Is there a more comforting hot beverage in the whole world than hot chocolate? It can manage to warm the very tips of your toes and wrap you in the warmest embrace. It's the perfect companion to invite to an afternoon on the couch and the cosy touch to an evening.
I've always been on a self-assigned mission to hunt down the world's best cup of hot chocolate, for the greater good of course. My explorations over the years, which have been wide and varied and will most likely keep me occupied throughout my lifetime, have made me adamant that the best cup of fresh hot chocolate is served at Galler, the Belgian chocolatiere located in both Marina Mall and Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi (there are quite a few outlets in Dubai as well; I love the one in Dubai Mall). If you want a thick, creamy, hot concoction that is almost a meal in itself, that's the place to go.
If you're at home, and anxious for an instant fix without the inclination to make a cocoa drink from scratch on your cooker, then make sure you stock your cupboards with the Aero Mint Hot Chocolate drink, a bubbly delight that I have impressed many a guest with.
My latest discovery in the world of hot chocolate may just be the most interesting yet. Chocolate 2GO is a piping hot cup of hot chocolate in three minutes, without you going anywhere near a cooker or microwave, without the requirements of a mug and a spoon, no need to stir, no need to do anything, really, but fork over Dh11 for a product that is pure genius.
I came across this 200ml can in a random supermarket. It's a Spanish product containing calcium oxide in the walls of the can that, when activated, heat the contents to about 40 degrees Celsius in three minutes.
The ingredients list includes water, sugar, skimmed milk, fat-reduced cocoa powder (3.3 per cent), whey powder, butter and aromas, with some traces of gluten; absolutely no preservatives, additives or colourants. Directions on the side of the can are straightforward: you turn it upside down and remove the bottom lid. You then press gently on a little plastic compartment that contains a coloured liquid and give it a shake. Within seconds, the liquid will disappear. When that happens, turn the can right-side up, open the top lid, which is where you'll be drinking out of, and wait three minutes for a delicious cup of creamy, fragrant hot chocolate, thick and delicious.
I imagine trekkers would pack this in their backpacks before heading off to climb Mount Everest, secure in the knowledge that a comforting mug of hot chocolate is only three minutes away.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Scores
Wales 74-24 Tonga
England 35-15 Japan
Italy 7-26 Australia
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Nepotism is the name of the game
Salman Khan’s father, Salim Khan, is one of Bollywood’s most legendary screenwriters. Through his partnership with co-writer Javed Akhtar, Salim is credited with having paved the path for the Indian film industry’s blockbuster format in the 1970s. Something his son now rules the roost of. More importantly, the Salim-Javed duo also created the persona of the “angry young man” for Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in the 1970s, reflecting the angst of the average Indian. In choosing to be the ordinary man’s “hero” as opposed to a thespian in new Bollywood, Salman Khan remains tightly linked to his father’s oeuvre. Thanks dad.
The specs
Engine: 1.6-litre 4-cyl turbo and dual electric motors
Power: 300hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 520Nm at 1,500-3,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.0L/100km
Price: from Dh199,900
On sale: now
Cricket World Cup League 2 Fixtures
Saturday March 5, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy (all matches start at 9.30am)
Sunday March 6, Oman v Namibia, ICC Academy
Tuesday March 8, UAE v Namibia, ICC Academy
Wednesday March 9, UAE v Oman, ICC Academy
Friday March 11, Oman v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Saturday March 12, UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Chirag Suri, Muhammad Waseem, CP Rizwan, Vriitya Aravind, Asif Khan, Basil Hameed, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Karthik Meiyappan, Akif Raja, Rahul Bhatia
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
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Continental champions
Best Asian Player: Massaki Todokoro (Japan)
Best European Player: Adam Wardzinski (Poland)
Best North & Central American Player: DJ Jackson (United States)
Best African Player: Walter Dos Santos (Angola)
Best Oceanian Player: Lee Ting (Australia)
Best South American Player: Gabriel De Sousa (Brazil)
Best Asian Federation: Saudi Jiu-Jitsu Federation
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 178hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 280Nm at 1,350-4,200rpm
Transmission: seven-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh209,000
On sale: now
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Employment lawyer Meriel Schindler of Withers Worldwide shares her tips on achieving equal pay
Do your homework
Make sure that you are being offered a fair salary. There is lots of industry data available, and you can always talk to people who have come out of the organisation. Where I see people coming a cropper is where they haven’t done their homework.
Don’t be afraid to negotiate
It’s quite standard to negotiate if you think an offer is on the low side. The job is unlikely to be withdrawn if you ask for money, and if that did happen I’d question whether you want to work for an employer who is so hypersensitive.
Know your worth
Women tend to be a bit more reticent to talk about their achievements. In my experience they need to have more confidence in their own abilities – men will big up what they’ve done to get a pay rise, and to compete women need to turn up the volume.
Work together
If you suspect men in your organisation are being paid more, look your boss in the eye and say, “I want you to assure me that I’m paid equivalent to my peers”. If you’re not getting a straight answer, talk to your peer group and consider taking direct action to fix inequality.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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