miss b loves.........spring in Dubai

It was such a treat escaping the freezing UK temperatures to  spend a week in March in Dubai. The perfect temperature to spend time outdoors starting with a stroll around Safa Park.....with great views of the Dubai skyline...

and the Burj Khalifa towering above the other skyscrapers......

.....a quick stop at the newly opened Pantry Café at Al Wasl Square opposite the park........for a rhubarb muffin...

No need to reapply my lipgloss in the ladies when I read this next to the mirror!!!...

'A Taste of Dubai' festival in Dubai Media City reminded me of the BBC Good Food Show except this was outdoors. We particularly enjoyed a cookery demonstration by British celebrity chef Gary Rhodes.......

...fruit carving by a chef from the Royal Orchid restaurant....

... and top restaurants including Gaucho and Nobu served sample sizes of their signature dishes at very reasonable prices. Our favourites were the white tomato soup from Rhodes Mezzanine....

and the burger with fois gras, fondant potato and devilled sauce from  Rhodes 2010......

..dishes which we had enjoyed before at Gary Rhodes' restaurants. 

A couple of days later.... St Patrick's Day, and the iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel was illuminated in green (with a shamrock too!) We had a perfect view from the outdoor terrace of Koubba, an excellent bar...

Of course there had to be some shopping..... Galeries Lafayette, the biggest department store in Dubai is always worth a visit......

....and how could I resist a cobalt blue bikini........

and another visit to TWG Tea Salon which I reviewed here. This time lobster tagliatelle in a Korean tea-infused bisque....

.....followed by a chocolate brownie cake layered with honey ganache and a Vanilla Bourbon tea-infused mousse...... 

and an amazing cappuccino at the new Caffè Vergnano 1882....

During the week there was plenty of activity down at Dubai Marina with a Street Festival and some very talented performers.......it was like being back in Covent Garden...but about thirty degrees warmer!...

There were brand new bikes to hire around the Marina....the 'Byky'..........

...and there's always time for a cappuccino and macarons at Chocolat Chic, one of our favourite cafés....

Before going back to England, we returned to two more favourites.....Traiteur restaurant at the Park Hyatt Hotel where I had the most delicious duck à l'orange I have had outside France.....

and back to Hey Sugar Bakeshop for more cupcakes (we are gradually making our way through the whole menu!) This time it was Scent of a Lemon and Kitty Kat........

........yes we did eat very well during our time in Dubai!!

PS Back in Manchester it was just one degree celsius....so cold after our week in the sun and last week at home we had a few flakes of snow but just a few miles away there was this scene...

I hope it's warmer where you are............

More Dubai posts........

Winter sunshine in Dubai

Dubai old and new