How many of you long for that jump start to your day? I'm guessing more of us than not. If you are like me, then chances are you are grabbing sips of your tea or coffee as you rush for the door and head out to work. Thankfully the UAE is never short on choices. Set in a contemporary environment with walls covered in bottle green tiles and enhanced by the bold patterns of the upholstery, tashas Al Barsha vows to transport every guest to the elegant and classic backdrop of Le J

So we have moved to a three day weekend in this part of the world. Something no one could have predicted two months ago. Friday, Saturday and Sunday off. So I did what I wanted to, binged on Netflix. Of course, you don't always come across gems on these platforms but there it was, the After Life trailer beckoning me to watch and so I told myself I would give one episode a go only to be sucked in to the entire first season without pressing pause. To my own surprise, Ricky Ger

If you are a gamer, chances are you are pretty clued in to the latest that is on offer. BenQ’s 240Hz esports monitor, the XL2546K sports a 0.5ms grey to grey response time and comes with useful eye care features to offer a great combination of gaming and utility together. It comes with the DyAc+ technology, Black eQualizer, Color Vibrance and all the exclusive features from BenQ Zowie that gaming enthusiasts have become used to expecting. The XL2546K is equipped with a 24.5

At first glance, the BENQ GV30 resembles a trendy radio speaker. The LCD smart mini projector is equipped with an Android TV dongle for streaming and Chromecast. It offers wireless projection. Offering a 135-degree projection angle and USB connectivity this package can be purchased online for approximately Dhs. 2,199. There's no stopping you from projecting the image on your living room ceiling if that is what you fancy. We rewatched the Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker classic Rush

There's nothing like a sweet treat to brighten up your day. If you haven't tried House of Pops, the brightly coloured vegan popsicles, you are definitely missing out. These plant-based, super tasty, sustainable treats contain just five ingredients - water, organic agave, fresh lemon juice, natural vegetable fibres and activated charcoal. Its winning recipes are the secret behind its hand-crafted ice pops. My personal favourite is the bright yellow Mango Strawberry flavour. Th

With temperatures dropping the best part of the year is finally upon us. It is time to dig out those lawn chairs and head outdoors. One of the best experiences I enjoyed with my children is the outdoor cinema. We watched Despicable Me under the stars and it was simply perfect. VOX Cinemas, the dedicated cinema arm of Majid Al Futtaim, has announced that their open-air movie experience, outdoors, will return on Thursday, 28 October. Located on the rooftop of Galleria Mall, it

International singers Khalid and Lewis Capaldi to headline the after race concerts at 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. I was driving to work when the Radio presenter broke the news of the artists performing at this year's after race concerts at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It is a much awaited event. Visitors from around the world gather to the state of the art circuit to get a glimpse of their favourite racers at this adrenaline rush of an event. Set to begin on December 9 and running ti

by Daniel Mathias The BenQ Screenbar is one very astounding piece of technology. It is a simple slim piece of aluminium that can produce a 1000lux-bright LED light at a height of 45cm, which really brightens up a desk or workspace. Some people might argue that it's just a desk lamp, but more often than not, it provides some exclusive features that you'd never think you'd need on a computer monitor light. For starters, it has a built-in ambient light sensor that automatically

by Daniel Mathias The New BenQ Stylish Eye-Care Monitor GW2480T is one for almost every average consumer out there. With a 24-inch 1080p Full HD display, it’s got the best features to offer at its size and price (AED 750). For starters, the design of the monitor is a very minimalist one. The mainframe and the stand are what you would expect, with the ability of the monitor to turn 90° to its side to have a neat portrait monitor used secondarily perhaps to your laptop scr

When the BenQ Digital Projector arrived at my doorstep, it was met with excitement and intrigue. We could not wait to unwrap this beautiful machine and hook it up to watch our favourite shows on a truly big screen. We have always dreamed of owning a projector and even dedicated one room for screenings. The machine is equipped with 4K technology. It is fairly lightweight and can be easily transported from one venue to the next. We were able to connect to wi-fi using the Androi

For some wellness isn’t just a passing phase, it’s a way of life. Shirali Puri is the Founder and Wellness Expert of Ashirali Wellness, a destination that puts wellbeing above all else. The centre has been formed to offer individuals and corporates an opportunity to become better versions of themselves. “People are always interested in making their lives better. They just need to know how,” says Shirali an NLP practitioner (Neuro Linguistic Programming) and Yoga teacher. Al

With travel coming to an abrupt halt, people are spending a lot of time online. Thanks to social media, friendships have been kept alive despite the miles. A group of enthusiastic friends and singers have rekindled a bond that began nearly 40 years ago. Former residents of St. Theresa's Parish in Bandra, Mumbai, they are still in touch thanks to their love of music. Through Whatsapp messages, they collaborated on a new project. The group usually sings in English but decided t

When Costa Coffee invited me to their headquarters in Dubai to test out their latest range of vegan foods, I wasn't sure what to expect. I take my meat quite seriously but am quite happy to try something new so kept an open mind during the process. We were four tasters who were introduced to the range of vegan treats and I must say the food and the conversation kept me interested. To start off they did offer us fruit smoothies. Stepping off from the 45-degree heat, those sm

The Comfort of Social Traditions https://www.khaleejtimes.com/editorials-columns/long-read-the-comfort-of-social-traditions

If you are anything like me, you are probably counting down the hours to the Friends reunion. Yes, 'the one where six famous TV personalities (whom we may as well consider family)' are appearing together once more. Despite the other headlines that's demanding the world's attention, I cannot keep calm. OSN, the region’s leading entertainment hub, announced yesterday that one of the year’s most anticipated TV events; ‘Friends: The Reunion’ will be available on its platforms. OS

Of late I am more inclined to believe that the skin under my eyes have got a permanent home. No matter how much (or little) sleep I try to contain, the eyes show it all. It is a common complaint which most of us seem to have. Thanks to being glued to our smartphones and laptops, our eyes get the least attention. The team at Herbal Essentials have just released a Hydrating Eye Gel (AED 70). It is claimed to contain a visibly plumping formula that instantly absorbs upon applica

So yes I am a music buff and like most quarantined souls, I am addicted to the Netflix specials. When Elvis Presley - The Searcher, showed up on my feed this week, I was not going to stop till I completed the entire season. Without giving too much away, this larger than life song-writer, guitarist, actor, arguably devoted son and father has been depicted in minute detail. There is a simple finesse to the documentary. The likes of the late, Tom Petty and the 'boss' himself, (S

There are many theories on what you can do with your time in lockdown. I won't bore you with the details that many people are obsessing themselves with. Many have shunned our very existence, (by us I mean singers) wondering how you could celebrate or break into song, during a pandemic. There has been one person that has defied all that. A singer par excellence that has collaborated with more people than I can count and relentlessly sung from his bedroom. That person is Carlto

An encounter with actress Padmini Kolhapure By Abigail Mathias If at 7 years old, you would suggest I’d be sitting in a room with a celebrity I adored three decades ago, I would probably not have believed it. But here I was, transfixed to interview Padmini Kolhapure. Kolhapure began her career in the Indian film industry at precisely 7 years old. She has many blockbuster films and acting awards to her credit, winning her first at the age of 15 for Insaf ka Tarazu in 1980. A n

Friends and family have often begged for the recipe and for most of my siblings and myself, Christmas, Easter and birthdays have always been satisfying with just one serving of Mom's chicken pie. A decade or so later I've decided to share the recipe here. Please whisper a prayer for my family when you make this dish. I know you are going to love it as much as I do. Ingredients: · 1 tray Danish chicken (1 and a half kilo) · 1 tin button mushrooms (these usually come parboiled)