Guest Post: A Trek to Dry Dubai

By: Joi-Marie McKenzie

How in the world did I end up in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates? Well, after my linesister Felice invited me to visit her, I didn’t hesitate. Great! Coming! On my way! I booked one seat on a direct flight to Dubai International Airport. The thought of traveling 12 hours alone on an airplane actually sounded like heaven, and thanks to Emirates Airlines I watched every single Oscar-nominated film, ate great food and drank really strong coffee. (If you travel to UAE, only travel Emirates. You’ll thank me once you get off the plane.)

When you think of Dubai, you think of the desert so we headed there first. We booked an Arabian Nights Tour that picked us up from the hotel. We drove about an hour out to the desert where our SUV surfed sand dunes. Yes, surfed! We rode up and down on sand and it felt like I was spending an afternoon at a Six Flags’ rollercoaster. If you get car sick like me (ugh!), you may want to tell your driver to take it easy. I didn’t and thought I was gonna’ throw up, but the overwhelming nausea feeling was definitely worth the ride. After stopping to take pictures of the sunset falling over the desert, we drove to an open arena where we rode camels, got henna, smoked hookah and ate lots and lots of food. We also drank wine…in moderation.

Dubai isn’t big on drinking. If you’re seen publicly intoxicated, you could be driven straight to jail or be deported. So needless to say, don’t come here if you want a good cocktail. (I’ll explain more about this later. Tip: A friend who traveled to Dubai ahead of me, told me to pack a small bottle of my favorite spirit. Luckily I listened so I was able to cheaply pregame before we headed to the club.)

A great way to see all of the sights in Dubai is the Big Bus Tour. We were able to hop on and off to see the Dubai Museum, the Gold and Spice Souks and all of the malls, including the Dubai Mall and the Mall of Emirates.

Dubai is known for its luxury so I couldn’t leave without seeing the only seven star hotel in the world, the Burj Al Arab. I would definitely suggest having afternoon tea there, which lasted us about four hours as we dined on six courses. The service here was impeccable, and it should’ve been as tea here will cost you around $200 US dollars. It’s worth it. Trust. me.

View inside the Burj Al Arab

As I was saying before, cocktails here are reaaaaaally expensive. I suppose it’s to deter you from drinking heavily. An average cocktail at the Burj Al Arab cost anywhere between $50 and $70 US dollars — for one! I won’t complain about a $13 martini ever again.

My one drink at Burj Al Arab

And of course, Dubai is known for the Burj Khalifa — the tallest building in the world. Do it to say you did it, but if you miss out on going to the top you’re not missing much.

Ladies, if you happen to be in Dubai on a Tuesday night, you’re in luck because it’s ladies night! And oddly enough, ladies drink for free at the Cavalli Club. Just one drink though! We were also given gift bags…in the club’s bathroom. And the bathroom also had an attendant there giving massages! Fancy.

If you go to a Dubai nightclub, ditch the touristy flip flops and dress to the nines. Dubai women love their fashion, so don’t feel like you have to be conservative at night (when headed to the nightclub). Just bring a pashmina or a scarf if you feel the need to cover up once you leave.

In all, Dubai was a trip of a lifetime. I can’t wait to go back with my family to experience other parts of the UAE.

2014 National Harbor Wine and Food Festival Recap

By: Christie Cooper

As soon as I received my souvenir wine glass for the National Harbor Wine and Food Festival, I knew the day would be filled with great spirits, delicious food, and good times. The wine glass was the key to exploring and tasting the plethora of beers, liquors, and wines on display.  When I crossed the entrance into wine lover and foodie heaven, I began my mission – to find a new wine to take home and enjoy.  By the end of the festival, Far Eastern Shore Winery’s (Maryland) Ruby Wine helped me to accomplish my goal.

Located just minutes from Washington, DC, National Harbor is located in Prince George’s County, Maryland on the Potomac River. There was a great variety of samples to choose from – dry, off-dry, and sweet wines, hard ciders, vodkas, and whiskeys. There were also food trucks, vendors, and a stage for food presentations, but alcohol seemed to be the focus of the festival.  One of the many highlights for me was smoking (but not inhaling) a Grand Marnier infused cigar.  It was surprisingly delicious.

My first sample was one of my favorites, Cupcake Wines’ (California) Moscato D’Asti. This refreshing wine contains flavors including peach, tropical fruits and lychee.  Yum! Another familiar brand but one I’ve never tasted, my second sample was the low-calorie Skinnygirl cocktails.  I sampled the Sweet N’ Tart Grapefruit Margarita and White Cranberry Cosmo; two ready-to-serve cocktails and equally delicious.   Although both are low-cal options, they do not have a low-cal taste.  Anytime I can enjoy an alcoholic beverage without worrying how many pounds I’ll gain, it’s a winner in my book.

On the spirits side, I really enjoyed Tito’s Handmade Vodka, which is produced in Austin, Texas.  The vodka was smooth and when mixed with ginger beer, it was a simple, yet delicious cocktail.

Another light, simple, summertime drink I sampled was Woodford Reserve Bourbon Whiskey and Crystal Light Peach Tea. Woodford’s Distiller’s Select variety is handmade in small batches, which gives it a crisp taste.  While sampling the whiskeys, I made sure to get a picture with none other than Mr. Jack Daniels himself.

As I continued making my rounds, I came across Pinnacle Vodka’s line of flavored vodkas and sampled Strawberry Shortcake, which I was told is among the most popular flavors.  The Strawberry Shortcake  was indeed very reminiscent of the dessert, and so smooth that it really didn’t need a mixer.

Other new favorites of the day were The Winery at Olney’s (Maryland) delicious fruit wines.  I sampled the Blackberry Merlot, Peach Chardonnay, Watermelon White Merlot, Green Apple Riesling, and Cranberry Shiraz.  It was difficult to select my favorite, but I narrowed it down to the Peach Chardonnay and Cranberry Shiraz.  I’ll soon add those to my collection of newbies.

If you’re in the area next year, I’d definitely suggest going to the festival.  You’ll come away with having tried many local and national wines and spirits.  It seems well-worth the $40 General Admission fee.  Cheers!

Photo Credit: Christie Cooper and wineandfoodnh.com