
Why Dragonfly's Metamorphosis brunch needs to be on your to-visit list
Have plans for Saturday yet?
If not, you have to check out this transformative brunch experience at Dragonfly.
Named The Metamorphosis Brunch, you can expect modern Japanese food served afresh every course at Dragonfly.
Inside Dragonfly, located at The Lana Promenade, the Japanese-Asian restaurant takes its cues from eastern temples, with intricately carved ceilings, Kokeshi dolls and rugged rock installations setting the perfectly unique vibe. Throw in that warm reddish glow, and Dubai feels miles away.
The open kitchen means you're right in on the action, watching chefs plate up some serious magic. And just like the interiors, the menu blends tradition with a modern twist.
Available every Saturday from 1pm to 4pm, Metamorphosis Brunch takes you on a four-course journey packed with bold flavours, crafted by none other than Singaporean chef Reif Othman. With 25 years of experience, Othman is an acclaimed name on the city's restaurant scene for his mastery of Japanese cuisine.
Start with beef tartare with plantain crisps and furikake, then move on to black cod donburi with miso butter.
Crispy rock shrimp tempura and delicate salmon tataki make an appearance too, along with truffle-infused mushroom croquettes that'll have you going back for more.
For dessert, tuck into a salted caramel gelato and enjoy the kind of ending that makes you linger over every bite.
Of course, brunch isn't brunch without a drink. Free-flowing Asian-inspired mixes are on the menu, along with a selection of premium sips if you're in the mood to level up.
As the afternoon unfolds, so does the energy. The resident DJ keeps the tempo just right, while signature animation dancers bring an extra spark to the setting. The whole experience flows, much like the drinks.
The brunch is priced at Dhs345 with soft drinks, Dhs495 with mixed drinks and Dhs525 with grape and Dhs695 for bubbly.
If your weekends need a little shake-up, consider this your sign and make a beeline for Dragonfly.
Book now: sevenrooms.com
From Dhs345. Every Saturday, 1pm-4pm. The Lana Promenade, Dorchester Collection, Marasi Dr – Business Bay (04 834 8278).
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The Herald Scotland
15 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
When time ran out for the Glasgow Apollo
The venue's peak came during the Seventies and for those of us who were there then, it, and the many gigs we saw there, remain among the defining images of that decade. Alongside, perhaps, the Old Grey Whistle Test, John Peel's cult radio shows, and enthusiastic reading of the music weeklies – Sounds, NME, Melody Maker for news of the latest vinyl and tour dates. Not to mention, of course, the music of the time, whether it was punk and new wave, the Eagles, the Stones, prog, glam, heavy metal or soul. The Apollo memories are imperishable. Many of the bands that played the venue are, like the Apollo itself, no more, having broken up for one reason or another: 'musical differences', frustration over a lack of success, a desire to follow individual dreams. But a gratifying number of groups are still thriving today: Neil Young, the Stones, the Cure, Status Quo, Rod Stewart, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Robert Plant, the Rezillos, Robin Trower, AC/DC, Rod Stewart, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton, Hawkwind, Jethro Tull, Jackson Browne, Van Morrison. Santana, too. Led by Carlos Santana, who turns 78 next month, they entertained the OVO Hydro just a few nights ago, nearly half a century after their last appearance in Renfield Street. And then there's Paul Weller, of course; it was his old band, The Style Council, who brought the curtain down on the Apollo on Sunday, June 16, 1985. Time has been busy catching up with other Apollo acts. Black Sabbath are bowing out with a huge farewell gig at Birmingham's Villa Park on July 5. That same night, a few miles away elsewhere in the city, Jeff Lynne's ELO will play the first of five last-ever concerts – two in Birmingham, two in Manchester, and one in London's Hyde Park. Elkie Brooks, who experienced the Apollo on a handful of occasions in the latter years of its existence, is on a Long Farewell Tour. In August, The Who will embark on their North America Farewell Tour, To look through the comprehensive gig listings curated by the people behind the excellent Glasgow Apollo website is to be reminded the astonishing wealth of gigs that took place there, across so many genres. The names of some of the acts – Renaissance, Rare Bird, drummer Ginger Baker's group Baker-Gurvitz Army, the all-female US rockers Fanny, Gentle Giant, Kokomo, Glencoe, Golden ('Radar Love') Earring, the Groundhogs, Traffic, Japan's Sadistic Mika Group – are familiar to fans of a certain vintage today. Less familiar, possibly, are Tea, who supported Baker Gurvitz Army in 1975; Dave and the Mistakes, who opened for Elvis Costello and the Attractions in 1981; and Sandii & the Sunsetz, another Japanese group, who were the support act for (of course) Japan in 1982. It's interesting to look back at the music weeklies and see what they made of certain concerts. Here's a small selection: * 'Heat, dust, smoke, lasers and Genesis combined to turn the Glasgow Apollo into a replica of Dante's Inferno when the band descended on the city on Friday night' – Melody Maker, July 1976. * 'Rory G[allagher] made it however, and played an undeniably proficient over two-hour set to the most rapturous reception I've seen in ages. The audience was crazy, drunken, happy, and collectively about as intelligent as the average tree-stump: in short, all the jolly working-class virtues that made me leave Glasgow in the first place' – Sounds, April 1978. * 'Fred Turner [of Bachman Turner Overdrive] is a real sweathog of a bass player. Whether he's hungrily engulfing chip sandwiches in a Glasgow hotel under the lights of a documentary film crew, or bouncing all over the Apollo stage until the lighting towers begin to develop major instabilities, you gotta admit the dude is, like, heavy, man. He ought to do a seesaw act with Leslie West' – NME, May 1975. * 'As a unit [Lynyrd Skynyrd] peaked with 'Tuesday's Gone', which took on a church atmosphere – in Glasgow the audience even started the Terrace Sway.... In Glasgow, the entire audience sang 'Free Bird' in its entirety. That's freaky (good-freaky), 3,000 people singing homage to a guitarist [Duane Allman] they've never seen' – Sounds, February 1976. * 'Backstage at the Apollo the theatre photographer is taking a group shot of the Rolling Stones receiving their trophies earned by selling out the three shows there. 'More ANIMATION pleeeze,' Jagger shouts good naturedly to the nervous photographer. 'When the Faces played here they could only afford one trophy', Woody [Ron Wood] informs the gathering, 'so we gave it to Tetsu [Yamauchi] to make him feel wanted'. Tonight each band member gets their own special souvenir. Just another memory. Keith gives his to Marlon [his son]' – Sounds, April 1976. * 'For Scotland, the Pretender changed tactics. Wearing a tartan wool scarf, he concentrated on rock 'n' roll. It was such good rock that it made me think maybe the Eagles aren't the best American rock 'n' roll band. Maybe the best American rock 'n' roll band is Jackson Browne ... Browne's initial self-centred introspection gently fades away. The Glasgow Apollo was cold, and Jackson Browne wanted to warm the place up with some powerfully generated rock. I almost thought he'd do 'Whole Lotta Shakin'' – Sounds, December 1976. The Apollo was noted, then, for many things: for its unassailable place on the Scottish gig circuit, for the rampant fervour with which many groups were greeted, for the less-than-salubrious nature of its backstage facilities. It all added up to a brilliant, authentic venue. The Apollo was living on borrowed time 40 years ago, however. The outcry that had greeted an earlier closure date, in 1978, when the venue's operators were granted a licence to turn it into a bingo hall, was decidedly more muted in the run-up to the Style Council farewell in 1985. As to why, David Belcher, the Herald's music writer, had this to say: 'The answer on everyone's lips is the Scottish Exhibition Centre, which has been bruited as having the ability to stage five to 10 10,000-seater per year along with up to 40 annual 2,000-seater shows'. Belcher also noted that the Apollo was damp and crumbling and that its fabric had deteriorated alarmingly over the last five years – not surprisingly, perhaps, given that the place had opened, as Green's Playhouse, back in 1927. The Apollo's time was up, then. But who could possibly have guessed in 1985 that its absence would be mourned, four decades later? RUSSELL LEADBETTER


Powys County Times
18 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Machylleth restaurant named among the best in the world
A Powys restaurant that offers a "truly unique" experience for customers has been named among the best in the world. From Sydney to Marrakesh, London to Paris, and everywhere in between, the experts at La Liste have reviewed thousands of restaurants from around the world based on publications, guidebooks and online reviews. As a result, it has established a list of the world's best restaurants, which includes five in Wales. Welsh restaurants among the world's best The restaurants in Wales that have been named among the world's best by La Liste are: Ynyshir (Powys) Annwn (Narberth) The Whitebrook (Monmouth) Sosban and the old Butchers (Menai Bridge) Home by James Sommerin (Penarth) You can see the full list of the world's best restaurants on the La Liste website. The Powys restaurant among the best in the world Ynyshir Address: Ynyshir Restaurant & Rooms, Eglwys Fach, Machynlleth, SY20 8TA La Liste score: 96 Ynyshir is a two-Michelin-star restaurant located in Machynlleth that offeres a "truly unique" experience to all customers, the Michelin Guide explains. It adds: "Head for rural Wales and this matt-black, part-Georgian house with an immersive approach and a mellow soundtrack. "The evening starts early, which gives Chef-Owner Gareth Ward five hours to take diners on a playful culinary journey around the globe. "He has a particular reverence for Japanese cuisine, with sashimi and A5 Wagyu beef likely to appear on the surprise menu of around 30 vibrant, exceptionally skilful servings. "Regional sheepskins and handmade crockery show the team's pride in their Welsh locale, while you can extend your visit in one of the luxurious bedrooms." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ynyshir Restaurant & Rooms (@ynyshirrestaurant) The highly decorated Ynyshir was also named among the UK's best at the National Restaurant Awards earlier this month. It's not just the experts who love Ynyshir, but customers as well, with the Machynlleth-based restaurant boasting a 4.6 (out of 5) rating on Tripadvisor from 459 reviews. One guest, talking about their experience on Tripadvisor, said: "Can't wait to go back! "Wow, this restaurant certainly lives up to its reputation had the most amazing time, food was exceptional, DJ played great music throughout the experience and what a lovely man Gareth Ward is who took the time to chat to people.


Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful Caribbean island with most sunny days and no hurricane season
For an island that is just 20 miles long, Aruba has a lot to offer, from boutique hotels and top-notch restaurants to golden beaches and crystal clear sea – and, according to the tourist board's website, more sunny days than any other Caribbean island, a "practically non-existant" rainy season, and is shielded from tropical storms. The main tourist area, Palm Beach, is the place to stay if you like all the amenities on your doorstep. You'll find every cuisine here, from Japanese to Mexican, and there are watersports huts at frequent intervals along this busy stretch of sand. We preferred neighbouring Eagle Beach, where there are fewer sunbeds competing for a shady spot under a palm tree and where you'll see the occasional red and white fence protecting a turtle nest in the pristine white sand. If you're lucky, you might be there when one of the nests hatches. We also spent time at Arashi Beach in the north and Baby Beach in the south, which are both favourites with the locals as they're away from the hustle and bustle of the big hotels. Take your own sunloungers if you don't want to lie on the sand as hiring them can be pricey. The beaches on the wild Atlantic coast are well worth a visit too. It's too dangerous to swim there, but we were mesmerised watching the huge waves crashing into the shore. Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa is a stylish boutique hotel on Eagle Beach with a laid-back luxury feel. With just 72 rooms and suites, many overlooking the vast stretch of powdery sand in front of the hotel, it never feels crowded. There's a large pool for those who prefer not to swim in the sea, or you can relax beneath one of the palapas (umbrellas made of woven palm leaves) spaced out across the beach. The hotel also provides free sun screen, which is a nice touch. We loved the wellness offering at Manchebo, from the morning yoga classes in the pavilion – with a view of the sea and the sound of birdsong to help you find your inner Zen – to the cosy spa with its treatment rooms that back on to the beach. There's something even more relaxing about a full body massage when it comes with a soundtrack of waves rolling on to the shore. There are also pilates classes – we liked that some of these don't start till 9.30am so you don't have to get up too early – and a small gym, although we have to admit we skipped that in favour of long walks along the shore. After three wonderful nights at Manchebo, we moved to Boardwalk Boutique Hotel for a very different but equally luxe stay. Here, 49 brightly painted casitas (guest houses) nestle among the tropical plants in the gorgeous grounds, which were once a coconut plantation. Our casita was light and spacious, with comfy beds, a walk-in shower and a fully equipped kitchen. We were particularly impressed by the barbecue (and the hammock) on our private verandah. You can order a BBQ Box at reception containing everything you need for an al fresco dinner. The tranquil gardens are home to two pools, shady seating areas and the cosy Coco Bay restaurant, where breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. The main pool is especially popular from 3-5pm as it's happy hour daily, with discounted cocktails. If you prefer your lunch with a sea view, the hotel offers a free shuttle service to Palm Beach, where it has its own area with sunbeds and palapas, and you can order food and drinks from the friendly staff there. By far the standout meal of our trip was the eight-course chef's table experience at Infini. Our evening kicked off with a glass of fizz on the terrace while watching the sunset, then we were seated at a curved table that gives diners an uninterrupted view of the chefs preparing the dishes. Each course was an explosion of flavours and textures, and the carefully curated wine pairing was the perfect finishing touch. Another highlight was our al fresco dinner at Papiamento, in the beautifully lit courtyard of a 100-year-old Aruban cunucu house. Here, we enjoyed a tour of the house and wine cellar before sitting down to one of the restaurant's signature stone specials – local fish, shrimp and rock lobster served on a sizzling stone so you can cook it to your liking. We also had an exceptional meal at the family-run Peruvian bistro Lima, where we feasted on ceviche and scallops on the outdoor patio with oceanfront views. And at Taste My Aruba, we loved the fresh, local ingredients, the obvious joy owner Nathaly de Mey takes in the menu and the great cocktails that were custom-made for us by her master mixologist. For a cocktail with a difference, head to The West Deck to try its famous beer-rita. It doesn't look like it should work but this unusual take on a margarita, with a bottle of local Balashi beer flowing into it as you drink, is wonderfully crisp and refreshing. As for lunchtimes, Zeerovers is a must-visit. Once a docking area used by fishermen, now locals and tourists alike flock there for its fresh- off-the boat seafood, which is fried and served in a basket. We sat on the sea-facing wooden deck and had the best prawns of our trip here. Top of our list of things to do was the Aruba Outdoor Adventures kayak and snorkelling small group tour at Mangel Halto. Our first surprise was that the kayaks have no oars – you paddle with your feet, which is a lot easier than rowing. We followed our guide along the coast before heading further out to sea and mooring at a platform where the water is shallow enough to stand. Then our snorkelling adventure began and the seabed here is teeming with coral and fish of every colour – it took our breath away. We also snorkelled by ourselves at Tres Trapi Beach, where the three steps carved into the rock provide easy access to the sea. There are hundreds of fish here too, but the real treat is the giant turtles swimming in the clear water. Tres Trapi is a 30-minute walk from the Boardwalk Boutique Hotel – go early to avoid the crowds that arrive with the tour boats. You can't go to Aruba without visiting its national park Arikok. Here, we enjoyed a guided hike through the towering indigenous cacti, explored the bat-inhabited caves and braved a natural fish pedicure in the only freshwater pond on the island – a slightly unnerving but not unpleasant sensation. The park's big draw is its Natural Pool, formed by a depression in the volcanic rock. Sea spray flies over the rugged sea wall as you swim in the naturally formed basin and there's plenty to see underwater, so be sure to bring your snorkel here too. Back on dry land, we loved the street mural tour in the town of San Nicholas. Art enthusiast Tito Bolivar began his mission to transform San Nicholas in 2015, inviting talented muralists from around the world to paint walls, buildings and benches in a bid to breathe new life into the forgotten town. The result is a fascinating exhibition of street art and our passionate guide shared some of the stories behind the murals, explaining how the project has boosted the area and encouraged creativity all over the island. A stylish boutique hotel on Aruba's Eagle Beach with a laid-back luxury feel. KLM flies to Aruba from the UK daily (via Amsterdam). Rooms at Boardwalk Boutique Hotel start from £300 per night. Rooms at Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa start from £300 per night. See for more info on the island (Facebook: Instagram: @arubatourismuk). You can also search for the best flight route and price on Skyscanner.