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RASOI GHAR

The new Rasoi Ghar Restaurant

Read my review, watch the video and answer a question to win a meal for 2. All DoinDubai Subscribers can enter.

Indian breads

THE FOOD AT RASOI GHAR

Rasoi Ghar opened in May 2015 and serves traditional Kathiawar vegetarian food from Western India. There is a menu that changes every day, in some respect, but the framework is basically a couple of small starters, like Rasiya Dhokla, followed by a huge variety of Indian vegetables. All the vegetables are either dry fried or curry style with gravy served in little bowls in a Thali style arrangement. For me the highlight of the meal was the freshly baked Indian breads that were made from freshly milled millet, sorghum and wholewheat flours. I loved the fact the portions were small and everything had a distinct taste. I really liked the fact the food wasn’t too spicy and their chutneys and pickles had a real home made look and taste.

GOOD TO KNOW ABOUT RASOI GHAR

  • The thali type meals served at Rasoi Ghar are nothing like the South Indian thalis that are very popular here in Dubai. The food is completely different, but it’s still vegetarian. Green chillies, fenugreek and sesame are key ingredients in the cuisine
  • Kathiawar is a region that is North of Mumbai but South of Rajasthan and the food is an interesting amalgamation of both regions.
  • Rasoi Ghar would be a great choice if you had been shopping in Meena Bazaar or Bur Dubai and wanted to eat a really authentic, reasonably priced meal before heading home

Indian chutneys and pickles

THE AMBIENCE OF RASOI GHAR

Despite being located in Bur Dubai, the ambience of Rasoi Ghar is nothing like a typical Karama Cafe. It’s quite smartly decorated and the morning we visited it had a light and airy feel about it. The tables and chairs are not too close together either. That said, it doesn’t have an alcohol license.

Thali at Rasoi Ghar

THE LOCATION OF RASOI GHAR

Rasoi Ghar is located almost opposite the Bur Juman shopping center in Bur Dubai in a parade of small shops. Another landmark is the Park Regis Kris Kin hotel. There is some parking in front, but not much. You could drive to the right and try to find parking behind the restaurant.

It’s open from 12pm lunch time through till 11pm at night, but opens at 1. 30 pm on Friday as per Dubai Municipality rules.

The number is +971 4 388 5711 and their FACEBOOK page is up and ready.

COMPETITION TO WIN

DINNER FOR 2 AT RASOI GHAR

UPDATE 14th JUNE 2015 : This competition is now CLOSED! Thanks so much to everyone who took part, if you haven’t subscribed but have left a comment, I can’t enter you for the competition, so please do subscribe! Winner will be announced tomorrow! Good Luck! 

To win dinner simply

  • make sure you are a DoinDubai Subscriber (it’s FREE to subscribe) then
  • leave me your answer to this question in the comments section of the site:

 

What is the name of the traditional Gujrati

steamed vegetarian starter

that looks a little like a yellow savoury cake square?

The ‘savoury cake square’  can be made from semolina or gram flour and is often garnished with curry leaves sizzled in oil;  eaten with green chutney.

Watch the video to make sure you get it right!

 

I’ll let the Random Number Generator call the winner in 2 weeks. So on the 14th of June the competition will close with the winner being annouced within the week

THANKS

Monica

 

WELL DONE TO JACI AND YASHNA WHO BOTH WON A DINNER FOR 2 AT RASOI GHAR ! And thanks to Rasoi Ghar for being very generous and offering us 2 prizes!

 

 

 

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THE COST OF LIVING IN DUBAI 2014

How does the cost of living in Dubai compare to your home town?

How would you measure the cost of living in Dubai?

 

Why did I spend 600 dirhams (approximately 100 UK pounds) in Dubai ?

DoinDubai was thrilled to be asked to take part in the Global Cost of Living Blogger Project initiated by  ICE -International Currency Exchange – a well established UK Bureau de Change company with offices all over the world.

ICE awarded me 100 pounds and said SPEND, SPEND, SPEND…..in dirhams.

Food shopping

A basket of groceries is a good indicator of the cost of living in any country. What can you buy here that’s sensibly priced for regular ‘make at home’ family meals?

I bought:

  • medium salmon fillet (imported) Dhs 60.00 (Dhs 114 per kilo)
  • small red snapper fillet (from Oman) Dhs 45.00 (Dhs 69.00 per kilo)
  • 6 eggs (Omega 3 but not Organic) Dhs 9.00
  • 2 large bottles of fresh Vetal milk Dhs 18.00
  • bunches of coriander and mint Dhs 0.95 fils each bunch
  • half of a large watermelon (local) Dhs 10.00

There is a dual pricing system that goes on in Dubai supermarkets, it’s very overt and direct. This system has arisen due to the consistent demand for imported products. For example you can choose excellent local tomatoes from places like Oman at Dhs 5 a kilo or buy Dutch varieties at around Dhs 24 a kilo ! The same goes for products like watermelons, lemons, aubergines, pumpkins and pak choi;  a HUGE price difference for a variety of products. I often ask for local produce as these products are sometimes placed on hard to access shelves.

Fresh, green herbs are fabulous value here as are packets of chopped up onions and ready peeled garlic cloves. Buy without looking at the price, unlike shopping in my local London Waitrose! Smoothie lovers would do well buying frozen fruit rather than the expensive strawberry and blueberry ‘fresh’ imports, which can cost Dhs 25.00 or more for a small punnet.

Fresh herbs like coriander are so cheap in Dubai

A cup of coffee at our local Costa’s

Costa is instantly recognizable the world over. How much is a regular cappuccino in Dubai? A pretty acceptable Dhs 15 for a drink served at your table. In many coffee shops your choice of coffee comes with a glass of water and a little side kick of a cake or biscuits. Expect to pay anything from Dhs 22 – 27 for coffee with extras.

Coffee in Dubai can get expensive with extras

Trimmings from Meena Bazaar

The whole Indian shopping scene is so accessible here in Dubai so whether it’s for an Indian outfit or anything else you want to wear, have it made in Bur Dubai. I could easily spend vast amounts of money here, it’s craft and dressmaking heaven. But this time I limited myself to Dhs 140 on braiding, lace and some sparkly sequins. Recently there has been an explosion in haberdashery shops in Meena Bazaar. There  is now a small, new air conditioned mall called Al Fahidi which is where we had lunch after our shopping trip.   Watch the You Tube video to see what we had for lunch.

South Indian lunch in Bur Dubai

The South Indian diaspora here is huge, so with it comes their extremely authentic,  fresh, wholesome and tasty food. If you avoid the chappatis or puris and stick to rice then it’s wheat free and low in gluten as well. Lunch for 2 came to Dhs 30.oo with tips, water and coffee. Stick to coconut water if you need refreshment while you’re wandering around – Dhs 5.00 per coconut, cut so it’s ready for you to drink with straw supplied.

Car parking in Meena Bazaar isn’t easy and costs around Dhs 10 per hour (expensive for Dubai)

The cost of living in Dubai would be so much higher if you only frequented hotel buffet Friday brunches and DIFC global outposts for your meals out. 

A full tank of petrol 

We had to put this one in to the shopping cart as living in the Middle East means petrol is one commodity that is REALLY REASONABLE compared to the UK. Filling up a 4 wheel drive Volvo cost Dhs 120 for around 68 litres of “special” petrol, so that’s only Dhs 1.72 per litre and includes a service fee of Dhs 2.00. However driving vast distances even to do some basic food shopping is a necessity here despite public transport improving slowly. It’s very difficult for much of the population to walk to a local supermarket or school. So while petrol is cheap, we need a lot of it.  Taxi fares are also very reasonable relative to the UK. I spent Dhs 45 getting a taxi home from Dubai Mall to the Arabian Ranches, a distance of about 25km and 20 minutes or so driving time. The Dubai Metro is now well established and the tram is coming on line as we write this post!

 The cost of my day out came to just under Dhs 600. The basket included filling up my car with petrol, doing some grocery shopping, car parking fees, lunch for me and a friend, buying some trimmings, then a 20 minute taxi ride followed by some coffee nearer home.  What do you find really reasonable in Dubai compared to your home town?

Dubia taxis are still reasonable

Dubai Taxis will offer you a receipt if you ask
A Taxi Receipt

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THANKYOU

Monica

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DIWALI IN DUBAI

Diwali in Dubai

This year Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, falls on Tuesday 13th of November and Hindus all over the world celebrate the triumphant homecoming of Ram, his wife Sita and their brother Laxsman from a gruelling 14 years spent in banishment in the jungle.

What is the story of Diwali in Dubai?

Story has it that the night the weary travellers were returning was one without any moonlight to show the way, so villagers excited about the homecoming lit small clay earthen ware lamps using oil and wicks to make it easier for the travellers to navigate their way back.

How do people celebrate Diwali in Dubai?

So you’ll see many houses in Dubai lit up with tiny diyas in rows re enacting what the villagers did. Houses are often spring cleaned during this period so that good luck and prosperity can visit in the form of Laxshmi, families share gifts of money and new clothes as well organize huge Diwali feasts where authentic Indian varieties of burfi (sweet fudge made from ingredients such as milk, coconut, almonds, cashewnuts and sugar) and desserts like ras malai (a soft cheese based milk dumpling soaked in cream and pistachios) and laddoos play a starring role.

Diwali_in_dubai

The Meena Bazaar area of Bur Dubai was in full festive mood as early as last week with many shop fronts festooned with orange marigold flowers garlanding doorways. I explored Madhoors supermarket on Cosmos Lane, a treasure trove of everything you could possibly want for Diwali. From garlands, to intricate Rangoli pattern makers, vibrant rangoli colour for doorways,  handpainted clay diyas, shiny brass candle holders and all the paraphernalia linked to traditional worship at home at this time of year.

The fact that gold is now over 1700 dollars a Troy ounce hasn’t deterred people buying gifts of jewellery at this auspicious time, offers abound at major jewellery shops and gold is the colour of the season. Get down to Bur Dubai and experience Diwali in Dubai yourself. Gold bag any one? More on Meena Bazaar here.   And  THANKS for liking and sharing  this post from DoinDubai on Facebook.

Drop me a line of how you celebrate Diwali where you are and in the meantime to all doindubai readers:  warmest wishes for a prosperous and peaceful Diwali in Dubai and all over the world.

Monica.

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GOLD DIPPING JEWELLERY

Gold prices too high and you still want something shiny?  Take advantage of being in Dubai and just dip it ! The  spot price of silver per troy ounce (around 31 grams) is only US dollars 40.00, compared to the gold price currently US dollars 1791 per troy ounce.

You could take any silver piece of jewellery or buy something new such a chain or simple bracelet from a silver shop in Meena Bazaar. House of Silver is a very well established and reputable shop, select your item, have it weighed, pay the going silver rate and then take it round the corner to Royal Crown Jewellery who’ll give you an idea of the cost of dipping your item or really gold plating  it for you. Gold dipping is quite common in Dubai. If they’re not busy, they can do a same day service (sometimes takes only an hour or two, that you can spend having a snack at Rangoli Café on Cosmos Lane or simply browse around the fabric and accessory shops in Meena Bazaar)

And voila you have a new gold bauble, albeit dipped. In the past I have done this with silver ear rings, and a bracelet, the shine tends to wear off after a while but the dull mat gold finish look is fine and very affordable! It’s a great idea for making a really unique present for someone too and very practical if you’re travelling and don’t feel comfortable wearing real jewellery. Leave it to Royal Crown Jewellery to tell you whether your item is suitable for gold dipping or not and do take any jewellery that needs repairing and repolishing, all this costs a fraction of what it would in a Western European country. Take advantage of the long awaited cooler weather coming our way soon and get out and about in Meena Bazaar. Gold Dipping Jewellery is fun and easy, a good idea to do in Dubai. 

Additional Information:

House of Silver for silver jewellery and gift articles, Meena Bazaar in Bur Dubai, Tel 04 359 0073

Royal Crown Jewellery 

Near Raymond Showroom, in Meena Bazaar, Bur Dubai (straight on from House of Silver and turn left at Lobo tailors at the end of the road)

To get to Bur Dubai,

Turn right at the Dolphin Hotel on Khalid Bin Waleed Road (past the Bur Juman Mall) and park in one of the parking areas (Dhs 10.00 per hour)

Do wear sensible shoes and remember nothing is open till 10 am and there is a split shift system operating in this area, so all shops are shut between 1.30 and 4.30pm. AVOID ALL TOUTS tempting you to look at handbags, perfumes etc, just blank them and continue walking. Bur Dubai like most of Dubai is very safe but do dress sensibly.

Don’t forget to mention you heard about them from Monica at www.doindubai.com

 Do leave me a comment on whether this post has inspired you to try some gold dipping and let me know how you got on, and if you haven’t already done so leave your email address in the box in the home page and click to subscribe so you don’t miss out on more posts connected to shopping in Meena Bazaar including a trip down Temple Lane.

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