‘Alice in Wonderland’ brunch at Blue Marlin
Make the most of the weather before it gets too warm by heading to Blue Marlin Ibiza UAE for its one-off Mad Hatter's Tea Party brunch on February 9. The beach-side venue in Ghantoot – which is easy enough to reach from both Abu Dhabi and Dubai – will feature a number of whimsical characters from Alice in Wonderland, plus a magician and caricature artist, a giant chess board and croquet, as well as props such as playing cards, oversized clocks and mushrooms. The Mediterranean-style menu is priced from Dh310. Safe drivers are available upon prior request and Careem guests can get 50 per cent off their rides with the code BMIUAE. Email reservation@bluemarlinibiza-uae.com.
British-Arabic menu at Pots, Pans & Boards
Michelin-starred British chef Tom Aikens will join forces with Syrian chef Mohammad Orfali to present the Where East meets West menu, priced at Dh300 per person, this month. Celebrity chef Orfali hosts the Our Arab Cuisine (Matbakhna Al Arabi) show on the Fatafeat food channel, and is a world-renowned authority on Aleppian cuisine. The fusion menu will be served from Sunday until February 24 at Aikens's Dubai restaurant Pots, Pans & Boards in JBR. Dishes include charred mackerel, salmon tajin, curried chicken ballotine, and baklava with salted pistachio cream and orange blossom. To make a reservation, call 04 456 1959.
Visit Zefki, Dubai’s latest Levantine restaurant
Originating from the Turkish word "zevki", which means pleasure, Zefki Levantine Eatery will open its doors this Wednesday at Number One Tower Suites on Sheikh Zayed Road. The 60-seater venue will serve signature dishes from Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and the UAE, including favourites such as kabsa, pides, metre-long kebabs, and kuzu guvec (slow-cooked lamb shank and vegetable stew, oven-baked in a clay pot). Chef Mohammad Tayeb Derbas is known for his penchant to garnish his dishes with Middle Eastern herbs and spices, such as zaatar, sumac, saffron and cumin. The Turkish coffee, if you order it, will be made before your eyes on a bed of sand. Make a reservation on opening night by calling 04 330 2288 or email tastelevant@zefki.ae.
Bord Eau launches subsidised French menu for two
Diners can head to the award-winning French restaurant at Shangri-La, Qaryat Al Beri in Abu Dhabi to feast on the new Comme a La Maison menu, being served every evening from February 15. The three-course meal is priced at Dh469 for two, which includes two beverages each, and will change twice a month. On offer this week is an amuse-bouche course, featuring creamy red pumpkin soup with cauliflower carpaccio; or fresh tuna tartare with kumquat, zucchini puree and espelette chilli. For mains, choose between the beef tenderloin with seasonal veggies, or sea bream with cauliflower mash, gnocchi and sundried tomatoes. End the meal with a cheese platter with chutney and walnut bread, or a classic creme brulee. Call 02 509 8555.
Yoga with a side of acai at Brambles Cafe
Sign up for a yoga class with Voyoga founder Victoria Cunningham to get a discount on your post-workout breakfast at health cafe Brambles in Dubai on February 13. The session will take place at 9am on the roof terrace of Citadines Metro Central Hotel, and promises to work up an appetite that can be satiated at Brambles Cafe next door. The breakfast menu includes wholesome treats such as kale and sweet potato frittata, avocado toast, a selection of acai bowls, and avocado pizza, which you can get for 20 per cent less than the menu price, while the class itself costs Dh30. To sign up, call 04 553 8630 or email info@yoyoga.ae.
