Saffron. Zaafran is the first thing I see – the first thing that lets me know where I am – the Deira Spice Souk in the heart of old Dubai. We’ve gone in the evening, about 6pm. We couldn’t meet the morning opening at 10am. We are after all on holiday. As the souks are closed for ‘siesta’ between 1 and 4 pm, we save our adventures for dusk. Tip 1: Try to visit the souks in the evening – the vibe is different. Note that the souks are closed between 1 and 4 pm, and on Friday mornings. I’m surprised to...
Harmattan: Seasonal Foods, Interesting Facts & Tips
Harmattan – the season of dry and dusty, of conjunctivitis and freshly pressed mosquitoes (is this just at my end?) Of orange fruit and vegetables – carrots, agbalumo, oranges and tangerines. This season past, I noticed a few things – the regular fruits on display, but a little bit more as well…Read on. In Season: Agbalumo It’s late December and we’re driving round Lagos on a Sunday. The children and a friend of theirs, Alex have spent the afternoon painting at The Social Place. It’s only a little cold, and I haven’t fully welcomed the Sahara and its dunes into...
Regular Programming Resumes…
Hi and welcome to the new look ‘Kitchen Butterfly’ site! First of all, apologies for being away for so long. We’ve been cooking something exciting for you…and now it’s done – hope you like it. After five + years, it was time for a re-organisation. So, whats new? The new look KB site is powered by a new, improved engine. It is faster and responds ‘nicer’, regardless of the device you’re visiting on and it designed to be more interactive. This engine, framework will power a few new features – coming soon. In the meantime, here are a few highlights for you The New Layout: displays stuff we’ve...
Discovering New Dishes On Holiday
Part of the appeal of going to a new place, any new place for me is the food :). Dubai was really interesting because I didn’t try any hardcore Emirati dishes. I had lots of Lebanese and Turkish and others though. Putting that to one side, I got the chance to try a variety of things, most of them at the hotel. They were an interesting variety from egg dishes to bean ones. 1. Foul Medames Don’t let the name fool you into thinking this is a nasty dish, ’cause it isn’t – it might just take some getting used to. Pronounced...
Dinner in Dubai: Point & Eat, Barracuda Seafood Restaurant
A few nights ago, Lara took me to Barracuda – a popular fish restaurant in Jumeirah 3, Dubai. It is owned by an Egyptian and is established on the concept of ‘selecting’ your own seafood. It reminds me very much of selecting catfish in some Nigerian restaurants, popularly known as Point & Kill. Except in this case, the fish (and other seafood) is all fresh but dead, and sitting on ice.
Five (5) Favourite Mocktails
The last cups are poured slowly, sipped with dreamy eyes. Eyes glazed with memories of mornings and glasses of juice – mostly orange, memories of heat at noon and refreshing drinks, full of muddled mint and ice. Holidays for me are mostly about the unhurried cups of tea at dawn, the fresh juices I down at breakfast and more. Dubai has been wonderful for showing me a few delicious mocktail combinations.
Five (5) Things I Now Know About Pita Bread
The best pita bread is pillowy, soft, sweet and served warm. Thank you Jedoudna, for all I’d ever known about pita bread has gone to pot. A few days ago, we strolled down ‘The Walk’, seeking where we might feast. At Jedoudna – a Lebanese establishment, we were served basket after basket of the most delicious pita bread.
Happy New Year, 2015
Dear Lord, Thank you for 2014 – the year in which I survived more than accomplished. No need for long stories. Thank you Lord for 2015. I wish you all the very best for the new year ahead, Love & Peace, Ozoz[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Happy New Year, 2015 – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]
Zafran – Saffron Tea At Filli, ICCA Dubai
The best thing for me about a holiday, any holiday is the drinking of leisurely cups of tea. And for me, quite frankly, the tea culture in the Middle East, Gulf states and North Africa is unrivaled. Except by the Chinese perhaps but this isn’t a discourse on who does it better – this is about holidays and desires and favourite things. Almost every morning since our arrival in Dubai, I’ve made a cup of tea and savoured it – not with sunrise though (for we’re still trying to get back into normal sleeping patterns). I sip and drink and...