Tag Archives: Dubai Mummy blogger

Food

Hashi Japanese Restaurant | The Armani Hotel | Burj Khalifa – Best in Dubai

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We are totally spoilt in Dubai with some of the world’s most famous contemporary Japanese restaurants on our doorstep.  Japanese has to be my all time favourite cuisine but as a total foodie I am always seeking something unique.  Hashi is that place.

Now that I am sharing this I don’t think I will be able to ever get a reservation again because Hashi will be totally booked out going forward.  We were blown away first by the restaurant’s outside seating.  Some of you may have remembered the previous restaurant when it first opened,  it didn’t get much traction because of the cold restaurant design, but the new GM of the hotel has done wonders by creating outdoor seating underneath one of the world’s most famous buildings. The other magical feature is that Hashi has a stunning view of the fountains with the The Address Hotel Downtown as a backdrop.

Chef Jimmy, from Japan, heads up the restaurant.  He is a brilliant eccentric chef and brings to the table literally unique dishes and is creative in his flavouring of all his dishes like octopus tempura, wagyu beef served on a hobayaki leaf topped with foie gras and truffle and has introduced to me a part of the tuna that is far better than the usual sought after toro.  I don’t often care much for desserts but go for his coconut pudding.  Divine.  Moorish.

The restaurant is still some what of a secret (not after this post), as everyone still remembers the old restaurant.  But I do raise my sake glass and toast the good works of The Armani Hotel to turn round Hashi into one of the best Japanese restaurants in Dubai.  Two words: Date Night.

Travel

Scott Dunn for luxury travel especially for families

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Scott Dunn – the number one name in luxury travel.

Cost centre number 3 and number 4 definitely changed our travel plans forever.  However, my husband and I decided we don’t want this to stop us travelling as a family.  We feel strongly that travel, as much as we can, should be a part of the children’s childhood memories  and overall education.

We looked into Scott Dunn, a UK based luxury travel company, that has won many travel awards over the last 20 years of business as it remains a firm favourite with many travel magazines like Conde Naste Traveller. The agency also works with  great hotel brands that are well-established in the luxury travel market like the Mandarin Oriental, Six Senses, Four Seasons, The One and Only Group and many others.

Scott Dunn is expanding out of the UK, and they want to provide their unique service to newer markets, namely Dubai.  Package prices booked from Dubai and London will still be the same price you will be assured to know, and if there is a large enough booking, Scott Dunn will fly over a travel consultant to Dubai to help you make a more personal booking for large group bookings.  They have specialists which cover all the major regions like Africa, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Whilst they admit that they are not the cheapest travel choice on the market, they do have a reputation of providing the old adage of ‘value for money’, and they aim to take away the stress of travelling especially with multiple children in my family’s case. Scott Dunn works in a number of ways including organising holidays at luxury ski chalets in the Alps and villas in the South of France and Mallorca where they provide a private chef,host, and UK qualified and trained nanny during your stay.  If you child has a birthday party during that time they can organise anything from their favourite chocolate cake to a Harry Potter themed tea party if your child so wishes at no additional cost.  The price you pay includes the private staff, food and drink.

Scott Dunn can also organise couple retreats or honeymoons, and more importantly the occasional ‘great escape’ from the children.  They can plan bespoke trips to New Zealand for wine tours or book you into some of the world’s best restaurants; this is ideal if you are looking to do something unique over the upcoming Valentine’s weekend or more commonly a big 40th or 50thbirthday celebration for just the two of you.

Scott Dunn’s reputation has been built on family bookings with 60% of its business being derived from their unique ability to plan well for families especially those with as many cost centres as we do.   When the children are older it would ideal to do a safari in malaria free zones, or take a trip to New Zealand to explore but for the moment ski chalets would be ideal or a family holiday in a resort in Sicily.

Our family is excited about their service called Explorers kids clubs, where Scott Dunn run kids clubs at various luxury hotels around the world including NIYAMA in the Maldives. The Explorers kids clubs look after children from 4 years to 13 years, and Scott Dunn, themselves, organise UK trained and qualified nannies at the resort, with a ratio of one nanny to every two children under 2 years.  NIYAMA in the Maldives is the first kids club in the Maldives look after children below three years so that’s where we will be planning our next holiday with the children if time allows.

For more information go to www.scottdunn.com