By Joshua Trias

Dubai, UAE: 24^th St. is a dining concept that has been a long time coming.  The ambience will strike you as being in an alley with live cooking stations everywhere and mouth-watering delicacies feeding hungry eyes and excited bellies. 

The place gives you that feeling of being in a food row somewhere in Hong Kong or Bangkok, even Prague or Brussels – but you’re not. You’re right in the middle of Dubai, instead; 24th St. on the 24th floor of Dusit Thani along Sheikh Zayed Road to be exact. 

24th St gives casual dining a whole new meaning for the gastronomically inclined: “It has a touch of class,” says Mina Hana, restaurant manager who walked as through their bestsellers as we sampled the artsy restaurant’s spread that the staff, among them Nita and Rachel, gladly served with all enthusiasm. 

The place is like having the world’s dining table in one cozy corner of a street. Of particular interest is the Indian cuisine… so real you’d think you’re in Delhi. No wonder, my Indian friends have always kept asking me for a nice evening at 24th St. 

Here are some of the top choices that we recommend you indulge in: Galbi Gangnam-style (we went for the marinated chicken and it was heavenly!); Singapore Laksa with just enough creamy coconut milk on prawns, quail egg and tofu; the Kung Fu Kung Pao from Sichuan is a must! Top starters also include Salmon Avo-Noa Roll and the luscious Amritsari Fish & Chips. 

While in there, grab some orders of Tandoori Ajwain Prawns and get ready for a big surprise; dig in as well on the K-Pop Bibimpap topped by a slow braised beef brisket and poached egg, and enjoy Beirut-style mixed kebabs. 

Indeed, 24th St is street food with a touch of luxury. They thought of everything: The presentation is great; the taste, divine; the view, skyline. Marking my calendar for our next visit. See you there!  

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced the appointment of Joanna Flint as Chief Commercial Officer.

The newly created role will oversee the development and execution of the Group’s commercial strategy while also taking executive responsibility for all aspects of Mandarin Oriental’s customer experience. Joanna will take over the responsibilities of Chief Marketing Officer, Jill Kluge, who retires from Mandarin Oriental in September 2021.

Prior to joining Mandarin Oriental, Joanna spent 12 years at Google in general management and sales leadership roles, most recently as Managing Director – Global Partner Business, with responsibility for industry go-to-market and commercialization for Google’s media and technology partners in Asia Pacific. Prior to Google, she was Principal Consultant at Ogilvy Asia Pacific. This followed a decade in the travel industry leading global eCommerce, CRM and customer service transformation programs for Singapore Airlines and British Airways.  

Commenting on the appointment, James Riley, Group Chief Executive said “We are delighted to welcome Joanna to Mandarin Oriental. Her global leadership skills, digital expertise and understanding of customer behavior will strengthen our ability to innovate and enhance our position as a leader in the luxury market.”

He added, “I would also like to thank Jill for an incredible 30 years of service. She has been instrumental in the growth and global awareness of our brand, particularly in devising our “Fan” campaigns. I am delighted that she will continue with the Group as Brand Advisor.”

Commenting on her new role, Joanna said, “It is a privilege to join Mandarin Oriental at such an important time; a brand I’ve always admired for service excellence and luxury.  This opportunity is boundless, and I’m excited to return to the travel industry to work with our colleagues and partners around the world to shape the Group’s future for our customers”.

Dubai, UAE: Say hola and bienvenido to the latest restaurant on the Dubai scene, Quiero. Spanish for “I want”, Quiero brings the traditional flavor of Spanish food, authentically cooked by the incredibly talented Spanish Head Chef, Mary. 

Situated in Barsha South, the restaurant is not only a slice of España, but also has the capacity to cater parties across the city, small or large, with its mouthwatering food. 

Quiero is the brainchild of Anisia Pienaar, who missed the authentic tastes from her childhood cooked by her incredible mother. Not wanting the rest of the world to miss out, Pienaar decided to open her own restaurant and make her Mum, Mary, the Head Chef. 

Pienaar, owner of Quiero, said: “Growing up, my days often revolved around food, but no matter where I travelled to or ate, nothing was as good as my mama’s famous cooking. I knew I had to share her creations, giving mama the platform to do what she does best. 

“It has been a dream to bring authentic and traditional Spanish cooking to Dubai and I’m thrilled to finally make it a reality. I can’t wait to welcome everyone and create the feeling of a Spanish home here.” 

Stepping in to the quaint and cozy restaurant feels like being transported to Andalusia, with Quiero’s simple yet homely design and images of Spanish locations projected on the large screens. The open kitchen is a site to behold, where diners will be welcomed by Mama Mary, cooking with colours and fragrances to spoil the senses. 

Diners can choose either making the most of the beautiful weather and sitting on one of the comfortable benches on the large outdoor terrace or inside the whimsical restaurant.

Once seated, guests can peruse the menu, which is encouraged to be enjoyed sharing-style. With doors to Quiero opening at 8am, diners can decide to come early for the breakfast menu, lunch or dinner – or stay all day! 

Start the day off right sampling breakfast delights including creamy scrambled eggs with garlic mushrooms, pastries of the day or typical Spanish toasted bread with olive oil and salt. 

The lunch and dinner menu is bursting with delicious Tapas options from patatas bravas to gazpacho, breaded vegetables, assorted Spanish cheese platter and various seafood dishes such as calamari, cuttlefish, prawns. 

There are healthy and vibrant salads on offer including pasta salad, beans salad and Russian salad. 

Of course, grand Paella dishes are available, perfectly cooked with either chicken, seafood, vegetarian or black paella. Quiero also has a Fideuá, which is the same as a paella, but with a small pasta instead of rice. 

No Spanish dinner would be complete without finishing with a dessert, crema catalana (a caramelized catalán cream), flan (creme caramel), natillas (custard), cake of the day, fruit salad or roll cake.

For those looking for something a little lighter, delectable Spanish sandwiches known as Bocadillos are available, or just enjoy an indulgent pastry and expertly made coffee, catching up with a friend. 

The restaurant is completely child-friendly with affordable packages available for little ones for just AED 40 inclusive of a main, dessert and juice. 

Quiero has an extensive take-away and catering menu, perfect for every occasion, whether it’s a dinner and Netflix for one or a house party of 20+, Quiero has options to suit all numbers and budgets. 

Quiero is open for dine-in and takeaway now, open from 8am until 10pm, seven days a week. 

Dubai, UAE: Take advantage of the upcoming long weekend and escape to one of Maldives’ luxury resorts in the South Atolls, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo. 

Just a short four-hour flight from the GCC, and a 15-minute ride by speedboat from Maldives International Airport, Adaaran Prestige Vadoo features 50 water villas, each located above the turquoise waters, offering unrestricted access to the crystal clear, warm waters of the Indian Ocean. 

Couples looking for a quiet escape in solitude, can choose one of the three water villas – Sunrise Water Villas, Sunset Water Villas or Honeymoon Water Villas. 

All villas feature teak wooden floors, cozy living spaces, ample sun decks, plunge pools with breath-taking views of the Indian Ocean as well as a butler that will action every whim. 

Venture out of your water villa and explore all that the resort has to offer from Whale Submarine Adventure, Sunset Fishing to traditional therapies at the Mandara Spa while dining on gourmet cuisine with a tropical twist.

For more information, visit https://www.adaaran.com/prestigevadoo/

Dubai, UAE: The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) announced it has made three new appointments to its team of experienced professionals. The line-up includes Edwin Calimano, Director of HR, Sabry Balboul, Director of Engineering, and Frida Audi, Director of Sales and Marketing. 

Hailing from the United States, Edwin Calimano, brings a glowing track record with experience working mainly in luxury hotels from around the globe. Prior to his role at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC, Calimano served at hotel brands such as Accor Hotels-Fairmont, Jumeirah Group-Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, One & Only Le Royal Mirage, IHG, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, and the Four Seasons. In his capacity, Calimano supported many HR projects and pre-openings in the region and around the world.

Originally from Egypt, Sabry Balboul, brings a massive track record having worked all around the MEA. Joining the Ritz-Carlton DIFC from the Hilton International, Balboul supported many pre-opening projects in the region. Alongside his incredible experience, Balboul holds a pre-Master diploma and BA in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cairo.

Frida Audi, originally from Lebanon, brings a proven track record having worked in luxury hotels across the region. Joining the Ritz-Carlton DIFC from the Habtoor Hospitality, Frida is no stranger to Marriott International. Landing at The Ritz-Carlton DIFC, she brings an impressive skill set and a successful tenure managing the sales department at the Ritz-Carlton Doha and Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa. In addition to expertise in the field, Frida is fluent in three languages – French, English, and Arabic. 

Commenting on the new appointments the hotel’s General Manager, Fadeel G. Wehbe said:  “We are incredibly enthusiastic to welcome the newest members of our team. Each new addition brings a host of expertise, experience, creativity, and new perspectives to our team. We are confident that each new member will prove to be invaluable to the legendary Ritz-Carlton brand and help us improve our strategies and increase the overall satisfaction for our employees and guests.

For more information on The Ritz-Carlton DIFC visit, https://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/dubai/difc or call 04 372 2222.