Abu Dhabi's Hidden Gem : Caramel

Being a foodie and all, I never pass up an opportunity to try out a new restaurant in Abu Dhabi.

Especially when it's one I've had the opportunity to indulge in earlier in Dubai.

Caramel : A chic american lounge at The Collection, St.Regis Saadiyat Island Resort

My take : An opulent setting and delicious food that gets your taste buds buzzing

As we chatted in the lounge area, we were treated to a refreshing mocktail that screamed fruity goodness.

After moving to the dining area, a selection of delectable dishes started pouring in.

For starters we had Baby 'Gem" Caesar Salad which tasted a lot like a regular Caesar salad (45 AED) but with the eventual presentation twist.

The Tuna Pizza with pickled shallots and a drizzle of truffle oil (130 AED) is something I will definitely be back for.This was in my opinion the star dish of the entire meal.

My second favorite was the TNT shrimp(120 AED): golden crust,creamy sauce and a succulent shrimp can do no harm.Who mentioned a diet?

Something a little more asian was then served: the Chicken lettuce bites ( 75AED) , a tad messy but loads of fun to make consists of a platter of baby lettuce, chicken stuffing and some sauce you get to DIY.

For mains, we enjoyed cooking our own thin slices of meat on a sizzling hot rock (120 AED).

To follow we indulged in seared chilean sea bass(150 AED) and Pan Seared lamb loin (125 AED)

However, what's a lunch at Caramel without the infamous Kobe Beef Sliders (120 AED) cooked to perfection ?

To end the meal on a sweet note , we had spiced apple cobbler (49 AED)and chocolate chunk brownie (49 AED) which I did not try for personal (food related) reasons.I can tell they were pretty good from the delighted expressions everyone else had on.

I did try the Baked Alaska (45 AED)  - the astonishing presentation definitely matching the succulent , creamy interior.

This venue is one to watch after Ramadan. I will definitely be back to enjoy some of my favorite dishes.

The staff is very professional and courteous and the ambiance very delightful in the evening.

A meal will probably set you back by 200-300 AED, a suitable cost for a high standard dining experience.

The Galleria - Abu Dhabi's hottest new shopping destination

Marina , Khalidiya , Wahda and Abu Dhabi Mall are all great shopping malls in Abu Dhabi we have grown to visit at least once a week.One thing they do have in common is that they miss that little 'touch' of glam, haut de gamme luxury and nonchalance.

All you fashionistas' prayers have been answered a couple of months ago.
A new luxury shopping and dining destination developed by Gulf Related and Mubadala , The Galleria,opened its doors to redefine Abu Dhabi's retail platform.

Featuring more than 100 of the world’s most renowned retail outlets, The Galleria brings a new era of stylish and sophisticated shopping to the capital and the region.Situated on Al Maryah Island, home to the capital’s new CBD, The Galleria boasts spectacular waterfront views across the Abu Dhabi cityscape and elevates the city’s retail offering with one of the highest concentrations of luxury brands in the Middle East.

Fifty brands have chosen this new luxury destination to open their first stores in Abu Dhabi  These include international labels such as Boucheron, Celine, Diane von Furstenberg, Jimmy Choo, Marc Jacobs, Mulberry, Paul Smith, Tory Burch, Alexander McQueen, Moschino, Kenzo (which is set to open in February - Can't wait ) ,Thomas Pink, Pucci, Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, Emporio Armani Caffe and Magnolia Bakery.

I was invited to attend the Official VIP Launch of the mall.
The night kicked off with a cocktail and introductory speech , which was then followed by a fashion show.
The models were impeccably styled by Teresa from styledrifter.com , and featured an array of sport luxe ensembles by various brands.

For the rest of the night, In-stores events were aplenty.

 To celebrate the opening of its first store in Abu Dhabi, Moschino created 20 exclusive limited edition pieces. The sky to turquoise variation of blue is a lovely color and the Moschino's gold hardware is classical.
I made the most of the night , and purchased the Moschino belt I had my eye on for quite sometime.

Lanvin statement necklaces that read 'happy' , 'help' and 'love' are all the rage this season.
Street style savvy for sure !

How gorgeous is this Pucci jumpsuit? Also impeccably styled for the fashion show.

Instead of heading to Dubai this weekend, head to The Galleria and support Abu Dhabi's growing fashion platform!

Abu Dhabi's hidden gems : Sushi Central

Another day, another sushi craving.

Yes people do consider it an aperitif but I'd debate that it's a meal.

In order to satisfy my craving on a lazy day I decided to order in.

I checked out out their menu online and dialed  600520007.

(alternatively you can order online : www.foodonclick.com)

After half an hour my dinner arrived in perfect packaging.

The stylish printed bag,chopstick wrapping and boxes exceeded my expectations.

And the best thing is I didn't have to lift a finger!

My dinner consisted of some cucumber maki, Avocado maki, Crazy crab and California rolls.

With a side of wasabi ,ginger and soy sauce of course.

The avocado wasn't as fresh and tasty as I hoped.

However, I absolutely fell in love with the crazy crab.

Perfect crispy mix of shredded crab and avocado.

A definite must try!

Finally great and reasonably priced sushi delivery in Abu Dhabi !

If you're in the mood to go out or close to Khalidiyia pop by their restaurant for your sushi fix.

Maison Sez - Fashion Extravaganza

I  recently attended  'a night with The National - Fashion Extravaganza at Maison Sez's boutique.
Being Gatsby themed everyone was asked to dress up in 20'S attire, which meant lots of pearls and feathers.

The event featured a presentation by the editors and stylists of Luxury Magazine on the behind the scenes of a shoot as well as this season's top trends.
Adorable bouchées and juices were served by Shakespeare & co and the night ended with a fashion show featuring stunning pieces available at Maison Sez.

 

 

Video : A night with the National : fashion extravaganza

A few days later , I passed by Maison Sez to take a closer look and go through the vast range of brands.

The 4,900 square-foot boutique is beyond lavish and houses such a breath taking collection of pieces, including brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Robert Rodriguez, Viktor & Rolf, Gat Rimon, Hotel Particulier, Rebecca Taylor, Zhor & Nema, Alice & Olivia, Manoush and Philippe Audibert to name a few.

You can even find pieces that were donned by celebrities such as Olivia Palermo and Kim Kardashian.

The interior is très chic with each section corresponding to a different theme.

It was very hard trying to capture the intricate details of the store , carefully put together by Madonna Morgan the owner of Maison Sez.

At such a young age, she managed to make Maison Sez a fashion hub in the heart of Abu Dhabi.

 

Make sure to pop by and grab a few quirky pieces !

 

 

 

 

 

Abu Dhabi's hidden gem : Carel Couture

Looking for the perfect outfit or the perfect designer dress?
Look no further.

Carel Couture is a multi brand boutique offering a range of pret-a-porter and couture designers such as M Missoni,Gaetano Navarra and BluGirl Follies.
For special occasions,check out Carel's one of a kind dreamy couture dresses.

Carel Couture is located on Corniche street , Khalidiya in Abu Dhabi.

For more information contact : 02 635 9844.

 Carel Couture's Facebook Page

Need a new summer wardrobe?

Head to the store ASAP, they're having further markdowns up to 50% off !

I was recently part of a photo shoot featuring some pieces from Carel Couture's Spring/Summer 2013 collection.Take a look at the gorgeous items currently in store.

My personal fave : this Gaetano Navarra bomber jacket.