Member of The Guild of Food Writers
Member of The Guild of Food Writers

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I give you number three in a five-part series of #DiningDuets pairing chef @lilyhoavf of @vietnamesefoodies with Dubai-based chefs over ticketed dinners at their restaurants. All homegrown, of course 😜



Chef Lily on the pass with @chefbrandomoros @11woodfire last night 😋 A seven-course menu dedicated to one-off exclusive dishes that you won’t find on their à la carte menus.



Save the date for the next Dining Duets experience on the 20th February. Restaurant venue and booking details coming soon ♥️

#UAERestaurantsUnite
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My annual Dubai restaurant guide celebrates its tenth edition, so with this milestone, change is afoot. The restaurants featured are those that I choose to frequent socially, some more often than others. I blame Dubai’s insane traffic. All under a new, personal headline: WHERE FOODIVA DINES IN DUBAI 💖

47 homegrown, locally developed concepts have made my cut this year. Another record. We’re incredibly lucky that chefs and restaurateurs from every continent around the world have planted roots in Dubai, eyeing up market gaps to translate their culinary traditions into independent, intimate restaurants away from lavish hotels. All blending together like a flawless hollandaise to realistically represent this city that is home to over 200 nationalities.

Dubai still has a habit of entertaining celeb chefs on royalty gigs and franchised restaurant brands - but the emirate’s most intriguing dining concepts are cultivated by homegrown talent serving every cuisine under the sun, from cheap, cheerful eats to pricey, polished dining.

These predominately chef-led and owner-operated, independent establishments tick every box in equal measure - food, service, location, interior, atmosphere and value for money – in line with my no-freebies editorial policy where I always pay the bill. They have all consistently impressed across the whole à la carte dining experience, allowing you to eat as much or as little as you want, according to your budget. You won’t find tasting menu concepts or beach clubs in this guide, but you will find my go-to restaurants for delivery.

Whether you’re a UAE resident or a visitor, this guide is designed as a bucket list round-up to inspire your next breakfast, lunch or dinner. That’s how I use it. Entries are categorised by licensed (with alcohol) and unlicensed (sans booze), sub-divided into districts, and then alphabetically.

Link in bio to have a read 🔗

I am keen to know your haunts, which may just inspire my restaurant outings this year – so please feel free to share 🙏🏼💙🇦🇪

[ DubaiRestaurants UAERestaurantsUnite #UAERestaurantsUnite #foodiva ]
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A peek into last night’s invitation-only dinner for some of my annual newsletter subscribers 🙏🏼💙 Cinderella definitely didn’t make it back home by midnight.

🇪🇸 A Spanish seafood dinner fiesta @laninadubai with menu crafted by chefs @cheftim420 and @ricardofgm16 😋

🥂 My favourite Champagne @ruinart Blanc de Blancs and a Spanish wine pairing presented by sommelier @maison.margarita 🍷🍾

💛 The greatest of company. 12 guests. Nine nationalities.

#UAERestaurantsUnite
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For the love of our homegrown restaurant talent 💕 The second in a five-part series of #DiningDuets pairing chef @lilyhoavf of @vietnamesefoodies with five different Dubai-based chefs over ticketed dinners at their restaurants.



A peek here into the second experience last night. Chef Lily cooking with chef Jhovani Manalo @kitchen.hobo at @3.fils A sharing-style menu of Vietnamese and Japanese favourites, as well as one-off exclusive dishes. The duck sausages are back. #iykyk 😜



Save the date for the next Dining Duets experience on the 16th January. Restaurant venue and booking details coming soon 😋 #UAERestaurantsUnite
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Last night’s sold-out #FourChefsDinner. 95 amazing guests. An Iberian, aka Portuguese-Spanish culinary theme 🇵🇹🇪🇸 14 dishes. Four wines, Champagne included. And a beautiful balmy breeze that enveloped Tagomago. You know it’s a good night when you have to ask guests to leave at 1am 💛😂

Much love and full stomachs all down to👇🏼

💃🏻 Our host venue @tagomagodubai on Palm Jumeirah with a magical, al fresco setting.
💃🏻 Host chef Iker Zapata @ikerze of Tagomago on canapés aka Basque pintxos.
💃🏻 Chef Ricardo Gonçalves @ricardofgm16 of @laninadubai serving Portuguese starters aka petiscos.
💃🏻 Chef Helio Lino @heliodxb of @lanalusadxb on Portuguese main courses.
💃🏻 Pastry chef Carmen Rueda Hernandez @chefcarmenrueda6 of @brixjourney on surprise desserts.

💃🏻 @veuveclicquot Rosé Champagne, Portuguese and Spanish fine wines from @mmidubai 🥂🍷 Wine Academy Trainer Melina Aguirre Jaén @sommmelina from Spanish-speaking Panama presented the pairing.
💃🏻 A Sangria nightcap to a backdrop of Spanish flamenco music.
💃🏻 @monvisowater kept us hydrated, as always 🙏🏼

#UAERestaurantsUnite 🇵🇹🇪🇸🥂🍷💃🏻
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