HX Report
Irishman in the Middle East
Waldorf Salad
Today, MB had a Waldorf Salad. At the Waldorf Astoria. Not at Fawlty Towers.
‘So you are in New York then MB?’. ‘No lads, MB is in UAE’. ‘But you just informed us all you had a Waldorf Salad MB. Today. In the Waldorf Astoria. 301 Park Avenue. New York’.
Well yes lads, MB did say he had a Waldorf salad in the Waldorf Astoria. But MB never said no nothing about New York. Did he?’. ‘Well to be truthful MB, you never mentioned NY, that is true. But we assumed’. ‘Well don’t go assuming when you are dealing with MB lads. It’s the slippery rock you will perish on. MB is liable to pull a rabbit out of his Arabic headgear at any given moment, turn the rabbit into a magic carpet, and fly off into the sunset, dropping the leftovers of his Waldorf salad as he goes’.
Ok ok lads. MB has played enough with your peanut sized brains, so he will give you all a break and educate you a little. MB traveled back to UAE from Ireland some four weeks back and listened to an interview with the GM of Waldorf Astoria Middle East on the Emirates Airlines in-flight radio channel. MB was unaware that the iconic brand actually had an operation in UAE. As it turns out they have two. One hotel on Palm Jumairah Island, and a whopper of a beach resort hotel in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, approx one hour drive from Dubai. So MB headed on out to RAK today to take a look and a few pics.
When MB had finished the shoot, he decided to try some food from the lobby menu. Without even looking, MB ordered an Americano coffee with hot milk, which is an MB must on all occasions. On scanning the food section, MB’s eye suddenly came across the signature dish of the group, and the topic of one of the funniest episodes of the Fawlty Towers TV series of many years back. Only 12 episodes of the show were ever made, which surprises many, as many of us seem to remember growing up watching the show over many years. Maybe we did, but we must have been watching repeats.
The episode in question involves an obnoxious American male visitor requesting Fawlty to make him a Waldorf salad. Fawlty has no clue what a Waldorf salad actually is and unfortunately the chef has gone home. Mayhem ensues in one of the classic episodes of the series. Google it or YouTube it or stream it or go to your nearest Virgin Record store and buy the box set. No home should be without.
Anyway, for the benefit of all, and especially for Basil Fawlty, the ingredients are as follows:
1/ Celery
2/ Raisins
3/ Green apples
4/ Walnuts
5/ Home made mayonnaise
Instructions:
Chop into very small cubes and mix the entire lot. Do not worry about proportions of each. Serve on fancy plate in pyramid shape on modest bed of green lettuce. Charge the customer a kings ransom for the pleasure.
For Basil fans:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcEws7il4EY&list=PLq4KqqWr_15NdGFyavzL-3joD0gWFXGa_
And a few pics from the day:
HX Report 
Like a lot of recent building, would be lovely at 25% of the size it is..!
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The public gets what the public wants Miss J. UAE is tourism haven. Hotel is 45 mins from Dubai International airport. Ras Al Khaima in particular is a pretty underdeveloped Emirate and badly needs jobs and wealth creation. A mini town has grown up around that hotel. So despite the large scale MB is in favour.
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