A few weeks back, we dined at the vibrantly inviting Desi Village. Located in the heart of Garhoud near the Emirates Aviation College, this spacious, beautifully decorated restaurant offers Indian, Arabic and Continental cuisines.
The head chef and most of the staff are from the North Indian state of Lucknow, the capital for Mughlai cuisine and kebabs, and we therefore indulged in a gastronomy of North Indian delicacies.
Love Indo Chinese? I recently discovered a hidden gem for really good Indian and Indo-Chinese food. Located in the heart of the residential area on Amman Street in Al Nahda 2 Dubai, Masala Wok was founded by Mr. Shareef, a diehard foodie and experimental home cook who decided to try his luck at becoming a restauranteur.
The restaurant has been running for 2 years now, and Mr. Shareef and his team and astounded by its phenomenal success. Despite being tucked away in a quiet residential area, the restaurant boasts of having the highest rating on Zomato in the Al Nahda area and has been drawing in the crowds from as far and wide as Marina, Sheikh Zayed and even Fujairah.
There seems to be a raise of a new genre of Indian dining in Dubai. Taking cues from the Insta-friendly requirements of millennials and combining it with the nostalgic vibes of Bollywood that transcends generations, we have a brand-new dining destination for Indian funk, fusion food and live entertainment.
Located on the lobby level of Grand Millennium Dubai (Barsha Heights) is Hitchki, which is Hindi for ‘hiccup’. Urban legend has it that when you hiccup, someone who loves you is remembering you. Hitchki is about all things nostalgic, yet quirky enough to have a name that resonates as ‘new age’.
Last weekend, I flooded my Insta Stories with live updates from our weekend away at Radisson Blu Ajman. This is one of the Radisson Blu group’s newest hotels and opened its doors a little over a year ago.
Located in a quiet corner of the industrial heart of Ajman, the grandeur of the hotel façade stands out with its European-inspired arched windows and astute driveway. The location is actually ideal for tourists wanting to explore the Northern Emirates as it is just off-road from the E11 highway that connects Ajman, Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah.
I recently watched the brand new Bollywood flick ‘Thackeray’, more so for being a die-hard fan of actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui than having even an ounce of knowledge about Indian politics. No I wouldn’t recommend this movie, the slow-paced screenplay does not do justice to Siddiqui’s talent nor the fiery journalist turned politician he portrays. But what I did gather from it all was Balasaheb Thackeray’s undeniable influence on restoring the Marathi identity.
One particular scene that resonates is where Thackeray (played by Siddiqui) starts a street-food revolution introducing the humble ‘Vada Pao’ as a Marathi snack.
Craving a hearty Indian lunch, and not quite sure what to order? The quintessential Indian thali is always a good idea. A ‘thali’ comprises of a number of sampler curries, rice and flat-breads, and if you’re lucky, you get sweet treat at the end as well.
Bargain alert! Fine-dining Indian restaurant Antique Bazaar (located on the Mezzanine floor of the ever-popular 4 Points by Sheraton in the heart of bustling Bur Dubai), is offering a thali lunch for as low as AED 31 per person.
When legendary Chef Satish Arora was advised that 13th July marks ‘World Kebab Day’, he was ready with an enticing new menu from pre-starters to dessert in under 24 hours. Mahec by Satish Arora, located in the gastronomic hub of Le Meridien Village (Airport Road Dubai) is hosting a Kebab Festival from 12th to 27th July, 7pm to 11 pm daily.
The special menu features a total of 11 brand new kebabs, not to mention an entire array of starters and dessert.
I had the pleasure of dining at Mahec last night, and had the honor of meeting Chef Satish Arora in person once again. How did he manage to come up with an entire menu in a day? Humble as he is talented, he tells us that over 50 years in the business makes it come naturally to him.
Located on the ground floor of picturesque Ajman Hotel, award-winning fine-dining Indian restaurant Bukhara is one of my favorite spots for delicious, authentic Indian cuisine sans all the modern-day gimmicks many other places tend to adopt these days.
Haven’t been to Bukhara yet? I have some great news for you… Bukhara has introduced a limited edition Summer Brunch that runs every Saturday from 1 pm to 4 pm. The menu changes every week, and features many menu favorites for as low as AED 150 per head.
Last weekend my little family and I were invited to try out the brand-new menu at Carnival by Tresind. This restaurant ranks high on my all-time favorites in the city, and never ceases to amaze. From the magical interiors to the spectacular dishes, all served with the frills and thrills we have become accustomed to when it comes to the Tresind label, I always get a tad too excited when dining here.
The new menu pays tribute to Colonial India, a time when the British reigned the country and had a significant influence on its traditional cuisine.
Indian cuisine arguably has an even stronger fan following across the globe than does the glitzy world of Bollywood. Butter Chicken has also been considered the national dish of the UK, and Indian Chefs today are enjoying celebrity status thanks to the reach of social media.
Well before the likes of Zee TV star Chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Master Chef stars Vikas Khanna and Kunal Kapoor, Chef Satish Arora took humble Indian dishes to fine-dining status. With a career expanding 50 years which was catapulted by his success as the world’s youngest Executive Chef of a five-star kitchen at a mere 26 years of age, he has been the inspiration for many in his industry, and has also been a role model for his kin.
I had the immense pleasure of meeting the legend in person at Mahec (Le Meridian, Airport Road Dubai) which he has recently taken over. Here is an except on Chef Arora’s trailblazing career, his undying passion for food, and advice for the next generation.
The Tezzy Files 