Sumo To Go @ JLT

sumo is one of our most favorite japanese restaurants in dubai. very affordable price with big servings and of course, delicious food and excellent service. sumo opened a new branch in JLT (jumeirah lake towers) but called it ‘sumo to go’ as it caters more to the nine-to-five crowd who might want to eat something easy to take away or just want a quick bite.

click here for our first time at sumo, and click here to read about the pretty branch at jumeirah.

 

so sumo to go is different than other sumo branches – it has a self-service counter to make your order, and food is served on plastic container for easy ‘take-away’. no frills, just good food.

 

i got my usual favorite, the teriyaki chicken bento – charbroiled chicken glazed with sumo’s famous teriyaki sauce. the taste is consistently delicious in this small branch, however there’s something less satisfying dining in plastic containers rather than the bento box we’re so used to when we eat at other sumo branches. nothing to do with the taste – it’s just a feel. haha.

 

mr. khairul had HIS usual – the tempura bento; crispy shrimp tempura served with tempura soy sauce. also included is some chicken teriyaki too, and kimchi on the side.

 

 

my boys shared the usual order – the chicken katsu bento; breaded chicken cutlet served with sumo’s own tangy katsu sauce. crispy, juicy as always.

 

 

the miso soup here is served in plastic containers like everything else, and i know it’s more than if it’s served in a small bowl!

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

when we asked for extra plate – so pretty! hihi.

 

 

‘sumo to go’ is perfect for – well – people on the go, who wants food, to go! like i said, the quality of food is the same, but i think atmosphere-wise, we will stick to our favorite branch in dubai media city anytime we want a taste of japanese food from sumo. sumo in JLT (jumeirah lake towers) is at cluster C.

Seafood @ Aprons & Hammers With Old UIA Mate

i love a good old fashioned fish and chips. no frills. just plain batter-fried fish & chunky fries, with extra tartar sauce. and when i know aprons & hammers is open near my place at the beach JBR, i set it as a reunion spot with an old friend from my university days. welcome to dubai, peeja!

aprons & hammers is a seafood restaurant at the beach JBR, amongst the cheesecake factory and burger place shake shack.

 

we havent seen each other since forever! she’s still the same bubbly peeja i know from back then. it was easy to fall back into conversation with her as we both so talkative! haha. another friend of ours iky and syaz joined later. peeja had known the couple since way back, and i knew them while living in dubai. small world, eh!

 

eating outside would be so awesome with the sea view, and fresh air – but we wanted a cosy space indoor.

 

funny peeja – cant decide what to eat! the were wide range of seafood dishes to choose from – fish, shrimp, clams, even soups and salad – take your pick! there’s even paella – the spanish dish comprised of fried rice and a spread of seafood all together in a big plate.

 

 

oh i cant over how cute the name of the restaurant is – aprons & hammers. aprons coz when you eat lobster you’ll get comot. and hammers coz you need them when you pound your way into that juicy, succulent crab flesh! thus, aprons & hammers! there were even wooden hammers available on each table that looked more like a judge’s gavel used in court! haha.

 

i also love the decor – so youthful and fun! with visible light bulbs against a backdrop of greeneries flowing from above, all across one of the walls. somewhat a refreshing feel.

 

bro joy, peeja’s hubby the one cool dude and their adorable son feroz. too cheeky for words! notice the drinks station at the back, built to look like a makeshift container, ready to be shipped somewhere. raw and cool!

 

love the haphazard arrangement of the planks on the wall, with no apparent pattern. this would freak out those hardcore OCDs! but i love it! i would want it on my kitchen wall or something.

 

* * *

 

 

as usual, open our appetite with hot fresh buns. some people will look at this ‘one eye only’ hahaha but i LOVE complimentary breads! the BEST complimentary buns and bread i’ve ever eaten is at cheesecake factory. just gobble up and finish the black-colored bun – it’s SO good!

 

  

little feroz love fried calamari, so mummy peeja ordered this big plate. so take note that the portion is quite big so if you’re not too hungry or just looking for a light snack, this could be it! it’s classic crispy calamari, a big heap of tasty hand-breaded calamari with a tantalizing tartar sauce. i love fried calamari too, and these are freshly friend and SO good! not rubbery at all!

 

 

i took this good ol plate of gov’s fish & chips – fried in a classic batter, served with fried and tartar sauce. what can go wrong? fish too oily? batter too crumbly? nope. fish & chips at aprons & hammers is delicious! i personally prefer the batter rather than the bread-crumbs fish so this one is really satisfying! again, the portion is considerably huge so you can opt to share.

 

 

this is miami sunset fish fillet – dusted in crispy bread flakes; tender and crunchy on the outside. served with fries but bro joy opted for rice instead. sometimes you just cant take the rice out of someone's diet! hihi

 

 

and this glorious sight is the shrimp bucket. enough said. i don’t really like shrimps (except for tempura) but this bucket looks so tempting!

 

old friends & new friends. *hugs*

 

aprons & hammers is a rockin place to enjoy your favorite seafood with a wide selection of yummies to pick from. you can sit outside for the sea view and really take on the whole experience of munching shrimps or hammering crabs in front of the beach. otherwise, enjoy the cool decor and interior. best of all, not only is the food so delicious, but the large portion makes me so happy to come back for another seafood get together! 

aprons & hammers. the beach, JBR!

Pirate Adventure Maths Day @ Kahfi’s School

i applaud the school’s initiative to create fun themes when they organize english day or science day – and the did a good job having a pirate-themed maths day at school. i can see the kids totally enjoyed dressing up like pirates, holding their own treasure box with stuff inside to count!  

 

my little pirate kahfi. the pants has holes on the knees, so i just cut them off, and cut frills below the pants to give him the tattered pirate look! tie up my pashmina around his waist and voila! captain jack ‘kahfi’ sparrow! left the eye patch and parrot on the shoulder though!

 

i made him his treasure box, and printed out a few ‘money’ and also threw in some gold candy wrappers! looks authentic la kan haha.

 

 

i brought kazim along as the maths activities can certainly appeal to him too. there were many ‘stations’ all around the school, and each station addressed different types of maths problem – add and subtract, counting, puzzles and money transactions. i love it! parents can guide the children to various stations and play along with them. so no particular station was ever crowded and every activities went smoothly.

 

 

owh the boys had fun with this one – making pizza! count the number of pepperoni (red), cheese (yellow) or veggie (green) that you need, and then use glue to stick them on your pizza! (what’’s the blue color for i wonder?)

 

‘how many legs do two beetles have?’ is just one of the many questions printed on a laminated card on the table. most stations have these cards that students can read by themselves and try to figure out. it’s fun!

 

 

how many beads do you need for a 20cm string?

 

 

there was a puzzle station too. time yourself and see how fast you can complete the puzzle! kazim loves puzzle and he’s quite fast. he can concentrate well and just do the job. kahfi…haha kahfi is a bit impatient when it comes to puzzle. once stumped and unable to find a fitting piece he would just call it a day!

 

 

‘how long did you take to finish the puzzle?’ and even a sand timer is set on the table to keep you on your toes!

 

 

do you wanna make a pirate hat? kids learn to follow instructions, step by step.

 

 

my little pirates. kazim was not too happy with his pirate hat because it’s just made of folded newspaper. haha.

 

 

the end of pirate adventure maths day. we had fun! next maths day, lets do a business theme for kids dress up in little suit and tie, and three-piece suits for the girls. gonna be adorable!

Mother’s Day @ The Counter : Build Your Own Burger!

there’s a new burger place in walking distance at the beach JBR (jumeirah beach residences), and what better day to try it out than on mother’s day? thanks so much honey cookiedough for the delicious treat. if you feel i deserve it, it’s just because i have your help in my journey through motherhood. love always!

the counter is closer to the cinema, the same row as menchie’s and eggspectation.

 

my love and life. 3 superkids to call me Mak, and a sexy sidekick by my side through it all. mwah!

 

 

i was given a straightforward form to fill in – no frills, just a long list and little boxes to tick in. what kind of toppings i would like? what kind of bun i would want my burger on? preferred sauce? and most baffling of all – which cheese? cheese i’ve never even heard of like sharp provolone, smoked gouda, or tillamook cheddar whaaaaat?! to the usual ones like mozzarella, swiss cheese or blue cheese. just pick one CHEESE!

 

tekun mengisi borang macam nak apply keja. huhu. and we were dining outside with the view of a small part of JBR.

 

 

kids get a placemat with activities. always a saviour.

 

the form that i need to fill was even presented on a clip board! btw, burger on an english muffin? and 24 different sauces? wow! and peanut sauce?

 

 

cute little pencils available at the table to fill in the form

 

* * *

 

 

and after contemplating so long, THIS was the result! my juicy 1/3 beef burger with tillamook cheddar, organic mixed greens, segedabak avocado, and basil pesto sauce on the side. i must say that while the concept of building your own burger is very attractive, and all the ingredients are fairly fresh – i was not too wow-ed by the taste of the burger patty. it was just plain. tasty, yeah sure but no wow factor. for me, it tasted like any frozen beef burger i can buy from geant. pity.

 

  

apart from the built-your-own-burger bit, they also have burgers in their menu that has already been assembled! mr khairul opted for a simple one – beef burger on brioche style bun, with crispy onion strings, lettuce blend, sautéed mushroom, provolene cheese, ripened red tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes vinaigrette. he too found the taste of his burger ‘regular’. it’s simply – OK.

 

* * *

 

at the end of our experience at the counter JBR, we feel that it’s all anti-climax. well, yes the staff were courteous and helpful. yes the concept is so inviting when you know you can build your own burger; picking only the stuff that YOU like. and oh yes the burger looks juicy with fresh ingredients – but after a bite, it’s JUST ok. it’s a good burger, but there are others much better! in terms of tasty burger patty, burger fuel is still my number one pick. to me burger fuel has the best tasting burger patty! click here to read about my first taste of burger fuel!

but for a burger-freak, a regular burger is still a yummy experience for my tummy, so thanks again honey cookiedough for this mother’s day dine out. i literally couldn’t have done it (and the kids) without you! nyeh nyeh.

New Wallpaper at Bait Al Karam Mandi Restaurant

this is one of mr khairul’s favorite mandi places to get madfoon meat mandi. absolutely delicious and juicy. we always frequent this restaurant in discovery gardens because it’s the closest place to get mandi rice from our home. i’m happy to report that they revamped the place and now it looks so wonderful and more authentically yemeni!

click here to read my first review of the bait al karam mandi restaurant, and see the difference on their wall!

 

they added a beautiful wallpaper on the wall depicting sana’a, the capital of yemen. notice the unique identity of yemeni architecture – brown building blocks with white borders. simply beautiful. almost like gingerbread cookies with sugar lining.

 

 

 

sigh. yemen is so beautiful. the birth place of my favorite mandi rice. it has got character. lucky mr khairul. he has been there a few times already! may Allah protect this beautiful historical nation!

 

just look at that adorable building with red bricks and white borders! like a doll house! taken during one of mr khairul’s trip to yemen in 2013.

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

the wall decor changed, but the food is as good as always, and the staff there are always so friendly and helpful. bait al karam remains our favorite haunt for mandi rice in the discovery gardens area!