Abi:original - If you aren't original, what are you?

Life on a beach Not every hotel can claim 5-star status. It comes after careful examination of amenities. Adherence to international standards must be met. A visit to preview the latest offering of Al Raha Beach Hotel’s Azur Restaurant, came my way. Since I’m based in the northern Emirates it was going to be a three-and-a-half-hour journey to Abu Dhabi. No distance is an obstacle when it comes to work and so I went to check out the property.  Azur is a casual dining restaurant that has both outdoor and indoor seating options. The recently revamped menu harbours a homely Italian Trattoria. The turquoise-hued place is buzzing with people when I finally arrive. The first course is already over and done with and people are digging in to their Mushroom Risotto. A dish I thoroughly enjoyed. For anyone who favours Italian cuisine, there was a lot more headed our way. In came a succulent Lamb Shank or lamb ossobucco, which was served with its own beef sauce. The music ...

Porcini Mushroom - Mushroom pizza with a Margherita base, beef bacon and basil leaves Anyone fortunate enough to dine in Italy will know that it is undoubtedly the home of the beloved pizza. A multitude of outlets and chefs worldwide try to replicate the enigma of this crusty, wholesome meal. Few come close...  800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, recently opened its fourth  franchise branch at Burjuman Centre in Bur Dubai. Its new  menu is designed by the franchise-owner, Manish Jeswani, and Master Pizzaolo,  Rosario Accaria, and includes an assortment of desserts and soups. Made with special Napoli 00 flour and ingredients prepared freshly every morning, 800 Degrees’  authentic Neapolitan Pizzas are baked to perfection in an almond wood-fired oven at (you guessed it) 800 Degrees  Fahrenheit. Other features include an  in-house prepared Calabrian chili-paste, fresh oregano and peppadew peppers. Peppadew are sweet, tangy red peppers found in Sout...

The Lotus Blossom mani-pedi at Tips and Toes was just what I needed to kick start the week. Those of you with equally unending to-do lists know exactly what I'm talking about. There is never any time for one's self let alone one's tired toes. Walking in to the salon felt rejuvenating from the start. The therapist starts by cleaning and filing of the nails. The treatment is enhanced by the salon's own signature lotions and scrubs. Its moisturising mask is used to ensure that moisture stays locked in. When the therapist suggests a callous treatment, I have to meekly agree. Here's where a clear lotion is applied to the skin which is wrapped in cling film for up to ten to twelve minutes. Anyone with dry skin cannot stop from hugging one's sole after they transform in to soft surfaces. For now my feet and fingers feel pampered and frankly so do I. The Lotus Blossom treatment costs Dhs. 205 and is the offer of the month at all Tips and Toes outlets across...

Amid the glitzy modern coffee houses of the UAE, traditional Arab cafés still form an important part of the urban landscape and are frequented by the local community as well as expatriates and tourists. The Aroma Garden Caffée is a quintessential Arab coffee house that has been in Dubai for five years. Built in the style of a traditional Arab home, it attracts the curiosity of many passers by. "The café's ambience is calming. It has been designed as an Arab inspired house," says Gina Serapon, Operations Manager. "Our regular clientele consists of many UAE nationals as well as visitors from other GCC countries. It is really nice to see guests return faithfully year after year. For us this is not just a simple coffee shop, we also offer breakfast and dinner and provide an atmosphere for the entire family. It's a large café so we offer them much more room and privacy which they don't get in ordinary malls." Relaxed pace Owner Mohammad Ihsan Atif, a Saudi na...