Dubai Coffee Museum: More than just a caffeine high

Walk down the quaint alleyways spotted with souvenir stores and art cafes, and it's easy to get lost in all the serenity. It's almost like the movies, where houses are close to one another, making it a closely knit community. One of the houses here has been converted into the Coffee Museum. What once was a pet project by Khalid Al Mulla, the museum director, has grown to be a two-storey-full collection of coffee history, garnished with antique tools, grinders, roasters, brass urns, coffee-sacks, sampling implements and ornate cups.

From the get go, a very distinctive aroma of coffee fills the air. As it pulls you in, you pass a majlis - a meeting room, and you walk right in front of a big silver object which is an Egyptian charcoal fire burner. A metal pot with a wooden handle, ibrik is placed on a bed of sand which is heated by charcoal. The hot sand heats the ibrik equally on the side resulting in a perfect brew.

The Coffee Museum in Hamburg inspired Al Mulla to take his passion for coffee to the next level. "The difference between my museum and any other is that I have antiques from all over the world," he says. It is evident with the display of grinders and roasters dating back to the 1800s, from European and Western countries as well as Arab countries.

Yemen was the first country in the Middle East to acquire a taste for coffee, which only developed into a love for the product. The museum takes you through the journey of coffee, from the Middle East via the Ottoman Empire to Europe, and back to where it belongs.

One of the pieces is a painting made with coffee. It adds quite a character to the museum. An eye-catching antique used to be the coffee grinder manually built out of used copper bullets after the World War II - because metals weren't easily available then. Among objects that date back 300 and 400 years, vintage coffee grinders and tins occupy pride of place in the museum. The most prized artefact is the British Royal grinder; it still has the Royal Crown etched on both sides.

A room labelled Coffee Origins houses beans from most coffee producing countries like Ethiopia, Mexico, Rwanda, Vietnam, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, India and Guatemala. From a light roast to a dark one, it's amazing how much a little bean, once a cherry, can transform.

It's not only the roast that matters but also factors like region, climate, storage, altitude, seasonal changes, transportation and packaging. JB, the barista at the café in the museum, explains how each brewing method can influence the flavours, body and taste of a particular coffee bean.

The first floor has the café and a library that is home to books on coffee. Beside it is a media room where audiovisual information on coffee is always at hand.

Over a conversation about popular coffee, while sipping on Arabic coffee infused with cinnamon, served with a date, Al Mulla laughs and says that "instant coffee is poison." It can be confusing for anyone who only knows commercial coffee. But this museum does a good job of changing your mind, for the better.

Coffee occupies a special spot in UAE traditions, Al Mulla says. "It is an Emirati tradition to serve coffee first to any guest. It is a sign of hospitality, and our way to say welcome." In fact, the tradition of making Arabic coffee is among 20 practices newly recognised by UNESCO, the UN's cultural agency. Unesco said Arabic coffee is a symbol of generosity: "Serving Arabic coffee is an important aspect of hospitality in Arab societies."



Visitors can try traditional blends of Arabic, Ethiopian, Turkish and Vietnamese coffee, or even opt for a cup of Fairtrade coffee from Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Colombia.

It's more than a museum, and not just another café. The Coffee Museum is the perfect blend of education and history.

Photos by Dhes Handumon. This post first appeared on khaleejtimes.com

Classic Slavic cuisine aims to charm Dubai

UAE is home to almost 120 nationalities, so why should it be any different for just that many cuisines? Latest to hit shores is food from Russia, Czech Republic, Ukraine and other Eastern European countries have all come together on one plate. Bringing its culture, tradition and palette to share, the newest fine dining restaurant, Vesna serves traditional Slavic food with finesse.

Exuding a larger-than-life interior design, the décor is eclectic with mammoth-sized royal blue sofas, and bold embellished curtains that separate the dining area from the lounge. Massive mirrors reflect the chandeliers giving the place a little royal, a little homely feel. There's never a dull moment if you stop to look around. Amidst all this grandeur I did manage to find a small table with a few flower pots and candle stands hidden away.

Siberian Beef Pelmeni

Located at the Conrad Hotel on Shaikh Zayed Road, the menu is inspired by award winning international chef Angelova Irina, who brings unique elements to Eastern European Cuisine. Chef Maksim Tvorogov heads all culinary activities at Vesna, which means spring in Russian.

Right out of a Russian home

Among the food I tried was the Olivier Salad with Lobster (pictured above) which is a classic Russian salad with a European twist - a blend of baked and boiled vegetables, fresh lobster claw and sous-vide chicken, finished off with diced dill pickles and dressed in mayonnaise and balsamic.

I remember eating it at most family get-togethers where some aunt would invariably bring a bowl of Russian salad. It was refreshing to try the real Russian salad at a real Russian restaurant (...still, reminiscing).

Another dish that made me go back for another helping was the Vinegret Salad (pictured above). Vesna serves it with organic baked beetroot mixed with diced potato, carrot, bell pepper with sunflower oil. It might not sound appetizing, but it's quite commendable the way the ingredients blended. Five stars!

The Siberian Beef Pelmeni was a variant of warm dumplings filled with Australian Black Angus beef served with a cooled sour cream. I'm not sure how I feel about this dish.

The other dumpling served was Vareniki, with a filling of porcini mushroom and potato puree served garnished with fried onions. Delicious or vkusno (pronounced fkoos-na), as the Russians would say!

Thinking of it, this is probably what Vladimir Putin enjoys in the comfort of this sprawling mansion.

The dessert platter was standard with mini chocolate balls and pastries. What did catch my attention though were the bite-sized cakes; they were chewy and sweet and I would, if I could, keep gorging on at least a dozen more.

Verdict: The food tastes local; like it came straight from a native Russian kitchen.

Must try: Vinegret Salad

Cost for two: Dh300

This post first appeared on khaleejtimes.com

A taste from the table of Indian Royals

Dark wooden furniture, warmly lit interiors, with accents of brass and gold, Gazebo at Deira City Centre whisks you away from the maddening crowd and bright stores that surround it. It makes you feel as close to Indian royalty as you can.

The summer in the UAE can wear you out, and the moment I entered this haven of goodness, I could suddenly feel relaxed. To soothe my parched self I asked for the coconut water with mint leaves and honey. A new twist to the original drink, I thought it would have tasted best if served chilled. Anyway, getting my hands on real coconut water made me happy enough. And for once I didn't associate a coconut drink with the beach and my toes in the sand. It's as elite as coconut water can get.

Then came the Mango Lassi. This was a make it or break it order I'd placed; because Mango Lassi can either be really good, or can go horribly wrong. To my delight, it was spot on. One moment it tasted like a mouthful of mango, and the next it was a creamy sip of lassi. There wasn't an in between, and I wasn't complaining.

(L-R) Mango Lassi; coconut water with mint leaves and honey

So far, my experience at Gazebo was going well. The stillness of the restaurant was only disturbed by the occasional sound of utensils in the distance, by the aroma of spices in the food being served to other customers, and by the waiters' constant politeness. 

For appetizers, I was pretty confused by the vast menu. But the staff was really kind, they not only suggested dishes, but also gave me the time to decide. I knew I wanted the food of kings, and my mind kept echoing "Shahi" (translates to Royal in Hindi). This place just makes you want to taste royalty. So I ordered for Gosht Zafrani Seekh which was minced mutton in spices, flavoured with saffron, skewered and chargrilled. It was spiced perfectly for my palate. It blew my mind - spiced, flavoured, textured. It had every element to make every bite impeccable.                    

Next on was the Kalimirch Kebabs. The chicken was cooked beautifully - think tender, marinated in curd with a right sprinkle of kalimirch (black pepper corns).

(L-R) Gosht Zafrani Seekh, Kalimirch Kebabs

While I waited for the appetizers to arrive, I gorged on some crispy papad and dips of mint + curd chutney, along with some lightly spiced curd. The dips complemented the fiery red Gosht Zafrani Seekh and ever-succulent buttery Kalimirch Kebabs to a T. 

What makes the biryani so good?

I was starting to get quite full up with the rich platter of starters. So I moved onto main course, and asked for the most raved about dish at Gazebo - the Boti Hyderabadi Briyani. To give you an overview it is boneless chunks of mutton marinated in a special Hyderabadi masala, cooked in spices, rice, fried onions and boiled egg. When it arrived to my table, it looked real delicious and tasted just as heavenly. 

Biryani being served

Boti Hyderabadi Briyani

There was this one ingredient I can't quite understand, but it just enhanced all the flavours in that biryani pot. I could taste it, but couldn't pin it. It was a little like ginger, and then star anise, and a little cumin somewhere in between. I asked the waiters, and even the manager and his reply was, "It's the chef's secret." I wanted to pry on this secret ingredient, but am still to find out.

Firni

I ended the meal with a good helping of firni, which is a sweetened rice dessert. It's rich, it's heavy and the one they serve at Gazebo sure melts in your mouth.

I'd been there for two hours and still wasn't ready to leave. There was something that made me want to stay. I wasn't dreading the heat outside, or the work that followed, it had to be the experience that I never wanted to end. Well for the afternoon, at least. 

Verdict: Portions suffice two

Must try: Gosht Zafrani Seekh and Boti Hyderabadi Briyani

Cost for 2: Dh200

This post first appeared on khaleejtimes.com

Lazy brunches of nachos, steaks, and pies

Photos by Kymberlee Fernandes ©

Whoever came up with the concept of brunches is a genius. If you're like me - late for breakfast, but always hungry before lunchtime - you'll get my drift. One thing I must make clear is that if you've got a brunch scheduled for the day, try not to make any plans for at least 4 hours after it.

I had other commitments lined up after my brunch, and trust me, I had never felt this sluggish in a long long time.

Let's go back to my Friday brunch at The Black Lion restaurant, at the H Hotel on Shaikh Zayed Road. I was pretty kicked about eating a good meal (to me, a good meal consists of a refreshing beverage, a hearty main course and something sweet to finish that up).

What's cookin', good lookin'?

Platter of appetizers 

So, I started with a good helping of appetizers including - Cobb salad (Cajun chicken, avocado, tomato, boiled egg, and blue cheese); Hot and Sour Chicken Wings; Homemade Nachos; and Shrimp Cocktail.

From that platter, I fell for the homemade Nachos, and the Chicken Wings. Sprinkled with a spicy tinge and served with cheddar cheese, guacamole and tomato salsa, all I was missing was a good movie to watch while I munched on those nachos. We've all eaten nachos at least once, and if you haven't yet, I'd say start with the ones they serve at The Black Lion.

I'm on the hunt for the best eggs benedict in Dubai, and it was a no brainer that I asked for the Braised Beef Short Rib Benedict. Now I've eaten this preparation several times, but these guys sure know how to poach eggs. That kind of precision is mastery! The beef was cooked well, and took no effort to chew.

Braised Beef Short Rib Benedict 

Rump Steak and Frites

Then came the Rump Steak and Frites, medium-rare. Cooked in garlic butter, I've never thought of that combination before. I'm a fan of calamari in butter garlic sauce, and I can gorge on it through eternity. But the steak in its raw-cooked state, blushed a glorious pink and now I'm second guessing my fandom for calamari in butter garlic sauce.

Super-Sized Sundae

To complete my meal, I was served a Super-Sized Sundae, of chocolate cake, nuts and strawberry ice cream; and a deep-filled Apple Pie. Now that kind of a meal calls for a good snooze, hence I stress, do not make plans after a hearty brunch as such.

Verdict: Potions are large

Must try: Homemade nachos and Rump Steak and Frites

Price: AED 250, with unlimited soft drinks

This post first appeared on khaleejtimes.com

Who said it’s hard to get a driving licence in Dubai?

Like most of expats in Dubai, I came to the city with a mind to dwell among many nationalities and cultures while also earning a good living, but only for a couple of years. It has since been two years. I enjoy using public transport, which has proved to be very efficient in helping people like me get to get to work, to social meets and practically anywhere else I want to go. All it takes is a little effort. And thanks to apps like Wojhati and Google Maps, I’ve got around fairly well.

Without ever feeling the need to get a licence, one morning I woke up deciding to get one. It would not, indeed, be a bad idea to drive myself to wherever, whenever.
My tummy churned with anxiety as I thought: “There isn’t a chance that I am going to take some more classes, and dedicate more of my time and money in this driving licence ordeal.”

I’m a lazy lump, and that means I get work done in the fastest way possible, only to have enough time to laze around again. So my priority was to get it done in the quick.

Conveniently, I found a driving school that was about 700 metres away from my workplace. They also offered to pick and drop me through my practical lessons. Oh how the ‘lazy’ in me rejoiced. The icing? They dropped me to my theory classes too!

Most of my friends and acquaintances had taken up to four months to finally receive their driving licence, and that was one of the reasons I always stowed away the idea of having to even try. But now that I walked into the situation, I faced it as it came.

It took 20 days from my theory lesson to the theory test, and that’s when I thought, this is how slow I was told it was going to be. I passed in my first attempt (It would have killed my ego, had I failed). I went on with my practical lessons on the side — three days a week. Soon I was done with 20 classes and the internal mock test that followed. Listening to my friends I would have to wait about a month to get a road test slot.

On a more general course, the timeline from opening your file at a driving school to walking out with your UAE driving licence spans across three to four months, considering your performance in your mock test. If you fail that, the driving school will want you to take two more practical classes, followed by another mock test. And none of it is FOC.

To keep pace I went the following day of my last practical lesson, and voila! I got my road test slot within a week. Then came the big day, of which I had been warned one too many times. A handful of drivers I know had failed at least once, and why would I be any different?

Depending on the availability of a road test slot, I’ve noticed, women get it much quicker than men. Possibly because of the ratio of men and women in line to get a licence. A male co-learner got a slot a month later.

So I patiently waited for my turn; reversed the test car, drove out and about, returned, and waited for the judgment. After a while, the administrator at the school notified me that I have passed.

The test involved me driving the car on the streets around the school. The RTA inspector kept instructing me where I should turn, change lanes, and then finally stop.

Here is a tip: Stick to the rules. Always. The RTA examiner during my test wasn’t wearing her seatbelt, until I asked her to. It’s safer if you ask the co-examinees in the car, to wear their seatbelts too. Safety first, remember. In the following hour, I ran from one supervisor to another, got all the signatures, and walked out with a content heart and a UAE driving licence in my hand.

Most of this I owe to my driving instructor Nowsath Ali. His presence of mind, fun and innovative ways of teaching made the experience a breeze. Of all the inept instructor stories I’ve heard, he proved them all wrong.

Changing instructors a few times became a tale I heard ever so often. Three, four, five different people teaching you the same thing in five different ways makes the course much harder.

Stick to one or two instructors, follow the rules, stay alert and ask questions.

My instructor had me driving around the same block for about six classes. I asked for a change in route, suggesting the main road. He was pleased with my progress, and did in fact change track from a 40km internal road to a 60km one.

I still wonder what it is that everyone seems to be cribbing about when it comes to getting a driving licence in Dubai!

This post first appeared on khaleejtimes.com, well, because I'm their Web Journalist

Gypsy Dance on a street in Goa, India

I was just strolling the streets of north Goa, when i stumbled upon this unusual folk band entertaining people along the street. I've been to Goa about 40 times and never seen something like this.

So I though I'd share it with you.
And here's why you should visit other places in Goa. This is in Arambol.

Tell me what you think of it. And OH! if anyone can tell me which country this band could be from?

A Lonely Mountain

Imagine all you see is just one mountain, in the middle of nowhere. There are lights that lead you to it, but they've been leading you all along, and you pass every streetlight, one at a time, hoping to get closer to that lone mountain.

And as you head towards it, you’re just being deceived by the many lights you drive by. There’s a dip in the temperature, the fog adds to your restlessness, you slow down. You want to go faster, but you want to stay alive to feed your curiosity too. As you fix your eyes on the curvy road, that brightly lit mountain switches from your left to your right. It’s right there; then you lose sight of it again. The road gets lonelier, the wind cooler, and your unsettling mind urges you to push forward at full speed.

You’ve driven too long to turn around. But Jabal Hafeet, that’s where you’ll stop. After that ride that you thought would never end, the top of the mountain looks so surreal. The city of Al Ain is at its feet. The same feet that you rose from. The valley is too dark to appreciate, but you’re sure it’s there. 



The breath of the wind is all you can hear, and it’s not calming. The cold breeze won’t let your car doors stay open. It’s the violent kind of gust. You defy it and walk across, taking in the freezing weather, in this forlorn desert.

While you’re there, you know well enough, that what you can see, is a just a fraction of what you’ve already seen. It’s not where you are, but what took you there. And for now, that would be me.

Those Five Hours in Dubai

Dubai Mall

I landed in Dubai and within 5 days I had to get off my lazy ass and take a look around. I took a cab straight to Dubai Mall, and was looking for Dubai Marina Mall, although any mall was good for starters. So I strolled around for about 4 hours, marvelling at all the luxury brands I’ve only ever written about, minus the free samples I got as a journalist. I wish I could’ve done more than ramble, but I had to be home soon. Curfew. Or something like that.

Wrong Trains and Stalker-Pains

I hurried to the metro station exit and slugged my way to the wrong platform. **My absent-mindedness screws me over sometimes. There are only two trains, one to home and one from. I still confidently got on the wrong one. Luckily, it was only after one stop that I realised and got off at the next station. I look around and whom do I see? A man, who got on the train with me at the Dubai Mall station. Oh! Well, back to my zombie-walking-self I switched platforms and took the train back home.

I have taken the train every day, for the last 2 years in Bombay, India, so this metro train was a refreshing change from the local trains back home. BUT, I can say for sure, Women all around the world are catty, bitchy and will kill you with their lethal stares if they please. Well, I was, and still am new to the country, so I sucked it up and finally reached my destination. During this journey, my phone decided to die on me, and I had no idea where the hell I lived. I had a slight clue of things around, and there are taxis so that didn't worry me too much. Got out of the station and decided to walk home.

Nonchalantly, I walked in the wrong direction, but realised quick enough to turn around and spot the same guy from the wrong station. He was definitely following me, and now I was a little hyper. No phone, no address, no cop in sight. While I ran up to the metro information desk, I met a guy with the same surname as mine - immediate connection in a foreign land – he sorted me out with directions, advising I take a cab. I did just that, and confused the poor cabbie, who also figured I was new to the city, but he got me right where I was hoping to reach - home.

All through my encounters with different people from different races, countries and planets, I can say for sure, no one was in a bad mood that day.

If you’re new to Dubai:

• ·  Write your address on a sheet of paper, and keep this paper with you at all times.
• ·  Minimum cab fare is AED 10, even if the metre starts at AED 3.
• ·  Get a NOL card. You can use it at the metro stations and a few buses too. It’s about AED 20.
• ·  You cannot eat, drink water or even chew gum on the train.
• ·  Act like you know where you’re going, even if you’re lost.

Kanchanaburi's Hidden Tiger Temple

   

Tourists visiting Thailand usually have Pattaya, Phuket, and Bangkok on their places-to-see list. And feeding the cubs? How can you not have a picture of that if you visited exotic Thailand? 

Well, the six of us who made a trip there had quite a few touristy wishes too. So while we did the usual Pattaya, and Bangkok, cabaret shows, watched hookers standing 2 steps away from each other - in utter cultural shock - we wanted to get a different, not-very known version of the tigers. 

If you, like me prefer getting away from hoards of tourists, read up and you'll see what I mean.

the 1000 baht photo

We called Laila [the guide] who came up with a pretty cool package that had us driven all the way to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok which was a good 3 hour drive. **Don't believe the locals when they say anything is close by. Don't. Just be polite and nod.**

Finally we got there and the long drive seemed to be worth it. Here's what you should take in at first hand:

* Please be covered. Shoulders and knees cannot be exposed. This is a Buddhist temple, and so is disrespectful. You can buy a t-shirt from there just in case.

* Only some 300 people visit this place everyday.

* It's about a 150-metre walk from the entrance to where the highly sedated [or calm, meditated] tigers await your arrival.

* But there are quite a few attractions on the way. You will see massive grizzlies in their cages. A boar sunk neck deep in mossy water. Monkeys. Cubs.

yes, these are cubs

  

* There will be volunteers and monks feeding tigers chained to the trees. Playing with them, pushing and pulling them around like lifeless objects. I still have to see a wild tiger respond so calmly due to meditation alone!

* There are a couple of tigers that you can walk.

look ma, I walked a tiger :D

* Then you reach the tigers. They're sappy, and look stoned almost out of their minds.

* But these are only the tigers. The tigresses are chained at the back, and you can't go around them. Apparently "all female beings are snappy, so leave them alone", I overheard someone say.

* Then the resident guide will take you through the history, a little about the tigers there, their names, ages etc. Once that is done, you can take pictures with the tiger in your lap for 1000 baht each. It's a lot cheaper in a group, but only 1 person gets to hold the head.

stoned, sedated, consequence of meditation? ...you decide

*It's free if you don't want the tiger's head in your lap.

* After that, go around pick your favourite tigers, smile, take pictures, and walk back to your car. There's no limit to this one!

There's more to do at this forest temple, here. 

If you love this place to the ends of the world, you can also stay back and be a volunteer. It was one of the coolest places I've ever visited, don't know when I'll be back, but I haven't said my goodbyes to it just as yet. 

You will need at least 7 hours for your trip to the Tiger Temple in  Kanchanaburi. There is the Damnoensaduak floating market on the way, so you can drop by. 

P.s. it's not the cleanest.

Mumbai Local Daily: Ladies Compartment

I have been commuting by train to work for the last 18 months, and somehow I manage to cross paths with new situations... almost EVERY day!

Twitter is my companion at times like these. Soon I had people asking me to shut the fuck up, while some even suggested I write a tiny book. So obviously, since shutting up is something I won't do, I decided to create and then update a blog that can fit all my train travel experiences now on, and what first-time travellers should expect.

I'm already having a bad feeling about this. #dammit

Anyway, here we go:

* First things first. The trains between 9:00 am and 10:00 am are always packed.

* Indian women usually have extra long hair. Mine for one is short. And these long-haired folks enjoy the breeze through their oil-loaded locks. So be ready for a whiff of coconut oil. If you're passing Bandra, Mahim and Matunga, on the western line, you will be lucky enough to have a bonus of human dump stench, and a good look at about 20 black buttocks.

* Some women don't shave their underarms, and see no problem in sporting sleeveless tops. 

* This one time the only view I had was of a woman's ear. Infested with blackheads. And I had no where else to look.

* Quite a few have to be introduced to deodorants. 

* They will elbow you in the face, stomach, chest, back and anywhere else they can. They will. I have learnt to too!

>>Check this space for more updates on what to expect while travelling in the ladies compartment!