Once considered simple snack material, the humble chocolate chip cookie has risen through the ranks over the years, with numerous brands, bakeries and restaurants trying to perfect the baked treat.
Whether you’re looking for something to go with your evening tea or a decadent dessert, here are some places in the UAE to visit (or order from) for that ultimate sugar rush.
1. Ben's Cookies
If you're the type of foodie who turns a nose up at chain names, this one might change your mind. Ben's Cookies, a British import founded in 1983, can be found across numerous cities in the UK – and right here in the UAE. The brand specialises in soft, fall-apart cookies – baked fresh every day – filled with gooey, oozy pockets of molten chocolate. The key is in their use of chocolate chunks, rather than chips, which increases the ratio of chocolate to cookie dough to satisfying proportions, while the way the stores always manage to keep their cookies warm and still liquidy is a work of wizardry. Honestly, once you've had a Ben's Cookie, you'll struggle to eat a tough, hardened old chocolate chip biscuit again.
What cookie to order: The OG milk chocolate cookie (Dh12) is great for beginners, but those after a warming, spicy hit should try the dark chocolate and ginger (Dh12).
Where to find them: Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi; The Dubai Mall; Mall of the Emirates, Dubai; various opening times; benscookies.ae
2. Home Bakery
If you're craving a sweet snack, this home-grown chain of restaurants, founded by Hind Al Mulla, offers a veritable treasure trove of treats. While the long-reaching dessert menu is worth working your way through over time, Home Bakery's array of cookies is a good place to start. The signature here is a cracked, crunchy layer, which seamlessly morphs into a melt-in-the-mouth centre, with varieties ranging from peanut butter to marshmallowy s'mores.
What cookie to order: The Chewy Melt (Dh180 for 20) does exactly what it says on the tin, with a slightly crispy outside that gives way to a super-soft, moist, chocolatey centre. If you're after something with a bit of zing, the Dry Raspberry Cookies (Dh220 for 20) will do the job, speckled with freeze-dried raspberries and smooth white chocolate.
Where to find them: Al Wasl Road, Dubai; The Dubai Mall; Galleria Mall Al Barsha, Dubai; Dubai Design District; Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi; various opening times; homebakery.ae
3. Melange
This small-batch bakery was started by Le Cordon Bleu London-trained pastry chef Nadia Parekh in Dubai. With the tagline "cheatworthy desserts", this online bakeshop specialises in bespoke cakes and tarts, but it has also gained quite a reputation for its decadent cookies. The classic cookie features puddles of milk and dark chocolate chunks, sea salt and a chewy dough, while those looking for something offbeat can opt for the Hangover, which includes "all the leftovers in our kitchen thrown into a cookie". That means a classic cookie dough base, cereal clusters, marshmallows, sprinkles and, of course, chocolate. Real chocolate lovers, however, can't go wrong with the coffee-laced All Nighter. Once you're done with your cookies, you'll notice a message on the box that reads "sorry, not sorry"… and that's exactly how you'll feel.
What cookie to order: The All Nighter for a dense, chewy treat with dark chocolate chunks, sea salt and a hint of espresso.
Where to find them: You can order from melangeme.com (they deliver in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah). A box of six cookies costs Dh60.
4. Butter Salon
If you’re on the lookout for a cookie that will instantly satisfy your sweet tooth, Butter Salon may have the answer. The home-grown concept, which launched as a bakery in Wasl 51 in 2013, has a number of enticing baked goods, from a Nutella supersizedsupersize cookie that goes for Dh160 (personalised messages can be written on top) to colourful birthday cookies.
What cookie to order: The Nutella Seasalt cookie (Dh11) is a decadent creation that oozes Nutella when broken apart.
Where to find them: Butter Salon is located in Wasl 51; Dubai residents can also order online on Instagram through RadYes.
5. SugarMoo
This online delivery bakery is behind some pretty innovative hybrid desserts (including the cupookie), so you know it's the place to check out if you're looking for something offbeat. Kids, for instance, are sure to enjoy the "paint your own cookie set" while chocolate lovers can choose between Brown Sugar Babe (a Nutella-stuffed chocolate chip cookie) and the Chewy Chocolate Melts. SugarMoo also delivers cookie and milk combinations so you can enjoy your cookies they were meant to be eaten ... alongside a glass of the cold stuff.
What cookie to order: The red velvet Oreo crunch (Dh16), which is chewy on the outside but features the much-loved cream-filled biscuit within, is a winner.
Where to find them: sugarmoo.com; SugarMoo delivers in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
6. Pistachoux
Another online bakery that's racked up quite a reputation for its varied cookies is Pistachoux. Started by pastry chef Natasha Daoud, who finished her culinary studies in Florence before offering her own line of pastries, Pistachoux makes a range of interesting cookies, including a Nutella sea salt, Lotus cinnamon, chocolate peanut butter chip, Reese's peanut butter chocolate and a vegan tahini dark chocolate. The cookies are chewy, thicker around the middle than your average biscuit and extremely indulgent.
What cookie to order: The Valrhona dark chocolate chunk cookies (Dh10) with sea salt are worth a try.
Where to find them: The cookies can be ordered in Dubai via Chatfood or by calling 055 296 7545; pistachoux.com
7. Camel Cookies
This home-grown business started in 2013, and it already has six branches across the UAE and Oman. The brand was born out of a desire to give the heritage of the region a modern twist, which is why you'll find cookies such as date and saffron, and Nutella with Arabic coffee, on the menu. While their original is perfect for traditional connoisseurs, most of their other cookies feature a gooey centre enclosed within a crunchy shell, making them utterly addictive.
What cookie to order: The Kinder for a stuffed cookie experience, and the chocolate truffle if you're looking for something more classic. Prices start at Dh40 for six cookies.
Where to find them: The Dubai Mall; Al Khalidiya in Abu Dhabi; can also be ordered online at camelcookies.com
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg result:
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham
Tottenham advance on away goals rule after tie ends 3-3 on aggregate
Final: June 1, Madrid
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
Get Out
Director: Jordan Peele
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Catherine Keener, Bradley Whitford
Four stars
How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
UFC%20FIGHT%20NIGHT%3A%20SAUDI%20ARABIA%20RESULTS
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Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Second Test
In Dubai
Pakistan 418-5 (declared)
New Zealand 90 and 131-2 (follow on)
Day 3: New Zealand trail by 197 runs with 8 wickets remaining
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
UAE%20SQUAD
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
