Cyber-exhibition "Food for Thought"

 

Taking a photo of one’s dinner plate before consuming it I guess is what’s called ‘modern art’.  The inspiration behind the shot was Dr. Seuss’ 1960’s book “Green Eggs and Ham’, although on my plate has yellow eggs, black beans and fried plantain. Not such a great book title as Seuss but far tastier than his green eggs and ham!

Heavenly Brew

 In the beginning
God created
the heavens and the Earth
........and then he created coffee

And he said
"Let there be cream"
and there was cream to
divide the light from the black

And God added sugar
and gave it to man
And man tasted it saw that it was
very good!

Photo of traditional Arabic coffee traditionally brewed over hot coals

Hot Table

 

With a view of the self-proclaimed seven star Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai.

Festival of Sacrifice

 

A couple of goats being fattened up for the recent Eid al-Adha holiday on the only grass patch in Al Ain for miles.

According to Wikipedia, this important religious holiday is to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a sheep to sacrifice instead. This tradition accounts for more than 100 million slaughtering of animals in only 2 days of Eid - Yikes!

Blue (Da Ba Dee)

 

The blue theme at Fairmont Hotel Bab Al Bahr extends throughout the lobby and down the stairs to the award winning Frankie’s Italian Restaurant & Bar, voted Best Italian Restaurant for 2010 What’s On Awards, and Best Italian Restaurant for 2010 TimeOut Abu Dhabi. Hearing that makes me so hungry!

Dating in Abu Dhabi

It's pretty much the end of the dating season here in Abu Dhabi, although if you are lucky enough you can still find the odd full date palm like this one. Btw - Did you know that the date palm is the world's oldest food producing plant? No, neither did I!

A Bottle And Friend

 

Here's a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair, man?
Wha kens, before his life may end,
What his share may be o' care, man?

Robert Burns (1759-1796)

Still Life

 

Another fav of mine was this still life painting of a traditional Arabic coffee pot.

Food for thought

 

This painting was simply entitled 'My Dinner Plate'

Aladdin's Cave

 

Next door to the perfumery was this tableware shop. If you're into cups, saucers and coffee pots then this is the store for you.

What's Your Poison?

 

As promised yesterday, I was going to to buy you all a 'Kiss Royale’ Royal Wedding Tribute Cocktail at what I thought was a trendy bar on the upper levels of the new souk, until that was I'd remembered that only hotels are licensed to sell alcohol in the UAE. The only poison this place was selling was the stuff you put behind your ears rather than down your neck.

The Lazy Fisherman

 

That's me! After a night curled up in the 4x4 it was time to search out a hearty breakfast. The smell of fish led me to the port town of Khasab. Here I found enough fish to feed the 5000. All I needed now was some eggs, bacon a Bar-B-Q and someone to cook it for me - Any volunteers?

Doo Doo Doo!

 

Bizarre choice of name for something usually so appealing. Made for a fun Christmas present though!

The Twilight Zone

Like Dr Who's TARDIS, the interior of the Land Rover Cafe looks much larger than its exterior.

Land Rover Cafe

 

The world famous Land Rover Cafe at the Emirates National Auto Museum. Come back tomorrow and I'll take you inside for a cappuccino and chocolate muffin - My treat!

Killer Prawns

 

The jumbo prawns are particularly good right now and available by the kilo at the Mina Zayed fish market. They'll even grill them for you on the spot if so desire.

Club Tropicana drinks are .....expensive

"Let me take you to the place where membership's a smiling face

Brush shoulders with the stars.
Where strangers take you by the hand and welcome you to Wonderland
From beneath their panamas.

Club Tropicana drinks are expensive

Fun and sunshine - there's enough for ev'ryone.
All that's missing is the sea
but don't worry
you can suntan.

Castaways and lovers meet
then kiss in Tropicana's heat.
Watch the waves break on the bay

Soft white sands
a blue lagoon

Cocktail time
a summer's tune
a whole night's holiday.
Club Tropicana drinks are expensive
. . .
Club Tropicana drinks are expensive
. . .
Pack your bags and leave tonight

Don't take your time
gotta move your feet
don't you miss the flight.
Pack your bags and leave tonight
. . .
Cool - cool - cool - cool

Club Tropicana drinks are expensive
. . .
Cool - cool - cool - cool - . . ."

Wham! - Club Tropicana lyrics (adapted for the UAE).

Photo taken at the Hilton's Tropicana Bar, Fujairah

To Catch a Thief

The authorities in Abu Dhabi have come up with a novel way of stopping gravity, birds and humans from taking all the dates.

Fancy a date?

 

It's date picking season in Abu Dhabi and individuals (like me) are allowed to take freely as long as it's for personal consumption. The trouble is finding a ladder big enough to reach them. Any suggestions?

Al Dallah (coffee pot)

How to Make Qahwa Arabeya (Arabic Coffee)

(Adapted from www.wikihow.com)
3 tbsp Ground Arabic coffee (finely ground)
1 Arab Coffee Pot
A Table spoon
Water
Serving cups (Finjan)
A Serving plate
A Stove (unless you like your coffee cold!)
Serve with dates and enjoy!

Photo taken at Café Layali Zaman on the Corniche