Abu Dhabi cuisine: contrasts and contradictions (by Jason)

Wrapping one's head around the essence of cuisine in Abu Dhabi is about as difficult as finding parking downtown during an evening in Ramadan (nearly impossible). It appears to be a mix of the best and worst of the developing world, the American suburban world, and the hotel world of Vegas-like mediocrity. To make the task of attempting to explain the food situation in this enigmatic city-like town of contrasts, a couple lists might simplify the process.

Food Highlights

-Fresh juices at most corner stores and malls (there are at least 5 in Abu Dhabi): guava, strawberry, avocado (more like a shake), mango, lemon-mint are favorites
-Cheap Indian and Pakistani food (easy to differentiate)
-Arab bakeries (mostly Lebanese, Khaleeji (Gulf states/ Arabian), and Moroccan influences) all over town where one can find just about anything involving filo dough and heaps of honey (baklava, etc.), meat and spinach "pies", sweets flavored with rose and orange blossom water;
-Fresh and diverse produce- found in corner stores and mammoth institutions like Carrefour (France's Wallmart) and Spinney's (the South African-based chain for people who want to pretend they don't live in the Middle East)
-Fresh fish- hammour is the local white fish specialty
-Lebanese food everywhere- some of the best local restaurants, serving up piles of arugula leaves, hummos and warm from the oven (sometimes) pita bread, grilled meats, fetush salad (greens, tomatoes, vinagrette topped with pieces of baked pita), shwarma sandwiches, and fruit cocktail (layers of fresh nectars: avocado, strawberry, mango) topped with a dollop of ice cream, honey and pistachios)

Food Lowlights

-Not-so-fresh fish (eating cheap seafood here can be like playing Russian roulette with the GI track)
-A little TOO cheap Indian food (see above)
-Overpriced and forgettable (with exceptions) hotel food- 20% hotel tax added on to bill can add insult to injury
-Artery-clogging American exports are alive and well here: Popeye's, DQ, Chilils, Krispy Kreme. They are like an expectorant- strangely comforting to know they are they if you ever need to use them- and I have.

Next week I'll be checking out "Abu Dhabi gourmet"- a foodie's paradise, replete with top International chefs doing there thing (i.e. masters class and taste tests) for free. Did someone say free food?