If the idea of breaking your fast on the shores of the Aegean Sea, with the tiers of Santorini's whitewashed buildings serving as a backdrop, is a bucket-list meal, there is a destination closer to home serving exactly that this Ramadan.
While a trip to the Greek island should remain firmly on travel 'to do' lists, visiting the Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat for a sunset feast is a more realistic approach for most budgets.
This week I swapped Aegean backdrops for the Arabian Gulf, for a Ramadan Designer Dining iftar at the Ghantoot hotel.
First impressions
After turning off the E11 and winding my through the roads of Ghantoot for about 15 minutes, I arrived at the hotel. It was my first visit to the 22-room resort, which opened in early 2024, and to say the entrance rendered me speechless isn't hyperbole.
Arriving in time for iftar ensured I was there for the sky's dazzling sunset display. Watercolour-perfect hues of red, orange, blue and purple greeted me as I stepped into the lobby and continued to impress as I wandered through the winding passages of the hotel, which was built to resemble a charming Greek town.
Throughout Ramadan, the hotel is hosting a daily iftar poolside at Arabic restaurant Oia Oasis. An oud player serenades guests as they dine from the expansive buffet selection and admire views over the swimming pool and the sea. The hotel is also hosting Ramadan Designer Dining packages upon request, which take iftar out of the restaurant and down to a private cabana on the beach, for a truly special Ramadan meal.
My friend and I were shown down to the beach, where we wandered through the sand and arrived at our private dining destination for the evening, an intimate majlis, set up with cosy sofas and a round table looking out to the sea.
Breaking fast
The table was laid with bottles of water and a bowl of dates, ready to be eaten as the sun set. What followed was a set menu, with culinary highlights from across the Middle East and North Africa.
It wasn't long before our friendly waiter, Myo, had crossed the beach with a tray of mezze dishes. Served in small bowls, we dined on tabbouleh, hummus, fattoush, vine leaves, labneh and mutabal. A second tray then followed with speciality dishes from Morroco. The zaalouk, an aubergine and tomato dish, was a personal highlight, while my friend particularly enjoyed the charmoula baby marrow – mini root vegetables, stuffed and marinated in garlic, cumin, coriander, oil and lemon juice. A warming lentil soup followed, which was a welcome treat as the breeze on the beach had a sharp edge.
For mains, we dined on meat and fish prepared on a charcoal grill. Shish taouk, beef kebabs, harissa-marinated lamb cutlets and enormous Gulf king prawns adorned the table. My personal highlight was the prawns, which were smoky but succulent. The lamb chops had a delicious kick.
The feast did not end there. A beef tagine was then brought to our table, with cinnamon and almond couscous, with a moussaka. I went in for seconds of the warming moussaka, prepared with layers of aubergine, chickpeas and sliced tomato, warmed up with fragrant allspice and cinnamon. The only negative of the beachside dining location is the distance from the kitchen. It's a fair walk for the team and the breezy night meant that some of the food was on the cooler end of the scale by the time it had arrived at the beach.
No Arabic iftar is complete without Umm Ali for dessert. The homely classic dessert was packed full of dried fruit. Despite being full to the brim, I had a generous second serving over a cup of peppermint tea.
The setting
In terms of convenience, the Anantara Santorini Abu Dhabi Retreat is a box-ticker for both Dubai and Abu Dhabi residents, roughly located halfway between the two emirates. I felt like I had been on holiday, despite being little more than a 30-minute drive from my house.
The intimacy of the Ramadan Designer Dining package will appeal to small groups or couples, looking for a private iftar experience. For me, it was a lovely space to catch-up with a friend, while taking in the natural beauty of Abu Dhabi's beaches.
How much it costs
Oia Oasis is a crowd-pleasing iftar, which serves up classic Arabic dishes, with a generous helping of Santorini-dupe views. Both the Oia Oasis and Ramadan Designer Dining iftars are running nightly from sunset to 9pm until March 29. Oia Oasis costs Dh400 per person, and the Ramadan Designer Dining packages cost Dh2,500 per couple, accommodating up to 10 people in the private cabana. A Dh400 suhoor follows at Apollo Bar from 9pm until 1am.
This review was conducted at the invitation of the hotel
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Rating: 5/5
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There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
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3. Global trade war
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4. Eurozone uncertainty
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The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
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Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
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Torque: 859Nm
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On sale: Now
NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
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Nutritional yeast
This is Firth's pick and an ingredient he says, "gives you an instant cheesy flavour". He advises making your own cream cheese with it or simply using it to whip up a mac and cheese or wholesome lasagne. It's available in organic and specialist grocery stores across the UAE.
Seeds
"We've got a big jar of mixed seeds in our kitchen," Theasby explains. "That's what you use to make a bolognese or pie or salad: just grab a handful of seeds and sprinkle them over the top. It's a really good way to make sure you're getting your omegas."
Umami flavours
"I could say soya sauce, but I'll say all umami-makers and have them in the same batch," says Firth. He suggests having items such as Marmite, balsamic vinegar and other general, dark, umami-tasting products in your cupboard "to make your bolognese a little bit more 'umptious'".
Onions and garlic
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Your grain of choice
Whether rice, quinoa, pasta or buckwheat, Firth advises always having a stock of your favourite grains in the cupboard. "That you, you have an instant meal and all you have to do is just chuck a bit of veg in."
Points to remember
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- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
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Jewel of the Expo 2020
252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome
13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas
550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome
724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses
Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa
Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site
The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants
Al Wasl means connection in Arabic
World’s largest 360-degree projection surface
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