Dubai Friday Brunch #3 - Al Qasr

We needed a new brunch venue as we often have visitors wanting to experience the definitive Dubai Friday brunch. My online research, plus many personal recommendations made us try Friday brunch at Al Qasr. 

Al Qasr, is the recipient of many awards for it's brunch - BBC Good Food Best Brunch 2011, Time Out Awards 2010 highly commended brunch.

It's located in the hotel of the same name, nearby Madinat Jumeriah. The hotel is beautiful, grandiose & glamorous yet sympathetic to its Arabian roots.

Al Qasr, is famous for being so vast that you get issued with a map to help you navigate all the buffet area's. 

As you enter the massive mezzine lobby, brunch is a short walk down a flanked staircase where a glass of bubbly awaits you. 

However you may have to queue down the staircase for 5mins or so before you're seated. The brunch itself is split between the hotels three restaurants Aboretum, MJ's Steak House and Al Hambra . 

I've been twice now once in the summer seated indoor at Al Hambra with the lovely SJ. Plus, a few weeks ago with the lovey Justine where we enjoyed outside seating at Arboretum terrace, which was nicer. 

Al Hambra, interior has a very different feel to the airy Arboretum as it's less glam and more rustic, brick and taverna style. Still pleasant and in the winter especially nice on the terrance. 

Fizz with SJ in Al Hambra

Al Qasr brunch is great for celebrations and large groups as the atmosphere is sophisticated and lively, great for people watching and checking out fab outfits.  

Mojito's on the terrace with Justine

The layout is vast, with a station for everything you definitely need a brunch strategy for this brunch and it can get really busy in certain area's.

Round 1: Hit the seafood & Sushi stations

SJ got the the award for most variety of fish & seafood items squashed on to one plate, but then she is the reigning champion at this in general.

SJ's super plate

My lesser starter plate

The sushi quality wise was ok, I can't say it blew me away but it looked the part. 

I followed it up with a second starter plate a curious mix of mini eggs benedict, some kind of oozing cheese soaked, artery clogging brioche which was amazing, plus chirzo and meatball tapas.

The Asian quarter outside

Round 2: Hit the mains

Next round was main plates again the choice is obscene. Roasts, grills, BBQ meats and fish, Chinese dim sum, Malaysian noodle and stir fry, Indian curries you name it. 

I'm so predictable I went for traditional roast both times, the first time they'd unfortunately run out of the Beef Wellington an outrage! There's always a queue for the Beef Wellington so you have to get in early.

I managed to consoled my self with big hunks of roast beef, a divine confit of duck with red cabbage, Yorkshire pud and gravy, all delicious.

Fresh pasta

I had my roast plan, Johan had his usual 'Meat' plan but converted it to a 'Meat and Pasta Plan' when he saw the fresh hand made pasta station. 

Round 3: Get a sugar rush or go cheesy 

The desert selection is an extravaganza with 4 separate area's dedicated to just deserts, everything is available this is definitely a brunch for desert lovers. 

One is dedicated soley to chocolate in every imaginable form! 

On top of that there is also separate ice-cream, waffle's, dognuts and a candy station. 

I won the desert choose, with a mix plate of, Marble cheesecake, Strawberry cheesecake, Duce de Leche and Pecan mini ice cream cone, a Red current partfit, a Mini key lime pie, one milk and one white choc dipped strawberries and a Blueberry macaroon. Heavenly.

There is also a fruit station I didn't visit that though, who wants fruit when there's so much cake to be eaten!!!

Or if you prefer savory the cheese selection is pretty good to, Justine being veggie sampled most of the cheeses. 

Al Qasr, is a spectacular brunch in a gorgeous, setting especially good for special occasions and visitors as you also get some great photo opportunities of the Burj Al Arab.

It's also conveniently located for after brunch drinks at nearby Madinat so after brunch we popped to Trader Vic's for a post brunch cocktail. We all sat nursing our Peach tree bunch's, groaning, needing a napp and hoping for a second wind else we'd be in bed by 6pm. 

Al Qsar is pricey at 525 Dhs (approx £95) for all inclusive alcohol and 425 (£75) with no alcohol. 

It's worth the price tag though, the setting and location are superb and what the food may lack in flavour it make up for in variety and presentation. 

Read More

Mountain Biking Wadi Bih

A while back I got 'forced' by my biking loving hubby into a weekend biking trip to Wadi Bih, described in the UAE Off-Road Guide book as "The UAE's answer to the Grand Canyon"...gulp! 

A rare sight...me and a bicycle!

Wadi Bih has a mountain road that covers approx 75 kilometres, hosting the annual Wadi Bih run and Mountain biking challenge, neither of which are for the faint hearted. 

I hired a ladies mountain bike from Wolfies bike shop on Sheik Zayed road, unfortunately they'd run out of men's hire bikes that weekend so after calling the hotel, we arranged to hire one from there. 

Turned out to be some old local ladies bike, Johan was quite worried when she came wheeling it out to reception but it turned out to be kick ass Hummer. 

We set out Thursday evening to The Golden Tuplip, Dibba where we would be spending the night. The drive from Dubai took about 2.5 hours with Thursday rush hour traffic and you cross the boarder to Oman so you'll need your passports. 

Arriving at about 21:30pm once checked in we just had time for a quick beer before bed. 

Whilst clean, The Golden Tuplip has seen better days. I suppose it was quite cool in a retro 'must have been top notch in the 80's' kind of way. Of course it was totally fine for our one night purpose. 

Indulging in hearty early breakfast the following morning and meeting up with our friends who'd be joining us, off we popped on our mountain adventure. 

All the fresh fish baking in the sun

As you exit The Golden Tulip you briefly cycle the coast road which is really pretty. Generally, sea air often has a fishy waft to it but at one point the pungent aroma was over whelming. We realised this was due to the vast mats of fish laid out to dry in the sun along the road.

 More nature came in the form of some serpentine road kill...I swear I didn't do it!!

With the sun blearing down it sure gets hot so make sure you take plenty of water, we had a brief rest at about 8km then it was time to hit the road again.

Unfortunately after about another 5km I had, had enough.

This was frustrating and I wasn't being wimpy, I wasn't even tried form the cycling I could have gone about another 20km or so easy, I reckon.

No, my problem was of a more delicate nature.....a chaffing issue.

The roads are extremely rocky and bumpy, riding over which causes terrible friction in certain places.

What goes down must come up!!

Mountain biking amateur that I am, I didn't know to procure some of those special cycling shorts with a fake bottom in them or to apply liberal lashings of Vaseline to ones delicate areas to prevent this.


Also, I didn't have any gloves so my hands were red raw and blistered and I just couldn't hold on any longer.

Saddle sore and hobbling I could just about manage the 12 km back...ouch!



And all those hills that had been fun powering down shouting "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" on the way up....weren't so fun on the the return journey!

It was definitely worth it though the scenery was amazing and it feels so liberating cycling along with the wind blowing in your face, it's also great is to get out of the city.

Beautiful mountain views!

Our round trip was a respectable 25km, although our friends carried on and ending up doing about 50km.

I would definitely recommend mountain biking in Wadi Bih as a great weekend trip out of the city.  Regardless of your level of experience biking as you can do as much or little as is you want. Just be sure you remember gloves, fake bum and Vaseline!!

We spent the afternoon lazing on the beach and finally my reward....a well earned beer, nothing quite compares to a cold beer after a day out adventuring.

P.S. The next day I was walking like John Wayne!

Read More