Posts Tagged ‘food’

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New Damascus

April 17, 2013

Posted by Kanga.

We’ve done it again – found another good restaurant.

restaurant sign

We ventured out to try a “new to us” restaurant. As we drove up, we checked to see if the restaurant was busy and were a little concerned that there were only two tables occupied by customers. But, we checked the time, which was 8 pm, and realized that it wasn’t the local dinner time, yet.

plate of carrots and limes and a bowl of soup

There didn’t seem to be any menus to choose from, so we had to ask the waiter what they offered. We decided on mixed grills and asked about salad. He assured us they had salad. First came the soup which was tangy and had onions and liver in it.

four plates of salad

Then came the salads – two rocca (arugula) salads, cabbage & tomato & cucumber salad, and tabouleh. Also, two small plates of hummus. The salads were perfect.

plate of varied meats

And then the mixed grill – chicken tikka, lamb tikka, kabab, lamb chop, and arayes (spice mincemeat-filled oven-baked flatbread sandwiches).

two small cups of tea

The waiter brought us tea to finish the meal without our having to ask. It is like he read our minds. The bill came to 62 AED ($17.00). New Damascus is located in Fujairah, just north of the souk.

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Amman Street Food

April 11, 2013

Posted by Kanga.

Al Reef shwarma stand sign

We headed out for dinner. First was shwarma at Al Reem. (3.00 dinar $4.25 for four)

hand holding a shwarma sandwich

Followed by falafel sandwiches at Al Quds Falafel. (1.40 dinar $2 for two)

falafel being cooked

falafel sandwich

Followed by one of everything at Hamish Restaurant. (6 dinar $8.50 for full dinner for two)

three bowls of food

restaurant in an alley

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Belated Thanksgiving

March 17, 2013

Posted by Kanga.

table full of food

Saturday we finally had our postponed Thanksgiving meal. We shared the traditional meal with our Indian, Pakistani, British and African friends.
There was turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, candied yams, green bean casserole, cornbread dressing, California olives, and dill pickles. Two pumpkin pies and a pecan pie topped it off.

Daddybird orchestrated the cooking. Volunteers were put to work dicing veggies or mashing potatoes.

It was a pleasant evening with good friends and great food.

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China Sea

March 15, 2013

Posted by Kanga.

strings of plastic peppers and peanuts

Recently friends introduced us to the China Sea Restaurant. We dropped in a second time.

plate of broccoli, plate of shrimp and vegetables

Ordering was a little odd because the waiter said “huh?” after everything. “Sizzling shrimps, huh?” “Crispy duck, huh?” “Steamed broccoli, huh?”

plate of broccoli leaves, plate of egg and mushrooms

It was all very tasty. Watching the cooks through glass windows adds action. It is one hoppin’ kitchen.

plate of crispy duck

China Sea restaurant is located in Deira, Dubai, near the clock roundabout. Cash only. Five items, a pot of tea and large water = 209 AED ($55.00)

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Xiao Wei Yang

March 4, 2013

Posted by Kanga.

restaurant sign

In attending a friend’s birthday party, we got to try out a “new to us” restaurant. Xiao Wei Yang (apparently means “little lamb”) is a Chinese restaurant featuring hot pots. You can order a spicy pot, non-spicy pot, or a half-n-half pot plus raw ingredients which you then cook in the boiling pot.

table full of food

There is a wide variety of ingredients – lamb, beef, chicken, shrimp, mushrooms, veggies, and more. It is fun and tasty.

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Sunset, Good Food, Good Friends

February 8, 2013

Posted by Kanga.

red sunset as viewed from a highway between rugged hills

Thursday is the end of our week and the beginning of the weekend. We headed into Dubai to meet friends for dinner. It just happened to be sunset time. The high winds at this time of year kick up the dust and make for a pretty spectacular red glow along the horizon.

wispy clouds that look like wings

The wispy clouds were beautiful, like angel wings.

wispy pink clouds

We met good friends for dinner at the China Sea restaurant. We ordered too much food and managed to eat most of it.

carrot carved to look like a graceful bird

I am deeply impressed by our friends. They are good hearted, caring people, not just fun company.

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Groceries, Always So Fun

January 29, 2013

Posted by Kanga.

bottles of all purpose sauce on the store shelf

Apparently, this is sauce you can put on everything.

two cats sitting on their haunches watching the door

We had more grocery bags than we could carry in one trip, so DaddyBird went back down to the parking lot to get the rest. The cats sat patiently and watched for his return.

white cat eating celery leaves

When DaddyBird did return, Oliver smelled something delicious and began to freak out. It was the celery.

two cats eating celery leaves

Even Bert had to get in on the celery snacking.

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Never Turn Down Sushi

January 2, 2013

Posted by Kanga.

I never turn down sushi.

sushi water conveyor with small boat

Especially when delivered by boat.

sushi dish of small octopi

I draw the line at little octopi.

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The Adventure of Fried Chicken

October 25, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

As a young child, my first anatomy lessons came at the kitchen sink as I watched my mother cut up the chickens we raised on our farm. I would point at organs and ask “what is that?” and “what does it do?” Once the organs were extracted and sorted out (edible and non-edible) she had a very specific and methodical way of cutting up the chicken for frying. It was very similar to this:

How to cut up a chicken per Gourmet Sleuth

with the addition of cutting out the wishbone and taking out the breast bone and sternum before cutting the breasts apart. There was also a very specific way of arranging the chicken in the cast iron frying pan so that it would all fit. The cutting method makes for very easily identified pieces once cooked and served. You knew if you were getting a thigh or a breast.

This is apparently a very Western thing. In the East, it is all about a sharp meat cleaver and the cutting up is rather random. It certainly isn’t limited to separating the pieces neatly at the joints. Any and all bones may be chopped in mid shaft. This results in a guessing game as to what you are getting and the proliferation of bone shards. You might even end up with all joints and no meat.

I miss the logical, methodical, industrial revolution way of cutting up chicken. I also miss the wishbone. How does any one get their wishes around here?

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Everyone Needs a Zebra Pan

October 17, 2012

Posted by Kanga.

black and white striped frying pans

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, you are seeing zebra striped frying pans. Totally hip.

fanta soda six packs stating new slogan

We may have thought Fanta Orange was orange flavored before, but the NEW flavor is deliciously orange. Completely different.

coca cola in traditional bottles

I’m not a Coke drinker, but I do find the bottles nostalgic.

interior of potato chip bag less than half full

I think some settling has occurred in transit.