tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70845380577124869032024-03-13T14:17:12.232+04:00iThinkFood reviews, Movie reviews, Food recipes, Photography and TravelAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-38746447564961096742015-12-17T15:53:00.001+04:002015-12-17T17:09:14.686+04:00New Blog - Baggage and Dish<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi All,<br />
<br />
Thank you for the support and love so far. I have finally changed the blog name and have a new website. In order to read my travel and food stories and movie reviews please follow the link below:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.baggageanddish.com/" target="_blank">baggageanddish.com</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-28943515737349990852015-12-12T10:39:00.002+04:002015-12-12T15:30:28.539+04:00Travel: 6 things to consider when booking cheaper hotel rooms<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Being a budget
traveler, I always look for cheaper options when it comes to hotels but I keep
other things in mind as well. Over the years, I have made some mistakes when
booking hotel rooms and have learnt it the hard way. When I say cheaper
options, let me tell you that I mean 2 or 3 star hotels as compared to a 4 star
or a 5 star which offer you quite a luxurious experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The main
reason for me writing this post is to share my personal experiences and
thoughts on the topic. If I can help a few of you out there, then why not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. Distance of
the hotel from landmarks</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the
biggest mistake one can make when booking a hotel room. It is well known that
hotels around the city center are usually more expensive than their
counterparts in other areas. When booking a cheaper hotel room, do check the
distance from important landmarks and places that you wish to visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">It isn't fun
if you have to travel for say 1-2 hours everyday to get to one place of
interest. Once or twice would still be okay but doing this on a daily basis can
be hectic and you lose time you could have spent discover other places. In
addition to this, not every country or city has a good transport system that is
metro, rail, buses etc. Therefore you end up travelling by a taxi and pay a lot
for it. If you add up the transportation costs, you would realize that the
savings you had from the hotel room booking have been used up. Research about
all these factors before booking a hotel room,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kez-GTy1G-4/Vmu9eQO0m7I/AAAAAAAAHo0/4Dr1QzjEzro/s1600/IMG_3904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kez-GTy1G-4/Vmu9eQO0m7I/AAAAAAAAHo0/4Dr1QzjEzro/s640/IMG_3904.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Photo location - Las Vegas, USA</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="font-family: inherit;">2. Area where
the hotel is located</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another common
mistake is not researching about the locality and the area where the Hotel is
located. This point is always on the top of my list since things can get
difficult at times and may affect your travelling plans. One should be aware of
the area they are going to stay in. You wouldn't want to be in an area where
gang fights, shootings, theft etc. are common. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">During one of
my early travels, I had booked a really cheap hotel and was happy about it. It
was only later that I realized that the hotel did not have any staff after 11
p.m. The owner would lock the door and leave and anyone could enter through
another door which was never locked. To add to my horror, there was a Eros
centre in the next building (something like what a red light district would
have). Just thinking about what kind of people could show up at the door step
gave me chills. Since then, I have never ever book my hotel room without
researching about the area where the hotel is located.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3. Spooky happenings in the hotel premises</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, this may sound a bit ridiculous, but
for me it is as important as other points on the list. Some people think of
spooky stuff as fun and adventure. For me it is just something I would like to
stay away from. On one of my recent visits to Las Vegas, we just cancelled our
stay at one hotel due to the fact that some rooms of the hotel were haunted.
The hotel rooms were much cheaper than other hotels but we learnt the reason
and immediately booked another option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you are like me and want to stay away
from such things (even though it might just be a rumor), you can look for other
options. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-01aR9hdcpag/VmvCD9kmbdI/AAAAAAAAHpU/hGep4Q1MQlg/s1600/210341_568394577749_1108860545_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-01aR9hdcpag/VmvCD9kmbdI/AAAAAAAAHpU/hGep4Q1MQlg/s640/210341_568394577749_1108860545_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Photo Location: Frankfurt, Germany</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Size of the room</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the key things to consider is the
size of the room. Most booking websites mention the size of the room in sq. meters.
During my travel to Frankfurt, I had booked a cheap hotel room only to realize it
was really small. We barely had space to keep our stuff and there was no
connected bathroom (yes, I am fussy about shared bathrooms).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, in certain cities, even though
the hotel room prices are not too low, the size of the rooms is still small
(for example San Francisco). The price might be less in comparison to other
hotel rooms in the same city but still high as compared to other cities. The
reason for this is the high standard of living in the city. So when you book
the cheaper options do check out the room size. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">While in San Francisco, I booked a room
which was all crammed up and was facing the street. I could hear people at
night and woke up in the middle of the night due to some people talking loudly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So next time you hit that button to book
the room, make sure you have checked the size of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5. Food options and basic supplies in the hotel
and around the hotel</b><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Midnight hungers? Water requirements?
Basic stuff like food, water, soap etc. is something everyone needs. In the excitement
of saving some money, we forget to check if the hotel offers any of these. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have stayed at hotels where there were
no food options whatsoever. In some cases carrying some snacks would be a good
idea but what if you just want to have a good meal? Roaming the streets at
night looking for restaurants might not be the best idea. Just check if there
are basic supplies in the hotel – mainly food and water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1exqkQolMo/VmvAJO0r4jI/AAAAAAAAHpI/CG0GUPH7DIg/s1600/IMG_3712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f1exqkQolMo/VmvAJO0r4jI/AAAAAAAAHpI/CG0GUPH7DIg/s640/IMG_3712.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Photo Location: San Francisco, USA</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. Reading the guest reviews</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Reviews more often than not come in handy.
A hotel may just be renting out rooms at a cheaper rate due to various reasons
like cleanliness issues, maintenance issues and worst case scenario a bed bugs
issue. Read the comments and reviews and see what common problems did the guests
have had in the recent past. Reviews from 2-3 years back won’t help so check
recent reviews. In addition to this check for reviews relevant for you. What I
mean is that if you are travelling solo, a review from an old couple might not
be of use to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I have been learning as I travel more and
more. If there is anything that comes up in the near future, I will add it to
the list here. For the time being, these are the top 6 things that come to my
mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">All these things, can be taken care of at
the planning stage of the trip itself and you can avoid unnecessary stress when
you travel. Travel can be tiring but it is always fun. Let us try and keep it
that way.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-8937204967961845642015-10-05T07:13:00.000+04:002015-12-27T15:45:37.645+04:00Food Review: 25 Degrees North<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am a bit hesitant when it comes to trying food from a new Indian restaurant. The reason for this being that I evaluate Indian food more critically than any other cuisine (being an Indian, this is something which comes naturally). However, being a food blogger means that I have to overcome any hesitancy and try new places. Therefore, when I was invited to try the food at 25 Degrees North, I did not turn the invite down.</div>
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Located at Bay Square, an upcoming commercial area in Business Bay, 25 Degrees North is an Indian restaurant that offers a wide range of Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian options. I visited the restaurant for lunch with a friend. As we entered the restaurant, we were welcomed with pleasant smiles from the restaurant staff. The restaurant was not too busy at that hour but does pull in a lot of crowd during dinner time on weekends (yes, I went there with a group of friends again).</div>
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The ambience of the restaurant is more like a semi-fine dining restaurant. The place is spacious and there is ample seating inside the restaurant. I did love the decor of the restaurant, especially the lights used.</div>
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As we settled down at our table, we were served with a sweet chutney based dahi (yoghurt) bhalla chaat sprinkled with sev and pomegranate. The bhalla had that little bit of a crunch to it and the chaat item was a bit on the sweeter side. I like sweet chutney so I did like the chaat item.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmVIcNqZYlg/VhHboN23ihI/AAAAAAAAHis/QPDgw30GZ-Y/s1600/IMG_20150805_001558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GmVIcNqZYlg/VhHboN23ihI/AAAAAAAAHis/QPDgw30GZ-Y/s640/IMG_20150805_001558.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As we were placing our order for the starters, something on the menu caught my eye. This dish was Palak Patta Chaat (Spinach leaf chaat). I have never in my life before tried any chaat item that is made of Spinach and it was something unique (couldn't give this a miss). The other starter we chose was a prawns based dish called Jhinga Mehrunnisa. My order for drinks was a Mango Lassi.</div>
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Even before the starters came out, we were served with Papads (or popadums) with 4 different chutneys or sauces (Mint Chutney, Mango Chutney, Tamarind Chutney and Pickle). This is pretty much a standard when it comes to most Indian semi-fine dining and fine dining restaurants. The chutneys were pretty good, especially the mango one. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JDbsfuuLD6A/VhHcLFgUyNI/AAAAAAAAHi0/wFvQz2OqtFg/s1600/IMG_20150728_134149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JDbsfuuLD6A/VhHcLFgUyNI/AAAAAAAAHi0/wFvQz2OqtFg/s640/IMG_20150728_134149.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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The starters arrived and I was amazed by the Palak patta chaat. It wouln't be wrong to say that it is one of the best chaat items I have ever tasted in my life. Spinach leaves are coated in gram flour (besan) and then batter fried. These are topped with Yoghurt, mint chutney and sweet chutney. This is then topped with some sev and pomegranate seeds. It is the perfect balance of flavours. Since the spinach leaves are fried, the leaves are crunchy. The Yoghurt and chutneys give it a bit of a tangy, sweet and a bit of spice at the same time. This is a must try.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55H2bkwiA04/VhHdBXo3SXI/AAAAAAAAHjA/eNMkOX3A70k/s1600/20150728_135011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-55H2bkwiA04/VhHdBXo3SXI/AAAAAAAAHjA/eNMkOX3A70k/s640/20150728_135011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The second starter Jhinga Mehrunnisa is served in shot glasses and is marinated in a special marination prepared by the chef. The Prawns are served with mint chutney. The dish is a bit on the spicy side and the Prawns (Jhinga) tasted fresh. The mango lassi was pretty good too. It was refreshing and the lassi was thick (not too much).</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RbdrQEFMTi0/VhHdhM6nfWI/AAAAAAAAHjI/rS8rXF9o5Wo/s1600/IMG_20150728_135934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RbdrQEFMTi0/VhHdhM6nfWI/AAAAAAAAHjI/rS8rXF9o5Wo/s640/IMG_20150728_135934.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Once done with the starters, it was time to order the main course. We wanted to try both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes so we opted for Murgh Kohlapuri and Paneer Makhanwala.</div>
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Murgh Kohlapuri is a chicken based dish which consists of chicken cooked in a spicy Kohlapuri curry. Since I can't take too much spice, I asked for a non-spicy version of the dish. The chicken was well cooked and the curry was rich in flavours and tasted good, however I felt that I made a mistake by ordering a non-spicy version of it. The reason for this being that spice is the essence of the dish and by removing that, it was quite evident that the curry lacked that punch to make it an amazing dish. That being said, the dish still tasted good.</div>
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The second main course Paneer Makhanwala was our vegetarian dish. The butter based curry tasted good but I was not too excited by the Paneer itself. It was the only dish that failed to make an impact. I did communicate this to the staff and the chef came to see me in person. I was really impressed by this. The cook did understand the issue and promised me that he would do something about it going forward.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nomAs_U8vPw/VhHnJJtor5I/AAAAAAAAHj4/jQv9tajmk7s/s1600/IMG_20150728_143441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nomAs_U8vPw/VhHnJJtor5I/AAAAAAAAHj4/jQv9tajmk7s/s640/IMG_20150728_143441.jpg" width="548" /></a></div>
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After having such a heavy but satisfying meal, I still had some room for dessert and ordered for Jalebi with Rabdi. Jalebi is a dessert that is pretty famous in India and is really sweet, since it is dipped into a sugar syrup after it is deep fried. It is usually eaten alone or is served with Rabdi which is a creamy milk based dessert. When served with Jalebi, Rabdi is usually not to sweet in order to balance the high amount of sweetness of the Jalebi. The dessert is one of my favourites and 25 Degrees North does justice to it. The presentation and the taste of the dessert is excellent and I couldn't have asked for a better ending to the meal.</div>
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Overall I was impressed by 25 degrees north and for me the highlight of the meal was the Palak Patta Chaat. This is a dish, I will not be able to forget for quite some time. The staff was friendly and willing to make improvements whereever possible to enhance the experience of the customers. </div>
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The feel of the restaurant might be a semi-fine dining one but the prices of the dishes are really good and it is by no doubt total value for money. I would surely be visiting the restaurant in the coming months to try more dishes.</div>
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<u>Disclosure</u>:</div>
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I was invited to try the food at 25 Degrees North, therefore I have not provided any ratings for the restaurant. All opinions expressed are solely based on my experience and are not influenced by the restaurant or its management in any way.</div>
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<u>Details</u>:</div>
<div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Restaurant:</b> <span style="background-color: transparent;">25 Degrees North</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Location:</b> BB07 Bay Square, Business Bay (The restaurant has other branches too. Search zomato for the restaurant listings)</span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Contact No.:</b> +971 4 3607474 </span></div>
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<b style="color: #333333; line-height: 18.2px;">Website: </b><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://www.25degreesnorth.com/" target="_blank">http://www.25degreesnorth.com/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>Twitter:</b> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://twitter.com/25degreesnorth" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/25degreesnorth</a></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: #fefdfa; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.2px;"><b>Instagram:</b> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://instagram.com/25degreesnorth/" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/25degreesnorth/</a></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-47020366680344279352015-04-11T13:34:00.004+04:002015-07-01T13:58:16.752+04:00Budget Travelling: Save money and explore more<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">The usual concern for most
of us while travelling is the budget. Thoughts like 'will we exceed the
budget?', 'should we cut on a few activities?' cross our mind on a regular
basis. The following tips ensure that one won't have to worry too much about
exceeding the budget, as it will be most unlikely that this will happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y83UCDl6kiA/VSjpj0XQCyI/AAAAAAAAHYY/5HaCO4504a4/s1600/964994_580691040539_413727721_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y83UCDl6kiA/VSjpj0XQCyI/AAAAAAAAHYY/5HaCO4504a4/s1600/964994_580691040539_413727721_o.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Frankfurt Eisener Steg</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit; line-height: 15.6pt;"><b>Tip 1 - Booking Tickets in
Advance</b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">Booking tickets in advance
has to be my favourite tip. Having done this at more than one instance, I can
guarantee instant savings even before one has started their trip. A few years
back when I travelled to Germany, my return ticket from Dubai to Frankfurt cost
USD 520. My travel dates were in December (closer to Christmas). If I would
have booked my ticket closer to my travel date, the tickets would cost atleast
USD 620.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">A more recent example would
be the return ticket I booked from Dubai to San Francisco for USD 1,057. The
same ticket now costs USD 1,317 (Savings of USD 260). I do know that the ticket
will cost atleast a 100 dollars more, if I wait for a few more weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">Remember that as one books
tickets closer to the date of travel, the options are limited and the tickets
become more expensive. You can save this money and use it to visit more places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;"><b>Tip 2 – Book Hostels or 2/3
star hotels</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">It is important to
understand the purpose of your trip. Are you looking for relaxation? Or will
you exploring the city? If your answer is relaxation, this might not be the
best tip for you but if you are looking forward to explore the city, this is
the perfect tip for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">When travelling, the common
trend is to wake up early, have your breakfast and go out to explore. It is
unlikely that you will be returning to the hotel anytime soon. Atleast for me,
I prefer to be out till the evening or sometimes return at night. What this
means is that you are spending little time at the hotel and paying for a 4 star
or 5 star hotel just for a bed and breakfast. This doesn’t make sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">Booking a 2/3 star hotel
means saving a few hundred dollars. However make sure that the hotel is closer
to the area where you will explore and it has a decent rating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">Personally, I am not
comfortable with shared bathrooms and therefore avoid hostels, however if you
are not too worried about shared bathrooms, a hostel would be the cheapest
option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">However before booking
remember that most websites do not show you the city taxes. Make sure you
include that in your cost while making your budget.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;"><b>Tip 3 – Using the bus or
metro</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">Travelling around the city
or between two cities? Using the bus or metro could save you a lot of money.
However this does come with a disadvantage too, you end up wasting a lot of
time. The list below shows you the fastest and the most expensive modes of
transportation. You can choose the option best suited for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">By Cost (from most expensive
to the cheapest): Airticket, Cab/Taxi, Car rental, Metro, and Bus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">By Travel Time (from longest
to shortest): Bus, Metro, Car, and Airplane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">Travelling via air would
mean missing out on the scenic views between the cities/towns but it also means
saving a lot of time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;"> <b>Tip 4 – Currency exchange and using credit
cards</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">It is advisable to exchange
currency in your home country before you travel (make sure to adhere to the
custom rules of how much currency you can carry). In general, if you try
exchanging currency at a hotel or at the airport, it will be a more expensive
option.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">Some people prefer using
their debit cards or withdrawing from the ATM. The ATM charges could cost you a
lot and carrying currency around could be difficult and an added
responsibility. Try using credit cards rather. Some might think what about the
exchange rates charged by banks, aren’t these too high? That’s why use a credit
card that gives you cashback on international spends or that gives you points
on international spends. You might not end up saving too much when using the
card but benefits such as cashback or points that you can use towards an
airticket or rewards in the future is not a bad idea at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;"> <b>Tip 5 – Pre booking tickets for attractions
and discount offers</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">It is highly recommended
that you pre book tickets for attractions such as theme parks, museums etc.
Pre-booking ensures that you skip the queues and sometimes it also means
discounts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: inherit;">Online discount offers are
common. If you try to book tickets online for attractions, you do get discounts
or some added benefits. Do check out these offers before you travel, as there
is no harm in saving a bit.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: .25in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #3c3c3c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do try these travel tips and
let me know what you think about them. Have any more travel tips for budget
travel? Do share them.</span><span style="font-family: fsalbertlight, serif; font-size: 12.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-83199638084545162982014-11-26T07:54:00.001+04:002014-12-04T10:55:50.293+04:00Competition: Jamba Juice<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: inherit;">Whether you
prefer Banana Berry, Mango-A-GO-GO, Strawberry Wild or Razzmatazz, there was a juicy opening for everyone in Abu Dhabi as the first Jamba Juice in the Middle
East opened its doors in Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi on 19<sup>th</sup> November, 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With over 850
stores worldwide, Jamba Juice is the World’s Best Smoothie Brand and fans have
been waiting a long time for it to arrive in the Middle East and now it’s
finally here. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Eq2cWgdKX4/VHVMxiv2RlI/AAAAAAAAHNo/_r76Dyfeoog/s1600/photo_KioskGuestOrder2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Eq2cWgdKX4/VHVMxiv2RlI/AAAAAAAAHNo/_r76Dyfeoog/s1600/photo_KioskGuestOrder2.jpg" height="452" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As a special
treat for Middle East customers, new flavours have been invented exclusively
for the region including date smoothies and juice blends prepared from local
favourite fruits, healthy wraps and sandwiches catering to diversity in the UAE
region. All the Jamba unique and proprietary favourites that made the brand so
popular in the States will be here as well, especially the whole fruit and
vegetable smoothies and freshly squeezed juice blends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jfbo-O7D5aQ/VHVNNqn6LuI/AAAAAAAAHNw/ttVUkbGItSU/s1600/photo_TeamMember1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jfbo-O7D5aQ/VHVNNqn6LuI/AAAAAAAAHNw/ttVUkbGItSU/s1600/photo_TeamMember1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Want to win yourself some amazing gifts from Jamba Juice? Just answer the simple question below and like the iThink page on facebook - </span><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ithinkdubai">https://www.facebook.com/ithinkdubai</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Question: When and where did Jamba Juice open their first outlet/store in the Middle East?</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 winner will walk away with a Jamba Juice Credit Card preloaded with Dh100 to spend at any Jamba Juice.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5 winners will win Jamba Juice discount books where you could save up to 180 Dhs to be used at any Jamba Juice outlet.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
The competition is now closed:<br />
Winners are as below:<br />
Jamba Juice Credit Card: Ritu B<br />
Jamba Juice Discount Books:<br />
1. Deepshri Iyer<br />
2. Amit Vasnani<br />
3. Kunal Bilakhia<br />
4. Faisal Khatib<br />
5. W<br />
<br />
Winners are requested to mail their full name with email address and contact no. at <a href="mailto:gaganjeet@gmail.com">gaganjeet@gmail.com</a><br />
<br />
*Photo Credits: IHC</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-79612117317175767542014-10-31T18:30:00.000+04:002015-04-07T15:03:36.962+04:00Events: Travel Bloggers Meet at Shayan Restaurant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Travelling may have a number of different meanings for every individual. For me travelling means fun, relaxation and discovering. Discussing about my travel plans or even talking about cities and countries that I have visited around the world excites me. On the other hand, learning about experiences of others helps me learn more about cities/countries and helps me decide where I would head to on my next vacation.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
What if you get a chance to meet someone who has a lot of stories to share? Someone who has been to plenty of cities and is willing to share his/her experiences with you. We all do love such people, don't we? I was presented with such an opportunity recently when I met Laurence Norah of <a href="http://www.findingtheuniverse.com/" target="_blank">Finding the Universe</a>, at Shayan Restaurant. Laurence is the upcoming president of International Travel Bloggers Association.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HcAAhp6iPSQ/VFOXwSiJQwI/AAAAAAAAHKE/OBmmGawsiG4/s1600/IMG_7606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HcAAhp6iPSQ/VFOXwSiJQwI/AAAAAAAAHKE/OBmmGawsiG4/s1600/IMG_7606.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the most important discussions of the night were around how one should travel. I know friends who prefer to spend about 10-15 days in one country trying to cover as much as they can. On the other hand, I prefer to cover 3-4 countries in the same time by visiting only the tourist attractions and any other places one should not miss.<br />
<br />
When asked about which is the best way to travel, Laurence responded by saying that there isn't one. What he meant was that both ways are good. He added that it depends on every individual and their preferences.<br />
<br />
I would agree with Laurence on this. Given that I have a full time job and get a fixed number of holidays, I prefer to travel more countries in one trip since I have to wait for an entire year for my leave. I feel a number of us face the same issue. On the other hand if I have the privilege to take more holidays during the year, I would surely prefer to spend more time in a few towns and cities within the same country.<br />
<br />
At the end of the day, it is for us to decide how we would want to spend our vacation away from home. What is important is that you do travel and enjoy your vacation. A holiday should not be stressful, a holiday should be fun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0lUfYJfBOKI/VFOYP1evCuI/AAAAAAAAHKU/thk3hYcBRBs/s1600/IMG_7613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0lUfYJfBOKI/VFOYP1evCuI/AAAAAAAAHKU/thk3hYcBRBs/s1600/IMG_7613.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It was a fun night with some delicious food from Shayan Restaurant. The following is the menu of food served:<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<u>Appetizer<u></u><u></u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
Kashk E Bademjan - fried eggplant mixed with special aged curd, season with traditional spices.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
Mirza Ghasemi – grilled eggplant mixed with fried egg and tomato<u></u><u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
Salad Shirazi - Traditional Salad, mixed with cucumber, onion, virgin olive oil and lime juice<u></u><u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
Iranian Bread<u></u><u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<u>Stew<u></u><u></u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
Gheymeh Bademjan – Lamb stew prepared with lentils, tomatoes and fried eggplant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<u></u></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAj-_7VGgs8/VFOXtlK163I/AAAAAAAAHJ0/MSc5-e-vYxU/s1600/IMG_7596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAj-_7VGgs8/VFOXtlK163I/AAAAAAAAHJ0/MSc5-e-vYxU/s1600/IMG_7596.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
<u>Grill Platter<u></u><u></u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
Joojeh Kabab Bedone Ostokhan – Skewer of marinated chicken on the bone with saffron sauce</div>
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<u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
Tikke Masti – Cuts of beef tenderloin marinated with yoghurt, saffron and persian spices<u></u><u></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: start;">
Chelo Kabab Kubideh – Skewers of minced lamb, with persian spices and grated onions.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<u>Dessert<u></u><u></u></u></div>
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Bastani Zaferani – Saffron ice cream seasoned with pistachios.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tSpldthxfVY/VFOX2dS5t1I/AAAAAAAAHKM/leoYrc4zb-Q/s1600/groupselfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tSpldthxfVY/VFOX2dS5t1I/AAAAAAAAHKM/leoYrc4zb-Q/s1600/groupselfie.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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I have been to Shayan before and I love the Persian food. Here's a link to the detailed post on the food: <a href="http://gaganjeets.blogspot.ae/2013/11/food-review-shayan-restaurant.html" target="_blank">Shayan Restaurant Review</a>. The restaurant is definitely worth a visit.<br />
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Photo Credits: Al Shayan Restaurant</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-44023101381267020222014-09-29T12:43:00.001+04:002014-10-05T16:54:48.449+04:00Competition: The Guest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have 5 pairs of tickets to give away for the premiere screening of "The Guest". To win the tickets, answer the following question in the comments section. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Alternatively leave the answer in the comments (please leave your
comments on the competition post only) on the iThink Facebook page - </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ithinkdubai" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 115%;">https://www.facebook.com/ithinkdubai</span></a></span></span></div>
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<b>Dan Stevens is famous for a character played in a well known TV series. Name the TV series.</b></div>
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<b>Winners have been selected through a randomizer and the names of the winners are as below:</b><br />
1. Faisal Khatib<br />
2. Prachi Mehta<br />
3. Tenzing Bhutia<br />
4. Shekhar Mangnani<br />
5. Kristofer Mariano<br />
<b>Winners can collect their passes directly at the cinema. Please carry a valid ID.</b><br />
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<b>Please note that the U.A.E. rating for the movie is 18.</b></div>
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<b>Movie Synopsis:</b></div>
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From the director of “YOU’RE NEXT” and featuring a standout, brilliant performance from Dan Stevens (“Downton Abbey”), comes “THE GUEST”: a tense, action-packed and unpredictable film like everything and nothing you’ve ever seen before. Empire Magazine called it “a demented action-horror hybrid of sci-fi conspiracy thriller and gore-fest,” and Vanity Fair said, “THE GUEST is big, it’s bold, it’s badass, full of flavor Hollywood wishes it could pour over its vanilla blockbusters.” </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IiJkfkT_OaE/VCZ47cM9S7I/AAAAAAAAGxI/7oWMU01N2f8/s1600/%40The%2BGuest%2B-%2BReleasing%2Bon%2B09%2BOctober%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IiJkfkT_OaE/VCZ47cM9S7I/AAAAAAAAGxI/7oWMU01N2f8/s1600/%40The%2BGuest%2B-%2BReleasing%2Bon%2B09%2BOctober%2B2014.jpg" height="640" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
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<b>Screening details are as follows:</b></div>
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Date - 8th October, 2014</div>
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Time - 9 p.m.</div>
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Place - Cinemacity, Arabian Center, Al Mizhar</div>
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The Guest is set to release in U.A.E. and the Middle East on 9th October, 2014.</div>
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<b>Movie Details:</b></div>
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UAE Rating: 18</div>
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Running time: 99 min.</div>
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Genre: Thriller/Action</div>
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Director: Adam Wingard</div>
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Writer: Simon Barrett </div>
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Stars: Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe</div>
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Trailer link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnoBLno57uU&index=1&list=PL5lFlzgS0LvNOhDrnB1uDSlouzBbZY0TO" target="_blank">The Guest Trailer on YouTube</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-85907727770817630662014-09-27T13:08:00.002+04:002014-09-29T12:40:40.756+04:00Movie Review: The Guest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have always had a personal liking towards action thrillers as compared to other movies. The reason for this maybe that such movies are usually gripping and intense. Due to the intensity, it is possible that not enough stress is placed on the story and the performances of individuals. However when we talk about The Guest, it would not be wrong to say that the movie is driven by some brilliant performances.</div>
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The Guest is directed by Adam Wingard and stars Dan Stevens as the main lead character. For those who are fans of the TV series Downton Abbey, would know Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley. Dan plays the role of a soldier named David in the movie. He ends up at the doorstep of the Peterson family claiming to be a friend of a deceased son of the family. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IiJkfkT_OaE/VCZ47cM9S7I/AAAAAAAAGxE/xFVkBsyBOPk/s1600/%40The%2BGuest%2B-%2BReleasing%2Bon%2B09%2BOctober%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IiJkfkT_OaE/VCZ47cM9S7I/AAAAAAAAGxE/xFVkBsyBOPk/s1600/%40The%2BGuest%2B-%2BReleasing%2Bon%2B09%2BOctober%2B2014.jpg" height="640" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Source: First Row Filmed Entertainment</span></b></td></tr>
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The other main characters from the movie are members of the Peterson family itself. Maika Monroe plays Anna Peterson (the sister of the deceased soldier), Brendan Meyer plays Luke Peterson (the brother), Sheila Kelley plays Laura Peterson (the Mother) and Leland Orser plays Spencer Peterson (the Father). Each character is different from the other and they blend in well with the storyline.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYgVMN8PZxo/VCZ8FSiIzgI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/Cj3rr5g9H7A/s1600/DF-13711C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iYgVMN8PZxo/VCZ8FSiIzgI/AAAAAAAAGxQ/Cj3rr5g9H7A/s1600/DF-13711C.jpg" height="640" width="362" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dan Stevens in a shot from the movie (Source: First Row Filmed Entertainment)</b></span></td></tr>
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David slowly settles into the family but some accidental deaths in the neighborhood somehow link to his presence and raise concerns about his identity. The story of the movie is decent and might not be over the top but the performances of a few individuals is worth mentioning. Dan Stevens is as cool as a cucumber in his role and is by far the standout performance. Leland Orser and Maika Monroe contribute to the movie through their good performances while Lance Reddick plays a small cameo in the movie.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFZdBVtDFoc/VCZ8xeudQKI/AAAAAAAAGxY/RAwccIXsAbE/s1600/DF-04250R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lFZdBVtDFoc/VCZ8xeudQKI/AAAAAAAAGxY/RAwccIXsAbE/s1600/DF-04250R.jpg" height="640" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Maika Monroe and Lance Reddick in a shot from the movie (</b></span><b><span style="font-size: small;">Source: First Row Filmed Entertainment)</span></b></td></tr>
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There are a few light moments in the movie, that have been executed brilliantly while the intense moments go with the flow and are pretty smooth. The action scenes are not over the top and it is good to see some regular action with guns and knives. The only concern is that there isn't too much focus on a background story and everything seems to unfold as the story progresses. Adding more depth to the story would have surely helped in character development.</div>
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The movie is a quick watch with the runtime of under 100 minutes. The movie is surely worth a watch, especially for the performance of Dan Stevens. The movie is set to release in U.A.E. and the Middle East on October 9.</div>
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<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Rating:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> 7.5/10</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Runtime:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> 99 minutes</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Trailer:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> <a href="http://youtu.be/y0E2Qh6wLS4" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/y0E2Qh6wLS4</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-26560591376628093302014-08-18T21:45:00.002+04:002014-08-19T08:25:20.779+04:00Movie Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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With limited releases during the month of Ramadan, it was a long wait before Dawn of the Planet of the Apes released in the cinemas. The movie is a sequel to the Rise of the Planet of the Apes that released in 2011.<br />
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The movie opens with a quick recap of the the previous instalment and the focus is on the spread of a virus. The virus infected the human race all around the world, killing millions.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zP_wCzaYk3c/U_I43LhV9-I/AAAAAAAAGpY/k8shKE2aNW4/s1600/dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-poster-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zP_wCzaYk3c/U_I43LhV9-I/AAAAAAAAGpY/k8shKE2aNW4/s1600/dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-poster-2014.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>(Source: bloscars.files.wordpress.com)</b></span></td></tr>
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The previous installment showed scientists performing tests on Apes. Given that the Apes have been through a lot at the hands of human (especially Koba - Toby Kebbell), it is not difficult to guess that the Apes want the humans to stay as far as they can. Caesar (Andy Serkis) has now become the leader of the Apes. He is the most intelligent and reasonable Ape at the same time. He wants to keep his community safe and does not prefer violence against humans unless it is necessary.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMcl18pE_-E/U_I5is-nAGI/AAAAAAAAGpg/cdq681lBiiU/s1600/Dawn-of-the-planet-Of-the-Apes-2014-Wallpapers-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMcl18pE_-E/U_I5is-nAGI/AAAAAAAAGpg/cdq681lBiiU/s1600/Dawn-of-the-planet-Of-the-Apes-2014-Wallpapers-10.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Caesar, strong and powerful (Source: Wallpapersak.com)</span></b></td></tr>
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The Apes have found a home in the forest and have been living in it for sometime but it is obvious that their paths will cross the paths of human beings somewhere along the road. It is not long before that this happens when accidentally humans pass by the forest. The humans come across the Apes and so begins the story.<br />
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The Apes warn the humans to stay away and let them go, however the humans led by Malcom (played by Jason Clarke) come back to the forest for something they want. What follows is an emotional story with a few twists to the plot. The movie becomes more and more interesting as it progresses.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AXku2nu9Yo/U_I7JJP_gvI/AAAAAAAAGps/7K91K-FVV5I/s1600/planet-apes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1AXku2nu9Yo/U_I7JJP_gvI/AAAAAAAAGps/7K91K-FVV5I/s1600/planet-apes.jpg" height="396" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Malcom and Caesar share a moment (Source: discovermagazine.com)</span></b></td></tr>
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The characters of Malcom, Koba and Caesar are the main characters. All the characters have strong charateristics and have been developed very well. Supporting characters namely Alexander (Kodi Smit-McPhee), Ellie (Keri Russell) and other Apes play their parts well. The story is emotional but interesting at the same time. There is no hurrying into scenes or instances; everything happens at a decent pace. The climax is exciting and has a good amount of action.<br />
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The end is set in a way that would surely lead to another sequel. The movie is worth a watch.<br />
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<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Rating:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> 7.5/10</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Runtime:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> 130 minutes</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Trailer:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> <a href="http://youtu.be/3sHMCRaS3ao" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/3sHMCRaS3ao</a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-28245182756160123482014-05-31T19:05:00.001+04:002015-04-18T15:17:39.450+04:00Food Review: Lounge Café Italiano<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Bringing Italy to Dubai would be nearly impossible but bringing Italian food to Dubai is something that can be done and Lounge Café Italiano has done just that. Located at Dubai Media City, Lounge Café Italiano is home to the much loved Italian cuisine.</div>
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During my visit to Lounge Café Italiano, I got the chance to try a number of mouthwatering dishes along with some delicious desserts. The menu of Italiano offers plenty of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Along with the food options, one has the luxury of enjoying football games or maybe catch a tennis match on the projector screen located at the corner of the café. There are other screens around the lounge café too.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSpTjBqHbBo/U4m88P0-PFI/AAAAAAAAGRk/2ttobMh-SvI/s1600/IMG_7133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSpTjBqHbBo/U4m88P0-PFI/AAAAAAAAGRk/2ttobMh-SvI/s1600/IMG_7133.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The projector screen</span></b></td></tr>
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Ranging from regular tables and chairs to extremely comfortable sofas, there are plenty of seating options available at the lounge café. The lounge café is huge in size and is perfect for a meal for two or a big group of friends alike. Looking for a relaxed dinner, I preferred dining in while seated on the comfortable sofa.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cRTKHKxQQVE/U4m8H2zhrFI/AAAAAAAAGRU/ii1GRxafgC4/s1600/IMG_7141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cRTKHKxQQVE/U4m8H2zhrFI/AAAAAAAAGRU/ii1GRxafgC4/s1600/IMG_7141.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">My dining seat</span></b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atXts8LGEIE/U4m-BQqTpMI/AAAAAAAAGR0/UlLIU7g-jVo/s1600/IMG_7153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-atXts8LGEIE/U4m-BQqTpMI/AAAAAAAAGR0/UlLIU7g-jVo/s1600/IMG_7153.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Plenty of seating</span></b></td></tr>
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Starting with drinks, I opted for Gustoso. Gustoso is a drink with ingredients such as Almond milk and Avocado mixed with Peanut butter and white Chocolate sauce. The drink is refreshing and a bit on the thicker side. It tastes pretty good and is highly recommended.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1NXP873T2U/U4m8O9xL4HI/AAAAAAAAGRc/3FkOuGwdqoo/s1600/IMG_7142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1NXP873T2U/U4m8O9xL4HI/AAAAAAAAGRc/3FkOuGwdqoo/s1600/IMG_7142.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Gustoso</b></span></td></tr>
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Moving on to the starters, this consisted of two dishes. One being Baby Spinach, Avocado and Roast Pepper Salad with Pine nuts and Balsamic Dressing and the other was Sesame and Honey Coated Tuna Loin with Orange Salad. </div>
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The Baby Spinach and Avocado salad was amazing. The freshness of the Avocado along with Pine nuts not only makes up a brilliant salad but it is healthy at the same time. The Balsamic Dressing has vinegar as the main ingredient it adds flavour to the salad. </div>
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The Tuna Loin coated in Sesame is as good as its name. The salad tastes good and is another healthy option with the inclusion of Sesame and Orange. I liked the use of different tasting ingredients together. The different tastes come together to form a good salad.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLDd0mCfSNQ/U4m9icIi3JI/AAAAAAAAGRs/f4TgiIFXTTk/s1600/IMG_7147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLDd0mCfSNQ/U4m9icIi3JI/AAAAAAAAGRs/f4TgiIFXTTk/s1600/IMG_7147.jpg" height="324" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><b>Baby Spinach, Avocado and Roast Pepper Salad with Pine nuts and Balsamic Dressing (left) and Sesame and Honey Coated Tuna Loin with Orange Salad (right)</b></span></td></tr>
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After dealing with the starters, it was time to move on to the main course. The main course consisted of three dishes; Saffron Risotto with Gold leaf, Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli with Sage butter sauce and Tuna with Eggplant and Cherry Tomato.</div>
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Risotto is a rice based dish cooked in broth to a creamy consistency. The broth can be either vegetarian (made out of vegetables) or non-vegetarian (made out of fish or meat). It is a common way of cooking rice in Italy. The Saffron Risotto was well cooked and tasted good.</div>
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The second main course item Ravioli is another traditional Italian dish which consists of two layers of thin egg pasta dough. The two layers have a filling similar to a dumpling. The Spinach and Ricotta along with Sage butter sauce maintained a good balance and the dish was pretty impressive.</div>
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Tuna was served with Eggplant and Cherry Tomato. While the Tuna was decent, the Eggplant was brilliantly done and the Cherry Tomatoes were fresh. I am not a big fan of Eggplant but the way it was cooked ensured that I did not leave any traces of it on my plate. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HV9wrqQ3G6c/U4m-g7O-okI/AAAAAAAAGR8/FPn3ge2bxiQ/s1600/IMG_7155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HV9wrqQ3G6c/U4m-g7O-okI/AAAAAAAAGR8/FPn3ge2bxiQ/s1600/IMG_7155.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>From left to right: <span style="text-align: justify;">Saffron Risotto with Gold leaf, Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli with Sage butter sauce, Tuna with Eggplant and Cherry Tomato</span></b></span></td></tr>
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My tummy was nearly full after all those dishes but I had some space left for dessert. My order for dessert was Chocolate melting cake with stewed Strawberries and Vanilla Ice cream. The Chocolate melting cake was brilliant. The cake was filled with melted Chocolate that oozes out once you take a bite of it. The Vanilla ice cream was yummy and the stewed Strawberries tasted good as well.<br />
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This dessert is something you don't want to miss. Do try it out and you can thank me later.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mn2xdpnBEM/U4m-jZoBTzI/AAAAAAAAGSE/9SP603gbcBI/s1600/IMG_7156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1mn2xdpnBEM/U4m-jZoBTzI/AAAAAAAAGSE/9SP603gbcBI/s1600/IMG_7156.jpg" height="640" width="576" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Chocolate melting cake with stewed Strawberries and Vanilla Ice cream</span></b></span></td></tr>
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My overall experience at Lounge Café Italiano was good. The ambience, the food, the service, everything was upto the mark. If you are looking for Italian food or want to catch a game of football while having some good food, Lounge Café Italiano is the place to be.</div>
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Disclosure: I was invited to Lounge Cafe Italiano, therefore I have not provided any ratings for the restaurant. All opinions expressed are solely on my experience and are not influenced by the restaurant in any way.<br />
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<b><u>Details:</u></b></div>
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<b>Restaurant:</b> <span style="background-color: transparent;">Lounge Café Italiano</span></div>
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<b>Location:</b> Arenco Tower, Ground Floor, Dubai Media City, Next to AUD.</div>
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<b>Contact No.:</b> +971 4 4533318 / 800 ITALIANO</div>
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<b>Website:</b> <a href="http://www.loungecafeitaliano.com/" target="_blank">www.loungecafeitaliano.com</a></div>
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<b>Facebook: </b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LoungeCafeItaliano" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/LoungeCafeItaliano</a></div>
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<b>Twitter:</b> <a href="https://twitter.com/CafeItalianoUAE" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/CafeItalianoUAE</a></div>
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<b>Instagram:</b> <a href="http://instagram.com/cafeitalianouae" target="_blank">http://instagram.com/cafeitalianouae</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-54165587011729097502014-05-09T01:17:00.001+04:002014-08-19T12:05:47.382+04:00Events: Unveiling Novo Cinemas<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Everyone watches movies at a cinema, but how do we decide which cinema to visit? after all every cinema shows the same movies. In order to ensure that watching a movie is an experience to remember, Grand cinemas has rebranded itself as Novo Cinemas. With the change in name, Novo cinemas has also come up with a number of features that would completely change the way people perceive cinemas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EnrZS2Z-cGI/U2v3CGqVe3I/AAAAAAAAGBA/8mrEs6wl8aI/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+09052014+012715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EnrZS2Z-cGI/U2v3CGqVe3I/AAAAAAAAGBA/8mrEs6wl8aI/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+09052014+012715.jpg" height="640" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Source: BPG - Cohn & Wolfe</span></b></td></tr>
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Novo Cinemas was unveiled at a grand event held at the World Trade Center Mall, Abu Dhabi in the presence of VIP guests and a specially invited audience. The Hollywood-style red carpet event included a special screening of The Amazing Spider-Man 2.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Do5XXLMuwLE/U2vpVLz7hWI/AAAAAAAAGAQ/qLvk0WPqiQk/s1600/20140506_205446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Do5XXLMuwLE/U2vpVLz7hWI/AAAAAAAAGAQ/qLvk0WPqiQk/s1600/20140506_205446.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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The flagship location at the World Trade Center Mall, Abu Dhabi boasts 8 screens with 1,414 seats, a seated coffee bar and 2 concession stands. Screen 2 at the cinema adds that extra bit to the viewing pleasure by providing balcony seats (Novo Sky) while Screen 6 boasts the 7-star experience (Novo 7*) with reclining chairs and the facility to order your favourite snacks right from your seat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNXb6sUOO0c/U_MFD__aOTI/AAAAAAAAGqY/5hsBKyLCsjE/s1600/EP-140509258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nNXb6sUOO0c/U_MFD__aOTI/AAAAAAAAGqY/5hsBKyLCsjE/s1600/EP-140509258.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">7* Experience (source: thenational.ae)</span></b></td></tr>
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Novo cinemas will now boast 3 different classes of seats namely Cool, Edge and Sky. Cool seating refers to the standard seats or average seats. Edge seating refers to the best seats in the cinema while Sky seating refers to the premium balcony seats; however Sky seating will only be available in selected Novo Cinemas.<br />
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Novo cinemas will continue entertaining the customers with 2D movies as well as provide a 3D experience. Novo cinemas will also provide the big-theatre experience as it is associated with IMAX.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n5-NWll3TVw/U2vrGL8ZKxI/AAAAAAAAGAs/L-cqTI2kbJI/s1600/20140506_232713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n5-NWll3TVw/U2vrGL8ZKxI/AAAAAAAAGAs/L-cqTI2kbJI/s1600/20140506_232713.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Balcony Seating</span></b></td></tr>
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The concession stands offer a variety of items to choose from. The concession stands with bright boards bring out a fresh look while the staff behind the counters are friendly and on top of their work as always.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KaDLCohlyiA/U2vrGZc88LI/AAAAAAAAGAo/Lw39YIc5Kd0/s1600/20140506_205518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KaDLCohlyiA/U2vrGZc88LI/AAAAAAAAGAo/Lw39YIc5Kd0/s1600/20140506_205518.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Concession stand</span></b></td></tr>
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The overall look of Grand Cinemas has changed and with the name Novo Cinemas comes a new and fresh feel to cinemas. There has not been any change to the services as such and you will still continue receive an excellent service as always. With Novo Cinemas you will always have a great time out.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-28024261075124072752014-05-03T17:10:00.000+04:002014-05-06T12:55:51.841+04:00Movie Review: The Grand Budapest Hotel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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After the brilliance Wes Anderson portrayed in Moonrise Kingdom, he is back with yet another gem "The Grand Budapest Hotel". The movie involves smartly written dialogues along with a simple yet intriguing script. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KKVKTG_yCu4/U2PLCAZsVYI/AAAAAAAAF4A/6wxldfZAKyE/s1600/TGBH-FB-icon-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KKVKTG_yCu4/U2PLCAZsVYI/AAAAAAAAF4A/6wxldfZAKyE/s1600/TGBH-FB-icon-35.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Source: sameliasmum.com</span></b></td></tr>
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The movie revolves around two main characters namely Zero, the Lobby Boy (played by Tony Revolori) and M. Gustave (played by Ralph Fiennes). M.Gustave manages The Grand Budapest Hotel and is a unique character for whom the reputation of the hotel is everything. On the other hand Zero is a Lobby Boy who would go to any extent to help his boss M.Gustave.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7gh_aMnnoU/U2PLCjno9UI/AAAAAAAAF4M/BtDX6Kv_ecY/s1600/The-Grand-Budapest-Hotel-Cast6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f7gh_aMnnoU/U2PLCjno9UI/AAAAAAAAF4M/BtDX6Kv_ecY/s1600/The-Grand-Budapest-Hotel-Cast6.jpg" height="640" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">All the Characters in the Movie (Source: sameliasmum.com)</span></b></td></tr>
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The movie is about the character Mr. Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham) narrating the story of M. Gustave. Gustave being a famous and attractive man (atleast to the older women) uses his charismatic persona on the women he meets and ends up making a lot of friends.<br />
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The story develops when Madame D. (Tilda Swinton), who loves Gustave dies and it is believed that her death is not out of natural circumstances but someone has murdered her. As the blame falls on Gustave, it is upto him and the Lobby boy Zero to prove his innocence and to find out who the murderer is. What follows is a ride filled with laughter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rB7A6DkGroY/U2PMluN7YnI/AAAAAAAAF4U/Rp1Trcex_3Y/s1600/gbh-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rB7A6DkGroY/U2PMluN7YnI/AAAAAAAAF4U/Rp1Trcex_3Y/s1600/gbh-1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The best scene of the movie (Source: oneroomwithaview)</span></b></td></tr>
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The beauty of the movie lies in the fact that nothing is overdone. The director and the actors have made sure that they have kept it simple. The scenarios and situations that develop throughout the movie bring out humor. The acting is brilliant with outstanding performances by Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori. They are well supported by the likes of 20 year old Saoirse Ronan, who plays Agatha, Zero's love interest.<br />
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Other actors such as Adrein Brody (playing the character of Dmitri) and Willem Dafoe (playing the character of Jopling) handle their parts well too. The scenes where Ralph and Tony share the screen are hilarious and the chemistry between them will make you fall in love with their characters.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qnxJef1YBAA/U2PNzExgeEI/AAAAAAAAF4k/gDYe8cdZUGE/s1600/Grand-Budapest-Hotel-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qnxJef1YBAA/U2PNzExgeEI/AAAAAAAAF4k/gDYe8cdZUGE/s1600/Grand-Budapest-Hotel-4.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ralph and Tony in a scene from the movie (Source: emertainmentmonthly)</span></b></td></tr>
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Plenty of times we come across movies that are not promoted too well but when you watch these movies you are so impressed with them that you wonder why the promotion fell short. The Grand Budapest Hotel is one such movie that might not have received too much TV time but it will surely receive its share of critical acclaim. A movie that is totally worth watching. The movie is set to release in UAE on May 8, 2014.<br />
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<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Rating:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> 9/10</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Runtime:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> 100 minutes</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Trailer:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://youtu.be/1Fg5iWmQjwk"><span style="background-color: #fefdfa;"></span>http://youtu.be/1Fg5iWmQjwk</a></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-67795716089266910122014-03-08T02:39:00.001+04:002015-10-12T14:26:13.051+04:00Food Review: Rainbow Steak House<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When I received an invite to Rainbow Steak House, I immediately accepted it and started researching about the restaurant on the internet. I was pleased to know that the restaurant was a part of Rainbow Hospitality that managed a number of restaurants across the country and were also a well-known name in catering services. After visiting their website - <a href="http://www.rainbowhospitalityuae.com/">http://www.rainbowhospitalityuae.com/</a> I was looking forward to what the restaurant had to offer.</div>
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As I entered the restaurant, a welcome sign under a lovely setting of blue light was visible. The restaurant staff welcomed me and I made my way to my table. The restaurant has two types of sitting arrangements; one being the open area with the regular dining tables while the second one being cabins which seats approximately 4-6 individuals. Each cabin has a separate door which can be closed if privacy is what you want.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8tOMEnOUJP8/Uxn0RwpteWI/AAAAAAAAEYs/q4XueAa5PNo/s1600/IMG_7065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8tOMEnOUJP8/Uxn0RwpteWI/AAAAAAAAEYs/q4XueAa5PNo/s1600/IMG_7065.jpg" width="566" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Welcome to the restaurant</b></span></td></tr>
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As I settled down at the table, I ordered for a drink. I was in the mood to try something different and ended up ordering for a cocktail juice. Served in a stylish glass, the fresh cocktail juice looked amazing. The taste of the juice was good too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CS2cx1aYKp0/U2OxFoyLvrI/AAAAAAAAF3c/lJ6t3n2uc9k/s1600/IMG_7032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CS2cx1aYKp0/U2OxFoyLvrI/AAAAAAAAF3c/lJ6t3n2uc9k/s1600/IMG_7032.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
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I had a choice between the A La carte menu and the buffet; I opted for the buffet so that I could try more dishes and give my verdict on the same. Before I walk you through my experience, let me allow informing you that the buffet includes Chinese, Arabic, Indian and Continental dishes, ensuring that it caters to the needs of everyone.<br />
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Starting with salads, I was amazed by the variety of salads in the buffet. A few of the salads in the buffet were Prawns Salad, Tabouleh, Russian Salad, Greek Salad, Apple Salad, Crab with corn, Coleslaw, Fattoush, Corn with Cabbage. I counted atleast 25 plus varieties of salads. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AfrbPJe7xMc/Uxno8Y6iZNI/AAAAAAAAEXM/MyT66KvhdAw/s1600/IMG_7035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AfrbPJe7xMc/Uxno8Y6iZNI/AAAAAAAAEXM/MyT66KvhdAw/s1600/IMG_7035.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A large variety of salads to choose from</b></span></td></tr>
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I filled my plate with a little bit of salads from every cuisine type but at the same time ensured that I did not take too much since I still had the main course and desserts (my favourite part of any buffet) to go through.</div>
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I liked all the salads I tried. Each and every salad was fresh and tasted good. I enjoyed the variety of salads and did not take long to gulp down the entire plate.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Af2nkELEDRU/UxnrFmR-kOI/AAAAAAAAEXo/H4sMwK-NIfA/s1600/IMG_7042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Af2nkELEDRU/UxnrFmR-kOI/AAAAAAAAEXo/H4sMwK-NIfA/s1600/IMG_7042.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>My plate full of salads</b></span></td></tr>
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Once done with the salads, it was time to head to the live cooking station. The live cooking station offers one the option to choose grilled fish, shrimps in different varieties. One can choose from regular grilled to Arabic to Spicy.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kg6G47GBY1A/UxnpbICKVxI/AAAAAAAAEXU/bf75-KycKRo/s1600/IMG_7040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kg6G47GBY1A/UxnpbICKVxI/AAAAAAAAEXU/bf75-KycKRo/s1600/IMG_7040.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Live cooking station</b></span></td></tr>
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In the need to try something spicy I opted for the spicy option of fish and shrimps. I was glad that I did go for the spicy option since the spices used provided a good flavour to the fish and shrimps. I loved the shrimps while the fish was decent enough. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7OfWWAvwxcE/UxnsZyAiVKI/AAAAAAAAEX4/xHwBqSDFwZU/s1600/IMG_7048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7OfWWAvwxcE/UxnsZyAiVKI/AAAAAAAAEX4/xHwBqSDFwZU/s1600/IMG_7048.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spicy Grilled Fish and Shrimps</b></span></td></tr>
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Fish and Shrimps were not the only items I tried in grill. I also got the opportunity to try grilled chicken, kebabs and some beef too. Served in a chafing dish and covered with a Romaali Roti, the grilled chicken and beef were cooked to perfection. The meat was tender, juicy and tasted good.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ARh7rcAfQ0/Uxnr8gjrqjI/AAAAAAAAEXw/E3ZBiL-9B5c/s1600/IMG_7047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0ARh7rcAfQ0/Uxnr8gjrqjI/AAAAAAAAEXw/E3ZBiL-9B5c/s1600/IMG_7047.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Grilled Chicken and Beef</b></span></td></tr>
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After having all these wonderful dishes, it was time to head back to the buffet in order to try some items from the main course. The main course included varieties of Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, Rice, Noodles and Fish etc.<br />
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Since I had eaten quite a lot, I went for little servings of rice and yellow dal (lentil), Egg noodles, fried rice and some turkey. Just like the other dishes I had tried earlier, all dishes in the main course tasted good. I did however feel that the Turkey could have been better, no complaints though.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oDPAQaQuwnw/Uxnu08jexxI/AAAAAAAAEYQ/uDg9eG1L4JE/s1600/IMG_7059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oDPAQaQuwnw/Uxnu08jexxI/AAAAAAAAEYQ/uDg9eG1L4JE/s1600/IMG_7059.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Main Course</span></b></td></tr>
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I love desserts and I really mean it. Even after being somewhat full from all the dishes I had tried, I had enough space in my tummy for the desserts. With atleast 15-20 desserts staring at me willing to be eaten, I went for 6 of them.</div>
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I totally loved the desserts, they were amazing. My pick of the lot was Gajar Ka Halwa (Carrot Halwa - Indian Dessert). I felt the Eclair was excellent too. After eating all the desserts, I started craving for more but I stopped myself to go for any more servings. After thanking the manager for the invite, I headed back home happy and satisfied.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P1xPI2KzDtw/UxnvXtQ_QLI/AAAAAAAAEYY/ymDmZFBbpfE/s1600/IMG_7061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P1xPI2KzDtw/UxnvXtQ_QLI/AAAAAAAAEYY/ymDmZFBbpfE/s1600/IMG_7061.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Yummy Desserts</span></b></td></tr>
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My visit at Rainbow Steak House was a very good one. I liked the variety of dishes the restaurant had to offer as a part of the buffet. Be it salads, main course or desserts, everything tasted good and it did look like the cook had put in a lot of effort in each and every dish.</div>
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Based in Hamriya (Dubai), I would say Rainbow Steak House is one of the better restaurants if you want to drop in for a big buffet meal.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Disclosure</u>:<br />I was invited to try the food at Rainbow Steak House, therefore I have not provided any ratings for the restaurant. All opinions expressed are solely based on my experience and are not influenced by the restaurant or its management in any way.</span></div>
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<b><u>Details:</u></b></div>
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<b>Restaurant:</b> Rainbow Steak House</div>
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<b>Location:</b> Al Khaleej Road, Hamriya, Dubai</div>
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<b>Contact No.:</b> +971 4 2398301</div>
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<b>Website:</b> <a href="http://www.rainbowhospitalityuae.com/Rainbow-Steak-House-Dubai.html">http://www.rainbowhospitalityuae.com/Rainbow-Steak-House-Dubai.html</a></div>
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<b>Twitter:</b> <a href="https://twitter.com/RainbowSteakH">https://twitter.com/RainbowSteakH</a></div>
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<b>Instagram:</b> <a href="http://instagram.com/rainbowsteakhouse">http://instagram.com/rainbowsteakhouse</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-28132588212049822742014-02-08T16:17:00.001+04:002014-05-02T19:00:01.563+04:00Food Review: Radhe O Radhe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My vegetarian friends keep complaining about how I miss out on reviewing "Pure Vegetarian" restaurants. It was about time that I answered their complaints; so I didn't think twice before accepting an invite from Radhe O Radhe. Located in the food capital of Dubai, i.e. Karama, Radhe O Radhe is a vegetarian restaurant that has its roots in Punjab.</div>
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The restaurant has a relaxed feel to it. The interiors are decent with enough space to fit in a few families. The music is not too loud and perfect to chat while you wait for your food.<br />
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Starting with drinks, I opted for the Mango Lassi. The Mango Lassi was thick and tasted good. The flavour of mango was eminent. I loved how the Lassi was served in a clay tumbler rather than a glass.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OdjSqrgJoR8/UvXmgkjjJKI/AAAAAAAADwI/qlbn0j93QiY/s1600/IMG_6998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OdjSqrgJoR8/UvXmgkjjJKI/AAAAAAAADwI/qlbn0j93QiY/s1600/IMG_6998.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mango Lassi</span></b></td></tr>
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It is necessary to try "Chaat" (if available) at an Indian Restaurant as it includes Indian Snacks that bring together a blend of various flavours and sauces. I went for my personal favourite Pani Puri (known as Gol Guppa in Delhi). The puris used in Pani Puri are made in-house and are perfect. With the flavoured waters spicing up things, the Pani Puri can be rated in the top 5 that I have tried in Dubai so far.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9aSeEypdQu8/UvXpAaAt1JI/AAAAAAAADwk/-JxhOagOPcU/s1600/IMG_7002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9aSeEypdQu8/UvXpAaAt1JI/AAAAAAAADwk/-JxhOagOPcU/s1600/IMG_7002.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pani Puri</b></span></td></tr>
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After having a few Pani Puris, I was ready to give the starters a shot. I left it to the restaurant staff to get me whichever starters they thought would be the best. The choice was easy for them and they got be Mushroom Kundan Taara and Soya Tikka Tandoori.<br />
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I have always tried Mushrooms and Paneer separately as starters or perhaps as main course however Mushroom Kundan Taara was a mix. Two Mushrooms stuck together with a stuffing of Paneer was hard to resist. The flavours were good and the taste pleasing enough to tingle my taste buds.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-YFIXbSbYs/UvXnJhR61nI/AAAAAAAADwY/eCBzYHFrEHM/s1600/IMG_7001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-YFIXbSbYs/UvXnJhR61nI/AAAAAAAADwY/eCBzYHFrEHM/s1600/IMG_7001.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Mushroom Kundan Taara</span></b></td></tr>
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The other starter Soya Tikka Tandoori was amazing. If there is one thing in vegetarian food that I can have on a daily basis, it is Soya. The beauty about Soya is that it can be used in multiple ways in different dishes and the taste would be different in each dish.<br />
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Soya Tikka Tandoori is juicy Soya with a balance of spice and flavours. It was probably the best dish I tried at Radhe O Radhe.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wrVFIv_UVzA/UvXnFzAmpzI/AAAAAAAADwQ/YmfmfCZUNoQ/s1600/IMG_6999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wrVFIv_UVzA/UvXnFzAmpzI/AAAAAAAADwQ/YmfmfCZUNoQ/s1600/IMG_6999.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Soya Tikka Tandoori</span></b></td></tr>
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Next on was main course and I was excited to see what would be served to me. The main course consisted of Soya Tikka Rara, Dal Makhani, Paneer Dhania Adraki, Pudina paratha and Missi Roti. Not to forget that I was also served Soya Tikka Biryani.</div>
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Both Pudina paratha and Missi Roti have a good taste but it depends on personal choice on which one is better; for me it was Missi Roti. Dal Makhani was fine and I felt that it could have been better while Paneer Dhania Adraki was decent too. The pick of the lot was Soya Tikka Rara. Cooked to perfection, Soya Tikka Rara was simply delicious.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iIXBQyBvu4U/UvXp1u_sYeI/AAAAAAAADw0/rNMSQW03kjM/s1600/IMG_7005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iIXBQyBvu4U/UvXp1u_sYeI/AAAAAAAADw0/rNMSQW03kjM/s1600/IMG_7005.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">My plate full with the Main Course</span></b></td></tr>
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Even though I was pretty much full, I had to try the Soya Tikka Biryani as it looked amazing (picture below). Served with Raita, the biryani was pretty good. The rice was rich and the Soya Tikka just took it to another level altogether.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUDUur6d91E/UvXpxgb_IsI/AAAAAAAADws/JGOdU5U-dFc/s1600/IMG_7003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gUDUur6d91E/UvXpxgb_IsI/AAAAAAAADws/JGOdU5U-dFc/s1600/IMG_7003.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Soya Tikka Biryani</span></b></td></tr>
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Going through the variety of dishes one at a time was fun. Yes, I was full within minutes but the flavours and the taste kept me going.</div>
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Of course, I did not leave before trying the dessert. My pick for dessert was Kheer. I was informed that the Kheer from Radhe O Radhe is the best-selling dessert and I wasn't surprised why. I was glad that I did leave some space in my tummy for the delicious dessert.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgBFgD3jU8k/U2OywHOI17I/AAAAAAAAF3o/Ctn0Yau76jg/s1600/IMG_7007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UgBFgD3jU8k/U2OywHOI17I/AAAAAAAAF3o/Ctn0Yau76jg/s1600/IMG_7007.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Kheer</span></b></td></tr>
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My overall experience at Radhe O Radhe was amazing. I loved all the Soya dishes and would recommend them. The Kheer, Mushroom Kundan Taara and Pani Puri are worth trying too. The service is good and the staff friendly. I have already visited the restaurant again with a couple of friends and they loved the food. I shall be visiting them yet again real soon.<br />
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A few things that I learnt about Radhe O Radhe and would love to share are: The restaurant opened in July 2010 and specializes in North Indian food but does serve Gujarati and South Indian food too (Satvik Thaalis are available). The restaurant is known for its corporate lunch pack which is pre-portioned and serves 8 different items for AED 14. Radhe O Radhe has a branch in JAFZA too.<br />
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*The prices are as of the review date and are subject to change based on decisions made by the restaurant's management.<br />
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<b><u>Details</u></b><br />
<b>Location:</b> Opposite Day to Day supermarket near the General Post Office (GPO), Karama<br />
<b>Contact:</b> 00971 4 4409300 ext. 379<br />
<b>Cuisine:</b> Indian<br />
<b>For further details please visit:</b> <a href="http://www.zomato.com/dubai/radhe-o-radhe-al-karama" target="_blank">http://www.zomato.com/dubai/radhe-o-radhe-al-karama</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-55214255048422038672014-01-01T20:35:00.001+04:002014-05-03T17:01:12.800+04:00Movie Review: The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Walter Mitty is a larger than life movie with Ben Stiller playing the main lead. The movie revolves around the character of Walter Mitty, an individual who wants to achieve a lot in life but has failed to do so. He lives a simple life and keeps disappearing into a fantasy world where he dreams of himself as a hero.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzpPWUJtwFjuOYSmKekwFR9I4NZ_KbT3lRwTnzOHh9Bm_lE_iPcDwy863q0qDSjrbF5X2gw9WkQD_hrqBZQ_g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<b>(The above video is a property of Empire Middle East)</b></div>
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Walter works as a photo negative archiver at Life Magazine. He is head over heels for Cheryl Melhoff (played by Kristen Wig), a colleague from office but he is too scared to tell this to her. The only time he manages to share these feelings with her is in his world of fantasy.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Vv3M854cQ/UsQ9lwBbC9I/AAAAAAAAC_g/ZpbQbjzTJ5U/s1600/1380504279_Secret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Vv3M854cQ/UsQ9lwBbC9I/AAAAAAAAC_g/ZpbQbjzTJ5U/s640/1380504279_Secret.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Source: Amazon Web Services</span></b></td></tr>
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The story starts to develop when Ted Hendricks (played by Adam Scott) steps in. Ted, called in for restructuring informs the staff that Life Magazine would be publishing its last magazine. Ted tells the staff that he would be firing plenty of individuals as a part of restructuring. From his few meetings, Ted forms an opinion of Walter as a day dreamer. Things get worse as Walter loses Sean O'Connell (played by Sean Penn), a famous photographer's negative which would be the cover of Life Magazine's final issue.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zynGazYhN4c/UsQ-qDaFiRI/AAAAAAAAC_o/PbhIl933xr0/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zynGazYhN4c/UsQ-qDaFiRI/AAAAAAAAC_o/PbhIl933xr0/s640/maxresdefault.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Walter Mitty in His Fantasy World (Source: Youtube.com)</span></b></td></tr>
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In order to solve the issue, Walter decides to go looking for Sean. As known to the world, Sean is no easy man to trace. It is during this trip from the vicious oceans to an active volcano to the Himalayas that Walter discovers his true self. Does he find the negative? Go watch the movie and find it out for yourself.<br />
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There are plenty of adventurous scenes in the movie along with moments that one can relate to as an individual. Ben Stiller is excellent in his role as Walter Mitty and the scenes from his fantasy world are pretty hilarious. Kristen Wig has a small part to play in the movie and she does justice to her role.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SeA5n8BLOt8/UsRBcFITV5I/AAAAAAAAC_0/s40AxMwaGeI/s1600/de3b15a9-dfa8-46b2-96bb-fae8029037b5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SeA5n8BLOt8/UsRBcFITV5I/AAAAAAAAC_0/s40AxMwaGeI/s640/de3b15a9-dfa8-46b2-96bb-fae8029037b5.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Time for Some Adventure (Source: MSN)</span></b></td></tr>
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Kathryn Hahn as Odessa Mitty (Walter's sister) and Shirley MacLaine as Odessa Mitty (Walter's mother) are good too. When with Ben Stiller on screen, they do feel like a close knit family who care for each other. Other supporting cast is good too without anyone having to try extra hard to please the audience. The story does have it lows but those parts are minimal.<br />
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The movie is a larger than life movie which makes every individual to believe in their dreams once again. It is one of those movies from which you will come out with a smile on your face.<br />
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<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Rating:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> 7.5/10</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Runtime:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> 114 minutes</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Trailer:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://youtu.be/kGWO2w0H2V8">http://youtu.be/kGWO2w0H2V8</a></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-54115836669254039952013-12-21T19:22:00.001+04:002014-01-21T11:55:21.541+04:00Food Review: Which Wich<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Now that everyone is fascinated by American Franchises opening in U.A.E., it was about time that Which Wich showed up. While Which Wich is pretty similar in concept to the likes of Pot Belly, Charley's Grilled Subs and Subway, it has a lot more to offer. Another added benefit of Which Wich is that it is more organized than its competitors.</div>
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Located at the side of City Tower 1 (Near Crowne Plaza Hotel) on Sheikh Zayed Road, Which Wich has to offer a range of sandwiches or as some would say Subs, along with some smooth Milk Shakes and freshly baked cookies.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxXCmDSnRR8/Upm7EaeAu2I/AAAAAAAACnE/FYqdrGIYJB0/s1600/20131114_221522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WxXCmDSnRR8/Upm7EaeAu2I/AAAAAAAACnE/FYqdrGIYJB0/s640/20131114_221522.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you enter Which Wich, you can see an area on the left hand side with a huge list of sandwich options and numbers from 1 to 10 on it. Each number indicates a category of sandwich. For example: 1 is for Turkey, 4 is for Chicken while 6 is for Vegetarian. Under each category, a number of sandwich options are listed. There are 5 sandwich options under each category, which gives you a choice of about 50 sandwiches. This means that one cannot complain about the number of sandwiches Which Wich has to offer.<br />
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The first step is to pick a brown bag from the number you choose and start ticking off the options one by one. You have to start by choosing from 1 of the 5 sandwich options. After selecting the Chicken Category, I chose Buffalo Chicken from the list which also included Chicken Tikka Salad, Chicken Pesto, Teriyaki Chicken and Chicken.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8N00YvK_Io/Upm7ehEruuI/AAAAAAAACnM/xXqkBGVtNDo/s1600/20131114_221920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P8N00YvK_Io/Upm7ehEruuI/AAAAAAAACnM/xXqkBGVtNDo/s640/20131114_221920.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A few interesting drawings</span></b></td></tr>
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Once done with this, one has the option to also choose whether they want double cheese or double meat. I didn't choose either. The next step is an important one and it is totally dependent on your choice and appetite at the same time. There are 3 different sizes of wiches to choose from - A small wich is 7 inches in size, a medium wich is 10.5 inches in size and a large wich is 14 inches in size. If you are not interested in having a sandwich, there is also a choice of Bowlwich or Lettucewich (A lettuce wrap).<br />
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Since I wasn't too hungry, I opted for a small wich. The next thing I had to make up my mind was on deciding whether to go for a coldwich or a hotwich (a toasted sandwich). I love toasted sandwiches and went for the hotwich.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HlIa3p3wldI/Upm61JvxqOI/AAAAAAAACm8/ofVh-RumR-s/s1600/20131114_221839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HlIa3p3wldI/Upm61JvxqOI/AAAAAAAACm8/ofVh-RumR-s/s640/20131114_221839.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Choose what you like</span></b></td></tr>
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After completing these easy steps, it is then time for a difficult step. Why I consider this particular step difficult is because of the number of choices one has. There are more than 10 varieties of cheeses, 10 varieties of spreads and sauces, 3 types of mustards, 3 types of mayos, 6 different dressings, 3 types of onions, more than 10 types of veggies and about 7 Oils and spices to choose from. Which wich offers so much that one would be spoilt for choice.<br />
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After ticking off the options, me and my friend handed over the brown packet at the cash counter and paid for my sandwich. Since I wanted something sweet as well, I ordered a brownie. We were asked to take a seat and the staff would bring it to us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GzQ7MATLFDQ/Upm8PQom0wI/AAAAAAAACnk/reYlgd9GQAw/s1600/20131114_222937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GzQ7MATLFDQ/Upm8PQom0wI/AAAAAAAACnk/reYlgd9GQAw/s640/20131114_222937.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Buffalo Chicken Sandwich</span></b></td></tr>
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Our order arrived in about 5-7 minutes. The sandwich was warm and tasted delicious. I loved the chicken and the fresh veggies used in the sandwich. However the best part about the sandwich was the Marinara sauce. The Crisps in the sandwiches added that extra awesomeness to the sandwich.<br />
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The staff was generous enough to give us a complementary Double Chocolate Cookie and a Cranberry & White Chocolate Cookie. I loved the freshly baked Double Chocolate Cookie, while the Cranberry & White Chocolate Cookie was good too. The Brownie however was just brilliant. Overall, justice was done to my sweet tooth.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O4l8C1_8JuI/Upm74aBY7xI/AAAAAAAACnU/ZSteI39iNsw/s1600/20131114_222928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O4l8C1_8JuI/Upm74aBY7xI/AAAAAAAACnU/ZSteI39iNsw/s640/20131114_222928.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Brownie, Double Chocolate Cookie and Cranberry & White Chocolate Cookie</b></span></td></tr>
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I must add that I have also tried the Milkshakes at Which Wich on different visits. I loved the Oreo Milkshake and my friend speaks highly of the Vanilla Milkshake. The Milkshakes are thick and filling since it is only available in large size. During other visits and home delivery, I have tried Teriyaki Chicken, Chicken Tikka Salad, Chicken Italiano, Chipotle Chicken and Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwiches. I must say that I was impressed by each of these sandwiches.<br />
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On the whole, Which Wich is the perfect place for sandwich and sub lovers. It has a variety to offer like no other and with the Brownie, Cookies and Milkshakes it has to offer, Which Wich deserves a lot more loyal customers than it presently has. Dine in at Which Wich and you will understand why I speak so highly of this place.<br />
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Location: City Tower 1, Near Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai.<br />
Contact No.: 00971 4 4409300 ext. 440<br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/whichwichuae">https://www.facebook.com/whichwichuae</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/WhichWichUAE">https://twitter.com/WhichWichUAE</a><br />
For further details and menu visit: <a href="http://www.zomato.com/dubai/which-wich-world-trade-center-area">http://www.zomato.com/dubai/which-wich-world-trade-center-area</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-55093828300144835022013-11-22T17:05:00.000+04:002013-11-23T00:16:37.597+04:00Cooking: When hunger strikes, I make a Spanish Omelette<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am not a good cook by any means but every now and then I am caught up in situations where I am hungry and there is no one at home. Usually I would order something from a restaurant and save the hassle of cooking but what if I don't feel like eating something from outside? That is when I cook. I don't cook complicated stuff since I would mess things up. So here is my recipe for a quick breakfast with minimal effort.</div>
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I shall be taking you through the process of making a Spanish Omelette (My style) that would ensure that next time hunger strikes you will have an answer to it. The good part about my recipe is that it includes ingredients that are easily available at every home and you will not have to go to buy any fancy stuff.</div>
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<b>Ingredients:</b></div>
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1 Bell Pepper</div>
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1 Onion</div>
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1 Tomato</div>
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2 Eggs</div>
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1 Sliced Cheese</div>
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Salt</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vVA84WBUbWU/Uo9Tu7Je2NI/AAAAAAAACmM/is36NdfQ0do/s1600/IMG_6987.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vVA84WBUbWU/Uo9Tu7Je2NI/AAAAAAAACmM/is36NdfQ0do/s640/IMG_6987.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Ingredients</span></b></td></tr>
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<b>Steps:</b></div>
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1. First things first, make sure to wash the tomato, bell pepper and onion (after peeling its first layer of skin) before using them.</div>
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2. Crack the 2 eggs in the bowl.</div>
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3. Cut the Onion, Tomato and Bell pepper into small pieces and add it to the bowl. Make sure that you don't use the complete vegetable or else the quantity will be too much to beat. Another important point to note is that when using a Bell pepper make sure to remove its seeds.</div>
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4. Cut the Sliced cheese into small pieces and add it to the bowl.</div>
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5. Add some salt to the bowl. You can also add black pepper if you want to (I avoided it).</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yox616r3R0/Uo9K6wdkivI/AAAAAAAAClk/TdmFIXq-rmw/s1600/IMG_6990.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0yox616r3R0/Uo9K6wdkivI/AAAAAAAAClk/TdmFIXq-rmw/s640/IMG_6990.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">All ingredients ready to be beaten</span></b></td></tr>
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6. Beat the mixture in the bowl for about 30 seconds so that it mixes up well.</div>
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7. Turn on the gas on low and use a nonstick pan. Add some oil to the pan (I used Ghee, because I am a Punjabi *winks*). Make sure that the oil or ghee covers the entire base of the pan so that the omelette does not stick to it (Please don't flood it with oil).</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LAQETYcuHKA/Uo9PBvDuBMI/AAAAAAAACl4/3fczZvtCM1I/s1600/IMG_6992.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LAQETYcuHKA/Uo9PBvDuBMI/AAAAAAAACl4/3fczZvtCM1I/s640/IMG_6992.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cooking the Omelette</span></b></td></tr>
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8. Pour the mixture into the pan and let it cook for 20-30 seconds. Make sure that you turn it around using a spatula once you see a yellowish brown shade.</div>
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9. Cook from the other side and turn it over once again if the omelette looks undercooked.</div>
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10. Turn off the gas and transfer the omelette to your plate.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9nsapTUasY/Uo9OwJhpu2I/AAAAAAAAClw/eJTTicPd0mQ/s1600/IMG_6995.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p9nsapTUasY/Uo9OwJhpu2I/AAAAAAAAClw/eJTTicPd0mQ/s640/IMG_6995.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Spanish Omelette served with Garlic Mayo, Ketchup and Chili Sauce</span></b></td></tr>
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11. Serve with Garlic Mayo, Ketchup, Chili Sauce or any other condiment you prefer.</div>
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You can probably take some slices of bread and heat them in the nonstick pan for a few seconds from both sides. Your breakfast is ready.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IbLZVU9861g/Uo9Tnie0x4I/AAAAAAAACmE/QjS6d3gRJiQ/s1600/IMG_6997.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IbLZVU9861g/Uo9Tnie0x4I/AAAAAAAACmE/QjS6d3gRJiQ/s640/IMG_6997.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Spanish Omelette with a glass of Chocolate Milk</span></b></td></tr>
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I love to have something to drink with my Omelette. I took a glass, added cold milk to it and some Hershey's Chocolate syrup to it. Stir it and chocolate milk it ready. Those who don't like Milk can have juice with it.</div>
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<b>Skills you need to cook the recipe (If you don't possess these super powers please don't cook):</b></div>
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1. Knowing the difference between salt and sugar. I know sugar is good but an Omelette tastes better with salt.</div>
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2. Knowing how to turn on the gas. You should also know how to turn it off.</div>
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3. Knowing how to use a knife without cutting your fingers.</div>
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4. Knowing how to beat an egg. It is nothing like beating someone up.</div>
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Once you meet the above requirements, you can try your hand at the recipe.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-80644713251740686432013-11-16T17:32:00.002+04:002014-02-08T16:16:35.579+04:00Food Review: Shayan Restaurant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Trying a new cuisine for the first time can be pretty interesting and tricky at the same time. The reason for this being that one is not sure what to expect but there is a sense of excitement as well. I was going through the same emotions when I tried food at Shayan Restaurant at Al Ghurair Rayhaan and Arjaan by Rotana. I had heard a lot of Persian cuisine and was excited to try it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2IsgfQs4ro/UnTly4IjqaI/AAAAAAAACgw/wwJvcoZnmvc/s1600/IMG_6819.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2IsgfQs4ro/UnTly4IjqaI/AAAAAAAACgw/wwJvcoZnmvc/s640/IMG_6819.CR2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Interiors of the Restaurant</span></b></td></tr>
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As I walked into the restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised by the ambience and the interiors. The furniture, the lighting and the setup was excellent. It was class with a hint of elegance. There is plenty of seating available and it won't be difficult finding a seating that suits your taste and preference.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr0emNz3sqA/UnTtYj-OTgI/AAAAAAAAChc/Gk1GPZSLOno/s1600/IMG_6825.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr0emNz3sqA/UnTtYj-OTgI/AAAAAAAAChc/Gk1GPZSLOno/s640/IMG_6825.CR2.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Private seating area</span></b></td></tr>
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I was shortly joined by other foodies before we started tasting the dishes. As we settled down at a table for four, we were welcomed with a traditional Persian drink called Doogh. Doogh is a yoghurt based salted drink which is a regular with Persian food. The drink provided a perfect start to the dinner that was to follow. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9OJgHvOPjM/UnT4LFV1vuI/AAAAAAAACiM/q-WRVgXbtrA/s1600/IMG_6828.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p9OJgHvOPjM/UnT4LFV1vuI/AAAAAAAACiM/q-WRVgXbtrA/s640/IMG_6828.CR2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Salad Shirazi</span></b></td></tr>
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Within a few minutes, Salad Shirazi was placed at our table along with Kashk E Bademjan. Salad Shirazi is a traditional salad mixed with cucumbers, red onions, virgin olive oil and lime juice. The salad was simple and there is isn't much to say about it. Kashk E Bademjan is a special aged cheese curd mixed with grilled eggplant and seasoned with traditional spices.</div>
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After dealing with the salad, it was time to try a few dishes. First on was Esfenaj Nargesi (Seasoned spinach topped with sauteed onions and fried egg). I have never tried spinach and egg together and was not sure how the dish would taste however I must say that I was impressed. The spinach and egg went perfectly with each other and the dish tasted amazing. If you are one of those who don't eat meat but are okay with eggs should try this dish.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Gheymeh Bademjan</span></b></td></tr>
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The other dish served along with Esfenaj Nargesi was Gheymeh Bademjan (lamb stew prepared with lentils, tomatoes and fried eggplant). The good part about the dish was the balance in flavours. I did like the dish but if I were to pick between the 2 dishes served, I would choose the Spinach dish over Lamb.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The main course</b></span></td></tr>
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We had stuffed ourselves with the delicious dishes served to us as the huge main course tray arrived. It was quite a task to get through so much food but the entire main course was so good that we did not have to worry about any leftovers. The main course consisted of Joojeh Kabab Ba Ostokhan (Skewers of marinated chicken on the bone), Kubideh Ye Joojeh (Skewers of minced chicken breast, onion and saffron), Tikke Masti (Cuts of beef tenderloin marinated with yoghurt, saffron and Persian spices) and Kabab Shishlik (lamb chops, marinated in onion, black pepper, saffron and olive oil).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">My plate with a mix of everything</span></b></td></tr>
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The main course was served with 2 types of rice: plain saffron rice and yellow coloured rice with herbs. Every item on the main course was excellent. It was difficult to choose which item was better than the other. Aside from the rice, garlic and condiments were served with the main course. The garlic has a unique flavour to it and I loved it.</div>
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Finally dessert arrived at the table. Makhloot is similar to Faloudeh. The taste of Faloudeh is similar to Falooda. Makhloot (Persian iced noodles and Bastani Ice cream) is the perfect ending to any dinner. Due to the addition of Bastani Ice cream, the dessert is a delight for ones with a sweet tooth. However if you are not too fond of desserts that are a bit high on the sweetness scale, you can try something else.</div>
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Something that impressed me as much as the food itself was Sharabet Albaloo. Sharabet Albaloo is a sour cherry cordial drink. The cold cheery flavoured drink was refreshing and knocked out any signs of tiredness of me.<br />
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Overall my experience was a good one. The decision to try Persian food ended up not to be a good but a great one. I would surely be visiting Shayan soon to try a few more dishes, what about you?<br />
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<b><u>Details</u></b><br />
<b>Cuisine:</b> Persian<br />
<b>Location:</b> Al Ghurair Rayhaan and Arjaan by Rotana, Deira, Dubai<br />
<b>For further details visit: </b><a href="http://www.zomato.com/dubai/shayan-al-ghurair-arjaan-and-rayhaan-rotana-al-rigga" target="_blank">http://www.zomato.com/dubai/shayan-al-ghurair-arjaan-and-rayhaan-rotana-al-rigga</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-57852821810830371502013-10-30T23:45:00.000+04:002015-04-07T15:06:13.346+04:00Travel: Switzerland and Snow<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It has been just over 1 year since I started the blog and since then I have been to a number of European countries. Even though my blog description states that I write about travel too, I have not posted a single travel post yet. Writing about my Switzerland experience is the perfect way to kick start travel posts.</div>
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Living in UAE for nearly all my life, I have never had the chance to experience snow and it has been my dream to roam around in the snow covered mountains in Switzerland. My dream finally came true in December last year when me and a friend planned a Euro trip which included 2 days in Switzerland.<br />
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Even though Euros are accepted all around Switzerland, it is a good idea to carry a few Swiss Francs. I would suggest exchanging money in the country where you reside since you can get better rates from currency exchange houses. One good example is TravelexAE who provide a very exchange rate. For details visit their website: <a href="http://www.travelexae.com/">http://www.travelexae.com/</a> (for UAE residents).<br />
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Our journey to Switzerland commenced with a road trip from Frankfurt in Germany to Zurich. We reached Zurich in the afternoon and parked the car in a parking lot. It was time to explore the market and grab something to eat. As we walked around the streets of Zurich, snow was visible at the side of the roads indicating that it had snowed recently.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Shot from the Zurich Marketplace</span></b></td></tr>
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The market was lively with a number of cheerful people going around the market. Christmas celebrations were visible with decorated Christmas Trees outside shops. As we went ahead, we came across trams on the road. A few banks could be seen in the distance (hard to imagine Zurich without sighting a few banks).<br />
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After buying a few souvenirs from a shop, we walked near the sea and enjoyed the view. We could see a few ducks swimming in the cold water. It wasn't long before I felt something cold on my nose. As I touched to see what it was, it started snowing heavily and we started running back to the parking lot without visiting the nearby Christmas market. On the way back, I grabbed a burger from McDonalds and ate it in the car itself.</div>
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We left the parking lot and moved on the roads making our way out of the busy market. The signals in the market are very short and there are a number of radars. One needs to be pretty careful while driving here since the fines are pretty hefty as well. Once out of Zurich, we made our way to our hotel in Luzern. The drive was not a long one which was a good thing since we were pretty tired after the long day. It was already dark as we began our search for the hotel. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Railway Tracks behind the Hotel</span></b></td></tr>
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It wasn't long before we found our hotel. To cut down on costs, we had booked a 2 night stay at the Ibis Budget Hotel, Luzern. We got a decent room at a good rate and an underground parking space for the rented car at a minimal charge. Too tired to do anything more, my friend grabbed a pizza from a nearby eatery. After gobbling down the pizza, we dozed off so that we could explore in the morning.</div>
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A quick breakfast (which included Swiss cheese and Swiss chocolate) ensured that we had enough time to explore the city. We drove a few kilometers towards Interlaken to check out the scenic beauty of Switzerland and I was completely impressed by it. The photograph below shows a glimpse of what we witnessed. I was already in love with Switzerland by now. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">On our way to Interlaken</span></b></td></tr>
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Since we had a tight schedule, we could not explore further and headed straight to Engelberg to visit the beautiful Mt. Titlis. It wasn't difficult to find Mt. Titlis thanks to the GPS in our car. As we drove to the foot on the mountain, I was awed by the beauty of Switzerland. There was plenty of paid parking available. </div>
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Getting out of the car was not an easy task since the temperature read at -9 degree Celsius. We changed into our snow shoes and walked up to the entrance. Forgetting my muffler was one of the biggest mistakes I made; luckily a store at the entrance offered one and I purchased it without hesitating a bit. I suggest that you bring along all your warm clothes since the cost of items at Mt. Titlis is pretty high.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Photo Studio at Mt. Titlis</span></b></td></tr>
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After purchasing our tickets we started walking towards the cable cars which took us a bit higher and then to the next one till we reached near the top. From photo studios (photograph above) to restaurants, each floor has something different to offer.<br />
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Not wasting more time we headed to the top of Mt. Titlis. The weather was pleasant with the sun shining but it was still pretty cold. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">At the Top of Mt. Titlis</span></b></td></tr>
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At 10,000 feet above the ground, the view was spectacular and mesmerizing. I had never experienced anything like this ever. It didn't matter that the temperature was atleast 15 degrees below freezing point. What mattered was that the beautiful view from the top. </div>
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I took a good view of the snowcapped peaks all around me as my eyes tried to absorb the beauty around me. I highly recommend anyone travelling to Switzerland to visit Mt. Titlis.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A view from the top</span></b></td></tr>
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Before making our way back down, we visited the watch showroom on the top floor (who doesn't like Swiss watches?) and then went to the restaurant in order to have a warm beverage to beat the cold weather.</div>
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On the way down, we got the chance to experience the Rotair once again. Rotair, is a cable car with turning interiors. The interior of the cable car moves in a circle offering different views without having to move around yourself. The other cable cars also have to offer amazing views.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">View from a cable car</span></b></td></tr>
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Tired but happy after having a great time at Mt. Titlis, we drove back to our hotel to crash for a bit before we drove back to Frankfurt to catch our flight to Milan.<br />
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We woke up early in the morning and after taking a shower, we packed and checked out of the hotel. Driving our way out of Luzern and Switzerland we had smiles on our faces and memories to cherish for the rest of our lives.<br />
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<b><u>Travel Tips:</u></b><br />
- Since hotels in Switzerland are expensive, choose a budget hotel so that you can save money and spend it on something more useful like buying souvenirs.<br />
- Carry snow shoes and warm clothes including mufflers if travelling during winters as it can get pretty cold.<br />
- Wake up early to check out the city and marketplace since shops close earlier in European countries.<br />
- Carry a good amount of currency. Exchange it in the country you reside in (you save quite a bit).<br />
- Check out offers at tourist spots. We missed out the discount at Mt. Titlis since we had no idea that rates for entry post 12 p.m. were lower.<br />
- Plan your trip in advance and keep the trip long enough to travel all the good places (something we missed out on).<br />
- Don't miss to try Swiss Cheese and Swiss Chocolate. </div>
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- Do buy a souvenir to take back home.<br />
- Click loads of photographs and have a fun time.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-52920876302633487272013-10-14T14:58:00.002+04:002013-10-14T15:05:26.264+04:00Food Review: Goa Coastal Curries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have always wanted to try Goan food but for some or the other reason, I would not get a chance. After pushing my family for a bit, I finally got a chance to try Goan food at Goa Coastal Curries. Based in Karama, Goa Coastal curries is owned by Satrang Foods (who also own Pind Da Dhaba).</div>
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The ambience and feel of the restaurant is Goan right from the music, to the paintings of the Goa market place and the map of Goa itself. There is ample amount of comfortable seating options available and you shouldn't have much difficulty in finding a place during weekends as well.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Interior of the Restaurant</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">As me and my family settled down on our table, the menus were passed to us and I was handed over the task of ordering food. Before we placed our order for food, we were given a basket of bread sticks with olive oil to go along.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Breadsticks with Olive Oil</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The breadsticks had that bit of a crunch in them (which I love) and tasted good. If the restaurant can work out a possible dip for it like a fava dip, it will just take the breadsticks to a whole new level. As I was pretty hungry, I didn't wait long and placed my order.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-99VCX6pV-Nw/UllR4BU_9VI/AAAAAAAACdo/hDs4lp8DkI0/s1600/IMG_0467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-99VCX6pV-Nw/UllR4BU_9VI/AAAAAAAACdo/hDs4lp8DkI0/s640/IMG_0467.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Salad Idalina</span></b></td></tr>
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First on was Salad Idalina. The salad consisted of some bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes. The salad was not only fresh but is healthy too. The dressing is nothing fancy, just plain olive oil and lemon juice. As they say, sometimes simple is good, the same is the case with this salad. It may look simple but it definitely serves its purpose.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0CB91qZcUsU/UllSNLT08MI/AAAAAAAACd0/SdO8JH5l-JY/s1600/IMG_0469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0CB91qZcUsU/UllSNLT08MI/AAAAAAAACd0/SdO8JH5l-JY/s640/IMG_0469.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Prawn Goan Pulao</b></span></td></tr>
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To ensure that waiting time could be kept down to the minimum, we had ordered main course at the time we ordered the salad. I simply love prawns and am a great admirer of good prawn dishes. In addition to this, I have heard that Goan sea food is better than Goan chicken dishes. This was the reason that I ordered the Prawns Goan Pulao instead of the Chicken version.</div>
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It was definitely a good choice. The rice was cooked to perfection and the prawns tasted delicious. The mix of both resulted in a tasty Goan pulao.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBGRISPE9bY/UllUJTpmZDI/AAAAAAAACeI/IZqHje2pj08/s1600/IMG_0470.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JBGRISPE9bY/UllUJTpmZDI/AAAAAAAACeI/IZqHje2pj08/s640/IMG_0470.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pomfret Goan Curry</b></span></td></tr>
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Goa coastal curries offers you the choice of traditional Goan Curry in 4 different flavours namely Pomfret, Surmai, Rawas and Prawns. Having already ordered a Prawn pulao, I avoided the Prawn Goan Curry. After a bit of confusion between Pomfret and Surmai, I decided to ask for recommendation from our server Tanveer. Tanveer recommended the Pomfret Goan Curry and I had no second thoughts.</div>
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I would personally like to thank Tanveer, who recommended the best dish of the evening. The traditional curry had all the flavours one would be looking for in a dish. The curry had the right amount of salt and spice. The Pomfret was perfectly cooked. The curry was brilliant and has become one of the best dishes I have ever had.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mCpqsi3hJew/UllYQAz6pSI/AAAAAAAACeU/mqoocbai9hU/s1600/IMG_0477.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mCpqsi3hJew/UllYQAz6pSI/AAAAAAAACeU/mqoocbai9hU/s640/IMG_0477.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Chicken Xacutti</b></span></td></tr>
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Chicken Xacutti was the second main course dish we ordered and the only Chicken dish. I am so glad that I did order Chicken Xacutti. This dish just like the Goan Curry had amazing balance of flavours and it was enough to tingle my taste buds.</div>
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We also ordered a steamed rice to go along with our main course. The steamed rice went well with the Pomfrey Goan Curry and the Chicken Xacutti. All main course dishes were a hit.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6AGuplGIfM/UllTd4Zn0ZI/AAAAAAAACeA/t8xH84BBuCw/s1600/IMG_0465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H6AGuplGIfM/UllTd4Zn0ZI/AAAAAAAACeA/t8xH84BBuCw/s640/IMG_0465.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Kokum Sherbet</b></span></td></tr>
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Since I had heard a lot about Kokum Sherbet, there was no way that I would give it a skip. Kokum Sherbet is the best drink to have in summers. Not only does it act as a coolant, it is also good for health and is rich in Vitamin C. The Kokum Sherbet served to us was totally amazing and refreshing.</div>
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My mom being a fan of Coconut water went for the Tender Coconut Water. The Coconut water was pretty good.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtO_78ypwIo/UllZHpCEDhI/AAAAAAAACec/b6mkHInjkWI/s1600/IMG_0478.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EtO_78ypwIo/UllZHpCEDhI/AAAAAAAACec/b6mkHInjkWI/s640/IMG_0478.CR2.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Coconut Ice cream</b></span></td></tr>
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After having the main courses, we were pretty full but I decided to give a shot to the Coconut Ice cream. The Coconut Ice cream was the icing on the cake. After having a main course rich in Goan flavours, the ice cream served to be the perfect ending. The ice cream was rich in taste and the way coconut was used in it was commendable.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_xxb0eSQCQ/UllaWapLk2I/AAAAAAAACek/k473Cg_XREQ/s1600/IMG_0483.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_xxb0eSQCQ/UllaWapLk2I/AAAAAAAACek/k473Cg_XREQ/s640/IMG_0483.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My overall experience at Goa Coastal Curries was a very good one. I loved the authenticity of the flavours used and every dish was just amazing. The ambience, the feel and the service was all good. If you have not been to Goa, this is the closest you can get to Goan food in Dubai.</div>
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<b><u>Bill (for 4):</u></b><br />
1 Salad Idalina AED 12<br />
2 Kokum Sherbet AED 20<br />
1 Tender Coconut Water AED 12<br />
1 Chicken Xacutti AED 30<br />
1 Goan Pulao - Prawns AED 45<br />
1 Steamed Rice AED 8<br />
1 Goan Curry - Pomfret AED 50<br />
1 Coconut Ice-cream AED 8<br />
1 Mineral Water (Large) AED 4<br />
<b>Total AED 189</b><br />
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<b><u>Details:</u></b><br />
<b>Restaurant</b> Goa Coastal Curries<br />
<b>Cuisine</b> Goan (Indian)<br />
<b>For location and contact details please visit: </b><a href="http://www.zomato.com/dubai/goa-coastal-curries-al-karama" target="_blank">http://www.zomato.com/dubai/goa-coastal-curries-al-karama</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-81256398406700279202013-09-28T20:43:00.000+04:002013-09-28T21:06:11.187+04:00Movie Review: Runner Runner<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Ben Affleck has been all over the news recently due to the possibility of him playing Batman. Ever since the news was out confirming him to play Batman, there was an outrage on Social Media platforms justifying why Ben might not be the correct choice. Under such circumstances, Runner Runner doesn't seem like the best pick for Ben.<br />
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In addition to this, one should not forget that Affleck's previous movie Argo was a blockbuster hit and landed up with 3 Oscar wins. It is always difficult for an actor to follow up after such a huge success.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SqMyhBimbhI/Ukb20nczENI/AAAAAAAACbA/Bu0TwpmrD7c/s1600/runner-runner-poster08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SqMyhBimbhI/Ukb20nczENI/AAAAAAAACbA/Bu0TwpmrD7c/s640/runner-runner-poster08.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(Source: Ace Showbiz)</span></b></td></tr>
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Runner Runner starring Justin Timberlake, Gemma Artherton and Ben Affleck is a thriller involving crime and a lot of gambling. Justin Timberlake plays Richie Furst, a youngster struggling with finances in order to complete his degree. Due to his financial issues, Richie is drawn towards gambling. After he loses everything online due to cheating, he makes it a point to get to Ivan Block (played by Ben Affleck) the owner of the gambling site.</div>
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The road from New Jersey to Costa Rica for Richie isn't easy but being a smart chap, he manages to eventually track down Ivan with some help from Rebecca Shafran (played by Gemma Artherton). Richie confronts Ivan and tells him how he was cheated on his website. Ivan thanks Richie but does not say anymore till their next meeting.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyqQSU3-YHY/UkcCgy1IJOI/AAAAAAAACbc/TBLcf7448V0/s1600/runner-runner-movie-01_zpscf5af5a6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AyqQSU3-YHY/UkcCgy1IJOI/AAAAAAAACbc/TBLcf7448V0/s640/runner-runner-movie-01_zpscf5af5a6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ben Affleck and Justin Timberlake meet at The House (Source: ChercaBulas Mindbox)</b></span></td></tr>
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It is during their next meeting that Ivan offers Richie a job that would pay him a lot of money. Richie readily accepts the offer at the thought of earning a lot of money. The rest of the movie focuses on the corrupt political system and the trouble one has to go through in order to keep the gambling business running.</div>
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The movie is a bit on the slower side and there are limited number of scenes that might be counted as action scenes. The scenes with Justin Timberlake and Ben Affleck are the best ones in the movie. The romantic scenes between Justin and Gemma fail to impress and their chemistry is passable.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bl5r2RTC7Eo/UkcAgsMYcyI/AAAAAAAACbQ/h7sNEdL9cBI/s1600/l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bl5r2RTC7Eo/UkcAgsMYcyI/AAAAAAAACbQ/h7sNEdL9cBI/s640/l.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A shot from the movie (Source: Blog CDN)</span></b></td></tr>
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Ben Affleck playing Ivan Block has a decent role but there is not much he could have done with the character. It is the strongest character in the script but not strong enough to lift the movie. Justin Timberlake's perform is second only to Ben Affleck. However his role includes a lot of running around. Gemma Artherton is present only to add a beauty factor to the movie. She has been given very few dialogues and can be seen just walking around in a lot of scenes.</div>
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The movie is by no means bad, the only issue is that it is not good enough to keep you interested. There are no exciting moments in the movie that develop the audiences interest. The best scenes of the movie have already been revealed in the trailer. On the whole, the movie is an average one.</div>
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<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Rating:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> 5.5/10</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Runtime:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> 91 minutes</span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Trailer:</b><span style="background-color: #fefdfa; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://youtu.be/dyboDr1e2xI">http://youtu.be/dyboDr1e2xI</a></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-26480216034740901772013-09-12T01:16:00.000+04:002014-07-29T17:49:25.146+04:00Food Review: Shakeism Milkshakes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I got invited to Shakeism Milkshakes over the weekend and my love for milkshakes meant that I wouldn't say no to it. As I entered Shakeism, I was welcomed by the owner Muhammad and Nasir, who handles the Propaganda and Distribution arm of the outlet.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abHUSyd-IgI/UjDR-RnJxQI/AAAAAAAACZM/iOxvZDkr2-Y/s1600/IMG_6730.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-abHUSyd-IgI/UjDR-RnJxQI/AAAAAAAACZM/iOxvZDkr2-Y/s640/IMG_6730.CR2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">What does Shakeism stand for?</span></b></td></tr>
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The layout of the outlet is simple with 3 tables that can seat about 4 people and 3 more seats that are kept beside the wall. The wall has been painted yellow with a few black coloured airplanes. While the other walls tell us what Shakeism stands for. A LED TV hangs just above the counter which shows you the track that is being played and the songs are pretty cool. I heard a number of Lupe Fiasco tracks during my visit including one of my favourites Battle Scars.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ekvi-S1VpsM/UjDbKppmNPI/AAAAAAAACZ0/LsnXaG750eo/s1600/Just+the+shakes.CR2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ekvi-S1VpsM/UjDbKppmNPI/AAAAAAAACZ0/LsnXaG750eo/s640/Just+the+shakes.CR2" height="602" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Shakes Portion of the Menu</span></b></td></tr>
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Moving on to the much awaited milkshakes, the menu will confuse you. The menu isn't confusing but the reason for the confusion is the amazing flavours Shakeism has to offer (photograph above). I took a good 5-7 minutes to decide what to try. After some help from Muhammad, I settled for The Cheesecake Killer.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tqmAFQc5h7Y/UjDP0BijpUI/AAAAAAAACY8/mykvkFpxks4/s1600/IMG_6724.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tqmAFQc5h7Y/UjDP0BijpUI/AAAAAAAACY8/mykvkFpxks4/s640/IMG_6724.CR2.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Cheesecake Killer</span></b></td></tr>
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The Cheescake Killer lived up to its name. The flavour of Cheesecake was quite evident. The milkshake was thick (just the way it is supposed to be) and tasted good. The milkshake is pretty heavy and fills you up. Discussion with Muhammad revealed that other than the milkshakes on the menu, Shakeism tries to innovate every now and then by introducing new flavours. Flavour of the week as they call it, has included the likes of Karak Shake and Black Forest Cake Shake.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc1F-omHaQU/UjDSd85CGCI/AAAAAAAACZU/hlSEry47RHQ/s1600/IMG_6736.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc1F-omHaQU/UjDSd85CGCI/AAAAAAAACZU/hlSEry47RHQ/s640/IMG_6736.CR2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Nutella Waffle with Vanilla Ice Cream</span></b></td></tr>
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An item on the menu that caught my attention was Waffles. This was an easy pick for me as I went for the Nutella waffle. I avoided any toppings (though I feel I should have tried them) but did add vanilla ice cream to the order. The waffle was delicious though a little less crispy probably due to the warm Nutella on it. However, the highlight for the night was the Vanilla ice cream. I am not a great fan of ice cream but do enjoy having a scoop once in a while. The Vanilla ice cream was amazing and it was one of the best I have ever tasted.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8lfAGus7gjQ/UjDMO1Y3dTI/AAAAAAAACY0/fQuRMLAV6e8/s1600/IMG_6725.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8lfAGus7gjQ/UjDMO1Y3dTI/AAAAAAAACY0/fQuRMLAV6e8/s640/IMG_6725.CR2.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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I have always had a keen interest in trying food from places where the owner treats the business as his/her baby. The reason for this is that such individuals tend to put in their heart and soul into every bit of work they do. They also value feedback and constantly improve in order to deliver quality. Shakeism Milkshakes is one of those places. I am glad that I managed to visit it or else I would have never discovered a place that makes amazing milkshakes.<br />
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<u><b>Details:</b></u><br />
<b>Food Outlet </b>Shakeism Milkshakes<br />
<b>Serves </b>Milkshakes, Smoothies, Waffles etc.<br />
<b>Facebook </b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShakeismUAE">https://www.facebook.com/ShakeismUAE</a><br />
<b>Location</b> Behind Ramada Chelsea Hotel, Near Mall of the Emirates, Barsha 1, Dubai<br />
<b>For Further details</b> <a href="http://www.zomato.com/dubai/shakeism-milkshakes-barsha-1">http://www.zomato.com/dubai/shakeism-milkshakes-barsha-1</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-46035487217187831512013-09-05T02:29:00.000+04:002013-09-05T02:38:33.254+04:00Movie Review: We're The Millers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Get ready to laugh your hearts out as Jason Sudeikis teams up with Jennifer Aniston once again after the success of Horrible Bosses. However this time around, they also have Emma Roberts and Will Poulter as a part of their team. We're the Millers is a 15+ comedy movie directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, who is known for his 2004 success Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMXAjIJIIMg/Uieup3PsPSI/AAAAAAAACXo/uFkcp_7fCJo/s1600/were-the-millers-poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eMXAjIJIIMg/Uieup3PsPSI/AAAAAAAACXo/uFkcp_7fCJo/s640/were-the-millers-poster.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Source: Rope of Silicon</b></span></td></tr>
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David Clark (Jason Sudeikis) is a small pot dealer who goes around town selling weed with the weirdest names one can think of. He keeps a low profile to stay away from trouble and has some morality if you may say when it comes to drug dealing. He does not deal with kids. Jeniffer Aniston plays the character of Rose'O Reilly, a neighbour of David Clark. Rose works as a stripper and has a problematic life when it comes to finances.</div>
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Will Poulter plays Kenny Rossmore, a kid who resides in the same building as David. Will's problem is his behaviour with girls. Will gets nervous whenever he comes in front of girls and does not know how to react. Casey Mathis (played by Emma Roberts) is a homeless girl who has presumably runaway from her house. She roams the streets during day time and crashes at her friends' houses at nights.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7L3S-UznZJg/UiewzHqrxHI/AAAAAAAACX0/Ie-A6Wmnv9A/s1600/we-re-the-millers-picture05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7L3S-UznZJg/UiewzHqrxHI/AAAAAAAACX0/Ie-A6Wmnv9A/s640/we-re-the-millers-picture05.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A shot from the movie with all four leads (Source: Madison Movie)</span></b></td></tr>
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Things go wrong when Casey encounters thugs and Will jumps in to save her. Will not being the strongest of kids is no match for the thugs. Eventually David steps in to save both Casey and Will. It is due to this encounter that David's apartment is raided and all his cash and drugs are taken away.</div>
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The stolen money belongs to Brad Gurdlinger (played by Ed Helms) who gives David a chance to save his life by smuggling drugs from Mexico to USA. David being in a tight spot accepts the offer. What follows is a crazy plan for smuggling the drugs. David, Rose, Kenny and Casey come together to act as the Miller family in order to make the plan a success and get their cut.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h3FpDTFS6TM/Uiew_cfP_xI/AAAAAAAACYA/-v8XNg2NjjQ/s1600/we-re-the-millers-image08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h3FpDTFS6TM/Uiew_cfP_xI/AAAAAAAACYA/-v8XNg2NjjQ/s640/we-re-the-millers-image08.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">The Millers run into a Mexican Cop (Source: Ace Showbiz)</span></b></td></tr>
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During the course of the trip, various characters are introduced and the Millers go through lots of ups and downs. Some of the characters that make their mark include Nick Offerman as Don Fitzgerald and Matthew Willig as One-Eye. It is during the trip that the four main characters start bonding and caring for each other.<br />
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The trip is fun and with the involvement of a spider, another family on a trip to Mexico and a Mexican mafia who is out to get his drug stock back, it just gets crazier. There are plenty of hilarious scenes in the movie and most of the jokes are adult jokes, which is pretty much expected given the movie's rating.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1DgCvqmMVww/Uieyblv8RrI/AAAAAAAACYY/JH80z-8UrAg/s1600/Were-The-Millers-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1DgCvqmMVww/Uieyblv8RrI/AAAAAAAACYY/JH80z-8UrAg/s640/Were-The-Millers-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Reacting to an accident (Source: Black Film)</span></b></td></tr>
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Jason Sudeikis and Jennifer Aniston do justice to their resepective roles. Emma Roberts has also managed to give a good performance in the movie. However, English actor Will Poulter steals the show. The character of Will is a well written one and he has ensured to give his best.<br />
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With a runtime of just under 2 hours, the movie is just about the correct length. We're The Millers is recommended if you are looking to release some stress and have a good laugh.<br />
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<b>Rating:</b> 8/10<br />
<b>Runtime:</b> 110 minutes<br />
<b>Trailer:</b> <a href="http://youtu.be/0Vsy5KzsieQ" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/0Vsy5KzsieQ</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-65700901678771557072013-09-04T03:46:00.002+04:002013-09-12T01:27:34.329+04:00Food Review: Bennigan's, The Dubai Mall<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I was recently invited to Bennigan's at The Dubai Mall to try the delicious food and have an amazing F1 racing experience as a part of the "All You Can Eat Beef" promotion. The promotion allows one to have as much beef as one can for AED 95. </div>
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On my arrival, I was greeted by the staff. As I settled down at my table, my host Vergel arrived to welcome me along with Chef Khaled. I spoke to Chef Khaled about the promotion and he asked me about my beef preference. After a short conversation, the Chef bid farewell and went back to the kitchen to perform his magic of cooking.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JX_4T0OOcv0/UiXwwABA0hI/AAAAAAAACWo/mHXkSpbXNvY/s1600/IMG_6700.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JX_4T0OOcv0/UiXwwABA0hI/AAAAAAAACWo/mHXkSpbXNvY/s640/IMG_6700.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">From left to right: Olive Paste and Butter</span></b></td></tr>
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Vergel helped me through my order and then brought over some bread, along with kettle cooked chips. The bread was served with Butter and Olive paste. The bread was fresh and soft while the Olive paste was smooth and tasted delicious. The best thing about the Olive paste was its strong flavour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2EVzCMwNVsI/UiXuc-S-kbI/AAAAAAAACWU/xCC5uW996pY/s1600/Chips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2EVzCMwNVsI/UiXuc-S-kbI/AAAAAAAACWU/xCC5uW996pY/s640/Chips.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Kettle Cooked Chips with Cheese Dip</span></b></td></tr>
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The Kettle cooked chips were served with a cheese dip. Not only were the chips tasty but they were pretty crisp. It has been some time since I have had chips that were so crisp. I had to stop myself from eating too many of them in order to keep some space for the main course.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U9Yh7Jf64Oo/UiXybylBY0I/AAAAAAAACW8/Lsr0hxnWY_M/s1600/Passion+Fruit+Mojito.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U9Yh7Jf64Oo/UiXybylBY0I/AAAAAAAACW8/Lsr0hxnWY_M/s640/Passion+Fruit+Mojito.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Peach Mojito</span></b></td></tr>
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Next on was the Peach Mojito. I have always liked Mojitos and my favourite flavours are Strawberry and Peach. Bennigan's ensured that it did not disappoint me by making an amazing Peach Mojito. It was the perfect drink to go along with my order of "All You Can Eat Beef" meal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjxVm-9yQ0M/UiXuntCZLcI/AAAAAAAACWc/-Yf6FG3d6dU/s1600/IMG_6704.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AjxVm-9yQ0M/UiXuntCZLcI/AAAAAAAACWc/-Yf6FG3d6dU/s640/IMG_6704.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: justify;"><b>All You Can Eat Beef meal</b></span></td></tr>
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As my order for "All You Can Eat Beef" was placed on my table, I knew that this meal would be a test my appetite. The meal portion is large and therefore filling. I ordered my beef with a mushroom sauce (you can order a sauce of your choice from a given list), while French fries and grilled vegetables are served as sides with the order.<br />
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The beef was well cooked, tasty and the meat had that bit of juice in it. The Mushroom sauce was amazing due to the fact that it had mushroom pieces in it. It was not one of those ordinary sauces that only have a mushroom flavour to it. I truly loved the sauce. The combination of the sauce and the beef was impressive. Grilled vegetables were fresh and tasted good. Similarly, the French fries were pretty good.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VIpAI_iYOGA/UiXxYJppkRI/AAAAAAAACWw/a3xlLrSCCiQ/s1600/Molten+chocolate+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VIpAI_iYOGA/UiXxYJppkRI/AAAAAAAACWw/a3xlLrSCCiQ/s640/Molten+chocolate+cake.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Molten Cake</span></b></td></tr>
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Even though I was pretty much full after my meal, I could not let go of a chance to taste a dessert. Vergel recommended the Molten cake. Being a chocoholic, I agreed to him and waited for my order. The Molten cake was the best part of my meal. The ice cream, the chocolate, the cream topping on the ice-cream, the caramel and the chocolate syrup together resulted in a happy me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uwCoXgQ9lO8/UiZveDMCqlI/AAAAAAAACXU/pOofyx1ykc0/s1600/IMG_6717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uwCoXgQ9lO8/UiZveDMCqlI/AAAAAAAACXU/pOofyx1ykc0/s640/IMG_6717.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">F1 Simulation Game for a F1 experience</span></b></td></tr>
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One would be happy with this experience but this was not all. As mentioned earlier, the "All You Can Eat Beef" promotion comes along with a F1 experience called "Beat the Bull Challenge". To be a part of the F1 experience, you need to be above 21 years old.<br />
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The promotion allows you to enjoy a F1 simulation game. This is something new, as I have never seen a restaurant come up with such an innovative idea.<br />
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One needs to just sit down in front simulator designed to have a feel of a F1 car, starting from that steering wheel to those high speeds and changing of gears using your hands. The first lap is a practice lap so that get the basics of how to drive the car. It is during this lap that a staff member guides you throw the process of driving the car. After this you can enjoy the next lap while you try to beat the time of 2 minutes and 10 seconds (I managed 2 minutes and 12 seconds).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPiiUPt1S4k/UiXy_VF0S6I/AAAAAAAACXE/bvYffOqaURA/s1600/IMG_6720.CR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cPiiUPt1S4k/UiXy_VF0S6I/AAAAAAAACXE/bvYffOqaURA/s640/IMG_6720.CR2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Overall my experience was a good one. The "All You Can Eat Beef" promotion is definitely worth a try. Everything starting from the service to the food and the F1 experience with the simulator was just about right. As I was about to leave, I was invited over for a click with the friendly staff. I am pretty sure that after this experience, I shall be visiting Bennigan's again real soon.<br />
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<u><b>Details:</b></u><br />
<b>Restaurant</b> Bennigan's<br />
<b>Cuisine</b> American<br />
<b>Website </b> <a href="http://www.bennigans.ae/">http://www.bennigans.ae/</a><br />
<b>Facebook </b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BennigansUae">https://www.facebook.com/BennigansUae</a><br />
<b>Twitter </b> <a href="https://twitter.com/BennigansUAE">https://twitter.com/BennigansUAE</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084538057712486903.post-89763604320962778682013-08-17T02:26:00.001+04:002013-08-17T23:03:25.494+04:00Movie Review: The Wolverine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Enough of these crazy Sci-fi and action movies; these are the thoughts that came to my mind when I sat down to watch the Wolverine. It wasn't long before I realised that there is a lot of good quality action that was yet to be seen. X-Men and Marvel are back with their second instalment on the Wolverine, by far the favourite mutant of many.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ufnvmjU1KE/Ug5DYt5raUI/AAAAAAAACVI/zbIelB3JMbY/s1600/the_wolverine_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9ufnvmjU1KE/Ug5DYt5raUI/AAAAAAAACVI/zbIelB3JMbY/s640/the_wolverine_2013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(Source: Carycitizen)</span></b></td></tr>
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This very instalment of the Wolverine is linked to a few of the previous X-men movies and it wouldn't harm one to be up to date with the previous movies. The Wolverine takes us to the life of Logan post the Last stand. Given the fact that Logan cannot die <span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">(something we learnt in X-Men Origins: Wolverine)</span>, he has been forced to live a lonely life, away from friends and love. To add to the pain, Logan has regular nightmares with Jean Grey (played by Famke Janessen) in it. Logan blames himself for the death of Jean and every passing day for him brings nothing but pain.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbFI2cE3ECU/Ug5G2tmHEdI/AAAAAAAACVo/q8_6nCfIlzM/s1600/the-wolverine-hugh-jackman-new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fbFI2cE3ECU/Ug5G2tmHEdI/AAAAAAAACVo/q8_6nCfIlzM/s640/the-wolverine-hugh-jackman-new.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">All set to attack (Source: Cloudfront.net)</span></b></td></tr>
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As the story moves forward, new characters are revealed. Logan had saved the life of a soldier named Yashida (played by Hal Yamanouchi), a number of years ago whose last wish is to meet Logan before he dies. Yukio (played by Rila Fukushima) meets Logan and convinces him to come to Japan with her, in order to meet Yashida.</div>
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The remainder of the movie is based in Japan itself. Yashida, thanks Logan for saving his life and offers to help him out. Yashida tells Logan that he understands the pain of living alone and he could help Logan. Yashida offers to take away Logan's powers and make him mortal. Will Logan accept this offer? This is something you will have to find out for yourself. </div>
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It is in Japan that Logan meets Mariko (played by Tao Okamoto), the grand daughter of Yashida. Yashida tells Logan that he is concerned for his grand daughter. Being the superhero he is, Logan steps up to protect Mariko. As the story progresses, Logan and Mariko get closer to each other. He goes to the extreme in order to protect Mariko without caring for his own self. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G5n8ZVpHM_I/Ug5Gxaan7kI/AAAAAAAACVY/AShQ0auUEmQ/s1600/WolverineFuneralAW-620x349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G5n8ZVpHM_I/Ug5Gxaan7kI/AAAAAAAACVY/AShQ0auUEmQ/s640/WolverineFuneralAW-620x349.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Yukio and Logan (Source: TheAge)</span></b></td></tr>
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The movie introduces us to another mutant Viper (played by Svetlana Khodchenkova). Viper being a mutant herself has plans in mind to destroy Wolverine but she isn't the only one behind him. The movie moves from action sequences on the streets of Japan to a high speed bullet train and eventually to the Yashida's residence protected by Ninjas. </div>
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The good thing about this movie is the focus on the storyline and the no nonsense action. There are no buildings blowing up due to alien attacks or missiles creating havoc and destroying cities. Yes, we are back to gold old fist fight (or claw fight since its The Wolverine) action with a bit of sci fi flavour added to it. The action sequence shot on top of the bullet train is worth watching. So is the scene where the Wolverine takes on a number of Ninjas alone.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NnE6BhK_YeE/Ug5G_5CieoI/AAAAAAAACVw/kRiOk6NsvAQ/s1600/The-Wolverine-Viper-Logan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="526" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NnE6BhK_YeE/Ug5G_5CieoI/AAAAAAAACVw/kRiOk6NsvAQ/s640/The-Wolverine-Viper-Logan.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Viper and the Wolverine (Source: Edgecastcdn.net)</span></b></td></tr>
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Hugh Jackman as Wolverine is good as usual, while Tao Okamoto as Mariko manages her part well. As far as the supporting cast is concerned, the best performance is by Rila Fukushima. Svetlana Khodchenkova as Viper fails to impress, while Hiroyuki Sanada as Shingen and Will Yun Lee as Harada are just about fine. Famke Janssen appears in different parts of the movie as Jean Grey but does not have any major contribution whatsoever. </div>
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On the whole, this X-Men movie is different from any of its predecessors. The storyline is decent, so are the performances. As mentioned earlier, the best part of the movie for me are the raw action sequences. All you need to do is sit back and enjoy the movie. Make sure to stay on your seats till the credits get over (remember its a Marvel movie); there is something post credits that you will not want to miss.<br />
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<b>Rating: </b>7/10</div>
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<b>Runtime:</b> 126 mins.<br />
<b>Trailer: </b><a href="http://youtu.be/Rh1LdTFkm7I">http://youtu.be/Rh1LdTFkm7I</a> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08733259175879319087noreply@blogger.com0