Vindaloo Queen's Bargain Cuisine

Al Ijaza, Jumeira Rd, Dubai

2012-01-07T04:44:00.000-08:00

Could this be the best juice bar in Dubai?

Jumeira Rd. A small, unassuming snack bar just like many others in suburban Dubai, serving shawarma, shish tavuk and falafel by the bucketload, nestling in the shadow of a souvenir shop displaying lifeless inflatables. Don't be fooled by appearances though, this is Dubai's best kept secret.

Al Ijaza has been around for 22 years, but the recent indie film 'City of Life' shot a scene here and since then, Google has gone crazy with people looking for the famed cafe. Despite starring in a film, Al Ijaza has kept grounded and not lost sight of where it started, keeping prices affordable and surroundings basic yet charming. It offers the usual staples like shawarma, burger and chips like its rivals, but at an extremely good price (sandwiches for 3 dirhams, shish tavuk 20 dirham with all the trimmings). However, it is not just its food that pulls the crowds in, but its extensive and affordable drinks menu. Previously, I raved on about Al Mallah's Tahiti drink, praising it for its naughty-but-nice mix of fresh fruit and ice cream; Al Ijaza is its stiffest competitor for the Best Juice in Dubai crown. Unlike its contemporaries Costa and Caribou Coffee, Ijaza offers smoothies made from entirely fresh fruit and no concentrates at a starting price of 6 dirham. The menu comprises of Cocktail drinks which have ice cream added to the fruity mix, and Fruit drinks which are nothing but freshly blended fruit bought that morning from Deira Food Souk. I sampled the fresh and zingy strawberry juice, then as I was feeling naughty, went for an indulgent ice cream cocktail. The cocktails have random yet original names, you won't find a pina colada or a Singapore Sling here, but you can guzzle a Twitter, Facebook, Lamborghini or even a Nissan! I settled for a Tahiti (pictured), mainly to see how it compared to its namesake in Al Mallah. Wow. The size pictured is Medium and yes, it was huge and a bargain at 10 dirham. A concoction of melon, strawberry, ice cream, fruit pieces and even cubes of jelly, this was one almighty dessert in a drink! Not only does Ijaza offer these delectable drinks, their dessert menu is a delightful sugar rush, offering massive helpings of Falooda, butterscotch ice cream and the biggest fruit salad I've seen in my life! If there are any world records in juicing, dessert making or even smoothies, Al-Ijaza probably holds them all.

Beirut, 2nd December St, Dubai

2012-01-01T04:59:00.003-08:00

Sidra and Al Mallah's biggest competitor- how does it match up?

Back when I lived in Manchester, I made a difficult yet exciting New Year's Resolution to visit every single restaurant in Chinatown. Needless to say, that was one resolution that got broken, not for want of trying though. Every time I visited its hallowed Chinese arch, I would tend to revisit old favourites like Try Thai, plus Chinatown seemed to be sprawling at an alarming rate with more eateries and cafes creeping outwards into its surrounding side streets. Geographical constraints meant that it was difficult to define where Chinatown finished, meaning that there simply wouldn't be enough days in the year (or cash for that matter) to visit every single eaterie. When I moved to Dubai, I contemplated taking on a similar challenge, but where and how? There is no Chinatown here, so that was out of the question. I could perhaps do a curry-related one, but Bur Dubai has so many winding side streets and would be difficult to pin down all the curry houses. Lebanese perhaps? There seemed to be an abundance of Lebanese restaurants. Then I had it. Al Dhiyafa Rd (recently renamed 2nd December St) was to be the focal point of my challenge. A busy high street with an abundance of affordable restaurants of different cuisines, this challenge would certainly be a tasty one!

After raving on about Sidra and slurping fruit cocktails in Al Mallah, it was high time for me to try the third Lebanese eaterie in the street, Beirut. Beirut is directly opposite Sidra and when I have chowed down on coriander-seasoned potatoes, I have often looked across the road at Beirut and wondered how they measured up. Beirut sits on the sunny side of the road which is why I had always defaulted into the shady, secluded Sidra, but as it was a cool day, Beirut got my custom.

First impressions were that the staff didn't seem to be on the ball like their Lebanese counterparts in the street, presenting us with some alluring scratched dinner plates. Beirut did score points for having some colourful pics of their dishes and cocktails in the menu, particularly useful for foreigners who are unsure of the Arabic names, but were the pictures a true representation of the dishes? After seeing the lady behind me order a cocktail, I think not. Her cocktail was flat and presented in a scratched glass reminiscent of student club nights, a far cry from the dazzling concoction on the well-styled photo. At this point, I was tempted to dash across the road to Sidra, but as the old saying goes, don't knock it until you've tried it.

I ordered a plate of Mixed Vegetable Fries and in order to fully compare, a plate of spicy coriander potatoes. The young man who took my order promptly sneezed into his hand- tasty! This was going to be a Fawlty Towers-esque dining experience.

The obligatory plate of mixed pickles and olives were served, looking a bit like the plants on your kitchen windowsill after you've been away for a fortnight. The olives were wrinkled, dehydrated and looked past their best. Even the pigeons would probably turn their beaks up at them. Next to come was the customary bowl of unprepared salad. Full marks for presentation- they were displayed in an 'arty' way but again, zero for freshness. Like the pickles, they were wrinkled and looked like market stall fades; the dirt hadn't been washed off and there was a bonus prize- a rogue chest hair nestling in between the tomatoes! Sidra's salad comes ice cold and is immaculate- this was a disgrace; if these veg were in your fridge at home, they would be straight in the bin.

My coriander potatoes were a cholesterol filled nightmare. Soaked in oil and tasted like they had been fried, left and deep fried again, these were a recipe for heartburn. The coriander had all but disappeared, the spice tasted like a bit of chilli powder sprinkled on as an afterthought. Goodness, I was going to need the Rennies. The piece de resistance came, the Mixed Vegetable Fries, another cholesterol special. Now, I bet you're reading this thinking the clue is in the name, but it is possible to have something fried without it drowning in a gulf of grease! As you can see from the pic, it contained aubergines, courgette, cauliflower and garlic, but I could barely taste these beautiful legumes. All I could taste was grease, oil, fat- call it what you want, if I would have closed my eyes, I would have thought I was in a low- rent chippy on Southport Prom. Tahini was my saviour here as I doused the veg in the lovely sesame sauce, however, it didn't rescue the meal. As I tentatively nibbled the deep fried cauliflower, I decided to cut my losses and stop eating this meal for the sake of it. I can still taste the grease now.

To round off this unpleasant meal, let me leave you with a couple of observations. Beirut actually charges 2dhs per person for bread while its neighbours give it for free. Also, that bowl of disgusting veg with the body hair in? The poor folk on the table behind me got served exactly the same bowl, albeit with a few lettuce leaves on the top to garnish. How many people were going to lay their hands on the infamous bowl of unwashed veg after us? See you soon, Sidra!

W Grill, Wafi Centre,Oud Metha, Dubai

2012-01-01T04:59:00.001-08:00

Opulent steak house suitable for vegetarians

The Wafi Centre never fails to impress me. Unlike the other malls in Dubai, this complex is restaurant-centric rather than all about the shops, and Starbucks aside, it contains mainly its own branded restaurants rather than international chains. For those unfamiliar with the Oud Metha district, Wafi is an Egyptian- themed complex, its iconic pyramids making an impression on Dubai's skyline. The newest restaurant on site is W-Grill, a steakhouse with an elegant twist- get all your preconceived ideas of Berni Inn and Aberdeen Angus Steak House out of your head now!

W offers a choice of indoor and outdoor seating, the outdoor seating offering ample views of the famous Wafi light show and not to mention busloads of bewildered tourists looking round in amazement. The indoor seating is the best for savouring the full-on glitz of the restaurant with its Vegas-style chandeliers (plus it's nearer to the buffet!) I was welcomed warmly by W's host, who talked me through the menu and wine list. When I explained I was teetotal, he ensured I was mixed up a bespoke mocktail based on the Mojito. At 30 dhs for a Mocktail, it wasn't the cheapest place in Dubai, plus it was rather watery. For the rest of the evening, I stuck with water.

I passed on the starter as I hate trying a new place and being too full to enjoy the main, so I opted for Seven Vegetables Couscous (pictured) and unlimited visits to the salad bar. The Couscous was fresh, fluffy and packed with veg, it didn't cross my mind to count if there were actually seven vegetables present. My only complaints were it was a tad salty so had to have a Rennie that night, and there was no taste of Harissa present despite saying so on the menu. Harissa is known for its fiery, potent taste so it seems strange that it was omitted or even forgotten from the meal. The salad bar on the other hand was a foodie's paradise. Whatever your palate, there was something there for everyone, a combination of popular mezes, cheeses and salads from the Mediterranean and the Orient. Lebanese favourites like Tabouleh and Mutabal were present, along with Greek Salad, Buffalo Mozzarella salad plus voluptuous aubergines and more. Certain carnivorous delights like steak and grills include the salad bar for free.

Unbelievably, I managed to make some room for the dessert buffet- yes, you heard right, a dessert buffet. At approx 40dhs for all you can eat, the dessert buffet offers more treats than the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. From shot glasses filled with tiramisu to Martini glasses with trifle in, the chefs have really unleashed their creative sides and used their imagination by turning simple desserts into artwork. Small creme brûlées topped with strawberries and petite chocolate cakes complete the beautiful dessert landscape. The secret to perfection lies in the fact that they have used bite size morsels of normally stodgy desserts which enables the diner to let their tastebuds go into overdrive and properly enjoy each cake. For those not wanting to be so sinful, there is more than enough fresh fruit on offer too.

I rounded up the dinner in my usual way, with a potent coffee which didn't fail to disappoint.

Good news for Emirates Pilot Card holders- 40% off in W-Grill and other WAFI eateries

Top 10 2011

2011-12-21T12:42:00.000-08:00

This year has been turbulent to say the least. It started at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool Airport where I saw in 2011 with a cup of weak coffee, wondering what life was going to throw at me this year. I have learned not to plan my life as when I least expect it, it takes a new surprising turn. Just as I thought, 2011 was no exception and have ended up leaving my beloved Manchester and moving to sunny Dubai. A new city of culinary delights for me to explore, which makes this year's top 10 a spicy, eclectic, international one!

1. UnI, Renshaw St, Liverpool. NON MOVER Liverpool's oldest curry house holds onto its place at number 1, thanks to its old fashioned charm, friendly staff and subscribers of the motto 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'. Best Vindaloo in Liverpool. I'm normally too busy savouring the experience to take pics of the food in here, but here is a pic of the table spread on one of my nights out here, diners' heads cropped off for anonymity!

2. Kosmos Taverna, Wilmslow Rd, Manchester NEW ENTRY Hearty Greek food that provides a much needed holiday feeling in rainy Manchester. The mixed dolmades is my favourite dish, a close rival to Kolokithokeftedes (pictured)!

3. Sidra, Al Dhiyafa Rd, Dubai NEW ENTRY Lebanese mezes, kebabs and delicious desserts at a bargain price. Order the Potatoes with Coriander to give your meze some spice!

4. Punjab, Wilmslow Rd, Manchester NEW ENTRY Small but perfectly formed, this cosy curryhouse will keep you warm over winter. Veggie Madras comes with the VQ seal of approval.

5. Nostalgia Cafe, Lord St, Southport NEW ENTRY A blast from the past in this independent take on the principles of Betty's Tea Rooms featuring good old British classics and waitresses in Victorian attire. Go for the homemade soup and sandwich combo washed down with a Spider (cherry coke float) for dessert.

6. Try Thai, Faulkner St, Manchester LAST YEAR'S NO 4 The best quality business lunch around in fragrant, opulent surroundings. Try the tempura veg (pictured) to start followed by aubergine with holy basil.

7. Britannia Carvery, Portland St, Manchester LAST YEAR'S NO 5 Billed as an all you can eat, 3 course carvery (that's a contradiction in terms!), this hotel restaurant provides excellent value and full bellies all round. Best dessert has to be the chocolate fudge cake and the Greek salad is sublime.

8. Armenian Taverna, Princess St, Manchester NEW ENTRY The only Armenian restaurant in England, this homage to central Asian food in 1970s style surroundings is a must for any discerning foodie. The Mutabal starter is sublime and the Cous Cous Bidali (pictured) makes a nourishing veggie main course.

9. Al Mallah, Al Dhiyafa Rd, Dubai NEW ENTRY Bargain street food in a pavement cafe surroundings, Al Mallah offers a piece of Dubai street life away from the stereotypical image the city has. Grab a Tahiti cocktail for a naughty but nice dessert.

10. W Grill, Wafi Centre, Dubai NEW ENTRY This sleek steakhouse offers a multitude of veggie options in addition to its succulent steaks and offers a unique view of the Egyptian- themed complex. Go for the salad buffet for a healthy yet filling alternative.

My winning streak of foodie competitions!

2011-12-17T10:46:00.000-08:00

Good luck comes in threes!

Something strange has happened to me lately. I never win competitions, never win bingo or a raffle and don't even have the ability to grab a cuddly toy on one of those arcade machines. Yet, my first month in Dubai brought good fortune to me- I won 3 competitions, and as they were all food-related, I thought I'd share my adventures with my curry royalty!

The first competition was a VIP night at Wafi's Friday Fridge event. For those who haven't been, it is a classy yet relaxed affair set on Wafi's roof terrace. Live local bands provide the entertainment and audience members are invited up for a jamming session. Most of the seating is in the form of comfy beanbags, but as I was the VIP of the evening, I sat behind the velvet rope on a comfy couch with great views of the stage. My prize was 600AED to spend on food and drink in the rooftop bar- as I'm a teetotaller I can safely say I only spent about 300! I tried mocktails, coffee and as many soft drinks as I could stomach before I drowned myself. The food included snacks like nachos and popcorn, pies (both meat and veggie), chips, shawarma and sandwiches. I gorged on a feta and spinach pie similar to a Greek Spanakopita as I enjoyed the live entertainment. The perfect way to spend an evening without the pushing and shoving of a nightclub.

My next prize was another Facebook comp, this time being a voucher for Lemongrass Express at the Dubai Mall. Lemongrass is a high quality local Thai chain, but as strict veggies know, Thai is known to be a vegetarian's minefield. Thai curry sauces tend to contain fish extract and some restaurants misleadingly advertise them as veggie. The friendly staff tried to be accommodating as they could, even whipping me up a tofu green curry from scratch, but wise old me knew that green curry contains fish extract. I had to give most of my prize away to my carnivorous partner in crime which was gratefully lapped up. Apparently the chicken satay here is amazing and the non-veggie spring rolls are fresh, plump and non-greasy, but obviously I can't judge for myself. I consoled myself with the remainder of the prize, some spicy tofu noodles and a tofu noodle soup- yes that's right, a tofu noodle overload! These were high quality, tasting fresh, filling yet not too heavy on the stomach, but for such an innovative new chain, I felt they weren't stretching their imagination for veggies. I cannot be certain as to whether the soup's stock was 100% veggie as some of these food court vendors think fish is a vegetable, but it was a pleasant, cleansing meal heightened by the eponymous Lemongrass. The noodles were swathed in a sweet chilli sauce, but after the soup, I was feeling the onset of noodle fatigue. Definitely an omnivore's paradise, this one.

Prize number three was thanks to , and was a treat for all foodies and fans of British comedy. It was tickets to the Faulty Towers Dining Experience at Bur Dubai's quirky Arabian Courtyard hotel (see pic!). It is based on the much-loved comedy Fawlty Towers; a surreal experience which involves dining in a mock-up of Fawlty Towers' infamous restaurant! Actors playing Basil, Manuel and Sybil act out popular scenes from the show, improvising with the diners and serving a surprisingly good 3 course meal at the same time. As the only veggie in the room, it was inevitable that I was to be the butt of Sybil's jokes and at one point, I was worried that they would serve me fish! Both the theatre company and the hotel had captured the 70s essence of the TV show and thankfully, the actors were assisted by some of the regular hotel staff. The starter was a velvety mushroom soup which was served to guests in a random order, with one poor diner having a hidden extra in her soup- the chef's false teeth! Some of the guests had to catch their bread rolls like performing seals, thrown to them by Manuel in a haphazard fashion. After a hilarious break between courses involving Manuel asking diners if they wanted to see pictures of his ass and showing them a photo of a donkey, the mains arrived with a flourish. My main was an intricate creation of snow peas, carrots, mini corn, cauliflower and potato, formed into a round pie 'cemented' together with pea puree. This was so not Fawlty Towers- where was the prawn cocktail and chicken nuggets? I was impressed that such a creation came out of Basil's kitchen! The main course was digested watching a re-enactment of the legendary Siberian Hamster scene with Manuel stealing the scene again by jumping on an unsuspecting diner's table. At one point, Basil dragged me around the room by my chair and sat on another diner's lap. As the whole restaurant descended into chaos, we were all pacified when the desserts arrived- an indulgent chocolate fudge caje complete with chocolate slabs to garnish. The perfect end to the perfect evening!

Where will my winning streak end?

Whittard's Coffee Shop, Dubai Festival Centre

2011-12-17T00:19:00.001-08:00

A British product that I've never seen back home!

Back in the UK, my favourite shop for all things coffee-related is Whittard's. For those unfamiliar with the brand, they sell colourful crockery straight out of Alice in Wonderland, huge mugs reminiscent of Central Perk, freshly ground coffee and fragrant tea. The Whittard name is synonymous with quality and are professionals in their field at making a house a home with their cheerful wares. Imagine my delight to find that they have a cafe in Dubai's Festival Centre! Conveniently located next to M&S, British expats can have a double helping of retail therapy to combat homesickness. Along with their extensive tea menu, they do a fine array of coffees, their Americano passing my stringent quality control. A must for all coffee addicts is their Turkish coffee too, beautifully enhanced with cardamon. If you want to bring the magic of Whittard's home, they even sell some of their famous cups, however their selection is limited compared to their UK stores.
It's left me wondering why they haven't thought of this concept back home as I'm sure it would go down a treat; everyone could indulge their inner Mad Hatters and celebrate their 'unbirthday' there!

The wonderful world of Dubai Airport Free Zone!

2011-12-14T11:00:00.000-08:00

An unlikely hidden gem- who thought airports had cheap food?

The path to settling in a new place is like the runway of a substandard airport. Some bits are smooth, then when you're least expecting it, it gets rather bumpy. Coming to Dubai has been no exception. I'd somehow ended up with no fixed address and living out of a suitcase! I was residing in the Layia Plaza Hotel in Al Qusais (review to follow), very nice, but eating in hotel restaurants can break the bank. What's a budget-conscious curry connoisseur to do? Luckily, I had had a tip off from a member of my Curry Royalty who happened to be a pilot- head for the Airport Free Zone. Good food and dashing pilots- what more can a lady ask for?

The Airport Free Zone, commonly known as DAFZA, is not the terminal building but a separate office block home to all manner of businesses. Thanks to its cheap cuisine, it is heavily frequented by airport staff and Qusais locals, offering an alternative food court experience to the malls. International chains like Subway are side by side with national chains and local one-off outlets, all happily nestled together in a foodie extravaganza. A tip for you- Subway offers the cheapest and most potent coffee! My outlet of choice is the Arabic buffet. At 28 dirhams, this is an all you can eat extravaganza complete with starters, main and dessert. Couscous, soups, salads and rice dishes make up the buffet, along with favourite dips like Mutabal, complete with the delectable Umm Ali for dessert. If that doesn't float your boat, go to the Indian outlet next shop along with its bountiful thalis, bargainous biryanis and masala chai to wash all those spices down with! The biryani barely moves your bank balance, costing only 15 AED, the thalis approx 22. Or, if you're having a break from the spicy stuff, you can always grab a six incher from Subway. Never have I been so enthusiastic about a food court in all my life.

Zaatar W Zeit, Festival Centre, Dubai

2011-12-12T09:43:00.000-08:00

The chain that sucks the life out of Lebanese cuisine!

My regular readers are going to say 'I told you so' when they read this. Normally, I avoid chains like the plague as I am all about supporting independent businesses. I love the atmosphere of eating falafel in a noisy backstreet of Bur Dubai, enjoying the sights, sounds and smells of not just the dish, not just the eaterie, but the whole surroundings. However, I was in a mall, and as we all know, malls have as much atmosphere as the lost luggage room at an airport. After having Sidra and Al Mallah withdrawal symptoms, I could hear halloum and mutabal calling me- yes, my Lebanese cravings were back.
I had recently discovered the Festival Centre mall which I liked due to its calm, tranquil atmosphere, the polar opposite of Deira City Centre where you are constantly shoved, poked and trampled on. Normally, I make a beeline for the food court, but as I couldn't be bothered hunting for it (I know where it is now though!), I grabbed a table in Zaatar W Zeit as I mistakenly thought it was affiliated with my local, Labneh Wa Zaatar. Yeah right, like Mc Donalds is affiliated with Burger King...
It took a whopping 10 minutes for the waitress to bring a menu, an omen it was going to be a bad review. The two guys next to me looked obviously frustrated as they had both received the wrong meals. Oh yes, this was going to be one of my infamous Fawlty Towers experiences. As I opened the menu, I gasped in shock at the fact that they were charging for a pickle plate, a nicety that most Lebanese eateries in Dubai offer for free. I wanted to escape, especially when I saw the size of my neighbour's meal and the fact it was served in a sort of basket rather than a plate. The prices were ridiculously high for street food; topped with the waitress running round in a ditzy way like Rachel Green from Friends, I was slowly losing my patience. Also, the veggie choice was minimal, either a halloumi sandwich or a falafel sandwich. Wow, mind-blowing. In the end, I settled on a fried halloumi dish, which was just that. No sides, no fresh plate of salad a la Sidra. The meal was a couple of sorry-looking pittas, a thinly sliced tomato on a plate with a limp cucumber slice, and a skillet with about 10 pieces of cheese in. Who can possibly eat 10 pieces of Halloumi with nothing much else? Don't get me wrong, I adore Halloumi and have been known to raid a cheeseboard for dessert, but even the most loyal cheese connoisseur can't polish off 10 pieces of the same cheese in one fell swoop. I was beginning to get really cheesed off. Please, don't excuse the pun, my jokes are as limp as Zaatar's salad. Moreover, this exotic creation along with a bottle of water took a whopping 25 mins to emerge from the kitchen.
After that heartburn fest, I was itching to get out and buy a bumper box of Rennies, but as this was Fawlty Towers, it took another 15 mins to flag the waitress down in the style of a tourist suffering from heatstroke on Jumeira Rd flagging down a Camry. ZwZ's advertising on each table then had the audacity to ask me to 'like' them on Facebook. Instead, I shall confine them to my list of profanities along with N*ndo's and the R*inforest Cafe.

La Mia Favola, Garhoud, Dubai

2011-11-28T05:58:00.001-08:00

Nespresso and arrabiata- the perfect combination!

Sometimes, I just need a break from the rich curries and exotic meze snacks that make up my diet and need to go back to basics. I see it as cleansing my palate, giving myself a clean slate for my next curry night so I can enjoy it at its fullest. Food I consider 'basics' include anything involving plain unsullied veg, British staples like chips, beans and toasties, and Italian food. Why Italian food, I hear you ask. Well, look how it is made. Mainly plain carbs, be it pizza, pasta or a bread based dish like Bruschetta, Italian food bridges the gap of Mediterranean spice and Western European plain food. Minestrone soup, insalata caprese, antipasti are all tasty dishes but aren't too taxing on the digestive system. It does annoy me sometimes that quite a few restauranteurs hike the prices right up for Italian cuisine and season it with an air of pretentiousness. The Italian kitchen is all about being homely and rustic, not nouvelle cuisine with a whopping price tag. I've spotted a few in Dubai who are of this school; in my mind, the ideal Italian restaurant is from the school of Buca di Bacco, my much missed Italian bolt bolthole in Liverpool which went bust, or Edinburgh's Salvo Caffe; both of which I have previously blogged about with watering tastebuds. Both restaurants offered a great atmosphere at a bargain price but were bursting with Mediterranean flavour. But does such a place exist in Dubai?

As if by magic, I found La Mia Favola. Tucked away in the Garhoud district in the shadows of the Emirates training centre (yes ladies, there is pilot eye candy nearby!), this cafe/restaurant is actually Libyan owned but reeks of Italian authenticity. Garlic and oregano greet you on entering, but not in an intrusive way, interrupted by the smell of fresh Nespresso coffee. The decor is in typical Italian style of reds and greens (or is it a nod to the UAE?) with the obligatory checked table cloths that no Italian restaurant is complete without.

To start, I stuffed my face with a massive plate of garlic bread, one portion being enough to fill 2 or perhaps 3. This was baguette style as opposed to pizza style and was delicious, the right amount of butter which didn't leave my hands greasy. Staying true to my Vindaloo Queen method of eating spicy treats, I ordered Rigatoni Arrabiata, the vindaloo of the pasta world. Fiery chillies and rich tomatoes oozed their way into delightfully fat tubes of rigatoni, the sauce being just right and not swamping the pasta like some eateries I've experienced. I mopped up the rest with my garlic bread which I knowingly saved, and rounded the meal off with a potent Nespresso. At 9 dirham, this must be one of the cheapest restaurant coffees in Dubai. Couple this with their free wi-fi and have a relaxed afternoon curled up on one of their comfy sofas.

Empire Bangalore, Al Qusais, Dubai

2011-11-27T06:53:00.001-08:00

The Indians whose USP is blue lemonade!

I was beginning to grow tired of my usual eateries; a bad sign, considering I'd only been in Dubai 10 minutes. I had even gone across to the dark side briefly and ate at a few chain restaurants! To be honest, I think I was suffering from cabin fever as I'd been stuck in a hotel in Al Qusais; a very nice hotel I must add, but a bit far from central Dubai. Hotel food begins to taste samey after a while, and my beloved airport free zone was closed as it was a bank holiday weekend. However, Al Qusais is a hidden gem on Dubai's culinary spectrum, and once you look further than the scruffy buildings and dusty roads, you can find exquisite restaurants for all tastebuds. Enter Empire, the Indian restaurant that took my breath away.

Empire is a bustling hive of activity, reminiscent of the eateries on Manchester's Curry Mile. Although it is marketed as a non-vegetarian restaurant, there are more than enough spicy treats for us veggies. Upon entering the restaurant, the first thing to catch my eye was the massive display of fruit and ice-cream in a rainbow of colours, not just boring vanilla here then! The smell of piquant spices and freshly baked naan filled my lungs as I prepared myself for an Indian feast of Mancunian proportions.

I began my feast with a vegetable dosa. Dosas are quite hard to find back home, so for those unfamiliar with them, they are delectable breads the size of a pitta, the consistency halfway between chapati and naan. These dosas came with a chickpea curry and a vegetable curry to be poured on the top. Dosas are messy fun to eat- shove the curry on top and wrap it up like a kebab! Cut it up and eat it like a pizza! The choice is yours, enjoy! After that, I scoured the menu for vindaloo but it was nowhere to be seen, so I settled for the next best thing, Aloo Gobi with pilau and naan. The Aloo Gobi was different to the one back home, it had a creamy consistency which I normally wouldn't entertain (regular readers will know my opinion on korma!) but as it was packed to the brim with massive potatoes and huge blooms of cauliflower, this gave it some oomph. It was unbelievably cheap too, with some curries only costing 10 dirham- bargain!

The drinks menu was a lengthy, fruity read to rival Al Mallah but this time, I went back to basics with lemonade, or so I thought. This was no ordinary 7up, this was home made Blue Lemonade! Despite my curiosity, I neve asked how they achieved such a brilliant shad of blue, but I suspect sherbet had some involvement. The lemonade had a sweet underlying taste of sherbet, reminiscent of Love Hearts and Parma Violets, beautifully harmonising with the acidic lemon to make a memorable cocktail.

I was too full to even contemplate dessert, but I know I'll return, ready to majestic a multiflvoured banana split from Empire's fine window display. Thanks to Empire, I am no longer homesick for English curry, this is the real thing.

China Times, Jumeirah, Dubai

2011-11-26T09:20:00.001-08:00

The quest for Chinese food in Dubai begins!

Coming from the north west of England, I have always been surrounded by top-notch Chinese food and it has become so engrained in my diet, I actually class it as a taste of home. When I am on my travels, a little taste of Chinese food always helps to combat the dreaded homesickness. However, a lot of 'foreign' Chinese doesn't match up to the British taste my tongue is accustomed to and has the opposite effect- I get even more homesick! Some of the worst ones I have had were Spain, Germany and Portugal- salty, bland and no spice whatsoever. How will Dubai's offerings measure up?

My first Chinese I encountered was China Times, situated in the ground floor of one of Jumeirah Road's many mini-malls. (I love these smaller malls, so much more character than the bigger ones). It was a Saturday night and empty, but that didn't deter us from going in as I wanted a quiet night. The restaurant consists of a mix of booths and normal tables, for some reason, I always make a beeline for booths! Guess it reminds me of ice cream parlours or good old fashioned Indian restaurants back home. The decor was 1990s/modern style, bright and airy, minimalist but not too basic, a far cry from the garish red and gold decor that usually flashes before my eyes in a Chinese eaterie.

We were shown to our table by a smiley, efficient waitress who was refreshingly honest and didn't let us order too much, admitting that one portion of jasmine rice could easily feed two and possibly three. I had a fabulous aubergine in a home made honey-based sauce- that too was a generous portion. Admittedly, it was different to any Chinese dish I had back in England, but Vindaloo Queen likes to embrace change! It had a plummy,rich taste which combined with its velvety consistency was a heavenly meal.

Regrettably, I was in a bit of a rush, so I didn't have a chance to sample any more delights from the menu. Around 30 dirham for a main veggie meal, it was considerably cheaper than whipping up a similar creation at home.

Rainforest Cafe, Dubai

2011-11-16T12:06:00.001-08:00

Back in the UK, I avoided chain restaurants like the plague. Boring interiors, expensive menus, poor quality and all the ambience of a furniture showroom, chains never did inspire me or stretch my tastebuds to the extreme. As a noob in Dubai, and not knowing where the 'good bits', the 'dodgy bits' and the 'chav tourist bits' were, I spend my first week muddling my way from one mall to the next, trying to dodge hordes of tourists. When I noticed that the Rainforest Cafe was stone empty, I decided to go there, not questioning why there is such an empty restaurant in a jam-packed mall.

The cafe's USP is its rainforest theme- mechanical animals move round the restaurant, fake vegetation surrounds the tables. At first, this seems quite cool, but you and your fellow diners will soon feel like caged animals yourselves, as other curious mallrats peer in at you in this alternative eaterie. The Rainforest is not completely private, which a high-priced restaurant should be, but allows visitors to the Dubai Aquarium to look in at you after they have looked at the sharks. At this point, I felt like asking whether they could pay me for eating there!

I was looking forward to seeing the menu as I thought it would be as vibrant and exotic as the decor. Nope. Completely bog-standard offerings were served up, reminiscent of a 'two for a fiver' meal deal in a grotty pub back in Blighty. Veggie options were rare, but I managed to find one- oh, how grateful I was! A limp ciabatta with a layer of mayo and some bits of supposedly fresh grilled veg, served with some chips. This non-feast was about £8- a rip off for what was essentially a chip butty. The carnivores could enjoy some processed chicken with more chips, or even a selection of fishy delicacies- a bit inappropriate, considering the view from the restaurant is the world's largest fish tank.

The only plus point to this dismal experience was the friendly staff. I suppose they pity any diners who are so foolish to part with their cash and buy an overpriced, substandard Subway, which is what you're doing if you eat at this overhyped tourist trap. I declare R*inforest C*fe a profanity for all food lovers!

Sidra, Dubai

2011-11-16T12:05:00.003-08:00

Another taste of Lebanon in Al Dhiyafa Road

My quest for the perfect Lebanese experience in Dubai continues along Al Dhiyafa Rd, where the bright lights of Sidra call me to try their tasty morsels. What delights was I going to discover this time? Shall I be set in my ways and order falafel for the umpteenth time, or shall I be brave and order something with an unrecognisable name? Luckily, I am building up an extensive vocabulary of Lebanese dishes thanks to the takeaway menu from Labneh wa Zaatar and trusty Google.

As I entered Sidra, I had yet another flashback of my student years when I pounded Berlin's immigrant quarter in search of the perfect veggie kebab. The sweet smell of strawberry shisha combined with a distinctive Levantine spicy smell brought me right back to my wild years. I instantly knew this would be a place where I'd be spending many a Dubai dinner in the years to come. Sidra has a beautiful mural painted on the wall of a Mediterranean coastline, the other walls being glass. For those cooler days, you can soak up the atmosphere outside in a simple but effective garden which somehow minimises the noise of the traffic.

I received a warm welcome from the staff, along with a plate of pickles, olives, labneh and fresh out the oven pittas. Delish. As I perused the menu, I knew it was going to be another difficult choice as there were so many delectable options to pick from. After much deliberation, I chose 'Potatoes with coriander', a predictable Falafel Sandwich and some Halloumi while my carnivorous colleagues settled with the Shish Tawuk as per usual. In a similar vein to Al Mallah, Sidra also do a fine selection of fresh juices so I sampled a home made lemonade. The drinks here are slightly more expensive than Al Mallah but are tasty nonetheless, the lemonade perking me up from the tiring heat.

My potatoes arrived and words couldn't describe how moreish they were! Despite being advertised as plain old potatoes with coriander, they were also fantastically spicy and, unlike Al Mallah, they were boiled as opposed to fried. Fans of Bombay Aloo and Patatas Bravas will undoubtedly love these spicy morsels. The Halloumi was a perfect rubbery yet chewy consistency, exactly like Halloumi should be. Finally, the falafel sandwich was one of the best my keen tastebuds had ever sampled, not too dry like some of the European ones, not dripping with sauce like some of the British ones. This was the right combination of falafel, hummus, pickled turnip and tabbouleh- it was like a mini meze in one neatly packed wrap!

The desserts looked pretty delicious with my old fave Banana Split on the menu, but I was stuffed to the gills after my feast, so I settled on settling my stomach with a Turkish coffee. Turkish coffee is the holy grail of potent coffees for me- more exciting than espresso, more fragrant than any artificial concoction that St*rbucks can come up with. The blend of coffee and cardamom make for the perfect, dessert in a cup experience.

Al Mallah, Dubai

2011-11-16T12:05:00.001-08:00

Authentic Eastern atmosphere in glitzy Dubai!

The media tends to paint a distorted picture of Dubai. People who have never been seem to think it is some glitzy, overpriced playground full of expensive hotels, faceless chain restaurants and tourist tack. These people have either a) never been outside Europe and read the papers too much or b) have been to Dubai once as a package tourist and never strayed from the concrete jungle that is The Palm. I compare it to going to Manchester and only seeing the Printworks, or Edinburgh and not straying from Leith, you get my drift. What I'm saying is that it's great to explore, to go to the older, more developed parts of the city where 'normal' people and not just celebs live.
Unfortunately, there seems to be a severe lack of Emirati cuisine here but fear not, Arabic food is still in abundance with the city's numerous Lebanese restaurants!

Following on from my previous review, I was starting to become addicted to Lebanese food and needed to see what else was on offer in the world of Tabbouleh and co. I found myself on the bustling Al Dhiyafa Road which is slowly finding a place in my heart and becoming a firm must-see on my culinary itinerary. Like Manchester's (in)famous Curry Mile, restaurants compete cheek by jowl for custom, a colourful melting pot of cultures and cuisines. Thankfully, there is no hard sell like its Mancunian brother so the atmosphere is somewhat more relaxed. Like a moth to a lightbulb, I found myself drawn to Al Mallah which apparently is one of the original restaurants on the street. You cannot miss this culinary gem with its green fluorescent lighting, rotating chickens and delicious smells of spice wafting your way. As I sat at its outdoor seating area, the whole atmosphere of the place brought back memories of childhood trips to Turkey, where I gorged on lamb kebabs (I ate meat then!) and supped freshly squeezed orange juice, the throngs of people, the buzz of the traffic and the faint background 'Arabesque' music adding to the ambience.

The menu is worth a read before one automatically defaults to the standard chicken kebab or falafel shawarma. Sure, these Lebanese standards are available, but so are many other treats. Why not create a meze for yourself like I did? I ordered the spicy potatoes and a huge bowl of Mutabal and some labneh (of course), which when combined with the basket of pittas, fresh vegetables and pickle tray is more than enough to satisfy me. The Mutabal was rich and velvety, the pickles fresh, the salad crisp. In addition, I got my greens from a gigantic bowl of Tabouleh (pictured). My only minor complaint was that the spicy potatoes were a tad greasy and tasted more like chips, not what I was expecting. Nonetheless, they were lovely! My meat eating acquaintances filled their faces on shish tawuk, apparently 'the freshest chicken in this street or possibly in Dubai' according to them.

The best part of the Al Mallah experience comes at dessert time. They have an extensive list of fresh juice dessert drinks which are possibly the cheapest on the street. They come in 4 sizes from small to XL; I went for the Medium which was gigantic! The drinks have unusual names, some after celebrities- Charles and Diana feature on the list, along with footballers from the past like Maradona and Pele. I wonder when this list was last updated and when the Camilla or Beckham will be on the menu! I chose the Tahiti drink, which was a fresh strawberry juice mixed with banana, pineapple, strawberry and pear pieces topped with vanilla ice cream. Decadent yet healthy at the same time, I will definitely be working my way through this drinks menu!

The night drew to a close and as we were bade goodnight by the friendly staff, I was already Facebooking my friends to tell them all about the legendary Tahiti experience. Al Mallah, you have the Midas touch.

Labneh wa Zaatar, Deira, Dubai

2011-11-15T09:16:00.001-08:00

Back in my murky past, I had an addiction. When I say my murky past, I mean my decadent student days in Germany. Germany was a different place back in the day; before it was invaded by budget airlines, tourists were few and foodie bargains were aplenty! I used to eat out every single day as this was cheaper than shoving something in the microwave (plus the German supermarkets are notoriously awful). Pizza was 3 euro, a curry 4 euro and my addiction was only 2 euro, sometimes 50 cents depending on the competition in the area. Yes, you guessed it. My addiction was Falafel. Now, Germany has a massive Turkish population who used to peddle Falafel, strange considering that falafel is not native to Turkey. However, if you delve closer into the snack bar scene, you will find the Turks are facing stiff competition from their Lebanese brothers! The Lebanese took my falafel addiction to the next level, as they knew how to deliver the perfect chick pea patty. Sprinkled with tabbouleh, doused in houmous or wrapped in a pitta alongside the marvellous halloumi, the Lebanese won my heart every time.
That addiction was about to be awakened with my discovery of Lebanese restaurants all over Dubai.

Lebanese food is MASSIVE here. Brits, think the blanket coverage of curry houses and Chinese restaurants in Blighty, I'm talking such a massive scale. The first Beirut bombshell I came across was the fabulous Labneh wa Zaatar in Deira, so good I can't keep out of there!

You're probably wondering what the name means. Labneh wa Zaatar is a scrumptious soft cheese (think Philadelphia mixed with yogurt) garnished with a thyme-based spice mix. This is delicious spread on pitta or as a dip with crudités. All meals, no matter how small, are served with some complimentary Labneh, pittas, mixed pickles and olives to start. (I later found out this is the norm in Dubai's Lebanese eateries- talk about fab customer service!) The cold drinks are a bargain 3dhs, or if you want to splash out, try a freshly blended fruit juice at around 16dhs. Highly recommended is the mint lemonade, a zingy, refreshing home made concoction which complements the spicy food well.

I pushed the boat out and created a monster meze for myself; stuffed vine leaves, tabouleh, a falafel sandwich and a huge vessel of Foul Medames. The vine leaves, like in most places in the middle east, were served cold. I am used to eating them warm as I like the contrast between a hot vine leaf dunked in tzatziki or hummus straight from the fridge. However, they were still scrumptious in all their herby glory. The portion size is huge here, one Tabouleh is definitely enough for two. Yum, this place is food heaven.

With its informal atmosphere, friendly staff and choice of seating areas, I would wholeheartedly recommend this cosy, chilled restaurant. If you're staying in one of the area's hotels and are bored with their faceless, overpriced restaurants, pop over to LwaZ (as those in the know call it!) where you'll be sure of a warm welcome and fabulous food.

Salaam Aleikum Dubai!

2011-11-15T08:57:00.001-08:00

A big Marhaba to all those curry-curious people in the Gulf region! Let me introduce myself....

If you haven't checked out my blog already, I am Vindaloo Queen, well-travelled English blogger who has one major passion in life- discovering new cultures and their cuisines. As you probably know, England isn't really famed for its gastronomy so I set about trawling the local restaurant scene of whatever city I happened to be living in. The last place I lived was Manchester which has a multicultural population and a varied selection of restaurants, be it Indian, Chinese, Thai, Korean, Taiwanese, Armenian, Turkish, Greek....my tastebuds were never bored in Manchester!

All the restaurants I review on my blog are affordable as I like a good bargain- I have heard many exciting things about Karama's food so I can't wait to explore and hear all your recommendations. Please comment on this post if you know of any restaurant I must visit in Dubai as I don't know too many people here yet and want to discover food from around the world! Please do not hesitate to ask me if you have any questions about the UK's food scene, if you have any special requirements i.e. halal, veggie etc, I can happily advise you on where to go or avoid.

You may be wondering what Vindaloo is. In the UK, Vindaloo is the hottest curry on the menu at Indian restaurants- people are often surprised that I can eat this! I love chillies and anything to make a meal more exciting.

I have been a vegetarian since 1995; therefore all the restaurants on my blog are suitable for veggies and our meat eating friends alike! If I visit a restaurant and I find that the selection is no good for veggies, I will mention it on here too.

Look forward to meeting you all in DXB!

You can follow me on Twitter too: @vindaloo_queen

The Emirates Business Class Experience

2011-11-13T11:57:00.001-08:00

A foodie fantasy from start to finish!

Air travel ain't what it used to be. The glamour, glitz and professional service seems to have been replaced by chavs in tracksuits munching Pringles- and that's just the stewardesses! Budget travel has helped quality airlines like Emirates retain a little bit more prestige and make it a covetable product, meaning people like me who crave old-school air travel can appreciate the mile-high life in the 21st century.
The Emirates package is one of decadence, luxury and gives the passenger the feeling of being spoilt rotten. Well, that's how I felt.

I was so happy when it was announced that my flight was to be 4 hours delayed as it meant 7 hours in the executive lounge at Manchester. The journey for my tastebuds began immediately with beautifully potent coffee along with a biscuit selection. Unfortunately, I had to decline the breakfast-type dishes due to overindulgence at the Radisson in the morning. I was soon hungry again though as lunchtime ticked round, the smells of Arabian cuisine wafting through to tempt me. In the lounge, there is a dedicated dining area but there are no qualms if you want to eat dinner on your lap in a comfy seat, watching the planes as if they're an episode of Corrie! The choice of dishes were amazing- being the eclectic foodie I am, I started with some traditional Arabic meze like Falafel, Tabouleh and Mutabul (the aubergine dip I rave about at the Armenian Taverna, Manchester!) and moved on to a bit of Italian (tomato and mozzarella ravioli). To freshen things up, I raided the salad bar for some rocket infused salad. Little did I know, this would be my staple diet for probably the rest of my Dubai life as you will see in later blogposts.... For the non-veggies and less adventurous folk, there were also the options of a homemade steak pie with a beautiful flaky crust and artily-presented fish and chips (no grease or newspaper for these bad boys!)

There were still four hours to kill, so I stretched my legs and mooched around the terminal, observing the great unwashed bemoaning their Boots meal deals and queuing at C*sta only to be served by a rude jobsworth youth. Scenes like that made me grateful for business class. I'd seen enough so I went back to the lounge for a raid on the desserts.I chose the healthy option of pears soaked in rosewater which tasted like a funkier type of Turkish Delight; definitely full of Eastern promise. Other desserts included scones with clotted cream and a decadent chocolate pudding.

The flight was absolutely amazing and represented everything that air travel should be- luxury, finesse, excellent customer service and a home-from-home feeling. The telltale hum of instant coffee, chicken soup and cheesy Pringles pertaining to Sleazyjet wasn't to be sniffed, instead the air was filled with the smell of quality. With my own in-seat minibar (with MANGO JUICE- fab!) and the cabin crew serving me a bottomless reservoir of coffee, I was in heaven. Forget Dubai, this flight was set to be a foodie tour in itself! The meal consisted of stuffed vine leaves, German bread rolls (can this GET any more tailor made to me?)and a pepper stuffed with pasta- and that was just the starter. After this spread, there was barely any room for the main, but I devoured the pasta dish anyway. Dessert was more semi-potent coffee (minus points for EK there, but at least it wasn't instant- take note EZY!) and a doorstopper slab of cheesecake. Bloated, I settled back to watch more in flight movies, aware of the fact that Belgian chocs had just been placed next to me.

A business flight isn't complete without a trip to the inflight bar, which is what I squeezed in just before landing. After getting a specially mixed teetotal cocktail, I sat back and what caught my eye? Yes, more food: this time a big plate of Baklava and other Middle Eastern syrupy bundles of sin. I couldn't possibly indulge in another dessert...could I?

After this culinary extravaganza, I landed in Dubai with one aim. To change Emirates' slogan to 'Fly Emirates: Your tastebuds will thank you.' Now, I actually cannot wait to leave DXB so I can indulge again! Emirates, thank you for restoring my faith in 21st century air travel.

Radisson hotel, Manchester Airport

2011-11-13T08:50:00.001-08:00

Poor air conditioning but a foodie feast!

Before I jetted off into the sun, I spent my last few days in the Radisson hotel at Manchester airport. As I had previously stayed at their Stansted one, I was expecting great things as this hotel is fabulous. Comfy beds, trendy yet cosy interior and the biggest breakfast I have ever seen in a UK hotel. However,this Radisson looked in desperate need of a refurb and the air conditioning didn't work- the sauna was probably cooler. After a bit of constructive criticism (major complaining!)and a room upgrade, the culinary expedition began.

The breakfast has the usuals that you would expect but was by no means as grand and varied as the Stansted one. I was overjoyed to discover an extensive selection of continental seeded breads which cheered me right up, along with fresh fruit and a view that all plane geeks like me covet. The coffee was decent and in abundance, the cheeses were a European tour of delights. I wish I could've stayed at this veritable feast all day, but the Emirates Lounge awaited me with a further sumptuous banquet.

The room service was spot on as well; as hotel food goes, it was pricey and the menu featured the usual staples like chicken korma, club sandwich, burgers etc but it worked out cheaper than jumping a taxi to Manchester centre for a cheapo meal. I was naughty and had veggie burger and chips- for such a basic meal, it was imaginatively presented with a flourish. Potent coffee was on tap too; my upgraded room had one of the best inventions known to coffee addicts- a Nespresso machine complete with 6 capsules of the hot strong stuff!

If any of the Radisson staff happen to be reading this, I'd just like to say thanks for making my stay a memorable one!

Farewell foodie tour of the North West

2011-10-27T12:42:00.000-07:00

Hi Vindaloo Kings and Queens!

I have upped sticks and moved- to Dubai! I am so lucky to be living in such a melting pot of cultures, which also means a melting pot of cuisines. Since I have been here, I have tried Indian (of course!), Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese- you name it, I've ate it. Believe it or not, I've succumbed to a few chain restaurants, which unlike in rip off Britain,they offer impeccable customer service and value for money. Before I left Blighty though, I made a flying visit to some of my old faves- it would've been rude not to.

A fond farewell was said to the best curry house in Liverpool- the U.N.I. As I have previously mentioned, this curry house is for old-school traditionalists who love British curry in its spiritual home, a 1970s style curry house with cosy booths and a garish carpet. I had a farewell Veggie Madras mopped up with a peshwari naan- who knows when I'll get the chance to savour such tandoori purism again?
Around the corner from the U.N.I is another Liverpool foodie gem, Kimos, who I also made a flying visit to. Kimos is still a pleasant place to spend the afternoon with a stash of mags, endless coffees (their coffee is potent and really hits the spot) alternated with a chilled Rubicon juice, and plates of Arabic inspired yumminess. Sadly, their prices have risen and portion size declined, but Kimos will forever remain on my Liverpudlian food itinerary.

Manchester came up with some farewell treats for me too. Kosmos Taverna in Withington told me 'kalo taxidi' (bon voyage in Greek!) with a bounty of Melitzanosalata and an array of dolmades bulging with spicy rice filling. I love Kosmos, it has taken over from Liverpool's Zorbas as the best Greek in the region. In a similar style to the U.N.I, this long established restaurant relies not on fancy gimmicks but word of mouth and a loyal customer base. With its retro style and seldom changing menu, this place is a great example of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

I squeezed in a business lunch in Chinatown's Great Wall for a bargainous £4.50. Admittedly the quality and possibly the hygiene aren't the best in here, but in a sea of rip off merchants, £4.50 for a three course lunch seems too good an offer to turn down! However, the waitress admitted that the 'veggie' soup is made with meat stock- at least she was honest.

I couldn't leave Britain without having a traditional roast, so I took advantage of yet another old fave, Manchester's Britannia Carvery in Portland St. Despite the hotel rooms being a small step up from Fawlty Towers, the restaurant is pretty good and the food varied. At £6.99 for a 3 course, all you can eat lunch with a daily veggie option and 2 meats, everyone is pleased and goes home with a full belly!

So,goodbye for now England and hello sunshine! Bring on the falafel!

The Trafford Centre- beware rant alert!

2011-10-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

Why the sticky, noisy centre doesn't do it for me, food wise....

One of the things that I love and also hate about moving house is not being able to eat at home. I was on the move, yet again (gypsies have nothing on me!) and all my plates were packed up, the oven scrubbed. The keys had been handed back to the estate agent and it was off to a hotel for 2 nights. As the Trafford Centre was a halfway point between house and hotel, that seemed to be the most convenient place to chow down. Now, I hate going to this place at the best of times- screaming kids, packs of chavs spending our taxes, lack of air conditioning and the whole sweaty mass of people in one place just puts me off- but time was of the essence in this case as I had a lot on. The cacophony of this place, combined with the hum of dried in sweat reminds me of trips to Garston Baths in the 90s. (Scousers, that's the retro one which has been demolished, not the funky Noughties one.)

Ah, the food court. Not so much food as immigrant workers masquerading as dinner ladies throwing pre cooked slop at you and charging extortionate prices. This place is my worst nightmare- no individuality with swearwords in neon lights, you know, profanities like N*ndo's, La T*sca etc. It's a shame, as a lot of thought has been put into this food court with the whole nautical theme going on and twinkly ceiling, but what do they do? Fill it with boring chains and charge more than central Manchester. I paid around £9 for something that looked like a circumcised dog- sorry, it was veggie sausage and mash, was very nice but it still looked like the one Asda sell for £1.49. I should know, I ate it for lunch every week in 2009. There was an American diner in there that had a half-decent menu, but as we entered the three-quarters empty restaurant, the council-estate, Big Brother educated waitress barked 'Have ya got a reservation like?' at us and told us to come back in 90 minutes. Bizarre behaviour that I'm sure Gordon Ramsay would love to get his teeth in to. Apparently, there is a really good Chinese in there but by that time, I had lost the patience to find it and I was overheating like a dog trapped in a car.

While I am on the subject, another rant I have about the Trafford is the fact that the only bit of the mall with any character and tasty treats has disappeared! Cast your mind back to when it first opened; one of the entrances had a lovely market with independent retailers selling very potent coffee, subs, fudge and more goodies. Bring that back, now that was a culinary feast.

Sorry, Trafford, the humble Arndale market's food array wins in the battle of the food courts.

Hotel Talayot, Majorca

2011-10-19T02:12:00.000-07:00

Great veggie service on the island of Full Englishes!

Majorca- one of the first holiday resorts for British holidaymakers. Warm sea, golden sand but abyssmal food. Thanks to set-in-their-ways, pot noodle scoffing Brits, the poor Spanish had to endure endless complaints of Majorca (amongst other places) being too Spanish. Hello? You are in Spain! Why go abroad if you want a replica of England? Overnight, Majorca's restaurants and hotels had to cater to bland-tastebudded Brits, offering unimaginative delicacies like Chip Butty, Full English/Scottish/Irish/Grease Overload, Sunday Roast and shock horror, burger and chips. Now, I realise that Spain isn't a typically veggie-friendly holiday destination, but I love foreign delicacies like patatas bravas, pimientos de pardon and tortilla. The Hotel Talayot done me proud, however,

Hotel Talayot is a typical old-school Spanish hotel- basic yet functional and friendly. I stayed half-board and always found something on the buffet to please me. The breakfasts involved the usuals- yogurt, fresh fruit, fresh breads etc and the staff were more than happy to practice my long forgotten, cobweb ridden Spanish with me! By the end of my stay, we were conversing happily like old chums, but I gather I must have sounded like the English equivalent of Manuel Fawlty Towers!

One evening, I explained to the chef about my veggie needs and he rose to the challenge of preparing special dishes for me- one night, he made a pizza completely from scratch, the base was so delectable. When I asked him about the lack of Spanish dishes in the resort, he quite simply said, no demand, too many complaints. He seemed upset for me that I couldn't get hold of my beloved Gazpacho soup, my only option was a pricey taxi to Palma to get my fill of authentic delicacies. Not to worry, the buffet selection was amazing- voluptuous veg, moreish cakes and pasta dishes was more than enough to whet my appetite. In addition, there was a homemade veggie soup every day- yummy!

Veggies, fear not. Majorca is ready for you, I have made sure of that. Buen Provecho!

New Hong Kong, Manchester

2011-09-12T13:11:00.000-07:00

Suspicious minds....

I have previously been to this restaurant for takeaways only, and I was impressed at their portion size, speedy service and rich tastes. However, when I returned as a diner for my birthday do, I was sorely disappointed. Slap bang in the middle of Chinatown, Friday night on a bank holiday weekend, I expected it to be bursting at the seams. Instead, it was like the Marie Celeste. A huge restaurant with only 4 tables taken, I felt that the vindaloo queen posse were on centre stage. And the male staff were leering at us.

After an unexplained mix up regarding reservations, the vindaloo posse were ready to order, me being the only veggie. I started with Veggie Rice Sheet spring rolls, which were identical to those of Saigon Saigon in Edinburgh- delicious, but I had the feeling these went straight from the freezer into the frying pan as they were boiling in parts and chilly in others. When I ordered the main, I asked for tofu and vegetables with cashew nuts in szechuan sauce. I was abruptly told, 'No, only tofu and one ingredient'. 'Ok then, Tofu with cashews is fine.' When the meal came, to quote Bill Bryson, it was 'a festival of litter'. Tofu and cashew nuts were indeed present, but so were what looked suspiciously like the scrapings of other diners' plates! A pepper here, a minicorn there, a solitary scrap of cabbage, a lonely sprig of broccoli marooned on an island of beansprouts. The portion was massive as well, but somehow my appetite had gone.I picked at the tofu, cautious not to eat the radioactive peppers. Meanwhile, the staff had gathered. Were we, perchance, playing Special Sauce roulette? Had one of our meals been tampered with?

The other party members also had a raw deal. One ordered Sweetcorn soup and she was presented with chicken and sweetcorn. When she sent it back, she was accused of lying by the staff. When the Sweetcorn soup arrived, the staff were acting sheepish and giggling amongst themselves- special sauce alert? Another one of the group ordered a chicken dish, but what arrived did not look like chicken, and even with my untrained veggie eye, I too knew it was some sort of mystery meat. It had a rubbery consistency, rather like a tofu hybrid, and for the price of the meal, there was an awful lot of meat. The white pieces lay flaccid on the plate, like something from a bushtucker challenge. It didn't even cut like chicken, more like a rubbery cheese. There's no such thing as a free lunch after all.

And that's not all. When my friend went to the toilet, one of the amorous staff tried to look up her skirt and said 'ooh very nice' and there was even a man in the ladies' loos! For goodness sake, I expect this sort of behaviour in N*ndo's or Wetherspoons, not Chinatown! This place has left me with a bad taste in my mouth, figuratively and literally. I shan't be going back and suggest you all take heed!

Cafe Bravo, Southport

2011-09-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

Potent coffee alert!

I keep saying 'this'll be my last Southport visit this season' but it's a hard habit to break. I love Southport, and even though summer is over, why should I stop visiting? This is what destroys home-grown tourism. In my quest to dig deeper into the Sandgrounder culinary scene (that's the proper word for Southportian/Southportish believe it or not), I ambled up the other end of Lord Street. Wow, a feast for the eyes and senses! I spotted the fab Cafe Bravo which ticked the boxes- veggie options, independent, papers, comfy seats and immaculate toilets.

Cafe Bravo appears to look like C*sta at first, but when you step inside, it is independent through and through. Homemade sandwiches, friendly staff, clean tables and a helping of local charm with an artwork of Southport on the wall. I chowed down on a cranberry and brie panini (flavour of the month for me!) and a hot,strong, rich and black one! The panini was fresh and filling- so much so, there was no room for my dessert at Flavours ice cream parlour! The Americano passed my stringent potency test too.

So, put this one on your itinerary for your next coffee crawl!

Pudding and Pie, Southport

2011-09-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

A modern cafe in Victorian surroundings! I love Southport. People are so dismissive of the great British seaside resorts nowadays, thanks to Sleazyjet and Ryanscare offering cheap flights to Spain. Even the chavs are getting particular about where they holiday now (in my opinion, they shouldn't have a holiday as they're living off the taxpayers, but I'll save my rant for another blog!) We should be helping our country as let's face it, Britain is not particularly attractive to tourists with its unpredictable weather and greasy food, but if you delve deeper, our land has a lot of character, fabulous architecture and history, hidden gems, and thanks to its bad food reputation, it now has the world on a plate and some of the best restaurants ever! If you haven't been to Southport before, yes it does have tacky shops selling salt and pepper shakers in the shape of breasts, but it also has classy designer shops. The same goes for its eateries. There are greasy chippies which quite frankly, are very good for a naughty treat, the usual chains that shall remain nameless, quaint Indian and Chinese, old school tearooms and modern cafes with some of the most potent coffee known to man! I found myself in the fabulous Wayfarers arcade, a magnificent Victorian building packed with quaint antique shops, trendy furniture shops and the delectable Pudding and Pie Cafe. The cafe is the focal point of the arcade, with seating both in the cafe and in the arcade itself. I chose to sit in the arcade in order to take in the victorian splendour of its glass roof and simultaneously windowshop. I ordered my usual Americano, generous and potent, passing my stringent coffee test. There isn't much on the menu for us veggies, but what they do have is a break from the cheese butty/ lasagne norm. On my first visit, I chowed down on spicy vegetable wrap which was beautifully stuffed with fresh, spicy veg but at £5, I felt the plate was bare- for the price, it should have come with chips or even a baked spud. On my second visit, I chose a 'proper' meal, the Shepherdless Pie. This is a veggie take on the Shepherd's pie; instead of the mince filling, it was stuffed with a vegetable medley in sauce (I suspect it was soup or stew, but nonetheless it tasted great). This came with chips and salad. The chips are a masterpiece here. Not the cheapo lazy option of frozen skinny chips, but home made, hand cut mis-shapes of potato- YUM! Please note, the chef automatically cooks all chips in lard, but he does have a separate, vegetable oil fryer. If you're a veggie or simply hate lard, you will need to ask for them to be done separately. 'You've forgotten us!' I hear the carnivores cry. You meat eaters are in for a treat with succulent home made pies topped with flaky pastry, full Englishes and more! I'd definitely return here, but I feel it is rather expensive. However, the food is freshly produced. made from scratch and the staff are well mannered. Plus they have daily papers!

Mandarin, Liverpool

2011-09-06T09:48:00.000-07:00

A business lunch worth the walk from Liverpool 1!
I am still trying to find a replacement for my much loved Golden Phoenix and its super business lunch. One of Liverpool's oldest Chinese restaurants with charming 70s decor, friendly staff and the famous Dessert Island sweet display, it sadly got demolished during the Capital of Culture propaganda in 2007. Regular blog readers will be aware of my disapproval of Liverpool 1 and the city's 'regeneration', fabulous old businesses and buildings were and still are being culled in the name of modernisation and yet more soulless chains are being erected in place. Boring. Anyway, rant over, time to eat. The Mandarin is on the fringes of the business district and has been around for years, but in its previous form, was on the opposite side of the road. Now it has hit back with a glitzy glossy refurb but still offers a cheap and cheerful business lunch for approx £7- 3 courses and a drink. Ornate furnishings and statues complement the interior, modern but not faceless and brash. The staff are attentive and friendly, the menu extensive but not overwhelming. To start, I ordered Vegetarian Pancake rolls which were essentially spring rolls, but rather tasty nonetheless. My main was a sumptuous Veggie Vermicelli, one of my staple dishes when I am bored with Szechuan. The mix of carbs and fresh veg with a hint of spice make a healthy yet filling dinner. The portion was so generous I couldn't finish it. To finish, I chose a vanilla ice cream, not my favourite but better than no dessert at all! I was surprised to see the restaurant so empty when the lunch deal was so good, yet purveyors of plastic cuisine like N*ndo's and P*zza Expr*ss were full in Liverpool 1. It seems that the Mandarin is a hidden gem, I suggest you all uncover this hidden beauty!