In November 2023, Windstar Cruises embarks on voyages in a brand new region – the Middle East. As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar’s emphasis on elevated culinary experiences is a highlight of the cruise experience. Join us in the Middle East and uncover another of the world’s most delicious destinations for culinary travelers.
In Dubai, history and flavors come together in rich local specialties. Mandi is a dish of meat with spices over rice, often made with chicken or lamb. El Harees is similar to a porridge made of wheat and a little meat and is often served at special occasions. Fish is a staple of the diet and hamour is a popular type found in Dubai. Shwarma rolls are popular and consist of bread rolled up with meat, veggies and sauce inside. Meat eaters will enjoy kebabs – grilled meat on skewers. Don’t forget to try the delicious pita bread and dates.
There are so many other popular Arabian dishes to try. Need a snack while out and about on the street? Find a place serving falafel, fried balls made of chickpeas often served in a pita with tahini, a rich, sesame sauce. Tabbouleh and fattoush are two favorite vegetarian salads in the region. Fattoush combines tomatoes, cucumbers, radish, lettuce and pieces of torn or fried bread. Tabbouleh is a fine mix of bulghar wheat, mint, parsely, tomatoes and onion – a lighter salad but big on flavor. And you can’t say you’ve dined in the Middle East without eating traditional hummus (chickpea) and labneh (yogurt) dips.
King Kebab
Special Ostadi Restaurant
Al Mankhool Rd – Dubai, +971 4 397 1933
Follow the locals to Special Ostadi Restaurant, an Iranian restaurant specializing in traditional char-grilled kebabs in convivial setting. At the ripe old age of 36, the establishment is one of the young city’s longest running restaurants—and its down-home atmosphere is a welcome respite to the glitz and glamour that dominates much of Dubai’s dining scene. The pitas are fresh, the crispy lamb comes slathered in tangy yogurt sauce, and the aromatic mint tea is the perfect way to wash it all down.
Swanky Small Plates
Al Nafoorah
Jumeirah Emirates Towers | Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, +971 4 319 8088
Meze, the Lebanese take on tapas, are serious business in Dubai. For a taste of the city’s best, follow the beautiful people and businessmen to Al Nafoorah, a gleaming 5-star restaurant at the base of the impressive Emirates Tower in heart of the financial centre. The baba ganoush and shwarma will make you swoon and the kibbe nayyeh (minced raw lamb) is perfectly seasoned. But be warned: although you may want to eat everything, the portions are generous.
Explore these epicurean delights on the following Windstar voyages:
Lead image via Sergio Boscaino / Flickr
