August may be testing our relationship with the outdoors, but there are plenty of reasons to leave the house this week. Dubai has AED 10 dishes popping up across the city, Cinema Akil is screening everything from Scorsese to Studio Ghibli and mango season has taken over The Big Chill Café. Over in Abu Dhabi, there’s a new Mediterranean evening at Yas Links and a weekly quiz night worth assembling your smartest friends for.
Eat your way around Dubai for AED 10
Dubai Summer Surprises has brought back 10 Dirham Dish, which means AED 10 can get you surprisingly far this August. Running until August 30, the campaign spans more than 170 restaurants and 700 locations across Dubai, with each participating venue offering a specially selected dish for just AED 10.
The line-up covers just about every craving. There’s Chicken Siew Mai at The Noodle House, Cheese Rolls and Mix Gyoza at Sumo Sushi & Bento, Steamed Momos with iced tea at Shanghai Kitchen and Pav Bhaji at Mumbai Junction and Kailash Parbat. Dessert options include Mango and Matcha Bingsoo at Seoul Street Café, ice pops from House of Pops and Kids Scoop Sundaes at Baskin Robbins. Coffee runs are covered too, with AED 10 combinations at Costa Coffee and Caribou Coffee. No vouchers or advance bookings are required. Simply head to a participating outlet and ask for its 10 Dirham Dish.
When: Until August 30
Where: More than 700 locations across Dubai
Price: AED 10
Join CHUNK Bakehouse’s Summer Club
CHUNK Bakehouse is bringing back two limited-edition Dreamcakes for summer, and choosing between them may be the hardest part.
The Ube Coco Dreamcake pairs vibrant purple yam with smooth coconut cream for a sweet, nutty combination, while the Mango Lover’s Dreamcake layers vanilla sponge with mango cream and mango compote, finished with a white chocolate glaze.
Both flavours are available for a limited time and can be ordered across major delivery platforms, which also makes this perhaps the easiest activity on this week’s list. No leaving the AC required.
When: Available now for a limited time
Where: Available for delivery across the UAE
Catch a classic at Cinema Akil
There are worse ways to deal with an August afternoon than disappearing into an air-conditioned cinema for a couple of hours. Cinema Akil’s Summer of Classics continues at Alserkal Avenue this month with a line-up that jumps between some very different corners of cinema.
This week, you can catch Goodfellas and Rain Man until August 9, while Fantastic Mr Fox and The Killing of a Sacred Deer join the programme from August 11. The Grand Budapest Hotel and Groundhog Day follow on August 12, while Taxi Driver begins screening from August 14. Studio Ghibli favourite Spirited Away is also showing throughout the month.
Families have another reason to visit. Cine Mini continues its free weekend morning screenings through August, with Ponyo coming up on August 15, followed by The Tower, Smurfs: The Lost Village and The Angry Birds Movie later in the month.
When: Throughout August
Where: Cinema Akil, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
Price: Cine Mini screenings are free; Summer of Classics ticket prices vary
Make mango your entire personality at The Big Chill Café
Mango season has arrived at The Big Chill Café, and the restaurant has decided that one mango dessert simply isn’t enough.
Its limited-edition Mango Dessert Menu is currently available exclusively at the Dubai Hills Mall location, with the fruit making its way into cakes, sundaes, ice creams and drinks. There’s Mango Cream Cake, Mango Tiramisu, Mango Bavarian Cake and Mango Cheesecake, along with a Mango Pavlova Sundae and Mango Mania Sundae.
If cake isn’t calling your name, there’s also house-made Mango Ice Cream, Mango Raspberry Ice Cream and a selection of thick milkshakes, smoothies and yoghurt blends. The menu is only around while mangoes are in season, so this one comes with a fairly legitimate reason not to procrastinate.
When: Available now for a limited time
Where: The Big Chill Café, Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai
Put your general knowledge to work at Crafty Fox
That collection of completely useless facts living in your head may finally earn its keep. Crafty Fox at Yas Links Golf Club has launched a new Quiz Night, taking place every Thursday throughout August.
Teams will compete through a series of fast-paced rounds, with prizes including Sunday roasts and beer buckets up for grabs. The full food menu will be available throughout the evening, while Aperol Spritz is priced at AED 30 until 9pm. Upcoming quiz nights take place on August 13, 20 and 27.
When: Thursdays, 7pm to 10pm
Where: Crafty Fox, Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi
Spend Friday evening over Mediterranean mezze at Villa Sélène
Villa Sélène at Yas Links has introduced Oumsia, a new Friday evening built around sharing plates, Mediterranean flavours and live piano music.
The unlimited sharing-style menu starts with a welcome mocktail and includes dishes such as Fig Carpaccio, Stracciatella with Confit Heirloom Tomatoes, Crispy Halloumi Fries, Tagliata di Manzo and Cardamom Tiramisu. The evening runs from 6pm to 9pm, overlooking the greens and Arabian Gulf. Prices start at AED 240 per person, while two guests can dine for AED 390. Groups of five pay AED 960, with the fifth guest dining complimentary.
When: Fridays, 6pm to 9pm
Where: Villa Sélène, Yas Links Golf Club, Abu Dhabi
Price: From AED 240 per person
