY (Disappointing)



That was gooooood!!

 

 

Oj Says: Good quality food, would definitely go back again to try more dishes. 

Food Rating: 7.5/10

Overall Experience: Happy and Satisfied.

 

xx,

Oj

The Global Village's Delicious Bites & Sips

It's Global Village season, which means, for most of us, delicious bites and sips!
Since the weather has been amazing lately, I try my best to do as much outdoor activities as possible, visiting the Global Village almost weekly is one of them.
Here's my "Global Village Food Tour" pictures and reviews.. ENJOY!

Morocco Pavilion:

Moroccan Briouats - a paper-thin Moroccan dough filled with chicken and seafood (liked the chicken one more, the icing sugar on top is a magical touch)

 

Moroccan Chicken Couscous - light, fluffy and nicely seasoned, portion enough for two.


 

Turkey Pavilion:

Knafeh - Freshly made, crunchy crust , but totally TASTELESS

 

Dondurmali Irmik Helvasi - Semolina Halvah with ice-cream (too sweet, amazing texture)

 



The Famous Iskender Kebab (Turkish Food Court) - thinly cut grilled lamb with hot tomato sauce over pieces of pita bread served with some yogurt on the side (I've had better, the kebab itself tastes good though)

Turkish Baked Potatoes - You can never go wrong with baked potatoes, here you get to choose the topping, mine is coleslaw and mint yogurt (this is comfort food *love*)

Between the Chinese and the Pakistani Pavilions:

 

Poffertjes/Dutch Mini Pancakes - puffy little pastries that are rich in taste and melt in your mouth

 

The Global Village's Food Court:

Layali Bait Jadi Shawarma sandwich -  Instead of being cooked on an electric grill, this Shawarma is  grilled horizontally on charcoal (Heavenly)

 

Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation:

Homemade Fatayer - Middle Eastern pastry that is stuffed with meat, spinach, cheese, or zataar (freshly baked, light and fluffy dough, my fave was the mini Falafel burgers)

 

Tunisia Pavilion:

Bambaloni/Tunisian Donut - (This is totally different than any donut I've ever had in my life, totally different texture -  was the highlight of the tour)

Dubai SME:

I just sampled some of their ice-cream, tasted a bit weird because camel milk is slightly salty by nature and NO it doesn't taste like "Salty Caramel ice-cream" LOL

Sri Lanka Pavilion:

Delicious Karak made out of Ceylon tea (even if you are not a karak person, this is a MUST)

 

 

Oj Says: There is way much to try, and much to experience.

 

xx,
Oj