Monday, March 21, is Mother’s Day – and what better way to show your appreciation than with food? Stacie Overton Johnson rounds up the best places for a feast to remember.
Dubai
La Farine Cafe & Bakery in the lobby level of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is doing a traditional afternoon tea featuring the cafe's signature tea brand, Tchaba, along with French bites including mini chicken tartine canapés; mini egg-and-truffle canapés; red velvet cake; and macaroons. Mum eats free alongside two paying adults.
Also in the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, try Kitchen 6, where chefs will serve a dinner buffet free for mum if accompanied with three paying adults. The buffet features Asian woks, Middle Eastern grills, European breads, Indian tandoors and street food.
• Afternoon tea is from Friday to Monday, 3pm to 6pm; Dh250 per couple. Dinner buffet is available on Monday, Dh195 per person. For reservations, call 04 414 3000
Dubai
Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah has a celebratory brunch, where mums will receive 50 per cent off their brunch package. Dishes include the famous Waldorf salad; eggs Benedict; red velvet cake and bites from the hotel's signature restaurants: Social by Heinz Beck and LAO.
• Friday, Dh345 per person. For reservations, call 04 818 2222
Dubai
Mistral restaurant in Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Dubai is putting on a Middle Eastern buffet dinner with traditional grilled meat, cold and hot mezze and desserts. There will be raffle prizes awarded including vouchers for the hotel's restaurants; cake and flower bouquet packages and spa vouchers.
• Monday, 6.30pm to 11pm. Dh199. For reservations, call 04 444 5613
Dubai
Dine with the whole family at The Farm in Al Barari. Mum will receive flowers, and a free drink and dessert.
• Monday, 7.30am to 10.30pm. For reservations, call 04 392 5660
Dubai
All mums dine free at Al Nafoorah in Jumeirah Emirates Towers, which has a four-course menu of Lebanese dishes. Start with the cold mezze, including hummus, moutabal and tabbouleh. Hot mezze includes meat sambousek, fried kibbeh and spinach fatayer. For mains, choose from a mixed grill, frikki bel lahem, or vegetable maghmor. Desserts include Arabic sweets and a fruit platter.
• Monday, noon to 3.30pm; 7pm to 11.30pm, Dh120. For reservations, call 04 432 3232
Abu Dhabi
Head to BouBouffe, a newly opened Lebanese brasserie in Yas Mall. All mums dining in will receive a gift and a complimentary dish from the Lebanese dishes or the charcoal grills menu (if the bill is above Dh200).
• Monday, 11am to midnight. For reservations, call 02 448 7474
Abu Dhabi
Cipriani Yas Island is offering a four-course dinner overlooking the marina. Highlights on the menu are octopus and potato salad; baked tagliolini with turkey ham; pan-seared salmon; braised veal short ribs and a fruit tart for dessert. The a la carte menu is also available. Ladies receive a complimentary beverage.
• Monday, 6pm to midnight. Dh370. For reservations, call 02 657 5400
Abu Dhabi
Mums dine free when accompanied by their kids at The St Regis Abu Dhabi's signature Italian restaurant Villa Toscana. The offer is available from noon to 3pm and from 7pm to 11pm. Or try The St Regis Mother's Day afternoon tea at Crystal Lounge. For Dh160, feast on afternoon tea favourites from 2pm to 6pm while the tea sommelier prepares a bespoke tea infusion from 25 types of loose leaf teas.
• Offers available daily until March 31. For reservations, call 02 694 4444
Abu Dhabi
Iris Yas Island has a Saturday picnic brunch. The picnic-style barbecue brunch will have live cooking stations, salad bars and signature drinks on offer. As a thank you, all mums will receive special treats.
• Saturday, noon to 4pm. Dh200 with soft drinks; kids eat free. For reservations, call 055 160 5636
Abu Dhabi
Enjoy Arabian-style tea on the terrace at Atayeb in the Yas Viceroy hotel. Take in views of the marina while filling up on sweet and savoury bites – try the fig-and-apricot millefeuille; mini zaatar croissant; saffron-and-camel-milk panna cotta; pistachio-and-raspberry tart; and golden date cake.
• Monday, 2pm to 6pm, Dh195. For reservations, call 02 656 0600
Mum-and-child specials
Cake decorating
Bloomsbury’s will host a special “mum and me” cupcake-decorating experience at all of its branches on Saturday from 10am to noon. It is also serving special themed cupcakes in three flavours: red velvet, chocolate and vanilla with buttercream icing. Available until Monday, Dh16 each.
Visit ilovebloomsburys.com
Mum-and-child specials
Sushi-making
Mikado Cafe in Khalidiya, Abu Dhabi is offering a mum-and-child sushi-making experience on Monday, from 6pm to 7pm. Chef Fabio Nakazato will demonstrate different types of sushi, sashimi, uramaki and hosomaki preparations. Then the mums and kids will get busy recreating what they’ve learnt. The experience is free and limited to 10 mum-and-child teams.
• To sign up, call 02 667 7557