Fancy a good bite?

I've recently come across this site which is super helpful for any foodie who loves to travel.  The World's 50 Best Restaurants (there's actually top 100) is organised by Restaurant Magazine and is a list that's been compiled by over 800 industry experts including chefs and food critics.  So basically this is THE list.  The site also has regional spotlights, most recently on Peru and Singapore, where they dive into the culinary scene in those countries.  And you can also access past years' winners.  So next time you're about to jet off, check this out.  

The 2012 list should be out in April 2012.

Another one for my girls to remember?

I love ladies' night.  I don't mean the typical ladies' nights that bars around every town offer which is just codename for 'meat market'.  A few of my girlfriends and I have been quite good at making it a point to spend one evening together around once a month, a tradition we have kept up for the last 6 or so years (I think deep down we would like to think we are our own version of the SATC girls).  Yes a few of us have moved in and out of Dubai recently, but we still kept up the tradition as best as we could.  

Again to clarify, our ladies' nights aren't a bunch of girls totally wasted dancing on bar tops.  We usually go someplace where we can have some great wine, sometimes accompanied by great food like cheese fondue, and we have great conversation.  Last night was ladies' night.  Last night was different.  I'm not sure if it's because summer is here that we decided to go to some vegetarian, organic restaurant for dinner.  It sounded good enough, quite unusual for a place like Dubai...and we didn't mind the change.  The conversation was lovely as always, the wine was admittedly delicious.  But the food was a DISASTER.  It's not that it didn't taste good, well some of it didn't taste of anything really, it's just that it wasn't a meal!  And that sucks when you are going with the intention to eat.  Let's see, we had a tasteless avocado - tomato salsa thing with literally the tiniest bread stick ever.  We had beetroot with a small cube of feta cheese to split between ourselves.  We had some scary looking purple potato carpaccio. These were the starters but you get the point.  We left the place slightly tipsy, not because we drank a lot but because of the lack of food in our tummies.  We left the place strangely bloated.  And we left still very hungry.  I don't know who in their right minds would think that was a good meal and go there again or recommend the place. The place should have a warning sign outside or call itself Coloninox or something.  Now on a brighter note, I have come to learn that Wendy's has finally opened in Dubai, at least I wont feel as guilty going there for lunch today.  

Bliss it is

So, it is probably a little strange that I am a Dubai-ian and my first post is about a place in Beirut, but I'm here for a few days and this city inspires me in all sorts of ways. I love the vibe and the never boring night life. I love the contrasts you see in the smallest things like the three cab rides I took today, the first had someone reciting the Quran on the radio, the second had some French singer blasting and the third had hardcore house music playing. Most of all, I LOVE the food in this city.  Whether it's the proper Lebanese restaurant up in the mountains or the cosy french bistro in downtown.  But my favourite place of all, as simple as it is, is Bliss House. This is a tiny restaurant located on Bliss street opposite the American University of Beirut, where you make your order at the cashier and then stand and watch the cooks quickly put together the yummiest sandwiches ever, that you get to enjoy hanging out on Bliss Street.  

Now, anyone who knows me would say that I love every "junk food" option there is out there, but this is different. This is where the perfect combination of fresh ingredients, amazing sauce and a touch of greasiness come together to melt in your mouth. For anyone who will read this and happen to visit this fabulous city, please please try either a chicken fajita sandwich or a philly steak sandwich, or both. Oh and preferably after a night on the town. Yum!

How fancy?