< PreviousFood 40 March 10 – 31 2022 timeoutdubai.com SOME RESTAURANTS HAVE mysterious, exotic names. Others tell it like it is. Blue Seafood Asia falls into the latter category. From the intriguing glass box housing the cold sushi and sashimi kitchen in the centre of the restaurant to the display of fresh Àsh on ice, all shimmery scales as you walk in, it’s obvious that this is a restaurant with seafood at its core. Cultural inÁuences are clear too, with a massive mural of Àshermen depicted in traditional hats, a noodle-pulling station in the show kitchen, rope-style lanterns and plenty of greenery both inside and out. Fish market vibes abound; it’s lively, bustling and dining is designed to be sociable, with huge whole Àsh prepared as you like and served to share. The menu covers all Asian seafood bases well; there’s a raw bar, oyster bar (Dhs15 per piece, plus they come paired with the cutest test-tubes Àlled with Áavour-packed condiments), sushi platters, dim sum and hot starters like wasabi prawns, crispy baby squid and a bang-on- trend, very pretty raw tuna pizza. But it’s the classic mains and seafood display that deserve most attention. Fresh Àsh in one of four curry sauces – Thai green, Thai red, Malabar and sweet and sour – is served with rice for Dhs89. Fragrant, spiced to your taste and generous, this is one to try. Pair it with your choice of Àsh or prawns from the seafood display that can be grilled, steamed or fried and Blue Seafood Asia O Licensed. Sun-Thu noon-1.30am, Fri-Sat noon-2am. Burj Daman, DIFC, blueseafoodasia.com (054 581 9555). “Fragrant, spiced to your taste and generous, this is one to try” WHAT IS IT... An Asian seafood restaurant, funnily enough WHY GO... For the fresh fish display and lively vibes accompanied with one of 12 sauces. You won’t go wrong with a grilled red snapper, the perfect charcoal tinge meaning it tastes just great on its own, and even better when doused in a delicate Thai coriander and lemongrass sauce. A 1kg Àsh came in at Dhs222 and could easily serve three or four when matched with a couple of other dishes. Grape by the glass starts at Dhs49, so there are no nasty surprises with the bill. In fact, considering the DIFC address, this is a remarkably reasonably- priced restaurant. With so much competition in town, we like to know what we’re getting when we book dinner. So when a restaurant does exactly what it says on the tin, that’s a big tick from us. RESTAURANT IN FOCUS Time Out reviews anonymously and pays for its mealsFood timeoutdubai.com March 10 – 31 2022 41 WHAT IS IT... Relaunched luxury beachside restaurant WHY GO... For Latin American dishes and fancy views FOR A CITY on the coast, Dubai has surprisingly few beachfront restaurants. The Beach Bar & Grill is one of them. Located at One&Only Royal Mirage, old-timers will remember this venue for endless views over the Arabian Gulf. It’s a dramatically different vista now, with Bluewaters to the left, the new Dubai Harbour right in front and Palm Jumeirah to your right. Swallow those pangs of nostalgia and it’s pretty cool, with rows of swanky yachts to admire. The restaurant itself also has a new look, with a stylish revamp making the elegant indoor seating almost as appealing as outdoor, where there are now four stunning teakwood terraces, one of which sits on the sand. Far more than a facelift, The Beach Bar & Grill has moved from Mediterranean fare to Latin American in a renewed partnership with chef Mauro Colagreco. The wood-Àred parilla in the open kitchen signals the direction, with an Argentinian rib-eye, sea bream Àllet, wild giant prawns and grilled octopus among the highlights, all brought to the table in cast iron pans. Choose one of six sauces to pair with your grill. If you like a kick, go for the Peruvian aji, with habenero red chilli, concasse tomatoes, coriander, green onion and olive oil. The food is almost as pretty as the view, so there’s now more than one reason to visit this seaside favourite. The Beach Bar & Grill O Licensed. Open daily noon-11pm. The Palace at One&Only Royal Mirage, Al Sufouh (04 399 9999).Food 42 March 10 – 31 2022 timeoutdubai.com WHAT IS IT... The latest outing of renowned Dubai chef Akmal Anuar WHY GO... For flame-cooked cuisine that’s a world apart from the chef’s other enterprises ONE OF DUBAI’S most celebrated chefs is on Àre with this newcomer to Dubai’s food scene. Akmal Anuar, creator of concepts including GoldÀsh Sushi & Yakitori and 3Fils (the latter of which he has since departed), has taken a new direction with the launch of 11 WoodÀre. But while the menu veers away from the acclaimed Singaporean’s usual Far Eastern-leaning turf, his way with Áavour and Ànesse is as evident as ever. As the name suggests, at 11 WoodÀre it’s all about open-Áame cooking – right the way through to dessert. Despite the unusual location in the shadow of Dubai’s Mercato Mall, 11 is housed in an impressive, free-standing building, with a tasteful outdoor terrace and stunning, minimalist interiors. Instantly diverting eyeballs at the entrance is the open kitchen, with its crackling open wood Àres – frequently manned by Anuar himself. Make no mistake, this is one of the city’s top chefs – which goes some way to explaining the relatively high cost of eating here. The restaurant may be unlicensed, 11 Woodfire O Unlicensed. Open Tue-Fri noon-4pm, 7pm-11pm; Sat-Sun 8am-4pm, 7pm-midnight; Mon closed. 75B Street (next to Mercato Mall), Jumeirah (04 491 9000). SEVEN PIZZAS. That’s all you’ll Ànd on the menu at Blu Pizzeriá. Which might go some way to explaining why one of the city’s most exciting new openings has somehow managed to Áy completely under the radar. In our mission to serve you up a constant guide to the best of the city, we’re here to put a stop to that. Because if you’re not reading this from the line outside the door at this harbourside pizzeria, it’s time to get a move on. Once a popular feature on the city’s pop-up food circuit, Blu Pizzeriá’s Àrst bricks-and-mortar outing has acquired an almost instant following among locals in the know. From here, it serves wood-Àred, sourdough- crusted Neapolitan-style pizza. And if you’re not swooning at those seven little words, take a look at your seven pizza options. As far as we’re concerned, the margo – San Marzano tomatoes, Àor di latte cheese, EVOO, basil – is the absolute pinnacle of this pizzeria’s offering. A real belter of a classic, delivered via the medium of Blu’s thin, crisp bases and bloated, blistered crusts. But a quick glance around the tiny waterside seating area reveals a lot of love for the regionally inspired musakhan (sumac sauce, chicken, onion, sour cream sauce et al), short rib and pepperoni options. And based on the aromas Àlling the night air, the tartufo (featuring a whole trio of trufÁe), is clearly another big hit. Whether you’re a pizza purist or open to more adventurous adornments, we’ll eat our cardboard takeaway box if you don’t Ànd a lot to love about Blu. No bells. No whistles. (And no licence.) Just brilliant pizza. Blu Pizzeriá O Unlicensed. Open Thu-Sun 6pm-1am, Mon-Wed 6pm-midnight. The Souk at Umm Suqeim Fishing Harbour, instagram.com/blupizzeria. WHAT IS IT... Superb Neopolitan- style pizza at Umm Suqeim harbour WHY GO... To dive face-first into the margo and not located in one of Dubai’s usual hubs of high-end cuisine, but it is very much Àne dining. Elegant dishes like red shrimp with pineapple gazpacho and endive, and preserved lime- infused beef tartare underscore the point. As do steaks cooked over your choice of hay or hickory smoke. Amid all that reÀnement, you’ll still Ànd a wildly tasty wagyu burger on the menu. And of course you will – because these guys understand what it’s all about, whatever the cuisine. Great food that people just want to eat. Follow your nose to Jumeirah and Ànd out what all the fuss is about. 44 March 10 – 31 2022 timeoutdubai.com There’ll be craic, ceol, Ronan Keating and everything in between on March 17. By Lynda Keogh Paddy’s Day WHAT IS IT about living abroad that makes you feel extra proud of home? Whether you’re Irish or not, you’ll want to know what’s being planned for the fondly-named Paddy’s Day in Dubai on Thursday March 17. The Irish celebrate St. Patrick’s Day for many reasons, not only is it a national day and a day of pride, it’s a day of thanks. It’s also a day welcomed and celebrated by nations the world over. Seems more than the Irish are big fans of delicious food, pints of the black stuff and jolly good craic. Here’s a guide to where you need to be to celebrate. An bhfuil tú réidh? Anyone else attempting to throw a few focail around in preparation for the big day? Bingo Loco If you’re not in a hoop and still looking for something to do the day after St. Patrick’s Day, this needs to be on your list. If you’ve never been to a Bingo Loco event, you have not lived. Friday March 18 will see a Paddy’s Day themed Bingo Loco event. This will be Dubai’s biggest ever bingo rave. You can expect festival level production, the ultimate classic hits of the 90s and 00s that will send you and your mates into back-to-back dance battles with the table beside and of course, unbelievable prizes. A night not to be missed. O Dhs225 per person. The Square @ ISD Arena, Dubai Sports City, Friday March 18, 6pm-10.30pm, bingo-loco.com/dubai#/ Fibber Magees You’ll Ànd a class line-up all week at Fibber Magees that will make you forget about missing home. The interiors will transport you back to your favourite local; think dark wood and high mis-matched stools at the bar. In true Irish fashion, Fibbers is kicking off the celebrations with a trad session on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday March 16. Over the weekend you’ll Ànd fan favourites Paddyman and Sandstorm playing gigs too. Best off all, these live performances are free to attend – an absolute win. O Free entry. Open daily 8am-3am. Sheikh Zayed Road, behind Saeed Tower 1, Dubai info@Àbbersdubai.com (04 33 22 400). Home by McGettigan’s On Saturday March 19, McGettigan’s is hosting a whopper line up to celebrate the Emerald Isle. Enjoy the best of Irish music with The Coronas, Hermitage Green, Mundy, Róisín O and many more much-loved names in Irish circles. This is the St. Patrick’s Day Brunch you don’t want to miss. Run, don’t walk – Nightlife timeoutdubai.com/food-drink in Dubai Ronan Keatingtimeoutdubai.com March 10 – 31 2022 45 particularly if you’re Irish, this is not an event to be missed. A taste of home comes to the desert. Close your eyes and you could be in a very warm Ireland! Dhs499. The Square, City Walk, Dubai. mcgettigans. com/shop. Ireland Pavilion at Expo 2020 Where better to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than at the Ireland Pavilion at Expo 2020? Sharing the best of Irish culture and heritage on an international stage, the Irish pavilion will host a series of events showcasing all that Ireland has to offer – from music and Àtness, to food and drinks. Al Wasl Plaza, the Ireland pavilion and the Expo Sports arena will join the likes of the Sydney Opera House and the Empire State Building and will be lit in green. This is part of the international ‘Global Greening’ that sees some of the world’s most iconic buildings and landmarks change colour. Irish-woman-abroad Maeve Madden will host a one-off outdoor, free Àtness class – we reckon this will be a busy one so make sure to get down early. The Irish Business Network will host a St. Patrick’s Day breakfast; supporting all things business in Ireland and Irish business abroad. There’ll also be a live performance from the much-loved Irish band Kíla. You’ll even be able to watch a St. Patrick’s Day parade around Expo 2020 led by the Irish Defence Force Pipers. Phew. O Free entry with Expo 2020 ticket. Ireland Pavilion, Expo 2020, Dubai, ireland.ie. McCafferty’s Irish Pub If you’re looking for craic agus ceol, you’ll be sure to Ànd it at McCafferty’s in JVC. The much-loved Irish pub will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Trad Brunch on Saturday March 19. Traditional live Irish music, a troop of Irish dancers and a carvery dinner with Áowing house drinks – what’s not to love? Of course there’ll be post-brunch celebrations and if you don’t top off your weekend with a delicious hot chicken Àllet roll, you may give up the Irish passport immediately. O Dhs295. 1-4pm, Saturday March 19. Circle Mall, JVC. (055 784 9220). Phileas Fogg Okay, so Phileas Fogg’s might not be your traditional Irish pub, but hey – the cityscape views over the golf greens are pretty unbeatable and so is the Paddy’s Day fest line-up. The popular Irish trad band Gléo will be kicking off two days of festivities at Phileas Foggs alongside some Irish dancers on Thursday March 17. Famous in the Irish-in- Dubai circles, Paddyman will be playing a gig on Friday March 18. The venue will be open from 8am, with bands hitting the stage in the evening. Make sure to get down early and bag a seat to this free gig. O Free entry. Montgomerie Golf Academy, Emirates Hills, eat@foggs.xyz (04 572 4477). Ronan Keating Absolute scenes will be found at the Coca- Cola Arena on Friday March 18, with Ronan Keating taking centre stage. Make all your 90s dreams come true and watch your favourite Boyzone star perform all his greatest hits. Honestly, is there anything better than a little 90s Irish music throw back? We’re hoping our pal brings the same energy (and dunagrees) from that Late Late performance in 1993. Life is truly a rollercoaster, ya just got to ride it. O From Dhs145. Fri Mar 18. Gates open 7pm. Performance starts at 9pm. To book tickets, visit: coca- cola-arena.com (050 734 2004). The Irish Village Celebrate Ireland all weekend long with a three-day celebration at The Irish Village from Thursday March 17 to Friday March 19. From live music from Funky Buskers Áown in especially for the occasion to traditional Irish music and performance by Irish dancers – you’ll feel very much at home. Be sure to catch the Six Nations Ireland v Scotland match on Sunday March 19. No doubt it will be on a big screen for the inevitable crowd. O Free entry. Thurs-Sat 11am-2am. The Irish Village, Al Garhoud. (04 282 4750) The Irish Village “Celebrate Ireland all weekend long”Nightlife 46 March 10 – 31 2022 timeoutdubai.com Head’s up: Arab DJs are making a serious mark on the industry. By Emily Shardlow-Price FROM ESTABLISHED DANCE Áoor Àllers to crossover kings (and queens), forward-thinking producers to young artists just setting out on their journey, the regional clubbing scene is absolutely thriving. Here’s our guide to the DJs that should be at the top of your to-see list. Adam Rahman As a DJ, promoter, label owner and festival co-ordinator, Adam Rahman’s impact on developing the dance music scene in the Middle East has been massive. Credited with being one of the DJs who brought forward- thinking techno and electronica to the region pre-Millennium, he launched his WARPED nights at a time when the underground music landscape was very much in its infancy. This guy has longevity: to add to his accomplishments, he’s played a number of international gigs, is a headline name in his native India and is an integral part of the Groove on the Grass team. O @adam rahman03 Ahmad Almalki Anchored-in-the-Middle East music entertainment company MDLBEAST sets out to amplify the status of emerging local talent and they did so to stunning effect at music, art and culture festival SOUNDSTORM 21 in Riyadh at the tail end of last year. One of the breakout stars of the event (and MDLBeast signing) was Jeddah-based DJ/producer Ahmad Almalki, also known as Malkin, who, despite this being his Àrst ever live performance, took the crowd by storm and is making a name for himself as a rising star on the EDM music scene. O @malkinmusic SCRATCH SPIN ANDtimeoutdubai.com March 10 – 31 2022 47 Basil Al Hadi Well before he established himself as one of the most sought-after DJs, songwriters and producers in the UAE, Kuwaiti-born Basil Al-Hadi (stage name: Karrouhat), started his music career as the lead singer of a reggae band. Those early inÁuences proved pivotal; these days he blends international reggae hits with classic Arab tunes to crowd-pleasing effect. A true champion of Arab music and an ardent advocate for bringing it into the mainstream, Al Hadi is well known for his creative vision, unique style and fashion nous (he has appeared on the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week and starred in campaigns for Burberry). His infectious energy and original sound mean that he continues to be not just one of the most reliable party-starting spinners around, but a DJ that will keep the people moving all night long. O @karrouhat Biirdperson Having launched her on-stage persona Biirdperson in 2018, Lujain Albishi is making waves in KSA’s fast developing underground music culture movement. Part of this success is due to her refusal to be pigeonholed. While she has a long-term love for electronic music, the self-taught DJ stands out for her refusal to focus on one sound, mixing house, groove and soul into her eclectic mixes. Her experience as an established Àlmmaker is meanwhile reÁected in the way she tell stories with her sets, evoking emotions and often a strong sense of nostalgia to heart- string tugging effect. Having recently partnered with Adidas as part of their ‘playground of possibilities’ series and with gigs lined up in Zanzibar for early February, 2022 looks set to be the year that Biirdperson really starts to Áy. O @biirdperson Cosmicat at MDL Beast Festival Ahmad Almalki Cosmicat Saudi-born and raised Nouf Sufyani, aka Cosmicat, is regarded as the Kingdom’s Àrst and foremost female DJ and producer. Over the last few years she made serious steps in forcing the industry to become more inclusive, paving the way for numerous other women to do the same. A self-taught DJ, Cosmicat’s music selections reÁect both her passion for electronic music and the inÁuences of the sounds that she grew up listening to– pop, disco, R&B and hip-hop among them. On stage, she’s known for the diversity of her approach, using vocal riffs and samples from the ‘90s and early 2000s mixed with techno to bold-yet-melodic, massively crowd-pleasing effect. O @cosmicatx BiirdpersonNightlife 48 March 10 – 31 2022 timeoutdubai.com Deian One of the most proliÀc movers and shakers in the UAE music industry and a real champion of local talent, Deian has been instrumental in growing the music scene across the Emirates. As the founder of both the hugely popular Groove on the Grass festival and global media events and talent agency The Artists Network, he has attracted international big hitters to the region. This has helped establish the UAE as a music destination on a global level, while simultaneously giving local artists the chance to showcase their skills to industry leaders at the same time. A talented DJ and producer, he continues to Áy the Áag for the industry in the region, recently sharing his views and insights on the growth and essence of the MENA music scene at the inaugural XP Music Conference in Riyadh by day and thrilling fans with his performance at XP Nite in the evening. Deian shows no signs of stopping and was part of both the organisation and line-up for the much-anticipated return of Groove on the Grass, now called Desert Groove, which took place at the Dunes Resort in Ras Al Khaimah in February. Headline acts included Behrouz, Unders and WhoMadeWho. O @ deian__. Dish Dash Keeping it in the family, Saudi-born brothers Hassan and Abbas Ghazzawi – known collectively as Dish Dash – are two of the most up-and-coming DJs in the Kingdom, with their explosive closing set on day two of Sandstorm 2021 garnering them a host of new fans and international appreciation. Renowned for fusing melodic house with powerful techno vibes, as well as their punchy, unique setlists, these guys are on every clubbing aÀcionados ‘to watch’ list. Look out for them spinning the decks in clubbing hotspots around the world, from London to Bahrain, Miami to Abu Dhabi in 2022. O @dishdash_music. Natalie Brogan Jack Sleiman As well as being an iconic, award-winning DJ and legend of Beirut’s competitive clubbing scene (no mean feat), Jack Sleiman has collaborated with industry greats, including of course Sean Kingston and Karl Wolf (the feel- good track Remember being one of the sounds of summer 2019). He’s also a talented producer, in-demand radio host and general cool dude to boot. If you’re lucky you might catch him delighting an enthralled party-ready crowd at SKY 2.0 DXB. O @jacksleiman. “Renowned for fusing melodic house with techno vibes”Nightlife timeoutdubai.com March 10 – 31 2022 49 the world, securing residences in both Dubai and Las Vegas and establishing herself as a favourite among the fashion industry set. With an upbeat signature style that seamlessly mixes hip hop, R&B, soul and funk with Afrobeats and classic danceÁoor tunes, SONYA is quite rightly renowned for getting the good times rolling. Time to throw some serious shapes, people. O @s.o.n.y.aofÀcial. SONYA Natalie Brogan With a reputation as one of the Middle East’s top spinners, Natalie Brogan has been doing her thing in the UAE and beyond for almost a decade. In that time, she’s won numerous nightlife awards, played sets around the world – Ibiza, Egypt, the UK, India and Jordan included – and has featured on line-ups alongside industry greats (Fat Boy Slim, MK, Eric Morillo and David Guetta included). Brogan continues to thrill revellers with her banging beats and uplifting energy; in Dubai she has a long-term residency at trendy beach club Zero Gravity and can also be found on the decks at cool rooftop poolside bar Paros. O @djnataliebrogan. Roger Saad ‘Rodge’ One of the biggest – if not the biggest – DJs in Lebanon, Roger Saad is known for his feel-good electronic dance mixes and innate ability to get the party started. Having opened for world-famous artists (Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, Ed Sheeran, David Guetta amongst others) in Dubai, Egypt and Lebanon, his status in the Middle East clubbing world borders on the legendary. To add to the accolades (and his talents), Rodge launched Mix FM in 1996. As well as being hugely popular, the radio station is credited with shaping and developing Lebanon’s music scene. His Àrst single, Done Looking for Love, has been downloaded some 2.5million times on Anghami, making it the streaming app’s biggest track every released by a regional DJ. O @rodgemix. SONYA Currently ranked as the #10 DJ in the Middle East and one of the top 100 female DJs in the world, the appreciation keeps on coming for Polish-born, Dubai-based SONYA. And rightly so. After a breakthrough moment opening for Bruno Mars at the DU Arena in Abu Dubai on NYE 2019 she’s barely stopped since, performing at some of the hottest clubs around Dish Dash Roger Saad ‘Rodge’Next >