Already in New York, London and Abu Dhabi, world renowned restaurant Asia de Cuba is now at the Westin Mina Seyahi and is rumored to become THE place to be. With fabulous food and a gorgeous setting, here’s why you need to check it out for your next night out.

The occasion:

It was meant to be a date night with Mr Y but that changed when he announced that he’d actually be on a plane to Cairo at the time of our reservation. Fabulous! Rather than cancel I asked my friend if she fancied coming. So then I suddenly had to get a new outfit and book a blow dry .. or is it only me who makes twice as much effort for their female friends as their husband?!

The Venue:

I was so excited when I heard that Asia de Cuba was opening at the Westin Mina Seyahi. The London and Abu Dhabi branches are two of my favourite restaurants ever so I couldn’t wait to give this one a try. The interior is gorgeous! There’s a strong Latin feel with bold patterned fabrics, lush living walls and Cuban poster art. It’s not the brightest of restaurants but the dramatic double height ceiling ensures that it doesn’t feel claustrophobic.

The Vibe:

The exotic decor creates a glamorous atmosphere while the friendly, welcoming staff and upbeat Latin music ensure that by the time you’ve sat down you are definitely in the mood for good food and good times.

The Food:

The cocktail menu features classics such as mojitos alongside more unique offerings which blend Asian flavours with tropical ingredients – long story short, sake and rum is a triumphant combo!

The food menu is an innovative fusion of Chino-Latin cuisine with dishes that are designed to be shared. To start we had the salmon cerviche with coconut, passion fruit and cucumber salsa, glazed sweet potato with chipotle honey soy and the pork chiccarones. All yum! For our main course we had the chilli-rubbed king scallops and Asian-style paella, oh and some grilled vegetables to make us feel virtuous. The food it’s absolutely fantastic and full of flavour. To complete our gluttony we ordered the donuts for dessert. Now let me be clear, these are not just any old donuts. They are small, fluffy balls of heaven served with caramel and thai chilli chocolate sauce. You MUST try them!

Room for Improvement:

We went on a Sunday night so the bar upstairs wasn’t open. The lovely manager allowed us a peak though and it looks fab. I’d love to go back when it is open so we can continue the night with more drinks and live Salsa music!

What We Loved:

We loved everything from the restaurant design and the lovely staff to the funky music and fabulous food. My friend hit the nail on the head when said it had been ages since she last saw a menu with so many interesting dishes on it. Due to the sharing concept the more people you go with, the more you get to try so gather your friends (or even a few strangers) and get yourself to Asia de Cuba. I promise you won’t regret it!

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It’s that time of year again, mamas, when we can eat (and eat, and eat) at incredible prices during Jumeirah Restaurant Week! If you have zero clue what this means and you’re a bit of a foodie then listen up, this is good! From the “Oh, that’s good!”, to the “Oh, that’s new!”, and the “Oh, I need to taste that again!” you’ll want to get involved! From today (29th April) for 7 days (until 5th May), over 40 Jumeirah restaurants will be offering special price menus so that  you can get to experience as many as you like (all of them?!) without breaking the bank (three course set menus or buffet option prices are fixed at AED 150, AED 250 and AED 350). From noodles to oysters, casual meals to fine dining, loosen that waistband and  prepare yourself for a week of feasting! These are some of our absolute faves to try (a full list can be found on Jumeirah.com).

Nomad, Jumeirah Creekside Hotel AED 150 Per Person For 3 Courses
These guys serve up one of the best salmon dishes in town! Coupled with a complimentary beverage you can’t get much better. The menu is designed to impress the most discerning tastes and the open kitchen provides the perfect backdrop to a great meal.

Shimmers, Madinat Jumeirah AED 150 Per Person For 3 Courses
Fancy going Greek on Madinat Jumeirah’s private beach with stunning views of Burj Al Arab? That’s just what you’ll get at Shimmers – together with white washed woods, turquoise shades and sand under your feet. Perfect.

Tortuga, Madinat Jumeirah AED 150 Per Person For 3 Courses
Love Mexican? Can’t get enough of spicy colourful guacamole? Then take a culinary journey to an authentic Mexican home at Tortuga and get stuck into Tuna Chivice, Guacamole, Beef Fajitas and Churros served with a decadent chocolate sauce – just some of the scrummy things on the menu, mamas! Authentic food, a mariachi band and Latin music served with a gorgeous view of the Madinat waterways.

Al Iwan, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah AED 250 Per Person For An Arabic Buffet
Seeking something local? Head to the arabesque ambience of Al Iwan for traditional Arabian delicacies. Not only is the food here totally delicious but the setting is pretty hard to beat too (when else can you eat at the Burj Al Arab for that price?!). From a scenic lunch during the day to a romantic candlelight dinner by  night, experience local cuisine at its best.

The Rib Room, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray AED 250 Per Person For 3 Courses 
Elegant, sophisticated, the perfect place for a quiet dinner date with your loved one (especially if you or she/he loves a great steak). We’d go there for the cheese selection alone…

Nathan Outlaw At Al Mahara, Burj Al Arab AED 350 Per Person For 3 Courses
An opportunity to dine at the Burj Al Arab for an insanely affordable price simply cannot be passed up, mamas, especially when the menu has been put together by one of the world’s best chefs and includes oysters, beautiful fish (both on the plate and in a central aquarium) and a Dark Chocolate Fondant (ahhh get me there right now!).

Pierchic, Madinat Jumeirah AED 350 Per Person For 3 Courses
Possibly one of the most special places we’ve dined at in Dubai (think out in the sea, on stilts, with waves crashing and a view of the Burj Al Arab and beaches), the modern European menu is divine and the ambiance heavenly, definitely one for a romantic dinner a deux and it comes inclusive of AED 150 food & beverage credit. Perfect!

For more details on Jumeirah Restaurant Week, including a full list of all participating restaurants and offers, visit www.jumeirah.com 

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Because Dubai’s dining scene is ever changing, we want to give you a head’s up on all the latest restaurants that have opened in our beloved city. From places to get that all-important cuppa to contemporary fine dining, date night restaurants and a trending tea house, here’s what’s new in the desert city…

Check our gallery for all the mouth-watering new restaurant details!

Hungry for more? Then read these:
Dubai’s Hottest New Restaurants
Our Favourite Dubai Cafes For A Babyccino (& Latte!)
5 Healthy Meal Delivery Services in Dubai

The post FOODIE NEWS FLASH, April 2018: New Restaurants & Cafe’s In Dubai appeared first on Sassy Mama.

Mamas, I admit it – this week I haven’t really been feeling the Dubai love. My visitors are all gone, leaving my bank account and my fridge empty, term was exhausting and I could use a break but we’re not going away until the summer. Oh, it’s already starting to get hot. Oh, the expat mama woes.

But rather than throw my toys out of the pram (oh to be four again!), I’ve decided to look on the bright side of being a mama here in Dubai and, dare I say it, count my blessings. So here they are: 5 things I love that I could never do anywhere else…. 

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Being a fan of contemporary Japanese cuisine is hardly unique these days. Absolutely adoring the beautiful restaurant area at Jumierah Al Naseem…  also not a shocker. So a Katsuya date night at Jumeirah Al Naseem not only made sense but felt like the only right thing to do!

The Concept and Venue

The concept is Japanese food with a Californian spin as well as a local touch. At Katsuya this simply means fresh, fun and a bit … Jennifer Aniston…you know what I mean.

Katsuya was created by master sushi chef Katsuya Uechi and designer Philippe Starck. The interiors are unsurprisingly minimalistic for anyone who knows Starck and is totally geared up for what’s important. Keep your eyes on the plate mamas!

Read more: Dubai’s Hottest New Restaurants

The Food

Let’s get down to business. We started off with some drinks. My husband went for an old-fashioned and I took a back set with a mocktail. Both were very good. Our first dish was ‘Tuna Tacos’. Absolutely delicious, with a side of guacamole (the Californian spin remember?). We combined that with the ‘Seaweed Sunomono’, yum. And there was a ‘Wagyu Beef Gyoza’ special on our night, which was absolutely heavenly. Let’s hope they make that a menu item very soon because I’d hate for you to miss out.

You can’t go Japanese without trying the sushi. We were recommended the ‘Double Double Roll’ and the ‘Hollywood Roll’. Don’t be snobs. Rolls are sushi too. Just jam-packed, tasty, juicy ones ok? Try them!

By the time our mains were served we were pretty stuffed but hey, we decided to devour the Wagyu Ribeye, which was juicy and tender and after that we inhaled the Black Miso Cod. Miso cod is a personal favourite and this one was definitely up there with some of the best I’ve had. Just enough miso to give it that Umami (throwing big words around toda)- flavor without being too salty. Perfection.

Read more: Why You Must Try Masti, La Mer’s First Licensed Venue

What we loved

I would definitely go back… but this place is expensive. Some of the pricing doesn’t quite make sense but hey, what really does in life? If you are on the look out for some really yummy food, great location, excellent drinks and decided it’s on Mother VISA … then go!

Katsuya by Starck

Jumeirah Al Naseem 
Madinat Jumeirah
Jumeirah St – Dubai
Tel: 04 419 0676

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The Occasion

Since the avalanche of Christmas visitors, hub and I haven’t been out for dinner alone together (I know, I know it’s a first world problem and there goes the world’s smallest violin!). Plus, as the old saying goes ‘we do like to be by the seaside’ – and Masti is the first licensed venue to open at hot new Jumeirah 1 development La Mer…

Read more: Dubai Has A New Beach Area & This Is Why You Need To Check It Out

The Venue

Masti translates into ‘fun and mischief’ and that sense of irreverence is reflected throughout the food and the brightly coloured décor (check out the flocked wallpaper and the mischievous monkey pictures throughout). The building itself is huge with two floors, outdoor and indoor terraces and most importantly – a dedicated gin room. They’re also about to implement loyalty card for local residents – cheers to that!

Read more: Dubai’s Hottest New Restaurants

The Vibe

Funky. The lighting alone throws everything else into shade – this is the kind of place where you’ll spend half the time admiring the décor and the other half marveling over the food. Think lots of stained glass, textured seats and bright prints. The crowd is a real mix – we saw some hipsters on what looked like a first date (perfect pick as there’s so much to talk about!) as well as a couple taking their elderly parents out. We’re told it gets pretty busy on Thursdays and Fridays though, so you may need to book.

The Food

In a word, yummo! Like everywhere else, it’s a sharing plate concept, but what sets it apart from the rest is that every dish is a work of art. We made our way through the menu and there wasn’t a duff pick. Portion wise, we opted for three starters, three mains and a couple of sides, which luckily left just enough room for dessert. While I don’t usually associate Indian cuisine with innovative dessert (unless you love lassis!), Masti’s no traditional Indian and their desserts are definitely worth saving space for. The tiramisu really did taste as good as it looked – and that’s saying something.

Room for improvement

While we were more than happy to leave our tiny terrorist at home, Masti isn’t particularly kid-friendly. Although kids of all ages are allowed in the unlicensed downstairs part of the restaurant, only those who are six and above are allowed on the first floor, so for us, it’s got a limited daytime factor.

What we loved

Even if you’re not hungry, it’s worth going for the cocktails alone. These perfumed, jewel-coloured confections are all Insta-perfect if you’re feeling snap happy and come with a spicy kick that’s perfect for date night. Masti’s Mahar mojito is made with vodka, not rum, has a healthy dose of ginger and is so delicious it almost felt like a meal in itself (Which means there was no excuse for me having two – cringe!). Hub thought the tomato prawns were to die for, while I – a few mojitos to the wind – couldn’t get over the tiny discs they brought between every course that looked like mints but turned out to actually be wet wipes! Once a mama always a mama, ladies…

Details:

Masti, La Mer South
www.mastidubai.com

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