Winter in Dubai is just around the corner and the brunch season has already started. It's been ages since I last experienced a Friday brunch and I've also never had the chance to catch up with Tonnee, a friend from high school, who's been here in Dubai for almost a year already; so when an invitation for a Friday brunch came my way, I immediately said yes and tagged my friend along.

Birthdays won't be complete without cakes and ice creams, right? And because it was a lucky coincidence that I got an invite to try out Morelli's Gelato in time for my birthday, we intentionally didn't order desserts during my birthday lunch to make room for Morelli's! :D

Saying that Mark is a sushi lover is a total understatement. He loves adores sushi more than he loves me. Haha! Kidding aside, I already expected how Mark would be enticed of the thought of a sushi date night, so I immediately confirmed when I got an invite from Katana.

Five foodies, one mission: to search for the hottest breakfast spots in Downtown Dubai. This is the idea behind the invite that I got via email one morning. Although it entails having my Friday morning sleeping in cut short and having to spread my teeny tiny social butterfly wings, I accepted the invitation for two reasons—I will be in one of my favorite places in Dubai, and I will be meeting and mingling with renowned Filipino UAE bloggers. There's surely no reason to decline, yeah?

Another player in the Dubai brunch scene has just recently emerged and Mark and I got to sample their offerings in yet another remarkable #ZomatoMeetup. Special thanks to Zomato UAE and The Palace Downtown. Thank you for making Mark's first #ZomatoMeetup experience an awesome one! :)

I've always thought of Dubai, being part of a Muslim country and the fact that alcoholic drinks are widely prohibited, as somewhat a monotonous and boring city especially in terms of its night life. But I was totally wrong. When it comes to night life, Dubai has got to be the liveliest night life scene. It definitely has a lot more to offer. I never thought that there are a lot of gastro pubs in Dubai, from the loud and lively pubs to the relaxed and chill ones.

I've mentioned before how I enjoy a lively crowd while sipping a glass of bubbly or cocktail drink, but of course it's also fun to just chill along with a soothing music and delicious food and drinks. And that is what I love about Muze. Located in Souk Al Bahar in Downtown Dubai, Muze combines the fine sounds of Latin, World, and Arabic fusion music in an eclectic and artistic setting.

Mark and I got to commemorate the celebration of National Children's Day through an afternoon snack the French way! Walking along the classy streets of Downtown Dubai, we were left utterly mesmerized just at the sight of La Serre Bisto & Boulangerie’s charming ambience. Coupled with the Goûter Menu, especially crafted to satisfy the little ones' palates, La Serre definitely dazzled the kids in us.

La Serre's al fresco dining area had a section dedicated for the little ones and their parents. Laughter of little kids enjoying the fun activities and story-telling filled the air that afternoon.

Just when you think that Iftar always has to be an Arabic dinner, Eataly has created a special menu for breaking your fast during Ramadan with an Italian twist . Cherry and I were invited to grace the Iftar preview in Eataly at the Dubai Mall a few weeks back.

We were served with breads and a glass of Jallab while waiting for our orders to be served. As I've read and as what Mark has also been telling me, fasting during Ramadan is usually broken by eating dates first, so I thought having it in a form of a drink was a brilliant idea.

Cinco de Mayo, is celebrated in the United States and in Mexico on May 5 and it is a significant breakthrough in Mexican history. It celebrates the Battle of Puebla, when a small contingent of Mexican soldiers, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, defeated Napoleon III's formidable army.
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_Mayo

Aside from it being a celebration of independence, it's also a great excuse to enjoy delicious Mexican food! :D Mark and I were invited to the Cinco de Mayo celebration at Rosa Mexicano, but since we couldn't make it on the day itself, we were given the chance to commemorate this special event the day after. :p

Coffee shops, having sprouted like mushrooms over the years, aren't really something that tickle my fancy. So when I got an invite to do a review of Icons Coffee Couture in Souk Al Bahar, I must admit that I wasn't that ecstatic. I didn't even check their site out to see what they have to offer, as what I usually do when invites come my way. Nothing.

Add the fact that our fun and enjoyment at the Al Ghurair Dub Fest 2015 had to be cut short as we needed to go from Deira to Downtown Dubai.

But although there wasn't a single diner when we came, the minute I set foot on Icons, I already felt that it wasn't just an ordinary coffee shop.

With its black and white interiors, photo wall of fashion icons, and a zebra print accent wall, I knew that Icons has something more to offer.

A few days after I got my first invite for a restaurant review, I received an email for another one. And because I already confirmed for the weekend with the first invite, I decided to confirm my presence for the second invite for the following weekend.

And so last Friday, January 9, Mark and I got to have a taste of Italy at Eataly in Dubai! :)


After confirming with the staff at the reception near the entrance, we were welcomed by Mr. Louay Moursel, the F&B Manager, who also ushered us to our seats. We were seated at the far end of the restaurant which gave us an ample view of the place.
Unlike in our first invite, in Cinnamon Restaurant, where we just waited to be served with our food, we were given the liberty to order what we want here at Eataly. And because it was our first time to try Eataly out, choosing what to have was actually a struggle, in a good way, because everything in the menu was inviting. Good thing Santosh, the staff who took care of our orders, was kind enough to answer our queries. He even suggested that we try out their specialties for drinks, appetizers, main dishes, and desserts, to which we obliged.