Dior Maison Celebrates Halloween

Dior Maison celebrates Halloween with a mysterious and refined composition. Ceramic pumpkins created by Jean Roger dialogue with a plate service decorated with motifs by Pietro Ruffo. The Italian artist's reinvented take on tarot cards also reveals a new facet of the Dior art of living.

The Arabic Restaurant - Savour The Arabian Splendour

Straightforwardly and simply named The Arabic Restaurant and essential to the dynamic cultural life in the UAE is its food and is central to the daily life, The Arabic Restaurant at The Chedi Al Bait, Sharjah had put on a selection of dishes with Arabic flare inspired by the culinary cultures from Asia and across the Middle East. mylifestylenews writes.

Centrally located at the heart of the Emirates of Sharjah where Islamic regal heritage meets an inspiring contemporary landscape, this GHM’s newest add-on has gained numerous recognitions since its opening for its luxury escape and unique staycation experience that is beyond compare. The Chedi’s food and beverage is ever ready to charm you by pleasing your palate for an understated elegance and intimate dining experience to remember.

While staying in house in such a jewel of the Emirates, if you chose to dine outside in the city it is totally a waste of time. Emirati elegance reigns in The Arabic Restaurant through the main courtyard set in beige earth tone colours and blends in to its environs with solid wooden chairs and sofas well aligned in the sunken ground level adorned with elegantly crafted geometric pattern lanterns around all corners, which is also the main part of the al fresco dining especially when the winter weather is balmy and pleasing, so there are mostly taken. Simply magical by night coexists with other dimmed lighting.

The indoor dining is through the main courtyard entrance, inside the heritage house also provides another secluded internal outdoor seating that is set in a modern ambience with clean and slick wooden furniture surrounding a small water feature together with glass lanterns and lamps outlined by the entire calm and peaceful contemporary Arabic setting.

The inside interior has a different aesthetic aspect, you could say the design and decor is elegant, with Arabic artifacts adorning some walls, but interestingly enough, it was not strong on Arabic touches, but more of an other worldly feel that seems drawn to an Oriental influence. High wood-beamed ceilings, heavy wooden leather upholstered chairs, furnished carpets and wall sconce lamps adding the contemporary full of details home-like mood.

A private dining room took ride of place in the adjacent room set up with large wing back red leather dining chairs and a long dining table, with a bold use of colors that stands out most and evokes a typical timeless Arabian-influenced décor.

Over looking at the internal courtyard are raised private booths set with earthy tones at one side and elevated sectional dining spaces for more exclusive dining experiences. Given that there was Arabic music gently playing in the background well connected to the ambience and the only true concession to the fact that this was an Arabic restaurant.

Open daily only for dinner from 6pm till 11pm, the menu serves an array of family-style classic local dishes with a combination of local spices that characterize the menu created and it truly goes to the heart of their culture.

Warm Arabic, Turkish and Moroccan bread is presented with olives, Za’atar (a blend of local spices, including hyssop, sumac, sesame and salt) and olive oil for the dipping, which is a nice way to whet the appetite, as the Za’atar really piques the taste buds. The bread trio is beautifully warm and delicious, with a different texture on each version, so it was difficult not to overdose before we had even started our first dish.

As Sharjah is a dry emirate, the beverage list has a large selection of non-alcoholic drinks and for our first pick we opted for a passionfruit and berries mocktails as well as ice mint tea which were quite thirst quenching and not too sweet except the ice mint tea which was a bit dominating with intense syrups, becoming one of the local favorites.

<Cold Platter>
This mezze platter came in an excellent presentation with hummus, stuffed vine leaves, tabbouleh, baba ganoush, labneh with garlic and muhammara (a spicy dip of walnuts, red peppers, pomegranate molasses and breadcrumbs). Each ‘dip’ had an outstanding flavour with a deft handling of spices to create individual voices on the palate, plus the tabouleh salad is a good palate cleanser of its citrusy flavour after the rich and spicy offerings. While the vine leaf was well done with a punchy kick on the tongue, the muhammara was also quite exotic and strong in taste, which we loved and all others hit their mark as well. Overall, we felt this to be an elevated approach on Arabic cuisine in terms of flavours and those freshly baked breads helped to clean up every morsel!

<Hot Platter>

One platter is never enough in order to just have a glimpse of dining in The Arabic Restaurant. This hot mezze plate was equally as delicious as the cold platter, with a good and colourful presentation. Four deep-fried items came in a set of two each - kibbeh (a Levantine dish of spiced ground meat, onions and grain), cheese roll, spinach fatayer (a type of stuffed pastry), lamb sambousek (another stuffed pastry) and falafel - you couldn’t have asked for a more classic selection and we enjoyed every taste on offer. Each highlight was equally appetizing and consistent, although we did find the spinach fatayer a little sour to our taste because of the lemon juice, but then again, a good counterpoint after the other three rich bites!

<Wagyu Beef Fatteh>
This high quality beef is braised, which makes it soooo tender and it is served on a bed of chickpeas with yoghurt and tahini melted and warmed through and some pita crisps for decoration. Fine ingredients used to produce such a rich flavour and elevated in the culinary preparation to get that perfect combination of flavours and it is such a hearty dish. Full marks to the chefs!

<Chicken Tagine>
While the Lamb Tagine was sold out as soon as we arrived, opting for the Chicken Tagine turned out to be not a bad idea. The server brings out the full tagine pot set, which weighs almost 3 kilos, well sealed and covered with the top lid refraining from the heat escaping. So the moment the conical shaped top is lifted, you are instantly taken by the aromas and the colour of the saffron used in cooking together with the sizzling bubbled sauced that was utterly delicious to enjoy with the generous portion of meat. The corn-fed baby chicken is served with well seasoned baby root vegetables and a saffron sauce, which is the first aroma to hit the senses on arrival at the table and what a wonderful smell and delightful color that is. The chicken was clearly of a good provenance and was so tender and juicy. What a triumph!

<Dark Emotion>
This dessert looks dainty, but with 70% dark chocolate and aromatic vanilla cream, this is a seriously decadent dessert with a very rich centre. Less is more and for such a delicate looking dessert, you were left with nothing wanting. It is so devilishly good that you will want more!

<Saffron & Dates Delight>
This moist date cake was another revelation. Yes, dates are very common in cooking and desserts, but the art of how you handle and elevate them is not for everyone and this was spot on. There was a rich taste of saffron truly harmonized with the light sponge cake at the perfectly portioned size. Delish!
 

Lastly, a pot of steamy hot and refreshing Moroccan mint tea was offered to aid the digestion and clear the palate of all the rich flavours. It was a fitting end to a lovely journey of Arabic spices and flavours that left us feeling replete and happy that we had an opportunity to dine here. The evening was with a slow start, only a few tables reserved and started to pick up at later hours as the locals tend to eat late.The service was perfunctory in our view. Our server was very polite, but didn’t take the time to explain each ingredient/dish, which would help if you are not familiar with Arabic food and the spices involved in creating the exotic flavours. The little touches were missing. Once we engaged a Manager, more explanations about the ingredients were forthcoming, but this should be from the Front of House team members that look after you from the get go. Nonetheless, it was still a success largely because of the stunning food over the captivating courtyard dining and to savor the Arabian splendour regal heritage.

Tried & Tested:
Location: 5/5
Design & Decor: 3.5/5
Food & Beverage: 4.5/5
Service: 3/5
Value For Money: 4/5
Experience: 4.5/5

The Arabic Restaurant

Heart or Sharjah

79 Corniche Street,

Al Shiokh, Sharjah

United Arab Emirates

Tel: +971 6 502 5555

 Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated. 

Hermès AW2021/22 Home Collection

Hermès AW2021/22 Home Collection

Objects designed to celebrate texture. Now that our lives are seemingly more and more abstract, more remote, the new collection of decorative objects for the home explores the language of materials. It brings a sense of physicality and texture. And lifts the curtain on an even more vast, invisible world. These pieces are designed to be touched. They are made with raw, natural materials and the result of unique expertise. The welcoming softness of an unexpected seat crafted using paper microfibres, the elegance of white cashmere felt interwoven with golden threads, or the purity of a cut stone table. The hallmarks of a meticulous artisan and their mastery of magical fire. The traces of a hand which has shaped the objects to embody a tactile, fragile and enchanting world.

<Sillage d’Hermès Armchair>

This organically shaped seat is inspired by faraway places. Its generous proportions have been designed by architects at Studio Mumbai. Its structure is made of wood, while its coating is a unique compound containing cellulose microfibres made in Puglia, Italy, the 16th century-birthplace of papier mâché. Striking the perfect balance between material innovation and ancestral know-how, this robust yet sensual totem armchair – varnished and hand painted one line after the other – creates an intimate relationship with the material.

<Sialk Centre Piece>

A new material has now joined the home collections. These six centre pieces demonstrate incredible technical prowess. They are made from a sheet of copper and tinted with enamels applied using a stencil. When fired, they express a great wealth of textures and contrasts: transparency and depth, the coldness of metal and the vibrancy of colours… These unique pieces are based on a subtle balance between the fusion of pigments and the rawness of the material.

<Chromatic Basket>

These baskets create a dialogue between two materials – leather and wicker – and two areas of expertise – leather goods and basketwork – to reveal an unexpected interplay between colours on this everyday object.

<Sarazine Table Lamp>

A lampshade made of writing paper and a structure in natural cowhide leather, beautifully saddle-stitched. In 1996, Jean-Michel Sarazin, an artisan in the trunks workshop, channelled the emblematic materials and know‑how of Hermès and designed a table lamp. This is a study in style, a timeless creation that has now been reborn, and is also available in a larger size.

<Park Bottle basket>

The art of braiding plant fibres is a precious piece of know-how derived from local heritage. In France, just a few artisans still perpetuate this practice, and Hermès makes a point of keeping their vocabulary fresh and relevant. This leather and woven wicker bottle basket, elegantly complemented by two Intervalle stemmed glasses made of crystal, is the perfect illustration of this approach. An invitation to escape into bliss.

Keto and Kote - Prominent Tbilisi Fine Dining

Perched high above the Rustaveli metro station, Keto and Kote is a unique dining destination for its stunning interiors and an intimate garden for dining with views over the Vera district in Tbilisi. mylifestylenews writes.

Vera is small district located below Vake and Saburtalo and kind of looks like a triangle of three large avenues: Kostava Avenue, Rustaveli Avenue and Zandukeli Avenue where the Rustaveli metro station makes the central point. There are lots of hip restaurants, chic bars, luxury and boutique design hotels, lush parks as well as entertainment and activities in this charming neighbourhood and Keto and Kote is strategically located in part of this scene.

Open for five years in a beautifully restored house over 100 years old, Keto and Kote is named after the century old popular classic comic Georgian opera premiered in Tbilisi in 1919. Finding your way to this Georgian old classic Tbilisi style house may well be another treasure hunt. Good detective work is needed to be done especially when you get off at the Rustaveli metro station, walk up the slope on Mikheil Zandukeli street (with a big McDonald on the beginning of south side of Mikheil Zandukeli street as a landmark), down an alleyway side street in a genuine and typical Tbilisi residential, just when you think you have reached to a dead end, the captivating new found paradise Keto and Kote appeals.

Before you actually arrive at the grand vestibule inside, at this point you are blown away by the fabulousness of this grand old house. Passing through the askew pathways in the endearing garden with outdoor terrace seating and a veranda with carved wooden balconies, both command beautiful views of Vera. If you come before sunset and early fall, their outdoor setting is simply winning.

The original “maison” design itself harks back to the country’s Golden Age and purposefully re-designed in a modern cutting edge that truly leverages architecture and old-fashioned elegance. As you enter, the arrival “room” is so spacious, where a big table takes centre stage decorated with tasteful flower arrangements and fresh cakes and tarts tantalizingly spread out – homemade of course, adorned with a old style giant chandelier, elegantly hung above the ceiling across those horizontal hand painted colored beams with a design motif that represents some old style wood carving. Two large paintings of art work brighten up the entire room hung on the light sky blue walls with marbled top console on each side well decorated with gold brass table lamps and a footed fruit bowl adding a sensible touch to this old-world Tbilisi chic at its finest. A couple of pot plants also juxtaposed the red day bed sofa adding a further contemporary cozy ambience and you are enveloped by the stunning interiors immediately.

While you are not prepared for how large the restaurant is, passing through the two arches separated by a mini cellar wine rack takes you into the spacious main dining room which was fully booked even on a school night. Be prepared for another WOW factor by its enchanting interior that continues pleasing your emotions with joy. The dramatic realms of elegance: glass chandeliers, candelabra chandeliers, cut crystal round lightshades, striking hand painted ceiling beams and beautiful scattered objet d’art. The vivid colours of the entire dining room harmonized by its neat table setting readily served for the evening diners on the hardwood floors with doorways decorated with velvety red curtains tidily tied up exits to the roof covered veranda (where we finally were seated in a very relaxed setting) is another intimate nook of haven to admire.

You will simply fall in love with the beguiling mixture of orient- meet-west, old-meet-new modern contemporary design approach. It is quite clear the owner has quite an artistic taste and you may get jealous at what a lovely house has been created and transformed in this aesthetic measure and keeping the old Tbilisi charming exterior. Simply mesmerizing!

Given the expansive layout of this dining establishment, they have three kitchens: pastry is off the main dining room, the main kitchen is off the entrance vestibule and a BBQ kitchen is outside on the other end of the house. Keto and Kote serves modern reinvention of Georgian cuisine with creative techniques combined with newer methods of preparation with finest produce sourced from various local producers to pay homage to the best quality brought to your table to also reduce the carbon footprint. After perusing the menu and realizing that the number of dishes was not that extensive and less than expected, we were surprised for the need of so many kitchens, but then again, maybe they do a lot of private event parties as well. We assumed you know what they do, they do well!

<Assortment of Pkhali>

Pkhali is well liked among Georgians and makes a best starter over a great conversation with an aperitif. This classic Georgian mezze platter is a delish dish with hundreds of variations that comes in cooked vegetable pounded with walnuts, garlic and spices added to elevate the flavours to delight your palate in different ways. Keto and Kote’s rendition is well organized, neatly presented on a big round plate with the flat homemade corn bread taking centre stage accompanied by beetroot, herbs with walnuts, matsoni with mint (Georgian yoghurt), bell pepper, green beans, eggplant and walnut paste. It turns out the corn bread is one of the key highlights to be savoured alongside with some many unique flavours to create a focal point on each. Delicious!

<Cucumber & Tomato Salad>

While tomato is in season, Keto and Kote elevated this simple salad with freshest local produce to another level. The utterly addictive tomato and cucumber are at its freshest and tastiest, the presentation is colorful and superb with the ingredients used and cut to the same size for a gentle mouthful bite well garnished with green parsley and it looks so inviting. This juicy salad also comes with premium homemade walnut paste and smoky Khaketian oil dressing which is uniquely produced. You may also ask for some sulguni cheese and house-baked bread to enjoy with the delicious salad. Don’t miss out!

<Imeretian Khachapuri>

Khachapuri is a true Georgian comfort food at its best! With many different kind of Khachapuri versions available throughout the entire country, this popular traditional all time cheese-filled bread snacker is quite irresistible. The Imeretian Khachapuri sets apart from others in Khachapuri group and comes in a form of round shape flat bread, think pizza, with the sides of the dough folded over the cheese (mainly sulguni and Imeretian cheese are used) and then sealed at the top and baked to light and crusty perfection. Simplicity at its best!

<Mini-Cheese Khinkali>
Keto and Kote’s version of Khinkali comes with pesto and a dash of parmesan on the top and we found it was rather disappointing - not only was it a take on any Italian ravioli in pesto sauce - and missing the essence and the way by enjoying a rather rustic Khinkali itself from its juicy and soupy filling. Overall, it didn’t have those quintessential Khinkali flavours that we have come to enjoy and the sauce was too cloying and dominating. For argument sake, the reinvention of this creation from the culinary team was rather indolent.

<Fried Chicken Tabaka with Tkemali>
Another Georgian national dish with the zest of citrus combined with the juices, onion, dry white wine, paprika, cinnamon and brown sugar for a unique rustic full-flavoured marinade and then grilled to perfection with a crispy skin to savour. The chicken comes with a Georgian plum sauce and the meat was tender, juicy mostly (although the wings were too tough), but we were somehow expecting a more ‘wow’ element and the plum sauce is a jarring element which supposingly the chicken shall excel from its rich combination marinade. If a simple grilled chicken is what you are looking for, then this ticks the box!

As always, we were interested to expand our knowledge of Georgian wines and tried a red and a white. The Danieli Kisi 2019 European style dry white wine was a pleasant wine, easy to drink, with peach and citrus palate, bitter and juicy note but slightly less in aroma and wasn’t as complex as we had expected. The other wine we had was the Solomnishvili 2018 Saperavi red wine, a classic Georgian dry red with a lot of depth in flavour and complexity on the palate. Black cherry chocolate notes with velvety smooth tannis and long smooth dry finish.

While the food in general is not the sum of all its parts, a few dishes were elevated and a joy to linger over but the Khinkali and Chicken were not what we were expecting from the kitchen and as both renown Goergian dishes should have stood out, especially coming from the innovative Keto and Kote culinary team for an intended conceptualized menu, but they didn’t.

The service is efficient and discreet and we could not have asked more of them. Desserts were beckoning, but no room, although they looked sensational we honestly thought we would make a beeline for them after our mains, but maybe next time. Keto and Kote is definitely a must book, as it clearly has a prominent voice has taken destination dining to a new level especially in Tbilisi dining scene and should not be missed on your visit to this enchanting city.

Tried & Tested:
Location: 4.5/5
Design & Decor: 5/5
Food & Beverage: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value For Money: 4/5
Experience: 5/5

Keto & Kote

Zandukeli Dead End, 3,
Tbilisi, Georgia

Tel: +995 555 530 126

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated. 

Baume & Mercier Presents The Riviera Watch Chronograph Versions

Created in 1973, the Riviera watch returns this year to revive the spirit of an inspiring watchmaking era. A Baume & Mercier icon, the Riviera is now unveiled in three chronograph versions, each with a diameter of 43 mm and its own distinctive character. These sporty and elegant watches embody the Brand’s know-how in design, form and watchmaking expertise. They also tell a wonderful story, the story of Baume & Mercier chronographs: the ultimate complication that blends sporty style with chic elegance. Almost fifty years on and the Riviera still conveys the values of joy and carefree living that were synonymous with the free-spirited seventies. This year, the watch is being given a renaissance and has been redesigned following Baume & Mercier’s Swiss know-how and integrating contemporary style codes. The fifth generation of the Riviera is not about a revival but a renewal.

Starting in the 90s, the first Riviera chronographs brought a new edge to the collection and reflected the new codes and trends of each passing year. The story continues this year with three variations of the brand new Riviera chronograph, whose diameter measures 43 mm. These three watches with assertive characters fit perfectly with this tradition. Staying true to the design of the original pieces, the Riviera automatic chronographs echo the legendary watch: a 12-sided bezel, a dial with a unique wave-shaped decoration symbolising the meeting between a mountain and the ocean, and interchangeable straps – using the Fast Strap system developed by the Brand – in steel or rubber. The shape and libertarian spirit of the 1973 model remain, but are represented in a new, contemporary light. Two versions are available, with a polished and satin-brushed steel case. The first is adorned with a blue sun satin-finished dial and a matching blue rubber strap. The second has a black sun satin-finished dial and an integrated steel bracelet. The third design completely black: a black case in microblasted ADLC-steel, a black sun satin-finished dial and a black rubber strap. Robust and reliable, Riviera chronographs carry a tried and tested “Swiss made” automatic movement (Valjoux 7750) with a 48-hour power reserve and runs at 28,800 vph, or 4 Hertz. Each model features a double day-date window at three o’clock, a small second hand at 9 o’clock and two sub-dials for chronograph functions: a minute counter at 12 o’clock and an hour counter at 6 o’clock.

This year. The new chronographs are no exceptions to the rule. The case/bracelet integration has been thoughtfully designed by Baume & Mercier watchmakers to provide the Riviera with beautifully balanced proportions as well as increased comfort for its wearer. The three new chronograph models are therefore fitted with interchangeable straps that have a triple folding buckle and a safety clasp. They also feature the ingenious “Fast Strap” interchangeability system developed by Baume & Mercier, so the flexible or steel bracelet can be changed in just a few seconds.

The new collection was presented at Watches & Wonders 2021 with automatic 42-mm models, while top-of-the-range Baumatic versions in the same size were the standout stars of the collection. The Riviera also makes an appearance on women’s wrists in quartz versions (36 mm) asserting an ever more impactful style in perfect correlation with the rich history of Baume & Mercier. These pieces mark a shift in continuity for Baume & Mercier, leaving an impression on the living legacy of a Brand on the move. They echo the characteristics of their ancestors, but are writing their own chapter in the story. Integrating both its avant-garde seventies design and the sporty classicism of watchmaking today, the Riviera’s comeback in this chronograph version is more than meets the eye. Riviera chronographs embody the values that underscore the Brand’s style, as it continues to express its know-how in design, form and watchmaking expertise.

MIRROR Boy Group In Calvin Klein AW2021 Collection

Calvin Klein x MIRROR boy group members featuring Anson Lo and Anson Kong in the latest AW2021 collection with iconic items in unique style. It is also the first underwear advertising campaign for them who show the perfect body and express in their way for #mycalvins. Lo and Kong are dressed in Calvin Klein Underwear Modern Cotton and Modern Structure series and also Calvin Klein Jeans ‘90s straight leg jeans. Both are using sustainable sourced-materials.

Shavi Lomi - The Black Lion Strikes with Authentic Georgian Flavours

Open for 11 years and winning over the dining scene with its distinctive flavours of traditional Georgian dishes made new, Shavi Lomi is for those ‘in the know’.  Totally off the beaten track, this enigmatic hideaway refuge is covertly tucked away in a residential suburb slightly off in Marjanishvili district welcoming the globe-trotting food pundits to explore the modern Tbilisi cuisine at all times. mylifestylenews writes.

Away from old Tbilisi and Tbilisi Old Town, Shavi Lomi seems to sit in a location that is not exactly surrounded by a multitude of restaurants, but then again that is its charm. If you have done your homework well enough to locate this endearing beauty, a short walk away from the hipster Davit Agmashenebeli Avenue restaurant and bar strips or getting off at Marjanishvili metro station (one stop after Rustaveli station), with good navigation snaking through some alley ways, this haven is unmissable by its eye-catching "street" art - on seeing this wonderful folk art painting of a dining scene on what appears to be a garage door, you instantly realize that this has to be the main entrance to the restaurant. Destination arrived!

The exterior underplays what is hidden within, as it looks like a typical house or villa in the suburbs. Once you enter through the arty painted door, you realize why this is a destination to be sought after and you begin to immerse yourself in this outstanding vibrant homely atmosphere and are readily mesmerized by its picturesque garden courtyard and terrace shaded by a giant plum tree as well as its aesthetically vivid interior designed dining rooms.

Shavi Lomi is literary translated as “Black Lion” in Georgian which is an homage to one of Georgian's self-taught native painters, Niko Pirosmani who posthumously rose to prominence renowned for his art work of animal paintings. Hence, the courtyard is enclosed by old red brick towering high walls with murals of the black lion that can’t be missed. The “Shavi Lomi” also appears almost everywhere in quite a dramatic way artistically, although you may not always spot it, from the lions head above a fireplace, to a painting sprayed on a terrace wall and is not easy to forget and makes a perfect marketing ploy to instantly evoke a memory.

You then enter into an upper level of an open courtyard and are instantly smitten. The team behind the show evidently has quite an artistic aesthetic in taste and plenty of space to create a dining paradise. Inside are rooms to captivate your attention and you are spoiled for choice, with lots of intimate dining sections and tables well spread out.

Choose between the garden-facing main dining room is best to watch the world go by and we were dining on what we thought was a quiet Sunday evening, so initially we had the run of the place in terms of where we would like to sit, but as the evening progressed, it was packed. It is quite apparent this house has a history and there is art and greenery everywhere with the tasteful interior decoration to make you realize you have definitely chosen the right place to have a memorable night out.

The Black Lion began its revolutionary culinary journey since 2011 founded by the creative Culinary Director/Chef Meriko Gubeladze (and managed by a group of friends from the interior design and film industry) who improvised and elevated traditional Georgian cuisine with a modern touch by using different yet interesting correlation of spices and ingredients and staying true to the rustic and traditional Georgian flavours.

While the culture of borscht and cutlet took over during the communist times in Georgia, The Black Lion culinary team strives to bring back those disappearing traditional dishes especially from their great-great grandparents’ memorable recipes by continuing the Georgian culinary legacy with a delightful twist, yet not to ruin the unforgotten flavours from its heritage.

Explicitly, change is in need. From the static dining culture then to modernize the traditional gastronomy, yet by keeping the waning Georgian heritage and its unique and distinctive gastronomy. Shavi Lomi’s conceptualized menu is original, honest, colourful, uniquely vivid and full of characters. Chef Gubeladze’s inspiration came from Imereti where she grew up and Megrulian cuisine has also influenced her cooking because of its authenticity and unique flavours.

 

We started with a glass of the limited production of 2017 dry amber Ethno Mtsvane – Rkatsiteli white wine. With only 700 bottles being produced with the bonus of being chemical free and no sulfites added. The grapes are hand picked and pressed, fermented and matured in Qvevri and committed to top quality from the vineyard in Kakheti region, with the unique micro-climate of village Manavi providing great soil, sun, love and passion which comes out in this elegant and genuine wine.

<Mushroom Soup with Mint>
Light, minty and delicious! This lightly creamy “soko” – herbed mushroom recipe cooked with ginger, white wine, sautéed with onion, garlic, butter in low heat. Chicken broth was then added and enlightened by lemon juice, thickened by flour perfectly judged to give that well balanced appetizing flavour on the tongue. The big “pot” of soup was generous in portion, filled with plenty of mushrooms and presented on a wooden board accompanied by homemade thinly sliced light and fluffy bread. Delightful!

<Eggplant in Walnut Sauce>
Walnut paste is essential in Georgian cuisine and commonly used as dipping sauce, dressing or a base sauce for many dishes. The eggplant was grilled to a deep smoky flavour, subtly twisted with the whole stem remaining as a garnish well paired with the thick and creamy mutabbal like texture of walnut paste sauce presented on a retro green plate. Rich on the palate and quite satisfying! This signature dish is a must try!

<Chicken with Butter, Milk and Garlic>
Another classic traditional Georgian dish not to be missed! This generous portion of big bird easily serves two and is seriously addictive. The Chkmeruli or Shkmeruli (the name of this famous dish in Georgian) takes a while to prepare and it may take up to 20-30 minutes where both sides of the chicken are fried and then is cooked over low heat in the covered pan with milk and garlic butter sauce. The flavour is rich and the chicken is tender and juicy, with all the ingredients it is an elevated dish with superb flavours.

Such a hearty meal and is best to lap it up with carbs, mainly potatoes or bread is best used to soaked up the gloriously garlicky and devilishly yummy sauce. Shavi Lomi long and crusty homemade bread to finish up this divine dish is second to none and you will not want to leave a single morsel on your plate!

A glass of 2017 Revolution red wine was introduced to pair with our meat dishes. As the bottle suggests, it is the “Revolution in Evolution” made from Saperavi grapes with the auto-generated signature by the winemaker Giorgi Solomnishvli on the minimalistic label. The wine is well structured and expressive. Deep black-red in colour with classy aromas with berries and the living forest floor, deep and concentrated on the palate and well balanced with a fine texture.

<Mixed Green Salad>
Georgians seem to have that knack of creating a destination salad! This green salad comes with minted Tushetian guda cheese – a sheep cheese produced in the remote Tusheti region of Georgia (the raw milk is ripened in a sheepskin sack that is turned inside out so that the wool is in direct contact with the ripening cheese). You surely cannot pass up on this salad. It has an overall savoury/spicy taste with a lemon dressing and the local cheese is a ‘game-changer’ ingredient. Quite an exclusive mountain sheep cheese that you can hardly get elsewhere in Tiblisi but the Black Lion certainly has its way.

<Pork Shaslik>
The pork is served with large potato wedges, beetroot salad, sliced onion rings and pickled flowers presented on an oval plate. This Georgian comfort food dish is packed with flavour, rustic and true to its ingredients used. We loved it!

 

<Carrot Cake>
Is it a Georgian specialty? May be not! But it was a quintessential rendition of one of our favourite cakes. The creamy topping was not overly sweet and the carrot marmalade colorfully garnished on top, there is a hint of spice in the sponge cake mix to delight. Worth a try!
 

As in most restaurants in Georgia entering the tech savvy generation (so are many big cities), QR code menu is unavoidable provided your device has a prominent wi-fi access that would help to speed up your browsing. Pictures do speak a thousand words to help you understand what a dish looks like or tempting you to order from its inviting visual especially when strange names are spelled out on the menu even it is in English yet lost in translation which does happen. Unfortunately, no visuals are on the digital menu and could lead many non-Georgian speaking diners to frustration and annoyance. The service in the evening during our visit was prompt and attentive, somehow lacking of that warm and heartfelt touch, although we were offered suggestions but was in quite a robotic approach.
 

With new innovation injected over time, you’ll never get bored. The ever-changing dining scene in Tbilisi evolves quite rapidly and partly thanks to the great influx of tourism together with some new ideas brought into the country. Despite the out-of-the-way location, their reservations always pile up by a large amount of local diners, expats and tourists alike. Shavi Lomi already created a household name and no doubt is one of those most talked-about and recommended restaurants by the local frequent diners, not only for its terrific courtyard garden dining but also its vivid and artistic interior fit-out and a night out of enjoyable wine and dine.

 

Tried & Tested:

Location: 4/5
Design & Decor: 5/5
Food & Beverage: 4.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Value For Money: 4/5
Experience: 4.5/5

Shavi Lomi

28, Zurab Kvlividze Street,

Tbilisi, Georgia

Tel: +995 32 2960 956

 Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.