La Carnita, Yas Bay

It’s

The Yas Bay incarnation of La Carnita is a more grown-up, polished version of its Dubai sister, but don’t let its sophisticated facade fool you. It’s founded on the same set of shared principles. Authentic Latin flavours, an all-vibe soundtrack, fuego nights and... la pasión

We’d long heard rumors from multiple sources that La Carnita is ‘the’ latest hotspot for late night revelling in the capital. It makes sense, since opening just over a year ago, the entertainment gravitas of Yas Bay has pulled a significant number of casual and committed merry-makers away from their traditional haunts into this new orbit. And within these sorts of migratory patterns, there’s always at least one hub that ends up as the defacto ‘Studio 54’ of the displacement.

In our position as unofficial investigators of vibe in Abu Dhabi, we’ve parked ourselves in a breezy waterfront booth at the trendy Mexican cantina. The music is a brilliant blend of bass-heavy bangers, there’s an amber glow from the above-bar neon gothic arches.

We’ve strapped in for achiote chicken, carne asada and Mexican chorizo tacos

WHAT’S ON VERDICT

A thriving bar with plenty of flavour to see you through the night.

(all Dhs22 for one or Dhs58 for three). There’s a real variety of Mexican food experiences in the UAE, it’s often Tex-Mex labouring under the banner of authentic Mexican – but the dining here passes the Mex-Mex test. Messy mouthfuls of meat and tortilla enlivened with electriccitrus marinades and spicy salsas.

If you come for the eats, you’ll stay for the beats, for people getting out of their seats and dancing like they’re on the streets of Cabo.

La Carnita has an attraction to it that can’t be cultivated without sincerity – people see through gimmickry and move on if there’s nothing meaningful behind it. Add to that, promotions such as Tuesday’s taco and margaritas night (Dhs250), Thursday’s ladies’ night (which also comes with bottomless margs), the Saturday brunch (Dhs199 soft, Dhs299 house) and the Monday to Friday, 4pm to 7pm happy hour and the canvas on which La Carnita’s popularity is painted on comes alive with colour.

La Carnita, Yas Bay, Yas Island, Sun to Thur, noon to 2am, Sat 1pm to 2am.

Tel: (050) 185 8068. @lacarnita_auh

EXCLUSIVE PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, PHOTOGRAPHY AND TIMEPIECES FROM AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS

Dubai-based Irish artist, Anna McKeown is better known by pseudonym, Pop and Toast. You might recognise her pretty colour-splattered Champagne bottles, which have likely been popping up on your Instagram feed.

From what started out as a hobby, now earns McKeown a living, as the former art teacher receives commissions from private collectors, and even restaurants who adore her work.

“I have always had a passion for art from an early age, and I only ever saw myself working in a creative career –such as interior design, teaching, curation, consultancy or an artist,” McKeown tells us.

Before becoming a full-time artist, she studied fine art and art history and worked alongside pioneering artists around the world – many of whom have influenced her and paved her creative journey.

Her favourite art movement is abstract expressionism, which was developed in New York City in the 1950s. She gives credit to Jackson Pollock, a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement for her signature abstract painting style of splashes and neon undertones.

She added: “My style and art practice are heavily influenced by my appreciation of fashion, popular culture and interiors – and I am finally starting to be able to bridge these specialisms and work between all three areas”.

Her Champagne bottle pieces “have become very popular and are very much a key component of my brand. However, I love working on portraiture –especially the female figure, imagery from historical fashion shoots and magazines have been an influence of mine in the past,” she shares.

Speaking on her creative process, McKeown tells us: “The actual process of painting, my use of colour, the fluidity of the paint, the energy that I exert and the solitary nature of my practice, is the central driving force behind my work”.

McKeown works with a range of mediums, but most importantly she loves to explore and experiment. Her main medium is oil paints, which will always remain a constant in her practice, and in a bid to diversify, she also released a collection of NFTs last year – all of which sold out in 24 hours.

Outside of her colourful art world, McKeown is a keen yoga and Pilates practitioner. She enjoys rising early when the world is asleep and soaking in the silence during her walks on the beach.

McKeown has a number of projects coming up this year, including exhibitions across the UAE and the UK. She states that her main goal is to showcase her work in more galleries across Dubai, Europe and the UK.

Anna McKeown

Besides creating works of art for private commissions, she will also be working with several prestigious food and beverage companies and creating artwork for several new projects. She’s very much looking forward to it, and so are we.

@pop_and_toast

Words: Miles Buckeridge