Iftar delivered to home
We rounded up some of our favourite iftar destinations yesterday, but if you'd prefer to host an event at home and don't want the hassle of cooking for a big group, have a look at the Dubai-based catering company Epicure, which is offering a special Ramadan service. Pick from a wide variety of dishes (such as hot and cold mezze, fish with harra sauce, freekeh with lamb), and it will deliver the food to your door, along with drinks, soups, bread and dessert. Call 04 347 3808 or email info@epicurecatering.com
Ping Pong Room Service
No longer do lovers of Ping Pong's dim sum need to trek to Dubai Mall for a har gau fix. The restaurant has recently teamed up with the online ordering service Room Service Deliveries to launch a home-delivery service. If you're located in DIFC, Downtown Dubai or around the bottom end of Sheikh Zayed Road, you can place an order by calling Room Service Deliveries on 800 6788 or visiting www.rsd.ae anytime between 11.45am and 11pm. They guarantee delivery in 45 minutes or less and the service will operate during Ramadan.
Noble House closes down
We always liked Noble House, the high-end Chinese restaurant at Raffles hotel, not least because of the extremely dexterous tea pourer and the views of Old Dubai. It was, therefore, a surprise to learn that the restaurant and the adjacent RED Lounge have been shut down. We've since discovered that the closures are to make way for Tomo, an all-new Japanese restaurant due to open in October.
Catch the Olympics
If you're keen to catch some of the action from the London 2012 Olympics on a big screen and wouldn't mind snapping up a food and drink deal or two, then Spike Bar at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai might be just the ticket. The venue is open from 6am to 12am daily and eight flat screens will show key events, including the UAE vs Great Britain football match on the 29th. Dishes on the special menu include satay shots, chilli and five-spice calamari, fish and chips and the Spike burger. For reservations or more details, call 04 417 9999.
Suhoor at Atayeb
Should you find yourself out on Yas Island over Ramadan, then note that the Yas Viceroy is holding a rather pleasant-sounding suhoor at the Arabian restaurant Atayeb. The à la carte menu is filled with classic dishes, the room is traditionally decorated and there's also shisha, card games and qanun music. Iftar, meanwhile, is being served at the all-day dining restaurant Origins. Yas Viceroy, Yas Island, 02 656 0600.