Weekly A to Z, November 11th.

On Saturday, I was finally able to try Chef Dabiz’s (very delicious) food. Ahead of his launch in Dubai, this collaboration with the La Mar team at Royal Atlantis was a treat. Catch my meal here! #invited

Monday was K9 (dog walking is back!), and Tuesday, we were on set at Rhodes W1 Dubai to film an incredible episode of Dubai byFood featuring some of the best dishes from Chef Gary Rhodes’s career. Available in early 2024, the Legacy menu is going to be something truly special. Having unique insight from Chef Gary’s son Sam, I cannot wait to share this video with you. Also, in case you need an excuse to visit, the bar team whipped up a batch of delicious Sticky Toffee Martinis, and I’m more than ready to see this trendy cocktail spread across the world.

On Wednesday, I was over to the Specialty Food Festival to judge the Youth X cooking event. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the teams from Jumeirah, Ossiano, Kempinksi the Palm, and SLS put up truly incredible food (in an hour!!!), making our job as judges incredibly difficult. So difficult, in fact, that there was a tie! Although it was a challenging decision, I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

On Thursday, I was delighted to attend MMI’s Big Taste and try numerous versatile and amazing wines. Speaking with global winemakers and getting a peak into some of the brands in the Le Clos range was an excellent way to spend the evening. #invited

Some deliveries? Yes, couriers are actually able to find their way out to the edge of Dubai (even if Deliveroo isn’t available here). The team from Mina’s Kitchen at the Westin Mina Seyahi is kicking off a new Bubblaicious and gifted a beautiful set of champagne glasses. BonBird used my workaround to get me some of their delicious food (to PR friends, Eric’s office in JLT, and he is happy to act as a courier). And finally, Brooklyn Creamery sent over a range of delicious frozen vegan treats. #gifted

Links, please.

• A lot of wonderful and talented chefs are involved in this Gather for Gaza taking place at BOCA this coming Monday. Buy your ticket here!Dalia is also doing an event at Zinn.
• Love this initiative from Dibba Bay.
• Protecting your mental health is not the same as looking away. Playing with Fire
• Did Michelin play it safe in the States? Grub Street
• The best friendship on the internet (and you can be a part of it). AFAR
• The contradictions of fine dining. Vox
• I’m here for the third wave Cosmopolitan. Punch
• How much coffee is too much coffee? NYT
• Have we hit peak beverage? Taste
• Fully nesting over here in the new villa: why do I have cords EVERYWHERE, and why am I so into this cable management box? EtsyAnd this croissant candle. OveroseAnd this coupe. Amber InteriorsAnd this salt. Wellspent MarketAnd these bespoke matches. For Your Party
• Can cheese predict the future? Eater
• Can someone make me these cream cheese cookies? King Arthur Baking
• Why $ aren’t on menus. Tasting Table
• Ready for Thanksgiving pizza. (Thank you, Erin!) GMA
• The supply chain for modern witches. Ambrose
• Food advent kennel calendars that are worth it. Eater
• I would love to be a Pop Tart taster. NYT
• Always ready for some little luxuries. Modern Mrs. Darcy
• We are cooking less at home. Axios
• And casual chains are back, baby! Eater
• Oprah got a few things right on her list this year, including this cheese. Amazon
• After moving, I’m feeling this decluttering article. Be More With Less
• The story of Erewhon. The Cut
• I am going to make this tomato soup pot pie soon. How Sweet Eats
• Talk to me about espresso martini glitter bombs. Tasting Table
• We’re all on borrowed time. Washington Post
• Good (specific) friends. I’m lucky to have a lot of them! Shondaland
• Constant Contact has been quietly revolutionizing the email marketing and CRM industry. With cutting-edge technology, they’ve been incorporating AI automation into their platform for years, making it easier for customers to create and send highly targeted and effective campaigns. #sponsored

This weekend? House stuff. There are (conservatively) 24125 things I want to do or buy. I know we have the luxury of time, but of course, I want to do them all at once. We’re also introducing Poppy to the team at My Second Home and maybe sneaking over to TopGolf, as they are launching a new gastropub experience.

Next week? A little less hectic. I’ll be over to O&O for a special dinner with Mauro Colegreco, and the Healthy Home team is coming over to do a big clean (between this appointment and my new Dyson, I’m living my best life).

Finally, as we move into the giving season, I would love a few more paid subscribers. I hate asking, and I know there are lots of other ways you could spend $5 a month, but if you like these emails and want to support my work AND get regular restaurant reviews, sign up for a paid subscription, please, and thank you. Paid subscribers also get full access to the archives.