Chowzter Awards : Un Falafel en As ! (Mathilde’s Cuisine)
Back to Dubai after a long summer hibernation in Kolkata and other places in India by jumping into a very interesting campaign. If you have been reading my blog and knows me for long, would know that Dubai for me, means more than just a city of blingy shopping malls and highrises. I have created a Dubai itinerary for the award-winning travel series Peeta Planet and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) initiative #MyDubai. This unique #MyDubaiTrip campaign showcases Dubai around the world and brings in 12 international instagrammers to Dubai to experience the city according to 12 selected itineraries and these will be filmed as webseries. It’s a great opportunity for me to have a film made on how I want to portray Dubai to the outside world (provided mine is chosen!). To shower your votes for me … click here!
The itineraries have been created by Dubai’s selected social media personalities, including FooDiva and me, and deserve a look in their own rights. How does my itinerary look like?
1) Breakfast place: The Majlis Cafe in the Jumeirah Mosque premise. A hidden gem for sure. Munch on everything made from camel milk – the cupcakes, the date shakes, camelchino, Al Nassma icecream (again with camel milk), white camel milk cheese, creams and also some Emirati gems like Balateet and Chababs. It’s plush and elegant but very serene and is perfect to unwind after a short trip to Jumeirah mosque (conducted by SMCCU). Try the Zattar Chai.
2) Activity/Adventure: Pearl Diving with a team of traditional Pearl Divers and dive into UAE’s trade history and heritage. The Pavilion Dive Centre at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai, organises pearl diving excursions.
3) Lunch place: Seaview Restaurant in Jumeirah (my review here). Stunning views of the Fishing harbour as you sit on the terrace. Reasonable bill, stupendous spread. The restaurant has it’s own fishing boat… so on principle, the fish caught on the day is served.
4) Emirati Culture place to visit: Bastakiya of course… stroll along Bastakiya – explore the various galleries, specially Al Mawaheb from Beautiful People which is an art studio for adults with special needs. Learn to dabble in Arabic calligraphy, stroll along the textile souq, buy *old coins*, take an Abra and cross the Creek to explore the Spice souq in Deira.
5) Emirati thing to do (activity, food etc..): A midnight cafeteria stop. Pardon me, but this is fun and I must unashamedly admit that I have done it many times with my Emirati friends… you have to order chai/juice from a cafeteria post midnight, preferably sitting inside the car. These cafeterias are legendary and if the serpentine queues are anything to judge by, the service impeccable. Whatever one orders – whether it’s a Shawarma or a sandwich or a burger (tastier than any popular fast food cafe, I can vouch for that!) or juice, the right order reaches the right person in a jiffy. Example – Arabian Seashell Cafeteria on Jumeirah Road or Falcon Cafeteria on Al Wasl.
6) Dinner place: Bu Q’tair ofcourse! This is perhaps the only restaurant in Dubai that hasn’t changed over the years, despite it’s soaring popularity and its enormous media publicity in recent times (my review here). The charm of Bu Qtair lies in the contradiction in its location – the sudden discovery of a modest porta cabin selling fried fresh fish on the beach, with the 7-star hotel Burj Al Arab acting as the unusual backdrop. My suggestion – hit the place around 5pm and see the action and the chaos that builds up as night sets in. From an empty courtyard to a crowded *hot spot*, it’s Bu Q’tair. On the footsteps of my very popular video which although an amateur one has had more than 25,000 hits on You Tube… http://youtu.be/o62tjWb4u9U
I love Dubai, and have considered it my adopted home for the last 15 years. We have shifted homes in between, but have oscillated around Dubai. The Z-Sisters have been born here and that probably makes it more special. From an encyclopaedic earlier post of mine… ‘Dubai, my home for almost the last decade, is a quintessential tourist’s haven. It’s a shame that the only thing that comes to mind when one hears Dubai is Shopping. But, walking through the art alleys of Bastakia and the old quarters along the Dubai Creek, watching the sun go down the beautiful and never ending beaches of Jumeirah, catching the stars in a moonlit night over the desert sky… there’s so much more to Dubai. Dubai is a juxtaposition of extremes – the world’s tallest tower to the old Creek where still the Iranian vessels anchor their moors and trade goes on as it did at the beginning of the history of the city. It’s a vibrant and growing city where expatriates from all over the world are striving to make it a true international city. Modern technology is pitted here against absolute consumerism. Zero carbon footprint is a concept that Dubai-ites are trying to learn after emitting gallons of carbon in the air!‘
Signing off with a lot of love for Dubai and hoping that your love for my blog will be translated into votes for me. Voting closes tonight at 9pm Dubai time. In any case, do look at the fabulous itineraries that have been created. Dubai resident or not, there are a lot of interesting stuff that will seem absolutely novel and unique. Again, to shower your love and votes and don’t forget to scroll down to see a glimpse of my itinerary in pictures… here’s the link!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Disclaimer: Please note that this post is not a sponsored post and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. You can catch my daily food and travel journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Bastakiya…
Breakfast at The Majlis in the premise of Jumeirah Mosque… 
Lunch at Seaview restaurant…
Dinner at Bu Q’tair Seafood restaurant…
Five generations of Fine Confections… Flurys! Flurys is legendary. The tearoom founded by the Swiss couple Mr and Mrs J Flurys in 1927 is still one of the most fashionable addresses in Park Street. Anybody who has any Kolkata connection, has some nostalgic associations with Flurys. Even today with each locality and neighborhood having many confectioneries and cake shops – some locally bred brands (Cookie Jar, Cakes, Mio Amore etc) or multinational franchises, Flurys still manages to create a distinctive image in the mind of Kolkata residents. My earliest memory of Flurys are the delicate cream rolls – the really flaky crust encasing the soft bulging rich cream – probably vanilla with a hint of strawberry. And who can forget the ‘cubes’? Huge cubes of creamy pastries with thick icing that smelt of pure butter. And the patties? The flaky, crumbly, crispy crusts of pastry sheets disintegrating as one bit into them and the filling of meat (I loved the chicken) melting into the mouth. And the ambiance? I always thought for a long time that one needed to dress up formally to come to Flurys… otherwise the usher at the door wouldn’t let you enter. I was horrified when I saw on TV that a devastating fire had erupted in Stephen Court, the 100 year old building which housed the Flurys on the ground floor. It was in March 2010, I think. Flurys was shut down – operating temporarily in the Park Hotel on the opposite side of the road. 5 weeks after the blaze, Flurys opened its doors again… I remember NDTV reporting ‘Flurys reopens, Kolkata rejoices’!
Okay, so my favourite cream rolls aren’t available at Flurys anymore. But not everything is lost. The legendary rum balls and the ‘cubes’ and the patties – everything else exists. In fact, once you flip through the menu card, you will be surprised at how many of the dishes are marked with ‘H’… these are the heritage dishes. Every year when we visit Kolkata for our summer hibernation, I take the Z-Sisters to all the places in Kolkata that have some significance in my life – starting from Kumortuli, Gariahat bazaar to the clubs that are part of Kolkata’s heritage (I have taken them to see the house where I grew up, a Ramadan trail in Mallick Bazaar, introduce them to contemporary Bengali food etc). This year I took them to the icecream parlour of my childhood – the Scoop at the Outram Ghat. But Flurys is one place that we always visit once… apart from the service which fluctuates from being really slow and uncaring to really really attentive and super efficient, everything else remains the same. For example, today’s lunch… everything felt exceptionally good… starting with the frothy coffee that my sis-in-law had ordered and the deliciously chilled cold coffee that I sipped into. We had ordered one each of the legendary rum ball and chicken patty – 2 out of the many ‘H’ marked dishes from the menu! There were of course more to come to our table… the club sandwich, chicken wings, crispy fried prawns, chicken cordon bleu, spinach cannelli… none of them were quintessentially ‘Flurys’ items (apart from the club sandwich)… but all of them perfect, really really perfect!
People watching… along with the food comes an opportunity to watch people too at Flurys. If you happen to sit by the window, covered slightly by the starched white linen curtains, you can watch the passerbys on the fashionable Park Street. Trendily dressed college students, snuggly lovers, corporate executives in smart jackets or plain beggars fighting the cops – that’s your view outside. Inside Flurys, its a myriad of people walking in… Lonely Planet guides and TripAdviser led foreign tourists, lone elderly ladies and gentlemen sipping on their Darjeeling tea and reminiscing a bygone era, families out to have a great lunch (you still get some great ‘Continental’ options here) or… social media freaks with a great check in address. Or simply foodies… like me! I feel loved in Flurys – as if the old comfortable quilt of my childhood is wrapping me up in cosy comfort of my innumerable happy memories. As I tweeted the picture of the rum ball, Kalyan, one of my favourite food bloggers and author of Finely Chopped tweeted… @IshitaUnblogged say hi to the strawberry cube from me! The strawberry cubes were off the shelf today and to my surprise I later discovered in his blog… a cake box full of memories. Do read my recent kaleidoscopic experience of the Ramadan Food Walk with Calcutta Walks… a diametrically opposite experience from Flurys. Everybody knows that Kolkata has a colonial hangover but with Flurys we have been having a Swiss hangover since the time a certain Mr and Mrs Flurys set up this luxurious European tearoom in the 1930s… and glad that we haven’t lost it in rambles!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Disclaimer: A lunch today at Flurys cost us INR 3,500/4 persons, including beverages and desserts. Please note that this post is not a sponsored post and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. You can catch my daily food and travel journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
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The quintessential Cold Coffee
Patty filled with a mildly flavoured cooked chicken mince
The ‘crust fight’ for the chicken patty continues
The legendary rum balls… rum flavoured chocolate balls coated with chocolate fondant. Rich and addictive!
Brownie with hot chocolate sauce
Lil Z mersmerised by the confectionery bar at Flurys. I cant blame her!
A last plug in for the rum balls before I leave!
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Beauty surrounds us, but usually we need to be walking in a garden to know it. ∼Rumi
‘Why do you need to go on a food tour in Kolkata with a guide?’ My friends and family members were pretty baffled. I, who have been going around each and every lane, bylane, market, sweet shop, food kiosk, restaurant in Kolkata – with my Nikon, smartphone and the Z-Sisters in tow. Well that’s true. But Kolkata being Kolkata – the overstimulated kaleidoscope that it is, the melting pot of culture, heritage and history that it is, one needs a guide… an explorer rather, who can guide you through the exploration of the city’s chaos and decadence. Specially, if that happens to be North Kolkata. Well, I wanted to explore the city through the eyes of a tourist. I wanted to discover someone who is as passionate about the city as I am. To whom I could trust all my readers who send me incessant questions like ‘What can we do in Kolkata’? And I am so happy that I did find my *Kolkata-soul-mate* in Iftekhar Ahsan, or Explorer Ifte (as he likes to call himself), the founder of Calcutta Walks which organizes walks and food tours in the city. Walking with Ifte and hearing all the stories he narrated through out the walk – I felt, yes… this is exactly how I want my readers to experience Kolkata. 
This was not a sugar coated Kolkata, a beautified city encased in five star hotels and glitzy shopping mall, but the heart and soul of a city which has lived through many ups and downs and still breathing through brazen moments, day in and day out. This walk was not for everyone, because this city was not for everyone. If one survives through the roller coaster ride, then one becomes eternally betrothed. As I have written in an earlier post, Kolkata is my city, my home. It stirs up my emotions, it stirs up my soul. The city at dusk through the heavy dark thunder clouds, the incessant noise from the crowded streets, the familiar and the unfamiliar faces, the multiple options of local savouries, the hurtling riot of colours – these rejuvenate me… My friends who have no prior experience of Kolkata, often ask me – ‘What do you like about Kolkata?’or ‘Hey, we want to visit Kolkata. What do you suggest we should see?’ – these questions make me nervous, as well as excited. Nervous, because I want them to like my Kolkata. Excited, because I have a huge things-to-do-list which I can hand over! How can I explain to them that one has feel the city, live the city and then only realise what Kolkata is. It is as good as living in a kaleidoscope.
A kaleidoscope indeed. Exploring the Nakhoda Mosque area around North Kolkata on a Friday evening during the Iftar time, is not just an ordinary experience – it is an experience of a lifetime. Long after the walk was over, the 5 hours that I spent with Ifte flashed back into my mind, sometimes in slow motion and sometimes in fast forward mode. What did I just experience? An assault on all my senses. Nudging myself through the crowded snaky lanes, sniffing through the incessant frying of Pakodas, the tunes of the Adhan or the call to prayer by the Muezzin shattering through the flight of pigeons, the rainclouds floating away giving way to the dark skies, the myriad of honking and tinkling from the trams, hand pulled rickshaws, autos, cars, vans, push carts, buses and the pedestrians – this was exactly how I had imagined the walking route to be. But what I had never imagined was the unexpected warmth of strangers that we met along our journey and the variety of stalls that we dodged ourselves through – both food and non-food. The stories and the mini cultural and historical nuggets hurled at us every now and then by Ifte… made me shudder at actually how less I knew my own city – me, who has been professing love for Kolkata to everyone – on print, on the blog, even on video!
I met Ifte in front of the Air India/Indian Airlines Building on Central Avenue, close to the northern exit of Chandni Chowk Metro station and immediately hit it off. This must be the first *love triangle* story in the world where there weren’t any pangs of jealousy or envy. Both of us had the same lover – Kolkata – and we bonded over that. I chatted with him for almost 20 minutes before we were joined in by the other members who would later accompany us for the Ramadan food walk. Why and how did he start the city walk and what is the reaction of those who have gone out with him, and of course what was the plan for the evening… translated which means which are the places that we were going to eat! We were slightly off the schedule and Ifte implored that we walk a bit fast as he intended to break his Iftar around the Nakhoda Mosque area. We zigzagged through crowded lanes and zipped past dilapidated houses that were once built upon the mighty powers of the rich traders who dwelt in Kolkata. I was trying to imagine how royal this part of Kolkata must have been in it’s heydays. Although decadence has its beauty, most often they reflect stories of misfortune. And amidst all the decadence, the ones that stand out are grand testimonials to success stories – like the Laha House (G C Laha is India’s oldest paint dealer and has been serving for over 100years), the Statesman House and many others.
As we left the main Chittaranjan Avenue and slipped into the narrower Biplabi Anukul Chandra Street, Ifte started explaining to us the different sects of Muslims who had settled in the city – the Bohris, the Afghans etc. As we arrived at the Sabir’s Hotel (above) which specialised in Awadhi cusine, this was one place which had become popular with the Afghans. Ifte told us that Sabir’s served the best Rezalas in town and one of his recommendations were to try the Goat tongue and brain fry with the Rezala! Apart from traditional Bengali food, Kolkata cuisine has a lot of Muslim influence – specially the Lucknowy or the Awadhi influence. The cooking style of many of the Muslim restaurants root back to the princely Indian state of Awadh (Oudh) in the times of Nawab Mohammed Wajid Ali Shah Bahadur (1822 AD-1887 AD). In 1857 AD after the Awadh kingdom was annexed by the British, the Nawab was exiled to Calcutta (today’s Kolkata). His passion for gourmet food traveled from Lucknow to Calcutta and was nurtured and garnished and fuelled by his special Bawarchis or the Chefs of the Nawab. Awadhi cuisine traveled far and wide. But it is believed that only a handful of chefs with royal khansama/lineage know the secret ingredients. Shiraz Golden Restaurant serving one of my favourite Biryanis or Royal Indian Hotel where we later visited, are one of the few Awadhi Restaurants that carried that legacy forward and they also embellished the Dum Pukht style of cooking with aromatic ingredients, dried fruits, and aphrodisiacs that delighted the insatiable Nawab. Today, many Head Chefs of these restaurants claim to be direct descendents from the close courtesy of Bawarchis from the kitchens of the Nawab.
We walked through the Chandni Chowk market (above) and were greeted with food stalls which were preparing the fried Pakodas and other savouries for Iftar. There were assorted cut fruits laid out in plates, stalls selling dates, freshly squeezed lime and sugarcane juices. It struck me that excepting a few of us who were out that day to experience what authentic Iftar eats Kolkata had to offer, most around us were Muslims observing the fast. There was a sense of chirpiness around, a sense of urgency with the last minute preparations for Iftar. Every person walking past these stalls or assisting them, was immersed in the single purpose of Ramadan. The entire neighborhood was immersed in the act. The same sense of togetherness and involvement, the singleness of purpose that I had experienced a few years back when I had taken the Z-Sisters to Mallick Bazar around Park Circus area to experience Iftar by way of picking up Haleem and Firni. This is quite a contrary to the ostentatious Iftar Buffets in Dubai that I have got used to in the recent years.
Rushing through Chandni Chowk and juggling through the crowd (Ifte informed us that this was hardly any crowd – the entire locality would actually get crowded post Iftar!), we reached the Tipu Sultan Shahi Mosque (above). Built in 1832 by Prince Ghulam Mohammed, the youngest son of Tipu Sultan – the ruler of Mysore, the mosque is an architectural heritage (it is said that the descendants of Tipu Sultan have been living in utter poverty in Kolkata although they are heirs to vast estates worth hundreds of millions of dollars). In many cases, similar stories of riches-to-rags story define many of the households in North Kolkata, where many of today’s shoriks or the property share holders are left with dwindling shares from a property which had once been worth millions.
As darkness descended and people started to crowd the mosque area, we again pushed our way through the crowd, resisting the temptation to pick up some fried Pakodas on our way. As we reached a relatively empty spot where we made our first stop for food – yes, the Haleem. It wasn’t Iftar yet and Ifte who had been observing the fast hadn’t yet broken his fast. I was reluctant to eat anything as I gathered that almost everybody around us had been fasting throughout the day. But Ifte insisted that we try a bit of this Haleem – the Arbi Haleem (below), made with ‘not so great ingredients’ and ‘available all the year around’. This was the low-cost beef Haleem, found in most parts around many Muslim areas of the city like Park Circus, Colootola, Chitpur etc and cost only Rs 25/plate. The other members in our group weren’t keen to try the Beef Haleem and were offered Chicken Haleem. Halim or Haleem, is a special Ramadan dish made of wheat, barley, meat (usually beef or mutton, but sometimes chicken or minced meat), lentils and spices. This dish is slow cooked for seven to eight hours, which results in a paste-like consistency, blending the flavors of spices, meat, barley and wheat. Because of the difficult in cooking, Haleem is a delicacy and it is cooked in large quantities in a huge aluminum cooking pot, a feat that’s not often achievable at homes. There are still some restaurants which specialises in the special Haleem, cooked only during Ramadan – Ifte’s favourite being the one at Aminia, which we were about taste a bit later. We couldn’t finish our share of the Arbi Haleem and Ifte suggested that we give the left overs to one of the beggars who were there. As we showed reluctance to give away the left overs to a complete stranger, I felt this sense of guilt as if I wasn’t showering him with enough dignity… Ifte explained how eating from a shared platter formed an integral part of Islamic tradition… my head understood the logic, not my heart. Later, I read Ifte’s writeup in The Telegraph… everyone from the family comes together for the Iftar. Prayers are said and, traditionally, everyone sits on the floor. You are supposed to start with the dates, move on to the fruits, then the pakodis, dahi vada and sherbet but there’s no hard and fast rule. Not only does the family eat at the same time in the same house but we also share from the same plates.
Post- Arbi Haleem, it was time to walk towards Zakaria street – a street that gets converted to a vibrant Ramadan bazaar with the kiosks selling Samaiya/Semolina, mixed fruits, Firni mix, glass bangles… much like the Mallick Bazaar experience that I had had earlier. Again we walked past many must-have-been-beautiful houses – filigreed grills, beautiful arches – all entangled in cable wires running from one end to another and falling out cemented blocks. We passed the red Bow Barracks (below) – a small pocket of Anglo-Indian population who have been living here for generations. Kolkata has been a conglomeration of many culture and still the city had pockets which distinctly held on to the their identities (and idiosyncrasies).
We came across many restaurants and sweet shops which had seen better times – some of them more than 100 years old. – for example, Haji Allauddin, which was popular for their pure ghee products. When we were in the Phears Lane, also known as the Chunna Galli, we heard the call to the Maghrib prayer (the evening call). Ifte broke his fast spontaneously with some Amriti (below).
Zakaria Street was dazzling. People were breaking their fast together on dates – some of them complete strangers to each other. Ifte introduced us to a variety of dates and told us how different kinds of dates from the Islamic countries out poured in these markets during the Ramadan time. The cheapest ones came from Iraq and the most expensive ones came from Saudi Arabia. We tasted a few dates, I think they were the Iranian ones. Nobody took money from Ifte for the dates and we were indebted to these strangers for ever. Such is the essence of Ramadan. Decorated food stalls with marinated whole chicken and fish lurking through long hanging sheekhs beckoned us. Huge pots of Haleem stared back at us. But now our next stop would only be at the Aminia Hotel, where Ifte had called up previously and requested them to hold on to a few dishes of Haleem. The vendors at the stalls surrounding us were all busy taking in a few sips of liquid after a whole day of penance and abstinence… I caught a few solitary moments in my camera (much below) until we reached the Nakhoda Mosque.
The Nakhoda Mosque (above) is the principal mosque in Kolkata, built as an imitation of the mausoleum of Mughal Emperor Akbar at Sikandra, Agra. People knelt down for prayers. Although we missed breaking Iftar in the mosque, the emotions weren’t missing. Although, I am not a religious fanatic or a ritualist having brought up by very liberal Hindu parents, I love the way religion brings people together (and am also pained by how religion separates us) and I am mersmerised by the enigma of varied cultural/religious aspects of different places (like in the Pashupatinath temple in Nepal). Although, I have refrained from expressing my personal opinion on politics and religion in my writings that might reflect any bias or hurt any religious/cultural/spiritual sentiment, I have grown up in the multicultural Kolkata where we have participated in all festivals from all religion (I have wriiten about it here and here). The strong beliefs and faiths reinforcing the expression on the faces of devotees during worship, the colours, the rituals, the stories underlying these rituals – these fascinate me and I felt blessed to have been able to immerse myself in the crowded Ramadan bazaar that evening. And finally we reached Aminia, just infront of the Nakhoda Mosque gate.
This was the original Aminia Restaurant established in 1939. The Haleem here is a brand name. people queued in front of the make shift Shamiana for the Haleem. Here, the Haleem practically disappears. The restaurant starts selling Haleem from 2 pm and by the time, it’s Iftar, nothing is left of it. A man serving out from a huge pot just outside the restaurant holds centre stage. We went inside looking for a table and some chairs. A makeshift table was created – it looked like a low box with an aluminum lid. Rapid cleaning off the surface with a over used cloth, and our table was ready. A variety of Haleems are served here – the Chicken Regular, Chicken Boneless, Mutton, Beef Arbi and Beef Special (with tongue and brains!) – all varying from Rs 95 – Rs 155/plate. 2 plates of Mutton and Beef Haleem arrived at the table. We dipped our bread pieced into the thick creamy gravy, piercing into the thin floating layer of oil or the Rogan. Ifte explained how this Rogan was poured onto the the top separately and the more the Rogan the better it tasted. I asked for a ThumsUp – the strong fizzy Indian cola to cool down the heat, but was offered Coca Cola instead. As we were about to finish our Haleem, the staff came and gave us a few chicken meat balls (as a compensation for not being able to serve Chicken Haleem which had already got over)… they dunk themselves happily into the remaining Haleem gravy. I went into the large kitchen to take a few photographs (I love entering restaurant kitchens) with one of the cooks obliging blissfully as he posed. ‘How many people do you cook for daily?’ He hesitated before replying – ‘1000. No, I think more!’
Before we merged ourselves into the cacophony of the Chitpur road, there is another surviving tale that I have to recount – the Roohafza episode. Bright voluptuous red drinks that Ifte insisted that we must try. Well, not a Roohafza fan at all, I hesitated. These drinks have always looked suspicious to me. More so because of the water in which the famous Hamdard Roohafza was diluted in. Even before I embarked on my journey of being the notoriously-stressed-out-always-suspiscious-about-water-from-the-streets, I have never drank these coloured drinks sold by the vendors by the roadside – how ever bright and tempting and refreshing they looked! Now many hours past the episode, I have survived to tell the tale and I can only say one thing – belief and faith is what cleans the germs. Specially, if you had frowned upon the plastic mug that had been used for mixing the drink!
Drama, noise, a little bit of roller coaster walk on foot and this was Chitpur Road or today’s Rabindra Sarani (above) – the route that would lead us to the best Mutton Biryani and Mutton chaap that Kolkata has to offer – Royaler Biryani. Before reaching the Royal Indian Hotel, my million dollar question to a Kolkata outsider would be – what would make walking along the Chitpur road easier for you? Would an astronomer suit help? Tram, buses, cars, rickshaws and pedestrians – all juggling and jostling for some decent space – this is an incredible experience. Lined by buildings dating back to centuries, this is a sensory overstimulation. We were welcomed at the Royal by the aroma of the Mutton Chaap wafting through the window that graced the entrance. A lungi-clad man held onto the ladle with such an expertise and overdose of confidence that could only come with years of experience and the title that they served the best Mutton Chaap in town. We walked up the stairs to the modernised air conditioned cabin and as the realisation of the distance that we had actually managed to cover in the last few hours seeped in, I felt exhausted. It was time to sit down and gorge on some high-carb diet of Mutton Biryani. The best Mutton Biryani, the Mutton chap, a few selfies and Facebook worthy pictures clicked by the Royal staff and a gorgeous piece of Shahi Tukda later… Ifte introduced me to the Gulam Nabi, the head chef of Royal, a descendent of the direct lineage of the khansama of Wajid Ali Shah. How did I like the Royal Biryani? For me, a Kolkata Biryani without the legendary aloo and deem / potato and egg, is an incomplete dish. A huge slap on my face for I have been screaming so hard about how important and essential the aloo is in our Biryani. Apparently, aloo and deem came to substitute for the meat in the Biryani in times of hardships – so it is the sort of the poor man’s Biryani! As Ifte tweeted later to my lament on no-aloo Biryani… ‘Royal would die out rather than introduce aloo and deem in their Biryani. Total no no.’
After Royal, we had to go back the same way – walking along the Chitpur Road, zigzagging through Zakaria Street, Phears Lane, Chandni Chowk… now I simply wanted to go back home. 4 hours of walking through Kolkata is not really the kind of food walk that I had done in Dubai earlier… Kolkata is not like any other city… the roads are not even, the tram lines jut through like speed breakers, the occasional potholes falter your foot steps. But this is where strangers share dates with you for free. Oh and that reminds me that at Aminia too, they refused to take money from Ifte. This is a different world altogether – an emotional roller coaster, an epic kaleidoscope. The evening had been really memorable – I came home with bitter blisters but an extremely happy soul. May you all have a blessed life… specially those living in all the conflicted areas in the same world that I just walked upon a few minutes back – eating, clicking and feeling blissfully happy!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Disclaimer: A tour with Calcutta Walks cost INR 1500 – 3000/person, depending upon the tour. Although I had booked into the tour, Calcutta Walks generously hosted me. Please note that this post is not a sponsored post and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. You can catch my daily food and travel journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Related Articles:
Hooked to Haleem (Iftekhar Ahsan)
Iftar Eats (Iftekhar Ahsan)
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A comment left on my Instagram post by my cousin sis who had been my closest friend during my childhood, left me in utter confusion… ‘Does Scoop still exist in Kolkata? Khoj korish toh/do check!’ The referred scoop is not an ordinary scoop of ice cream or a new piece of gossip doing the media round, but a very special ice cream parlour by the Ganges. Visiting Scoop had been a luxury, a special destination for a very special treat that required a lot of saving up. After all, Rs 25 spent on an ice cream sundae from a meager pocket money of Rs 50/week didn’t come cheap. And what was so special about this ice cream parlour? My childhood ice-cream *treat* memories have only 2 vector points – Scoop on the Ganges and Hobby Centre on Russel Street. Although there was another parlour – Tulika’s on Russel Street, but we always ended up going to the first two ones. The period I am talking about dates back to 1980s-90s – although, I would like to believe that I am not very old! Yes, Scoop does exist. And nothing has changed. After parking the car on the Strand Road, then crossing the rail tracks of the still existing Circular Railways (below), and walking along the newly painted repaired banks of the Ganges, you will definitely find Scoop. 
Scoop still stands in the same manner as it did two decades back – the walls are still painted in the same bright raspberry pink and orange – the same ice cream sundaes are still sold – Moon Magic (rich vanilla & delicious butterscotch ice cream in thick chocolate sauce with nuts and cherries), Tutty Frutty (1 scoop of vanilla, strawberry, tutty frutty dipped in sweet syrup, pineapple, cashew and cherry on top), Pink Affair (rich vanilla & strawberry ice-cream in delicious strawberry sauce with cherry on to), Desiree (2 scoops of vanilla, 1 scoop of strawberry with strawberry syrup and cherry on top)… and who can forget their signature sundae – As You Like It – a four scoop sundae where you pick your favourite flavours (it is still served in the same black ceramic glass bowl!)… notice, how each sundae is signed off with a ‘cherry on top’. And it seems like the laminated menu card has also not changed. The Love Affair and Zip A Dee Day had been scribbled off from the menu. Also, the man at the cashier – I think he was called Mr Kunal – he still sits in the same manner, in the same corner with the cash machine (I am assuming that this might have to do with Fung Shui!). Okay, so the Scoop is now called Kwality Swirls. Okay, so you can now order pizzas and pastas too… but I bet you can hear me scream – and I am screaming my lungs out – SCOOP STILL EXISTS! NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
NOT EVEN THE VIEW OF THE SUNSET. In an earlier post on Kolkata, I have written … we were always living by the water, and we were always facing the West, and hence the Sunset became the most necessary prop in all my emotional interludes at all stages of my life! I started hanging around with a gang (the friendly kind and not the mafia kind). We would gossip and pry on other gangs in our residential compound. And then we started venturing outside the compound. It all started with a cool place called Scoop, an ice-cream parlour – on the banks of the Ganges. For every emotional escapade we drove to Outram Ghat where Scoop was located. I remember the precise postal address of Scoop as well – 71 Strand Road, Fort William! Today, Kolkata has ice-cream parlours in each lane and by-lane. But not then. This time around, as we walked along the Ganges, my heart beat really fast – what if Scoop wasn’t there? What if it had been taken over by a glitzy cafeteria serving special Frappes and Lattes and specially designed fresh canapes and gourmet sandwiches? What if I walked up to the Scoop and all my childhood memories and nostalgia were swiped out by disappointment? I so wanted the ice cream sundae of my childhood – the over dripping chocolate sauce in a sticky glass container, the syrupy cherry popping out from the nuts sprinkled scoopy mountains of vanilla and butter scotch, and a crispy wafer waving from it all.
As we walked passed the chat kiosks that lined up the river bank, we asked for directions – Dada, ekta ice cream parlour chilo ekhane, sheta ki ekhono ache? An ice cream parlour used to be here, is it still there? And we arrived at Scoop. Getting there is not Rocket Science but it really depends upon where you happen to park your car on the Strand Road. The building is more towards the Princep Ghat, so if you have parked around the Outram Ghat, it’s going to be a long walk. The writing – Scoop – still loomed from above the building, over a constructed ice cream cone. It looked exactly the same. On the ground floor is the counter where you pay as well as collect your ice creams (still self service!). Upstairs is the air conditioned seating area. The fun thing about regarding self service in India, it is only restricted to carrying your ice creams upstairs and until you mess up the table with dripping scoops and crumbled paper tissues. Then you can very well leave the messy table to the next customers. In between, however, there will be some divine intervention from destiny and a staff will appear like magic and manage to clear up the mess. But all this is going to happen once you have secured your rights to sit. For, it is perennially crowded. Lovebirds will always occupy a table for four – they will snuggle into each other sitting tightly in almost 1 1/2 chairs, while the helmets, the college bags (I am now matured enough to realise that to be love birds you have to be in college – once you cross this age, your chance at striking the cupid is absolutely gone) and other knick knacks would occupy the remaining two chairs. 
Once you go up the stairs and open the glass door (that leads you to the first floor hall) which has become totally frosted due to the high humidity outside and the super cool air conditioning inside, you are struck by the beauty of the Ganges. Oh, the view hasn’t changed a bit. The boats, the skyline of the Howrah side, the Vidyasagar Setu or the 2nd Hoogly Bridge – everything looks the same – stunning, as the pictures below would reveal. The noise of the diners drowning in the Eagles playing in the music system, kind of brings you back to reality. We have to get some place first. Another shout out from the uniformed security guard cum doorman (remember Kolkata has a colonial hangover? So we are not used to opening our doors on our own!) that sounded new to me – Pizza 19? Pizza 19?
Once the food gets ready downstairs, the security guard upstairs shouts out the order number (Pizza 19 in this case!). You now have to climb down and get your order and carry back your own food tray. No digital board that syncs with the prepared food downstairs? No need please… this adds up to the quaint charm. I took the Z-Sisters along with me downstairs to pay and place the order, while my parents were left upstairs so that they could occupy a table and the appropriate number of chairs . Otherwise, somebody or the other will ask you – Acha, ei chairgulo ki khali ache? Ektu boshbo jotokhon na apnar lok asche? / Are these chairs empty? Can we please sit till your friend comes? And of course, how can you snatch a chair back once it’s occupied? It is absolutely not a done thing, specially when Bengalis are known to be very generous and gracious as well! A few beautiful minutes of watching how the expert hands were creating some Moon Magic, a Green Mango float and a few other orders of ours, and we were back to the stunning view of the Ganges upstairs. Thankfully, both my smartphone and Nikon were there to capture these magic moments this time, saving me from the heart-wrecking experience that I had when I couldn’t click pictures of my Turkish ice cream episode in Istanbul.
Did it surprise you to hear that I had gone to Scoop with my parents? Actually, I don’t remember ever coming to Scoops with my parents. It was always with my friends. In fact, this could well be the first time that my dad was coming to Scoop. He had never been the ‘Let’s have some ice cream’ kind of dad. Neither had been my mum. Although, we had a very special childhood due to my dad’s nature of work and my childhood and creativity was shaped by the heritage building that I grew up in. Reality is that just a few hours before, we had a minor scuffle when he was trying to show off a bit of Kolkata to this NRI (non resident Indian) daughter and his grand daughters – this Maidan that you see is one of the best in the world – ei Srilanka jachish, ei UK jachish… ektu Kolkatata dekh baba! Dubaite erokom pabi na! / One day you are visiting Srilanka, the other day UK etc… see a bit of Kolkata. You will not get all this in Dubai! 
All I want to say is that the way I see Kolkata, the way I capture Kolkata and share Kolkata with the world through my blog, or spread the word for Bengali cuisine amongst international audience, honestly, banters like these offend my sensibilities. I know each nook and corner of the city, I see beauty in the decadence (that’s the only irritating NRI trait I have) as well as bask in the glory of the modern shopping malls. I have taken the Z-Sisters everywhere from Kumortuli to Howrah, tasting Dilipda’s Phuchka in Vivekananda Park to taking them early in the morning at 6 o’clock to taste the Momos in the last Chinese remants of Tiretti Bazar… relax Dad, just tell me how you enjoyed your first trip to Scoop, the ice cream, your rendezvous with Ma… what did you think of the Moon Magic (repeating the description again – rich vanilla & delicious butterscotch ice cream in thick chocolate sauce with nuts and cherries)… or the Choco Brownie (3 scoops of chocolate ice cream in chocolate sauce with chunks of chocolate cake, topped with cherry)… the over dripping chocolate sauce in the sticky glass and the crunchy peanuts dunking out of the vanilla mountains? The haute-couture flavours like Hot Chocolate Fudge, Banana Split etc – were only available at Scoop once upon a time. For all it matters right now, is that Scoop exists. All the flavour exists. The riverside exists. The sunset exists. And also the lovers snuggling into each other and sharing their (ice cream) love from the same bowl of sundae (and licking into the same spoon) exists! As we walked back to our cars, the heavy thunder clouds gave into rains – we didn’t struggle. Instead, the Z-Sisters and I got drenched as did the city… looking like a beautiful rain drenched sari clad Bollywood heroine, as we drove back!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
PS: Here’s a few post that captures my Dubai diary at this moment…
• Ramadan in Dubai | The Iftars And Suhoors Around Town
• Food e Mag dxb | The Ramadan Issue
• Opening Up My Bengali Kitchen For Dima Sharif
• A Different Kind of An Iftar | #FillingTheBlues
• Omnia Gourmet by Chef Silvena | Decadence, Deliciousness & A Lot of Expectations
• How Did I Fare In Showcasing My Bengali Cuisine? | On Zee TV Middle East
Dislaimer: Scoop is near Princep Ghat / Outram Ghat on 71, Strand Rd. 2 sundaes + 1 float + 2 scoops of ice creams cost Rs 400 approx. Please note that this post is not a sponsored post and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. You can catch my daily food and travel journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
For more info on Kolkata and West Bengali, click here.
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[Edited on 5th Nov, 2014: Food e Mag dxb now has its own inbuilt reader in its own website. There have been a few changes in the Editorial team.]
This is the Ramadan edition of Food e Mag dxb , the magazine that I have been co-editing with my talented blogger friend, The Hedonista. If you still want to know about why it all happened, what the magazine is it all about and how it all happened, you can read the history here. Time does fly and the third issue is also out. This issue, we bring you more traditional Arabic recipes, and combine them with some others a little out of the box, but still very appropriate to serve for an Iftar or Suhoor meal. We also have some tips for fasting, ideas that will help those of you joining in to get through the day. Instead of restaurant reviews, this month we give you five Emirati restaurants you must try, plus a rundown on Iftars and Suhoors around Dubai, and for those who don’t fast, a list of restaurants where you can grab a sneaky mid-day snack… courtesy all our contributing Fooderati Arabia bloggers. A peep into the editorial… and do join in the special Iftar giveaways that I have been organising on my social media platforms. Have a blessed month!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Do bombard our digital baby with your love on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (you will find us as @foodemagdxb everywhere) and help us to trend a new hashtag… #foodemagdxb.
Dislaimer: Please note that this post is not a sponsored post and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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Ramadan Kareem! As I leave Dubai for the summers and settle down in Kolkata for almost two months (my summer hibernation as I like to call it, and probably for a lot of Dubai expats as well), I am overcome with tremendous guilt. Guilt for leaving my adopted home for far too long and also the guilt for feeling excited and longing to update my nerves and soul on what I might have missed out in Kolkata in the last two years… and in effect cheating my beloved Dubai! Although, I have left the shores of Bengal for long, Bengal hasn’t left me. The more I have tried to be neutral about my roots and heritage, I have ended up seeking more of my Bengali roots, Bengali food etc. So when my friend and food blogger Dima Sharif, wanted to capture some moments with me on video, I had been utterly confused as to where I should begin. There were so many stories to tell – stories about my journey as a food blogger and how I am trying to showcase my regional cuisine to the international audience, how we are raising our two girls – the Z-Sisters, in a cosmopolitan city like Dubai and infusing a bit of Bengaliana in their subconsciousness, of course in a subtle way without overwhelming them with the knowledge of a culture that they are not growing up in. And then there is Mela, my Lady Friday and how both of us are trying to adapt to a new home in a different city, different culture, different country – as expats living far away from our respective homes and how our lives become intertwined.
If I write one more word, it will not do justice to Dima’s tremendous efforts in creating a video (above) in which I have opened up my Bengali kitchen and lay my soul bare with the dilemmas of expat living. You want to be international, and at the same time aware of your roots. The menu for Dima had been simple (I wish I could feed her with more dishes) but a very traditional Bengali one – Luchi, Daal, Begun Bhaja/fried Eggplant, Roshogolla, Mishti Doi/Sweet Yogurt, Aamer Chutney/Mango Chutney, Shorshe bata Maach/Mustared Fish and Masala Thumbsup! I took out all the Bengali cookbooks and coffee table books on Kolkata I had, and all the inherited family tableware, put on a CD playing my Ma’s songs – just so that I could create a Bengali ambiance for Dima. 
Before signing off, let me mention the significance of this video. Dima’s blog has a tradition and in her own words… Every Ramadan I have a Ramadan Special, which is daily posting of recipes and stories throughout the Holy month (30 days). This Ramadan Special, I am posting daily recipes and cultural stories to explore with you the Culture of Ramadan, its various colours and the now and then of Ramadan Traditions. About how and why she started this Ramadan special blog postings, she tells me… In the beginning it started more like sharing recipes. I knew that most practicing women like to cook at Ramadan, specially when the whole family is fasting the whole day. They are looking for recipes or inspiration. Ramadan to me is a time for self introspection, contemplation and reflecting on how we are living and how we want to continue living. This is also the time when we have a bit more time in hand and I though why not give back something more to my readers and give some ‘food for thought’. I thought of taking the Ramadan practices and incorporate that in my blog. At the end of the day we all have different triggers that inspires us and there will be something or the other that will connect to people, make them nostalgic, remind them of their roots or make them feel inspired. This year, she has made videos on each person that she has met on the path of food. I do feel humbled and honoured for being part of her special webepisodes. Hope you join in her special journey and mine too and enjoy the trailer as well as the actual video. And for those of you who have stayed back in Dubai, here’s a roundup of a few Iftars and Suhoors that you shouldn’t be missing and may your lives be blessed by the holy month of Ramadan!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
PS: A few days back too, I had created a Bengali Gourmet menu and I feel very privileged to have been surrounded with the love and support of media and blogger friends, including Dima. The event had been aired on Zee TV ME.
A few Bengali posts in my blog:
♦ Traditional Bengali Cuisine | In ‘Slight’ Details – An etymological explanation of my food-fetish
♦ Shorshe Bata Maach – Mustard Salmon In This Case | Shubho Noboborsho!
♦ Luchi Featured In Ahlan! Gourmet | My Ode To Phulko Luchi!
♦ Dilipda’s Phuchkas in Vivekananda Park | World Famous In Kolkata!
♦ Pickles | Mother (-in-law) Of All Pickles!
♦ Momos in Tiretti Bazar | The Last Chinese Remnants!
♦ Khichuri As Harbinger of Hope & Kolkata Soaked In Rains
♦ Firni or Ferni, Ramadan or Ramzan, Mallick Bazar or Karama | It’s The Same Festive Sentiment!
♦ Terraces and Beyond – Kolkata
♦ Shiraz Golden Restaurant, Dubai | From Lucknow To Kolkata And To Dubai!
♦ Rôshogolla (রসগোল্লা) | Bengali’s Own Sweet
♦ Stories of Love, Nostalgia And Memories – The Ingredients To My Cooking
Disclaimer: While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. Please note that this blog is not a sponsored blog and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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Ramadan is just around the corner. So are the summer holidays. While previously, you would expect the summer expat story to begin with many expats leaving Dubai for their respective homes during the summers, nowadays I find that a lot of families are actually staying back here (where else would you get air-conditioned car parks?) and are joined by their extended families. This post lists some of the places that you can have Iftars and Suhoors around town (humble to moderate to lavish!). But for the non-fasting Dubai residents looking out for places where one can eat breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea during Ramadan, here’s a huge list compiled by Debbie aka The Real Geordie Armani and Samantha aka Foodiva. According to them, there are more than 60 stand-alone eateries open across Dubai for lunch, and in many cases breakfast and afternoon tea/coffee! Also, do visit Dima Sharif‘s site – she has a tradition of doing special postings during Ramadan and this Ramadan too, join her in her journey as she films some food personalities around town – ‘inspired by all the great people I met On The Path Of Food’ (including me).
What is Ramadan?
• Ramadan is regarded as the holiest month of the Islamic calendar and lasts between 29 and 30 days.
• Ramadan is the period in which the first verses of the Holy Qur’an were said to be revealed to Prophet Mohammed and it is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar.
• Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and during Ramadan Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset.
• Many Muslims will rise before dawn for a small pre-fast meal called Suhoor, and will break the fast at sunset with a meal called Iftar.
• Ramadan concludes with a three day festival, the Eid al-Fitr, which when translated means ‘The festival of breaking the fast’.
• Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the holy month of fasting and is a culmination of the month-long path towards a higher spiritual state.
More on Ramadan
Gulf News writes about all you need to know about Ramadan. This is also a time for spiritual awakening, self-evaluation, humility and giving and is explained by Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, while Khaleej Times writes about the essence of Ramadan. Also an interesting read from Sarah, author of The Hedonista and co-editor of Food e Mag dxb (the online magazine that both of us have created)… Ramadan and Iftar – what it means for the food traveller.
Humble Iftar experiences in Dubai
Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) where I have had one of the humblest Iftar experiences. Located in the wind-towered heritage area of Bastakiya in Al Fahidi district, you can learn about the Islamic tradition of fasting here, followed by a walk around the entire historical site and a visit to the Diwan Masjid. Dhs 135/person (children below 12 years free); From 1st of July to 26th of July. More info here.
Old Dubai; Photo courtesy Arva
Ramadan savoury offered in the Sacred Sunset Voyage
Sacred Sunset Voyages from Frying Pan Adventures (above) where you can embark on a spiritual Ramadan awakening and learning about the essence of Ramadan. Join Arva, author of I live in a Frying Pan who organises perhaps the only food tour in Old Dubai. Join her on the roads of Dubai to hear the Islamic call to prayer sounded by the mosques in Old Dubai, followed by a 4-course Iftar menu. Break the fast with dates and rosy Jallab (a refreshing drink made with dates, carob molasses, rosewater and laced with nuts and raisins) and taste authentic Iftar specialties from one of the world’s oldest countries – Iraq. You can feast on a communal platter of tender lamb drenched in delicious sauces; the ‘wet’ component of a traditional Iftar meal and sign off by loading up on qataif – baby turnovers stuffed with cheese, cream or nuts and doused with syrup. In the true spirit of Ramadan, you will be gifting a tray of sweets (already covered in the price!) to a worker in the neighborhood.Dhs 415/person for visiting 4 restaurants/cafes (1 starter + 2 main courses + 1 dessert). There is no walking involved here and restaurant transfers take place in an A/C shuttle. The tour lasts 4 hours and starts at 7pm. More info here.
Arabic Gawa; Photo Courtesy: Debbie
Jumeirah Mosque
Iftar Platter
The Majlis Dubai in the Jumeirah Mosque (above) is a new humble Iftar find (in terms of pricing too – Dhs 50/person). The Majlis is the first finest camel milk café in the posh venue of Dubai Mall, but its location in the grounds of Jumeirah Mosque seems to merge Arabian culture with modern Dubai living. Debbie, author of Coffee, Cakes and Running adds…
Nestled in the grounds of the Jumeirah Mosque, Iftar dining comes in the form of tiered platters of traditional Arabic sweet and savoury dishes made for sharing. With the exception of the lentil soup which is served at the beginning, this is Iftar finger style with traditional Arabic food on offer including the Emirati sweet Balaleet and Khanfaroosh. This is a lighter option than the large hotel buffets and is served in a beautiful Majlis setting with a library of Arabic books available to browse as you dine, with the beautiful Jumeirah Mosque in the background. Apart from the sweet and savoury treats, guests are also treated to a glass of camel milk flavoured with dates or saffron and various traditional Arabic juices. More info here.
Ramadan tent; Photo Courtesy Ewaan
The Ramadan tent at Asateer in The Atlantis
(Not so humble but delightdul) Iftar experiences around town
Ramadan Tents
Traditionally, Ramadan tents are erected during the month of Ramadan, where people can meet right after Maghrib or the sunset so that everyone who’s fasting for Ramadan can break their daily fast with friends and family over an Iftar meal. Dates form an important part of Iftar (three dates are eaten to break the fast, in the tradition of the prophet Mohammed, who broke his fast in this manner). In Dubai, Iftar buffets are organised in many hotels around the city, complete with air-conditioned Ramadan Tents. I have been curious whether the grandeur of these Iftar Buffets contradict some of the very principles of Ramadan, which is abstinence and self-discipline. While some of my Muslim friends do not attain these Buffets because the prayer facilities for Maghrib isn’t there, most of these Ramadan tents nowadays have prayer rooms. As Dima Sharif explains ‘While in Dubai, and especially among the expat community, Iftar Buffets are very popular – probably because they are away from family, and in Ramadan tradition has it that you break fast with a large number of people – it is not the actual tradition of Ramadan among most and not in fact the most famous forms of breaking fast. Actually, the tradition and spirit of Ramadan (the essence) is very much alive, and that is my focus this year.
Here are the list of some of the places where you can dine lavishly (most of these offerings are from 29th June to 29th August)… a few of them are even open for lunch and some places also serve alcohol. Also, a first hand account of the from a few blogger friends on the Iftar offerings, based on the media previews.
The Address Downtown Dubai
Fazaris welcomes you to evenings of gracious sharing to the tunes of the Oud and Tablah played live. Succulent dates, favourite Arabic delicacies including juices, mezze, salads, grilled meats and aromatic coffees make up a generous Iftar buffet that is best enjoyed with family, friends and colleagues. Dhs 200/person; Timing: Iftar buffet from sunset to 9 pm.
Or you could host your guests over Iftar with a sumptuous buffet at the The Symphony Ballroom, while enjoying views of Burj Khalifa. Price: Dhs 195/person for groups of 100 guests and above; Timing: Iftar buffet from sunset to 9pm. More info here.
The Palace Downtown
Iftar and Suhour Events At The Palace Downtown Dubai
Traditional Ramadan Savoury at The Palace Downtown Dubai
Lakeside Suhour Tents at Ewaan
Iftar and Suhour at Ewaan with stunning Ramadan tents where guests can dine and unwind in a festive ambiance, set against the tunes of a live Oud player. Iftar Buffer at Dhs 220/person, inclusive of water and Ramadan beverages; Suhour requires a minimum spend of Dhs 160/person, including food, beverage, or Shisha. Timing: Iftar Buffet from 6.30pm to 9pm; Suhour from 10pm to 2am. More info here.
Lakeside Suhour Tents at Ewaan, where groups of up to eight can enjoy traditional favourites in the air-conditioned poolside cabanas of Ewaan while enjoying live performances of The Dubai Fountain. Debbie, author of Coffee, Cakes and Running adds…
Indulge in a private dining experience in your own air-conditioned poolside Suhoor Tent decked out with traditional Arabic seating. With views of the Dubai Fountains behind you and the ability to order a la carte this is an experience to be enjoyed with family and friends. Each tent comfortably sits 8 people with large sharing platters of Arabic treats available including succulent kebabs, tasty kibbeh and a whole mezzo of Arabic starters and desserts served by smiling and attentive waiters. Look out for the box filled with Arabic dates, fruit and sweet treats too – perfect for indulging with a Moroccan tea or Turkish coffee. Board games are provided and Shisha is also available.
Dhs 1,600 (minimum spend for eight people), water, and Ramadan juices; Timing: 9pm to 2am. More info here.
Tailored Iftar or Suhour buffets may also be organised at stunning venues including the Regent Room (25 to 35 guests), and Royale Ballroom (35 to 260 guests).Dhs 155 to 195/person, subject to number of guests. Timing: Iftar from sunset to 9pm; Suhour from 10pm to 1am. More info here.
The Address Dubai Mall
Ramadan Sweets in The Address Dubai Mall
Ramadan Tea in Address Dubai Mall
The traditional Ramadan Jug in The Address Dubai Mall
Na3Na3 offers an extravagant Iftar including live cooking stations, freshly baked delicacies and traditional favourites amidst live performance of acoustic Oud and Kanoun. Dhs 195 /person; Timing: Iftar buffet from sunset until 9.30 pm. More info here.
La Porte des Indes, the latest fine dining restaurant serving Indian cuisine with a French twist, will stay open during lunch hours during the month of Ramadan. You can enjoy a special Iftar menu created by Chef Vishal Rane such as Murgh ke Pakode and Roasted Chilli Seekh Kebab, Kari de Mouton or a signature Ramadan dish, the Hyderabadi Ghosht Biryani. The most popular desserts such as the Belgian Dark Chocolate Mousse and the Pistachio Kulfi will also be on the menu. Dhs 125/person, Dhs 155/person, Dhs 175/person and Dhs 195/person (for 2, 3, 4 and 5 courses. Lunch consists of 2 and 3 course only). More info here.
The Address Marina
Iftar at the Constellation Ballroom
Iftar at the Constellation Ballroom
Mixed Grill
Designed in the manner of a traditional Ramadan tent but inside a modern air-conditioned set up of the Constellation ballroom, an extensive Iftar Buffet is available from sunset until 9pm during the entire Ramadan followed by a la carte Suhour menu to be enjoyed in the Terrace Tent from 8pm onwards. Dhs 170/person from sunset to 9 pm; A la carte Suhour menu, 8 pm onwards. More info here.
Jasmine, author of Pear Tree Diaries adds…
If variety is what you taste buds are keen on this Ramadan, The Address Marina Iftar spread is your answer with a multinational fare catering exceptional taste along with dessert which left my taste buds wanting more, and more. How can one resist freshly made churros and the towering of tarts? The tent like set up within the dedicated Iftar hall adds to the ambiance the buffet to keep you going well into the month long Ramadan festivities.
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
Signature Iftar at Nawwara
Coming together this Ramadan at JW Marriot Marquis
Iftar at the award-winning Kitchen 6 features six Live Cooking stations, an international buffet and a la carte option from Asian woks, Middle Eastern Grills, European Roasts, authentic Indian cuisine, an Organic section and a world class dessert buffet. Iftar at Kitchen 6 features a colossal 225 dishes, prepared by specialty chefs. Dhs 195/person, daily from sunset until 9.30pm. Children less than 5 years eat for free, children aged 6-12 are invited to enjoy this restaurant for half price. More info here.
Majestic Iftar and Sohour in Dubai Ballroom where the iconic ballroom is transformed for Ramadan into an opulent lounge of gold and cream, a stunning setting to share Iftar and Sohour, amidst Live performance of Oud. Classic Arabian cuisine is served by award winning chefs, with an abundance of signature dishes including over 20 main course choices. You can catch on the Football fever as well with the UAE’s biggest LCD screens screening the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and Ramadan TV specials. Shisha available in a fully air conditioned atmosphere. Dhs 195/person; Timing: From sunset to 8.30pm. Sohour is served à la carte from 8.30pm. More info here.
Nine7One in The Oberoi, Dubai
Iftar at Nine7One; Photo Courtesy: Debbie
Iftar at Nine7One
Iftar at Nine7One
You can enjoy a special Iftar experience at Nine7One, the world cuisine restaurant, with delectable dishes from nine Arabic countries or book for private Iftars in The Grand Hall. Experience Chef Rabah Samra, the Specialty Chef’s signature dishes like baked fish with lemon, garlic, butter and coriander sauces; Harees, a Middle Eastern dish of coarsely-ground wheat and meat or chicken; tender whole mlamb; Lamb Biryani, Eggplant and Tomato parcels with Creamy Pesto and more. Dhs 180/person including Ramadan beverages; Suhour menu available from 11:00pm until sunrise. Light refreshments and beverages will be availablle at The Lobby Bar throughout the day and at The Lobby Lounge after sunset. Debbie, author of Coffee, Cakes and Running adds…
Iftar at Nine7One is a treat to be relished by lovers of Arabic food. Here, the diners can select from the beautifully laid out buffet with tasty and succulent starters and main courses, including a huge platter of succulent Lamb Ouzi. Apart from the buffet, you can also indulge in a few main dishes cooked to order including Shawarma, freshly cooked breads and beautiful Falafel sandwiches and burgers. Desserts are largely Arabic and traditional with some hints of molecular gastronomy presented in an interactive dessert station, think deconstructed Umm Ali, meringues that makes you smile as you exhale steam and tappanaki ice-cream with indulgent flavours. More info here.
Intercontinental Dubai Festival City
Skyline tent at Zaytoun
A sundown feast for Iftar at Anise
Enjoy a sundown feast for Iftar at Anise with the finest spread of traditional Arabic fare and live entertainment. Shisha available on the terrace. Dhs 195/person, including Ramadan juices, tea, coffee and soft beverages (Dhs 98 for kids aged 6-12 years old); Timing: From Sunset until 10pm. More info here.
Zaytoun and Skyline tent at Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City where you can break your fast with family and friends during Ramadan in the relaxing atmosphere of Zaytoun and the connecting Skyline Ramadan Tent with unrivaled views of the Dubai Creek and skyline. You can order Suhour from an a la carte Arabian menu including signature dishes from the guest Arabic Master Chef from the Phoenicia Intercontinental Beirut. You can also enjoy a large selection of teas from the signature Tchaba tea station. Dhs 195/person, including Ramadan juices, tea, coffee and soft beverages; Timing: From Sunset until 10pm while Suhour starts from 9pm until 2am. Jasmine, author of Pear Tree Diaries adds…
Generous portions with a wide spread of traditional Ramadan fare catered to please all taste buds is what one can expect at the participating Intercontinental Dubai Festival City and the sister outlets, Crown Plaza Dubai Festival City and Al Badia Golf Club. Authentic Emirati Harissa, traditional Lebanese desserts and far Eastern delicacies along with a range of desserts, including the tantalizing Kunafa.
Asateer Tent at The Atlantis
The lavish beachfront tent overlooks the Arabian Gulf and offers traditional activities and entertainment including card games, chess and backgammon – a true Arabian Nights experience. Guests can enjoy a gastronomic journey through Middle Eastern cuisine from live cooking stations offering traditional delights including Ouzi, a lamb and rice dish infused with Arabic spices; Kebbeh bil Laban, meat balls made with beef and onions and simmered in a light yoghurt sauce; and Fish Sayadiyha, a classic fish dish served with spiced rice and caramelised onions. This year, new signature dishes include Chicken Mousakhan (Arabic chicken wraps), Chicken Fattah, a traditional layered Levant dish including bread crumbs, rice, yoghurt and chicken Lobster Tajeen with Couscous and Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Oriental rice. New desserts on offer include a traditional Qamar El Dine Dried Fruit Salad as well as the regular Turkish delight and nougat stations and a selection of Arabic Ice Cream mixed with regional favourites such as Baklawa, Arabic Coffee, Mistika, and Emirati Dates. Dhs 195/person. Timing: From sunset until 8:30pm and Suhour starts from 9:30pm-2:30am with a minimum spend of Dhs 150 /person, excluding shisha. More info here.
Yalumba in Le Meridien
Here, you can break your fast with mouth-watering Arabic specialties prepared by our team of Arabic Chefs. The lavish buffet includes an array of hot & cold mezzehs, warm soups, grills, live cooking stations, sweets, pastries and juices. Dhs 159/person, inclusive of Ramadan juices and water. Timing: From sunset till 8.30PM. More info here.
Sheraton Dubai, Mall of Emirates
Sanabel Restaurant offers not only a lavish Iftar Buffet that can be enjoyed with family and friends (younger guests have a dedicated kids’ corner with Wii and PlayStation), but but also lunch buffet packages starting from Dhs 45/person. Iftar packages start at Dhs 135/person and there are special group offers. More info here.
Still fancying a Friday Brunch during Ramadan?
Na3Na3 opens its doors to a sumptuous Organic Brunch where the dishes are served with fresh seasonal and locally sourced organic ingredients – literally from the farmer’s market to your plate. Dhs 295/person including soft beverages and Dhs 380/person including selected house beverages. Timing: Every Friday. 12.30 pm to 4 pm.
Interested in speciality Iftar fares?
An Arabic Affair at Halla Night at NA3NA3 in The Address Dubai Mall, where you can enjoy specialty dishes from Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iran. You may choose from over 14 different mixed grills offerings, to freshly sought local seafood, created using Chef Hanna’s blend of recipes. Apart from these, you may also choose from a rich array of traditional food including a Live Roti Canai (hand-tossed Malaysian stuffed bread), Dim Sum and Sushi; a Noodle Station and an extensive range of curries from Indian to Thai and Japanese; Sago Gula Melaka (Malay Style Tapioca with Pal Sugar); and an exotic display of Asian fruits such as Dragon fruit, Thai Mango and Pineapples, Rambutan, and Mangosteen. Dhs 210/person including soft beverages and Dhs 265/person including selected house beverages. Timing: Every Friday 7 pm to 11 pm. More info here.
Mahec in Le Meridien is probably the only place in Dubai where you can enjoy Haleem along with other Indian specialities like Shahi Korma, Dum Biryani and array of Hot Kebabs. Dhs 149/person inclusive of Ramadan juices and water. Timing: From sunset until 8:30pm. More info here.
Or would rather order from an A La Carte Iftar menu?
Signature Iftar at Nawwara in JW Marriot Marquis, where you can experience Chef Youssef’s acclaimed Levantine cuisine, with a selection of classic sharing appetizers, followed by Chef’s signature main courses and a sumptuous dessert selection. Nawwara also serves shisha on the outdoor terrace overlooking the Dubai skyline. Dhs 195/person; Timing: From sunset until 9pm. More info here.
Sally, the author of My Custard Pie adds…
Everything here is prepared with such attention to detail it’s sublime including the super smooth, creamy, nutty, utterly scrumptious hummus.
Iftar at the Ivy where you can enjoy four à la carte courses of sensational sharing dishes where you can commence your feast with traditional Arabic dates, before continuing on to a selection of sharing entrées, including warm harissa with chick peas & feta, hummus with Arabic flat bread and chicken shish taouk with garlic toum. The Ivy’s Taste of Iftar main courses celebrate the tastes of the Middle East, with deliciously authentic options on offer including fish of the region, pan-fried Sultan Ibrahim with seafood machboos, lamb chermoula with simac-spiced cous cous and vegetarian Kushari with fattoush and moutabel. Close the evening by filling up with The Ivy’s dessert tasting plate of five Arabian-inspired puddings, such as Egyptian Mahalabiya, fruit skewers and a playful twist on the iconic British dessert – sticky toffee & date pudding. Dhs 250/person, including unlimited soft drinks and mocktails. Timing: From sunset onwards. More info here.
Cabana in The Address Dubai Mall offers an outdoor setting overlooking the pool and you can enjoy your shisha and order from a la carte. Timing: Sunset to 2am.
Karat in the Address Dubai Mall, the Lobby Lounge where you can experience Iftar and Suhoor with friends and loved ones from an a la carte Iftar menu with delectable mezzeh, salads, soups and traditional Arabic specialties including the popular Um Ali. Timing: Sunset to 12am.
New Iftars on the block
Nobu at Atlantis, for the first time will be offering Iftar during Ramadan. Chef Nobu’s signature dishes such as Steamed Seabass Dry Miso with Eggplant Puree and Creamy Rock Shrimp gets a spin with Iftar staples such as dried fruit and vegetables to break one’s fast. Dhs 270/person daily during Ramadan. More info here.
Bento box for Iftar and Suhour at Choix Patisserie
Choix Patisserie Par Pierre Gagnaire (above) at Intercontinental Dubai Festival City is offering a special Ramadan Bento Box, which includes Middle Eastern classics accompanied by soup, a fresh fruit platter, Arabic bread and assortment of sweet treats including dates, macarons, dry fruit, afternoon cake and Arabic delights. Dhs 360/2 persons; Available for Iftar and Suhour and Shisha service will be available in Choix Terrace from sunset. More info here.
Iftar offering at Qbara
Qbara offers a very contemporary Arabesque menu that has been quite a talk of the town recently with flavours and scents of the Magreb, Levant and greater Middle East. According to their official website, “The Q is calling” and you can enjoy a lavish Iftar buffet containing traditional Arabic dishes like roasted pumpkin soup with dukkah, lentil soup with crusty bread, Harira soup, Sayadiah, Chicken Tagine, slow cooked lamb ‘Ouzi style’. Dhs 18o/person; More info here.
Sally, author of My Custard Pie adds…
The modern take on Iftar sticks to tradition while throwing in a few unexpected notes into the mix. A carved silver platter dotted elegantly with an array of vegetables, salad leaves and herbs was a dainty version of the usual Lebanese vegetable arrangement but a truffle butter formed the surprising and really moreish dip. The hummus, mutabal and pickles were decent, the broad beans and feta really good and the harira soup (lentil and roast pumpkin are other choices) had me scooping up every last mouthful even though I knew there was much more to come.
If casual dining is your Kind of Iftar
Jasmine adds…
St Tropez Bistro in MOE is a casual chic atmosphere adds perfection to the French twist to a flavor filled Ramadan. St. Tropez stick true to the it’s cuisine from a taste of the hearty bowl of pippin hot French soup to the succulent Grilled Corn-fed Chicken breast served with a side seasonal vegetables and to top of the Français inspired iftar menu, a vanilla bean crème brulee that caters an aroma to savour. Dhs 129/person for 2 courses and Dhs 159/person for three courses. More info here.
Sapori Di Bice in City Walk, Dubai
The Italian family dining set-up is another option to try out this Ramadan with a special Ramadan menu featuring an Italian take on traditional favorites such as Fattoush, lentil soup – the Ramadan staple and this lush, camel milk and saffron gelato with much more featured on a 10 course long menu. 10 courses for AED160. More info here.
Interested in special Takeaways?
A lot of places offer special Ramadan Takeaways, specially by way of business lunches. Celebrity Chef Silvena Rowe’s newly opened deli cum cafe Omnia Gourmet is offering the concept – Slimming Ramadan. Everyday, Omnia Gourmet would open up by 3 pm during Ramadan and will take in orders by telephone. One can come in before the Iftar and pick up their specially prepared Ramadan boxes and take them home. All these boxes will have healthy, nutritious salads and meals.
Ramadan special ‘Family Meal Combo’
Ramadan special ‘Family Meal Combo’
Biryani Pot offers an interesting Ramadan special ‘Family Meal Combo’. Available for dine-in and takeaway, customers will be able to share a large family-sized iftar meal for four which includes a starter, a salad, two Biryanis, three curries and two tandoor grills. Dhs 180/combo. More info here.
Any thoughts of giving back during this Ramadan?
Ramadan in Dubai #FillingTheBlues
This is a great initiative from Moti Roti and other local businesses along with a few bloggers like Debbie is a part of, during Ramadan. Each night of Ramadan, the is to aim to fill the bellies of the labourers toiling in the summer heat. What you need to do? Just 30 mins before Iftar, turn up to the construction site next to Media Rotana, Tecom, and help the volunteers set up and handout food to the labourers. More info here.
What are your thoughts on Ramadan? Both as a Muslim observing the fast or as a non-Muslim expatriate? Two years back when I was in Kolkata during Ramadan, prodding through the crowded Mallick Bazar area, I was humbled by my Ramadan experience. As Iftar set in everybody set out to break their Roza and soon an amazing experience ensued. People formed groups – on the roads, in corners, behind stalls and prayed on the street and started picking on dates and nuts and other savories from the same plate. And I realised whether you say ‘Ramzan Mubarak’ or ‘Ramadan Kareem’, whether it is Mallick Bazar in Kolkata or Karama in Dubai, the essence of Ramadan is the same everywhere amongst all Muslim household the world wide. The next post would be a solemn one with thoughts on Ramadan from all my blogger friends and their cultural experiences in Dubai. Also, look out for some Iftar dining giveaways that I be organising over social media. Signing off by wishing all of you Ramadan Kareem much in advance!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Disclaimer: While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. Please note that this blog is not a sponsored blog and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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Everybody in Dubai knows celebrity chef Silvena Rowe right now. Solving weekly kitchen problems as the Domestic Diva in the popular Friday Magazine and doling out scrumptious exotic-do-able-at-home recipes, she is probably the only resident celebrity chef in Dubai. She is also the only celebrity chef on my speed dial. I have been following her journey in the UAE since last year when I got the first phone from her, that took me to Capital Club that very night to experience her magic. Earlier this year, I had tasted the exclusive ‘Taste of Organic Arabia’ three course meal featuring 98% local organic produce at her pop-up restaurant at the Dubai Food Carnival. I have always been bowled over by her energy, her assertive confidence (‘you cannot imagine the Harees I cook’, or ‘nobody has ever done this kind of a menu before’ or ‘I intend to bring in Michelin to Dubai with my Omnia by Sylvena’), her infectious passion, her creativity and all her conscious efforts in sourcing ingredients organically and locally to create healthy and delicious food. I have been waiting all this while to see where she opens her restaurant, rather in which hotel, and have often wondered why it’s been taking her so long. I had anticipated nothing less than magic. But never had I imagined that it is not a single restaurant that’s been brewing up in her mind but an entire Souq with 4 different restaurants – Omnia Gourmet being her signature deli cum cafe under the main umbrella of Omnia by Silvena, her high-end, fine dining Middle Eastern restaurant in Downtown Boulevard. The other 3 restaurants in the Souq – Indian, Lebanese and a seafood restaurant – however, will not be under her creations.
I dropped into Omnia Gourmet last week to chat with Silvena. In the darkness whatever I could see or imagine as she talked about her grand master-plan, I was blown away. She had a lot of guests that night, to whom she was introducing her menu and I ended up tasting some of her desserts (a few of them being raw, sugar-free, fat-free, gluten-free as well as vegan and paleo). I still recall the Chocolate Ganache Tart – so rich and so decadent, and if I believe in the ingredients that Silvena has put into her healthy range of desserts, I should be making them my next diet mantra! Yesterday, I was there again. The restaurant is still going through the final touches, and although it is open to guests and her desserts look stunning along with the salads as they sit pretty on large intricate trays, I will still give some settling-down time (as of yesterday, pictures were still being drilled onto the walls, the acoustics are yet to be sorted out, the fountain hasn’t yet started running, and plants that will be overflowing from the ceiling haven’t yet arrived). I did end up tasting the Chocolate Ganache once again (what a waste of tummy space when I could have tasted another dessert!) and a few other dishes from her Omnia Gourmet menu (Avocado, Sugar Snaps and organic Chickpeas in Za’atar Pesto dressing and Chia seeds, Heritage Tomatoes and Emirati Burrata with Pomegranate and Sumac dressing, and the Chicken Pumpkin in Coconut & Bzar broth). My foodie friend Sally, the author of My Custard Pie, joined us a bit later. Her writings focus on ‘honest food, fresh ingredients’, and it would be interesting to hear what she thinks of Silvena’s food. All I can say right now is, there is a lot of expectations from Silvena.
Chatting with Silvena (a continuation of our conversation from the last week) about Omnia, the super healthy delicious menu and what’s special in the coming holy month of Ramadan…
Tell us about Omnia.What does the word mean?
Omnia means ‘wish’. So, Omnia by Silvena means ‘wishes by Silvena’.
What makes the Omnia menu special and different?
Located in the Downtown Boulevard, Omnia by Silvena is going to be my jewel where one can expect the most refined form of local cuisine. Omnia Gourmet, on the other hand, is a neighborhood deli cum cafe, although the menu is prepared by the expert team of Omnia by Silvena. Dubai has got a lot of international restaurants, great chefs and many new dining concepts but what interests me is creating food that is super healthy . This is missing in the market and Omnia Gourmet is going to fill in for that. In my food, I am using super foods like Chia Seeds, Goji Berries, Acai powder, Lucuma powder, Maca powder, Maqui powder, Hemp Seeds, Pomegranate powder. The desserts are delicious, decadent, voluptuous and yes, super healthy. For example, the Chocolate Ganache Tart with Maca powder dust. It is raw, gluten free, sugar free, paleo and vegan. Or say, my Beauty Bliss ‘Bon-bons’ – these super food balls have Goji berries and have different coatings like Quinoa or the Camu Camu Powder. I have created almost 9 desserts which are raw, gluten free, sugar free and dairy free – Raspberry and Chocolate Brownie, Banana and Peanut Butter Chia Pudding with goji berries, Tahini superfood truffles, Cocoa and Cashew Nut Butter Tart with Acai powder dust, Carrot cake with lime Chantilly, Cashew Cheesecake with fresh berries, Cashew and lemon cheesecake and more. And of course, you will have some usual sugar suspects – the Battenburg Cake, Dubai Lace (with Chocolate and Hazelnut butter), Cupcakes, my special velvety Raspberry Cheesecake which I won in BBC’s Country Show Cook Off {recipe here}.
Apart from healthy Desserts, what other healthy offerings can one expect in Omnia Gourmet?
Everything in Omnia Gourmet is healthy but in an elevated form. The salads are organic and have ingredients that have been sourced locally, as much as possible. It is a combination of crisp freshness, where the spices play with each other to lend richness to the taste. I don’t use salt at all and my Chef had to really adapt to that. The Avocado Salad – it is one of my signature dishes and I have combined it with Sugar Snaps and organic Chick Peas. I have elevated it by using the local spice Za’tar in Pesto dressing and have used super foods like Chia seeds. Grilled Chicken Kofta is another signature dish here. There is no oil in it and I have tried to give some richness to the dish by combining it with sautéed Spinach, mashed Sweet Potato mash with a Coriander Salsa, the spicy red Harissa (a Maghrebian hot Chili pepper paste) and Cumin Labneh (strained yogurt very popular locally). Look at the Breakfast menu – apart from the usual Eggs Benedict with smoked Salmon or the Eggs Florentine with Truffle Hollaindaise (needless to say organic eggs), it will also have some super healthy choices like Coconut and Chia Seeds with Almond, Lucuma powder and Goji Berries crumble or the Muesli with shredded Coconut and home made Almond milk and Acai powder. The Chia porridge is going to be superloaded with super foods – and these are kind of stuff that I have really not come across in Dubai (maybe in Melbourne). And I can tell you that the Shakshuka made with sweet red peppers, cherry tomatoes and creamy Feta, is going to be one of the best Shakshukas that you will come across (adding another chapter to the Shakshuka controversy here – this restaurant claims to have the recipe to the original Shakshuka in Dubai!)
Tell us more about your obsession with local sourcing and organic ingredients.
You are what you eat. If I am excercising so much, why do I want to put unhealthy food into my body? Here, in the UAE, obesity is a rising problem along with all the various illnesses that is triggered off by it. So my entire focus is on the ingredients that go into each dish. I try to source everything locally and use organic products as much as possible – organic eggs and chicken are sourced locally and they are very good. I regular visit the local fish markets, so I know the suppliers from where I buy my fish. I will be having Farmers’ Market in this Souq, bringing in the local farmers from where I source my fresh produce. This would also lead to consistency in their supply. In Omnia By Silvena, I will have to have make a few exceptions – for example, the Black Cod – it is not available in the markets here. But at the same time I will have to keep certain items in my menu there.
So what is Omnia Slim?
That is a range of healthy desserts that I have prepared for the likes of Spinneys and Waitrose, and my tagline is ‘Slim as you Sin’! The sweetness of these desserts come from natural ingredients like Maple syrup and Dates. They are loaded with super foods as well.
Tell us about Omnia by Sylvena. Is it going to be blingy?
Oh yes, Omnia by Silvena is what Dubai is – it’s going to be stunning with a lot of glitz, glamour and club image of Dubai and at the same time it will have the grunge of Al Qouz. The food here is going to be all about form and finesse. Nobody has ever taken Emirati cuisine to the level that I am hoping Omnia by Silvena would take. Yes, it will not be a licensed restaurant but then I don’t think it’s going to matter. This is not French cuisine that has to be paired with wine. Although I have been doing modern Middle Eastern cuisine all these years (due to my Turkish and Ottoman heritage), now I have learnt Emirati cuisine and want to bring that out to the Dubai diner in a glamorous way. Omnia by Silvena is going to be a place to celebrate Emirati and Arabic culture.
What is the essence of Ramadan to you? What are the special Ramadan plans for Omnia?
Growing up in Bulgaria under the communist regime, I have got used to covering myself while praying. Last year was my first Ramadan in Dubai, and I really love being here. I still haven’t got used to praying openly. I do fast during Ramadan and I feel that people put on a lot of weight during Ramadan because of the elaborate Iftars that are popular around town. While last year, I had created elaborate Iftar buffets (in H Hotel), this year I am creating the concept – Slimming Ramadan. Everyday, Omnia Gourmet would open up by 3 pm during Ramadan and will take in orders by telephone. One can come in before the Iftar and pick up their specially prepared Ramadan boxes and take them home. All these boxes will have healthy, nutritious salads and meals. Omnia by Sivena will open during Ramadan and I am planning to create an Iftar offering there will be unforgettable.
Note: The above conversation is adapted from our original conversation which took place over two seatings and was interspersed with many personal chit-chat.
Silvena and Sally, author of My Custard Pie
Avacado, Sugar Snaps and organic Chickpeas in Za’atar Pesto dressing & Chia Seeds (green in colour); Heritage Tomatoes, Emirati Burrata with Pomegranate & Sumac dressing (to the left)
Chicken and Pumpkin in Coconut & Bzar broth
Grilled Chicken Kofta , sautéed Spinach, Sweet Potato mash with Coriander Salsa verde; Red Harissa; Cumin Labneh
Chef Kurtis served me his favourites from Silvena’s signature dishes – the Chicken Koftas (above). Sadly, I had to give it a miss this time along with the many other dishes lining up the counter (below). I know that I will be coming back soon once the place is up and running perfectly – I loved the warm non-restaurant like interiors with big comfy sofas, huge cushions, coffee tables and mosaiced tiles. The framed butterflies look beautiful against the flower printed cushions and the hand painted green walls with flowers and peacocks. I have one reservation here – I am a believer in Feng Shui and although images of butterflies have a positive connotation in bringing in creative energy in one’s life, I am slightly uncomfortable with these framed artworks with real butterflies! Oh ignore this, and good wishes to you Silvena!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Disclaimer: While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. Please note that this blog is not a sponsored blog and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Heritage Tomatoes, Emirati Burrata with Pomegranate & Sumac dressing
Organic Quinoa with roasted sweet red Peppers and Onion jam
Chicken and Pumpkin in Coconut & Bzar broth
Green Salad with Goats’ Cheese
Roast Summer Squash, Baby Beetroot, red Onions in Harissa dressing and Pumpkin seeds
Spanakopita – crispy filo Greek style pastry , with Spinach and Feta Cheese
Cashew and Lemon Cheese Cake
Silvena’s “Velvet” raspberry cheesecake
Rich Chocolate Ganache Tart and Maca powder dust
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+ Bengali Food, Dubai, Video
How Did I Fare In Showcasing My Bengali Cuisine? | On Zee TV Middle East
The Bengali Gourmet evening at BookMunch was very important and special to me. This was the first time I had attempted to showcase Bengali Cuisine in a bit more elaborate way – a modern menu that had been created with all the nuances of traditional Bengali cuisine. It was for the ‘Cook The Books’ in BookMunch, an unique monthly event where the host Chef talked about his/her cookbook or some recipes from their favourite cookbooks, followed by a dinner where the menu had been created by the host Chef. I wanted to create a dining experience where Bengali puritans would nod their heads in agreement – ‘yes, the food had all the Bengali flavours that one would expect in traditional Bengali cooking’ and the non-Bengalis who were tasting the food for the first time would certify – ‘this was delicious food and something we haven’t tasted before’. I am told that I have passed with flying colours. With important media personalities, food critiques and bloggers around, I was aware that I would have only one chance. If I didn’t cracked it that night, no body would be giving me a second chance and a ‘gourmet’ Bengali Cuisine in Dubai shores would remain just a dream and my shout outs on Bengali cuisine simply another popular post in my blog.
As all of you are aware, I have left no stone unturned in telling the world about my roots, where I come from and how delicious Bengali food is. But it had been important for me to explain to my family, close friends, blogger friends and my readers that the concept that I was proposing, was not just a regional cuisine for a regional audience. It would appeal to everyone, irrespective of their country of origin – because at the end of it, it was a rich cuisine we were talking about. In the future, I have plans to make films on Kolkata so that the diner is surrounded by the noise and sound of Kolkata as he/she is transported to the kaleidoscopic city itself. All of that in my next leap of faith. But for the time being, I am glad that the first hurdle has been crossed. The curiosity and the response to the event had been phenomenal – we had to turn down many guests from the morning. I basked in the spotlight throughout the evening, guiding the diner through each dish and shared stories of how and why I started my food blog, my Bengali heritage, how my Kolkata nostalgia shaped my current living, what stimulated my food senses and how the menu for that evening had been inspired by both traditional Bengali cuisine and Kolkata street food. And most importantly, how food connected me to each and every diner attending the dinner that night. Unfolding the evening as has been captured though the eyes of my husband (oh, how I wish the Z-Sisters were there – Big Z being such a foodie and a supporter in all my endeavours), my blogger friends and their social media shares on Instagram. I am also waiting for Ross Saldanha from Ross MediaWorks who has filmed the evening and Zee TV Middle East, who covered the event – I will be sharing the videos with you once I have them in hand.
To all those who were present that evening, I can’t thank you enough. Although I was sure that the food will connect with you all, I hadn’t expected such an overwhelming share on social media. I feel very privileged to have been surrounded by your love and support… Sudeshna Ghosh of BBC Good Food ME, Arnab and Manoj of Zee TV Middle East, TV chef and cookbook author Suzanne Husseini, my blogger friends… Shaikha Ali of When Shaikha Cooks, Sarah of The Hedonista, Debbie of Coffee, Cakes and Running, Dima of Dima Sharif, Sandy Dang of Ginger & Scotch, Minna of Naked Plate Blog… all those who have seen my blog evolve… Kanaka, Keka, Sumona – Samyo, Brinda, Darryl and Jason… and my better half S (he has taken a lot of brilliant pictures here)… virtual supporters whom I met for the first time that evening – Mita and her brother and his wife (who cancelled their Oman plans)… readers like Jonathan with whom I have connected through our love for food... and the others with whom I was interacting for the first time. Also to many others who couldn’t join in but had always supported me. Huge thanks to Chef Alfred and Dareen from Book Munch who made this possible – an incredible feat from their end to come out of their comfort zone and create the menu exactly as I had perceived. A small dream materialised, paving the way to a bigger dream!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Table decoration with personal silver bowls, folk artifacts from Bengal
The menu and Jhaal Muri or Puffed Rice Masalafied; Photo Courtesy: Dima
The Starters Platter – Shrimp Churmur or Crumbled Panipuri, Kalojeere Asparagus (Asparagus with Black Cumin), Potoler Dorma stuffed Parval); Photo Courtesy: Dima
Traditional Cholar Daal with Arabic Fatoush bread; Photo Courtesy: Dima
The Gourmet Main Course – Mustard Salmon wrapped in Banana leaf
Mishti Mukh or the sweet signoff – Mishti Doi and Aamer Chutney Sorbet; Photo Courtesy: Dima
Dareen from BookMunch introduces me before the menu is revealed
Ross Saldanha from Ross Media filming the evening and I am doing what I love the most – talk about my Bengali heritage, my food quest and my Kolkata nostalgia juxtaposed against Dubai living; Photo Courtesy: Debbie
From top: Sudeshna, Sumana (pic1); Devjani (pic2); Jonathan (pic3); Debbie (pic4); Sarah, Mina, Dima, Suzanne Husseini and me (pic5); Kanaka (pic8); Minna, Kanaka, Mita and his brother and wife (pic9), Daryl, Jason, Sandy and other diners (pic10), Manoj, Arnab, Brinda in striped top (pic 11); Photo Courtesy: Dima, Debbie and S
The evening captured via instagram; Courtesy – BBC GoodFood ME, Coffee Cakes And Running, The Hedonista, The Naked Plate Blog, When Shaikha Cooks and Suzanne Husseini
Disclaimer: While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. Please note that this blog is not a sponsored blog and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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It’s after a long long time that eating in a Dubai restaurant felt like a dream. Not because of the sun rays that reflected off the blue sea waters over the terrace or the dreamy, lit-up white nests hanging from the ceiling cast magical shadows on the distressed wooden floors. But simply because of a few stunning dishes that we ate at Eat Greek. Kadaifi Jumbo Prawns – a beauty, a must have… Jumbo Prawns wrapped in Kadaifi filo (very popularly used in Arabic sweets like Kunafa), fried and served with a dreamy pink strawberry dressing and chopped pieces of fruits, deliciously called the fruity ratatouille. We almost didn’t order it, not realising its divine taste by reading it off the menu. Much after we had finished ordering our food and were almost half way into our eating, the Head Chef Theodoris (how could I resist myself from meeting a Greek Chef ?) told us that he would be sending his favourite dishes to our table. He insisted that we must try them. The Kadaifi Jumbo Prawns was one of them.
Not knowing what to expect from a Greek restaurant (I must have tasted Greek food faintly a decade back, on Big Z’s first birthday, at least that’s what one of my email printouts indicates), I had my blogger friend FooDiva’s (a Greek-Cypriot-British herself) review of Eat Greek on my smartphone. Located in the new beach development on JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) – The Beach Mall, I am told that this is the second Greek restaurant in Dubai, the first one being Elia in Dubai Majestic Hotel. We had a friend visiting us from India and we wanted to try out something different – ‘no, not Arabic or Lebanese please; definitely not Indian – so our already-visited-twice House of Curry was out; no, not burgers please – so the new Californian style Counter Burger was out; no, not Leopold’s please – not sandwiches kind of stuff’ … so we ended up in Eat Greek. This must have been one of those happy accidents that I should be thanking my stars for.
What else must you eat here apart from the devastatingly beautiful Kadaifi Jumbo Prawns? The second contender is the Flamed Grilled Whole Calamari. A simple preparation where the calamaris had been drizzled with lemon oil, garlic and then grilled, this dish is definitely for them who love squids. Not everyone likes the bland, rubbery texture of calamari. With such uncomplicated ingredients, the freshness of the squid shone through, lending itself to a soft lemony taste.
And then I’ll come straight to the Desserts we had. We had initially ordered Loukoumades (below) because the Z-Sisters are simply crazy about the Emirati version of a similar dessert – the Leqaimat, and can devour bowls of them (our earlier experiences at Al Fanar Restaurant and The Biker’s Cafe are evidence to their Leqaimat love story). Leqaimats are golden crisp dough balls coated with Dibbs or the date syrup that I have seen the local ladies make so lovingly in the Global Village or during the DWHC and I have been curious how different or better would their Greek cousins be. Specially, after reading what FooDiva had to say… For a sweet ending to our meal, the loukoumades call out to the child in me. Teeny deep fried doughnuts drizzled with a teeny speck of honey, a popular street food back home – straight out of the frying pan, crispy and gooey – prettily presented in a miniature bucket. The Chef recommended Nutella Loukoumades although we had initially ordered the regular ones – we ended up tasting both! Nutella? Well, not only is the brand celebrating it’s 50 years, I am yet to come across any other food brand that has swept across different countries and is slowly merging itself into their respective local cuisine so effortlessly (my German friends can lick up bottles of them at one sitting). What’s our verdict on these sweet fried calorific Greek doughnuts vs the Emirati ones? The Greek ones are more soft and dipped in honey rather than the the date syrup. Either which way – Greek or Emirati doughnuts, we are absolute slaves to these!
Another recommendation comes our way from the Chef – the Tomato Jam & Lemon Cream with Mastic Ice cream. Mastic, an ingredient used in the Turkish ice creams (I insist that you read my heart wrenching and devastating story of Turkish ice creams), this has been a subject of study as well as fascination after my trip to Istanbul last November. This was a dessert platter with an interesting combination in taste and texture – the sweet and liquid tomato jam contrasting the soft and sour lemon cream, while the thick Mastic Ice cream holding all of them together. It’s actually inspired me to make some interesting combination of desserts at home. 
No other dishes? While the ones that I have discussed above are the *heroes*, there are also a few more worth-mentioning dishes. For example, the Baked Feta Cheese, the Spinach and Cheese Salad or the Tzatziki. We had also ordered the Pita Lamb Gyros – the pan fried shaved lamb mixed with tzatziki, tomatoes and onions, wrapped in the Pita Bread, just to compare them to their local version – the Shawarma. They pretty much came home as the lady serving us insisted that the sizes were small and we should order one plate for each one of us – but Lady, those weren’t our only orders. The only disappointing dish that day was the Kleftiko Roast lamb – the slow cooked lamb shank. Presumably it had been slow-cooked but the the lamb tasted hard and burnt – nothing spectacular. I asked the Greek diners sitting at the next table and they too seemed disappointed with the Kleftiko.
What do you expect when you try out a new cuisine for the first time? That is exactly what I am going to find out tonight as I create a Bengali menu for the Cook The Books event at Book Munch. For me, the authenticity of a dish takes a back seat when I don’t know anything about the dish, while all it matters is ‘Do I like the food?’. I am yet to ascertain whether Eat Greek serves authentic Greek food, but all I know is that I can’t wait to go back. Specially for the Kadaifi Jumbo Prawns. Or the Flamed Grilled Whole Calamari. Or the Loukamandes. Or the Mastic icecream served with tomato jam and lemon cream!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Disclaimer: Our bill came to around Dhs 600 for 3 adults and 2 hungry kids. It didn’t include the Kadaifi Jumbo Prawns, the Mastic Ice cream and the Tzatziki – all the dishes that Chef Theodoris had recommended (we were getting worried with the bill as we had already ordered so much from the menu!). While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. Please note that this is not a sponsored post and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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I don’t think that I have left any stone unturned in telling the world about my roots, where I come from and how delicious Bengali food is. Often I am inundated with mails from readers – Where can we have a Bengali Meal in Dubai? Is there any good Bengali Restaurant in Dubai? I don’t have any answers. I try to showcase Bengali cuisine at every little opportunity that I get (I’ve cooked the Kolkata Biryani in Lafayette Gourmet, I’ve written about the Phulko Luchi In Ahlan! Gourmet, written an encyclopaedic blogpost on Bengali cuisine – I can go on! But this would perhaps be the first time that I am attempting to showcase in a bit more elaborate way – a Bengali menu that I have created for a very special event that’s coming up this week. I am hosting the ‘Cook The Books’ in BookMunch, the award-winning restaurant cafe in Al Wasl Square (it won the Time Out Dubai Restaurant Awards 2014 for the Best Family Restaurant). This is an unique monthly event where the host Chef talks about his/her cookbook or some recipes from their favourite cookbooks, followed by a dinner where the menu has been created by the host Chef. They have had renowned host Chefs in the past like Suzanne Husseini, Fiona Archibold and others. It’s my honour to be the host Chef in the month of June.
A little background here… most of the food posts in my Culinary Travel blog have been juxtaposed against my Kolkata nostalgia or my living experiences in the UAE. While I still haven’t come up with my book, I do nurture a dream to write one – till then all my culinary experiences are penned down in my blog. Dareen, the inspiring lady behind this novel concept, is giving me an opportunity to pull out pages from my ‘potential book’ and my love for Bengali food. There is a lot of effort on her part and the team in the BookMunch kitchen to actually create a menu that they haven’t actually aren’t accustomed to. We have all worked very hard for this – I have cooked, fed the Chef and the team (above), we have discussed and then finally he has recreated them, adding his touches too. What we hope is to present a ‘Bengali Gourmet Menu’. While I don’t want to reveal too much, here’s a little peep into what could possibly be in the evening’s menu on 4th of June*. Do click here to confirm your attendance in the event… hope to see you there!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
* The final menu is subject to change, depending upon availability of products and ingredients.
Disclaimer: While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. Please note that this blog is not a sponsored blog and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Shrimp Churmur
Potoler Dorma
Mustard Salmon wrapped in Banana Leaf
Mishti Doi
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Big Z turned 10 years today. Sounds clichéd – yes, time absolutely flies and I don’t know where it flew. My 16 weeks ultras0no report had pronounced that we were having a boy. S however was very sure that it was a girl and had already fixed upon the name Shrishti, meaning Creation. She is also called Big Z because her pet name is Zita. We Bengalis, must necessarily have a pet name or a daaknaam. Remember Jhumpa Lahiri’s ‘Namesake’? During the 8 months scan, the doctor declared that it would be a girl. I burst out crying and I couldn’t wait to see the happiness in S’s eyes. I had been toying out some boys name all throughout my pregnancy – Adi, Karan, Krish etc!
In my early years of mommyhood, I used to keep all my memories documented in different albums – categorised, labelled and captioned. I had a separate baby book, an album exclusively for birthdays, an early year school album (above left) etc etc etc. Those were the pre-digital days. I was a happy mom. I would click pictures, print them and put them neatly in albums. The last few years however, my life had changed. I had become a geek. I would document every moment and every minute of my life through my Nikon SLR and more recently, my Samsung smartphone. There were no more albums that could sit on my bookshelves. They would sit in different folders on my hard disc. I believe, in life everything is destined for a reason. Most of the times for a good reason. Recently, my laptop as well as my iMac crashed – wiping away a whole lot of photographs. I had a back up of some, but I realised that I had lost a majority of the photographs, including many special moments from the Z-Sisters’ lives. Today, I am thankful for the few albums that I had so diligently created – they seem to be like some priceless inheritance. Here’s Big Z’s timeline from the pages of those albums, and I realised that she wasn’t very big even a few days back…
Big Z was born in Dubai but soon after we moved to Frankfurt. After living in Dubai, Frankfurt seemed like a totally different world. I used to miss my friends in Dubai and would email regularly about how Big Z was doing. When Big Z turned one, we had only a handful of friends in Frankfurt – Claudia being one of them (left page in the picture above). We cut Big Z’s first birthday cake in a small Pizzeria. And I wrote a huge email to all my friends and family (below), on behalf of Big Z, describing the Big Day. It is strange that even then I was such a lousy baker – I couldn’t even straighten a ready-made frozen cake! The 2nd birthday was better – we had made very good friends in Debu (right page in the above picture), who shared his birthday with Big Z. 
I was a terrible photographer in those days. And I didn’t focus on anything – neither the people nor on food. While the first birthday picture of Big Z was very blurry (first picture above), at least the cake was there in the picture. But in the 2nd Birthday picture, there are no photographs of the birthday cake. Thankfully, there is Big Z. During those days, she was cutely squinted, wearing specs like the nerdy kid from the Tom Cruise film, Jerry McGuire. Soon she would require no specs after a lot of eye exercise and roaming around like a pirate, with one bandaged eye. 
Every birthday is marked by cards sent by both set of grandparents. If not from my mother, then definitely from my mother-in-law. She still makes it a point to go from one card shop to another, searching for the right words. Then she would actually post them by hand – a rarity in today’s world of emails and e-greetings. By the time Big Z turned 3, we were back to Dubai, although we didn’t know at that time how long our Dubai stint would be.
There’s a new entrant in our family by the time Big Z turned 5… that’s our Li’l Z.
Big Z turns 6! By this time Big Z had started writing her own invites (above). Out of the blue, we had also built up a tradition of celebrating each of her birthdays with two birthday parties – one at home, for Mummy and Daddy’s friends and another one for school friends. And that brought in another new task in the horizon – choosing different venues for each birthday.
My birthday album project got halted at Big Z’s 6th birthday – sigh! Gone were the stories and the captions. Plus those glued up special greeting cards from both the grandmas. And with my recent hard disc crashes, there were no more *potential* story telling too that I could hand over. It was time for me to resort to Facebook uploads – both mine and others.
By the time Big Z turned 8, she had started to show interest in cooking. We celebrated her birthday by making Pizza at Pizza Express. She would soon start helping me setting up tables for parties and making the salads, sometimes preparing a dish or two.
Today, we celebrated Big Z’s 10th birthday by watching Maleficent at the Vox Cinemas in the morning. It felt strange to see her holding her first flowers – a gift from a boy friend (as she emphasised – not boyfriend but a friend who was a boy) in class who didn’t know what else to buy for a girl. And I felt – oh, that was my baby even a few days back, just 3 days old (above right) – still lying in the hospital crib. Today, she talks about what she wants to be. One day she wants to be a baker, another day, she wants to be a teacher. The third day she would come back saying she wants to be an actress. All I pray is that she will be happy and safe, specially in the world she’s growing up in. I admire S, who seems to be absolutely okay in letting her be on her own. As he says, sooner than later, she will anyway be on her own. I am slightly jittery. But for the time being I try to sing along with Doris Day and say Que Sera, Sera… whatever will be, will be… the future’s not ours to see… Que Sera, Sera… whatever will be, will be!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
The School Album Project starts off with Big Z joining the Kindergarten. That’s Big Z in her first year of school. I don’t want to remember her first day of school – she didn’t even look back at Mummy as she entered the classroom. 
The school bear Barnaby comes home, and the School Album Project starts becoming heavier by the day. And suddenly stops there. Today, every Friday (#FridayBaking) I wake up to Big Z trying out her baking skill. Mummy is very lousy at baking so she learns hands on. For her 10th birthday, she actually bought herself a lot of baking utensils (much below).
Disclaimer: While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. Please note that this blog is not a sponsored blog and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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I know that promotion for Mangoes are everywhere around the city at this hour. I am on a severe meal plan and Mangoes are no where mentioned in the plan. I read Madhu’s post Look Who’s Returned to My Mango Trees (she hasn’t written much about mangoes though) and felt hopelessly romantic with the thought – yes, I truly love Mangoes! Mahec, in Le Meridien Airport Hotel has been celebrating the Mango Festival for the last month and I have been following their tweets, retweeting them once in a while. With 2 more days remaining for the ‘Mango Festival’ to come to an end, I landed up with the Z-Sisters for lunch earlier today. Big Z is turning 10 years on 31st May and apparently we have to celebrate for 10 days back-to-back. So, Day 1 of our celebrations kick started today! 
Mahec means aroma or flavours in Hindi. But here, MAHEC is also an acronym standing for Modern Authentic Hindustani Evolved Cuisine. The term Hindustani requires the understanding of the cultural history of India – definitely beyond the scope of this post. So, let me concentrate on Mangoes instead. Usually, a food festival in a Dubai restaurant can be overwhelming and overdoes on the menu. Well, to be honest, I did think that the Papads (above right) would be mango flvaoured as well. But instead, the menu is very simple and concentrates on a few dishes. Thankfully, each tasting and looking very different from one another.
The Drinks: The most common drink with an Indian heritage in an Indian restaurant, regardless of its pedigree, will always be the Aam Pana or the Green Mango drink. In India, each region has a different rendition of their own Aam Panas. The Aam Pana at Mahec was definitely different from the Bengali Aam Pana that I have previously made for My Dubai My City or the frozen Aam Pana cubes that I sometimes make at home to infuse our drinking water. While I smoke the green mangoes on fire with the skin on and scoop out the pulp from inside the charred skins, the Aam Pana that we were served here had been made by putting the green mangoes in the oven and then taking out the pulp, once the mangoes had softened up. My Aam Pana has an unmistakeably smokey aroma in it. A Saffron Lemonade (above left) made with seeds of Indian Basil or Tulsi followed soon. This is the usual complimentary welcome drink in Mahec accompanying their complimentary starters like the Onion Bhajis. On my last visit, I had posted a picture of the drink on my Instagram and many readers had suggested that it was a Passion fruit drink. They obviously had no clue that the Tulsi that has been used here is supposed to be calming all passion! Lil Z ordered a Strawberry Lassi (below right) and declared that it tasted like Actimel, the probiotic yogurt drink available in supermarkets. Well, the ingredients between the two don’t differ much honey!
Masala Pepsi (above left) is my contribution to the Mahec menu and although it isn’t written on the menu, do ask for it. It’s my take on the Masala Thumsup that I have grown up drinking on Kolkata streets (just to clarify here, I wasn’t brought up on streets!), specially around the Vivekananda area where the Phuchkas are phenomenal. A lot of experiment has resulted in my near perfect Masala Cola that is so imperfectly delicious in its own way. Yes, when the new Menu is designed, my rendition would be included (I have been told) and I have been asked to think of a name for the drink. I hope the Cola vendors in the streets of Kolkata don’t get to know that I am selling off their signature recipe to an Indian fine dining restaurant in Dubai and branding it my own!
Salads, Soup and Starters: I am always lamenting that we Indians, haven’t really grown up eating salads. So to see (and taste) some salads with distinct Indian flavour was pretty much a novelty. The Papaya Mango Salad (above left) was tangy and sweet with a Pineapple dressing, only a hint of red Chilli powder and pepper adding a bit of spiciness. I can very well imagine what a makeover this would be at a Chaat counter in an Indian street corner. In contrast, the Mango Chicken Salad (above right) with grilled toasted chicken strips polished with a bit of Mayonnaise, pepper, and finally tossed with almond flakes and lettuce – this could never ever taste utterly desi. So while the first one would be Modern Authentic Hindustani, the second one would be the Evolved Cuisine – and together they make the fabulous duo of the MAHEC MANGO salad!
Now if Salads are alien to Indian cuisine, so are soups. Until and unless you would like to call Daals as the Indian soups. We tasted the Raw Mango and Pumkin soup (above) – a thick pumpkin soup spiced up with red chilli powder. Pumpkin soup is something that I am often making at home, provided I am not making the Kumro Bhaaté or Mashed Pumpkin Bengali Style. The Z-Sisters love Pumpkins and give them pumpkins in whatever manner – mashed, grilled, pureed – they will be licking their bowls. In fact, the other soup that was there on the menu was a Lentil Soup with Raw Mango, which I thought would be very similar to the Aam Dal or the Mango Lentil Soup that I make – probably a bit thicker (see, I even called it a Lentil Soup in my blog!). But who knew that today’s hero would be the Tandoori Mango (below)? Ripe mangoes marinated in yogurt and Tandoori Masala, skewered and grilled – the marinated seasonal fruit defeated the soft and deliciously tasty Mango Chicken kebabs (much below) today hands on!
Main Course: ‘The main thing is the Main Course’ – I was told very firmly when I complained that we couldn’t eat any more and it was about time to get the cheque! So what followed was a sample tasting – Green Mango Fish Curry and Lamb Achras served with Kulchas and Mango and Pudina Rice – all apparently served in the tiniest serving bowls that Mahec had. While the fish curry had been prepared in the style of the Allepey Fish Curry (a signature dish from the Alleppey district of Kerala in India), the lamb preparation had a pickled flavour, more like a Hyderabadi Achari Gosht. Both of them had distinctly different flavours, although the taste of the crowning ingredient – the mango, reigned in all the dishes. Oh, how I wish there was Gujrati Aam Raas on the menu (topped up with ice… we had this divine drink for lunch last Friday in an impromptu get together with friends at home).
Munching on the mango dishes and chatting away with Santosh, the Restaurant Service Manager (another Kolkata connection here… he is originally from UP but now settled in Kolkata) or with Chef Asif who is from Karachi in Pakistan, I realised (again and again this realisation haunts me!!!) that there wasn’t a single dish inspired by Bengal. Santosh pacified me – ‘Of course there is Rice Kheer. Isn’t that the Bengali Payesh?’ Well, yeah… may be or may be not. No clearly not, specially the Notun Gurer Payesh that my Dida used to make. And that brings me back to a very special event in BookMunch this coming Wednesday… the ‘Cook the Book’ event where I am the Chef host and I have created a Bengali menu that you can taste. While I will keep you posted with all the details in my next post, here’s my sincerest invitation to all of you!
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Disclaimer: The cost of our Mango love in Mahec came to about Dhs 400/3 persons (Lil Z included but she is a poor eater). Please note that this blog is not a sponsored blog and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 
Related Posts on other Indian restaurants in Dubai:
- Chef Sanjay Bahl | Flavours And Flavours And Flavours of Patiala!
- Asha Bhosle | Cooking With Her, Listening To Her & Sharing Her Recipe!
- Romantic Dinner Giveaway From Options by Sanjeev Kapoor
- Baisakhi Celebration in Patiala and Options By Sanjeev Kapoor | Celebrating Festivals in Dubai
My round up for RoundMenu on mid-range Indian restaurants:
- Indian Delights a Journey around India – Part 1: New Dubai to Barsha
- Indian Delights a Journey around India – Part 2: Old Dubai
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The World’s Tastiest dish has been awarded to the Ceviche at Chez Wong in Lima, Peru and the above video is almost like the one that rolls out when a nominated actor at the Oscars gets up to receive his Best Actor award. Well, I am back from London having witnessed a coronation of sorts – imagine honouring some of the tastiest fast feasts of the world with the ultimate objective being to select the ‘single most Tastiest Fast Feast on Earth’! The Chowzter World Awards 2014 held recently in London just did that. It attempts to scoop out the top places to eat local food in more than 70 travel destinations around the world. Is it really possible to identify a single most tastiest dish in a city, in a region, in the world? Or, is it actually possible to coronate one city as the single most tastiest city in the world? How does it work? Who nominates these dishes? Is there a body of people who actually go around the world tasting all the dishes physically? To answer all those above questions, here’s how Chowzter works. Chowzter’s aim is to reach out to each city in the world through a trusted food blogger who takes up the role of the Chief Chowzter of that city, who then curates a list of 40 food items (classified into different categories) from that city in order of ranking. Being the Chief Chowzter of Dubai, my job has been to identify the tastiest food items in Dubai so that they can be presented in a simple location based APP that diners can use. There are only two rules here: no “chandeliers”(Fine Dining) and no chains. Firstly, I had to identify The King (my current favourite item in the city for now) and The sacred 6 (six more tasty items from a variety of categories). These rankings can obviously change any time I find a tastier dish – so that the listing is updated regularly. It’s important to note here, these are not fast food from popular chains but are actually fast feasts from restaurants and small food stalls – think small diners, street stalls and food carts. Have you ever walked away from a popular food cart in your city without licking your fingers?
Is any dish really award worthy? What makes that single ceviche dish of Chez Wong the ‘Tastiest Fast Feast on Earth’? Almost 50 food bloggers from around the world converged in Francesco Mazzei’s yet to open L’Anima Cafe in London (belonging to the award winning Italian restaurant L’Anima on Snowden Street) on a chilly April evening, while the food winners of 2014 were announced. As each nominated dish took centre stage and a movie rolled out on the dish crowned as the tastiest fast feast, the evening revealed more than just a room full of passionate foodies (evident from the above video taken by Simon Leong of Simon Food Favourites) discussing food and the next culinary destination they would travel to, or guests feasting on an array of specially created menu including a roasted whole suckling pig. Here we were, more than 200 people standing in a posh cafe in London, talking about a small restaurant located thousands of miles away, dishing out that food item which culminated in being qualified and honoured as an epic dish. As Chef Martin Morales – founder of London restaurants Ceviche and Andina, talks about Chef Wong, whose Ceviche won the award for the tastiest dish on Earth… Chef Javier Wong taught me the essence of ceviche. He started his restaurant in the garage of his house and it has expanded from there. He is the only chef in the kitchen and his restaurant has no menu. He only cooks using sole (only Pacific sole) and he only offers these options: hot or cold, sweet or sour. It opens for lunch only and you should book in advance. You could as easily find yourself sitting next to a top Peruvian politician or the plasterer working at the building site next door. 
It was evident that something extraordinary talent that differentiated some people from us lesser mortals, however foodie we might claim ourselves to be. Javier Wong almost has a cult following and to this day, he goes to the market every morning to buy his fish. The Guardian in UK writes more… He is considered a master of ceviche (spelt cebiche in Peru). His restaurant, which is far from fancy, is in one room of his house, in the rough and tumble district of La Victoria. There’s not even a sign on the door. If you don’t have a reservation, you don’t get in. No exceptions. There’s no menu, substitutions or alterations. Wong works with Pacific sole only. He gets the best pick from the market and is a master with the knife. He breaks down the entire fish at a small table at the head of the dining room and dices it up for a ceviche. He mixes it in a bowl right at the table with just the right amount of salt and lime. On most days, he’ll add octopus, though occasionally you will see squid. It’s served immediately. After the ceviche, you can add a tiradito (a sashimi-like cousin to ceviche) and/or a saltado (stir fry), which Wong prepares in the kitchen in a wok with a high flame. It’s unbelievably simple, yet no one has been able to do it better. Diners reserve months in advance for one of seven tables at Wong’s, proof that with the right ingredients and techniques, a classic recipe from a simple place can be as powerful and tasty as food from the world’s most expensive restaurants. So, what feeds the passion of people like Chef Wong so that they can feed other people with so much dedication, day in and day out? Or is it some kind of a spirituality? Whatever it is, I thank Nicholas Gill for nominating this dish.
Dubai’s nomination: The only dish that had been nominated from Dubai was the spicy fried Shrimp from Bu Qtair. Everyone who has been reading my blog knows about my love for Bu Qtair. One year since it’s been published, this is still one of the most-visited blogposts of mine. Also, I am very proud that my amateur video on Bu Qtair has been able to capture its true essence and has had more than 18,500 views on You Tube. Yes, a fish shack on the beach might not be the most novel dining concept. But a fish shack (above) that has been existing for so long in an upscale Dubai neighbourhood without much cosmetic makeover and remaining unfazed by the mighty Burj Al Arab lurking at the backdrop – is definitely a feat. Although, another seafood restaurant around the same area has become quite a favourite of mine recntly, Bu Qtair will always be special. And with rumours floating around that Bu Qtair might shut down very soon with the entire Jumeirah shoreline falling under the surgery table for a makeover, I think it is important for food bloggers and anyone with a bit of social media prowess, to shout out for places like Bu Qtair. Although Bu Qtair didn’t win the Chowzter award and I did feel that I was struck by some personal tragedy. But as the mighty Alaskan King Crab from the Dynasty restaurant in Vancouver popped out from the screen in front (below) – larger than life – as the winner of the World’s tastiest Seafood Dish at the 2014 Global Chowzter Awards, I happily accepted defeat. Mijune Pak who blogs as Follow me Foodie describes her nominated dish… A favourite among the Chinese community, reservations are strongly recommended at Chef Sam Leung’s upscale restaurant, where he serves a traditional and west coast-influenced menu. During Alaskan king crab season (February to April), tourists and locals flock to experience his Alaskan king crab dinner. In this must-try feast, the crab is prepared several ways. The standard three-way features steamed garlic crab legs, deep-fried crab knuckles and baked Alaskan king crab fried rice with Portuguese curry sauce. Additional ways include crab salad and a soup and noodle course, which sits on a savory king crab steamed egg custard.
Did I fancy all the winners of Chowzter Awards = Am I dying to taste all of the winning dishes? Food is as subjective to individual palate as abstract art is. Each nominated food item has a story that reeks of either crushed garlic and onions or freshly chopped herbs and epic marinades. Many of them have tempted me to book my tickets immediately to that city or the region where it belongs. Some of them don’t. But for all those items that do, I can hear the hustle and the bustle of the tiny kitchen where the dish is prepared and the slamming of the doors as the unsung hero of the show – the cook or the chef paves his way urgently to stir up the orders. Here, I talked about Chef Wong’s Ceviche because it is Chef Wong’s story that inspires me more than the dish itself and the Alaskan King Crab because it had been a contender to Dubai’s deserving nomination. There are a few other winning dishes that may tempt me to travel thousands of kilometres. For example, The Chuleton at Asador Etxebarri in Bilbao which won the Chowzter’s World’s Best Steak. At a small village farm house (below), nestled deep in the Atxondo valley, at the foothills of the magical Mt Anboto, the restaurant still preserves ancient techniques of grill cooking using carefully selected firewood from the surrounding. You will find a home-grown menu, perfectly in sync with nature and changing with the seasonal fresh produce – do have a look at the video here and tell me if it doesn’t tempt you (assuming that you are a non-vegetarian beef-eater of course!). The Steak winner was revealed however, a day earlier at a Steak Symposium that had been organised at one of the popular steak houses in London – Flat Iron. Our steak journey was conducted by Mark Schatzker, the author of the award winning book by the obvious name – Steak. While my post is marinating, I can’t forget our experience at the Steak Symposium and the sheer hard work that we had to put in while blind tasting 6 different types of steak in order to rate them later… No Garlic No Onion writes all about it. 
While the Steakhouse at Etxebarri in Bilabao is beckoning me in my dreams, so is the Pad Thai at Pad Thai Thip Samai, Bangkok. How does this Pad Thai, arguably the most popularly recognisable Thai dishes differ from the many $1 Pad Thai dishes that you will find in the streets of Bangkok? Mark Viens of Eating Thai Food describes this dish so eloquently in his blog that it makes me want to go and slurp on the noodles from a hot bowl. The restaurant has been operating since 1966 and Mark writes more… Using charcoal, the chefs are able to fuel the fire so they get the fierce heat required to produce the correct scorched flavor. Big batches, probably 10 – 15 plate fulls, are cooked at a time in medium sized woks. Depending on the version of Pad Thai ordered, the recipe often begins first with shrimp that are fried in oil before being joined by thick handfuls of dry rice noodles. The noodles are soaked in sauces and oils as the heat and steam cooks the noodles quickly. Tofu, baby shrimp, leeks, bean sprouts, and other ingredients per recipe, are all tossed into the mixture. Finally the mess of Pad Thai is scooted to one side as eggs are cracked into the agglomeration. The last line lingers on my mind. Bangkok also wins the Chowzter’s ‘Foodiest City in the World’, knocking down the other competing foodie cities – London, Lima, Singapore and Vancouver. Thailand has me wrapped in its fingers and last year I had spent a lot of time in Krabi in South Thailand, even learning how to cook a freshly caught Baramundi in a Thai Red Curry in a small restaurant in the fishermen’s village. I am yet to savour Bangkok, and if we diverge away from the street food scene, the city boasts of some award winning fine dining restaurants – Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant list revealed in February placed Nahm on the top of its region. Particularly interesting is Gaggan, a Bangkok restaurant by Gaggan Anand where Indian street food is inspired by El Bulli, made its debut on the list at No. 17 at the World’s 50 Best Restaurant list! But for the time being, I am happy with my Bangkok street food…
As pizzas and seafoods, noodles and vegetarian dishes competed amongst themselves for the top tastiest spot, the other dish that I have been fancying a lot is the Hainanese Chicken Rice from Tian Tian at Maxwell Hawker Center in Singapore. Singapore has always been one of my favourite cities to eat out but I have missed out eating on this Chicken Rice which won the Chowzter’s Tastiest Rice Dish on Earth, seems so simple yet tempting. To be eaten slightly chilled, it contradicts the ‘fierceness’ of the chilli and has Anthony Bourdain writing this… the rice can be taken alone. Although simple it delivers a taste that develops wonderfully and engages with the senses! This is not all. The dish has defeated Gordon Ramsay in a hawker duel. Catherine Ling who nominated this dish writes more on this episode in her blog, Camemberu, A little description of the dish here… The rice is cooked in chicken stock and fat, ginger, garlic and pandan leaves. It’s soft, moist and so full of flavour, you can eat it on its own. The real kicker at Tian Tian is the house-made chill sauce that uses lime juice instead of vinegar for that sweet citrusy tang. Customise your final flavours with dark soy sauce, fragrant minced ginger paste and chilli sauce, either as a dip or drizzled on top.
Mark Schatzker, the man behind Steak, an award-winning book – See more at: http://www.nogarlicnoonions.com/chowzters-steak-symposium-at-flat-iron-london/#sthash.5jyklYVb.dpuf While my post is about to come up, do read No Garlic No Onion’s post describing all about the hard work that we all put in – a steak blind tasting of sorts – munching away 6 different types of steaks which we had to rate later. Eh
Are Food Bloggers becoming the real source of dining news in a city? Around the world – definitely yes. And Dubai also catches up with its own Gourmet Trail. And a Food Magazine created by collaborating with UAE Food Bloggers. Food bloggers are gradually being perceived as the leading food writers in their own cities and it was about time that their efforts and their passions were recognised. Interacting with so many food bloggers who had come from around the world, made me feel stronger in my belief about my own blog. I came back inspired. To mention each one them here would probably be insane and deserves a separate blog post by itself, but I have to mention Maria Luisa Ríos of Milsabores, who won Chowzter’s Outstanding Contribution Award. Both of us had been lugging each other – whether on our trip to the Borough Market or to the Brick Lane (above right) – she in search of Indian spices that she would be carrying for her friend in Caracas and I, searching for my Bengali friends who had come to the Bangladeshi shop for grocery. We strutted back together (light headed in our heads for obvious reasons) to our hotel from L’Anima Cafe on the Awards Night – our lives depending upon the Google Map on my dying smartphone. Life is not easy in Venezuela, specially with the current political situation, but she continues to share her love and passion for food through Twitter (she tweets more often than she blogs nowadays). Chowzter gave us – the food bloggers a great international platform (hats off to Jeffrey Merrihue’s vision) where we can together talk about the unsung heroes of the various small restaurants around the world. The food world has more than enough Award Nights like these. Back home in Dubai, diners and authorities are waking up to the power of the Food Bloggers in scouting out the best dining venues in the city – be it fine dining or budget eateries. The recently concluded Dubai Food Festival appointed 6 food bloggers from the city to chalk out its Dubai Gourmet Trail Guide. These bloggers are not only perceived as local food experts, they are also perceived as major influencers in the Dubai culinary scene… Sarah Walton of The Hedonista, Samantha Wood of FooDiva, Saba Wahid of Culinary Delights, Shaikha Ali of When Shaikha Cooks, Tala Soubra of Fork it Over Dubai, Karen of Secret Squirrels Food. Apart from these bloggers, there are more than 100 passionate food bloggers in the region who are part of Fooderati Arabia, an informal group of bloggers, all united by the common subject matter – Food. These bloggers inspire Dubai residents with its recipes, culinary travels and chalk out the regular happenings in the Dubai dining scene. My belief and utter trust in Food Bloggers have given birth to Food e Mag dxb, the digital magazine that I co-edit.
Here’s the list of all the dishes that have won the Chowzter Awards. I do have reservations on some – no bones to pick here with any of the Chief Chowzters (love the group picture taken by Simon) who had chosen them (in fact I have got selfies with most of them to prove that as well). But then as I said before, food preferences are subjective. I couldn’t eat the Léchon that has been awarded the tastiest feast in Asia, even though Anthony Bourdain, on his Philippine episode of No Reservations, hailed this roasted pig – a speciality of this island country, as the ‘the best pig ever’. Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet, who has nominated this dish from Pepita’s Kitchen in Manila – no offense buddy! Also, I would have expected a more tastier dessert than the one coronated as the Chowzter’s Tastiest Dessert on Earth. Niamh of Eat like a girl, had nominated the Fried Jam Croissant from Albion, the award-winning bakery and cafe in Shoreditch. Unlike the other dishes that I was drooling over, just hearing about them or by watching the movie on them, this was one dish which was served to us (above). I loved biting into fried croissant through the crystalised sugar and discover the fruit jam tucked inside its flaky pocket, but to satisfy this sweet-loving Bengali food blogger, there has to be more punch to the syrup! Regarding the Falafels too, I like the sound of the Parisien ones and I found Mathilde, who nominated them cute too, but I will always stand by the sesame sprinkled Falafel Mahshi from Sultan Dubai Falafel restaurant, the ones that I have tasted in Arabian Pilgrimage Food Tour With Frying Pan Adventures. Well, have you tasted any of the above winning dishes in your travels and most importantly, do you fancy all of these? Or is there a fast feast dish that you have come across that you think should have made the cut? Coming back to Dubai, do you think that there are dishes that ought to have been added/deleted in my Dubai list of fast feasts?
Unblogging it all… Ishita
Disclaimer: All pictures have been taken by me, mostly from the Chowzter movies that were rolling out on the screen, excepting the group photo below of the Chief Chowzters. Please note that this blog is not a sponsored blog and the subject, story, opinions and views stated here are my own and are independent. While you enjoy reading the posts with lot of visuals, please do not use any material from this post. You can catch my daily travel and food journey on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. 
More on Chowzter Awards by the Chief Chowzters from around the World:
- Chowzter’s Steak Symposium at Flat Iron, London (No Garlic No Onion)
- Barcelona vs The World: best fast feasts (Forever Barcelona)
- Chowzter Aims to Find Tastiest Dishes on Earth (Chopsticks and Marrow)
- Chowzter announces winners for 2014 World’s Tastiest Fast Feasts (A Gringo in Mexico)
- 13 Of The Tastiest Dishes On Earth (Tasty Chomps)
- Chowzter’s Tastiest Feasts 2014 and Feasting in London (Migrationology)
- Chowzter World Awards 2014 (No Onion No Garlic)
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More on Chowzter Awards in Press:
- The Best Street Food in the World (Business Insider)
- Bangkok Named ‘Foodiest’ City in Fast Feasts Battle (Wall Street Journal)
- The best fast food in the world – winners of the Chowzter fast feasts awards 2014 (The Guardian UK)
More on Bu Qtair by Dubai bloggers:
- Where to take visitors to eat in Dubai – on a budget (mycustardpie.com)
- Bu Qtair Dubai (Pear tree Diaries)
- Dubai :: Bu Qtair: Fried fish worth waiting for (The World according to Mitzee Mee)
IshitaUnblogged 