Bite size

If you’re not swept up in the F1 madness, here are a few places to while away the hours this week

Published: Sat 13 Nov 2010, 9:43 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 12:59 PM

FARM FRESHII

Freshii, DIFC

Recently opened in the prestigious DIFC district, Freshii is an American restaurant that offers a wide range of organic meals and snacks for the health-conscious consumer. The innovative menu allows one to choose any of the chef-designed items, as well as the option to create your own meal by adding as many toppings and dressings as you want. You can choose from toppings including cheese, nuts and vegetables and add different dressings depending on how healthy you want to make your meal.

As I arrived I was impressed with the warm, welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff who are eager to help you navigate your way through the slightly confusing menu while offering nutritional information on your meal in terms of the health benefits and calorie content. The size of this popular restaurant is surprising, but it never felt cramped and the meal service is very efficient, so there wasn’t a long wait to be served or a lack of space.

Freshii has a clean, minimal and bright setting and uses biodegradable cutlery made from corn extract which adds to the unique and cheerful atmosphere.

On arrival the chef-designed, best seller Bangkok burrito was recommended. The portion size was at first disappointing, but I was pleasantly surprised at how full I felt afterwards. This is one of the unique things about the meal as they are designed to be small but filling, being mostly rice or noodle based.The burrito was highly enjoyable with healthy, organic ingredients - delicious chicken, complimented by the peanut sauce. The only downside was how tricky it was to eat. It was slightly overstuffed, meaning that with each bite you have to be careful not to spill the ingredients everywhere, but the taste definitely made up for it.

The menu offers soups, salads, wraps, burritos and yoghurts. There is also a breakfast menu, which boasts breakfast wraps, eggs and yoghurt parfait. A recommendation would be the mandarin apple muesli, which has a cinnamon flavour and is topped with fresh fruit- very yummy and filling for breakfast on the go. There are also many different organic snacks such as muesli bars, chocolate and gingerbread men which are all delicious and perfect to snack on throughout the day without feeling too guilty.

In the New Year Freshii will be creating a ‘Resolutions Menu’ to help people achieve their New Year resolution goals in terms of healthy eating and diet. Freshii also has a website to allow you to calculate the calorie content or to select which types of food will be beneficial to you, as well as offering delivery services for those in the DIFC and the adjacent buildings. (by Eli Court)

Rating: 8/10

ICONIC DESIRE

Bite Café, Iconic, Deira, Dubai

A delicious breakfast on a weekend, cooked to perfection is all that is needed to satisfy an appetite and if it’s at Iconic, it happens in style. The latest offering from Iconic is a sumptuous breakfast at Bite Café which is bound to get you kick-started for the perfect weekend followed by a lust-worthy shopping trip of the latest autumn-winter collection in the store.

Bite Café will serve a mouth-watering, carefully chosen array of breakfast every Friday and Saturday between 10am to 12 noon for only Dhs14.

Offering a traditional English breakfast, the meal includes eggs served in a variety of options, French toast, cheese omelette, creamy scrambled eggs served with sizzling sausages, beef bacon and toasted bread. A fresh cup of hot coffee or tea will complement the breakfast to make it an ideal weekend. Vegetarians can look forward to exceptional value for money options dished out by the chefs to make it a perfectly memorable weekend breakfast for everyone.

The breakfast spread is also available on weekdays from 8.30am to 10.30am for Dhs20.

Visit: www.theiconicstore.com

NOBU TRADITION

Nobu, Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai

Atlantis, The Palm invites you to an intimate evening with chef Nobu Matsuhisa, when the legend himself hosts the sake and umami dinner in Nobu’s private dining room. This exclusive opportunity to learn about chef Nobu’s tradition, design and creation of his world-class cuisine, whilst experiencing the taste of the very finest in umami dishes, for two evenings only on November 16 and 17.

The seven-course menu, starting with yellowtail tartar with wasabi soy and caviar, new style white fish and uni, tiradito scallop and salmon kelp roll and much more will be followed by, among others, king crab with buckwheat risotto and truffles. Of course the evening will not be complete without a selection of Nobu styled sushi with clear soup.

Created personally by Chef Nobu, the menu is priced at Dhs1500 per person and begins at 7.30pm.

Call: 04 426 2626

SAMAKINO SPECIAL

Samakino, Iberotel Concorde Hotel, Fujairah

Situated in the picturesque North East coast of UAE in Fujairah, Samakino has opened its doors. The new restaurant is offering aficionados and enthusiasts the rare opportunity to enjoy the most innovative seafood dishes.

Samakino is a unique restaurant with an innovative marine décor and an environment that combines sleek minimalism. The murals are festooned with colourful fish by international artists coupled with plush marble floors, intimate setting and the specially designed chandeliers styled in the shape of a jelly fish, evoke a magical atmosphere. Seafood and the city on the move can all be enjoyed through the large restaurant windows, which allow natural light to illuminate the walls in the presence of live music from an oud player. Though opened recently, the restaurant is already rave reviews of Fujairah residents for its absolute commitment to quality and consistency.