Brunch at the Burj Al Arab

It is now 7:33 p.m.. I finished my brunch at 2:45, it was not one overflowing with copious amounts of alcohol, nor was it themed Asiatic or "all you can eat hoorah." I am still pleasantly full. I'm pretty sure I will not have to eat until tomorrow and that is in a nice way. I haven't felt stuffed at all today but no hunger since.

It was a civilized morning with friends, and a cute girl with a pixie hair cut in a black dress singing covers of Julie London and Frank Sinatra. A roller rink green and blue scheme meets r2-d2 and hideously printed carpet on the decor, but really on the 27th floor overlooking the water, it was easy to overlook such details.

In this case, persistance and positive emailing landed me with one of the best tables in the restaurant, in the corner overlooking the Palm islands and World, round, so we could all see each other's smiling faces and bellies.

We got in around 10:30 and after looking at the Russian tacky, meets "symmetrical overstimulation fit for a math book cover," we took the lift up overlooking the ocean behind the infamous sacreligious cross to the Al Muntaha restaurant.

When we walked through the small entrance which looked like computer panels from the early 1980s, I had my doubts that it was nothing but a tourist trap and became slightly nervous about the food.

Nonetheless, shortly after arrival and an ooh and aw over our corner table, some photos and ordering some $15 a bottle mineral water, we approached the buffet, which twisted and turned around the restaurant.

Of course, there were the normal stations of any high end buffet, seafood; complete with a sushi station, gawdy ice sculptures of koi fish, oysters, lobster, mussels, etc. but at the end, laid a little booth on the end where the chef would prepare a platter with 8 different types of fancy caviar around the edges and small blini waffle pancakes alongside creme fraiche made the whole thing extra better.

Next, there was an area of Indian food, which was pleasant, but not what I personally come to buffets to eat. It often makes me too full, so I usually leave this out of my buffet routine. Nonetheless, I tried some aloo mutter (potatoes and peas) to keep with my analysis of the entire dining experience. It was pleasantly light and more yogurt based then weighed down by the heaviness of ghee.

There was a continental section with some delights such as sun-dried tomato gnocchi bowls, soy-saffron salmon and a number of other combinations. Again, if I am at a buffet, I prefer to eat the more fresh options or the ones that are prepared at stations for you. Hone in on the pan-seared foie gras station. Sadly, this was my very first stop, toasted brioche, pan-seared foie gras, cinnamon-apple compote and parsnip paste. Yum!

The cheese spread looked like something out of a trendy cheese store in New York city. Nothing too risky or outrageously stinky but presentation sweet on the eyes.

Finally, the most impressive spread of all, were some of the beautifully created desserts. Kiwi-apple mouse balls covered in green chocolate, the cliche but crowd pleasing chocolate fountain, strawberries and cream, wrapped mango creamed chocolate cakes, Sicilian lemon goodness (that reminded me of Amalfi).

All in all, definitely worth the 395 aed to spend a morning with good food, good friends and a great view. A recommended must-do upon an adventure to Dubai.

Hospital mishaps

Another Saturday afternoon and I ain't got nobody, more like and "I am quarantined in my apartment..." Annoying is an understatement. Well, since I have arrived back from Italy, life with love, finance and work has been going fairly well but health wise, I have taken a bit of a nosedive.

It started after Italy and me being a slight hypochondriac, I got quite paranoid about the chest pains and numbness I was experiencing. Because I am a little bit of a spaz, I thought that excessive consumption of red wine, taking birth control the last 3 months and history of stroke in the family was a justified reason to go to the Cardiologist, and he didn't completely rule me out either. He suggested we do an EEG, EKG, stress test and some cholesterol blood work to see what was going on. Today, I learned that my heart is in good shape for the moment (knock on wood) but I was the first person in 27 years to pass my cardio medical imaging test with an A++, staying on the treadmill, a whopping 21 minutes and my heart rate was still not 80%. Now, when I am training properly, I can run 12 km in an hour, so this was not that hard for me, but by the end of it, I was nearly walking at a 90 degree angle with incline which made it a little challenging... Nonetheless, this little heart of mine did shine for today which brought a smile.

The other medical mishap was a viral eye infection that I have had the last 5 days. I went to one doctor first and unfortunately, it did not redeem my lack of faith in Indian doctors, because the first day she misdiagnosed me, the second day she misdiagnosed me and the third day, she called me and wasn't listening to what I was saying but was reading the results of some test that was completely irrelevant. Now, my eye issues were not easily identifiable, it took two other doctors a detailed debate over what it could be, potential treatments, etc. and luckily there first guess was right.

Nonetheless, the whole thing got me thinking when the original Indian doctor called me and didn't even apologize for the mistake. I was quite rude and felt bad about it at first, but I thought about the time someone called me out for not doing my job correctly and it was annoying at first, but I needed to hear it. Last year, I wrote "this is unacceptable" early in the year on one of my student's workbooks because his handwriting was a disaster. Little did I know that he had some occupational problems with writing and had an ongoing struggle and was oversensitive to the issue because he did genuinely try. I apologized to my student directly and realized that a big part of my job is seeing the smaller details before you apply the bigger picture rule.. Funny, how that analogy totally parallels what this Indian doctor should have done with my eye. She was generalizing and if I would have continued to go to her, god knows how long it would have taken her to figure it out. But mostly, I wanted her to say I am sorry for not being right and I apologize for the amount of pain I caused you.

Good healthcare is a right, not a privilege but lately it seems like you can only have this right if you are privileged. The world needs to make life accessible so that we can live, eat, drink, play, learn and work peacefully and without danger or potential harm.

Something that we all need to start working towards*

Esta vendando el coche

Selling the car, at a bargain of 2500 usd, and a 1000 dollar loss, I am over it. You wouldn't think this is an adventure, but I feel like it has been already

First, the actual sale. I have not one mean bone in my body. This Iranian guy was going to buy it at value for 13,000 aed before the whole air con escapade happened. He was on the fence. Over the last 72 hours, I have reposted it, dealt with 10 other interested buyers and then, he phones. Christ, and although, I could have potentially gotten an extra $300, I folded and said, let's do it because the whole thing is giving me a giant headache; walking from one end of the other of a 2 km mall to find a working fax machine, so Merhzad can get insurance by tomorrow afternoon when the handover happens.

And then, as you do, I had to figure out if I had any fines to pay off when I go switch over the car. I checked at the beginning of April, shortly after returning from Italy, when I was contemplating posting the thing on and was home free. Low and behold, I checked today, just as I am about to turn the thing over. Well, o'er the last few weeks, I have been cruising around the city and spending more time on highways. I am not in the need for speed at any point, more the need for my bed and the pillow for my sleepy head; but I wouldn't have been surprised to see a ticket from speeding 10 km over or something ridiculous, because it's like they know that you are going to sell your car or something. However, no, it wasn't a ticket for speeding, which they actually can prove with cameras. It was a ticket for obstructing traffic. One which I never received in paper form; one which can not be proven. One which I am pretty sure I wasn't even at the location where I was apparently obstructing traffic one weekend evening. In other words, the government can just screw you here because they want to and because they know that we all believe we are walking on glass with them anywise..

So, selling the car, has lead me to realize that even places like the UAE, which has the reputation as being the most laid back of the Arab gulf states and having a higher tolerance for western behavior, are not what they seem. And while I would recommend people to continue to explore and investigate this country, I would say beware because you never know what bullshit they are going to get you for and where it's coming from. I mean is this the way to solve monetary issues; how is it fair that a person can receive a ticket for something that they aren't aware of and there is no proof. Innocent until proven ?

I realize that Venezuela is corrupt and it's potentially going to be a hundred times worse but no one denies it there. In fact, blogs, guide books, locals, expats will tell you that corruption swims all around you, which for me is most important. If a country has issues, own up to them, it's about time some place did.

Cooking disaster numero uno

After an unbelievably good month, it's begun to pour down shit.. Actually that's a bit of an exaggeration.

Nonetheless, my car which I am trying to sell seems to be a bit sicker than I imagined. I just need to move to the taiga. I wouldn't have a problem if I lived in a cooler biome... Right..

Anywho, I have been really frustrated mainly with the quality of the produce here over the last few months. You see, everything is imported to Dubai. The closest local produce one can obtain is from Oman and even then, you might get carrots, peppers and a few other products from there that are of mediocre quality. The next closest exporter for produce is India and let's just say, somehow, even though India has the geographical topography of the United States, 4 seasons in some parts of the country or at least all seasons at some point in one area or another; it still was difficult to find quality fruits and vegetables that stayed longer then 1-2 days.

3 weeks ago in Italy, I tried to eat salad everyday. I do love my greens but I also was basking in the fact that there was quality leaves of lettuce available. Salad in Dubai? Quite often, I will pick up something that declares itself Spinach and is some kind of hybrid or another leaf entirely. Other times, I pick up a head of romaine lettuce and literally take it out of the package and it turns brown like one of those technicolor shirts from the early 90s that changed color when heat hit it.

So, last night when I had this beautiful idea for butternut squash soup, I cooked it and was a little worried about the cantaloupe color of the vegetable before it was cooked. Yet, I have come to accept that things are not always what they seem in Dubai and that just might be part of the importation process/ change/ transformation that occurs. It didn't smell funky, there was no apparent mold. On top of that, the thing was ridiculously expensive about 8 dollars for a squash that was about 2 kgs...Say what? So, I prepared the soup, added a garlic/ herb stockcube and some cinnamon and it turned out okay. A bit salty, added some sour cream to counteract it, don't think it helped too much.

I know it's something to learn from but I rarely have cooking disasters. Baking disasters yes. This comes from my artistic flare and desire to feel out baking like I do with cooking. Baking is mathematical. As I learned from a few attempts at fudge when I was 13 and accidently stuck 1/3 cup of salt into the mix instead of 1/3 a tablespoon. Then, next time, with my rationale and unfamiliarity with baking, I overcompensated scared that the fudge would be too salty for no rhyme or reason and put too much sugar in just to make it sweet, which obviously didn't work.

Nonetheless, looking at all of this, inspires me and it also leads me to believe there are some areas in which pastries and sweets can be experimental. As I return to the US this summer, there are some amazing fruits that grow beautifully in American summers that are rare to the tropics and the desert, so I resolve to make rhubarb crumbles, peaches and cream trifles and berry treats galore, that can be cooking experiments at home this summer. Wonderful..

So, in my last few weeks in Dubai, I am going to stick to the not so wish washy produce and wish for some awesome lettuce to magically appear so I can recreate the smoked salmon, walnut, blue cheese, peach and red pepper salad from last May, that was so scrumptious dressing was not necessary due to all those sweet, savory and salty flavors swirling together.

Mmmm, dinner time.

Ciao! Ciao!

Trying to not to be overwhelmed and reading "The Happiness Project"

It's been an amazing month. Since it started, I mean April 1 was a half day of school, then, I went to Italy. I got back and was more flexible and stronger then I have ever been in yoga. I see yellow when I meditate which I like to believe means happiness and hunger, which is potentially related to my inner peace and my hunger to do something more with my life. My mind has been clearer and my skin too. I've been reading a book by Gretchen Rubin called "The Happiness Project" which is helping me to focus my energy on doing things that make me happy. It seems like a simple concept, but sometimes your body and mind have different opinions on what's right for your energy.

The happiness project and leaving Dubai has really brought to the surface that my time in Dubai, as chaotic and uncharming at times as it's been, I have made some unbelievable friends. And, that I have some amazing friends in my life that are supporting me on my life decisions and the choices I am making. I am very interested in agriculture or catering in the next 5 years and I am beginning to think about ways to transform the dream into a reality. Whether it means taking some courses on cheese farming and getting a loan to make a small business plan, relocating to Oregon or Upstate New York to do so, I am beginning to believe in possibility. And, I have some friends in Dubai that I used to be unsure of their purpose and yet, now, I know they will be there to help me in pursuing my dreams and potentially, help shape them into action.

It's also made me decide to focus more on this blog, something that I resolved to do at the beginning of the year and haven't been doing as much as I should. While, I set myself the mild goal of writing 3-4 times a month, I think I need to up my anty and be writing at least 3 times as week, so new goal and those of you who follow. Send me hate messages if I don't do it.

Food being the center of my existence, I have to include an update on that. I've been experimenting with vegetarian cooking and trying to eat a limited amount of meat, because I just have more energy from vegetables; however, I did make a kickass lamb stew from sherrified red wine, fresh mint, garlic, onions and fresh rosemary, that turned out gorgeous. Up next is butternut squash with all spice, creme freche and feta and homemade onion marmelade with wheat rolls...

Summer plans are laid out and involve a return to Korea to see some friends that might not make it to the other side of the world soon. Returning to old friends and letting them know constantly how much they mean to you, goal in general for the summer...

It's nearing the end of the month and things are a bit wild. Trying to sort out the car situation, shipping and another of getting out of Dubai items. It's very hard not to climb in bed and believe that when you wake up all the answers will surface magically... But, again, going back to the friends, they are trying to support the falls with pillows of laughters and stories of equal frustrations.

More to come in the next few days... xo

Oh the spurt of energy travelling provides

Ciao! Ciao!

Back in sandland, from a wonderfully amazing week in Rome and Southern Italy. with two of the best people in the world, Lisa and Steph. The greatest thing was that I have a long, long list of blogs to do from the trip. I should type them up given the absentmindedness that often plagues me.

Some of the upcoming topics will be.

0) the Amalfi coast: Positano, the walk of the Gods, Sorrento and more...

1) my retirement to 2 hours north of New York city, as a cheese farmer, or maybe Oregon (because they have better wine)

2) on being scared of ending up alone when 30, but having to have faith and understand that one has absolutely no control over the forces of fate.

3) On Italian culture, why it's amazing, why I like the Spaniards a little better then the Italians, why they never get fat, and why charm is potentially the best character trait anyone or anything can have

4) On the reason to have traveling friends that are like vitamin supplements...

5) About how as Kristen would say people come into your life "for a reason, season or a lifetime" nonetheless, how there's some that you can't let go of and how they haunt, make you smile or reminisce at odd times.....

but for today, I will just talk about the Rome part of the trip.

It all started on a train ride into Rome with Pat and Becky, and a funny phone call from a boy I met in Beirut three months ago, strange outside energy that would inevitably define the trip.

I showed up to my hotel after being ripped off by a taxi driver, (one thing that can ultimately ruin an experience in most countries is being ripped off in general, but taxis are ridiculously notorious for it.) Our hotel located in an embassy neighborhood near Borghese park, was cute, traditional Italian, 2 story room, very cozy with lovely chocolate croissants and espresso served each morning for breakfast.

Then, I couldn't check in, so I scurried onto public transport and into town to do some photo work, independently. I love taking photos but can be a bit of an annoying nutter when with people, so it was good to have the day to myself to wander. Roma is a gorgeous city and it was truly alive on Easter weekend. Colorful and cultural people in all the piazzas, and live music being played on accordians, pianos, wind pipes, among other instruments, the sun was pouring down onto the city giving a golden glow to everyone out on the town. The best part of Rome for me was not the people or shopping, it was the ability to get lost and then easily found again and to turn down every street and there be some incredible historical landmark there, such as the Pantheon or the Colusseum or Piazza Navuno or whatever it was. There were buildings of extraordinary measures, often built solely for the sake of being built.

So, after wandering, I got a little restless and parked myself in the sun on the steps of a chapel for awhile, got totally lost in the moment and my tacky chick lit book and then succumbed to my angry stomach sending "feed me" growls.

Followed by a gorgeous lunch of a greek salad, Pinot Grigio and tagliatelle with porcini mushrooms, I headed back to the hotel for a shower, power nap and to catch up with the ladies. So great to see Steph and Lisa, friends from Dubai, and of course, my old friend from college, Katie Woodcock. Good friends are truly medicinal and the effect is instantaneous. You know how it's going to feel to see them and have them around, and quite often it's better then you remembered.

For the next two days, we ate, drank and were merry in an ode to the pope or not... but we had fun and I cannot wait until next summer in South America for a wine and dine, hike and all reunion and maybe, we will get even farther with the locals with my improved Spanish.

More over the next few days about the subjects above.

Ciao bella!

On food and religion and what truly nourishes us

When I wake up late on the weekends, hungover or peacefully rested (the latter being less frequent as a 29 year old), I am always hungry. The first thing on my mind is what am I going to eat? What is my body craving? What is going to satisfy me? Will I cook? Will I order? Will I call a friend to go for a meal? Do I want grease? Or Asian? What is going to comfort me? What is going to nourish me?

And on this particular morning, an unusual well-rested wake up at 10 am on a Saturday; no bags under my eyes; refreshed and alive, I had a foreign craving for Bacon.. I don't even eat pork that often. First of all, as good as it tastes, it seems to be my tummy's arch nemesis. And then, there is also the fact, that I currently live in a Muslim country, so I have to go to a special grocery store to get it.

So, I made the trip to the special grocery store, Choitrams, to be exact, and it got me thinking about food and the religious restraints people put on what one can eat and not eat. Particularly, because food is one of the only things that truly nourishes us all the time, and also universally nourishes us. Everyone needs it to survive, just like water and air... where as religion, education, art and more can be truly nourishing to people, but scientifically, we would not die if we did not have them.

Therefore, I guess my question is to the Jains, Hindus, Muslims, Catholics, and many other religious groups who put limitations on what people can eat as they practice or during particular is why put restrictions on what someone can eat, when it gives us life, energy and the ability to carry on and practice religion, get an education, discuss and make art, and more. Shouldn't food be like numbers, something we all just kind of accept and agree on?

I understand that there are an indefinite number of justifications for why certain religions don't eat certain foods, but again, scientifically, I think that listening to your body important (within reason) and satisfying cravings (again, everything in moderation) is a healthy way of living your life...