Dubai

I've spent more than a decade in Dubai - the longest stint in any city after Kolkata, the city where I was born. Possessive about Dubai, I try to convince every guest that we have had, about the virtues and beauty that lay beyond the glitzy shopping malls or the swanky cars. Dubai is my adopted home currently and most of the food posts have been juxtaposed against my Kolkata nostalgia or my living experiences in the UAE. In most of my writings, culture, history, recipes, food stories and nostalgia unfold amidst the urban backdrop of Dubai. Hence, sometimes I've not been able to clearly demarcate between Dubai and Kolkata posts...

  • Recipe for Semaiya Kheer or Vermicelli Pudding
    Bengali Food,  Dubai,  Kolkata,  Recipes

    Semaiya Kheer or Vermicelli Pudding to celebrate Eid

    Childhood memories of Eid bring in the sweet taste of Semaiya Kheer or vermicelli pudding, also called Shemuiyer Payesh in Bengali. The shimuiyer payesh that I have eaten at most Bengali homes, is made much like the rice pudding. The shimuiyer payesh, however, is sweetened with sugar and Gur or jaggery is seldom used in it. It is also less dense. Here's my easy recipe for the delicious festive dessert.

  • Debbie Rogers and Ishita B Saha on a food tour with Frying Pan Adventures
    Dubai,  Travel,  United Arab Emirates

    An Indian food tour in Old Dubai with Frying Pan Adventures

    A delicious way to discover one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods of Old Dubai – Meena Bazaar, is to book into the 4-hour long ‘Little India on a plate’ food tour with Frying Pan Adventures. It's getting to connect to the essence of old neighbourhoods holding its head high amidst the new urban landscape of 2020, which in itself, is a story that needed to be told and celebrated. What do you think?

  • Chicken machboos at the cultural lunch at SMCCU
    Dubai,  Travel,  United Arab Emirates

    Dubai Creekside, Al Fahidi and a cultural lunch at SMCCU

    Despite Dubai’s changing landscape, the historic district of Al Shidagha, the traditional Textile Souq along the Bur Dubai side of the creek, the continuing Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (formerly Bastakiya), the Spice Souq and Gold Souq across the creek in the Deira side… all these places have managed to retained their original charm and sanctity. Bukhoor or Bakhoor, scented bricks soaked in fragrant oils Today’s post is in celebration of my brother’s birthday. A designer by profession, he’s an artist, a creative soul and capable of capturing the eclectic in things that others would find most ordinary and random. This is a creative and a foodie day out in my…

  • Thai Green Papaya Salad made at home
    Dubai,  Recipes

    Thai Papaya Salad Recipe – Also reminiscing the Floating Market in Global Village

    This is our favourite Som Tam or the Thai Green Papaya Salad … it’s a very easy recipe to stir up. I tweaked the recipe a bit from a fridge magnet that I had collected on my Thailand trip. Every time we make it at home, the familiar sights and sounds from the trip comes alive. Travelling to places – far away or even as close as your neighbour’s house, seem to be a distant memory. So does tasting new cuisines at different restaurants or food events. Every day, I keep rearranging our collection of fridge magnets that hold so many beautiful memories of our travels – our family vacations…

  • Bengali Food,  Dubai

    A-Z of Bengali Fish

    As an ode to my Bengali heritage, here’s the list... A-Z of Bengali Fish and the best possible preparations for that particular fish. I have listed only the ones where I have had the good fortune of laying my fingers on the fish bones, so a few alphabets are still sitting empty!