All areas of my life are deeply rooted in the idea that experiences rather than material things are what truly shape who we are. That is one of the many reasons why I am so vested when it comes to shaping experiences. While I still believe that underlying premise to be true, a Friday Brunch experience with my girls in the “Jewel of the Middle East” nudged me to reconsider how I approach making memories.
If you haven’t brunched in Dubai, you haven’t REALLY brunched! Sorry not sorry, but the brunch experience in Dubai is in a whole other opulent category of dining that pulls out all the stops. Kicking off the weekend with a bottomless brunch is a well-established Dubai tradition and let’s face it, brunch without champagne is just breakfast. A socially acceptable excuse for extravagant day drinking, brunching hard in Dubai involves much more than a Belgian waffle and a Bellini.
The first step for soaking up ALL of the FABULOUSNESS is to throwaway the idea of “Sunday Funday,” because weekends in the UAE consist of Friday and Saturday. Not wanting to miss out on one bit of the decadent brunch fun, I made being present to absorb every moment a priority. Whether I am in a meeting at work with co-workers, traveling or hanging out with friends; what really matters most to me is what happens in the moment. I often find myself questioning if in only being 40% present, do we sell the actual experience short? How does that impact the outcome/memory associated with that experience? I had made up my mind that when brunch started at noon, that I wanted be 100% present during that 4 hour block of time to share this elaborate experience with my squad, rather than only being 20% present and scattered doing multiple things at any given time (posting to IG, checking email and/or texting). Besides, it’s not every day that a girl drops $200 on brunch (ahem…that’s per person), so the internet and my emails could definitely be put on a much-needed timeout.
Much like the people, the food in this desert oasis is a melting pot of cultures. Remember that pacing yourself is key because the day-long brunching affair in Dubai is a marathon, NOT a sprint. As with anything else, simply diving into the brunch style dishes that were presented alongside Middle Eastern favorites could cause one to quickly become overwhelmed. Although the sumptuous buffet offered the perfect way to fill up on some delicious treats, my brunch squad and I eased our way into our meals, making sure that we checked out all the dishes available before we started to eat. Nonchalantly sipping champagne, we nibbled on steak, lobster, caviar, veggies infused with exotic spices, lavish pastries and rich desserts.
A picturesque reflection of Marie Antoinette decadence, the restaurant’s puffy lounge banquettes, glamorous chandeliers, and candy-striped chairs set the stage for a meal that made us feel like royalty. The staff’s attentive service left us feeling like the queens that we are as we embarked on our next adventure.
Boozy or not, brunch is always a good idea…as well as a great way to not be judged for eating cake before breakfast! Even on Friday!
“Travel is like a good, challenging book: it demands presentness—the ability to live completely in the moment, absorbed in the words or vision of reality before you.”
