For me, they're both things that I confidently concluded as a teenager were not for me. Blue cheese, smoked salmon and tiramisu were all added to that list at various stages of early adulthood. But, apart from the latter, I've grown to love them all. Call it my maturing tastebuds, but now sunset drinks are best served with ripe green olives, slivers of smoked salmon belong atop a breakfast bagel, and I'm the first to dive knife-first into the pungent end of a cheese board.
As for coffee, that's become an essential part of my daily routine. Just ask Mark, the friendly face behind the café counter in our office block, who's tasked each morning with making mine, and several hundred others, first hot drink of the day. But it's much more than that. Over blended brews I've learned friends were becoming parents, others were launching businesses. In fact, it was over an iced latte I began my latest adventure: this one, as your new editor. Coffee really has become the backdrop for some of life's greatest moments.
And few take their coffee more seriously than those in the capital. Thanks to a thriving bean scene, you're never far from brilliant home-roasted blends, internationally-applauded gourmet brews or seriously extra surroundings for a decadent caffeine-spiked creation. Turn to page 15 to start adding Abu Dhabi's greatest hits to your bucket list.
Whether it inspires you to switch up your usual caffeine fix, or you discover a new spot to sip your favourite brewed beverage, I hope these cups kickstart your exciting chapter. If you happen to see me there, mine's a matcha latte. Hold the tiramisu.
Enjoy the issue, Alice | 
