Restaurants understand that providing great service is the key to happy customers and hospitality entrepreneurs, especially restaurant owners have started to channel their energy into key service elements by focussing on creating happy and vibrant venues that are also environmentally conscious with a soul instead on creating spaces that are similar to other venues around the city.

There is an increase in demand for sustainable alternatives and recycling with many dining establishments adapting this practice. Making a business eco-friendly is beneficial to the environment and using recycled materials in both restaurant furniture and design is trending as more patrons search for experiences where they can be themselves in a laid back, chilled environment with friends and family.

As a vibrant city that adopts the latest trends from around the world, Dubai is also embracing design spaces that add character to a venue. Hence, after birthing two Michelin stars in Milan and Monforte d’Alba, an Italian Architect, Designer and Tourism Entrepreneur has partnered with an English Radio Presenter, an Emirati Entrepreneur, a Fijian Writer and an Egyptian Restaurateur to bring Salties, a new concept restaurant in an eco-sustainable urban design.

The partners at Salties are advocates of style, comfort, craftsmanship, and practicality. As you enter Salties, a huge mural by Kenyan painter Castro depicts groups of lazing bathers which immediately brings you into a state of relaxation which is the foremost goal of this venue.

Immediately catching the visitor’s eye is the bar counter constructed from the props used in the construction sites of the city’s skyscrapers – it stands out from the sea-facing windows of the new eatery. The aim is clearly to cultivate a culture of balancing of the new with the old and an awareness for supporting initiatives that are environment friendly.

The rustic deck board floors are expertly crafted by wood craftsmen and reflects the work of ancient wooden designs. The recycled chairs and tables emit a unique visual flair and personality to the design of Salties. The natural beauty of wood offers an abundance of charm and brings the furniture to life as reclaimed wood is a great option for adding character to a restaurant without compromising on the budget.

An unpretentious venue, Salties laid back and chilled out DNA is embodied in the abandoned, lived in and reborn furniture surrounded by books and drinks allowing guests to relive lost time and find themselves. The goal is to enrich the experience of customers, making them feel good in a place that characterizes the environment with objects and furniture made with recycled materials and materials from renewable sources.

An amazing feature is the imaginary sand bridge that forms the outlines of the ancient floors and takes you directly to the beach beyond. All these little touches are about transporting guests to their happy memories and creating more memorable experiences that delights them within a warm and friendly space.

Salties is a design driven kitchen set in a space that perfectly unites the soul of Dubai through a combination good food, good vibes and vibrant colors and materials.

Mall visitors to enjoy cooking competitions, food counters and win exciting prizes

UAQ, UAE: As the cooler season approaches, shoppers at Mall of Umm Al Quwain can look forward to venturing out to enjoy exotic culinary experiences, delicious food sampling and family friendly activities at the food fiesta held from the 10th of November to 20th of November 2022.

Mall of Umm Al Quwain is renowned for creating family-friendly entertainment and experiences and the food fiesta will bring people together to celebrate and enjoy an outing with friends and families trying out different cuisines at food counters and watching the exciting cooking competition live at the mall.

For the ‘Dine and Win’ campaign, customers can spend a minimum of AED 50 at any F&B store to register for the raffle draw at the Mall Information Counter and obtain an e-coupon by SMS for draws to win prizes. One grand prize winner will be selected using an Electronic Raffle Draw System after the Campaign duration and will be awarded with a AED 10,000/- Laka Mall Gift Voucher.

There will be five consolation prize winners who will be selected using the Electronic Raffle Draw System and will be awarded with AED 1,000/- Laka Mall Gift Vouchers each.

To be part of the Cooking Competition, interested participants can get themselves registered under three categories – Starters, Main Courses and desserts.

Three 1st Prize Winners will be selected and awarded with AED 2,000/- Laka gift voucher each while the three 2nd Prize Winners will be awarded with AED 1,000/- Laka gift vouchers each. All the Winners will be selected by Senior LuLu Chefs.

The Food Street part of the campaign features a variety of Food Counters consisting of mainly Street Food of various Cuisines, Barbecue and roasted foods arranged in the food court to cater the Mall customers.

The festivities and ambience at the Food Fiesta will offer a fun day out for foodies and they will not need to travel far to enjoy authentic food from all around the world. Mall of Umm Al Quwain places great emphasis on safety measures regarding COVID-19, ensuring the public areas remain a safe place to shop and dine in.

Natasha Dury

The highlight of my summer holidays was exploring Malta, which is a fantastic destination for young adults like me as there are so many places to visit, cool boutique hotels to stay in, beautiful beaches with great sun and sea indulgence and some of the best festivals for the youth in Europe. We curate some of the best places young adults can enjoy.

Sun, Sea and sand

Beaches in Malta range from golden sands to long stretches of rock dropping into beautifully clear blue waters perfect for snorkelling, diving, windsurfing, paragliding and other water sports.

We loved sailing near Comino’s Blue Lagoon and exploring caves during a day-long boat trip with lunch on board. We saw a lot of on island activities like rock climbing and mountain biking too.

Situated between Malta and Gozo, the smaller island of Comino is a paradise that is car-free very popular with day-trippers. Comino is ideal for walkers and photographers because of the nature and beauty of the island.

Cuisine

The culinary scene in Malta is like the traditional Mediterranean cuisine. The fish is straight from the sea, and we became a big fan of the seasonal fish lampuka that is delicious. Our meals ranged from meat stews, fresh pastas, pastries and pizzas as well as quality vegetarian cuisine.   

Local Sites

We stayed in Valetta and visited the beautiful St John’s Cathedral in Valletta in the afternoon and dinner by the harbour in the evening. After a leisurely breakfast the next day, we then visited the Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea and Cospicua) in the morning.

Malta has a vibrant festival scene almost every part of the different islands had a festive feel with musical events being promoted. For instance, located on the Maltese coast, north of Valletta, St. Julian’s or San Giljan has a thriving nightlife with lovely restaurants and great entertainment for young people., especially the summer fiestas.

Popeye Island

Popeye Village Malta was magical. A purpose-built film set from a 1980 musical, it is now a village that has been converted into a small attraction fun park, consisting of a collection of rustic wooden buildings. On the day we visited, the site had a festive atmosphere with music and children’s activities.

Malta National Aquarium

With tanks full of reptiles, insects, amphibians, and thousands of Mediterranean fish and an intriguing collection of historical artifacts, the Malta National Aquarium is perfect for families and young adults who love aquariums, and we suggest hopping across to the Bird Park for the ultimate animal experience.

Getting there and getting around

We flew to Malta with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul and the connection was seamless. Once in Malta, buses go almost everywhere including to the Gozo ferry that takes you to the laid back and friendly island. We thoroughly enjoyed the Yippee experience – which is a tuktuk tour organised by Yippee Malta offering a fun and authentic way of experiencing the island of Gozo. Getting around Malta is easy, and the journey is full of delightful surprises.

All photos © viewingmalta.com