"dubai" news and stories

Everyone city seems to want a little authentic Brooklyn hipster edge these days – including Dubai. Or as authentic as a Brooklyn Diner can be (the original is located in the middle of Manhattan, after all). According to the Insatiable Critic, the Intercontinental Hotel will open the first outpost of Shelly Fireman's successful chain diners abroad on February 15, complete with the restaurant's signature maitre d' attire -- a tux and sneakers. (Americans excel at making a classy first impression.)

The world's highest restaurant has opened in Dubai, but don't expect an extravaganza of fireworks to mark the occasion.

As Reuter's reports, it takes just a minute in an elevator to ascend 1,350 feet up to Atmosphere, located on the 122nd floor of the 160-story Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Inside it's all mahogany and leather, while through the glass there are hundred-mile views across the desert.

No doubt, Dubai would like nothing better than for the opening of Atmosphere to signal a return to the kind of outsized prosperity that made the city the international poster child for excess during the 2000s. The boom years led to a dizzying building spree that didn't just seek to build, but to build in the superlative -- the biggest, tallest or highest of just about everything.

If Dubai's indoor ski slopes, man-made islands, and luxe hotels weren't enough of a draw, Magnolia Bakery's coveted buttercream-frosted cupcakes are now on the city's list of attractions. The New York's famed West Village bakery is opening up its fourth location -- and first overseas -- in the United Arab Emirates city, and it's just the first of a wave of iconic Manhattan favorites headed to the Middle East. Tasti D-Lite, the go-to indulgence for calorie-counting ice cream lovers, has plans to open a Dubai location in 2010, and Danny Meyer's Shake Shack, famous for its lightly charred burgers and endless lines, is headed to Kuwait City, Kuwait, later this year.

It's easy to understand why the Middle East -- and Dubai in particular -- makes sense. Until recently, the region was booming, and locals and tourists alike have been opening their wallets for American theme restaurants like Planet Hollywood and Johnny Rockets in Dubai for years. But why now, when the crumbling economy has made a significant dent in the city's dizzying expansion?

During my visit in Dubai, I did what almost every tourist there does. I went to the lavish, semi-futuristic, Vegas inspired malls where you can not only go shopping, but also indoor skiing. While at the Wafi mall, an ancient Egyptian inspired building shaped like a pyramid, I made sure to stop into Wafi Gourmet, a Middle Eastern specialty food store. The selection of dates looked gorgeous.

Wafi Gourmet has a counter full of chocolate covered dates, dates stuffed with oranges, and dates stuffed with pistachios and dipped in chocolate. I started off with a tasting of their plan dates. Their juiciness, freshness, and intense sweetness satiated my palate. I couldn't imagine eating the ones covered in chocolate, but, I'm so glad I did!

Dates are one of the few fruits in Dubai that come from the United Arab of Emirates, and, at the moment, they're in season. At Wafi Gourmet, they sell a few different aged dates. Since I have a sweet tooth, the fresh ones were naturally my favorite. The ones that are aged are more savory. Currently, I'm on a quest to find the same succulent dates in NY. If you know where I can find them, please let me know.

While in Dubai, I tried a lot of foods with za'atar, a spice mix containing the herb za'atar, dried oregano, thyme, marjoram, and a combination of sesame seeds and salt. My favorite dish for breakfast was za'atar bread and za'atar croissants. They're crispy, sweet, flaky, salty, and zesty. In the Middle East, za'atar bread is often eaten in the morning, because the spice blend is supposed to make your mind more alert.

I highly recommend za'atar bread and za'atar croissants for their unique pungent spicy flavors. A great way to balance out the saltiness is to dip them in labneh, a yogurt that's been drained to form a thick tangy cheese. Next time you're in a Middle Eatern restaurant, make sure you ask for these piquant pastries.