« November 2008 | Main | January 2009 »
Dubai: Come and join in on the Christmas Cheer with the Kid's Christmas Carnival at the Penguin Club, at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina! Call +971 4 3181315 for more details.
Another famed celebrity to visit the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina this month! Director Oliver Stone caught on camera here with Ciro from Ciro's Pomodoro and Managing Director Saeed Harib.
About Oliver Stone
William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American film director and screenwriter. Stone came to prominence as a director with a series of films about the Vietnam War, in which he had participated as an American infantry soldier, and his work continues to focus frequently on contemporary political and cultural issues, often controversially. His work has earned him three Academy Awards. His first Oscar was for Best Adapted Screenplay for Midnight Express (1978). He won Academy Awards for Directing Platoon and Born on the Fourth of July, both of which were centered around the Vietnam War. (Source: Wikipedia)
I remember seeing Live 8 in London. Requesting my manager to go see the Concert even though I didn’t have the tickets and half the show was done. I left work early had few pints and shots, little tipsy, no buses on the streets, the roads were closed, walked almost 4KMS to Hyde Park. When I was nearing the concert I could hear the bands playing and the people who didn’t have tickets sitting outside the park and savoring the moment. I wandered along and saw a few hooligans holding a branch and climbing over the 4Metre fence to get a bit of the action. I knew this was my day, I helped a few of them to climb over and finally I made it. Jumped into Hyde Park, I know someone started chasing me, but somehow I managed to fade away into the crowd.
By the way I am writing about the moment I really had the chance to meet BOB. I had a reservation for the 30th of November under the name of Michael Scully [General Manager], the notes being dining with “Celebrity Bob”. Straight away my question was is it Bob Geldof? Yes it was. It was joy throughout the whole Tang Team.
We were pumped up, the restaurant was ready by 18:00hrs even though it opens at 19:00hrs. The General Manager came by at 18:30hrs, I saw him a little nervous as well. He sat on the terrace, and then within 10mins came Bob. The moment has come for me to tell my grand children “I had a chat with Bob”. I popped Cristal Champagne, but Bob said just give me a Bordeaux wine. I served him a "Chateau de Pellerins”, Bob said spot on. He savored the wine with some 'blow torched Sashimi'. The conversation with his colleagues seemed less important and the food was more interesting to him.
After about an hour. We moved them to the Tang Bar, we started showing off our Molecular Nitrogen cocktails and he was like “what is wrong with you people”. After few cocktails we went to the table had his 6 course tasting menu. Whenever I passed his table I heard drum beats, I was thinking what song is he trying to play, has he brought his instruments with him. No it was actually the cutleries which turned into these instruments, and he had his entourage in rapt attention to his every move. As desserts arrived he started teaching his colleagues how to play music with a fork and spoon on the thigh. The tables around him were furious, but they didn’t know who was dining at the restaurant, because throughout the meal Bob had his back turned around from the diners.
As the day came to a close we gave our guest book for Bob to sign. I had a small chat with him. He enjoyed his first molecular Gastronomic experience. I was very happy to see a glow on Bobs face and the most interesting comment he made was Tang is like “Disneyland”.
As he walked out of Tang he went to the Piano in the Lobby and everyone was staring at him. It was a day Tang will always cherish.
- By Umash @ Tang
The Westin and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi staff members have teamed up to create a vocal choir that will be performing at both hotels during the upcoming festive season. The choir will debut on December 21st commencing at 7 PM each evening, and continue to delight until December 25th.
Featuring an international mix of male and female staff members from various hotel departments, the choir will surely fill the hotels with their harmonious joy, in true spirit of the season. Don’t miss this chance to enjoy camaraderie and energy that reflects the character and essence of Mina Seyahi.
Don’t know who let the French out to Dubai; except for one...Stephane Buchholzer at Tang Restaurant seems a wise decision. What was in the General Manager's mind when hiring a Frenchman to Le Meridien Mina Seyahi to have his own vineyard, no not really? To explode into the scene of Molecular Gastronomy in Dubai. Stephane from the age of 14 has been experimenting with the Science of Food. I can remember him talking to me about making mustard ice cream at the age of 15. It had been his passion from a younger age to experiment with the trade he loves. Tang uses products such as Liquid Nitrogen, organic chemicals such as Sodium Alginate & Glucco to deconstruct food to bring out its best characters or even to create a new characteristic. “What’s next on Stephan’s mind? ...Hommus on liquid Nitrogen served with espuma of Arabic bread”?
Tang is certainly growing in the scene of Molecular Gastronomy. Definitely a place to discover in the Middle East. And Dubai is 'happening' when it comes to the Restaurant scene. But is there any restaurant in Dubai to compete with Tang? If you've dined here before ask yourselves... if not it's about time you start thinking about it.
Check out Tang at Le Meridien Mina Seyahi ...for a night to remember.
- By Umash @ Tang
(Note: this piece means no offense to the French...who we think are lovely people!)
*Coolest cocktail on the Menu “Pisco Sour”
*Coolest dessert on the Menu “La vien Rose”
Some video links to an insider look at tang: