One of my favourite Tiramisu Recipes!

If you know me, you KNOW I’m obsessed with Tiramisus. It’s a secret mission of my life to eat Tiramisus everywhere in the world. I have had the crappy ones, the okay-fine ones, the ooh-this-is-good ones and the I-propose-marriage-to ones.

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A bit of struggle that I face is, I bake without eggs. I’m a Jain, and for the life of me, I’ve never used eggs. I don’t think I know to crack, break or use them. I do, however, don’t mind eating cakes with eggs in it.

So, I keep trying random Tiramisu recipes, that would be delicious without eggs. My search finally ended up in getting a fantastic recipe from Chef James of Vida Downtown. If you are around Dubai, you HAVE to go have it!

The Preparation Time is 20 mins, and it should ideally be refrigerated for at least 4 hours.

Here’s what you will need for a small serving:

  • 1 cup chilled heavy cream (whipping cream)
  • 1 cup mascarpone
  • 1 packet ladyfingers or sponge fingers
  • 3 tbsp powdered brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup strong black coffee (espresso shot can also be used)
  • 15g chunk dark chocolate
  • 2 tsp cocoa powder (unsweetened)
  • 1 serving jar

And here’s how you make it:

  1. Place the cream, mascarpone and sugar in a bowl and whisk until all ingredients are mixed and form a thick whipped cream.
  2. Take your serving jar and layer the bottom with sponge fingers (cut in half).
  3. Pour half of the espresso over the sponge fingers and leave for a few minutes until absorbed.
  4. Grate the dark chocolate chunk and sprinkle grated chocolate over the sponge layer.
  5. Then add half of the whipped cream to the jar.
  6. Repeat the above steps to add remaining ingredients and create another layer of sponge, coffee, chocolate and then cream.
  7. Sprinkle top of the mixture with cocoa powder and cover.
  8. Chill for at least 4 hours in the refrigerator before serving.

 

 

5 Favourite Breakfasts in Dubai

1. Friends Avenue, JLT

Honestly, they’re my go-to place for breakfast meetings. It’s not too busy, not too quiet, and the waffles are delicious! Their chocolate waffles with caramelized bananas are to DIE for, but, they keep their menu updated and these Oreo Waffles are everything!

Available every day; costs about AED 150 for two (roughly about two mains, two coffees and a bottle of water)

2. Nezesaussi Grill Downtown at Manzil Downtown
Their breakfasts are super popular for their sport-y feel. They have just launched a new Bench Breakfast where the team will not only ensure you are taken care of but will
also be able to give you a break down on the latest Rugby news! Their pancakes are SUPER delicious.

Available every Saturday, 9.30am to 12pm; costs AED 99 per person (buffet style)

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3. 3in1, Vida Downtown
I’m obsessed, like OBSESSED, with Granola Parfait. It’s so fresh and delicious. The pancakes and waffles are their bestsellers. When the weather is pleasant, you can sit by the pool which is the most instagrammable thing.

Available every day; they have ala carte and buffet options 

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4. BQ, St. Regis Dubai
Not only is the hotel so lavish, their breakfast buffet spread is something straight out of Versailles (which funnily enough, is also the name of their brunch). There are loads on offer, but I mostly gobbled after the pastries.

Available every day; it’s buffet for AED 165 per person  

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5. Wild and The Moon, Al Serkal Avenue

I actually went in to try the acai bowls that seem to be everywhere, and while the serving was not the biggest that I was imagining it to be, I can tell you that Acai bowls are going to be my new brekkie buddy to my Parfaits.  It’s also literally the prettiest, quietest place to work from.

Available every day; about AED 150 for two people (two acai bowls and two coffee)

 

 

Arabesque Granola Parfait Recipe

 

If you have been following my IG stories, you’ll know my latest obsession is Granola . Parfaits. So, while I’m going everywhere I can to try these granola parfait’s, this week’s favourite is the Manzil Downtown’s take on Parfait, with a very Arabesque touch, very much like the hotel itself.

Serves 1

 

Prep Time (10 mins)

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup Greek yoghurt
  • 1 cup granola
  • ½ cup chopped almonds
  • ½ cup Mejdool dates (seedless)
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ½ tbsp powdered sugar or ground cinnamon

 

METHOD

  1. Take a jar or bowl and pure Greek yoghurt at the base.
  2. Top with granola.
  3. Add dates (cut in halves), almonds, and top off with mixed berries.
  4. Drizzle honey over the mixture.
  5. Top with sugar or cinnamon (depending on your preference).

 

 

Blue Aesthetic Inspiration for Monday Blues

Lately, I’ve been rather obsessed with Pinterest, and I’m obviously curating- what in my opinion are- the prettiest albums. And since Mondays are often connected with blues- these blues will probably help you get rid of them!

10 Food Places I’d Take My Best Friend in Dubai

I keep eating stuff and making mental notes- and whatsapp voice notes to my best friend, Chandni of where I’d take her when she comes to visit me in Dubai. So, I tchand-1hought, why don’t I do a post about the ten places I’d definitely take Chand- without forgetting. Although, I’m pretty sure when she comes, we’ll be having every single meal and other meals in between everywhere.

First, about Chand. She is a fun girl who likes fish, burgers and desserts. Over the years, we have bonded over our mutual love for desserts and beer, in no particular order. She isn’t a fussy eater, but she’s a critical foodie. And because she’s an amazing baker and cook, she can be pretty judgemental about food. (Mind you that I’m a vegetarian!)

  1. Cocoa Kitchen
    I went there pretty recently and pretty much fell in love with the entire concept. So, basically, they use cocoa as a spice in all their dishes. Savoury and sweet, alike. And each dish is pretty exceptional. There, I’d definitely order Butternut Squash Coco Ravioli for me and a Coco Crusted Beef Brisket for her. For dessert, I wouldn’t let her miss their Brownie which was really one of the yummiest brownies I’ve had!

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  2. Serendipity
    I’d take her here just for dessert. Their giant slice of cheesecake could easily pass as a proper meal. #NoJoke
  3. Butter Dessert Salon
    This would count as an ordering in- but I don’t think I’d want her missing this. This little home bakery makes the yummiest chocolate chip Nutella cookies with sea salt. And they are legit. They are so heavy that one cookie is probably as heavy as a cheesecake from Serendipity. She’ll love this- so we can’t not have it!
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  4. Tribes Carnivore
    While there’s not much for me nom on here, she will love the meat haven that this restaurant is. It opened in September- I was actually a part of the PR team that was a part of the opening. Everyone freaked out about the food. And they called it a meat haven. I’ll stick to my salads and the view of the Burj Khalifa, she can freak out on the meat and the fun African tunes!
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  5. La Petite Maison 
    Good wine, fine ambience and scrumptious food. Can’t miss the Buratta at this lovely establishment. And it’s a little fancy- so we get to dress up and pretend to be French posh.
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  6. Reem Al Bawadi
    Say what you want, but I think this place serves exceptional Arabic food. And because you can’t come to Dubai and not eat Arabic food- we can’t be missing this one. They have many branches around Dubai, but I’d take her to the big one on Jumeirah Road. I’ve heard the Grilled Prawns at the establishment are incredible – so she will enjoy this!
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  7. Angelina- the Dubai Mall 
    As much as I’d like to be in Paris with my best friend, dressed up in crazy colourful clothes, channelling my inner Blair, and her as my Serena, we can do a little of that in Dubai. When we will be out gallivanting and raiding the Dubai Mall, I’ll her to Angelina for a delicious Hot Chocolate. I’ve had a lot of hot chocolates, but nothing comes close to this one. We’d probably finish it off with Macaroons at Laudree.
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  8. The Ripe Market- Al Barsha Pond Park
    Hoping that she comes during the season when the Ripe Markets are functioning, we’ll hit the food stands there. I’m thinking those giant New York pizza slices at Pitfire, followed by the dessert which I can’t remember the name of. It’s like this giant croissant cone thing ice cream in it.
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  9. Friends Avenue Cafe
    Chand and I met in college, and the first we really bonded was over chocolate waffles and blueberry pancakes at this place called Peter’s Pan near the college. We were with this insane couple that couldn’t decide if they wanted to stay together or break up and this other insane dude who was continued talking about snakes for like an hour. All friends, of course. Anywhoo, I’m totally going to drag her here for their Friends Caramelized Banana and Strawberries Waffle and some crazy egg dishes.
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  10. Freez
    They have the most amazing shakes. Chand and I love milkshakes. My favourite here is Nutella- although, my friend Natasha is totally obsessed with their Lotus shake. I can see us ordering milkshakes and little pancakes and maybe crepes. Basically, a lot of food.
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While, this is a very short entry to a long list of places we’d eat at- let’s sign some petitions to hurry her arrival! I miss my best friend!!!!