The winter food trail

The country is a food lover's dream - for any cuisine - so here are a few must-do-eats, when friends and holiday-makers come to town

This is tourist season in the UAE. As holidaymakers flee cold climates to thaw their icy bones, the mild winter of Arabia is a huge draw. While a significant number of visitors are here to explore on their own, with their own pre-booked tours, those of us who live here often find ourselves the default tour guides for many visiting family members and friends. They arrive with lots of expectations, to experience the grandeur of the UAE that they have seen marketed abroad, and often want to do and see it all in too little time.
There is something absolutely magical about the weather in the UAE and the entire Arabian Gulf this time of year. What's not to love? The temperature is cooler, days shorter, and local farms and markets are bursting at the seams with fresh produce. Here are some 'foodie centric' things you can do along with your guests this winter. 
Go organic market shopping
Instead of doing all your grocery shopping at the supermarket, load up your jute bags and head to the Ripe Market on Fridays  (in Dubai) and Saturdays (Abu Dhabi). Enjoy a wide range of local, regional and (sometimes) organic produce, and purchase artisanal food and craft products made in the UAE. Raw veganists can find raw and vegan products from Coco Yogo, as well as freshly pressed detox juices from Essentially, at the Ripe Friday Market. Visitors may even be able to purchase a few foodie souvenirs to take back home. Go with an empty stomach, as you will have lots to munch on while shopping. It's also a great way to meet more food conscious people as well.
Dine alfresco
A humble meal turns into a magical affair the moment you take the food out of doors. Fresh air and great weather make eating out absolutely exciting this season. Try to double up on this experience. For example, you can book a session At The Top at Burj Khalifa to view Dubai from the highest altitude, walk around one of the world's largest malls (Dubai Mall), and dine outside and watch the dancing fountains in the evening, all in the same location. Restaurants at the mall and some in adjacent Souk Al Bahar have great views of the Burj Khalifa and the fountain, so just keep walking until you find one that suits you, if the ones closest are packed. 
Cook outdoors
If you are a lover of nature like I am, this is the time to really live it up. While it will always be most practical to do meal prep indoors, get really adventurous and take the cooking outside. You can do the typical backyard barbecue or use an electric burner or cook in a pot on coals. For more advanced outdoor cooking, woodfire is the ultimate way to make meals, and this is the perfect time to go camping and cook by campfire. Camping in the desert is a traditional activity in the region. You could be a total hardcore adventure junkie, pitch a tent and pull an all-nighter, or you can simply do what most local families do - pull up by the roadside in a remote enough area and camp for a few hours. There are snakes and spiders and tiny foxes in the desert, so if you wish to camp all night, make sure you do your research and go with experienced campers. 

Pit StopsThe streetside trend of food trucks, popular in the US, is fast becoming a draw here, with homegrown brands like Salt's burger truck, the Meylas kitchen truck serving Emirati food, and Moti Roti all jumping aboard the food truck bandwagon

Go fishing
There are some places in the UAE where you can really enjoy fishing. Just keep an eye out for people with fishing rods sitting on rocks by the sea. However, for a more organised experience, you can book a fishing trip on a boat. Check out those on TripAdvisor. There are trips ranging from regular fishing to deep-sea game fishing. It's a great family activity and you can usually accommodate six to eight people, depending on the company and the type of session booked. 
Emirati Meal
If possible, book a local cultural tour and dining experience through the Sheikh Mohammed Cultural Centre for Understanding (SMCCU) in the Bastakiya old town. Visitors will be treated to traditional Emirati fare, as well as great insights into the local culture, with an interactive Q&A session. 
Brunch
If camping is the national pastime for Emiratis, I would say it is brunch for expats. Everyone's done it or doing it, and bets are you've never brunched as well anywhere else. Choose from the wide array of brunches on offer here. I like the Delphine's at The H Hotel, breakfast at Jensui at the Burj Al Arab, and Latittude at Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Take cheese lovers to La Cantine du Faubourg at Emirates Towers. If you can't do brunch, there's afternoon tea. My top picks are Fortnum & Mason, One & Only Mirage, Peacock Alley, Waldorf Astoria Palm, and Skyview at the Burj Al Arab. And if you're lazy on a Friday, there are Saturday brunches available now. 
Dine Around Dubai
Dubai food blogger Samantha Wood, of FooDiva.net fame, has a tour of the top fine-dining restaurants in the city. You can sip on beverages while being chauffeured from one stop to the next throughout the evening. The Lime and Tonic website also has events for the discerning food lover. 
Budget dining
Once you're done feasting on brunches, breakfasts and dinners, you may want to have more cost effective dining options that don't require slaving over a stove (or campfire) yourself three times a day. If you are already an adventurous diner, you may have a laundry list of places to take visitors to.  Places like Satwa, Karama and Deira are teeming with small, affordable spots, but it's best you try them out ahead. You can check out - Aegonomo (Filipino), Wide Range (Indian), Chimes (Indonesian), and Ravi's (Pakistani). If not, the Ahmed sisters of Frying Pan Food Adventures have quite a few unique food tours in Dubai, to explore small ethnic restaurants off the beaten path. Pick from any one of the tours that best suit the tastes of the persons attending, and go with an empty stomach and an open mind. 
Meat lover's haven
If you dig fine meat, then a visit to The Lexington Grill at the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah is imperative. They house the first and only licensed in-house dry ageing facility for their steaks, and pay attention to the most minute details - the proof is definitely in the eating! If you cannot make it to RAK, a trip to Dubai's only smokehouse is essential. American  top chef Lawrence Wells makes deliciously mouthwatering meats at Perry & Blackwelder at the Madinat. Or book a table at Seafire at the Atlantis, The Rib Room at Emirates Towers or Prime 68 at JW Marriot Marquis.  

• When Hunger Strikes

Kari Heron

• kari@khaleejtimes.com