Arabian Tales and Other Amazing Adventures

On the Streets of Abu Dhabi . . . . Comfort Food

2013-05-25T16:20:00.000+04:00

A twirling action catches my eye as I round the corner. Across the street a man sits in the window of a tiny store. The store sign says Ariyana Bakery but why is the man sitting in the store window?

I am on a stroll though one of the many “squares” created by the grid system of Abu Dhabi’s streets.

This downtown sector of Abu Dhabi is humming with the hectic flurry of men scuttling along the broad sidewalks. Some are clothed in Emirati national dress of khandoura (robes) and ghatr (headscarf) others in the Pakistani dress called shalwar kameez. Deliveries and shopping I presume, and perhaps grabbing a quick bite to eat as the square is populated with ground level store fronts and a few hole-in-the-wall restaurants.

As I near the bakery a crew of six men enter the small store in unison just barely fitting in the tiny space. They are all talking but I can’t understand. They glance quizzically at me and find something very humorous. Would that be me?

There are actually two bakers sitting cross-legged in the store window. One takes a ball of dough and kneads it a bit and tosses it to baker #2 who shows off for me twirling the thin dough, throwing it high and deftly catching it just like the “pizza-jocks” at home.

“Picture OK?” I ask pointing to the camera. All I get is a nod.

Baker #2 leans over and the dough is gone.

The crew of six, wearing pale blue and off-white shalwar kameez and each carrying a white plastic bag, exit the tiny space en mass moving like a small school of fish.

I step closer entering the minuscule customer space catching a whiff of baking bread. I discover a hole in the floor and a store engulfed in intense heat.

By pantomime and guess work I discover that the bakers are from Pakistan and the unleavened bread is called roti, a staple of Pakistani diet. The hole in the floor is the oven, a tandoor. After the dough attains the proper thinness the roti is placed on a form that looks like a pillow. Then the baker leans over the tandoor using the “pillow” to slap the roti up against the sides of the tandoor to be baked.

The bread comes out of the oven slightly charred and dimpled with that comfy just baked bread smell. The baker unceremoniously flips the roti onto a serving space for customers to help themselves. The second baker points to the plastic bags hanging on the side of the wall.

The roti bread never makes it home. The soft texture and earthy flavor wraps around me like a warm blanket. I have found my new comfort food.

Ariyana Bakery

Location: On the north side of Hamden Bin Mohammed Street (5^th Street) between Bani Yas Street (6^th Street) and Al Sharqi Street (4^th Street)

Menu: One item – Roti

Cost: 1 dirham ($.27)

Timings: no idea but I have the sense they are there all the time.

Best of the Boomers #311

2013-05-24T16:15:00.000+04:00

This week's Best of the Boomers posts are prepared by Karen Austin of the Generation Above Me. Topics include new research on female Viagra drugs; how to learn more about your family history; thoughts of the Dalai Lama; what me worry about retirement funds; how many developmental task do you face in the second half of life? Enjoy

The Best of Boomer Blogs #308

2013-05-24T08:44:00.000+04:00

The Best of the Boomers are examining an eclectic mix of topics this week. Do you know what Snapchat is? Your grandchildren probably do. What is the right frame of mind if you are over 50 and looking for a job? What motivates us to write? Cross views of Boomers and 20-somethings. Take a cool arm chair tour of Dubai's art scene and iconic architecture. What about this emotion shame? The dangers of dehydration. Is your 401K on auto pilot? Enjoy

A Culinary Voyage Through the Streets of Old Dubai with Frying Pan Adventures

2013-05-14T13:32:00.001+04:00

Frying Pan Adventures foodie explorers

Varshik, Donna,Kate, Bob & Arva

Many times on my explorations of old Dubai I pass by multitudes of hole-in-the-wall restaurants lining the streets. Each cafeteria, as these small street-restaurants are called, advertise their offerings with grainy pictures of peculiar looking plates of food and strange – or maybe exotic - aromas settling over the sidewalk.

I always wonder if some really delicious foodie finds are lurking inside. I must confess that I have been tempted but never found the required courage to drop in for a bite.

But that all changed when I met Arva Ahmed. I ran into Arva online through her blog I Live in A Frying Pan. I was instantly taken by her fresh wit, funny take on life and sheer joy of exploring. I was certainly intrigued by the hidden food gems she featured. When I read she was developing ethnic food walking tours in Dubai, I jumped at the chance to try one. I was not disappointed.

In late December I went on her Middle East Tour. I enjoyed it so much that I ranked it as one of our 2012 Top Dining Experiences. And then in February, I gathered a few friends and we did the North African Tour. Still in the offering are Arva’s Indo-Arab and the Indo-Afghani tours.

For the tour, a driver picks you up at the Mall of the Emirates and drops you off at the first restaurant where you meet Arva. Then you follow her and stroll through old Dubai’s ethnic neighborhoods tasting foods from various countries as she explains their origin, how they are made and a little history. At each stop Arva cautions you not to eat too much because there is so much more to sample.

The Middle East Food Tour

The First Bite

On the Middle East Tour, we are in Deira one of Dubai’s original neighborhoods situated along the Dubai Creek. It was once the city’s commercial center and here you still find Dubai’s old Gold Souq and the amazing Spice souq.

Arva offer Egyptian Falafel Mahshi

For starters we stop at the Qwaider Al Nabulsi restaurant.

Sitting at the outside tables, the steady stream of evening strollers steal only a brief glance from us as we delve into Egyptian falafel mahshi, made from chickpeas and a special tangy onion stuffing, and Palestinian musakhan, an open-faced chicken pie seasoned with sumac, a Middle East spice with a mild lemony taste.

Intrepidly, I take my first bite. The falafel are a crunchy mouthful and the sumac in the chicken pie is a bit unfamiliar and may take some time and practice to acquire a taste for.

The Jordanian Bedouin dish mansaf gifts me with my first taste of goat. It proves rather interesting with its slightly earthy smell and almost tender texture. Cooked in jameed, a fermented buttermilk product made from goats’ milk yoghurt, it tastes a lot like lamb. Our starters are complimented by more familiar dishes - hummus and tabbouleh.

We end this first feast with kunafa, a Syrian/Palestinian layered pie made of cheese and semolina. This is also doubles as a favorite breakfast treat! What a grand way to start your day - a strong cup of coffee and sweet delicious kunafa.

I am stuffed and this is only the first of five stops!

Danger Zone – Arabian Sweets

Kate McClure & Arva present the diet-defying sweets

Al Samadi Sweets brings us more sweets with a little sample of bakelava and bird’s nest, a sweet concoction of pistachios all wound together bird-nest style into a very sweet treat and some other pleasurable delicacies.

These concoctions melt in your mouth as flaky bursts of feather light pastry intertwined with sugar and honey and topped off with a random burst of nutty splendor. Eat too many of these and your diet goes into definite default.

Lebanese Pizza

Hot manousheh right out of the oven

B to B, which stands for Breakfast to Breakfast a 24-hour Lebanese restaurant, beckons us with manousheh, a leavened “pizza.” The small unadorned restaurant is anchored with the brick oven in the corner. The smell of baking “pizza” is filling the tiny room.

Manousheh is rather like flatbread pizza we have all become accustomed to but the crust is a little chewier and it has a definite “come right from the earth” taste.

We try one with a spice combination of thyme, sumac and sesame seeds called zatar. It brings a stern bite that takes just a minute to come to its full flavor. Our second manousheh is made with sujuak, a spicy meat sausage. This is more to my liking – not exactly pepperoni but maybe a distant Arab cousin.

Eating Bedouin Style

We follow Arva winding through a darkened neighborhood only to emerge onto a major road and duck into Al Tawasol, a very traditional Yemen restaurant.

Our plucky group is quickly escorted to the rear of the restaurant, past the men eating in the front, where we are sequestered in a red, white and black Bedouin tent. In traditional restaurants, men and women eat in separate dining areas. Mixed company such as ours is tolerated so long as we stay in our tent.

It doesn’t faze me a bit as here I find the very best chicken. mandi is chicken roasted with Arabic spices while it is suspended in an underground oven.

The tandoor oven is a hole in the ground with insides covered with clay. Then a good amount of dried wood is placed at the bottom and burnt until it’s blazing hot and becomes charcoal; the chicken is suspended inside the tandoor without touching the charcoal or the sides. The tandoor is sealed so no smoke can escape. Just sit back and let the flavors roast.

Varshik eating Bedouin style

We are eating Bedouin style seated on the floor. The server ceremoniously places a sheet of plastic on the floor in the center of the tent which serves as our “tablecloth.” Our food arrives and placed on the plastic sheeting.

Arva, with a comical smirk, states that we must take the first taste Bedouin style with our hands and then she will give us the forks she has brought. We all dive in for the first delicious bite but gratefully use the forks to finish this feast.

The mandi is served over yellow and white rice accompanied by a spicy tomato sauce with nuts and raisins as garnish. The piquant sauce raises the heat level just enough for the spices to warmly embrace the tender fowl. This dish is from the Hadhramaut province of Yemen and is traditionally used for special occasions like weddings.

Arva instructs us in the proper way Muslims eat. First, say "Bismillah," in the name of God, then wash your hands, for cleanliness purposes eat only using your right hand, and end the meal with a prayer of thanks to Allah. Additional Islamic table manners include, only eat from your side of the plate, take small bites, chew slowly, and don’t stare at anyone down the table. A hard one for us older westerners who are unaccustomed to sitting cross-legged on the floor – do not show the soles of your feet as it is a sign of disrespect.

Cooking on Hot Pebbles

Sangak cooking on hot pebbles.

Our final stop is Al Abashar Restaurant, an Iranian eatery where we enjoy chelo kabab, the Iranian national dish. Ground lamb is marinated in various spices then formed into cylinder shapes, mounted on skewers and roasted over an open flame. Served with a pyramid like mound of steamed rice, they are rich tangy bites that tease my palate as I try to identify the spices. Definitely cumin with possibly a touch of turmeric and I think the new spice I have tasted all night, sumac. This is a good addition to any Bar-B-Q.

We also enjoy roasted eggplant and gormeh sabzi, a stew of lamb and mixed greens seasoned with fenugreek, a slightly sweet nutty flavored Asian spice, served with rice spiced with red barberries called zersht.

At this point, I cannot fathom putting another morsel in my mouth. But the final treat is coming piping hot out of the oven.

Arva takes us over to the brick oven in the far corner of the restaurant. There the artisan chef is baking Sangak. This oblong dimpled bread is cooked on hot pebbles in a blazing hot brick oven. It is divinely soft with a little crunch. Urban legend has it that this cooking method was invented by military men when they had nothing else on which to cook their bread.

Wedding musicians - the yellow instrument

is an Iranian bagpipe - Ney Anban

An Unexpected Treat
Our serendipitous treat for the evening is getting caught up in the Iranian wedding reception happening at Al Abashar.

This is a lavish feast with live musicians, copious amounts of food and dancing. It is very heart-warming to see the love shared by the two families. The queenly bride and her handsome groom enter the room to applause and dutifully make calls at each table. Older men, their sons and grandsons are all up dancing with hands raised high twirling handkerchiefs as they circle to the beat of the traditional Iranian music performed by two musicians.

Our culinary voyage has come to an end and we are completely sated. Arva has put together a memorable evening and seen to every detail. Her commentary is witty and informative and the food is truly an adventurous culinary voyage.

The Bonus

The tour’s bonus is encountering Deira up-close-and-personal at night. During the day old Dubai is about the intense activity of business jostling along to make the delivery, the sale, the deal. But at night, pressure subsides and Deira lets you feel her true heartbeat. There is such a sense of village. You see old people sitting in plastic chairs outside apartments watching after the young people flocking to wherever they are going. Families gently amble along the wide sidewalks with baby strollers and toddlers in hand enjoying an evening stroll to their favorite restaurant. Everyone is peacefully savoring the cool Dubai evening.

If you are looking for something unique that will surely entertain your out-of-town guest, or perhaps you are just looking for an adventurous night out for with friends or even by yourself, Frying Pan Adventures is just the answer.

Nothing like wamdering through old Dubai’s historic neighborhoods discovering rustic ethnic foods with an expert foodie guide! You can book a tour with Arva at Frying Pan Adventures.

Stay tuned to Arabian Tales. Next up is the North African Tour.

Postscripts. . .

Arva, Kate, Bob, Donna and Varshik

Foodie buddies . . . what great culinary explorers joined me this tour. Kate and Bob McClure, from Minneapolis, USA, were departing the next day on a cruise around the Arabian Peninsula. Bob is a professor of Geography at St. Olef College and Kate is a registered nurse. Donna Johanna Iisakkila, from Finland, owns a travel counselor business and Varshik Motwani, a young Indian gentleman who grew up in Dubai and now works in the oil and gas business.

Become a Frying Pan Adventure Food Explorer Guide . . . Looking to spice up your life? Meet interesting people from all over the world? Arva is recruiting people to lead tours for Frying Pan Adventures. Check out the qualifications and drop her line if you are interested.

Best of the Boomer Blogs #307

2013-05-11T16:52:00.000+04:00

Boomers are looking for answers to pressing questions. Why do men love their guns? What is the greatest loss for American expats? Is Debbie Reynolds really unsinkable? What is a helicopter mom? What are the four new symptoms of a stroke? What do you risk if you buy annuities? How can you help others through crowd funding? Read on.

Surviving Our Move from Dubai to Abu Dhabi . . . First Impressions

2013-04-22T12:18:00.000+04:00

Abu Dhabi Corniche skyline
photo courtesy of www.panoramio.com

When Roger and I announce our intention to move from Dubai to Abu Dhabi many of our friends expressed grave concerns.

“It’s so much slower than Dubai.”

“Do they have any really good restaurants?”

“It is much more traditional than Dubai, it may be hard to make friends.”

“Oh, so sorry to hear you have to move there. Everyone says it isn't as much fun as Dubai.”

Oh dear . . . . listen up my Dubai friends, this joint is jumping – literally!

Sunset view from our apartment on
Amaya Towers on Al Reem Island

Our move to Abu Dhabi has been exceptionally eventful. In the space of our first 10 days of living here, on our first night, we watch a stunning sunset from our balcony as we enjoy the warm Arabian Gulf breezes. The next 3-days we are captivated by a blinding sand storm.

Arriving in Abu Dhabi on Easter weekend, we are inspired at the evening Mass at St. Joseph Cathedral as we listen to the singing of Easter hymns enriched and blended with the Imam’s evening call to prayer from the mosque next door.

As we wait for the leasing paper work to be completed, we take a 3-day breather enjoying the Park Rotana in Abu Dhabi. Big find at the hotel is at Coopers restaurant they have the most amazing French Onion Soup. And lucky us! One night at the hotel we find ourselves in the middle of a wedding celebration.

Thanks to the American Women’s Network (AWN) I quickly collect a good handful of nice friends while Roger accomplishes the impossible by finding and successfully navigating “electronic street” in search of our missing TV power cord. Roger and I find not one but two exceptional Italian restaurants - Pregos in the Beach Rotana and Italianissimo in the Boutik Mall at the Sun & Sky Towers.

But nothing tops the exhilarating experience of surviving our first earthquake tremors.

I have a feeling that the city of Abu Dhabi is going to be every bit as stimulating as Dubai!

Roger’s decision to renew his contract for two more years prompts our relocation. After three years, it is time to eliminate the treacherous daily commute from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. Notwithstanding the sore backs, aching muscles and stress headaches, our move is proving to be a great idea.

Dubai traffic.
photo courtesy of www.blog.ivanj.com

Here’s my best example of the difference between living in the two cities.

In Dubai I get lost at 120km and take up to 30 minutes to make the correcting turn. In Abu Dhabi, I get lost at 40km and only have to go around the block to make the correction.

Yes, the pace of life is a bit slower in Abu Dhabi but I know that I will fall in love with this beautiful city just as I did with Dubai.

Our Arabian experience has just been enriched two fold.

Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is located about one hour south of Dubai. It is home to 1.3 million people. The city is actually a collection of several islands with Abu Dhabi being the main island. We live on Al Reem Island that sits between Abu Dhabi Island and Saadiyat Island.

Rendering of Guggenheim Museum (top right), the
Louvre (top left) and the Sheikh Zayed
National Museum (center front).
photo courtesy of www.saadiyatcultrualdistrict.ae

Like Dubai, the city is a virtual construction site with cranes and construction everywhere. Among the most interesting projects are Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District that will include a Louvre Museum, scheduled to open in 2015, and a Guggenheim Museum, scheduled to open in 2017. At the heart of the Saadiyat Cultural District will be the Zayed National Museum scheduled to be open in 2016.

With the high value placed on education in the UAE, it is no surprise that renowned institutions of higher education such as the Paris-Sorbonne and New York University (NYU) have campuses in the city. Each of these universities offer stimulating programs we can attend. The UAE National Symphony adds another layer of cultural enjoyment to investigate.

Ferrari World and Yas Formula 1 track
photo courtesy of www.prlog.org

On earlier trips we enjoyed Yas Island attending Formula 1 Races, Ferrari World and the Paul McCarthy concert. On Saadiyat Island we took a relaxing weekend retreat at the Park Hyatt Resort and enjoyed some of the cultural offerings.

Still to be explored are the Desert Islands on the western coast. This is a cluster of eight islands full of history and natural beauty.

photo courtesy of The National

At the top of the “to go” list is Bani Yas Island, site of one of Arabia’s largest wildlife reserves, home to more than 10,000 free roaming animals. Can’t wait to see the Arabian Oryx, gazelles and giraffes – yes, you read that right, giraffes. I have heard that this giraffe herd is the result of two giraffes that were a gift many years ago from Ethiopia to Sheikh Zayed.

Then there is Marawah Island home to seasonal fishermen and the Gulf’s oldest known human-made structures that predate the earliest Egyptian pharaohs.

Exploring this part of the UAE is going to be great.

Postscripts . . . .

Recommended reading . . . From Rags to Riches, A Story About Abu Dhabi by Mohammed A. J. Al Fahim . . . This is a vivid eye witness account of the growth of Abu Dhabi. It is hard to image that just a short 30 years ago this thriving modern city was an impoverished undeveloped coastal desert territory where the only means of travel was by camel. If you are interested in learning about how life was “pre-oil,” then you will enjoy this personal memoir.

Thanks to good friends . . . one of the best parts of expat living is the generosity of those who came before you. Thank you Cheryl Keown for help in located an outstanding moving company, Writer Relocation, and helping me find some good real estate agents. And thanks to Kristi Regan and her group of AWN friends who generously shared their experiences in various apartments around the city. Need curtains? No problem an email brings a couple of suggestions. The first response, from Gigi Cowan, has the curtain maker at my door within hours and curtains hung three days later! And the “Reem Ladies” (residents of Al Reem Island) welcome me with open arms at their gathering in Bianca Verhoeff Rodriguez's relaxing terrace apartment. No matter where in the world you live, the expat community is there for each other.

2013-04-20T21:02:00.000+04:00

What are your fears? How do you handle them? This week’s Best of the Boomer Blogs brings you advice on handling many things we fear.

SoBabyBoomer says, "In order to rediscover our natural confidence and live a fearless life, we must examine the challenge: we must 'recognize fear.'"

What about the fear of romance and sex in our later years? Karen D. Austin thinks too many people believe that romance, love, and sex are extinguished by midlife. She offers an overview of films that explore how people 50 plus still have relationships that include such goodies--and how mature lovers still have to manage the accompanying complexities.

The Midlife Crisis Queen, Laura Lee is focused on the subject of starting a business past age 50 and the ways we try to find balance between money and meaning in our lives.

Looking for your purpose? Questioning the meaning of life, especially now, at midlife? Lisa Garon Froman makes the case that we all embark upon a hero’s journey at some point to uncover the meaning of life. She believes the search for meaning in our lives, the search for purpose, is a journey to our authentic selves.

On a lighter note, were you a fan of last year's Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? Then you might be interested in these New Movies for Grownups rounded up by Tom Sightings. They're all coming out this spring and summer, starting right now with The Big Wedding starring Robert DeNiro, Diane Keaton and other luminaries.

On The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, Rita R. Robison, consumer journalist, writes about the dangers of payday and deposit advance loans. A new report shows they trap consumers in debt.

Everyone knows that moving is one of the most feared and stressful activities - even if the move is only an hour down the road. Arabian Tales’ Katie Foster relates the adventures of surviving her move from Dubai to Abu Dhabi that brought stunning sunsets, an serendipitous encounter with an Arab wedding and other adventures only to be topped off with a horrifying earthquake. Now that was seriously terrifying!

What is one of the great losses of expat living in Dubai? American Football!

2013-03-13T21:08:00.002+04:00

First touchdown of the inaugural Desert Bowl Game

is scored by the Abu Dhabi Wildcats.

“Who let the dogs out!” Or, should that be camels?

Guess what my lovely husband Roger finds in Dubai? American football! What a great surprise for poor football-starved Roger.

One of the great losses of expat life in Dubai is watching a good American football game.

This year we discovered the NFL Game Day Pass which allows Roger to watch his favorite Denver Broncos on the computer if he doesn't mind getting up at 2 AM to catch the game. But nothing matches the excitement and adrenaline rush of actually watching the gridiron get torn up by testosterone-charged boys running around after some pig skin!

So Roger is ecstatic to read about the Desert Bowl being played on Friday.

This is the inaugural championship game of the Emirates American Football League, a league of four teams formed just seven months ago.

The Emirates American Football League is made up of players, coaches and volunteers representing 35 different countries. The players, who are guys who just love to play the game, come with a wide range of game experience and . . . inexperience. The four teams in the league are the Abu Dhabi Wildcats, the Dubai Stallions, the Dubai Barracudas and the Al Ain Desert Foxes

Roger with Colt Fans Jani & John Diedam

The Desert Bowl pits the undefeated Abu Dhabi Wildcats against the Dubai Stallions. The game is held at Jebel Ali Shooting Club just south of Dubai.

It is a seminal moment when we enter the “stadium” and hear the warm-up grunts of the players, see children running pretend plays on the field and bump into our good friends John and Jani Diedam, die hard Indianapolis Colts fans!

You can take the boys out of America but you can’t take the football out of the boys!

Dubai Stallions (red & white) meet the Abu Dhabi Wildcats (black & gold)
center field for the coin toss.

The Desert Bowl does not miss a beat. The Dubai weather is chilly enough to pass for a brisk Fall football afternoon. The coin gets tossed in the middle of the field with the hand-holding Abu Dhabi Wildcats coming en-mass to the ceremony. The game ball is delivered to the field by a trio of leather-clad tattooed guys on revved-up Harley Davidson motorcycles. The fans in the grandstand are bundled up in blankets and giddy with anticipation. On the sidelines the teams are warming up. And, the concession stand is cooking up hot dogs and hamburgers, plus an extra surprise, ice cold beer!!!

Long Live Americana!

Alas, the only thing missing are the marching band and the cute cheerleaders (would they be in abayas?). But heck, there is a great DJ spinning tunes and the Abu Dhabi Wildcats on the side lines do a remarkable job with cheers and it all works.

And the star of the game is an Abu Dhabi Wildcat named Vivaldi Tulysse who played at North Miami High School in Miami, Florida. Those Florida boys do know how to play football. And on top of all this excitement, who so we spot on the field refereeing but Ken Johnson, one of Roger's colleague at Parsons!

UAE Falcon Khalid Al Qassimi

And, as if wonders will never cease, we learn there is a semi-pro team in Dubai, the UAE Falcons. Khalid Al Qassimi, a linebacker for the Falcons and a member of the royal family of Sharjah, was on the sidelines to cheer on the teams.

I am not even going to try and report on the game. You best check out The National’s coverage. But I will say that the best team won and it was a most enjoyable afternoon with great friends. Brings back such fond memories of my days with legendary American football coach Howard Schenellnebger (see postscript).

I am now officially an Abu Dhabi Wildcat fan, with the cap to prove it!

Want to join the fun? There are still two games left. The Emirates American Football League All Star Game will be played on Friday March 22. And, the UAE Falcons will play a team TBA on April 8/9. Check in with their web site for details. http://www.eafl.ae

Postscript . . .

A “Shout Out” to Legendary Football Coach Howard Schnellenberger . . .

In one of my “past lives” I had the great privilege of working with an American football icon - Coach Howard Schnellenberger - when he started the Florida Atlantic University Fighting Owls football team.

To watch this inspirational coach rally his young team to their first Bowl game . . . and win . . . in just their seventh season was an astonishing experience. But, nothing quite matches the finesse of this larger-than-life personality cajoling philanthropists to part with their money to fund a “dream” team. It is an experience I will never forget. Thanks Coach for the great ride.

And a note to the Abu Dhabi Wildcats players. . . Schnellenberger started his football career playing as a Wildcat! There is no telling how far you can go!

“To believe is to be Strong!”

Photo Album . . .

3rd from left . . . Referee Ken Johnson

The Best of the Boomer Blogs

2013-03-11T20:04:00.000+04:00

It must be getting close to the Ides of March, the day Caesar was assassinated, because this time around the entries for Best of Boomer Blogs seem to be slouching toward more serious subjects. Laura Lee, the Midlife Crisis Queen, was pleased to see a difficult topic confronted on "60 Minutes" Sunday: Suicide – a topic that inspired her to write her new book Find Your Reason to Be Here: The Search for Meaning in Midlife.

Our consumer journalist Rita R. Robinson writes about Six ways to be a better shopper. Katie Foster at Arabian Tales has a great book for female boomers who have attained that "seasoned age." Mental Pause is a journey through a truly treacherous menopausal experience, written by global nomad and freelance author Anne O'Connell, it is a "must read" for every woman experiencing or about to experience this dreaded rite of passage.

Meanwhile, Lisa Garon Froman of Tao Flashes writes about A Woman's Way to Navigating the Midlife Journey with Integrity, Harmony and Grace. Finally, Sara Cornell of Life After Married takes a look at what to do when you know something you wish you didn't know . . . do you share it with someone or just try to forget it?

And this week’s host, Tom at Sightings Over Sixty, says if it's getting toward the Ides of March, then spring is around the corner. There will be no more snow, I guarantee it! There you have it! READ ON!

Mental Pause . . . . A Tempestuous Journey through Menopause

2013-03-08T10:15:00.000+04:00

Do you think your menopausal searing hot flashes, tumultuous mood swings and nasty irritable behavior are bad? Nothing compares to the hell that Abbie experiences as she wades through a truly treacherous menopausal journey.

Global nomad, expat and freelance writer Anne O’ Connell has written a “must read” novel for every woman experiencing or about to experience this dreaded “rite of passage.”

Mental Pause launches today, March 8th, International Women’s Day. All proceeds from today’s sales will benefit her favorite charity Room to Read that supports literacy programs in developing countries by building libraries, publishing local language children’s books and providing scholarships for girls.

You can purchase your copy at Amazon . . . or Anne is offering a signed PDF copy on her website.

“It was one very sweaty, steamy night that spurred me on to write Mental Pause,” Anne relates. “Even though the A/C was on, I was lying there in a disgusting pool of sweat and I did what any writer would do I hit keyboard and poured out my mad ramblings.”

Then the idea hit Anne that it would be more fun if she turned it into fiction.

“It was really cathartic to write it,” O’Connell claims. “No matter how bad I was feeling, how crazy my mood swings or wild my thoughts were, Abbie’s were always worse!”

I highly recommend this really good read. Abbie’s twists and turns through a truly catastrophic “change of life” keeps you guessing, “how much worse can this get?”

“Astonishingly honest, this novel will take you on a wild ride with its unforgettable protagonist, a woman who is on a journey of shocking self-discovery,” said Zvezdana Rashkovich, author, Dubai Wives. “A book like 'Mental Pause' is long overdue and I am sure it will speak to millions of women who like me, identify with its message.”

Buy your copy today . . . . it makes a great gift for your “sweltering, ranting menopausal BFF! And don’t forget, all proceeds from today’s sales will benefit Room to Read.

If you really like it, give it a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. When you visit the Amazon page feel free to Tweet, Share and Like from there!

Happy Reading!

PS . . .

Mental Pause has just received the 2013 Bronze Award in the Adult Fiction category from the 2013 Independent Publisher Book Award (IPBW). Congratulations Anne!!!

Grocery Shopping in Dubai . . . A Never-ending Scavenger Hunt

2013-02-22T20:07:00.002+04:00

Oh Dubai! How I love the adventure of living with you!

The thrill of navigating your roads, the adrenalin-pumping gauntlet of your bureaucratic mazes, the tongue-twisting test of translating your many English dialects . . . and the adventure of foraging for groceries!

Life is a never-ending adventure here!

When one relocates to a new locale, it doesn't have to be as exotic as Dubai just any ordinary city will do, it is always a challenge to locate the right outlets to purchase the food stuffs with which you love to cook. In my case, we are talking American food products.

Be you a lowly beginner, a seasoned chef or an intrepid food explorer we all face the same dilemma. Where do you find the ingredients for that most perfect dish that makes your family sing your praises?

Read on, you will be very surprised to learn what is the hardest product to find in Dubai!

A foreign country presents added challenges; inconsistent food supply chains often break down leaving shelves bare of that one essential ingredient for your special recipe; perplexing foreign produce that must be tasted and cooked with the trial-and-error method; the daunting “moo-ing” jigsaw puzzle of unfamiliar cuts of meat from various countries around the globe; the “fresh” produce that is anything but fresh since it has come from half way around the world . . . the whole process can be just exhausting.

Here in Dubai, I actually gave up adventurous cooking for awhile because I was so tired of my dishes coming out tasteless because the ingredients had languished somewhere on the journey and had lost their flavor. But, in my never ending thirst for adventure, I uncovered what I think are excellent places to get really fresh ingredients and hard to find American products that I simply just can’t do without.

For those of you who live in Dubai, here is my current list of great places to buy groceries. It is not an all-inclusive list just my favorites!

Did I miss any special place you have discovered? Any special ingredient(s) you are still lusting after? Let me know by leaving a comment below. We will see what we can do to help.

Oh, and Susan Ahart reminds us, "When looking for American food products, don't forget to look in the "exotic' section in a grocery store. In Dubai, Americans can be considered exotic by some people!"

Really fresh fish and seafood . . . Markets & Platters.

I am talking about fish that is so fresh it is winking at you! Located in the bottom of the Pinnacle/Tiger building in Dubai Marina, here you find divinely fresh fish and other seafood offerings (their sushi is truly still “flipping”).

And the bonus, fresh deliziosa pasta from Italy is flown in every Saturday. The cheese and produce offerings are also pretty awesome. If they have the giant artichokes - buy one. Simply too good to be believed!! The staff is simply amazing and always ready to make helpful suggestions for the preparation of your meals.

Can you see the large artichokes and robust basil plants?

OK, I know, it is in the middle of the perpetual construction for the Al Sufouh Tramway making the street an un-navigable maze that could trip the likes of Alice In Wonderland. And parking is non-existent. If you aren't as lucky as I am to be close enough to walk, you can call the shop (04 450 4466) when you arrive and a nice gentleman will come out and let you into one of their dedicated parking spots. Open from 9am - 10pm. See postscripts for my best recipe – Salt Crusted Sea Bass.

Directions: you can only access the reserved parking places by coming on the slip road in front of the shop. From Sheikh Zayed Road (SZR) get onto the ramp that brings you to Dubai Marina and the light at Spinneys/Citibank. Turn right and immediately go into the slip road on your right. From Al Sufouh turn at the light at Tamani hotel (across from the Westin), and bear right turning right at the light to get onto slip road. The shop is at the end of the slip road.

Really fresh produce . . . Ripe Farm Store.

It’s organic, it’s local and it’s seasonal! I first used Ripe when they offered the “bumble box” of fresh organic locally sourced produce at the Dubai Garden Centre. Only problem was you must get there before 9am on a Saturday morning or they are sold out. Well, this sleepy head found that to be too much of challenge, and, while my creative spirit roared making dishes with the surprise ingredients in the bumble box, it really was way too much food for me Roger to eat on our own.

Voila!!! Enter the Ripe Farm Store. In addition the the same fresh produce, they carry yummy jams, spreads, organic eggs, honey, locally made cheese, fresh bread, gourmet cooking oils, gluten free items and more to add to your grocery bag.

And the prices are very reasonable. Located in the Al Manara residential area between Thanya road and Manara road, here you can select just the right amount of truly fresh produce needed.So support local farmers and artisans by shopping here. This is truly a sustainable company. Don’t forget to recycle your packaging.

The Ripe Farm Store is open 9am – 6pm every day except Friday when hours are 9am – 2pm. Check out their web site for a map to their store or if you want to pre-order or take advantage of a more convenient pick up point. See postscripts for my best recipe Vegetable Gumbo.

And a bonus is right next door. The Al Raisi Bakery has the best naan stuffed with ground meat (Keem Naan), or potatoes (Aaloo Naan). The Iranian bread, Waggafi, is great. Warm and soothing it is best right out of the oven.

Choithrams on Al Wasl . . .

This Choithrams is lovingly called the “Triscuit” Choithrams because it is the ONLY place in Dubai that carries this little treat.Also, beef stock is non-existent in Dubai but this grocery has frozen oxtails that make great stock.

Some days I just have to have a good hot dog – I can usually find my favorite plump Ballpark Beef Franks here. Another favorite, Grape Nuts cereal, is occasionally here.

This past Thanksgiving Deborah Murray and and I joined forces for the "Great Butterball Turkey Hunt." We split up the most likely grocery stores and went hunting. Choithrams was the only place we found the iconic Butterball Turkeys for our regal feasts. See postscript for my best recipe Homemade Beef Broth.

Directions: On SZR take exit 43 west (Al Manara road). Turn left at Al Wasl and store will be a bit down the road on your right.

Safetestway . . .

This is always worth a stop when I am in the neighborhood as it has some hard to find American products. I usually just take a slow stroll through the aisles and pick up anything that looks interesting. I can sometimes find frozen English muffins, Roger’s favorite Special K cereal with almonds, and turkey stock around Thanksgiving.

Diana Mullin says it is the ONLY store in Dubai that sells Bisquick. Looking for marshmallow cream – it is here! Deborah Murray advises caution when shopping in Safetesway. "If they (Safetestway) had a gun they couldn't hold you up more. I was excited to find all the Swifter products but when I looked at the price for a mop it was $59! Buyer beware!" This store is located off the SZR just south (towards the Marina) from the Mazaya Center.

Directions: From the Marina on SZR take exit 47 Al Haldiqa street (Safa Park will be on your right), at the light turn right and go thru the light at Athar street until you come to the light at 35 street then turn right. Go straight thru two roundabouts. At the third roundabout take second exit (left) and a little bit down the way on your right is Safetestway. Coming from Old Dubai on SZR take exit 49 Umm Amara Street taking a very hard right (really a u-turn) onto the service road. Safestway will be a bit down the road on your left. Parking is behind the store.

Park & Shop . . .

Another good source for American products, nice pork products and Ore-Ida products (including the beloved Tater Tots). It is located on Al Wasl road between Al Sheif road and Al Hadiqa street. I did find a nice Park & Shop in the Saba Towers in Jeremiah Lakes Towers where I was taking my Arabic lessons but parking was a bit of a problem.

Directions: Coming from old Dubai take exit 45 (Umm Al Sheif road). At the next light (Al Wasl road) turn right go a ways down and Park & Shop will be on your right at 19th street. From the Dubai Marina on the SZR take exit take exit 43 west (Al Manara) turning right at Al Wasl. Pass over Umm Al Sheif road and store will be a bit down on your right.

Spinney’s . . .

I use the Marina branch for “quick” shopping trips but must go to the “big” Spinneys on Umm Al Sheif road for serious shopping. Spinney’s carries a lot of British items but you can find some American products too.

I didn't think my kitchen could function without Swanson brand chicken or vegetable stock. Alas, Spinneys only sporadically have these in stock so I just make my own. The fresh organic pork chops from Kenya are always fantastically moist and delicious. And white grape vinegar is a precious treasure when stocked.

Directions: From Old Dubai on the SZR take exit 45 (Umm Al Sheif road) Spinney's will be on your left. From Dubai Marina take SZR and exit at exit 43 west (Al Manara road) turning right at Al Wasl road. Spinney's will be on your right at Umm Al Sheif road.

Our son Russell with
Spice Merchant Yousef and Katie

The old Spice Souq . . .

In an earlier blog, Dubai Souq Shopping, I introduced you to my personal spice merchant Yousef. He still is the go-to-guy for spices. If you are having trouble finding the spices you crave, go see Yousef and tell him I sent you. You are certain to get a little “extra treat.” The best saffron and dried lavender can be found in the spice souk. Directions are on the other blog post.

A bit of advice from Deborah . . . "My motto is when you see it BUY it! You never know when that product will ever appear again. I saw Breyers Ice Cream in Carrfour ONE time and never again. Was it really there?"

And finally - probably the hardest to find in Dubai . . . SNOW!

Cruising along the highway last week I found myself behind this vehicle advertising the services of Desert Snow, artificial snow and other "winter effects."

Please invite me if you host a Winter Wonderland party in Dubai!

Other hard to find ingredients . . .

Arabic Zeal blogger Holly Warah says it is impossible to find real vanilla extract, smoked paprika or Mexican chili powder. So just quit looking! Regarding spices, she recommends, “It seems foolish to purchase the little imported jars of spices. More economical to buy the bags of spices and put them into containers. They last quite a long time.” (photo of my spice containers)

The Butcher Shop and Grill

Beef . . . I have given up on any grocery store beef. Just doesn't have the taste we like. I have been buying our steaks at The Butcher Shop and Grill on Jeremiah Beach Walk. The bonus being I get my exercise in with a robust 40 minute round trip jaunt.

Omani Lobster . . . on our weekend at The Chedi Muscat I had the most wonderful Omani lobster. And believe it or not at Carrefour in the Mall of the Emirates the Omani lobster, while frozen, is still very delicious. The lobster tales are huge - packed with large knuckles of lobster meat. One tail is plenty for two people. They are my choice for special celebratory meals.

Wine and alcohol delivery . . . Centaurusts International. Yes, you read this correctly, your favorite spirits and vinos delivered right to your door. Go to the web site and register. Then proceed to select the items you wish to purchase. I will admit that the selections are somewhat limited and there are no wine descriptions but since they carry some of our favorites we have no problem making the minimum order of AED 1200. You pay AED 100 for delivery. If you order early in the morning it usually arrives that afternoon. Shortly after placing your order, the delightful customer service person calls to schedule to delivery time.

P.S. If you want to turn off the web site’s annoying music look on left for the button just under “Browse for brands.”

Don't forget . . . Did I miss any special place you have discovered? Any special ingredient(s) you are still lusting after? Let me know by leaving a comment below. We will see what we can do to help.

Postscripts . . .

Here are some of my favorite recipes!

Salted Crusted Sea Bass

1 very fresh whole Sea Bass, stomach cleaned, back fin removed (as large as needed)

Fennel, sliced

20 ml Sambuco

1 stalk of thyme

1 stalk of rosemary

305 g (one container) sea rock salt

150 grams table salt

1 cup of water

Pre heat oven to 210˚ C. Marinate the fennel in Sambuca for one hour. Stuff fish stomach cavity with fennel, thyme and rosemary. In a bowl combine rock salt and table salt adding water to make a paste. Line baking tray with parchment paper and arrange ½ of the salt mixture on the tray placing fish on salt. Completely cover the fish with remaining salt sealing the edges. Place tray in oven and cook for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 10 minutes. Crust should be hard. Crack crust. Remove fish

Vegetable Gumbo – serves 4

1 onion, diced

2 ribs celery, diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

9 ounces canned plum tomatoes

¼ pound okra, sliced

5 ounces spinach, chopped

½ small head of cabbage, shredded

1 ½ garlic cloves, crushed

1 ½ cloves & 1 bay leaf tied in cheesecloth sachet

3 fresh basil leaves, chopped1 ounce filé powder

½ teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ quart vegetable stock

1 cup cooked brown or white rice

In a large soup pot, combine all the vegetables and cook over low heat until wilted and the onions become transparent. Add sachet and remaining seasonings. Cook for 5 minutes. Warm vegetable stock and add to pot bringing it to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Discard sachet and serve over warm rice. NOTE: You can adjust the portions of vegetables and seasoning to suit your taste. And as with most “one pot” dishes, it is better the second day!

Homemade Beef Broth

1.3 kg of oxtails (2 packages from Choitrams)

1 tablespoon grapeseed oil

2 cups chopped carrots

2 cups chopped celery

2 cups chopped onions

3 cloves garlic

½ cup chopped tomatoes

2 cups red wine

I bay leaf

1 tablespoon whole black peppercorns

Preheat oven to 450˚ F. Place bones in a roasting pan and roast for 1 hour. Turn bones once to make sure they brown evenly. Transfer to large stock pot. Place roasting pan on top of stove over medium heat and add grapeseed oil, carrots, celery, onions and garlic. Cook until the vegetables are caramelized. Add tomatoes and cook for 2 minutes. Deglaze pan with wine and cook until most of the wine has cooked off. Transfer vegetables and remaining juices to stock pot. Add bay leaf, peppercorns and enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 6 to 8 hours. Strain through a fine sieve. You can store this in refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze.TIP: I freeze broth in ice cube trays so I can just pull out what I need.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - One of the most talked about attractions in the world!

2013-02-15T14:33:00.000+04:00

Official image of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

It seems quite a lot of people agree with me that the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi is one of the most wonderful places on this earth!

Just this week the UAE newspapers reported that users of TripAdvisor ranked it as number 16 on the list of the top most talked about attractions in the world. It joins the ranks of such iconic global sites as Sydney Harbor, the Coliseum in Rome, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Central Park in New York City.

What makes it so special?

As for myself, I listed it as #1 on my 2012 Top Adventures In and Around Dubai blog posting. I believe the Mosque is every bit as grand and elegant as the Taj Mahal which I saw in April 2012. It truly is a remarkable work of art and one of the UAE's most important architectural treasures.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan

If you have time to see only one site while visiting Dubai or Abu Dhabi make it the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. You will not regret it. And make certain that you arrive in time to catch a tour. Your appreciation of the beauty of this place increases as you learn about the unique architectural elements.

If you are not Muslim, the tours offer a first-rate opportunity to learn about the religion and its practices. For information on timings check the Grand Mosque's web site.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, an important legacy of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul) the founder of the United Arab Emirates, is one of the world’s most impressive examples of modern Islamic architecture. It took 11 years to complete. The sheer beauty and majesty of the structure takes your breath away from the first moment you catch a glimpse of it as you come off the highway.

Standing like mighty beacons of Islamic culture, the four towering minarets catch your eye first. The Mosque's 82 bulbous white domes, clad in pure white marble from Greece, gleam in the sunlight like brilliant alabaster crowns. As you approach the Mosque, the majesty of the structure unfolds.

The entrance to the Mosque is a grand walkway. The crescent shaped finials
on top of the domes are decorated with gold and glass mosaics.

Non-Muslims are generally not allowed inside a mosque. However, Sheikh Zayed's vision of tolerance based on traditions of respect and the exchange of ideas, led to the opening of the Grand Mosque to everyone regardless of creed. It is seen as a welcoming gesture to promote a culture of tolerance, love, rationality and mutual dialogue. To enter the mosque you must be properly covered. Here are good friends Jon and Elaine Krupnick with Roger and me are properly clothed properly in abayas and kandoras provided by the Mosque.

The reflective pool at the east entrance intensifies the
beauty of this architectural masterpiece.

At the gated entrance to the Mosque are fourteen green glass domes that are in the roof of the underground male and female ablution (cleansing) facilities. Above ground, they are an important part of the Islamic garden theme.

Before prayer Muslims are required to cleanse themselves in an ablution process known as wudu. Here, my sister Paty sits at the women's ablution area which were built to resemble fountains.

The sahan (outer courtyard), the largest example of a marble mosaic in the world, was designed using a combination of mosaic and inlay techniques with thirty different kinds of colored marble used in the design. The sahan can hold 30,000 male worshipers while another 10,000 male worshipers can be accommodated in the interior prayer halls. During the month of Ramadan more than 270,000 Muslims worship at the Grand Mosque.

The arcade, a grand outer walkway that surrounds the sahan, has 1,000 columns made of 20,000 marble panels inlaid with semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli, red agate, and amethyst. Also used in the decorations are abalone shell and mother of pearl.

Colorful flowers and vines gracefully climb the marble columns.

The golden capitals are representative of the date palm's pruned stubs of old leaf bases which terminate in a crown of graceful pinnate leaves.

Designed in the traditional geometrical Islamic floral design, our Emirati Cultural Guide explains the intricacies of the inlaid marble floor. This floral design appears throughout the Mosque.

In the entrance foyer, Roger listens attentively to our Emirati Cultural Guide. Behind him you see the walls decorated with the traditional Islamic floral design. Here most of the decorative work was individually carved by hand.

In the main prayer hall there are three identical chandeliers of which the center one, the third largest chandelier in the world, weighs approximately 12 tons. The smaller ones weigh 8 tons each. Like the chandeliers in the foyer, these are made of gilded stainless steel, gilded brass, 24 k gold and are studded with Swarovski crystals.

Four identical blue colored chandeliers. produced in Germany, grace the foyer entrance. They are made from gilded stainless steel and gilded brass. Approximately 40kg of 24 carat galvanized gold was used. Millions of Swarovski crystals studded glass panels grace the chandeliers.

The main prayer hall is a wide open space that accommodates 10,000 male worshipers who pray standing side by side along rows discretely indicated in the carpet design. The three main domes of the mosque rise above the hall.

The women's prayer hall can accommodate 1500 female worshipers.

The carpet in the main prayer hall is the world's largest hand-knotted carpet containing a total of 2,268,000,000 knots. More than 1,200 artisans in an Iranian village worked by hand on the carpet which was designed by Dr. Ali Khaliqi, a third generation carpet maker. It took more than two years to complete this 5,700 square meter masterpiece.

The clock in the mail prayer hall tells the timings of the five times a day
Muslims bow down to Allah to pray.

Roger and our son Russell stand in front of the Minbar, the pulpit used by the imam to deliver the Friday message. It is made of carved cedar wood with a floral and shell design that is adorned with inlays of mother of pearl, glass, mosaic and while gold. Above the small overhead dome is a gold crescent finial. To the left is the Mihrab, an ornamental indentation in the wall, which marks the direction of the qiblah, the direction Muslims face during ritual prayer. Shaped like a doorway, the mihrab also amplifies the imam's voice during prayer.

In the wall behind the Minbar are the 99 names of Allah carved in white Italian marble. The calligraphy design, considered the highest from of Islamic art, was created by UAE calligrapher Mohmmed Mansi Al Tamimi.

The Best of the Boomer Blogs

2013-02-14T17:18:00.000+04:00

This week’s Best of Boomer Blogs offers information on travel from a snowbird's trip to Florida to an iconic mosque in the Middle East. And how beneficial is optimism at your age? Read about the Science of Optimism and Resilience. There is talk that the boomer bulls and bears are both suffering their own special water torture but if you are 92 years old looking forward not back may just be the ticket! And sometimes the good guys do win. Recent legal settlements ruled in favored the "little people" in an environmental disaster and in a security fraud case. Have a great day!

Battle of the Chefs - Who is Dubai's Top Chef?

2013-02-07T11:39:00.002+04:00

"Battle of the Chefs"
Nineteen at The Address Montgomerie

Ok. So I admit it! I am a rabid foodie – a person having an overly zealous interest in food.

I love Food! I love to read about it, I love to shop for it, I love to experiment with it, I love to cook it and I really love to eat it!

I love nothing better than to slosh around my kitchen trying out new dishes, new techniques and/or new ingredients. And God bless Roger for willingly eating the good, the bad and the ugly.

So when my friend Theresa Dommett invites us to Dubai’s “Battle of the Chefs.” faster than Emerile Lagasse can say “BAM, I accept!”

“Roger, we have another adventure!” I proudly announce. “We are going to watch the top chefs in Dubai battle it out in the kitchen and then we get to taste and judge their unique creations just like the Iron Chef on TV.” Words cannot express his delight!

“Battle of the Chefs” is held at one of Dubai’s foremost restaurants, Nineteen at The Address Montgomerie, Representing the best culinary talent in Dubai, 16 chefs from the city’s finest hotels intensely compete all year long in monthly rounds of “culinary show-downs” to earn the honor of being named the “2012 Best Chef in Dubai.”

Each Chef assembles his own top culinary team of one Head Chef, one Chef de Partie (a chef in charge of one area) and two commis (junior or apprentice chefs). Working with a staple of set ingredients, the culinary teams go “head-to-head” to create an imaginative and scrumptious three-course meal. The results are judged by the guests attending each month’s “face-off.” What a perfect recipe – take two creative culinary teams, stir in some fast paced competition, let it simmer a bit then invite guests to sample and judge the incredibly creative cuisine.

Goat Cheese Salad

In the end, Roger and I enjoy two rounds of competition. We join Theresa and her friends for the October challenge between Chef Praveen from The Address Dubai Mall and Chef Philippe from The Ritz Carlton Dubai International Financial Center.

They were challenged to create a salad using Goat Cheese, a Bouillabaisse and a Cheese Cake. The winner was Chef Praveen.

And lucky us, with friends Steve and Carole Ball and Tom and Deborah Murray, we find ourselves in choice seats at the“Grand Finale”competition. This final round pits Chef Gulshan Mohammed from The AddressMarina Mall Hotel against Chef Russell Ashley from The Address Montgomerie Hotel. These two extraordinary chefs have beat out the other 16 chefs to make it to the finals.

Katie with Chef Gulshan (2nd from left)
and his winning culinary team

The theme for the Grand Finale is a “Perfect Christmas Dinner.” The offerings from both culinary teams were very grandiose but the judges declared Chef Gulshan 2012 winner.

By the way, he was our choice hands down!

Chef Gulshan's winning menu was:

Starter: Salmon Roll and Seafood Bisque, a salmon, crab and shrimp terrine served cold with a hot seafood bisque accompanied by creme fraiche and caviar topped blinis and lavosh

Main: Slow Cooked Goose Roulade with bacon, sage and chestnut stuffing served with creamy parsnips puree, confit leg of goose and foie gras rillet and date sauce

Dessert: Chocolate Fruit Cake with Chestnut Mouse and Trifle, a warm and mild spicy chocolate fruit cake in filo pastry with chestnut mouse, sherry and brandy trifle and vanilla espuma English sherry trifle

Deborah sums up the delicious evening, "What could be better than a December night under the stars with Katie and Roger while sampling delectable dishes made by dueling chefs? At the end of the evening we had the enviable task of choosing between a Yule log or a gingerbread plank and chocolate fruit cake. As they say "it is a tough job" but who better than us to do It!"

The 2013 addition Of "Battle of the Chefs" is already underway with the first of the competition completed. Competitions will continue monthly until the finale on December 18, 2013. If you are interested in participating as a judge in one of the competition rounds, you can make a reservation by calling restaurant “Nineteen” at +971 04 363 1275 or emailing nineteen@the address.com. The cost is AED 295 including soft beverages and AED 395 including soft beverages and selected house beverages.

Saatin!!!
(that would be Arabic for Bon Appetite!)

Photo Gallery . . .

October 17th competition

The Merry Judges

Theresa & ???? Dommett

Grand Finale . . .

Finalists Chef Russell Anthony from The Address
Montgomerie Hotel & Chef Gulshan Mohammed from
The Address Marina Mall Hotel with ????

THE WINNING BELT!!!

The Setting!!!

Steve & Carole Ball

Deborah & Tom Murray

Happy Bloggingtine Day

2013-02-05T10:36:00.000+04:00

Not withstanding that coming celebrations include the Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras and Valentine's Day, the Best of the Boomer Blogs is busy this week. We hope whatever you celebrate is fun but when the partying is over relax and read this week's offerings: battle for the top chef in Dubai; boomers are the first engineered consumer generation; midlife and humidity - Tao Flashes; do couples argue more about a messy house than money; are boomers a generation squeezed by our country's economic trouble. Thanks to Sightings Over 60 for hosting this week blog. Please let us hear what you think about all this!

Best of Boomer Blogs #293

2013-01-28T09:20:00.001+04:00

As Baby Boomers we believe we can do anything and be anyone we want. And we aren't afraid to, in fact sometimes relish, working hard to get the job done.

But now, as more and more of us are looking at retiring – at a rate of 10,000 per day – we are wondering how we are going to manage this next part of our life. We embrace this new path understanding that we may be aging but we will not get “old.” Because we are time rich, we are looking for adventure, change, possibly romance and will do everything we can to prevent our health from deteriorating.

This week The Best of the Boomer Blogs tackles some interesting subjects on how to better handle our new path.

SoBabyBoomer says that studies of 1,500 men and women by the Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center's Alzheimer's Disease Center show that having a purpose in life can help stave off cognitive decline and promote a broadly healthier, longer life.

Laura Lee over at the Midlife Crisis Queen was surprised this week to find out exactly how much of a taboo topic suicide is in the mainstream media. Here are her thoughts on why that isn't such a good idea, and what we can do to change it.

Sara Rowbotham Cornell, editor of Blue Blinds and Life After Married, two individual blogs that explore the spaces between wanting, getting, having and needing spins a light hearted story about entertaining "The Night Demon"

On The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, Rita R. Robison, consumer journalist, writes about positive items for boomer consumers that President Obama included in his inaugural address. Among them are support for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as well as the need for action on climate change and rules for consumer protection.

Tom Sightings of Sightings Over Sixty has joined the annual exodus of snowbirds from the North journeying to warmer climes in the South. Along the way, he's offered us a few Notes from the Road ... before his mind gets fried from lying in the sun.

With the intensity of a Top Chef competition, ArabianTales Katie and husband Roger are among the lucky guests frantically learning to cook Thai. This is “Thai Hands On” Dubai style, a gathering of expat friends who appreciate culinary adventures.

The Best of the Boomer Blogs

2013-01-22T09:06:00.002+04:00

Did you miss us? The Blogging Boomers’ Blog Carnival took a little mid-winter break, but we’re BACK, and with the new name: The Best of Boomer Blogs! We will still be bringing you most timely and interesting posts from a few GREAT blogs!

This week we offer: Find out why the global market outlook is far less rosy than the emperors-minus-their-clothes would have you believe. What do Baby Boomer guys talk about when women are not around? Why is the Center for Science in the Public Interest critical of the approach Coca-Cola is taking in its new obesity ads? “Arm-chair travel to the 2012 best adventures in and around Dubai. Handle your paper-overload - a great New Year’s resolution. What is the unique REVOLUTION baby boomers are experiencing right now?

Let’s get started: The Best of Boomer Blogs 2013!!

2012 Top Adventures In and Around Dubai

2013-01-10T14:33:00.000+04:00

Living in Dubai is a never ending adventure and Roger and I are keeping our promise to each other to spend as much time as we can exploring unique experiences in this region of the world. It takes a lot of hard work to keep this promise but someone has to do it!

2012 was an eclectic mix of adventures and here are our 2012 Top Adventures In and Around Dubai. Even after 2.5 years we are still on the "hunt" for great cultural experiences. With the abundance of things to see and do in this area of the world, we do not lack for opportunities. We are happy to share our top adventures with you and hope you might enjoy them too.

Number 1

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

Abu Dhabi

Elaine & Jon Krupnick with Roger & Katie Foster
at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

If you visit anywhere in the UAE and can only see one thing it MUST be a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Its pristine beauty, workmanship and majesty rival the Taj Mahal which I saw last Spring.

And don’t cheat yourself; make sure you go when a tour is offered which is most enlightening. The Guides are so well informed. They proudly explain the fascinating details about the building of the Mosque, its fixtures, the Islamic religious practices and take any questions you may have.

A visit to the Mosque is required of all our visitors!

Number 2
The Golden Triangle of India and Beyond

Katie & Paty at the Taj Mahal

This was the ultimate elegant journey of the year and a wonderful present from my loving husband. My sister Paty Barr and I were joined by friends Jani Diedam and Kathryn Brandt and together visited New Delhi, Udaipur, Jaipur, the Ranthanborne Tiger Reserve and Agra.

On our adventure we were be greeted by saluting elephants, survived a death defying rickshaw ride through Dehli’s Chandi Chowk bazaar, prayed at an Easter dawn service with the Protestant congregation of a small village church, hunted for tigers (photography only), rested in the Maharana s private palace courtyard, learned appreciation for the ancient art of Indian miniature painting, marveled at the beauty of India’s rural countryside, luxuriated our weary selves at the incomparable Oberoi Hotels, were rendered speechless at the majesty of the Taj Mahal and shopped. . . shopped . . . and shopped. Treated like royalty, it was total paradise! All of this was possible thanks to the flawless . . . and I mean flawless, tour preparations made by Vivek at Elegant Journeys.

Number 2
Al Dhafra Camel Festival

Madinat Zayed, Western Region of Abu Dhabi

Last two weeks of December

Prize camels on parade on Million Road.

This was the highlight of the year. Boy, did we enjoy a really wild authentic Arabic experience!

Forget the cheesy touristy desert adventures and go enjoy the desert like a Bedoin! Camel beauty contests, heritage camel races (heritage means real riders – no robots), Saluki dog races, falcon competitions, camel auctions, dates competition, a Heritage Market and an honest to goodness Magic Carpet Ride.

And do not miss the daily 4:30pm Million Road “march” of the winners of the camel beauty contest where camels are bought on the spot for millions of dirhams each. The 2013 schedule may not come out until early December but mark your calendar for this one now! Keep a lookout for a special blog in a few weeks on this great event.

Number 3
The Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens
The Sevens Stadium on Al Ain Road

photo courtesy of www.dubairugby7s.com

Roger enjoyed this adventure with good friends Mary Beth and Chris Hickey while I was enjoying theatre in New York City with our third grandchild.

Now this was probably a good thing since I know nothing about the game. It was explained to me that a 7-man team has 7 minutes to win. This full-contact sport appears rather raucous to me since the players do not wear much padding and then do that “srcum” thing to restart the game.

Well, Roger loved the games and the whole wild scene. It was raucous not only on the pitch but also in the stands. Lots of beer flowing, loud music and the spectators dressed up in costumes – New Zealand fans were dressed as jack-in-the-boxes and the Spanish fans wore multicolored frizzy wigs in the team’s colors. In addition to the games there was the Rugby Village with headliner entertainment and ethnic foods. Roger described it as, “like a county fair we have in the USA but instead of a rodeo they played rugby.”

Number 4

Weekend Excursion to The Chedi Muscat

Muscat, Oman

The Chedi Muscat

In early May, Roger’s love of the open road sets his motor humming again and we take a long weekend road trip to Muscat, Oman. The ride from Dubai to Muscat takes 5 hours (with a short lunch stop) but we were rewarded at the end of the long journey with a relaxing stay at the 5 star Chedi Muscat hotel.

Everything is perfect! The enchanting entrance could be to a grand Omani palace, the champagne served at the elegant long infinity pool was perfectly chilled, the romantic beachside dinner feast was scrumptious, the sunken terrazzo tub in our suite divine and all this was wrapped in 21 acres of highly manicured lush gardens and numerous water ponds to create an ambiance of natural serenity.

Number 5
Camel Auction

Al Wathba , Abu Dhabi

The Bidders Box at the Camel Auction

In March, my “Dora Explorer” friend Diane Dolan and I ventured to the Camel Auction in Abu Dhabi. We had a most interesting Emirati experience.

We entered the elegant grandstand where the auction was held and were greeted most profusely by several Emirati men who escorted us to some very fancy chairs. In gracious Arabian hospitality style, we were offered a wide variety of Arabian treats and coffee and made to feel like royalty.

Oh, did I mention we were the only Caucasians and aside from two Emirati women handing out programs, the only women there? Well, we were the only women until two veiled women showed up a midst a great flurry of activity and started bidding BIG on the camels. Never did find out who they were. With everything in Arabic it took a minute to figure out the process. Finally the young man sitting next to me filled us in. The bidding is for the baby camels tethered to their mothers – not both of them – and the cost of the baby camels, driven but their pedigree, go from 10,000 AED ($2800) to millions of dirhams/dollars each.

Number 6
High Tea & Jazz at the British Embassy to benefit the Angel Appeal

Dubai British Consulate on Al Seef Road along the Dubai Creek

High Tea in the lush gardens of the British Embassy

There is no classier way to enjoy the gloriously cool Dubai February weather than to have High Tea in the lush gardens of the British Embassy. You are royally treated to jazz, tasty tea and treats while supporting the Seafarer’s Mission’s -The Flying Angel.

The British are so civilized they even offer “vino” for sale for those like me who aren’t big tea drinks. Oh, and ladies if you go, don’t forget to wear a proper “tea party” hat. Caution – with more than 400 guests there will be NO parking. Best to taxi there. This year’s tea is February 16 from 3pm – 7pm. Click here to make your reservation.

Number 7
Sky High Tea

Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Theatrical pour of excellent bubbly!

High Tea at the Skyview Bar of the iconic Burj Al Arab is the best and most economical way to see what is claimed to be the world’s most luxurious hotel. It bills itself as “shimmering opulence . . . and the ultimate in Arabian hospitality.”

This is not a place where you can stroll through and gawk, you must present proof of a hotel or dinner reservation to the security guard at the gate to gain entrance.

The restaurants are outrageously expensive so High Tea at the Skyview Bar at 450AED ($123) per person is the most economical way to experience the grandeur. We enjoyed the abounding “glitz” when my sister Paty Barr visited us. It was memorable afternoon perched on the top floor overlooking the Persian Gulf while the theatrical waiters poured our never-ending champagne. To make a reservations +971 4 301 7600 or BAArestaurants@jumeirah.com

Number 8
Al Ain Zoo

Al Ain Oasis

One lazy summer weekend we took a road trip to the Al Ain Oasis about an hour’s drive from Dubai. This oasis, also called the Garden City, has been inhabited for more than 4,000 years and is the birthplace Sheikh Zayed the Founding Father of the UAE.

The zoo, one of the Sheikh’s legacies, is home to 4,000 animals. He established the zoo with a vision of creating natural habitats for the animals to roam freely. The Zoo is also well-known as a center for endangered species conservation.

It is a delight – even in the early summer heat – and well worth the ride. The most notable exhibits are the African Mixed Exhibit with the infamous white tigers and rare Nubian giraffes and the Arabian Mixed Exhibit with the indigenous Arabian onyx, sand gazelles and desert antelope. Don’t miss getting up close and personal with the giraffes when they are fed.

Number 9
Bollywood Dinner Theatre at The Moghul Room

Al Nasr Leisureland behind the American Hospital, Dubai

Wendy Mervin, former Bollywood star Kalpana Iyer, Katie,
Sherry Bohlen & Bollywood impersonator Vivek Varma

A girl’s night out at The Moghul Room introduced us all to Bollywood! What a hoot! We laughed, gasped, frowned and then smiled all in the same minute. We watched in disbelief as talented dancers and “look-a-like” Bollywood impersonators recreated “filmy” numbers of big Bollywood scenes. Just plain campy!

The dinner buffet of Indian foods was surprisingly tasty too! The show is performed seven nights a week from 9:30pm to 3:30am with no intermission. We arrived at 9pm and left at 12:30pm, when the place was really getting started – to savor the full experience, go as late as possible.

Number 10
Adopt A Camp Ramadan Care Package Project

Dubai Convention Centre, Dubai

2011 Adopt A Camp volunteers Linda Hoagland,
Jani Diedam, Mary Beth Hickey & John Diedam

This is the second year Roger and I participated in this grand event held during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The Ramadan Care Package Project involves thousands of generous community volunteers of all nationalities and faiths coming together one evening to assemble 5,000 “care packages” of donated goods for the men living in the labor camps in Dubai. These packages bring joy and a sense of caring to the laborers who toil in the desert heat of Dubai constructing the buildings and roads we all enjoy. These men have left their homes in neighboring countries coming to Dubai to work in order to send wages home to support their families.

Adopt A Camp, an all volunteer group, today brings assistance to 43 camps helping more than 32,000 laborers in the Dubai area. If you would like to stay informed about Adopt A Camp activities “Like” them on FB.

Well, there you have our top adventures for 2012. We are preparing our list for 2013. In consideration are . . pearl diving . . . Thailand . . . Vietnam . . . African safari . . . Bani Yas Island . . . desert camping . . . dhow sailing . . . kayaking the mangroves in Abu Dhabi . . off-road trip to the Wadis and the hot springs . . . sword throwing contest in Ras Al Khaimah.

Do you have a favorite adventure we have missed? Please leave a comment and let us know.

2012 Best Restaurant Experiences In and Around Dubai

2012-12-31T09:00:00.003+04:00

One of life's great pleasures is a perfectly prepared meal enjoyed at a nice restaurant. It doesn't matter how fancy or how expensive the restaurant is but it is the ambiance of the setting, the care taken with the foods and flavors plus the graciousness of the staff that makes it memorable.

As we approach the new year, Roger and I reflected on the past year’s dining adventures. For those of you who live in Dubai, or will be visiting, we hope that our list helps you to pare down the overwhelming dining choices in Dubai. It is not an all inclusive list for we know there are many more excellent restaurants in Dubai that we haven’t yet discovered, but here are our favorite dinners from 2012. You may want to try them in 2013.

2012 Best Restaurant Experiences In and Around Dubai

NUMBER 1

photo courtesy of Pierchic

Our top pick for 2012 is Pierchic at the Al Qsar Hotel Resort on Al Sufouh Street just south of the Madinat Jumeirah.

On Christmas Eve we enjoyed the best meal of the year. The stunningly romantic open-air restaurant is situated at the end of a long pier jutting out into the Persian Gulf with the Burj Al Arab framing our view.

Christmas Eve was a set menu and for appetizers I selected Pan Fried Diver Scottish Scallops with curried cauliflower, raisin puree and fried shallots. Roger enjoyed a Pumpkin Veloute with a mushroom tortellini, spiced pumpkin seeds and chestnut foam. Each were quite good but the pumpkin soup was so delicious it quite frankly took our breath away.

My entree of Halibut with Norwegian King Crab Ravioli in thermidor sauce and Roger's poached Turkey Breast with a cranberry and apricot stuffed Turkey Leg, Brussels sprouts and roasted chestnuts were divine. And the perfect ending to this glorious feast are Christmas pudding with Armagnac sabayon with clotted cream ice cream and and an amazing concoction of Candied Chestnut Chiboust with spice Clementine jelly, soft ginger cake and mince pie ice cream. Roger treated me to one of my favorite wines, a 2009 Meerlust Rubicon Stellenbosch, and the evening was complete!

The evening’s price is not for the faint-hearted but, for a special occasion, worth every dirham. For reservations call 04 366 8888.

NUMBER 2

A relaxing lunch beach side at the Westin

A surprise find discovered by Roger is the poolside cafe at the WestinMina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina on Al Sufough Street just north of Dubai Marina. Located on the vast groundsof the Westin just below the Bussola Restaurant, it casually overlooks the grassy lawn and beach.

Our cozy umbrella covered table was, thank goodness, well shielded from any noisy pool happenings. We were quite surprised at the simple but interesting menu. A big bonus to the outdoor dining was NO flies!

The refreshing Asian Salmon & Mango Salad made with sashimi quality salmon, mangos, mint, shallots, tomatoes cilantro and cashew nuts all tossed with an Asian dressing was just delightful. Roger relished one of his all-time favorites – a Hawaiian Pizza - and declared it one of the best ever.

For beverages I sipped on an Orange Drop – a fresh concoction of orange juice, vodka, Cointreau and shot of grenadine, while Roger nursed a simple Cape Cod of vodka and cranberry. All of this was savored on a brisk Dubai winter afternoon - pure relaxation! The price here does not break the wallet so we plan to return here often. No reservations taken. Cafe is open from 9 am – 6 pm.

NUMBER 3

Le Petite Maison in Gate Village 8 in the DIFC was an accidental find while Robin Loving and I were checking out the Dubai Metro for an assignment I took with Trip Advisor.

The diminutive size of this “white-tablecloth” restaurant is a welcome relief from the big brash restaurants one finds in Dubai. The staff is exceptional and very astute in helping you choose just the right meal.

Le Petite Maison features Cuisine Nicoise and dishes are served family style so you can share. Ingredients are sourced from a local organic farm or imported to insure they are of top quality flavor.

Robin and I shared a decadently creamy Burrata et Tomatoes and a Fines de Tranches de Saumon Marinés, marinated Salmon with Pink Peppercorns. The flavors were so expertly matched that each morsel brought “oohs and ahs!” We left the wine selection to the waiter who did not disappoint.

Price wise this also is little on the high side but how can you complain when the food is simply wonderful. Roger and I have put it on the dinner must do list for 2013. Le Petite is open every day for lunch from 12 Noon – 3:30pm and for dinner 7pm to 11:30pm. The Bar is open every day from 1pm – 12am. For reservations call 04 439 0505.

NUMBER 4

We celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary at Medzo in the Wafi Mall. Sadly, in June it is too hot to sit outside on the beautiful terrace overlooking the Pyramid Rooftop Gardens. However, the cozy inside trattoria style dining area is graceful and casually elegant and sooo romantic!

Livia Lisinicchai, Medzo's Nonna (Grandmother) Host/Chef is a charming woman who most solicitously saw to our every need. There was even a piano player “tinkling the ivories” in the background.

Roger’s seafood pasta was so very fresh with just the right touch of spice. My lamb was expertly cooked to my taste – medium rare – and dripping with delicious au jus. The crowning glory was the tiramisu – THE one dessert that is worth the calories. Medzo is open for lunch from 12:30pm – 3:00pm and for dinner from 7:30pm – 11:30pm. For reservations call: 04 324 4100

NUMBER 5

Arva serving up Egyptian falafel

Frying Pan Adventures is a last minute entry but one which was so awesome it had to be on the list.

Arva Ahmen, “I Live in a Frying Pan” food blogger, just launched her Dubai food adventure tours. I was lucky to get in one of the very first.

The Arabian Foodie Pilgrimage took us on a walking tour of Diera (old Dubai) to five different restaurants to sample Iranian, Jordanian, Palestinian, Egyptian, Turkish, Lebanese, and my favorite, Yemen cuisine. I was just blown away by the flavors and Arva’s vivid and animated explanations of the food and its history.

I am not revealing anymore here. Stay tuned. This one warrants its own blog post!

NUMBER 6

Roger and Russell relax at the Beach House

Park Hyatt Saadiyat Island Beach House in Abu Dhabi was first discovered when our oldest son Russell visited. It had just opened and was delicious. We revisited again last June when we spend a delightful long weekend at the Park Hyatt.

The Beach House is perched on the pristine sands of Saadiyat Island overlooking the Persian Gulf. The patio dining allows you to enjoy the soft gulf breezes as you feast on really fresh seafood. The casual elegance of the dark wood accents in the open air restaurant is complimented by various seating choices; table and chairs, bar tables, even beach chairs.

The menu features homemade dishes from the Mediterranean coastline. Russell, brave man, stepped up to my challenge to try the octopus and loved it! The Beach House is open for lunch from 12:30pm – 4:00pm and for dinner from 6:30pm – 12 Midnight. The rooftop Terrace is open from 6pm – 1am. For reservations call +971 02 407 1138

NUMBER 7

The Beach Restaurant at The Chedi Muscat in Oman is where I had my first taste of Omani lobster. These are robust tails with big knuckles of juicy lobster meat.

Once again we were enchanted by a romantic beach side restaurant. It is decorated in dark woods with low lighting that warms the room as you are cooled by the gentle Gulf breezes. The skillful arrangement of tables and dividing panels creates the illusion that this is your own private dining room.

Our weekend at The Chedi was glorious and I am now a devoted Omani lobster fan! Simply prepared on the grill, you know that it just came out of the water - fresh! fresh! fresh! The restaurant is only serves dinner and is only open from Mid-September till May. Make your reservation well in advance at 009 682 452 4400.

NUMBER 8

La Parrilla, the Latin American restaurant at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel compliments it juicy steaks with amazing tango dancing.

Situated on the 25th floor of the hotel the combination of the view, the well prepared food and the entertainment makes for a very delightful evening.

Open from 6:30pm - 12 Midnight. For reservations call 04 406 8999.

NUMBER 9

Katie with Chef Gulshan (2nd from left) and
his Award winning culinary team.

Battle of the Chefs at The Address Montgomerie was a delightful experience thanks to Theresa Demmott's invitation.

Where else can you sample interesting dishes prepared by Dubai's top Chefs? Each chef is challenged to create an interesting three-course meal from a selection of provided ingredients and you get to be the judge.

We participate in two delightful evenings - one a semi final round in the Montgomerie's Nineteen Restaurant and then the Grand Finale poolside where we watched and tasted creations from Chef Gulshan of The Address Dubai Marina who clinched the title as the Champion of the Battle of the Chefs 2012.

Stay tuned . . . there is a special posting coming for this great event.

Roger and I are working on our 2013 restaurant wish list and look forward to exploring and discovering more of Dubai's culinary stars! If you have any suggestions for us please leave me a comment.

Bel-hanā' wa ash-shifā' (Bon Apetite)!

Making Memories - A Grandmother’s Gift . . . Nanny’s New York City Broadway Adventure

2012-12-23T20:29:00.000+04:00

Note: This week I am taking a personal privilege of departing from our Arab adventures to bring you an American adventure with a very special granddaughter. I hope this warms your heart as it has mine. May this holiday season bring you peace and joy.

L. to r.: Grandchildren Morgan, Maxx, Riley, Brooke,
Kiara, Lindsey and Gerry

My beautiful sister Paty Barr has a favorite bed pillow I love that says “Mothers Make Memories.”

But I have found something that takes this to a whole new level - being a Grandmother.

Who knows why such a special relationship blossoms between grandmothers and grandchildren. Some say it is a gift from God, other say that grandparents can uniquely influence their grandchildren because they are a generation away.

One of my favorite thoughts is, “Grandmothers are moms with lots of icing.” It is the “icing” that I enjoy sharing with my grandchildren.

Rather than gift them with “stuff,” I endeavor to create special times – “Nanny Adventures.” I look for experiences that stretch their bright little minds to see life’s endless possibilities and enhance their expectations of how glorious their life can be.

My favorite “Nanny Adventure” occurs on their tenth birthday. This is an age when children are full of inquisitive wonderment and still consider being with Nanny a real treat. Nanny’s Broadway Adventure has me sharing my love of New York City and Broadway theatre with them - up close and personal.

Time Square

This is the year for our third granddaughter – Morgan Sachs - a petite quiet, but animated, young fashionista who is very introspective and astute in observing the scenes around her. She is unbridled enthusiasm personified; a real diva in the making!

Plans are made, flights are booked, show tickets purchased, warm clothes packed and we are on our way to the “Great White Way” – Manhattan’s theatre district.

The first blast of NYC cool air (we are coming from warm Florida) sends us scurrying to put on our warm coats and gloves. The taxi ride into the city takes F-o-r-e-v-e-r!!! New York traffic – UGH!

But all is forgiven as we are graciously welcomed by the Sheraton’s (53^rd & 7^th) check-in staff that, upon hearing this is Morgan’s first NYC adventure and witnessing her obvious excitement, treat us to lovely upgrade.

Morgan has a way of making magic happen!

Morgan at "Strawberry Fields" Memorial in Central Park

Central Park is the first stop – just a short four blocks away. We discuss the modes of travel offered and decide on a pedal bike tour. On the corner Morgan points out a nice looking young man just off-loading his passengers.

Good choice Morgan!

Our "pedal-man" is a Russian immigrant who has been in the USA for two years and gives us an excellent – although chilly – tour of Central Park. My favorite site, “Strawberry Fields,” took some explaining as Morgan only knew John Lennon as one of the Beatles.

Morgan on "Top of the Rock"

We enjoy walking around Time Square and the streets of the theatre district taking in all the twinkling Christmas decorations and odd assortment of street performers.

We stop in the giant M&M store, visit Rockefeller Square to see the gigantic Christmas tree and stop to watch the ice skaters.

And then . . . gaze down on all of this magnificent city from the “Top of the Rock.”

Morgan’s favorite theatre experience is The Rockettes Christmas and the backstage tour. There isn't any better way to get into the Christmas spirit than to watch the high kicking routines of the Rockettes with Santa!

The backstage tour let Morgan meet a “real” Rockette and learn the fascinating history of the troupe and the Radio City Music Hall. Did you know that the Radio City Music Hall is the largest indoor theatre in the world and its stage, built in 1933, is considered to be the most perfectly equipped in the world?

Peter and the Star Catcher is a new play for me. Morgan knew the story well – Peter Pan before he was Peter Pan. Morgan really picked a winner! This Tony Award winning play is a “swashbuckling romp through Neverland.” In incredibly imaginative ways the dozen actors, portraying more than 50 roles, tell the tale of a miserable orphan who becomes The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. The inventive stagecraft and wickedly talented actors tickle your imagination making the magic of theatre come alive. This has made my top 5 all-time theatre experiences!

Off-Broadway we experience the raw talent of STOMP, a unique musical performance of choreographed percussion, movement and physical comedy. The actors, each unique in their own way, use their bodies and ordinary objects to create a mesmerizing ensemble of music and pounding rhythm that defies you to stay in your seat.

More primal rhythm was enjoyed at The Lion King. This Tony award winning musical captivates both of us as we follow the story of a precocious lion club named Simba struggling to adulthood and redemption. The exotic African animal puppets are so amazingly life-like we really feel we are in Africa.

Morgan and Woody Allen

Our long weekend is rounded out with a trip to The Harry Potter Exhibit, and Madame Trussaud’s Wax Museum - Morgan's school play this year is Murder at the Wax Museum!

We take a subway ride to Ground Zero and tour the Trinity Church which served a house of respite for the first-responders during the 9/11 tragedy.

That evening we stroll through Little Italy and Morgan picks another winner - Fortorno, a nice Italian restaurant with great spaghetti and meatballs. A perfect ending to a perfect weekend.

Before leaving on Sunday morning, we attended Mass at St. Malachys – The Actor’s Chapel.

On my first trip to NYC many years ago I found this peaceful little Church on 49^th street between Broadway and 8^th and have continued to worship there whenever I am in NYC.

Built in 1920, its diminutive size, beautiful domes and stunning frescoes makes it appear to be a miniature cathedral. Not to be missed is the 11:00 am Mass where the choir, made up of many Broadway performers, is glorious!

My dear Morgan – thank you for sharing with me my love of theatre and for making memories with your Nanny.

Central Park Fountain

Rockefeller Center Ice Skating

Morgan's first NYC subway ride!

Nanny & Morgan on "Top of the Rock!"

Nanny, Prince William, Princess Kate & Morgan

Blogging Boomer Carnival #291

2012-12-22T21:16:00.000+04:00

From the Boomer Bloggers, may we wish each of you joy and peace during this holiday season.

This week our bloggers bring you a special holiday gift from SoBabyBoomer, the Midlife Crisis Queen discusses our holiday sugar addiction and resulting obesity and Tom Sightings is wondering who is going to pay for our Medicare and Social Security. Meanwhile The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide provides helpful tools to research charities you want to contribute to and Life After Married Sara Cornwell compares the demise of a long term relationship with an impending car crash. And on a lighter note, Arabian Tales Katie Foster – that would be me – departs from her Arabian adventures to recount a lovely NYC adventure with her granddaughter– Making Memories, A Grandmother’s Gift.

SoBabyBoomer asks “If you could just do one thing to help your friends and family, customers and business associates, what would that be?

Finding ways to make your holiday gift stand out takes some thought about what would make the recipient happy.

For example, my holiday gift to you and your friends on Dec. 26, 27, and 28 only at Amazon.com, is the new ebook “Ask the Coach” to download on your smartphone,eReader, tablet or computer.

Please note that “Ask the Coach” is a reference book; like a dictionary or any other similar resource book that is not meant to be read cover to cover. Readers would normally look up a question of interest in the Table of Contents and then proceed to read that self-coaching answer in the book.

As you dig in to all those special Christmas goodies, here are a few thoughts form the Midlife Crisis Queen on how Christmas means SUGAR to most of us!

Tom Sightings saw a couple of economic reports this past week that lead him to wonder: If young people don’t start getting better jobs and making more money, who’s going to pay for our Medicare and Social Security?

On The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, Rita R. Robinson, consumer journalist, writes about the need to check out the charities before you make a contribution to the families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting last week. One helpful tool for research on charities is the Better Business Bureau website at www.bbb.org. Rita’s article also lists two local organizations that are collecting money for the families.

Life After Married Sara Cornwell compares the demise of a long term relationship to experiencing a serious car crash in slow motion. The unravelling of a 20-year relationship feels like you are Sitting in the Driver’s Seat watching an approaching car spinning out of control head towards you wondering if it is going to crash into you or whizz by with no contact.

Arabian Tales Katie Foster departs from her usual Arabian adventures to bring a lovely New York adventure with her granddaughter. “Nanny Adventures” are a grandmother’s special gift to her grandchildren.

Blogging Boomer Carnival #286

2012-11-20T04:11:00.000+04:00

The Blogging Boomers are seeking answers this week!

What exactly did the Hubble Space telescope see? Did your grandchildren’s school receive a grant to secure locally produced foods? Uncertainty is a way of life as we age, how are you coping? Where in the world do people live the longest? How exactly does one get Lucky in Sharjah, UAE?

Read on for the answers.

SoBabyBoomer toured the Kennedy Space Center this week and watched an IMAX movie about repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble recently revealed the farthest-ever view of deep space. NASA noted, "The images allow us to follow the development of the universe."

On The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, Rita R. Robinson, consumer journalist writes about the U.S. Department of Agriculture awarding more than $4.5 million in grants in 37 states and the District of Columbia for connecting school cafeterias with local agricultural products. Rita is a big supporter of eating locally grown and produced food.

Laura Lee aka the Midlife Crisis Queen has begun calling this the "age of uncertainty." But she has found ways to live comfortably with uncertainty.

Tom Sightings, in his Friday Fix, uncovers a new book that reports on various longevity zones around the world, where people routinely live into their 90s and beyond. What's their secret? For the answers, travel on over to Sightings from 60.

With little or no street signage, names or building numbers, finding a building in the UAE can be frustrating. After three hours of driving in circles in the hot desert sun looking for a furniture store in a dusty industrial area, husband Roger gives up and gives Arabian Tales Katie Foster a blank check to go shopping . . . if she can find it! Ever up for a challenge Katie Get’s Lucky in Sharjah.

Istanbul Travel . . . St. Savior’s Chora Church - A Treasure among the Sultans’ Jewels.

2012-11-09T16:13:00.001+04:00

St. Savior's Church Chora

Istanbul is a city of never ending experiences. Here Roger and I find a few real jewels among the Sultan’s treasures.

The Seven Hills Hotel with its delicious roof top seafood restaurant overlooking the Bosporus, a horse-drawn phaetom ride through Bayukada in the Princes’ Islands just a short breezy ferry trip from the city and what I consider the highlight of our visit - a small 1300^th century church containing some of the finest Byzantine mosaics and frescoes – St. Savior’s Church Chora, in Turkish - Kariye Műzesi.

The church is simply the most beautiful I have ever seen.

Originally known as the Church of the Holy Savior Outside the Walls, it is a little off the tourist track; thank goodness after the crowds at Topkapi Palace!

Plaza at Chora Church

Tucked in a quiet neighborhood on one side of a beautiful tree canopied plaza near the city’s western walls, it is a small island of tranquility in the middle of Istanbul’s chaos. A few street vendors sell the obligatory souvenirs but there is a delightful collection of very nice shops. On the restaurants’ patios locals sip their Turkish coffees leisurely enjoying the pleasures of a quiet afternoon. But for me, the treasure here is the ancient church.

On the southern wall of the arch of the aspe (the semi circular recess
of the sanctuary) is the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus on her lap.

The Chora Church deserves your undivided attention. Take your time to savor its unparalleled beauty and drink in its majesty. Every space in this small compact church is covered with colorful stylized mosaics and frescoes of extraordinary quality that depict the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Because of it smaller scale, the encounter takes on a mystical up-close-and-personal aura. The low ceilings and the diminutive size of the rooms allow you to drink in every vivid detail of the art.

The main body of the Church

“Chora” means “in the country” which is where the church was when the monastery it was attached to was built outside the city’s walls. The church you see today dates from the 11^th century. Theordore Metochites, the auditor of the treasury under Emperor Andronikos II (1282-1328) and noted theologian, philosopher and poet, added the mosaics and frescoes in the 1300s. The mosaic, above the door to the nave (the center aisle of the church), depicts Theordore presenting the Chora Church to Christ.

Theordore Metochites presenting the Chora Church to Christ

The original monastery was destroyed by an earthquake during the reign of Justinian (527-565) and rebuilt as a basilica and then restored again in 843. During the 11^th century another round of extensive renovations were funded by Alexios Komenos, Byzantine Emperor from 1081 -1118. Then from 1315-1321, the church was enlarged and redecorated with the beautiful mosaics by Metochites.

The Last Judgement
In the vaulted dome in front of the arch of the aspe is depicted the Last
Judgement. This picture is only the left hand side of the mosaic. On the far
right is the Virgin Mary in the dark cloak. Seated are the twelve
Apostles with angels behind them.

In 1511, the Chora Church was rededicated as a mosque after Constantinople (Istanbul) fell to the Turks. Praise Allah that it was considered blasphemous by Muslims to destroy these pieces of art because they depicted people. They just covered up the images with plaster and wood facades. It wasn't until 1948 that the Byzantine Institute of America began the meticulous restoration of these masterpieces and the mosque became a museum.

Location: Kariye Camii Sokak, Edirnekapi, Phone: 0212-631 9241

My pictures can only give you a sense of the grandeur.

Visit of the three Maji
On the right is King Herod sitting on his throne with a guard standing near.
The three Maji are standing in front of the King informing him that a child is
born who will lead Israel. On the left are the three Maji astride their horses.

Joseph brings the Virgin Mary to his home

Miracle at Cana
At a wedding ceremony in Cana Jesus turn water into wine.

Underneath the wall of the aspe are depicted Saint Basil, Saint Gregory
and Saint Cyril of Alexandria

Virgin Mary, Child Jesus and Angels
In the middle of the dome in the Parecclesion (a side chapel) are the figures
of the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus as he gives a blessing
with his two hands. Surrounding them are twelve angels

The Trip to Bethlehem
On the left Joseph is sleeping when an angel approaches him to tell him
the good news. On the right is the Virgin Mary astride a donkey
accompanied by another family traveling to Bethlehem.

Jesus Christ give his blessing while holding the Holy Book

Enrollment for taxation
Cyrenius, the Governor of Syria, is seated on the left. A Roman soldier
confers with Joseph as the Virgin Mary looks on.

Birth of Jesus
In the middle of the mosaic Mary is seen awake and resting after giving
birth to Jesus. Above Mary a light shines down over Jesus who is
wrapped in swaddling clothes. On the right an angel talks to shepherds.
At the bottom Joseph is sitting. On the left the bathing of Jesus is depicted.

The Annunciation
The Virgin Mary receives the news of her pregnancy from an Angel. In
front of the house stands her mother Anne who is praying to God.

Presentation of Virgin Mary
On a decorative medallion in the middle of the vault three priests sit and
Joachim, holding the Virgin Mary, presents his daughter to them.

John the Baptist, Jesus and Satan
On a medallion on the northern side of the church John the Baptist shows
Jesus to the people standing behind him on the shores of the River Jordan.
On the right side is Satan.

The Death of the Virgin Mary
In the nave of the church above the entrance door is the death scene of the
Virgin Mary. In the middle is Mary lying on a catafalque. On both sides are
the apostles, clerical dignitaries and women from Jerusalem. Jesus holds
a baby in his arms symbolically representing the soul of the Virgin Mary.
Above Jesus are angels.

Mary's marks her choice of husband
Mary is seating in front of 12 sticks inside the cyborion from which she must
mark her choice of husband. Chief Priest Zaccharian is praying on his knees.

In the middle of the vault is a flying angel carrying a snail
representing the"Cosmos" and "Paradise." This is the first time in
Byzantine art that a snail is used to depict "Paradise."

Veteran's Day Boomer Blogger Carnival #285

2012-11-07T07:23:00.000+04:00

Happy Veterans Day to all the American men and women who have served in our armed services protecting our great country. This week Boomers are writing about the leadership principals learned by our veterans, how we boomers have weathered the recent storms - the "Recession Storm" and "Super Storm Sandy," and how the 2012 election will effect the American consumer.

For fun, ditch the pies on Thanksgiving and try an incredible Chocolate Molten Cake while you enjoy some "arm chair" travel to Turkey for a look at a collection of the most amazing Byzantine mosaics and frescoes at the 13th century Chora Church.

Read more . . . Boomer Blogger Carnival #285

"Thai Hands On" Cooking in Dubai

2012-11-01T07:16:00.000+04:00

Chef Roger

Dubai is an intriguing international city that vibrates with an unbridled appetite for grandness. This grandness can be seen all over the city, but tasting it in the city’s vast offerings of restaurants is an experience.

For the adventurous there are small ethnic food “cafeterias” tucked into every nook and cranny in the old section and for the rest of us there are the 5 star restaurants operated by some of today’s most celebrated chefs.

Lynn & Katie

But once a year, the most sought after reservation in Dubai is at a stylish private villa on the infamous Palm Jumeirah Island, the world’s largest man-made island.

With the backdrop of the iconic Atlantis Hotel, the coral hues of the setting sun wash over the beachside patio where our Hostess Lynn Born has set an elegantly dinner table for 26. Inside the fragrance of Thai spices waft through the villa twitching my nose with piquant, peppery, pungent, lemony smells that makes my mouth water.

With the intensity of a Top Chef competition, Roger and I are among the lucky guests frantically learning to cook Thai. This is "Thai Hands On" Dubai style, a gathering of expat friends who appreciate culinary adventures.

Read more at Travel & Escape.