Spicy Fried Chicken

Not much in the mood to cook yesterday and wanting to do something I could manage quickly, I opted for fried chicken drumsticks. I picked up a 6-piece pack from Spinney's on the way home from work.



To complete the meal--a quick tossed salad and fries, washed down with a cold Corona with lime wedge.


48 AED ($13.07) meal, 20 AED ($5.44) Corona, Total = 68 AED ($18.51)         

Menu and Cooking Instructions:

• fresh chicken drumsticks seasoned with salt, black pepper and chili powder, dipped in egg white and water mixture, coated with all-purpose flour and deep fried in canola oil; served with Louisiana hot sauce and tomato ketchup
• tossed salad of lettuce and tomatoes, dressed with mayonnaise, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Kikkoman soy sauce
• fresh cut potatoes deep fried in canola oil

13 AED ($3.54) popcorn          

Some Corona left over, I had to finish it off with a snack. Voila a big bowl of mixed yellow and white popcorn, popped in canola oil, sprinkled with salt and lightly flavored with melted Meadow Lea margarine.

Louisiana Gumbo for Lunch

The main dish today was going to be leftovers, unfrozen and heated in the microwave. But this kind of dish is usually better the second day, or even days later if stored fresh in the freezer after cooking.


98 AED ($26.68) meal and beverage total          

Louisiana chicken and crab gumbo, served with lettuce and tomato salad, sliced buttered toast, chocolate fudge crumble cake and a gin and tonic cocktail.


42 AED         
Gumbo ingredients:

• fresh whole crab cut in half
• fresh whole chicken cut into pieces
• chopped bell peppers, onions, celery, garlic, and fresh chili peppers
• roux from vegetable (canola) oil and all-purpose flour
• seasoned with salt, black pepper and red chili powder
• served over rice (calrose variety) and sprinkled with chopped coriander

18 AED         
Salad ingredients:

• cut lettuce and tomato wedges
• chopped spring onions and coriander
• dressed with mayonnaise, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Kikkoman soy sauce

12 AED         
Chocolate fudge Pillsbury cake mix.


26 AED                                                        
Cocktail ingredients:

• Gordon's gin and tonic water
• ice
• squeezed lime wedges

The Concept

"Atop the Marina" is an imaginary restaurant created within my home. The location "atop the marina" is real, but the "restaurant" consists of a single table with food prepared and served by a single "staff person." The location stands 220 meters overlooking the towers of Dubai Marina.

That is the concept... let's see how far it is taken!