June is a difficult month for me as a brief but important relationship in my life will come to an end. Over the past six weeks I've developed a deep affection for... wait for it... asparagus.
Don't scoff: this is serious. How I've managed to overlook the brief British and European season in previous years baffles me, for now I'm not just a fan: I fear I may be addicted and about to suffer major withdrawal.
White, purple or green? I don't discriminate. Flowers, tips or stems? It's glorious from top to bottom. Roasted, sautéed or steamed? The quicker it cooks, the quicker I can eat it.
Unarguably the superior soil-dweller, asparagus is high in antioxidants, rich in potassium, folate, vitamin C and joy of joys, low-calorie, too. Admittedly, some people experience questionable side-effects but what a small price to pay for this wondrous veg. And wondrous it is, for what other edible plant can grow up to 10 inches in 24 hours? Asparagus doesn't even need to be replanted each year because it can reproduce by itself. And as I'm sure you're aware, this tasty treat is a noble descendant of the lily - just like onions and garlic, which must be why the three go so well together.
The sun is now setting on the European asparagus season and imports from the west are slowing down. Of course, for residents of the UAE who can't bear to resign themselves to an asparagus-free year all is not lost. For though the vegetable is not produced locally, like many other things it's available all year round, and rows of glossy Peruvian and baby Thai asparagus now line the shelves of my local supermarket.
However, and far be it for me to play favourites, the flavoursome British variety, with its tantalisingly brief period of availability, stands head and shoulders above the rest. Nevertheless, there are an estimated 20 edible varieties of the plant, and I can't help but like the idea of working my way though all of them, and becoming something of an asparagus connoisseur.
Of course as every budding asparagus connoisseur knows, the vegetable's greatest moment probably lies in its perfect pairing with Hollandaise sauce. The classic combination is immensely satisfying no matter how many times I eat it, a theory I've tested repeatedly at Dubai restaurants this past month. But alas, this time has now passed.
It will forever be my favourite time of year, and the guilt I feel about cheating on asparagus with broccoli and spinach for the next year is hard to articulate. I suspect I'm not alone and therefore hope to see a full house at the inaugural meeting of Asparagus Overeaters Anonymous this July.
Company%20Profile
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Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
SPECS
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Teams
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shanwari, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (captain), Corey Anderson, Mark Chapman, Lockie Ferguson, Colin de Grandhomme, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Seth Rance, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2014
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Sustainable Development Goals
1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its effects
14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Company%20Profile
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
MO
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KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
1st Test July 26-30 in Galle
2nd Test August 3-7 in Colombo
3rd Test August 12-16 in Pallekele
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
MATCH INFO
Karnataka Tuskers 110-5 (10 ovs)
Tharanga 48, Shafiq 34, Rampaul 2-16
Delhi Bulls 91-8 (10 ovs)
Mathews 31, Rimmington 3-28
Karnataka Tuskers win by 19 runs