My Private Driver, Again? I Love It!

Goldie, At The Top of a Beautiful Day in Dubai

Foie gras with Apple Jelly and Chocolate

Baby Chicken with lemon,olives and Carmelized onions at Aspen’s

Deborah En Route to Airport

5 Minute Monorail Ride to Atlantis . The First Resort Built on the Palm

Atlantis, water park

The Address, still can’t touch Kempinski

The Palace — still can’t touch Kempinski

The Palace —- no way!

Nice Way To End the Day at Salero ‘s

Retail Therapy — A Real Pick Me up:)

Next Year, the Beaches of Oman

Beautiful Oman Beach

I like the way they rock it here in this fast-paced, glitzy glamorous town. It looks like we may do this a 3rd time in the Fall of 2015.
Last night dinner was in Aspen, a tres cool restaurant just off the hotel’s lobby, before you get to the indoor “Ski Dubai”. The menus are on bright orange, leather bound IPads, the food is incredible and the service is always on point. Now, I’m a lover of foie gras (fwa gra) a delicacy in French cuisine, rich, buttery and delicate; unlike that of an ordinary duck or goose liver. I’ve had it from all parts of France but baby, this chef put a serious twist on it. Check it: there was a thin layer of apple jelly sandwiched between the foie gras and on top, a thin layer of hardened chocolate. The plate was garnished with berries and slices of figs that resembled slices of watermelon. In a word…AWESOME. The dressing for the Prawn Caesar salad was perfect; nice and creamy and not tangy at all. My main course, “Baby Chicken” tasted like somebody’s mama was in the kitchen throwin’ down. I guess the Chef must have felt my vibes of appreciation because he came out and introduced himself.

Today, my roomie, Deborah returned back to Kuwait to wrap up her vacay with her phenomenal daughter, Yvonne, there on a job assignment. As Deborah’s stretch limo pulled away, I was ushered to my waiting vehicle with guide and driver for the day.
First stop was the monorail station which takes you on a 5 minute ride to the iconic Atlantis. You see it head on if you are in the first car. You are above the Palm and Palm fronds —riding on the trunk, and you have a perfect view of everything. After a short tour of Atlantis– high end shops galore and eating establishments, we headed to check out 2
5 Star hotel possibilities for next year, THE ADDRESS at Dubai Mall and The Palace. They both are lovely properties in their own right,but I hate to say, with some shortcomings. Because of this Kempinski wins in every category; location, accessibility, decor, room size, customer service, cost —– just everything.

Dinner tonight would be with the family but before that I had tapas and a wonderful fresh strawberry non alcoholic drink at Kempinski’s Salero’s, a new lounge on the first level. We had Shrimp in garlic and chili peppers, 2) razor clams 3)slices of buttered toast (you rub with fresh garlic, drizzle the juice from halved tomatoes, and topped with olive oil).
It’s been another wonderful Dubai visit.
If we can make it happen next year there will be a few changes made: a day cruise on The Palm, a short after stay for beach lovers in Oman which is a short 1 hr flight away. Thanks for traveling with me on this short getaway. Hopefully you enjoyed it and just maybe you will join us next time. Next 3 weeks, South Africa.