Top 10 Places to Eat and Drink in Dubai

Dubai is a foodie’s haven where you could try a different place for every meal for more than a year and still not go back to the same place. We Jeddawis love to find an excuse to visit Dubai, and in this piece, Jeddah Blog’s resident foodie Abdullah Yahya has short-listed 10 such excuses for 10 places for every time of the day that are simply not to be missed the next time you are in Dubai.

Breakfast

This is the most important meal of the day and Dubai has plenty to offer in this department. Here are two of the best:

The Coffee Club

With a few branches spread around Dubai, the menu of The Coffee Club is varied and extensive, but it is my favorite pick for breakfast because it’s one of the best. Try the poached eggs with avocado, and close your meal with Apple Crumble tart, with a cup of good old-fashioned black coffee.

Perfectly poached eggs.

Locations: different location: Wasl Vita Mall, Times Square Centre, and The Palm Jumeirah.

Little More

The sibling of More Café has three different branches in Dubai, but I strongly suggest you visit the one in Marina Mall. Sure, it’s hot now in Dubai, but the trick is, they have an airconditioned outdoorsy area that’s overlooking the Dubai Marina, so you get the view without the discomfort. Their Full English Breakfast is hearty and their Healthy Breakfast is guilt-free, but whatever you choose, I think you will be happy. While you’re there try their signature Red Espresso® Cappuccino made of rooibos tea which has 0 caffeine.

Full English or Healthy Breakfast with this view?

Location: Marina Mall, Business Central Tower, and  DAFZA Building.

 

Specialty Coffee

Stomping Grounds

Located in a villa in the posh Jumeirah District, this place serves amazing coffee, and excellent food as well. You can trust the barista with a coffee recommendation, and he will even suggest other coffee places in Dubai. Now that is confidence!

Try this for a pick-me-up.

Location: Villa #98, 12D Street (Corner 51 St), 1 – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

 

Café Rider Custom

A themed specialty coffeeshop, Café Rider Custom is a motorbike warehouse/ workshop/ showroom/ café. It has the coolest vibes, but that is not the only reason to visit. Do yourself a favour and try the flat white and the tiramisu. The location is in an industrial warehouse area very close to Mall of Emirates just off Umm Suqeim Rd.

Cool vibes and coffee.

Location:  Warehouse 7, 14C Umm Suqeim Road, Dubai – United Arab Emirates.

 

Indian

There is no shortage of Indian restaurants in Dubai, from the cheapest to the finest. It’s almost as if Indian subcontinent food is the official cuisine of Dubai. To narrow it down to one restaurant is just a fool’s errand, which I am gladly tackling.

Curry Culture

Curry Culture for me is a hidden gem tucked outside the China Court in Ibn Battuta Mall near Jabal Ali. Their curries are delicious and moderately priced, and their dosa is fantastic and comes in different varieties.

The Curry Culture Dosa

Classic Chicken Tikka Masala

Location: China Court, Ibn Battuta Mall, Mina Jebel Ali – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

Ethnic Food

Tribes (African)

If you want to try African cuisine, then Tribes is where you should be heading. A bit pricey, but it’s colourful and cheerful with amazing ambience, and has the most convenient location in two of Dubai’s biggest malls. Try their Lamb Spring Roll, they are seriously, devilishly good, and don’t be afraid to try the Oxtail. It might seem exotic, but trust me when I say it is not to be missed.

Devilishly good lamb spring rolls.

Locations: The Mall of Emirates, and The Dubai Mall.

Ting Irie (Jamaican)

Just as I thought restaurants couldn’t get cooler than Tribes, I tried Ting Irie, the Jamaican Restaurant in Downtown Dubai, and I was blown away. The service is so friendly and inviting, and the food is so delicious and different from anything you’ve experienced. Don’t miss the Beef Patties which are just mouthwatering. We tried to ask for the recipe, but the chef wouldn’t tell us. Spitfiyah Jerk Chicken is another excellent dish not to be missed. The restaurant is expensive, but it is worth every penny.

The decor and food is modern and bold.

Locations: Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard, Souk Al Manzil, Downtown – Dubai – United Arab Emirates

 

Rosa Mexicano (Mexican)

Unlike Jeddah, Dubai has many Mexican restaurants to choose from. My pick is Rosa Mexicana which has two branches in Dubai. It’s reasonably priced, and their guacamole made fresh at your table is not to be missed. Do try their hard-shells taco trio also.

Go Mexican.

Locations: The Dubai Mall and Mirdif City Centre.

Afternoon Tea

TWG Teahouse

If you are particular about your tea, then you might spend a long time at TWG making a selection from their very extensive tea menu. It has a few hundreds kinds of tea. Our favorites are the Silver Moon Tea and the Royal Moroccan. And their Crème Brûlée is seriously awesome.

A relaxing cuppa at TWG

Locations: The Dubai Mall and Festival City Mall

 

The Dinner and Movie Experience

Theatre by Rhodes at Vox Cinemas

If you love movies and food, then you can have the two in one. Theatre by Rhodes has a menu created by Michelin star chef Gary Rhodes. You will experience films in a luxurious way like you have never seen before. Food will be served to you in your seat of comfort one course after another, and don’t worry about the mess of eating in the dark, as all the food can be easily picked by hand.

A theatre experience like no other.

Locations: Vox Cinemas, Mall of Emirates.

Elegant Fine Dining at Le Traiteur

Ramadan is a time of spirituality, self-control and self-reflection. Muslims around the world fast from sunrise to sunset choosing to spend the holy month mostly with family and close friends. Iftar is the evening meal, the breaking of the fast that becomes a special occasion every day. Whether we choose to dine at home, or savour the meal outside, it becomes more than simply a meal and takes on a higher meaning.

When it comes to dining out at Iftar time, Jeddawis are positively spoilt for choice. Food courts and malls become packed and popular restaurants reach their peak. However, what about those restaurants tucked away from mainstream? Those elegant venues not openly advertised, but the quality of their food and service is whispered about in closed circles?

In our latest blog post, Jeddah Blog’s extreme foodie Abdullah Yahya spills the beans on one of the hidden gems of Jeddah’s food scene, French restaurant Le Traiteur. After reading this review, you’ll be sure to want to experience the elegance, quality and personal touch of this fine dining restaurant.

Do you know of any hidden gems that you would recommend? Secret restaurants that only a select few know about? Let us know in the comments below.

I don’t know about you, but in Ramadan I try to avoid going to open-buffet restaurants for Iftar. They are usually overcrowded, way overpriced, and they induce overeating. I know many foodies like myself who are hesitant to dine out in Ramadan because of that. That is why if you are anything like me, you should consider visiting Le Traiteur. Tucked away in a beautiful small villa in a residential area in Ash-Shati Dist., Le Traiteur is a hidden gem that not many know or talk about.

Approaching Le Traiteur

It’s a fine dining French restaurant that I can only describe as simply elegant. The restaurant is small and intimate, it has perhaps 10 – 15 tables at most, and when you enter from the main door, you feel you have been transferred to a French ballroom.

Beautifully classic French decor

I have dined at Le Traiteur several times during the years, but I have not been there for what seems like forever, which is something the restaurant manager noticed as he greeted us at the door, saying ruefully: “Mr. Abdullah, it’s nice to see you again, even though we only see you in Ramadan lately”. It struck me that he is absolutely right. I should be visiting more during the year, because even though I enjoy dining there in Ramadan, just like many restaurants in the city, they swap their regular menu in favour of a more Ramadan themed one, which in not necessarily in keeping with the restaurant cuisine.

Tastefully decorated tables

As we sat at the table minutes before the Maghrib (sunset) calling for prayer. I was busy admiring the elegant surroundings, from the classic furniture and wallpaper, glass displays of China and glassware, elegant table cloths and silverware, to the napkins that were folded to resemble the restaurant emblem. The dim lighting gives you an intimate candle-lit feeling that enhances the experience, and just shortly after the prayer ended, they began to play some classic music in the background that added majesty to the whole ambience.

The service was ever-friendly and attentive, and our waiter took extra care of my 15 month old child and made her feel welcome too.

The Arabic appetizers.

As soon as it was time to break our fast, dates, water, laban (buttermilk), and Arabic coffee was served, with pita and French bread, and a plate of Arabic appetizers. The appetizers consisted of a variety of cheese samosa, beef samosa, kibbeh, and spring rolls. I enjoyed the samosas, and I thought the kibbeh tasted good, but was too brittle and fell apart in the plate.

The soup table: Creamy Seafood and Lentil

Then it was time to head to the buffet and choose a soup. There was a choice between creamy seafood soup and lentil soup, and we opted for the seafood soup, which did not disappoint; it was hearty and warm, but was not heavy. I took a glance at the foul jar next to the soups pots, but then I decided against it, as I needed to be more selective.Next was time to visit the salad bar, and there were more than enough items to keep us happy for the next portion of our meal, and they tasted good as well.

Great variety at the salad bar.

Our waiter then asked us to choose our main course. Every day there are three dishes to choose from, and on this particular day the choices were between Beef Picatta, Chicken Cordon Blue, and Fish & Chips. We opted for the chicken and the beef and neither disappointed, especially the chicken, which was fantastic. I liked the beef too, but by the time I swapped plates with my wife, it was a little cold, but the rice was excellent and I wished I had room in my stomach to finish the plate.

Beef Picatta

Finally, we got round to dessert, and they were no dearth of choices, as the dessert buffet was full of many choice sweets, whether Arabic or Western.

Desserts galore.

There were also many fresh cuts of fruits, and even a chocolate fountain. I especially liked cheesecake and mahlabia (rice pudding) with pistachio and flower essence, and my wife was smitten by the chocolate pudding.

The Chocolate Fountain

Overall, we were very satisfied with our experience in Le Traiteur. It is a place for one who wants to savour one’s meal slowly in a sophisticated ambience. The price is 150 SR pp, which is moderate if you compare it to similar iftars in similar restaurants in Jeddah.

The choices are not very wide making you feel the need to binge, but they are varied enough that you feel satisfied. So, if you want to escape the crowds and have a pleasant experience away from the hustle and bustle of Ramadan buffet in five star hotels, here is your chance. However, if you’re still not convinced that you need to go out in Ramadan, I understand, just make sure to visit the restaurant after the holy month for the same elegant treatment only with proper French cuisine. Note to self: “Practice what you preach, and make sure to visit the restaurant yourself after Ramadan”.

Hospitality 9/10

Ambience 9/10

Soups, salads, and appetizers 9/10

Main dishes 8/10

Dessert 8/10

Value for money 8/10

Address: Abu Al Abbas Ibn Abdulmutalib, Ash Shati, Jeddah 23513, Saudi Arabia

Phone: +966 12 605 5111

Tea and Falafel

If there’s anyone in this city who has their finger on the collective Jeddawi pulse, it’s Jeddah Blog’s Abdullah Yahya. Whether it’s honest advice on the best coffee shops  or the latest restaurant openings and dining options this is the one person you want among your handy Whatsapp contacts.

For this blog post, Abdullah has been on the hunt for a speciality breakfast hangout and he chanced upon the charmingly named Tea & Falafel on Madina Road. Scroll down to read Abdullah’s review, see what he ordered and find out how much he awarded the outlet in the all-important Jeddah Blog rating.

Breakfast is not only the most important meal of the day, but many agree that it is indeed their favorite meal of the day. As Jeddawis, in the past we only had limited options for breakfast places, but this has been changing quickly in recent years.

If social media is any indication, breakfast joints are all the rage, and of all the times we eat out, the longest we wait for an empty table is usually when we go out for breakfast.

Rustic and homely at the same time

One of the latest places to open in Jeddah is Tea & Falafel which is located on Madinah Branch Road (address: 6614 Abi Haitham Al Ansari, Al Muhammadiyah District, Al Muhammadiyah District,, Jeddah 23624). Although it is still in its soft opening phase, it is very popular already.

The tastefully decorated single’s section

It has a single section downstairs and a family section upstairs. It’s not a large restaurant and there are less than 10 tables in the family section, and maybe as many in the singles section. It is nicely decorated and brightly coloured with upbeat quotes. My favourite is their take on BFF as “Best Falafel Forever”

The spice bar

Part tea shop, part restaurant, it serves Arabic food with an emphasis on falafel. You can indulge in all of your falafel fantasies here with creations such as falafel nachos, falafel waffles, manakeesh with falafel, etc.

We loved the bright sunlight pouring in.

Since it was our first time, we played it safe and ordered an Arabic breakfast plate (40SR) which came with samplers of Arabic traditional biggest hits (hummus, falafel, foul,  manakeesh, hummus, foul, labneh, tahini, makdous, jam, potato wedges, pickles, and pita bread). It comes with a pot of English breakfast tea but we replaced that with Karak tea.

I also ordered fresh orange juice (SR14 ), falafel stuffed with nuts (serving of two pieces, SR6), and zaatar mankeesh (SR8)

Za’atar Mankeesh

Karak Tea

Arabic breakfast sampler

Everything we tried was good, but the falafel, we thought, were exceptional. They were not too greasy and they tasted pretty good especially the falafel stuffed with nuts. I also liked the Karak tea.

Next time inshaAllah we will be trying other items on the menu, and you can bet there will be a next time, because not only did we like the food, but the service was good, the ambience was cool, and the prices were excellent. We ended up paying SR68 for 2 persons. Great value for money.

Jeddah Blog rating:

Ambience 8/10

Service 8/10

Food 9/10

Value 9/10

Overall rating 8.5/10

-photo credits: Abdullah Yahya

Kidzmamia: Entrepreneurship for Children

Kidzmamia was an event held last month by Elite Club Jeddah at Salt n Pepper Restaurant in an effort to foster entrepreneurial skills amongst children. The idea was for the kids to book stalls which were then set up and managed by the children themselves. A total of nineteen stalls were booked within two days. The children made banners and set up the food, drinks and games.

The purpose of the event was to boost self-confidence in the children, enhance their creativity, develop their skills of communication and social dealing, and create a sense of optimism, hard-work, and competitiveness. Their happy faces and heavy pockets at the end of the evening was an indication that they had indeed gained a great deal from the activity.

A charity box was also set up to encourage the children to think about those less fortunate than themselves.

If you were at the event, see if you can spot yourself in the slideshow below. Did you enjoy yourself? Leave a comment and let us know!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

by Saniya Owais

Click here for more information on Elite Club Jeddah.

Naan Restaurant: A Review

Eating out is one of the most-favoured hobbies of Jeddawis and thankfully, we’ve always been spoilt for choice. The wonderful diversity among the residents of Jeddah is expressed in its food culture too.

It is quite common to see new restaurants and cafés opening up all the time, and Jeddah Blog’s very own foodie Abdullah Yahya never misses a chance to try out the latest offering. In his latest review exclusively for Jeddah Blog, Abdullah tries out Naan Restaurant, located behind Souk Shatee.

One of my new favourite restaurants in Jeddah is the elegant Naan in Al-Zahra district. It is roomy and it’s chic, with great service and even better food. The one downside is that they have a ‘no children under 5’ policy but to be fair, I have taken my toddler along twice and they let us in with a polite warning that if she starts crying I should take her to a room to calm her down, and luckily my girl behaved both times.

So why do I like it so much? The reason is quite simply that its menu is very extensive and can meet all tastes. Although their food is not hugely different from what you’d find in many other Indians restaurants, it just tastes better. Proof of that is that I thoroughly enjoyed the Chicken Biryani even though I am not much of a rice person.

First up, appetizers. We opted for the vegetable samosa which was quite good. The serving consisted of four pieces accompanied by a tangy tamarind dip, but I say skip the dip for the samosa itself is very crispy from the outside and juicy and colourful on the inside.

Crispy and moreish samosas.

 

The Murg Tikka comes in this showy presentation hanging vertically on skewers. But it’s not all show, it actually tastes amazing. Very juicy and flavourful – it tingles your tastebuds and leaves you wanting more!

The juicy Murg Tikka packed with flavour.

As for the curries, I have tried several during my visits. The one I tried last was the Bombay Beef Curry, which I liked quite a bit. My only gripe was that the quantity of beef in the dish wasn’t as generous as the amount of gravy.

For dessert, we are predictable and play safe as we always opt for the Gulab Jamun. This never fails and is consistently good, albeit the serving is too tiny for its price.

Gulab Jamun, always a safe bet.

When it comes to refreshments, I’ve tried their Mango Lassi before which is decent. This time I opted for their Gagajeer mocktail, which has among other things a weird mix of ginger, arugula, avocado, and honey. I was happy to give it a go, but it’s too weird even for me.

Are you adventurous enough for the Gagajeer Mocktail?

Price-wise, Naan is not the cheapest of Indian restaurants (not the priciest either), but it’s classy, clean, and serves great food. It definitely should be on your radar if you value some spice in your food.

Jeddah Blog rating

Ambience: 9/10

Food: 9/10

Service: 8/10

Value: 8/10

Cost per head: SR120-150

Experience a Turkish Bazaar!

Amazing opportunity to soak up some Turkish culture and food this Friday, 9th December 2016.

 

Fire at Red Chillies

If you’re looking for a truly authentic burn-the-roof-of-your-mouth-off Pakistani Chicken Tikka then I have the perfect place for you. More on that tikka later, but first I’ve got to mention one caveat, which is that the seating is very basic. If you’re a real food lover, but not looking particularly for a fine dining experience, then you’ll be in for a treat.

And if you’re Pakistani, you just might forget where you are for a little while. Close your eyes and imagine that you’re in a typical restaurant in Lahore. Quite a delicious escape!

Red Chillies in Aziziya

Skill on the Grill – Review

Skill on the Grill is a newly opened restaurant on the intersection of Prince Sultan Street and Sari Street in the fancy new mall that brings us lots of delectable eateries. Jeddah Blog writer Samreen Ahmed set out on a mission to sample the new outfit and gave us her verdict.

Ramadan Recipe – Crispy Chicken

We wish Ramadan Kareem to all of our readers!

Ramadan is a blessed and holy month, a time of worship, contemplation, self-reflection and of submission. However, it is also a month of sharing and caring, community and festivity.

In addition to focusing on our fasts and our prayers, at the end of the day we look forward to breaking our fast. Jeddah Blog will be bringing you some exciting new recipes, and our first contribution is from Asma and Aisha, two sisters with a passion for food, who blog at Jet Set Eat. Their unique Crispy Chicken recipe uses traditional Ramadan ingredients of samosa leaves and kunafa dough, but in a very different way.

Do try the recipe and let us know how it turns out.

Crispy Chicken

Crispy Chicken

Ingredients

500g boneless chicken, cut into 2 inch long strips.

2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce

2 tbsp garlic paste

2 eggs

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp tandoori masala powder

Chilli flakes (optional)

1 tbsp white pepper powder

1 pinch red edible food colour

Salt to taste

3 tbsp refined flour

2 tbsp cornflour

Thinly sliced samosa leaves or kunafah dough (hair)

Oil to deep fry

 

Directions

1. Marinate the chicken in sweet chilli sauce, garlic paste, eggs, soy sauce, tandoori masala, chilli flakes, white pepper, red colour and salt for 2 hours.

2. Mix refined flour and cornflour in the chicken marinade and leave for 15 mins.

3. Spread the samosa leaves or kunafa dough (hair) on a plate and roll the marinated chicken in it. Press well with hands so it sticks to the chicken.

4. Heat sufficient oil in a wok and deep fry the chicken until crisp and cooked from inside. Serve with your favourite sauce.

You can follow Jet Set Eat on Instagram: @jet.set.eat

Ramadan Volunteering Food Distribution Program

‣ Seeking to do good works this Ramadan?
‣ Wish to give back to the community?
‣ Looking to volunteer your time for a worthy cause?
‣ Are you a teen seeking to get involved in social programs? 
‣ Need community hours for High School graduation and University admissions?

Look no more!

Get Involved with Jeddah’s Premier Volunteering Program for Social Work. The International Community in Jeddah is currently recruiting teens to volunteer for food their Ramadan Food Distribution Program.

Who can participate?

‣ Adult
‣ Teens
‣ Minimum Age 13 years
‣ Males and females

Days and Times
‣ 1st Ramadan to 30th Ramadan
‣ 4:30 – 6:30 pm daily

Meeting Point
‣ Volunteers will be notified once they have registered.

Distribution Districts
‣ Volunteers will be dispatched in groups under the supervision of a team leader. There will be eight locations as follows: South of Jeddah, Ruwais, Ghulail, Karantina, Gurayat and Balad.

‣ Certificates to all International Community in Jeddah volunteers stating volunteering hours can be arranged upon request.

Contact Person
‣ Ally Durvesh: 0599998894

hellofood offers 24-hours premium access to icflix with every meal order

We at Jeddah Blog have used hellofood, the online food delivery service many times, and have never been disappointed. They are prompt, reliable, efficient, and even follow up online orders with a phone call confirming the order and an email afterwards inquiring about the level of service provided. Adding to all this, their service charge is very reasonable. If you haven’t tried them already, I recommend you do so very soon. When you do, leave a comment at the end of this blog post telling us about your experience.

Enjoying a delicious meal in front of a movie is something we all like, therefore the promotional offer that is currently available between Hellofood and icflix might interest the cinema lovers. 

In fact the Middle East and North Africa’s leading Internet streaming service, providing its viewers with access to Hollywood, Bollywood and Jazwood (Arabic) content has lately announced a strategic partnership with hellofood.

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Active in over 40 countries over 5 continents, hellofood have selected the best restaurants in Saudi Arabia, granting customers ordering food online, free unlimited 24-hour access to movies, TV series, documentaries and kids content on icflix.

“The premium access to icflix will give hellofood customers a chance to enjoy and experience the service,” said Carlos Tibi, CEO, icflix. “We want customers to enjoy the entertainment from the comfort of their own home.”

“hellofood represents a complement to icflix’s internet streaming service  and vice versa, enabling users to order food online from more than 500 restaurants and choose from a variety of movies and TV shows at the same time. All customers will benefit from the synergy of this partnership”, said Beschir Hussain, CEO  of Hellofood Middle East.

About ICFLIX

ICFLIX media FZ LLC was established in Dubai in 2012. The company provides its members with convenient access to . It is the first subscription-based online streaming service of its kind and offers movies, TV series, cartoons, and documentaries. The service is currently available on over 900 different mobile and fixed Internet enabled devices including PCs, Macs, smart phones, tablets, smart TVs and gaming consoles. Aside from its UAE headquarters, ICFLIX has offices in Morocco, Egypt and Czech Republic.

You can follow icflix via Twitter and Facebook.

About hellofood

hellofood is the leading global online food delivery marketplace and is active in more than 40 countries across five continents. For restaurants, hellofood promotes their visibility in a mobile and digital world, and provides up-to-date interfaces as technology evolves. For diners, hellofood provides the convenience of ordering food online and offers the widest culinary range to choose their favorite meal from, which can be done via the web or through the app. In the Middle East, hellofood is present in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon and Qatar. The group recently acquired UAE-based 24h and has raised more than 200 million USD to date.

– Sponsored article

Little Big Memories With Anchor

Childhood is the best stage of our lives and the more you grow the more you miss all these memories of your childhood. All parents want to save a trace of the best moments and the good times they have spent with their kids, to be part of their lives for a long time, Anchor comes today to allow you to celebrate the little big moments of your children by offering you, a new application on Facebook.

Anchor is a brand that was created in 1886 and owned by the New Zealand based international exporter Fonterra Co−operative Group, Fonterra is one of the largest producers and distributors of dairy and food around the world, Anchor offers a range of powdered milks, ready-to-drink milks, yoghurts, cheeses and butter in countries across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Anchor takes care and improves the quality of its milk, it’s a source of naturally occurring dairy nutrients such as proteins, iron and minerals such as calcium to help build strong bones and teeth, plus vitamins such as B vitamins which are essential for growth and development of your child.

With the new Facebook application that Anchor offers, it will allow you to turn all the most beautiful moments of your child into an amazing and unique video, creating a fantastic little masterpiece that makes you feel happy and proud of your kids. Also, it allows you to save those sweet moments for a long time and share it with your kids once they grow up. If you have some beautiful photos of your child in your phone or on your computer and want to share them with your friends, Anchor App will help you to make a wonderful video.

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Little Big Moments app of Anchor is more easier, more secure, more organized, and more fun way to create sweet moments that our children will always remember, all you have to do is to connect to Facebook and launch the Application, choose all the interesting photos, milestones and great moments of your child and upload them via the application. Once finished, you can add a small comment and share it with your beloved and your family with the following hashtag : #LittleBigMoments.

So dear parents, every child is entitled to a beautiful childhood, and every little big moment needs to be remembered, so let’s imagine those moments and create a memory!

Click on this link to use the Application.

– Sponsored article

Karimah’s Fig Frangipane Tart

Sweet, succulent figs, I find, are an absolute delight. When they are in season in Jeddah, I can’t get enough of them. I love their simplicity – no peeling, nor preparing. Just a quick wash, and then enjoy the freshness and richness of flavour packed with nutritional goodness which is totally unlike any other fruit.

On the way back from my local store, having indulged in figs galore, I emailed Karimah bint Dawoud, clinical nutritionist and guest blogger at JB, and author of Heavenly Bites, the Best of Muslim Home Cooking, asking if she would share a recipe from her new book, Happy Healthy Halal. Kind soul that she is, she promptly sent me the most delicious Fig Frangipane Tart recipe, exclusively to share with Jeddah Blog readers.

Find out more about Karimah, best-selling author, photographer, former model and makeup artist who converted to Islam eleven years ago on her website. She is a sought-after nutrition coach and is working on her new book, Happy Healthy Halal.

At-Teen in Arabic means “fig”. The fig is symbolic of the lands that it grows in, mainly Turkey, Palestine and Syria. We often think of figs as part of various sweets and biscuits, but these interesting fruits also have amazing medical properties.

• They help lower high blood pressure
• They a sweet way to lose weight; nibble on a dried fig with a cup of tea rather than biscuits.
• They are a fast food; carry dry figs around when you are out and about and on the go outside the home.
• They contain fibre that protects against postmenopausal breast cancer
• They promote bone density
• They protect against macular/eye degeneration

This recipe is part of my new book Happy Healthy Halal that features foods of the Holy Quran, and their contemporary uses. The fig is such a special fruit that it has its own chapter in the Quran called Surat At-Teen, chapter 95.

Delicious fresh figs – Photo by Karimah bint Dawoud

Almond is a flavour that perfectly complements figs, and ground almond flour is used in the baking of many praline patisseries. Now frangipani is a sponge mix using ground almonds or pistachio nuts as well as flour, to form the sponge mix which is used as a tart filling. Frangipane or franchipane is said to have originated from France. Frangipani compliments fresh figs beautifully, and with the clever, skillful use of eastern spices we can elevate this exquisite French celebratory patisserie to a heavenly helwiyat (dessert).

Desserts are generally not healthy, however in nutrition circles there is a 80/20 rule that allows 20% of naughtiness and this dessert is certainly cheeky. As a nutritionist, I advise home baking rather than shop bought cakes as it is less convenient to make cake. You can’t just go to the cupboard whenever you feel like it and eat. You are sure of the ingredients when you bake at home, and you can always gather friends and family to sample your delicious delights.

Try the Fig Frangipane Tart recipe below and leave a comment to tell me how it turned out.

Mouthwatering Fig Frangipane Tart – Photo by Karimah bint Dawoud

Fig Frangipane Tart

Preparation time 45 minutes

Serves 8

Ingredients

For The Pastry Crust

• 375g/13¼oz/1.5 cups unbleached all purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
• 15g/½oz sugar
• 125g/8oz /1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into cubes, plus extra for greasing
• 1 free-range egg
• 5 tbsp ice-cold water
• 1 tsp of mixed spice

For The Frangipane Filling

• 200g/7¼oz unsalted butter
• 200g/7¼oz  sugar
• 2 free-range eggs
• 200g/7¼oz ground almonds
• 45ml/3 tablespoons of flour
• 1 tsp of powdered ginger
• 1 tsp of turmeric
• 1 tsp powdered cinnamon

For The Tart Filling

• 4-7 ripe black figs, washed and cut in half

Preparation Of Sweet Short Crust Pastry

1. For the pastry, sieve the flour and sugar into a large mixing bowl. Add spices. Cube the butter and add to the flour spice mix. Rub the butter and the flour between your thumb and fingers until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. If you have hot hands use 2 knives to cross chop butter and flour mix.

2. In a jug or small bowl, beat the egg together with 4-5 tablespoons of ice-cold water. Pour into the flour mixture.
3. Slowly bring the ingredients together with your hands or metal utensils to form a dough, do not overwork it, short crust should be made quick and kept cool or it becomes elastic.
4. Knead the dough lightly on a clean, floured work surface, then wrap it in cling film and put in the fridge at least 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Dust the work surface with flour and roll out the chilled pastry to about ½ cm/1/4 inch. Use it to line one large 25cm/10in tart ring. Trim away any excess. Don’t worry if your pastry is falling apart. This happens sometimes with short crust. Short crust pastry can be a bit crumbly and you may need to patchwork your pastry into the greased backing tin, pressing in evenly, then trim off excess around the edges. Don’t worry, it will be super when it comes out of the oven, insha’allah.
6. You are going to have to do blind baking, which means make the tart without filling and bake first before adding the filling. This is to stop the base of the tart rising or going soggy and not cooking properly, in this case when a wet filling is used.
7. Line the inside of the tart case with a circle of greaseproof paper and put some dried beans on top like kidney beans to weigh the paper down. Place in the oven at 180C/350F/Gas 4 for 15 minutes.
8. Take out and cool for 10 minutes.

Blind baking the tart base – Photo by Karimah bint Dawoud

The Frangipane Almond Tart Filling

1. For the frangipane, beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl until light and creamy. Crack the eggs into the bowl one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the ground almonds, flour and spices and mix well until combined. This is in effect a sponge mixture.
2. Spoon the frangipane into the tart case so that it comes about halfway up the sides. Smooth over the surface with a spatula. Place the halved figs, seed side up evenly on top of the frangipane and press down lightly. The almond filling will lightly rise around it.
3. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the sponge is golden-brown, a skewer or tip of a knife is placed inside sponge and comes out clean and the fruit is tender.
4. When the tart has cooled to warm temperature, add a glaze of apricot or similar smooth jam using an icing spatula or blunt knife to smooth it over the surface of the tart.

Fig Frangipane Glaze – Photo by Karimah bint Dawoud

Enjoy alone or serve warm with healthy crème fraîche.

A slice of heavenly Fig Frangipane Tart – Photo by Karimah bint Dawoud

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Read up on Karimah’s previous blog posts at Jeddah Blog:

Karimah’s Guide to a Healthier Ramadan

and

Jewels of the Desert, Saviours of Ramadan

 

Meena (Market) Bazaar

An upcoming opportunity for fun and shopping, and for home businesses to book their stalls and sell their wares.

Experience Chocolate Magic at Le Concheur

Le Concheur has slowly and steadily been making its presence felt in Jeddah. Although they are still at their soft opening stage, constantly adapting and refining their menu to customer feedback, they are already gaining a base of loyal customers in the city.

A few days ago, my children received a very special invitation from the Kids’ Party Consultant at Le Concheur, Kathy Bacchus. To their absolute delight, they were asked if they would like to attend an exclusive chocolate cup making activity with a group of other children. And if you know the JB family, when it comes to sampling dessert, you don’t need to ask us twice… Needless to say, my children were more than crazily-excited and confirmed their attendance on the spot.

The impressive shop front of Le Concheur.

We arrived enthusiastically half an hour early, were warmly welcomed by the staff, and ordered a berry crepe while waiting for the event to begin. The crepe was a hit with the kids; they commented on the freshness of the fruits in the crepe and proceeded to wipe the plate clean.

Children excited and ready to get started.

Once the activity began upstairs, all of the children were given aprons and chef hats. Despite having a larger attendance than expected, the activity was well-organised and ran quite smoothly.

Kathy explaining how the chocolate machine works.

Kathy and her helpful assistant Franko explained the importance of using tempered chocolate to ensure the chocolate cups stay intact.

Now hold your breath for the next picture…

Pouring tempered chocolate.

They showed us the machine used to temper the chocolate by keeping it at a very precise temperature. The flow of chocolate is controlled by a foot pedal, and filled trays are placed for a few seconds on a vibrating stand to pop any air bubbles.

Kids’ Lab Manager, Kathy, operating the chocolate machine.

Kathy demonstrated to the children how to operate the machine. It’s not as easy as it looks!

Chocolate cups setting in the moulds.

It was very hard to resist, but the chocolate cups had to be left alone for a while to set in their moulds, after which Franko gave a helping hand to the kids in turning out the moulds.

Franko turning out the chocolate moulds.

Once the chocolate saucers and cups were set, the children carefully piped chocolate mousse into the little cups. They all did a great job.

Piping the chocolate mousse into the prepared chocolate cups.

The junior chefs topped off the mousse with raisins and chocolate covered nuts (the hazelnuts are my favourite!), and proudly wrapped their creations in plastic and ribbons to take home.

The final chocolate cup.

It was a wonderful event, thoroughly enjoyed by all of the children present and I can see this activity becoming very popular for birthdays and other private parties. Special thanks to Erik Van Der Veken, rock star chocolatier and creator of the amazing chocolate sculptures displayed instore for his hospitality and good grace.

One of Erik’s beautiful chocolate creations.

Exciting information that I can reveal exclusively to Jeddah Blog readers is that Erik is working with renowned Saudi couture and bridal fashion designer Reem Faisal on a project that will be unveiled at their Grand Opening, planned for the 24th of November.

Le Concheur can be found close to Sari Bridge, at the intersection of Prince Sultan Street and Kayyal Street and can be followed on Instagram via @leconcheur and @erikvandv