Foodle

Potato au Caviar @threebros_kitchen @m.orfali 🔥🇦🇪
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Lunch at Three Bros didn’t disappoint. The menu is a mash up of middle-eastern, Mediterranean and Japanese influences - lots of interesting plates split into 1-bites, cold, hot and pide. It feels fun and casual, but the cooking here is serious. The potato au caviar was the first bite and really set the tone. A perfectly crispy hassleback with smoked creme fraïche and a glistening dome of oscietra caviar. The ultimate bite. The morel chawanmushi was sensational too - the creamiest mushroom custard layered with truffle, hazelnut and chive. Delicious. The adobo chicken wings from @orfalibros_bistro remain one of my favourite bites in Dubai and was v happy to see these being served here! De-boned, stuffed with rice, then glazed and charred till sticky. Incredible depth of flavour in these wings, love them. A must! The otoro with tuna garum and finger lime was another standout. Ultra fatty tuna that was melting onto the plate, shaved paper thin. The bursts of citrus really made this one pop. Plenty of clever flavour pairings across the menu, but what makes this place special is how relaxed it feels. Refined food served in a room with energy and buzz - the balance is spot on. That PB&J is the only way to finish. #notoriousfoodie 🙅🏽‍♂️ Less

Surf n Turf @thefatbadger_w10 @fedbygeorge 🌚
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Always a good time in here. A dimly-lit and elegantly styled dining room built around a customisable set menu that’s full of surprises. The produce is hyper-seasonal, so expect dishes that showcase ingredients at their peak. This surf n turf was a standout - a beautifully pink fillet of beef paired with half a lobster and drenched in beef jus. It’s what every surf and turf wants to be - hearty, in your face and bold in flavour. The carefully de-boned, crispy chicken wing was another one of my favourites as was that spicy sweetbread taco that was crispy on the outside but melted like butter in the mouth. Good to see the return of the mighty hassle-back too - I’ll need to throw up a recipe for these this holiday season, so stay tuned for that. Dessert ended on a high - went for them all but the dirty choc mousse that stole the show. Delicious all round. Great cooking, great vibes 👏🏽 Less

The middle child, (according to ChatGPT), usually creates their own identity, acts as a natural mediator, stays adaptable, reads people well, and is quietly overlooked.

Let’s see how Middle Child in Alserkal stacks up.

Independent:-
Not just a restaurant, but also a well-stocked bookstore, showcasing dozens of culinary titles - from McNally’s I Regret Almost Everything to Lopez’s The Food Lab.

Add to that an eclectic range of gourmet pantry items with quirky handwritten labels and suggested recipes, and you start to see the shape of its personality.

The menu is actually quite simple, almost café fare - a contrast to the abundance of culinary inspiration living on the bookshelves.

A club sandwich, cheesecake, roasted potato salad, Labneh Yuzukosho - comfort food that did the job - not trying to impress, just doing its thing. Totes independent.

Diplomatic:-
Middle Child was full of the most eclectic mix of diners - from the conservative to the flamboyant, a full spectrum of religions, cultures, professions, and beliefs - as if we were all about to star in a Benetton advert.

Only a true middle child could smooth tensions, connect opposites and read people this well.

Empathetic:
The soundtrack alone told you Middle Child understood people - a blend of lo-fi groove, soul, and cosmic cool that dialed itself in perfectly to the room’s collective mood.

The Serb and I were showing our age; one of us (can’t remember who, but it wasn’t me) commented on how loud it was. Then, in a brief pause between tracks, we discovered they also own the world’s loudest blender.

Adaptable:
7 p.m. and Middle Child was full. Maybe people waiting for the traffic to die down, but Middle Child’s ability to respond with the day is undeniable.

Coffee stop, counter lunch, makeshift office, dinner with friends, retail browsing, quiet read, quick takeaway - Middle Child has found the sweet spot.

Overlooked:
If middle children grow up fearing they’ll be overlooked, Middle Child at AlSerkal can rest easy. A cool, casual little spot, with bags of personality and charisma - no one’s overlooking this one. Less

Kataori. Kanazawa. late May 2025. Pinnacle.
片折さん。5月。最高峰。

蓬の新芽豆腐(蓮子粉) 蓬天ぷら
本日上がった小鯛のニュー麺
お造り　赤貝　鯵　イカ
アスパラ　白海老　あられ揚げ
一塩甘鯛　叩き蕨　花茗荷
一寸豆　(小鯛　さより) 手綱鮨　甘海老のコノワタ掛け
真魚鰹　塩麹焼き
蛤の小吸物　スナップエンドウ
スズキの千草巻
よせ豆腐　鮑　キクラゲ　鰻
鯵
甘鯛
新生姜蕨餅

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#kataori #travel #japan #food #top #restaurant Less

Doujin, Kyoto, Early June 2025. Pinnacle.
道人さん。6月。京都の頂点の一角。
スモモのリキュール
水無月胡麻豆腐
鬼鯵棒鮨
鮑　冬瓜
アオリイカ　伊勢海老　淡路鯛
白芋茎　葛ひき
白甘鯛　三度豆(インゲン)
由良紫雲丹　毛蟹茗荷　オクラ
淡路の鱧
ノドグロ　梅煮
ココナッツ蕨餅　白餡
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#doujin #travel #kyoto #food #top #restaurant Less