Day Zero

We began with our feet in the sand and salt in our lungs, walking Kite Beach and easing into the city the way you should ease into any new place: slowly and hungry.

Lunch at Soil introduced us to dishes from local chef Ayesha Khoory, food that felt personal and thoughtful, rooted in place but willing to play. The Olive Za’atar Sourdough Toast was a standout, featuring vegan labneh, walnuts and pomegranate molasses.

That night we found ourselves in Old Dubai at The Arabian Tea House, eating with people who were strangers a few hours earlier and friends by dessert. The best bite came in the form of hummus so creamy and luscious that it reset my internal benchmark for what the dish should be. It was humble yet impossible to forget.