Let's Do Brunch

Ahhhh....Brunch.  Before we moved to Dubai brunch was simply the meal you ate if you were too lazy to get up for breakfast and too hungry to make it all the way to lunch.  In Dubai - Brunch is an institution, a way of life, an essential part of the Expat experience.  Held only on Fridays, Brunch includes not only endless food but endless alcohol, live music, and fantastic people watching. One can only Brunch - note the capital B - every so often, or one is in great danger of needing to don either traditional roomy Emirati clothing or possibly maternity clothes to accomodate a Brunch Baby. 

The Brunch we favor is one at the Madinat Jumeirah - a three hotel resort complex.  We try only to go when we have visitors, so we took Marc, Amanda and Francis.  It is very dressy - everyone goes all out, and most of it is NOT Emirati-Approved, if you know what I mean. This Brunch is so ridiculously large they provide you with a map upon seating.  Imagine the largest buffet you have ever been to in Vegas.  Now double it.  And double it again....and you're just about there. 

This particular Brunch is arranged by country of origin.  Sushi and Sashimi in Japan, a live Pad Thai station in Thailand, Fish and Chips in England, Bratwurst in Germany, Paella in Spain, etc. etc.  You get the picture.  My favorite is the Grill station, which serves grilled lobster tails and stuffed Wagyu beef sliders.  Right? 

And of course there is international alcohol to go along....Mojitos in Spain, Sapphire and Tonic in England, Beer in Germany, Sake in Japan, Champagne in France, etc. etc.  Someone forgot to tell Dubai about the "mixing rules".  And the phrase "endless pour" takes on a whole new meaning.  I stick to champagne - I know the mixing rule.  However, there is literally a waiter with a bottle of champagne at the ready that must be lurking behind a bush waiting to strike - because after you take more than two sips he pops out and refills immediately.  Dangerous.  Here is Stealth Waiter hitting Amanda (Hey, maybe he hides behind that screen):

My third favorite part of the bruch - food being first and drink being second - is the people watching.  God Bless the Brits for this one.  They know how to Brunch, and they know how to dress for Brunch.  They think nothing of getting totally and completely "pissed" and will unabashedly swipe up as many mojitos as they can carry  - usually 4 or more - at a time.  Here is Francis pretending to be British:

As the day wears on our British friends get louder and louder, and like to karaoke.  And in honor of the warm weather they get out their colorful "trousers" - for which the rule seems to be the brighter the better.  Here I am after about 32 glasses of champagne making friends.  And yes, I did say "Hey...I think your pants are hilarous.  Will you take a picture with me?"

And the view at this Brunch is nothing to sneeze at either - perfect view of the Burj Al Arab and the Madinat creeks. 

Come visit us in Dubai - we'll take you to Brunch.  It will be worth it!