About Boy Dubai - Page 46 of 80 - Boy Dubai: Experiencing Dubai

Pandemonium at Jollibee’s first day in Dubai Mall

Ion

-

May 5, 2015

Photo by Karen Ibardaloza Reazon Llaneta on Facebook

It’s not a new iPhone launch, or new Jordan shoes. Nope, not One Direction too. There’s a new attraction in Dubai and it’s raking fans and curious expats by storm.

Jollibee opens it’s first store in the UAE at the Dubai Mall. As expected, die-hard fans trooped and had a camping in the queue for hours… Seriously. People power in the mall!

“Pag may tyaga, may chickenjoy.”

Other nationalities might be wondering what’s up with that bee in the corner. It occupied the spaces for KFC and other fastfood within the area.

Jollibee is the undisputed king of fast food in the Philippines. It’s an icon. It popularly topples McDonalds back home which is very rare among other countries.

More than the “langhap sarap” (deliciously enticing) food, it’s the culture of Jollibee that these Filipino expats are queueing for. The fast food is also close to the hearts of many. It’s where we had our first dining out experience, first fried chicken, first date, proposals, victory parties, birthday parties, and blowout parties when we receive honors in school.

Photo by Dennis Borja Mallari on Facebook

Many Filipinos in Dubai grew up with Jollibee affixed to their gastronomic culture. And that’s the very reason why they defy the leg pain and cramps of queueing.

It’s just Monday. Weekend would be chaos.

Photo by The Filipino Times on Facebook

So, got patience? Head down to Dubai Mall foodcourt and order your favorite chickenjoy, or burger steak or jolly hotdog. Please bring also determination and extreme physical composure to stand for 2 to 6 hours. You might want to have a bite of KFC or McDonalds so you won’t get hungry on the queue… 😛

Taste? I still have to try it myself, but based on people’s posts, it’s as good as the one we love.

I hope the service crews didn’t forget to breath. Man, define non-stop.

KFC delivers by helicopter to Dubai beach goers

Food Trip

Ion

-

April 25, 2015

0

screencap from the video

There’s really nothing that this city cannot do. Well, KFC on this one, surprised beach goers at Jumeirah Kite Beach with a giant bucket delivery by a helicopter.

#KFCFlyingBucket was able to hand out 3000 sandwiches and Twister wraps to the crowd.

Truly, the taste that meets you anywhere.

What’s next?

Where to watch Pacquiao vs. Mayweather live streaming in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah

Ion

-

April 16, 2015

1

Have you filed your leave yet? Or have you notified your boss that you’ll be late on May 3?

Well, here’s a reason to do so…

Select Novo Cinemas will be screening the biggest boxing event in recent time dubbed as Fight of the Century.

Mayweather versus Pacquiao… No, it’s actually Floyd Mayweather versus The Filipinos!

Pre-matches begin 5am and the mega fight is expected to be finished by 9am at the following cinemas:

1. Dubai Cineplex (near Grand Hyatt)
2. Ibn Battuta Mall, IMAX
3. Al Ghurair Centre
4. Dubai Festival City
5. Abu Dhabi World Trade Centre Mall
6. Sharjah Mega Mall

Tickets cost AED99 including breakfast – probably the first time for any Dubai movie house to offer breakfast.

I can imagine how much fun it is to be on the big screen with fellow fans – one in screaming, one in cheering, and hopefully, one in celebrating. #OneForManny

You can purchase tickets online at novocinemas.com or at any Novo Cinemas box office.

Boracay Night Club in Asiana Hotel also offers live streaming for only AED88 per person inclusive of breakfast in Lamesa Restaurant. Click here for reservations.

Other venues include:

Club Seven in Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Karama
AED80 with breakfast / first come first serve
Click here for more info

Gloria Hotel (c/o some Sports Ministry)
Near Dubai Internet City Metro Station

AED50 with breakfast

Click here for the Facebook event page

Original Wings and Rings at Liberty Tower, DIFC

AED 150 (Buffalo Breakfast)

Click here for more info

Fibber Magee’s at Saeed Tower One, Sheikh Zayed Road

AED 50 with breakfast and soft drinks

Click here for more info

If being in a cinema or in a restaurant at 5am is not your thing, then why not throw a house party? TFC.tv will also live broadcast the match for AED125 (USD34) at the comfort of your couch. “Yun nga lang, sagot mo ang food.” How about a Saturday slumber party? Wake up as early as 4am and prepare a breakfast party for Manny.

Also available on Etisalat eLife TV and du. OSN will also live broadcast for the same price, including 3 replays throughout the day.

du just announced that it will broadcast the fight uninterrupted to its subscribers for free. Tune it to channel 500 from 5am Sunday.

There are more plans of live streaming in many hotels and restaurants across the country. Keep an eye on this blog and I will confirm the other locations soon.

Clarita de Quiroz releases first solo album

Entertainment

Ion

-

April 16, 2015

0

Dubai-based singer and songwriter Clarita de Quiroz released her first solo album, titled ‘Speak.Delete.Repeat.’, on April 14 under Sony Music. The hypnotic album with 12 tracks features hit singles, including ‘Blanket of Secrets’, ‘Broken’ and ‘Addicted’.

Her fascinating voice tells stories of recent events in her life, through mesmerizing vocal and piano solo tracks. The UAE-born artist has composed most of the music on the new album and co-written the songs with Dubai-based Scottish singer/songwriter, Mike Ross.

“My biggest passion in life is instrumental music. After a year of working on this album, I can say it is a true reflection of myself,” said De Quiroz. “Being in Dubai, with the opportunities it offers, has helped me progress and get this far. I think Dubai brings together talented musicians, creative teams and the big music labels. That’s definitely been one of its many successes.”

The album will be available across music stores in the Middle East and globally on all digital service providers starting today.

She performed a number of tracks during the album’s invite-only launch event on April 12 at OKKU restaurant.

A former collaborator with fellow Scot and multiple award-winner, Emeli Sandé, Clarita has previously released an electronic dance album in collaboration with the band ‘SickAsSwans’ in 2012, with the album reaching No. 1 in the UAE.

Photo from claritadequiroz.com

About Clarita
Clarita de Quiroz was born in Abu Dhabi to Filipino-Spanish and Dutch-Irish parents and has spent the vast majority of her life in Scotland.

“I know it’s quite a mix of nationalities, but I’ve always considered myself to be more than a wee bit Scottish. It’s home; it always has been.”

She is a child of the 80s, although her music doesn’t reflect that. She has been influenced by such a wide variety of artists and genres that pigeon-holing the album has been almost impossible. With influences from all over the musical diaspora, her album has smatterings of Pop, R&B and Soul all glued together with lilting instrumental pieces that echo the piano works of her favorite Classical composers.

Residing in Dubai, she has also made a successful career as an international commercial and beauty model since 2008, and appeared in the feature film, ‘City of Life’ and Dubai Global Tourism Commercials. Her performances and supporting artist performances include: Sir Elton John, Roger Sanchez, Macy Gray, Kelly Roland, Gabrielle and the Sugababes.

Expo 2020 Dubai logo design competition

News

Ion

-

April 9, 2015

0

“Design the new logo for Expo 2020. Make your mark on our history.”

The government of Dubai has launched a competition that gives all creative-minded UAE residents a rare chance to become part of the biggest event in the country’s history. Click here or go to www.expo2020dubai.ae to join.

Apparently, this logo was only used during the bid campaign.

The winning design will become the official emblem for Expo 2020. It will be the heart and soul of the event’s look and feel and be seen by millions of people across the globe.

The designer of the winning logo will receive the following prizes and privileges:
– AED 100,000 cash
– Trip for 4 to any three previous cities that hosted the last World Expos
– Season pass for 2 to Expo 2020
– Invitation to the official opening ceremony

How to join?
Any UAE local and expat resident can join the competition as long as you have a valid Emirates ID as you will need to provide your EID number when you register. If you’re under 18 years old, a parent, guardian or caregiver may make an entry on your behalf.

One registered account cannot submit more than one entry.

Entries must be in JPG, PNG or PDF format and not larger than 5MB in file size. You have to explain the design concept in not more than 1000 words – justify its relevance to the theme “Connecting Minds,Creating the Future”.

Deadline of submission is 11:59:59 pm (AST) 30th April 2015.

I’m in. You?

Here are the previous World Expo logos that may (~~or may not~~) help you build your concept:

World Expo Kazakhstan (unofficial as of today)

World Expo Milan Italy logo

World Expo Shanghai China logo

World Expo Yeosu Korea logo

World Expo Zaragoza Spain logo

Dampa Seafood Grill, the newest fancy restaurant many Filipinos in Dubai will love

Food Trip

Ion

-

April 5, 2015

10

Is it a franchise of ‘Dampa‘ in the Philippines? I asked one of the owners.

No.

Dampa in Filipino refers to a small hut or “kubo” mostly made of dried coconut leaves, which until today, many houses by the seashore are built of. The popular Dampa in Manila actually refers to the place where customers choose and buy live or raw seafoods and bring them to a dampa to be cooked.

So the restaurant here has no relation to that area in Manila. In fact, Zomato defined Dampa as one of its food collection categories in the Philippines.

View from the second level

Dubai’s Dampa Seafood Grill is a casual, semi-industrial, fashionable restaurant with a very inviting ambiance that appeals to massive diners and seafood devotees.

It is located at Centurion Star Building, behind Day to Day in Deira City Centre Metro Station.

This slightly dim-lit restaurant has two floor levels, the second having fewer tables though. There are wax papers on top of wooden tables, and a recycled oats tin can as container for seafood utensils like hammers, crackers and forks. Cool concept!

Appetizing mildy spiced prawn crackers

I allowed our server to recommend the best of the best items on their enticing menu, as he served crunchy prawn crackers to munch on while we wait.

Fish Bowl Mocktails
Lindsay Lohan came with Sex Appeal. Wait, those are just names of the mocktails. We also had Incredible Hulk and Amaretto Sunset. Oh yeah, 1 liter of mocktails on fish bowl! FISH BOWL! How cool is that… (2 liters also available)

Lindsay Lohan‘s flavor suits me – it’s a good blend of passion fruit, pineapple and soda. I had a little Sex Appeal too – brewed iced tea with peach, fresh lemon and grenadine syrup – the peach is kinda strong on this one. Incredible Hulk is a cucumber and mint mojito – good green combo. Amaretto Sunset has a traditional amaretto flavor (apricot-ty) with mango, cranberry and fresh lemon.

Dump-a-seafeast
Freshly-cooked seafood jumped their way from a huge bowl to the table. Juicy crabs, good-sized shrimps, mussels and little clams with corn on cobs in savory Chipotle butter sauce was literally dumped into our table. That signals us to put our gloves on. What happened next was not just a feast… it’s a seafood festival!

The unlimited rice started.

The combination of sweet and mild spicy flavor is perfect with the rice. “Sarap magkamay!” as they say when you’re totally enjoying the food – in English, it’s best to eat with bare hands.

Big pieces of tasty, mouthwatering Baked Mussels covered with cheeeeeese and butter was served on a mini wok. The size is perfect for four since we’re still on the seafeast when this came to the table.

Rice pa please!

Then the Cajun Shrimps. Twelve pieces of good-sized mildly spicy, buttery and succulent shrimps. The amount of sauce in it was very favorable as we love to dip the shrimps into it even more. My mom said it’s like a posh-version of Halabos – cajun flavored.

Rice pa please!

I’m not really a fan of squids, except deep fried Calamares. But Dampa’s Grilled Squid changed that. See the photo above? How can I refuse a dish that’s seriously inviting? True enough, it was so good, really good. The meat is tender and There’s no stench taste in it. The way it was subtly grilled have probably helped it. The soy with onions dip matches well.

Rice pa please!

If it smells like fish, eat it. Nice!

We’re very much delighted on all the flavors we’ve tried. Rich in taste, plus the presentation is quite unique. Great service, everybody happy.

There’s really a lot more to try. Next time I’ll make sure not to pass on the mango bravo.

Have a look at the other tempting items on their menu (from their Facebook Page). You can call 04 299 0884 for bookings or more inquiry. They currently operate from 1:00pm to 10:00pm seven days a week.

I think I just found one of the fast-becoming most loved restaurants of the year.

Photos: Sandstorm in Dubai puts it in sepia, #NoFilter

News

Ion

-

April 3, 2015

0

screencap from Youtube

Did you see black and blue or white and gold?

This overwhelming sandstorm covered the city of gold, with thousand kilos of, well, golden dust.

Sandstorms happen during spring or summer season – usually at the turn of a season. A low pressure area develops over the UAE forcing strong north-westerly winds to blow from Saudi Arabia to the emirates. These winds, also known as Shamal (north) in Arabic, become gusty and unpredictable on reaching Dubai. Shamal boost up the desert sand, hence the golden color, and reduce visibility. They may last for several days.

The sandstorm yesterday literally put Dubai in sepia and the #NoFilter hashtag became a trending topic. Bet Instagram could use ‘Dubai’ as one of its photo filters huh.

So I browsed for some photos posted online via Google Image search and here sharing you some of good snaps:

from Ahram Online

from BBC / Getty Images

from Pinterest

from Reuters

from Masala

from Straitstimes

The Filipinos unconditional love for basketball

Ion

-

March 25, 2015

0

ILLUSTRADO – While many turn off their alarms on Friday mornings, the Mahatta Park boys set it at 5am. Regardless if we had a long Thursday night, we want to be in the court by 6am.

It’s a breezy 16 degrees Celsius cold. Many come in hoodies, shorts and Jordans. The fog slowly fading out from the small court in the middle of towering apartments.

It’s the league’s offseason. We come to play tune-up games. One team wears 10 different jerseys – there’s a Kobe Bryant Lakers jersey, a Kevin Durant, several Lebron James, and Michael Jordans of course. There’s also Calvin Abueva, a Barangay Ginebra, and a Gilas Pilipinas warmer too. Some even wear arm sleeves and compression shorts.

But unlike the streetball in the Philippines, there are no flip-flops. There are also no “ice-water.” Instead, we have bottled water and gatorades. Medyo level-up dito, may pandesal pa.

And… to make sure the wives are happy, some of the players bring them and the kids along.

Chairman Emil Casinillo (left) and the ageless playing coach Alfredo Magtoto (3rd from left) with Team Hustler

The barakos come from all ages. There’s a rookie at the age of 36. There’s also playing-coach Magtoto, as what everybody calls him. He plays like 26 but when I asked, he revealed that he’s already 66. SIXTY-SIX man! I asked his secret of still keeping up to the game, he shared that he’d rather exercise than watch TV, eat and sleep in the couch. Mang Alfredo, who also loves badminton, said his grandchildren inspire him to stay active.

I had a chat with Emil, the chairman of the league, about its history. He told me about the joys and the pains of starting the league, with Andy, Leo and the rest of the soon-to-be committee. I was amazed by their goals. Emil, despite having a very challenging schedule at work, still manages to get things organized and delegated to the group.

It’s all about having fun

The idea of having a community league started when they saw the growing number of Filipinos coming to the park to play. They formed a committee that planned to create a venue for basketball enthusiasts not just to sweat it out, but to develop camaraderie and eventually become a community, regardless of the kind of work we do and the lifestyle we have, as long as we hail from any of the 7,107 islands of the Philippines.

But there’s a criteria to join. In addition to be living within or nearby Mahatta, one must be within the 5’9” height limit, and he must not be a superstar. Yes. This is all about having fun and not about showcasing one’s superiority of the game. “Papawis lang mga sir,” as we call it.

True enough, we’re just sweating it out… in a court that also has lines for a football game, no shaded lane, no free throw line, where the backboard of the ring is rounded like that of a toddler’s toy… shooters still gonna shoot, dribblers a’gonna break legs of their defenders.

Team Rebels

There’s always laughter, inspiration and friendship across the 10-team league. It’s great to have a physical activity that relieves us from the stress of work and the challenges of being OFWs – the reasons that also encouraged me to join the Team Rebels from an invitation of my friend Ronilo. It’s also an opportunity for me to get back in shape. It feels even better knowing that you belong in a group that promotes a support system for each other, anong height mo pa.

Truly, we are the hopeless romantics of basketball. We breathe basketball wherever in the world we may be.

The Mahatta Pinoy Basketball League is not just a league, it’s a brotherhood.

Slider Station opens at The Galleria Mall Dubai

Food Trip

Ion

-

March 20, 2015

1

This posh restaurant is now open at The Galleria Mall in Jumeirah.

Few days before its official launch, we were invited to an exclusive VIP pre-opening event of Slider Station – the first conveyor belt burger joint in the world.

…It is the brain child of Basil Al Salem from Kuwait, the creator of b+f Burger Boutique, b+f Open Flame Kitchen and b+f Roadside Diner. Spun off and created from the sliders idea of Burger Boutique, Slider Station takes on the concept of an American Gas Station in the 40s. This “industrial chic” restaurant specializes in classic and gourmet sliders as well as a wide range of American tapas, grills, innovative salads and freshly prepared high end desserts…

It was a fantastic night! True to its statement, the ambiance rocks. It has a “modern-nostalgic” feel in its wall decals, industrial ceiling and a mix of vintage and modern furnishings. The upbeat theme music and dim lights blend well – it is still a ‘restaurant than bar.’

Food’s great! We loved everything on our table. Probably because I asked our server to recommend the best items on the menu, and fair enough he didn’t disappoint us.

(Note: The photos are of not-so-good-quality as I had to use my mobile in a dim light. No thanks to my DSLR empty battery – and me not knowing.)

We started the night with fancy drinks.

We had Lychee and Thai Bird Chili, Watermelon, Mint and Orange Blossom lemonadas, and Pistachio and White Chocolate thin shake. All good and so flavorful, although the thin shake feels a little thick in texture.

Moroccan Sensation Salad

Wood Fired Cauliflower Salad

The salads we’re fresh and perfectly done. The Moroccan Sensation Salad has romaine lettuce, cabbage, edam cheese, boursin cheese, prune cinnamon onions, roasted almonds and ciabatta croutons. The Wood Fired Cauliflower Salad has kale, feta cheese, pepitas and honey vinaigrette.

The zesty Sticky Maple Buffalo Shrimps has a little resemblance to how dynamite shrimps are done, though not that spicy, perfect with a ranch dip.

The Korean Double Fried Chicken is a platter of soft-crispy chicken fillet cuts with spring onions and sesame on top. It has a mild spicy flavor. The Gochujang honey glaze makes it more savory.

And since the little one was with us, we ordered Truffle Shoestring Fries for her to munch on. It was not too crispy but very tasty.

The Tenderloin Lollipops come with grilled potato cubes called Patatas Bravas and Chimmichurri Aioli dip, commonly known as Argentine Tartar sauce. The meat is well-marinated and are tenderly done. I love the minimal peppery flavor of it.

The enticing Coca-cola Braised Short Ribs is, well, brewed with cola. It is served with root vegetable hay on top. The name suggests that it somehow taste like Coke but no it doesn’t. One of the best meat I’ve tasted – very soft and easy to eat. The sweetness though could be attributed to the soda.

I’m always a fan of Grilled Tiger Shrimps. This one that comes with a charred lemon mayo dip is a winner. Though grilled, the moist and the piquant flavor of the shrimp remains in it.

Oh yes, there’s the Dirty Fried Rice. It has crab, smoked brisket, sriracha soy sauce and egg among others. The presentation comes in a small bowl and looks too crowded, but it brings out a lot of exquisite flavor. I can be contented with just this bowl for a dinner actually.

Of course, we tried some sliders. Sliders are small buns or sandwiches typically around 3 inches across.

We had Crispy Chicken which is a buttermilk-fried chicken with mustard mayo, cheddar and pickles, and Sriracha Glazed Lobster Rolls with wasabi peas and milk roll.

We also tried one premium slider – the Tiger Shrimp Handgun. It is a southern-fried tiger shrimp in a black bun called bamboo charcoal bun. It comes with mango pepper slaw and mango habanero sauce. It’s like a sandwiched tempura with coleslaw but the bun makes it extraordinary.

Oreo Midnight Pancakes

How about a sweet ending? Definitely.

The Oreo Midnight Pancake is the star of the night (well, of the desserts, and if you love pancakes). It is served with a white chocolate ice cream scoop on top and poured with warm fudge sauce. Yum overload. The pancakes are fluffy and surprisingly, not too sweet to my taste. This is definitely a recommendation.

PBJ Blondie

White Chocolate Cheesecake

Our server also recommended PBJ Blondie and White Chocolate Cheesecake.

The PBJ Blondie is a peanut butter ice cream with blackberry jam and toasted marshmallow – ice cream cake basically.

The White Chocolate Cheesecake comes with pistachio hazelnut sauce, pecan granola and raspberry.

Go and try Slider Station for yourself. It’s a distinctive American dining with a little feel of the East. We had a great time, we enjoyed the food. We are very much satisfied with the service and the knowledge and hospitality of our server RJ.

Slider Station is located at The Galleria Mall in Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah. Follow them on Instagram for more updates or visit their website at www.sliderstation.com.

Boy DubaiExperiencing Dubai