The fourth edition of a five-part series of #DiningDuets pairing chef @lilyhoavf of @vietnamesefoodies with chefs over ticketed dinners at their restaurants in Dubai. Needless to say, all are homegrown ๐
Last night. Chef Lily with @wei_chef_ @xurestaurantdubai ๐ Seven, one-off exclusive dishes that you wonโt find on their ร la carte menus. 120 guests.
Save the date for the next Dining Duets experience on the 17th April. Restaurant venue and booking details coming soon. One clue: a French-Vietnamese menu ๐
#UAERestaurantsUnite
Where does Fay Economides @fayoula - executive managing director of M Management Company that owns @mythosdubai @noladubai and @kilikiobymythos dine out? ๐
In this monthโs โWhere Restaurateurs Eatโ column, I asked this super woman to share her five favourite restaurants encompassing:
๐ช Three in the UAE.
๐ช One in her home country.
๐ช One located elsewhere internationally.
Click link in bio and stories for her top picks ๐ This post landed in email inboxes yesterday. Feel free to subscribe, if not already.
๐ช As always, nominations for female restaurateur-entrepreneurs are always welcome. They might not be on my radar, and could land themselves a feature here ๐๐ผ
#WhereRestaurateursEat #UAERestaurantsUnite #foodiva Dubai Restaurants
Orfali Bros Bistro has topped the Middle East & North Africaโs 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list for the THIRD year in a trot - revealed on Tuesday evening in Abu Dhabi, the destination sponsor ๐๐ผ I couldnโt be prouder of this Dubai homegrown gem, owned and very significantly operated by three Syrian chef brothers on the pass daily, turning out playful, modern Middle Eastern dishes.
Their diligent, day and night hustle to deliver consistency continues to pay off. @orfalibros_bistro is my โif youโre in Dubai for one meal only, where should you goโ restaurant - and also included in my annual Dubai restaurant guide, since its opening in 2021 ๐
BUT this triumph does beg an important question.
The global @theworlds50best list moves restaurants crowned number one into a โBest of the Bestโ hall of fame category, making them ineligible for subsequent voting and number one rankings - but this strategy does not apply to the regional lists, like MENA.
So why does 50 Best not apply the same mechanics to the regional lists? And are plans afoot to change this policy?
In my opinion piece (link in stories & profile ๐), youโll find what William Drew, director of content for 50 Best had to say when I posed these questions to him - along with my musings. Plus my analysis and opinion on the record 22 UAE restaurants in the 2025 ranking. Oh and a poll! Bravo to all the listed restaurants. Youโre shining a light on our beloved regional dining scene ๐๐ผ
Do you think a hall of fame category makes sense? Do you use MENA 50 Best to inspire your dining decisions? Which of your favourite restaurants would you have liked to make the cut? Would love to know ๐๐ผ๐
#MENAs50Best #worlds50best #UAERestaurantsUnite #foodiva Dubai Restaurants UAE Restaurants @m.orfali @omar.orfali @wassim_orfali @abudhabiculinary @claudebrito
Where does @panchalimahendra - the CEO of @atelierhousehospitality behind 11 Woodfire, Mohalla & soon-to-open Gerbou amongst other restaurant concepts, dine out? ๐
In this monthโs โWhere Restaurateurs Eatโ column, I asked this super woman to share her five favourite restaurants encompassing:
๐ช Three in the UAE. She might have sneaked in four ๐
๐ช One in her home country.
๐ช One located elsewhere internationally.
Click link in bio and stories for her top picks ๐ My newsletter tribe received this post in their inbox yesterday. Feel free to subscribe, if not already.
๐ช As always, nominations for female restaurateurs here leading their own businesses are always welcome. You never know, they might not be on my radar - and could land themselves a feature here ๐๐ผ
#WhereRestaurateursEat #UAERestaurantsUnite #foodiva DubaiRestaurants UAERestaurantsUnite
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 ๐
Chef Lily on the pass with @chefbrandomoros @11woodfire last night ๐ A seven-course menu dedicated to one-off exclusive dishes that you wonโt find on their ร la carte menus.
Save the date for the next Dining Duets experience on the 20th February. Restaurant venue and booking details coming soon โฅ๏ธ
#UAERestaurantsUnite
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 Dubaiโs insane traffic. All under a new, personal headline: WHERE FOODIVA DINES IN DUBAI ๐
47 homegrown, locally developed conceptsย have made my cut this year. Another record. Weโre 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 emirateโs 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 โ in line withย my no-freebies editorial policy where I always pay the bill. They have all consistently impressed across the whole ร la carte dining experience, allowing you to eat as much or as little as you want, according to your budget. You wonโt find tasting menu concepts or beach clubs in this guide, but you will find myย go-to restaurants for delivery.
Whether youโre a UAE resident or a visitor, this guide is designed as a bucket list round-up to inspire your next breakfast, lunch or dinner. Thatโs 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 ๐
I am keen to know your haunts, which may just inspire my restaurant outings this year โ so please feel free to share ๐๐ผ๐๐ฆ๐ช
[ DubaiRestaurants UAERestaurantsUnite #UAERestaurantsUnite #foodiva ]
When I heard that the ex-chef director of the sensation that is Dishoom, one of my go-to restaurants in the UK, had moved to Dubai to open his own concept, I had an inkling @khadak_ae would impress.
Chef-patron Naved Nasir @chef_naved helped the founders conceptualise Dishoom, engineered the menu, and co-authored the bestselling cookbook, which, interestingly, is on display at Khadak.
๐ Click link in bio and stories for this restaurant review which landed in inboxes yesterday.
How important is the licensing of a restaurant when deciding where to dine out? Or is traffic and therefore location a bigger consideration now? ๐คฏ #UAERestaurantsUnite #FooDivaReviews #FooDiva
A peek into last nightโs invitation-only dinner for some of my annual newsletter subscribers ๐๐ผ๐ Cinderella definitely didnโt make it back home by midnight.
๐ช๐ธ A Spanish seafood dinner fiesta @laninadubai with menu crafted by chefs @cheftim420 and @ricardofgm16 ๐
๐ฅ My favourite Champagne @ruinart Blanc de Blancs and a Spanish wine pairing presented by sommelier @maison.margarita ๐ท๐พ
๐ The greatest of company. 12 guests. Nine nationalities.
#UAERestaurantsUnite
For the love of our homegrown restaurant talent ๐ 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 ๐
Save the date for the next Dining Duets experience on the 16th January. Restaurant venue and booking details coming soon ๐ #UAERestaurantsUnite
Where does Stasha Toncev, the chief soulkitchen officer @soulkitchendubai of @21grams.dubai - my favourite all-day breakfast spot dine out? ๐
In this monthโs โWhere Restaurateurs Eatโ column, I asked this super woman of burek and โbrunch bestieโ fame (my hero photo here) to share her five favourite restaurants encompassing:
๐ช Three in the UAE. She might have sneaked in four ๐
๐ช One in her home country.
๐ช One located elsewhere internationally.
Click link in bio for her top picks ๐ My newsletter tribe received this post in their inbox yesterday. Feel free to subscribe, if not already.
๐ชAs always, would love your nominations for female restaurateurs here leading their own businesses๐ช You never know, they might not be on my radar - and could land themselves a feature here ๐๐ผ
#WhereRestaurateursEat #UAERestaurantsUnite
I tend to prioritise writing for my own website and newsletterโฆunless CNT calls ๐๐ A hat trick with the new print editions of Conde Nast Traveler/ Traveller - USA, UK & Middle East ๐๐ผ
1๏ธโฃ A commission from the US edition @cntraveler on my favourite subject, Dubaiโs homegrown dining scene. A showcase of restaurateurs and chefs who have planted roots in Dubai paying tribute to their national cuisine and embracing local ingredients. Eight pages in the December issue. Also online - link in bio ๐
2๏ธโฃ The same story with a few edits and a different visual spread is published in the UK December edition @condenasttraveller across ten pages.
3๏ธโฃ A commission for the Middle Eastโs November/ December edition @cntravellerme themed on the Spice Route. Interviews with chefs here and around the world on their favourite spice across five pages.
๐ฆ๐ช Main voices in the Dubai story (with more peppered across the spread):
JP Anglo @chefjayps @kooyafilipinoeatery
Omar Shihab @oshihab @bocadubai
Sahar Parham Al Awadhi @saharyp @gerbou
Salam Dakkak @bait.maryam @sufretmaryam
Shaw Lash @shawlash @lilataqueria @lilamolino
Stasha Toncev @soulkitchendubai @21grams.dubai
Tom Arnel @tomarnel @tomandserg
๐ถ๏ธ Spice story:
Carmen Rueda Hernandez @chefcarmenrueda6
Jason Atherton @_jasonatherton
Liam Tomlin @liam_tomlin_chefs_warehouse
Pichaya Soontornyanaku @chef.pam
Tala Bashmi @tala.bashmi
Vineet Bhatia @chefvineet
Vladimir Mukhin @muhinvladimir
A huge thank you for the commissions and byline to:
@erin_florio @diviathani and @selinadenman who has always been my biggest cheerleader ๐๐ผ๐
Digital US & UK editions can be downloaded via subscription on Magzter/ Zinio.
๐ท @edvinasbruzas #DubaiRestaurateurs #DubaiChefs #MyDubai #VisitDubai #UAERestaurantsUnite @mydubai @visit.dubai
A peek into our sold-out #FourChefsDinner last week. Swipe for the video. 95 amazing guests. An Iberian, aka Portuguese-Spanish culinary theme ๐ต๐น๐ช๐ธ 14 dishes. Four wines, Champagne included. A beautiful balmy breeze enveloping Tagomago. You know itโs a good night when you have to ask guests to leave at 1am ๐
Much love, full stomachs AND hearts all down to๐๐ผ
๐๐ป Our host venue @tagomagodubai on Palm Jumeirah with the prettiest of al fresco, coastal settings.
๐๐ป Host chef Iker Zapata @ikerze of Tagomago on canapรฉs aka Basque pintxos.
๐๐ป Chef Ricardo Gonรงalves @ricardofgm16 of @laninadubai served Portuguese starters aka petiscos.
๐๐ป Chef Helio Lino @heliodxb of @lanalusadxb on Portuguese main courses.
๐๐ป Pastry chef Carmen Rueda Hernandez @chefcarmenrueda6 of @brixjourney with surprise desserts.
๐๐ป @veuveclicquot rosรฉ Champagne, Portuguese and Spanish fine wines from @mmidubai ๐ฅ๐ท
๐๐ป Wine Academy Trainer Melina Aguirre Jaรฉn @sommmelina from Spanish-speaking Panama presented the pairing.
๐๐ป A Sangria cocktail nightcap to the tune of Spanish flamenco-style music.
๐๐ป The new Canvas range by @monvisowater kept us hydrated ๐๐ผ
Would love to hear what culinary theme you would like next ๐
๐ท๐น @bla.ckboxmedia
#UAERestaurantsUnite ๐ต๐น๐ช๐ธ๐ฅ๐ท๐๐ป
When I heard that the ex-chef director of the sensation that is Dishoom, one of my go-to restaurants in the UK, had moved to Dubai to open his own concept, I had an inkling Khadak...
Continue ReadingA staggering 95% of you voted for my new header-style format that I had proposed for my restaurant reviews, which brings great joy to the organisational freak in me.
Continue ReadingMy 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...
Continue ReadingRemember the โWhere Chefs Eatโ doorstopper tome? Well Iโve always wanted to apply a similar news angle here. So, inspired by this ingenious guidebook, I am launching...
Continue ReadingI give you the ninth edition of theย annual FooDiva guide to top restaurants in Dubai. A record number of 45 homegrown, locally developed conceptsย have made the cut...
Continue ReadingI turned 50 in April. And I realised that I have lived in Dubai for just under half of my life, moving here nearly 24 years ago. 27th August 1999, to be precise. Thanks to dining out for a living...
Continue ReadingA clickbait headline you may ask Absolutely not. The truth? Yes, indeed. We arrive in Manila as a typhoon lashes through the capital. Fortunately, our plane lands right at the start, before...
Continue ReadingI rarely have a dud meal when travelling. Why? Because I spend weeks researching restaurants and must-try dishes. Often spending more time on trawling local...
Continue ReadingI first met maverick chef Gaggan Anand six years ago in Dubai, when I interviewed him at a pop-up here. His irreverence and wit were refreshing, and his...
Continue ReadingI recently returned to South Africa after my first visit 17 long years ago. A trip postponed by a year thanks to Omicron border closures. Thankfully, despite...
Continue ReadingAs I press the publish button, I have abstained from alcohol for two months and 17 days, not that am counting. I explained my rationale on Instagram a while back โ see further below.
Continue ReadingThe Cocktail Dandy is a man on a quest to find the best cocktail bars in Dubai. So far, he has visited more than 200 bars in this city alone, and reviewed more than 100 on his Instagram page. Here is a FooDiva guide to his top 10 homegrown...
Continue ReadingWhen you first delve into wine, pairing it with food can be so intimidating. Place two things inside a tiny chamber packed with taste receptors, and theyโre always going to have an effect on each...
Continue ReadingTraditionally you can identify a wine bar at twenty paces. Atmosphere? Check. Wooden surfaces and a cheese selection? Check and check. Lighting a quarter turn from pitch black? You got it. In Dubai though, it can be hard to find a place...
Continue Reading
