Dubai eats

Dubai eats

From what I read, there isn't much of an Emirate cuisine. So I tried McDonald's, KFC and a sandwich joint before I went to a real restaurant, called Automatic. I had tried to get a local buffet but cannot find one. At Automatic I ordered the Mixed Grill. First came a plate of green and black olives and pickles. A huge basket of flat bread arrived. They are so thin and crispy they are like crackers or chips. They should use this stuff for Christian communions. Then this huge platter came with

*a green pepper,
*a lemon,
*a cucumber,
*a tomato,
*some juliennes of carrots,
*a wedge of cabbage and
*a forest of leaves.

There was oil and vinegar on the table so I made my own salad.

The main course came and on a tortilla was
*2 pieces of grilled chicken,
*1 slice of grilled beef,
*two slices of grilled lamb,
*a lamb sausage,
*an eggplant pizza and
*two slices of grilled, spiced flatbread topped with herbs and red onion.

I liked everything except the lamb sausage.

No alcohol is served. With a bottle of water it came to 38 dirhams or just over US$10. I am sure the order could have fed two people. I enjoyed all of it alone.

These pictures are from my second meal there, half a grilled chicken for 25 dirhams or US$7.

When I thought about it, this is a meal that a Bedouin could have made. Olives are cured and salad requires no cooking. Flatbread can be made over a fire and meats grilled. This is a meal from centuries ago.

Automatic is a chain of restaurants, cafes, and outlets in food courts. I went to the Automatic at the Al Khaleej Centre on Al Mankhool Road in Bur Dubai, Telephone 04-3550333.

[Jenise]

Hey, welcome back! Long time no see! Must be because you've been travelling again. And so this time it was Dubai. I love this post--you know what, I read the description of the 'salad' and in spite of the fact that I was convinced you meant whole everythings I was still unprepared to see that whole green pepper looking back at me when I got to the photos.

I lived in Dhahran Saudi Arabia for a year, and I was never served food like that. The salads were always complex, dressed mixtures of tomato with cucumbers and the tabouli variety. Lots of lemon and mint, always, and all made in the kitchen.

I could have lived on the olive and pickle plate alone.

(Btw, I selfishly borrowed your post over from Wine Related Travel to FLDG, since I thought we'd end up talking more about the food here.)

From what I read, there isn't much of an Emirate cuisine.

I'd have to disagree. There's a lot out there available from what I've experienced in Dubai. Lots of very good Arab places with traditional food - ranging from shawarmas (a favourite of mine when I lived in the middle east), slow cooked lamb/beef/chicken dishes with rice, vegetable/lentil stews and grilled kebabs with the flat Arabic breads (and the typical accompaniments - hummus, moutabbal, babagannoush, za'atar, etc).

Traditional Arab food is amazing - very rich and flavourful, and a real pleasure when you're able to enjoy it with Arab hospitality (my only issue - not being a caffeine drinker - was the incredibly dark, heavy coffee - 'kahwa' - they'd serve at the end of each meal)..
As for food courts in Dubai - the only things that ever stood out there were the north Indian places with tandoors (where one could get excellent naans and tandoori-roasted meats/kebabs at really good prices) or the shawarma stands (where they'll be roasting various meats on vertical spits, carve some on demand and wrap it in flat Arab bread with tahini, a couple of sauces and mixed vegetables.

I Dubai I head for Al Satwa and Al Karama markets for great Pakistani and South Indian food.

I'm curious, some of this looks like fast food. I was amazed at the whole green bell pepper. Do they expect that you will eat it whole like an apple? Or do you cut into it? Did you have regular eating utensils for cutting, etc. I have a friend who is an educator in the cosmetics field and travels all over the world. She tells me the most amazing stories about foods offered to her. Since we are not world travelers, I love hearing and reading about it.

This was cooked to order food. KFC and McDonald were in the same building.

Knife and fork were supplied. I think the idea is to make one's own salad.