After having one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had, and writing a review that got people talking, I was thrilled to be invited to The Woodlands Eatery Food and Wine Pairing Evening. Full disclosure, I was quite ashamed of the comments my previous post got. I really wanted the focus to be on the delicious food and the restaurant itself, but that wasn’t the case. I thought I’d blown it, and it left me feeling embarrassed to go back, which would have been a great shame because the food is absolutely amazing. To my surprise, I got a message from Woodlands thanking me for the positive feedback, asking if I’d like to be a part of their event. I don’t know if I was more relieved or excited, but it was a big yes for me!
This past weekend I had the privilege of staying at the sleek and sophisticated Century City Urban Square Hotel. This stylish hotel is home to the restaurant Urban Umami, which perfectly matches the unapologetically polished vibe. On Saturday afternoon, I was personally hosted by their incredibly talented chef, Chef Naseer. I didn’t quite know what I was walking into, but let me just say I left feeling like I was just taken on a flavour journey through space and time, and of course, utterly stuffed. Urban Umami is all about unique flavours inspired by Asia, and something I love is that they focus on using fresh and locally sourced ingredients. You can definitely taste the quality. It is the perfect blend of local ingredients and oriental flavours. We have a lot of food to cover, so let’s get into it! Disclosure, this is going to be a long read.
If you’re craving bold flavours, cocktails that pack a punch, and an experience that feels as authentic as it does stylish, then look no further than Florentine. This Middle Eastern–Mediterranean spot is located in the heart of the CBD, in lively Loop Street. Let me just say that the vibe of the restaurant matches the buzzing energy of the city, minus the chaos. Upon arrival, we were met with a statement sign that almost glowed, you couldn’t miss it. I am grateful for that since I always find it a bit tricky to look at my GPS and figure out exactly where I am going at the same time. That makes sense, right? Anyway, in true town fashion, I parked a couple of streets down the road. I have my lack of ability to parallel park to thank for that. We then began our quest to an authentic escape. And the best part? No passports or visas needed. Once again, we had the burnt orange sign within our view. It gave off an urban edge that was met with Mediterranean sunshine. A very Instagramable street shot moment, which naturally I became a victim of. After a couple of awkward snaps of me pointing at the cool signage overhead, we made our way inside. Walking in, my first impression was that the space was sleek and polished. Very much Middle Eastern–Mediterranean charm woven into a contemporary shell. I loved how open and airy it was but at the same time, it was incredibly warm and grounding. The golden lighting was an instant mood lift, casting a flattering glow. It caught onto the warm terracotta walls beautifully, and enhanced the natural tones of the wooden tables and chairs. The subtle greenery added life without being overdone. Everything felt intentional, but not over styled. The kind of place where you can sip on cocktails, nibble on some delicious eats, and accidentally stay for three hours. Talking about three hours, let’s get into it!