For years, the Walk has been the heart of Dubai Marina. It is a picturesque stretch where locals and tourists soak in the waterside urban skyline. For all its charm, though, the area does not have many memorable culinary offerings. Until now, that is.
Nestled along Marina Walk’s bustling waterfront promenade (where Reem Al Bawadi used to be), District 8 isn’t your average stand-alone restaurant. It is an entire building with a flamboyant entrance and dedicated to an eclectic trifecta. Blume is a Mediterranean eatery on the ground floor; Rodina is a fine dining Russian spot upstairs; and Luxuria is a lively karaoke lounge on top.
My dining partner and I make our way to Blume on a Thursday evening and come back raring to discover the other two venues.
Where to sit, what to expect
Memories of the bustling Marina Walk are left at the door as we walk into the building. It’s like being transported to another location altogether.
The name of the ground-floor restaurant fits its aesthetic, with lush greenery at every corner. The space channels maximalism to the hilt, starting with an imposing central bar that branches out to different seating options.
Some might describe it as too crammed, but the sense of intimacy that the maze-like decor evokes is undeniable. Lighting is perfectly subdued and an eclectic playlist hums gently in the background.
We opt for a table on the Marina-facing terrace, the sight of the moored yachts evoking a sense of tranquillity. The range of table settings suggests this is a place for all types: from couples and friends to big families and corporate groups.
It is also possible to take on the venue’s multifaceted offering by getting appetisers at Blume and mains at Rodina, which delivers a more refined (and adventurous for those unfamiliar with Russian cuisine) dining experience. The restaurants are connected via both a whimsical lift and a red-carpeted spiral staircase, adding a touch of cinematic elegance to the building.
Once dinner concludes, you can transition into the night by heading upstairs to Luxuria, with its standing microphones, dance floor and a stage that sets the scene for a lively evening.
The menu
Maybe it’s just me, but there is something quite impersonal about browsing through a menu on a tablet. It can also be overwhelming to choose from Blume’s dozens of dishes, so I’d recommend checking the options beforehand or, better yet, asking staff for their suggestions.
Among the signature dishes, the Asian chicken salad (Dh75) proves to be a home-run starter.
It’s a flavourful nod to the restaurant’s expansive approach, which it touts as a trip along the ancient Eurasian Silk Road – although it might be too rich for those who like their salads lighter. The sesame sauce packs power, while the tender chicken strips and crispy wonton skins add a pleasing texture.
Sushi lovers should check out the chunky Philadelphia maki (Dh115). The cream cheese and caviar deliver a one-two umami punch to the fresh salmon.
The crispy calamari (Dh55) is also a safe choice among the hot starters, but more adventurous diners can also go for options such as Armenian ponchik (Dh115) and Ottoman-era borek (Dh90).
Blume’s casual-style dining lends itself to myriad mains options that take in chicken, lobster, beef, sea bass and more. We opt for the juicy rib-eye steak with Padron peppers (Dh395).
Presented on a Himalayan pink salt slab, it retains its heat beautifully despite the brisk chill of the season, the meat’s comforting warmth further enhanced by the flickering miniature fire pit that accompanies it. Among the range of sides, we opt for grilled asparagus with wafu sauce (Dh55) and French fries (Dh35).
For dessert, the baked Alaska (Dh60) is a thoroughly enjoyable option. A dome of delicately torched meringue provides some depth to what can be an overtly sweet dish. It is perfect for sharing, and is executed well with a contrast of textures and temperatures.
To order or not to order
The next time around, I’d definitely reorder the Asian chicken salad, and perhaps skip the steak, but only so I have enough room to try one of the many delicious-sounding seafood mains.
Save or splurge
A three-course meal at Blume can cost between Dh135 and Dh670, not including caviar.
On the high end of the price spectrum lie octopus with baby potato, confit tomato, chimichurri sauce and chipotle (Dh190); Wagyu sando (Dh320); and a sharing berry platter (Dh160). The three most reasonable dishes across the starter, main and dessert categories are: a piece of David Herve oyster with red onion pickle, tabasco and lemon (Dh35); chicken tso (Dh75); and a scoop of sorbet (Dh25).
Caviar is also on the menu, and ranges from Dh950 for Kaluga huso to Dh3,500 for 30 grams of Albino 24k.
Contact information
Blume is open daily from 7am to 3am. Reservations can be made by contacting 04 495 6888.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the restaurant
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
Killing of Qassem SuleimaniUAE currency: the story behind the money in your pocketsGifts exchanged
King Charles – replica of President Eisenhower Sword
Queen Camilla – Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
Donald Trump – hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
Melania Trump – personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
The%20specs
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Killing of Qassem SuleimaniEmail sent to Uber team from chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi
From: Dara
To: Team@
Date: March 25, 2019 at 11:45pm PT
Subj: Accelerating in the Middle East
Five years ago, Uber launched in the Middle East. It was the start of an incredible journey, with millions of riders and drivers finding new ways to move and work in a dynamic region that’s become so important to Uber. Now Pakistan is one of our fastest-growing markets in the world, women are driving with Uber across Saudi Arabia, and we chose Cairo to launch our first Uber Bus product late last year.
Today we are taking the next step in this journey—well, it’s more like a leap, and a big one: in a few minutes, we’ll announce that we’ve agreed to acquire Careem. Importantly, we intend to operate Careem independently, under the leadership of co-founder and current CEO Mudassir Sheikha. I’ve gotten to know both co-founders, Mudassir and Magnus Olsson, and what they have built is truly extraordinary. They are first-class entrepreneurs who share our platform vision and, like us, have launched a wide range of products—from digital payments to food delivery—to serve consumers.
I expect many of you will ask how we arrived at this structure, meaning allowing Careem to maintain an independent brand and operate separately. After careful consideration, we decided that this framework has the advantage of letting us build new products and try new ideas across not one, but two, strong brands, with strong operators within each. Over time, by integrating parts of our networks, we can operate more efficiently, achieve even lower wait times, expand new products like high-capacity vehicles and payments, and quicken the already remarkable pace of innovation in the region.
This acquisition is subject to regulatory approval in various countries, which we don’t expect before Q1 2020. Until then, nothing changes. And since both companies will continue to largely operate separately after the acquisition, very little will change in either teams’ day-to-day operations post-close. Today’s news is a testament to the incredible business our team has worked so hard to build.
It’s a great day for the Middle East, for the region’s thriving tech sector, for Careem, and for Uber.
Uber on,
Dara
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
Need to know
The flights: Flydubai flies from Dubai to Kilimanjaro airport via Dar es Salaam from Dh1,619 return including taxes. The trip takes 8 hours.
The trek: Make sure that whatever tour company you select to climb Kilimanjaro, that it is a reputable one. The way to climb successfully would be with experienced guides and porters, from a company committed to quality, safety and an ethical approach to the mountain and its staff. Sonia Nazareth booked a VIP package through Safari Africa. The tour works out to $4,775 (Dh17,538) per person, based on a 4-person booking scheme, for 9 nights on the mountain (including one night before and after the trek at Arusha). The price includes all meals, a head guide, an assistant guide for every 2 trekkers, porters to carry the luggage, a cook and kitchen staff, a dining and mess tent, a sleeping tent set up for 2 persons, a chemical toilet and park entrance fees. The tiny ration of heated water provided for our bath in our makeshift private bathroom stall was the greatest luxury. A standard package, also based on a 4-person booking, works out to $3,050 (Dh11,202) per person.
When to go: You can climb Kili at any time of year, but the best months to ascend are January-February and September-October. Also good are July and August, if you’re tolerant of the colder weather that winter brings.
Do not underestimate the importance of kit. Even if you’re travelling at a relatively pleasant time, be geared up for the cold and the rain.
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final, second leg (first-leg score):
Manchester City (0) v Tottenham Hotspur (1), Wednesday, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Honeymoonish
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Living in…
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Key facilities
Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Roma 4
Milner (15′ OG), Dzeko (52′), Nainggolan (86′, 90 4′)
Liverpool 2
Mane (9′), Wijnaldum (25′)
Secret Pigeon Service: Operation Colomba, Resistance and the Struggle to Liberate Europe
Gordon Corera, Harper Collins
More from Neighbourhood Watch:THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Education reform in Abu Dhabi
The emirate’s public education system has been in a constant state of change since the New School Model was launched in 2010 by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. The NSM, which is also known as the Abu Dhabi School Model, transformed the public school curriculum by introducing bilingual education starting with students from grades one to five. Under this new curriculum, the children spend half the day learning in Arabic and half in English – being taught maths, science and English language by mostly Western educated, native English speakers. The NSM curriculum also moved away from rote learning and required teachers to develop a “child-centered learning environment” that promoted critical thinking and independent learning. The NSM expanded by one grade each year and by the 2017-2018 academic year, it will have reached the high school level. Major reforms to the high school curriculum were announced in 2015. The two-stream curriculum, which allowed pupils to elect to follow a science or humanities course of study, was eliminated. In its place was a singular curriculum in which stem — science, technology, engineering and maths – accounted for at least 50 per cent of all subjects. In 2016, Adec announced additional changes, including the introduction of two levels of maths and physics – advanced or general – to pupils in Grade 10, and a new core subject, career guidance, for grades 10 to 12; and a digital technology and innovation course for Grade 9. Next year, the focus will be on launching a new moral education subject to teach pupils from grades 1 to 9 character and morality, civic studies, cultural studies and the individual and the community.
Illegal%20shipments%20intercepted%20in%20Gulf%20region
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What is a black hole?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Brief scores:
Everton 2
Walcott 21′, Sigurdsson 51′
Tottenham 6
Son 27′, 61′, Alli 35′, Kane 42′, 74′, Eriksen 48’
Man of the Match: Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur)
BABYLON
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gulf Under 19s
Pools
A – Dubai College, Deira International School, Al Ain Amblers, Warriors
B – Dubai English Speaking College, Repton Royals, Jumeirah College, Gems World Academy
C – British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Yasmina Academy
D – Dubai Exiles, Jumeirah English Speaking School, English College, Bahrain Colts
Recent winners
2018 – Dubai College
2017 – British School Al Khubairat
2016 – Dubai English Speaking School
2015 – Al Ain Amblers
2014 – Dubai College
Company%20profile
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How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Who is Tim-Berners Lee?
Sir Tim Berners-Lee was born in London in a household of mathematicians and computer scientists. Both his mother, Mary Lee, and father, Conway, were early computer scientists who worked on the Ferranti 1 – the world’s first commercially-available, general purpose digital computer. Sir Tim studied Physics at the University of Oxford and held a series of roles developing code and building software before moving to Switzerland to work for Cern, the European Particle Physics laboratory. He developed the worldwide web code as a side project in 1989 as a global information-sharing system. After releasing the first web code in 1991, Cern made it open and free for all to use. Sir Tim now campaigns for initiatives to make sure the web remains open and accessible to all.
Dining and Cooking