Strawberry fields forever

"Let me take you down 'cause I'm going to... Strawberry fields... nothing is real... and nothing to get hung about..."

When you grow up between The City (Mexico City) and Central Mexico's strawberry fields, like me, you probably learn how to use strawberries in your everyday life: milkshakes, smoothies, desserts, starters, salads, etc. But I had to come to Italy to learn how to use them in a first course! So here's one of my favorite dishes, perhaps 'cause it brings back my childhood memories, perhaps 'cause it's soooo good and easy to make!:

Reds: Lacrima di Morro d'Alba

It's been a while since the last wine post, right? So here's another one!
Some time ago while driving around the Marche hillside, we got to Morro d'Alba, a nice little town between Ancona and Jesi, you might pass by while outlet shopping  in the area. We got to taste this delicious red wine with a particular aroma of berries, yummy! After a while, I got to taste an equally delicious risotto made of Lacrima wine, it made my love for Lacrima grow even more (one day I'll try to cook it, promise!).

The Lacrima di Morro d'Alba has been known since ancient times, its first historical mention was by Federico Barbarossa, in 1167, during the siege of Ancona. The inhabitants were forced to give the emperor their best possessions, including the famous juice of Morro d'Alba grapes. It became a DOC in 1985. 

Easy pasta

I came back from Dubai loaded with spices and seeds: coriander, curry mixes, pine seeds, burghul, etc. In fact, my kitchen cabinet smells like a spice souk now!
As you know, I love simple and quick recipes (who doesn't?) so, since I have a big box of pine seeds I decided to try a Castelraimondo classic (that would be a recipe I learned to make while I was living in Castelraimondo), pasta with rucola, tomato and pine seeds, so simple but so tasty and healthy.

My first 30's!

Here's a little collage I made to symbolize my first 30 years in this world...

... and if the next 30 are as great as these were, can't wait!!!

Dubai - Day 3

After breakfast we took a taxi to the Souk Madinat, an entertainment complex that includes a traditional Arabian souk (market) with plenty of shops, restaurants and bars, beware, abras here cost 60 dirhams, not the 1 dirham you pay for the real ones in the creek. We walked around, trying to get as close to the Burj al Arab as possible.

Then we took a taxi to JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residences, an area south of the Burj al Arab with lots of shops and cafés next to the beach. We didn't have our swimsuits on so we couldn't jump in the water, instead we walked to Dubai Marina, a nice artificial canal quarter, then we ended up in the Dubai Marina Mall (nothing special after seeing the Mall of Emirates and Dubai Mall, but worth visiting to go to Shakespeare & Co. for lunch or a cup of tea).

Jumeirah Beach

We went back to the hotel to get ready for a special dinner at the Burj al Arab.

entering the Burj al Arab

The Burj al Arab, the world's most luxurious hotel and one of the most photographed structures in the world, stands on an artificial island connected to Jumeirah beach by a private bridge. It was designed by a group of British architects and it took about 5 years to build. It has 202 luxurious two-level suites with jacuzzis, private butler and shopper, free use of the hotel's Rolls Royce fleet, etc.

You can only enter the property if you have a room or a reservation for dinner, afternoon tea, brunch, etc. So after some research online, I decided to book a buffet dinner at the pool restaurant, Bab al Yam (it was also the more affordable one at 325 Dhs, beverages excluded). I booked through the website of the hotel a couple of months in advance and I got an e-mail confirmation with the information and dress code (and a reminder as well) that has to be shown at the entrance to get through.
What can I say about the place? It really is amazing, luxury at its maximum expression: gold, lights, dancing fountains. We got there 15 minutes earlier so we could walk around the lobby and common areas. All polished clean, perfect; even the elevators smell delicious; bathrooms have fresh orchids and Hermés hand lotion.

floors

elevators

The Bab al Yam is the poolside restaurant, in the ground floor (you get there through the elevator). You are greeted warmly by the waiters who give you a tour of the buffet: mongolian barbeque, seafood (delicious lobsters all you can eat!) international dishes, sushi, Arabic mezes, cheeses, desserts and ice cream. Everything was delicious, the waiters were very attentive and polite, I just wish I had eaten more of everything! After dinner we walked around the pool and gardens, it was really a nice experience to finish our trip to Dubai.

The folowing day we shopped for sourvenirs in the Mall of Emirates and headed to the airport. Loved Dubai, wish to come back soon!