There is an overwhelming variety in the sights, sounds and smells of Dubai, a major factor being the emirate’s cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic reality. If one ventures on a Dubai holiday, one can experiment with the flavors on offer here. Here’s a bird’s eye view of the Dubai kitchen.
The only thing that any discerning traveler will look for in any place is regional cuisine. Fortunately and unfortunately, there is nothing quite like “traditional” Dubai food per se. In fact, the tradition lies in the fluidity in which most of the Arabic on the plate in Dubai is borrowed mainly from Iran, Lebanon and Morocco, and generally elsewhere in the Middle East as well.
A distinctive feature of Arabic cuisine is the “mezze” (also known as “mezza”/ “meza”), which stands in stark contrast to the all-too-familiar three-course meal of the Western world. Mezze consists of many appetizers served at the table at the same time, accompanied by olives and flatbreads. This less structured and more leisurely way of eating is something that is appreciated in Arab homes. Another fairly popular “street food” in Dubai is “shawarma”, which itself consists of skewered strips of meat that are placed on pita bread along with a variety of vegetables and salad dressings.
The majority of the population in the emirate are expatriates who hail from almost all nooks and corners of the world. One can hop around Indian, Pakistani, Italian, Filipino, Thai, French and Japanese restaurants to satiate their taste buds. Apart from these, many of the famous American fast food outlets such as McDonald’s, KFC and Starbucks have their outlets in Dubai.
When it comes to spirits, Dubai has its own pop to open the cork! Alcohol is available only at licensed venues, which are usually nightclubs and bars attached to hotels. Drinking alcohol in public places is absolutely prohibited by law and there are only a few licensed outlets in Dubai that sell alcohol.
When it comes to food, Dubai is literally and figuratively a veritable melting pot!
