Handy advice for a better life.
Cheese is what "completes the meal", says Yunib Siddiqui, local CEO of Abu Dhabi's Jones the Grocer, which has its very own cheese cellar. The simplest way to create a gasp-worthy cheese plate is to follow what is known as a "CheeseClock", created by the online cheese shop Artisanal (www.artisanalcheese.com).
The method was created as a means to simplify the process of constructing a well-paired cheese plate. The cheese board is divided into four sections, each corresponding to a three-hour interval on the round face of a clock, with each cheese varying in texture and strength from the next: soft and mild; semi-firm; firm and strong; and very bold.
Siddiqui advises that cheeses be stored at 9-14°C to accelerate the maturing process. Since most people don't have state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled cheese rooms, he suggests storing cheese in the fridge and taking it out only when it's time to serve. After speaking to the cheese connoisseurs at Jones, we have compiled four easy steps to a delicious platter, perfect for Christmas or New Year's parties. You should expect to spend about Dh400 for all four stages.
STEP 1: MAKING YOUR CHEESE CLOCK The board starts at the 6-9 o'clock section of the "clock", with a mild, soft cheese, such as the truffle Brie available for Dh35/100g. The 9-12 should contain a hard Emmenthal for Dh16/100g, followed by a 12 to 3 semi-firm, bolder cheese such as the Mimolette for Dh30/100g. Finally, the 3 to 6 o'clock area should have an assertive, strong cheese such as the bio-organic Roquefort, which costs Dh35/100g.
STEP 2: CHOOSING YOUR ACCOMPANIMENTS Dried cranberries and sour cherries, Dh25 and Dh 25/100 g respectively, boost the flavour of most cheeses, as do more unexpected pairings such as edamame and crystallised ginger, which stand up well to strong salty cheeses. If you prefer fresh accompaniments, figs are the best option along with muscatels, Dh18/100g. Rrye bread, cheese crackers, sourdough and charcoal ash crackers are all suitable carbohydrate accompaniments.
STEP 3: ADDING THE PASTES Plum paste, available for Dh21/jar, goes well with soft, delicate cheeses while spiced pear or apple rosemary pastes complement strong-flavoured hard cheeses such as Parmesan. A favourite classic is the Damson spread from Jones at Dh34/jar - it makes a great accompaniment for strong, soft cheese.
STEP 4: GIVING THAT EXTRA TOUCH Yunib Siddiqui recommends combining feta or Parmesan cheese with green olives on a cocktail stick and serving them to your guests. Another sweet and delicious addition is a dollop of truffle honey.
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Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
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The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
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Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
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Date started: January 2017, app launched November 2017
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Private/Retail/Leisure
Number of Employees: 18 employees, including full-time and flexible workers
Funding stage and size: Seed round completed Q4 2019 - $1m raised
Funders: Oman Technology Fund, 500 Startups, Vision Ventures, Seedstars, Mindshift Capital, Delta Partners Ventures, with support from the OQAL Angel Investor Network and UAE Business Angels
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
IF YOU GO
The flights: FlyDubai offers direct flights to Catania Airport from Dubai International Terminal 2 daily with return fares starting from Dh1,895.
The details: Access to the 2,900-metre elevation point at Mount Etna by cable car and 4x4 transport vehicle cost around €57.50 (Dh248) per adult. Entry into Teatro Greco costs €10 (Dh43). For more go to www.visitsicily.info
Where to stay: Hilton Giardini Naxos offers beachfront access and accessible to Taormina and Mount Etna. Rooms start from around €130 (Dh561) per night, including taxes.