Bob Travel » Food and Beverage

Taste of Dubai

admin — Sun, 15 May 2011 04:28:33 +0000

The 2009 Taste of Dubai wrapped up today (March 14th) at Dubai Media City. The event, which began on Wednesday, March 11th, featured 68 signature dishes by 23 of the finest Dubai restaurants and celebrity chefs from around the globe.

This year’s celebrity chefs included James Martin, Giorgio Locatelli, and a battle between Gordon Ramsey and Gary Rhodes. Visitors staying in a five star hotel in Dubai are likely to have sampled the food of some of the participating chefs. Most of the top hotels sent their best chefs to the event.

The festival included food stalls from local restaurants and a variety of cooking demonstrations as well as entertainment. The MMI Beverage Theatre and the Taste Marketplace were the main attractions. The event even had its own currency: the della, which had to be purchased at an exchange stall or from roving della boys.

Cooking demonstrations and classes were very popular this year. The Mark Wilkinson Chefs Theatre offered demonstrations by celebrity chefs. Professional chefs also manned the Spinneys Cookery School to provide lessons to foodies of all stripes. There was even a Kiddies Kitchen to educate and entertain children.

Several lounges were available for relaxing. The Momotaro Sashimi Lounge served sushi and other Japanese foods and beverages in a quiet setting near the Media City Lake. The Blu Water Lounge was a more contemporary beverage lounge. In addition there was a variety of live performances on the entertainment stage.

Taste of Dubai is a post from: Bob Travel

Top Restaurants for Tourists in Miami

admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:10:00 +0000

Aside from all of the great cultural establishments and beautiful beaches that exist in and around Miami, a large number of the people who visit it are interested in exploring the club scene and enjoying some of the great dining establishments that are located there. And while there is an endless selection of restaurant options and food genres from around the world are available, there are some standard options that tend to appeal to a large number of tourists. These are some of the more popular places for guests in the South Beach Miami hotels to enjoy a great meal.

Joe’s Stone Crab is one of the great places to eat in Miami and is also frequently considered to be one of its landmarks. Having been established in 1913, the restaurant will soon be 100 years old. They must be doing something right, all you have to do is sample their menu to know what it is. Romeo’s Cafe is a great option for couples and as the name might imply has a nice romantic atmosphere. The menu features some great Northern Italian offerings and the restaurant has the charm of the old country. The Capital Grille is a standard favorite with a great menu and equally enticing atmosphere. They carry a nice wine selection and the staff is excellent at recommendations suited to particular food parings.

Top Restaurants for Tourists in Miami is a post from: Bob Travel

Sam Hui back in Singapore

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:18:54 +0000

This year is shaping up to be a fantastic year in Singapore for music. It’s probably not a stretch to say that every year in Singapore is a good one, considering the wide variety of excellent entertainment that comes from the creative talents of the people who live here, along with the dizzying array of performers who make this one of their stops. The city-state is a popular destination for musicians from Europe, the U.S., and also from all over Asia. Singapore has been a world-class city for some time, drawing on its potential as a major trading port. The exports and imports here are not just food and goods, but often takes the form of ethereal entertainments.
For a perfect evening of ethereal entertainment, one of the best bets this year will be the Sam Hui concert. This event is coming in late June, but is already causing small waves of excitement among the locals here. It’s a perfect excuse to take a trip over, and enjoy an evening out, with dinner at one of the excellent Chinese food restaurants in town, and then get ready to see the show. Audiences here are very discerning, and for events as anticipated as this one, they are also extremely generous, and not afraid to show their enthusiasm. This is one way of getting in touch with the local culture, and also experience the world of global pop, with one of Hong Kong’s most beloved stars.
Sam Hui had retired from performing, and from his illustrious film career, years ago, but picked it up again in 2004. This was very good news for the long-term fans, who can be wonderfully fanatical about this pop star. He comes from very humble origins, making his rise even more meteoric than other stars who come from wealth and privilege. His reputation has always been very strong as a voice of the people, giving the audiences what they want in terms of energy and enthusiasm, and in the process, keeping the spirit of hope alive for millions.

Sam Hui back in Singapore is a post from: Bob Travel

Sampler Plates in Seafood Restaurants

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:25:26 +0000

Like many people, my sister loves seafood restaurants. She always orders some kind of sampler platter, which many of them offer and it will generally include a lobster tail, shrimp and either a fillet or some crab legs. Shellfish is her favorite, and she loves an assortment of shrimp in her meal. Sometimes this will include some battered baby shrimp, some scampi and sometimes grilled shrimp. Occasionally the fried shrimp will also include a choice of flavoring, such as Cajun barbeque, coconut or cilantro and lime. The possibilities are endless and some shrimp specialty locations will offer and endless variety.

My sister also loves the lobster and prefers it on a sampler platter where it will usually be removed from its shell. While she is more than capable of removing it herself, when she treats herself to a great seafood meal, she considers this to be more of a chore and enjoys it when the lobster is presented out of the shell. Her taste with lobster is simple and direct, she enjoys dipping it in butter and savoring the rich flavor.

The crabs are almost always served in the shell of their legs, and removing them is second nature to my sister. I never understood why this too wasn’t a chore, though I recognize that it certainly doesn’t seem like one to my sister. She usually dips the crap in butter and sometimes will use a sauce if one is provided. When a fish fillet is served, it is frequently Orange Roughy. This is a mild and light deep ocean fillet that is suitable to many pallets. My sister loves every item that is included with these sampler plates, though this definitely does not complete her experience. Every time she has seafood, and actually any other time it is available, my sister also enjoys a large bowl of New England clam chowder. To her, the creamier it is the better.

Sampler Plates in Seafood Restaurants is a post from: Bob Travel

Top Restaurants for Tourists in Miami

Grilling the Perfect Burger in the Built In BBQ

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:17:06 +0000

At the heart of every backyard grilling party is the staple, the hamburger. Most people make their burgers using beef and it is important to choose the right cut for one’s taste. When grilling remember that most of the fat will burn off, so while it is health conscious and wise to choose leaner cuts most of the time, for grilling this may not be the best option. The leaner cuts when grilled will tend to end up dry, so keep this in mind.

The fat that burns off during the cooking will also decrease the size of the burgers up to twenty five percent. Another thing to consider when making the perfect burger is the texture of the grind. Coarse grinds of hamburger stand up much better to the heat and the grill of the built in bbq than do the finer grinds. Finely ground meat becomes mushy and a bit soft, causing them to fall apart on, and fall through, the grill.

Adding spices and other ingredients to the patty is wonderful, however one thing that too, will cause the patties to fall apart on the grill is large chunks of onion or whole garlic cloves. So be certain to dice these ingredients up before adding them to the mix. There are other options for the choice of meat when it comes to grilling the perfect burger, as sausage, pork and ground lamb make wonderful grilled up meals.

Turkey is an option as well, but again it is softer and the texture may be hard for some outdoor chefs to work with. Dried bread crumbs in the mixture will serve to thicken up the patty, making it easier to work with, while adding a bit of flavor as well. Some flavors are better when mixed together, so try a bit of sausage with beef, or a bit of lamb.

Grilling the Perfect Burger in the Built In BBQ is a post from: Bob Travel

Portable Hot Tubs and Grilling for Health

Portable Hot Tubs and Grilling for Health

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:08:35 +0000

The benefits of having a hot tub are numerous, and many of these are discovered as you start enjoying your hot tub with family and close friends. The health benefits are really very exciting, and there are so many reasons for going outdoors and enjoying a lovely soak. There is something particularly beneficial to the combination of hot water and moving jets, that improves circulation, gets the heart going, and may actually produce some of the physical benefits of aerobics. Relaxing as a form of exercise has a certain appeal, for sure, and portable hot tubs are the way to enter into these possibilities. There are also wonderful side effects that help the body to sleep more deeply, but to get these side effects, you’ll have to make it a part of your routine. It’s not difficult to consider the idea of pleasure at the end of every day.

There are also beautiful possibilities for entertaining when you have your own portable hot tub. For many people, the connection between the smell of the hot tub mixed with the smell of barbecue is heady and brings back terrific memories. And now the possibility of creating your own memories is right at your disposal. It’s also very convenient, because you won’t have to prepare very much, and there will be evenings when dinner gatherings might erupt spontaneously. There are plenty of social pluses to hosting a Summer grill and hot tub party, but there are also health benefits as well, and it’s possible to maximize the benefits by learning how to grill for health.

Grilling for health means being conscious of what happens in the cooking process. There are ways of preparing meats to insure that their nutritional potentials are unlocked, while also removing the carcinogens. Some of these methods are as delicious as they are health-conscious, such as adding soy, vitamin E, or garlic and herbs. Also, marinading the meat before grilling, in a thin sauce, and it’s much better if it’s homemade. There are extraordinary things that can be done with fruits and vegetables on the grill, and these are always healthy, grilled or not grilled. You can combine the benefits of moderate sun exposure, relaxing the body in very warm water, as well as healthy food with that special taste that only the grill can provide, and make for an extremely pleasurable experience on a lazy Summer afternoon. Good just got so much better.

Portable Hot Tubs and Grilling for Health is a post from: Bob Travel

The Captain’s Chair

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:19:38 +0000

When you’ve moved from the indoor stove to the outdoor kitchen, even if it’s just a beginning, things start to change. You’ve made a decision to enter into the good life, and become part of the culture you’ve always wanted to belong to. Good taste and relaxation are more important than a quick fix, although with your grill, you’ll be cooking meals with precision in no time flat. And once you’ve had a chance to look over our grill islands, you’ll see that it’s a splendid way to plant yourself in your new role.

Our grill islands offer a number of variations that will help you to personalize your space. There are details to make it suit your personality, and your way of entertaining, with features such as special lighting, sound systems, a built-in tv, as well as covers so that you can entertain even when the weather isn’t behaving. You can also choose styles and shapes, to fit your set-up exactly how you like it. It might not be the captain’s chair exactly, but you might start to feel a bit like Captain Kirk, enjoying being the master of your domain, or the perfect master chef with all the amenities you could ask for.

There are also grill islands with seating areas, so that you can do your entertaining and your cooking in the same place. This is an excellent option for the more social cooks, who like to talk with the family and guests while the food is being prepared. If you enjoy talking about food, this is the perfect place to share secrets and recipes. A bit of a secret here: we all love to share recipes. It doesn’t take very long before the splendid experience of grilling outdoors becomes an obsession, and a healthy one at that. You’re spending more time outdoors in the fresh air, and preparing food that is also very healthy, using fresh ingredients to offer the best tastes. This might be the ideal Final Frontier for you, where all the adventures of a life lie before you, and you can prepare the finest flavors with your friends and companions close at hand.

The Captain’s Chair is a post from: Bob Travel

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Celebrating the Singapore Restaurant

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:55:01 +0000

One of the aspects of the culture on the island of Singapore is the love of food, from the fine cuisine found in a top Singapore restaurant, to the hearty dishes found in the food malls and the hawker stands in the open air markets. Every festival, every celebration includes feasts that delight with foods and the flavors from the various cultures that make up the diverse society of Singapore. One of the most anticipated events, for those living on the island, and those tourists and visitors who have experienced it before, is the Singapore Food Festival. This year marked the sixteenth annual festival which ran from July17 through the 26th. This is a time when culture meets food, and food is celebrated by the culture.

The focus this year was Peranakan cuisine. Opening ceremonies included a parade which consisted of more than two hundred Peranakan’s dressed in traditional clothing and heading out through all the streets of downtown Singapore and meeting up at the Clarke Quay to begin the festival. One of the greatest moments of this year’s festival was the finale, the Peranakan Buffet. This was a table set up that ran the entire length of the Read Bridge and offered up more than one hundred different dishes, all under the night sky. The Peranakan society is made up of a blend of Malay, European, and Chinese descent. This is one of Singapore’s groups that evolved about three hundred years ago.

Many events that highlight the culture took place, as well as the events that were taking place throughout the entire island in Little India, Chinatown, and in the cultural heart of the city, the Kampong Glam Malay. The theme throughout each of the neighborhoods was ‘supper’ a meal that is one of the most celebrated and loved by Singaporeans. During the festival, Read Bridge becomes known as Food Street and is open each day from 4 to 11pm. Many enjoy the flavors of the various restaurants and chefs of Singapore, taking breaks from the dining every now and then to visit the stalls of the Singapore River Market for shopping. Workshops were also provided, with the use of a full kitchen that was moved from location to location around the island. In all, this last festival was a huge success and has people excited for the 17th annual Singapore Food Festival next year.

Celebrating the Singapore Restaurant is a post from: Bob Travel

Good Places to eat in Dubai

admin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 21:13:47 +0000

If you go to Dubai, there are 3 restaurants I recommend which I personally found to be the best. I was staying in a 5 Star Hotel in Dubai when I stumbled upon The Pizza Corner, Cafe’ Havana and BICE. All three were simply delicious in their own way and had their own unique style.

My first choice, and one restaurant I will never forget is Pizza Corner. The huge pizzas are so tantalizing, mouth watering and delicious. The menu had a really good variety to pick from, like not only pizza, but seafood, salads, sandwiches, steaks, desserts, burgers, chicken and they even have cocktails. I sat down to eat, but they also have take away or delivery. I especially liked the prices, very reasonable. While I was in Dubai, I managed to go there quite often and got to try the Chicken Burger, the Turkey Meat pizza and a milk shake which was the best I’ve ever had.

My second most favorite place to eat, I found when I was shopping at Deira City Centre Mall and needed refreshment and a rest. Cafe’ Havana, a wonderful place for a snack, a refreshment and a very good place to people watch. Cafe’ Havan is a large cafe’ restaurant and it’s on the 2nd level of the mall on the way to the cinemas. I was greeted by the host and got to pick the table I wanted which was, of course, on the edge of the cafe’ so I could have a great people watching vantage point. The menu is varied, and I was surprised that it really wasn’t Cuban. But, I ordered the Turkey Club sandwich which came with a huge mound of fries. Very scrumptious. Very reasonably priced and very pleasant. The staff is superb, I felt like royalty stopping by after tons of shopping. I didn’t try the decadent looking cakes on display, was too full from my ‘snack’.

Then I got to experience BICE. Very welcoming and pleasantly calm. I was kind of worried that it might have an atmosphere of being stuffy, but it wasn’t, it was casual dining at it’s best. The food was superb, really very good. I ordered the lamp chops and when my dish arrived, it was presented beautifully with cooked greens and the lamb portion was just right. The service was friendly and non-intrusive, just the way I like it. My mouth still waters when I remember that Lamb dish, so good, so juicy, mmmmmm.

Good Places to eat in Dubai is a post from: Bob Travel

Smoking Mesquite Tuna

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:34:10 +0000

The outdoor kitchen multiplies your cooking options, and choosing the right outdoor kitchen accessories multiplies this geometrically. First, with an outdoor kitchen, suddenly there are possibilities for flavors that were unheard of before. There is also the immense social nature of cooking outdoors, that makes a party really lively, and can make a simple family meal into a very special occasion. It can also become an every day luxury, and it never gets old. With the right accessories, there are radical changes possible for outdoor cooking.

The outdoor kitchen grill smoker box can help you to take all of your new grilling techniques and add the amazing possibilities of smoking to your culinary repertoire. Smoking foods on the grill is an old art form, and one that is, like any art form, in a constant state of evolution. These accessories move it to a new level, where the state of the art grill merges with the exceptional flavor provided with wood flavoring. The most advanced cooking techniques are brought to a new level. Hickory and mesquite are just the beginning of the flavors that can be used to infuse your food, and this will have your whole family, all your guests, and your whole neighborhood, deliciously curious about what’s on.

There are infinite possibilities for what will work with this smoker box, but consider trying grilled mesquite tuna. Preparing the tuna with the right marinade can do wonders to this already mouth-watering meal. Try different kinds of pepper, italian dressings and seasonings, or even portabella mushrooms to complete the taste. Other options for grilling mesquite tuna with your smoker box are trying minced garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and salt and pepper. Experiment with different oils, too, to lock in the flavors. Feel free to try combinations of flavors, because with the smoker, you’re bound to have a fantastic result!

Smoking Mesquite Tuna is a post from: Bob Travel