/**/ May 2014 - Travel + Decor + DIY

My Dubai Food Blog: A Very Peri Spicy Food Tasting At Barcelos IBN Batuta Mall

Have you ever tried a peri-peri chicken before? The first time I tasted a Portuguese flamed grilled chicken (also known as peri-peri chicken)I made it instantly as one of my favorite chicken recipe of all time (along with Korean Chicken and Chicken Joy).

A spicy flame grilled chicken drizzled with a touch of lemon and dipped with a signature peri peri sauce—ohhlalala. ….I think I made my case.

The reason why I am saying this, last Saturday, I was invited to try the new branch of Barcelos located in Ibn Batuta Mall in Dubai to try their world famous Peri Peri Chicken and other signature dishes in their menu along with a fellow Dubai blogger Ion of www.boydubai.com.

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

This is their 2nd restaurant in Dubai. The first was along Sheikh Zayed Road in Sama Towers (directly opposite Dubai World Trade Center).

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

To start the night, we were served a refreshing Mango Milk Shake. I have to honest that I am not a fan of anything ripe mango (green mango is my favorite), but I must say, this mango shake is really good. This is actually their bestseller drink according to the branch manager.

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

For appetizer we were served with 2 signature dishes, their Chicken Wings and Chicken Liver. Because some people in our table doesn’t go for the spicy option we were served a tangy lemon flavor.

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

The beauty of it, eventhough we all have different preferences and tolerance for spicy food, on all the tables in Barcelos, you’ll have five variants of sauces which you can compliment with anything  from their menu. I added a mix of very peri and mild peri then my food is now perfect! My favorite will be the chicken liver. It reminded me of our local food in the Philippines which is the chicken liver adobo—-just add a lot of red pepper in it.

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

After the delicious appetizers, the star of the night arrived. The peri peri chicken! I must say, the moment it landed on our table, I cant wait to take my share and munch on it. It didn’t disappoint! Haha.

I really love Barcelo’s signature sauces and dips. Aside from being spicy (my preference), it is very rich in flavor and consistency. They are perfect to combine with the Peri-Peri Chicken.  You can partner this dish with spicy rice (as a side dish) or a Protugese roll. Iike it with the roll.

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

The time that I finished my part, my whole head (hair and scalp) was sweating like crazy—-but still I want more!

Aside from the Flame Grilled Peri Peri Chicken, it was joined with another mouth watering friend. The Chicken Picante. It was my first time to try this dish and I was good. It is sort of their version of a cordon bleu but healthier.^^

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

To finish it up, we were served with one of their famous dishes in the menu which is a Chicken Espetada. It is a very big chicken barbeque..of course, marinated with the same peri- peri sauce base. The serving size is good for 2-3 light to moderate eaters. (I love the presentation)

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

For the main courses, we were given 2  refreshing drinks the Mint Lemon Juice and Barcelo Sunrise.

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

As a finale, our meal will never be completed without something sweet on our table. We were served with 2 dessert variants. The Cheesecake and the Chocolate Ganache. This is pretty good thinking that from appetizer to main course I have been munching on spicy food after spicy food. A perfect way to clean my palette and neutralize all the spices that I have been eating.

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

barcelos IBN Batuta Peri peri chicken dubai uae

I can say that I was a good meal. Should I come back here? Definitely yes. Aside from this is a healthier option compared to other fast food chains in the city, the serving sizes and flavors are really right on the money…

I have been a fan of this restaurant since they opened their first branch in Dubai and now, I am happy that they opened another one easily accessible to those who are working around Media City (like me) and Jebel Ali and especially for those who are living near Ibn Batuta Mall.

kenneth surat dubai travel and food blogger uae

My Dubai Food Blog: Baguette Express New Restaurant Launching!

Last April, along with a number of bloggers, I was invited to the opening of the newest branch of Baguette Express in Dubai.

Baguette Express is a restaurant originally from Scotland and now one of UK’s fastest growing retail-based food franchises.

I am a big bread eater! I love anything breads. That is why I was really looking forward for this particular food tasting session. I remember during my trip in Paris and Southern France, I live on baguettes everyday (and croissant).

The night started with a ribbon cutting to officially open the branch. The new branch is located at the Emaar Business Park in Dubai which is very near to my office (nice nice nice). As they have mentioned, they are finalizing their delivery service within the area very soon (needless to say that I am happy about it).

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

We were offered a buffet of their specialties for us to try. Good thing I had a light lunch so I can accommodate almost everything (if not all) in the menu.

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

Baguette Express specializes in providing unlimited fillings that can be stuffed in your favorite baguettes, paninis, wraps and sandwiches.I love the idea that you are in control of what goes in to your sandwich. In fact, they have over 25 filling varieties that we can go loco about

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food bloge

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

Aside from their bread based selections, the restaurant also offers fresh pastas, salads and soups. I immediately helped myself with a plate full of salads.

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

Almost all the bloggers during the night recommended that I should save some space to try their pastas. And I am glad I did. This I can say became my favorite in their menu.

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

We also helped ourselves with their dessert selections. I got a couple of cheesecakes, a brownie and a tiramisu. My favorite was the tiramisu.

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

baguette express emaar park dubai uae food blog

They always say that good food should have good company, and I am glad that I was able to catch up with my blogger friends and I we were able to compare our preferences in the menus, I love how we talked about food intelligently, like it was another branch of chemistry (well, some can argue that it is).  Most of us voted for the pasta but I think it’s up for you to decide and shout out for your favorite.

If you are thinking of visiting Baguette Express, you can check out their branches in these locations:

Emaar Business Park

Opposite Lamcy Plaza in Oud Metha

Al Ghurair Centre, New Extension in Deira.

kenneth surat dubai food and travel blogger uae