When Sydney sushi hotspot Toko landed in Dubai early last year, it didn’t do it quietly. With a certain Hollywood actor by the name of Will Smith spotted at the launch party, this joint was making headlines before anyone had sat down for so much as a squid nigiri.
Such a celebrity turnout was PR you couldn’t buy (surely the Fresh Prince would never do a dial-an-appearance? Although I’m less convinced that cash didn’t change hands when Kim Kardashian stopped by in November, and more than 300 people paid Dh500 to dine in the same room...). Whatever – after such famous faces, you almost feel sorry for the chefs, it being oh-so-easy for the starstruck to overlook what they’re eating. So with news the Vida Downtown spot had launched a new street-food inspired “boulevard menu”, a year on from the grand launch seemed a fine time for a return visit.
The new menu might have been inspired by market days of yore, but served in such elegant surroundings, it felt five-star all the way. Things began wonderfully with a deceptively tasty tomato, avocado and rocket salad, given a light but distinctive charcoal taste, and a tasty tuna sashimi fusion, the raw fish served on a small Italian crostini and topped with truffle speckles – trust me, it worked.
But it was the sushi platter which blew things out of the izakaya patch – a decadent, more-ish array of spicy tuna and California maki, artfully piled next to a mouth-watering sashimi selection served on ice. When it comes to sushi, clearly you wouldn’t expect anything but the very best from a high-end Japanese joint, and I’m pleased to report Toko didn’t disappoint – as is too-often the case at similarly priced competition.
More treats were to come, including some seasoned grilled asparagus, arranged with a minor feat of engineering prowess into a house-shaped stack, and perhaps the least-greasy tempura we’ve ever encountered. The highlight however again came from the sea, a beautiful grilled salmon served with tangy miso sauce.
Things were rounded off with a delicate desert selection including sublime sorbets, a light panna cotta and fresh fruits served dramatically on dry ice. It was impossible at this point not to flop back, content, and look back on a thoroughly satisfying meal. Four thumbs up.
Another piece of good news – Toko is currently hosting the grooviest band in the land, Abri & Funk Radius, every Saturday night. Stop by for their inimitably dexterous take on funk and soul classics. No, really, do.
Toko is open daily from 7pm at the Vida Downtown, Dubai. For reservations call 04 442 8383 or email reservations@toko-dubai.com.
RESULT
Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')
Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes
Cheat’s nigiri
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.
Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.
Deconstructed sushi salad platter
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v tba
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ETelr%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELaunch%20year%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202014%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E65%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20and%20payments%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enearly%20%2430%20million%20so%20far%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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