The concept of a blind tasting is one I’m familiar with – but Vox Gold Cinema in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates has given it a whole new meaning.
Intrigued by the cinema’s “movie and gourmet food nights”, I tried to make a reservation a couple of weeks in advance to secure the best seats and a decent film.
Here, the adventure began. It took quite a few attempts to reach the cinema because the number on the website was purely informational and redirected me to another number. Upon calling it, the line cut off when the “other enquiries” option was pressed. Unearthing and dialling yet another number put me in contact with a member of staff, who delivered the bemusing news that we could only find out which movies would be playing if we called back less than a week before we planned to attend.
Fast forward to the big day and my guest and I arrived on-site to buy tickets for a film called No Good Deed (a 2014 thriller, directed by Sam Miller, about an unstable escaped convict who terrorises a woman and her children).
Having made our selections from the menu at the kiosk, it wasn’t long before we were settling into our enormous, fabulously comfortable leather chairs. The staff helpfully showed us the full- recline button and handed us warm blankets to offset the chilling air conditioner.
And that’s when our “blind” tasting experience began. Our starters promptly served, we discovered that eating in the dark was a serious challenge – we had to keep using our phone screens to light up our plates, much to the annoyance of others in the cinema.
We also needed double the napkins provided. My companion’s nachos were distinctly average, with tasteless white cheddar and no evidence of the pre-ordered chilli con carne.
My seafood platter felt more carb-laden than fish-tastic, given that it was served with fries and burritos. That said, the kamikaze shrimp was delicious, cooked with the right amount of bite and heat on the palate.
Fifteen minutes later, our mains arrived, but we were still ploughing through the starters and hadn’t any room on our tiny shared table to put the new dishes.
Fumbling in the dark, we exchanged plates with our server and started on the chef’s signature selection: a mini cheeseburger, New York hot dog, club sandwich and Philly steak sandwich.
Both plates were served with fries and the best in class was probably the cheeseburger. The meals were starchy with little in the way of greens or garnish. We fiddled with the intricately stacked foods, slate plates and presentation baskets while longing for easy-to-eat bowls of pasta or fresh Caesar salads.
On the dessert front, my companion found the ice cream served with warm apple pie a decent sweet treat.
I plumped for the tasty and moist red velvet cupcake – but didn’t notice the black pot of chocolate sauce on the black plate, which made for a messy end to the meal.
While the idea of a movie-and-meal night is great, for it to be a success, the food has to be practical and the tables bigger. It didn’t help that our dishes were over-salted and, for the most part, deep-fried – which is arguably what you’d expect at the flicks, but we were hoping for other vegetarian, healthy and gourmet options.
For a weekend treat and a viewing that feels like a private one, the experience is a winner. On the food front, though, nothing can beat a good old tub of plain popcorn.
• A three-course meal for two at Vox Gold costs Dh211. Call 600 599 905 for more information. Reviewed meals are paid for by The National and conducted incognito
rmcduane@thenational.ae
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
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Book%20Details
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
Hot%20Seat
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Company%20profile
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England v South Africa schedule
- First Test: Starts Thursday, Lord's, 2pm (UAE)
- Second Test: July 14-18, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 2pm
- Third Test: The Oval, London, July 27-31, 2pm
- Fourth Test: Old Trafford, Manchester, August 4-8
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
In%20the%20Land%20of%20Saints%20and%20Sinners
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Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin