I love Vimto. Growing up in Muscat in the 1980s, the drink was such an integral part of my childhood that I still can’t get enough of it, and always have a bottle of the stuff sitting around in my kitchen.
And so it was with eager anticipation one recent evening that I dragged my family all the way to Tawa Bakery at Al Raha Beach – the gluten-free cafe is offering special Vimto cupcakes (Dh17) right through Ramadan and Eid.
I went in half-afraid of being met with a cloying, sugary confection but to my relief, it turned out to be an incredibly grown-up affair. Topped with a small swirl of cream, a single fresh raspberry and a disc of dark chocolate imprinted with a quirky outline of the ubiquitous bottle, the cake was dense and moist, the right amount of sweet, and subtly flavoured with that unmistakable berry taste. It was so good, my son and I ended up fighting over it.
Tawa Bakery has other delicious Arabian-inspired desserts, too, including pistachio eclairs (Dh18) and rose cupcakes (Dh17). It’s totally worth the trip – get a table on the veranda and listen to the waves crash on the shore as you enjoy your sweets.
• Tawa Bakery is at Al Raha Beach, Al Muneera Island, Abu Dhabi. Open from 5pm until 2am during Ramadan. Call 02 556 6900 or visit tawa.ae
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