February: Food Month in Abu Dhabi

As the whole world is gearing up to this one day holiday in February, which, I don't know why its called a holiday when everybody's bum-bum is stuck in their office chairs, Abu Dhabi is prepping up their kitchen for a whole other reason.  Up until now, I only thought February is the month of the hearts and two birthdays in the family.  Now, it is also Gourmet Abu Dhabi.  It is the city's way of showcasing its finest restaurants.  For the entire month of February every weekend is a special way to experience the festival.

I am lucky to win tickets and dining vouchers which makes this month extra special.  First weekend was the Emirati Kitchen.  Thanks to Foodiva Samantha Wood's blog giveaway, me and a friend are entitled to a free pass to the event plus one master class.  I have always wanted to attend one but it is just too expensive or the schedule is not right.  With that being a hindrance, the prize ticket came in as a perfect solution.

First weekend of February is scheduled for Emirati Kitchen.  Along the east complex of the corniche, the Emirati Kitchen was set up.  Stalls showcase special items prepared by the Emiratis and some food stalls selling local cuisine.  Among the star of the event is the first Emirati food truck Meyla's.  It is a good opportunity to try out their local delicacy.  We were booked for the masterclass on how to prepare healthy food for children.  We were not aware that it was for kids event but we queued anyway.  Even if the activity was basically for kids, we were still able to pick up points.  Especially on preparing salads using locally grown vegetables and using dressing like labneh and soy sauce.  Who would have thought of that?  We get to bring home a huge portion of salad that we have prepared.  Took me three meals to finish off the entire stock. 

Second weekend of February, valentine's weekend.  While everyone else was jetting off somewhere romantic, the husband and I went to Al Raha Beach Hotel to sample the Gourmet BBQ.  The buffet was set outside so it was a bit chilly.  We were ushered to our table and started browsing the buffet table.  Had I been a seafood lover or very adventurous meat eater that spread would have excited me.  Unfortunately, I am allergic to seafood and my meat preferences are limited to pork, chicken and beef.  I was also a bit sad not much carbo load on the table.  All meat and few veggies.  But the entire night was not a sad, the dessert spread was heaven.  I can't remember everything I had but even the chocolates were good.  I'm not a chocolate lover so that chocolate dessert had me smiling.

Third weekend of February - the food truck weekend!  This I have been anticipating the entire month actually.  Partly because I could try out some street food from other countries but mainly because of the chefs who will be doing demos.  I am an avid fan of foodnetwork shows.  If I could just stick to one channel the entire day that would be it.  The event started on Thursday and ended on Saturday.  We scheduled the visit on a Friday as the chef demo of two particular chefs I want to meet are scheduled not too far apart.  Arrived at 5 pm and was lucky to catch Chef Jun Tanaka.  After the demo, I saw the new schedule and Chef Andy Bates' demo will be another four hours.  But since we came there for the celebrity chefs, we (my husband begrudgingly) waited until 9 pm for his demo.  While waiting we did what most weird couples do, people watch.  Of course we sampled on the food truck goodies.  We tried the grilled cheese sandwich of Cheesetruck.  Ordered Stilton and steak.  It was okay.  Nothing beyond unforgettable.  Perhaps we should have ordered the goat cheese instead.  But the queue was well, let us just say, stretches to forever, so we passed.  Also tried Pizza Pilgrim.  They have three kinds of pizza listed but since the queue was again horribly long, they have to resort to Margherita minus the basil leaves.  Despite the missing herb, the pizza was really good.  The dough was chewy and tasty just the way I like it.  Last among the must try food at the park was the churros.  I love that fried dough of happiness.  If you want to try some you better prepare yourself to stand in line for quote some time.  If there is a contest for the longest queue the Churros and Chocolate truck would win.  People just love fried things and chocolate.  Who wouldn't?!

To sum up, February was more than just flowers and chocolates, it was also about discovering more about food, people who loves food and people who loves to make good food.  I hope more events like this will be hosted in the city.  Its a way of driving more people in enriching one's own definition of culture.

more photos here.

How Did You Find Your Ever After?

While sipping my first cup of green tea for the day, I am consciously contemplating whether to continue this post or not.  Ever since I opened up my topic to my husband I was endlessly teased to be too "cheesy."  Well, I am.  It's the first of February and what else can I think about but anything in red.  The happy kind of red.

I have finally decided.  So here it is fellow "cheezbols."  A few college semesters ago, my best friend and I made this study about real life love stories whether it was fated or just mere coincidence .  Yes, as much as I hate to admit it, we submitted it for our English subject as a pseudo feasibility study.  We did pretty good though.  Anyway, I digress.  We got our data from our classmates.  No, not their love lives, their parent's.  If they are luck to know their parent's stories.  You will be surprised some of those stories are just amazing, and you thought soap operas only exist in TV.

I would love to post two unforgettable stories we have included in our study unfortunately I don't have the permission to do so.  However, I think I am already in that age group where most people I know and acquainted with has already established their own love story.  And for this month, in celebration of heart's month, (I'm Filipino, I basically celebrate any occasion in long period like Christmas), I would like to post some stories of people who found their way to their own ever after.



So here goes my golden question,....(embarrassed and wincing) would you like to be my subject?



I'd love to hear your story.  Of course I would ask for your permission before sharing it to my precious readers.  Otherwise, I would just like to know your story.  Maybe one day, when your kids are all grown up and suddenly ask you how and when your story started its always nice to reminisce.

I would be selfish if I wouldn't share mine, right?  Without sounding too korny, we laid eyes on each other while at a ravine.  Yes, its the most romantic place I could ever imagine.  Kidding aside, I was at a point in my life where I just want to work my arse off as I was still licking some wounds from a very terrible heartache.  That was 2003 fresh from board exam and too eager to practice my profession.  As I try to enjoy a life of freedom and meager earning I found a friend along the way.  We stayed friends for over a year and before we bid 2004 goodbye we were officially an "us."   Majority of our "us" was spent over text messages and long phone calls as he lives in Luzon and he is always assigned very far from the city.  We are lucky to meet once or twice a year if our leaves are granted at the same time.  I think we were one of the pioneering prepaid subscribers of sun cellular unli- text and call.  Cell sites are hard to come by on mountainous areas that is why calls are preferred and is considered an indulgence for both of us.  He has to go near a school flag pole just to get a signal, imagine my "kilig" for the things he does.  I guess this is the perfect moment to thank Sun Cellular for their unli- services.   Like all normal relationships we had some slight bumps before walking down the aisle.  But all in all, everything worked out just fine.

So, how about you?  How did you find your ever after?  I found mine during a sunny day full of dust and boulders while trying not to trip over and roll down the ravine.  Who would have thought I'd find mine there.  To quote Toni Gonzaga (Filipino Celebrity whoc recently got engaged)---- You don't chase love and friends....true love and true friends will just come. 


NOTE: So I noticed that nobody actually posted or even commented that they'd like to be my subject.  Hey, if you want to be anonymous, send me an email thru maruya24@yahoo.com or send me a thumbs-up thru my facebook (if you are in my circle, sorry my profile is private)  please do let me know.. can't wait to hear your story!