Bangalore restaurants- Food and Travel: Arabic cuisine

Taste of Arabia - The Market at the Ritz Carlton

Friday, May 15, 2015Me! In words

I have always loved Arabic food... perhaps because I happen to be one of those "Gulfie" kids, born and brought up in Kuwait with memories of large community platters at the neighbouring Palestinian family's home or my Palestinian babysitter who on a down day would come up with her version of a simple meal of Taboulleh, Hummus and home baked kubbus and Dolmas.

So when the invitation to partake of the Taste of Arabia festival at Ritz Carlton came along, I was more than happy to relive those delicious childhood memories. The festival, sponsored by Air Arabia will be on at the Market at the Ritz Carlton, for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will have Chef Rami Almaket from the Ritz Carlton Dubai at the helm of culinary affairs.

The personalized menu for the bloggers table was a nice touch and promised an interesting meal.

It was interesting to see the level of planning that went into this festival, with the menu featuring representation from different parts of the Arab world. By the time we were done with the meal, we had tasted a bit of Syria, Morocco, the Levant Countries and Egypt. Not bad for a single meal. We started off with the Syrian Spiced Tea with Walnuts. Primarily served in the winter season, Chef Rami explained that in Dubai he doesn't really have the opportunity to serve the drink and was happy to do so considering how Bangalore's climate has been playing confused soul these days.

The modern day Samovar for the tea

Members of the staff were dressed in the traditional Thwab and a version of the Agal, which was fun to see. The buffet tables too were set up to display an Arabic touch.

The tea was followed by a selection of starters and a gorgeous Lamb Harira Soup - This soup can be a meal in itself, so fair warning to all ye who venture. The soup has a heavy tomato base and is loaded with shreds of lamb, vermicelli, vegetables and chickpeas. The delicate spices from cinnamon and turmeric bring in the long distance connection with Indian spices and makes this Maghreb delicacy a great one. The vegetarians have a Lentil Soup option to choose from.

One of the joys of eating Arabic food is the emphasis on community eating. While I would have loved the experience here as well, the more delicately plated platters enabled a part of it. Served with pita bread (I missed the Khubbus), we had flawless hummus, the babaghanoush and the beetroot dip enhanced with toasted black and white sesame and nuts. My pick of the platter were seedless green olives tossed with zattar. I even ended my meal on them.

The Shawarma and the Falafel. Do make it a point to ask for the zesty garlic dip to go with this.

Though not on the menu, the Chef brought out the Arabic version of the Dal Makhni, which is dry, had caramelized onions and can be that bowl of happiness you need at the end of long day.

Also among the starters was the Fatta Chicken, which chunks of chicken and croutons all doused in a yogurt dip that has garlic in it and topped off with what I think is Ras el Hanout seasoning.

The Vegetarians have a Chickpea version of the same

Among the main courses was a Samak (Fish) main course which the Chef created from locally sourced white flaky fish. I know its not basa, but shame on the coastal girl I am, I am not able to recognize the fish.

An assortment of grills and skewered meat, hot off the grills was also on the cards.

And to end the meal, in Chef's words, the Umm Ali or the Arabic Bread Pudding dish with just about "40,000 calories", not much. This was a decadent dessert made of croissant pastry, soaked in sugared milk and rose essence, layered with whipped cream and baked.

The Taste of Arabia is a great way to sample the variety that the Arab region has to offer. I definitely missed dolmas on the menu, but perhaps I could nudge the Chef if he comes back again. The festival is on till the 17th of May. Breakfast is Rs 1000 + taxes, Lunch, Rs 1500 + taxes, Dinner Rs 1600 + taxes per person.

Address: #99, Residency Road

Phone: 080-4914 8000

Cuisine: Buffet
Cards Accepted: Yes

Parking: Valet

Arabic cuisine Food events Foodie events

Treat yourself to a Persian Spread - At the Persian Terrace

Monday, February 24, 2014Me! In words

There are some cuisines that I will brave the weekday peak hour traffic after a horrendously long day, just to savor - Arabic is one of them. An invite from Sheraton to experience a Persian meal rustled up by Chef Abdel Wahed of Sheraton Sharm Hotel, Resort, Villas and Spa, Egypt, did not go unheeded, weekday traffic be damned.

Beaten but not yet bested by the traffic, the open air setting of the Persian Terrace at Sheraton, with the Arabic melodies in the background, were both truly soothing on the nerves that still seemed to navigating through the back alleys of Oklipuram and its surroundings. Chef was working his magic on a chicken filling for a shawarma and we got right down to business.

The night setting and the lighting, though supremely comforting on the mind, were a nightmare for the photographs. So believe me when I say that they do no justice to the way the food looked. With the shawarmas wrapped and ready to serve, Chef Abdel took us through his buffet spread for the evening. The mix presented was representative of various Arabic nations.

Chef Abdel working away on the Shawarma filling - the sharwarma was served with a garlic dip which was so good - subtle in terms of pungency of the garlic, but just enough to elevate the sharwama to wow level!

Spinach fatayers which the other invitees made when we were navigating back alleys. Job well done I must say.

Tagine Okra - tomato based okra with Arabic spices - Chef seemed especially partial to this spice mix which he assured us was a melange of a lot of delicious spices and which feature in different proportions in each of the dishes.

Sojok Roll - A lamb meat roll - marinated meat that is rolled in bread and deep fried - will have you going back for many more rolls

A range of mezze spread out on ice obviously meant to be had cold - pita bread and pita crackers were in plenty and close on hand

Tagine Bamia - A Moroccon Stew of onions, garlic, dry lemon and okra

Hummus - also a part of the regular menu at Persian Terrace and a must on your table

Muhammara - a sundried tomatoes dip - if tangy is as much a thing for you as it is for me, this is one to have.

Kebbeh - A marinated lamb meat kebab - testimony that meat treated with love can be so delicious!

Moussaka - an eggplant specialty

Tagine Couscous

Khataief Asafiry - small pancakes that are stuffed with cream and topped off with pistas

Maamoul walnuts - semolina dumplings, oven roasted and dusted with sugar and cinnamon

The food was brilliant across the board and I would suggest you spend a leisurely time at dinner to enjoy the offerings that Chef Abdel brings to our city. This Arabian promotion is on till the 2nd March and is available for dinner only. Do not forget to round up your meal with a Suleimani chai. Take the opportunity to get up from your comfortable chairs and walk up to the chai counter. Wrap your palms around warm cup and let the meal sink in.

The way our Suleimani chai arrived

The collective anticipation as this was poured was to be seen!

Address: 26/1 Dr. Rajkumar Road, Malleshwaram-Rajajinagar, Bangalore

Phone: 42521000

Cuisine: Persian
Accepts Cards: Yes

Parking: Valet

Arabic cuisine Bangalore restaurant reviews Expensive

Shebestan

Wednesday, January 08, 2014Me! In words

This post is actually long due and was a blogger's table that we had in the month of December. Shebestan, if memory of that evening serves right means "underground palace" and without doubt, the restaurant is set up just as one would imagine Aladdin and Jasmine's palace - there an overwhelming number of lampshades of myriad colors, deep set ornate frames with Arabian artifacts, an extraordinary number of two-seater tables, sliding doors, deep set sofas and even an image of the Sacred Heart. The staff were dressed in harem pants, short jackets, round top hats with tassels. Once you sit down in the deep set sofas surrounded by bolsters you can't help but breathe out heavily from the sights you have just walked through. I half expected the tour to wind up with Aladdin, Jasmine and Abu riding in on the magic carpet. The decor while exquisite, was over-the-top for my senses. But while you are waiting for your food to arrive, you will never run short of things to look at in your line of vision.

Just one of the ornate light settings in Shebestan

Shebestan with the traditional platter which a family or a large party collectively eats from

Kahwa or the Arabic coffee was poured out in ornate shot glasses and served with dates. Quite the acquired taste. Its best to take a bite of the date and then sip on the coffee

We left the dinner menu entirely up to the chef who has been brought in from Saudi Arabia. While we waited a large platter of vegetable sticks with a dip was brought to the table. As with the decor, the size of the finger food, that the platter was meant to be, was a little to much to handle nevertheless the freshness could not be faulted.

Fresh yeasty and divine pita bread made its steady way to the table. These could be eaten by the dozen with nothing at all. There were several accompaniments that came though and it was the perfect means to dig in

The drinks were again left to the bartender with a majority of us opting for vodka based drinks. The orange based one was by far the best that came to the table with others being nothing more to talk about

The hummus served was divine as was the mutabbal below. It took a lot of restraint not to ask for multiple bowls and stash them away in our handbags.

The salad with haloumi and baby tomatoes with a dash of zattar and a vinaigrette dressing was a refreshing touch to the meal

Falafel has never really caught my fascination, though this one did taste great

The spinach fatayers, not in the traditional triangular, pinched edges shape were delicious

This was a kebab, the name of which eludes me - served on pita bread that had a generous slathering of roasted tomatoes and arabic spices.

The koobideh, another kebab version, more on the Persian side was excellent too. The chefs at Shebestan know how to treat their meats perfectly

This was a toasted garlic dip that was absolutely divine with just about any of the meat dishes that came to the table

Lamb chops

The lamb (above) and Dajaj or chicken kabsa (below). By now were stuffed to the gills and once the photos were done, barely had a teaspoon of each platter. The rice was moist, the flavor of the meat well infused into the dish and overall very wholesome and filling

A large selection of desserts came to the table and as is typical with Arabic sweets were heavy on the sugar, sugar syrup and dry nuts. I tasted a bit of each of them but with the tummy being overwhelmed would be hard pressed to pick a winner.

And just in case the food was not enough, a complimentary platter of fruits also makes it to the table. There... didn't I tell you that you will get the feeling of being in Aladdin's palace

The food at Shebestan is truly good. The pricing, as we saw from the menu is on the steepest side of "very expensive". A meal for two will easily set you back Rs 3500 + taxes. The restaurant is definitely an experience for the senses and is worth a visit.

Address: Matthan, Sterling Mac's Hotel, #134 HAL Airport road, Near Manipal Hospital

Phone: 080-42494949

Cuisine: Arabic

Cards Accepted: Yes

Wallet factor: Rs 3000 for two on average

Parking: Valet

Taste of Arabia - The Market at the Ritz Carlton

Treat yourself to a Persian Spread - At the Persian Terrace

Shebestan

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Bangalore restaurants- Food and Travel

Taste of Arabia - The Market at the Ritz Carlton

Treat yourself to a Persian Spread - At the Persian Terrace

Shebestan

Find by Location

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Bangalore restaurants- Food and Travel