Tag: food news

  • Amavi: All hype or good food?

    Hidden in the heart of Defence, Lahore is a quaint little cafe, Amavi. The restaurant’s owner Maira has been in the food business for a while now, working for other cafes and restaurants, before taking the leap and opening up her own little space. Maira’s expertise lies in desserts and she has trained herself professionally in the department.

    The patisserie’s interior is beautifully done with a lot of attention paid to detail. The chairs are done with deep green velvet upholstery while there are small artsy details on the tables. There is marble flooring and touches of gold, pink and black here and there. It’s almost like entering a painting. Amavi is the sort of place you’d want to dress up and go.

    When I went there, the place was buzzing with people. Initially, Amavi was a small space with about two to three tables but given the phenomenal success, the owners had to expand it to entertain more visitors.

    Now onto the food. The food was a bit different from the usual palettes, for example, their Za’Atar and Burrata Pizza – Za’Atar is a spice while Burrata is fresh Italian cow milk cheese made from mozzarella and cream. I’ve had Burrata Salad in Karachi but I haven’t come across anything like this before and I was fairly impressed with this dish. It was actually pretty yummy.

    Za’Atar and Burrata Pizza

    Their Salt Beef Toastie with Gouda Cheese and Caramelised Onions was another one of my favourites. Apart from that their Fish and Chips were good too and I also tried their bestselling Buttermilk Chicken Burger which was an absolute treat. The chicken was soft, tender and full of flavour.

    • Salt Beef Toastie
    • Buttermilk Chicken Burger
    Fish and Chips

    The only thing I did not like was the French Onion Soup.

    I didn’t really try the desserts so I can’t comment on that but a lot of people there were mostly having desserts and coffee, which by the way was also good.

    I will definitely be going to Amavi again to try the dishes I didn’t, especially the desserts. For me, the patisserie is a cute and different addition to the Lahore food scene.

  • The quest for the perfect French Toast in Lahore

    The quest for the perfect French Toast in Lahore

    Winters and brunches go hand in hand. And nothing better than French Toast for the perfect sweet ending to a satisfying, or not so satisfying brunch. While, most cafes in Lahore have french toasts on their menu, finding the perfect French toast in town was quite a feat and I had a go through a couple to find the one.

    Read on for a comparison of French Toasts available in Lahore.

    Urban Kitchen

    Urban Kitchen has French Toast available only on Sunday as part of their Sunday brunch which is a pity because they truly are delightful. The bread is delicious and I’d honestly just go back for that. And the fact that the toppings do not include Nutella is the cherry on top.

    Thanda Garam

    Thanda Garam knows how to do their french toast because the french toast they had were divine – the best out of the lot. They were crispy from the outside and fluffy from the inside. The cream that accompanied was so delectable that I had to stop myself from licking clean the plate. The only downside was that there was too much Nutella – but then again those who love Nutella will absolutely love this. I’d request the restaurant to make Nutella optional and add a jam option as well – Strawberry or Apple Jam with these french toast would be delightful.

    Jade

    As far as Nutella French Toast are concerned, Jade was the pioneer of these in the city. But over the years, I feel that Jade’s french toast have become boring as well as oily. They are often too crispy on the outside and not as well cooked from the inside. The bread is also pretty thick which is why I’ve stopped having french toast from Jade.

    Chaaye Khana

    Just like Jade, Chaaye Khana also used to do good french toast. But after trying Thanda Garam and Urban Kitchen, Chaaye Khana’s french toast began to taste mediocre – there is tooo much bread and nothing with it. No cream, jam or maple syrup which makes the french toast dry and boring.

    Sasha’s

    The first time I went to Sasha’s, I quite enjoyed their french toasts. But the successive visit wasn’t as good. The bread was extra caramelized which made it difficult to chew – it was like eating burnt toffee. Add to that, maple syrup and nutella. The end result wasn’t very pleasing and I never went back to Sasha’s.

    In short, Urban Kitchen and Thanda Garam do the best french toast in town.

  • For all chipotle lovers out there, Adobo is for you

    For all chipotle lovers out there, Adobo is for you

    Before I pen this review, I just want to put it out there that I absolutely love Mexican food – it’s my ultimate comfort food. Which is why I was super excited to try it out.

    Adobo is a small, cosy restaurant located at Shahbaz Commercial with limited sitting. The interior is very bohemian with graffiti on the walls.

    Like the sitting, the menu is also limited. However, the options are enough to satisfy your Mexican cravings. The menu includes tacos, mini tacos, Burrito Bowls and guacamole among other things.

    Considering that my husband and I visit this place almost every week, I can confidently say that the food is fresh, clean and absolutely delicious. The spice levels are perfect and sauces perfectly curated. The satisfaction at the end of a meal here is unlike any other I’ve experienced in the past.

    However, the food is not the best part. The best part of the restaurant is the warmth it has to offer. The owner is almost always there to make sure his customers are comfortable and get the best service.

    As far as the price factor is concerned, the restaurant is reasonably priced. But if you order items like guacamole, except the bill to be slightly higher.

    All in all, if you don’t care about the calories, Adobo is the place for you to go.

  • What you need to eat at Lahore Eat this weekend

    What you need to eat at Lahore Eat this weekend

    You know you’re saying hello to winter when it’s time for food festivals. Just days after the smog somewhat settled and thandi hawa began to blow across Lahore, the first food event of the season, Lahore Eat, started with a bang at Jilani Park.

    We visited the event on the first day and here are the only places you should visit at Lahore Eat:

    DISCLAIMER: The Current’s food reviews are not sponsored and are unpaid.

    Burger Maestru

    Pizza Paratha was divine. Crispy on the outside and cheesy inside – it was a pizza lover’s dream.

    Price – Rs 300/-

    Pizza Paratha

    A Piece of Cake

    Oh man, the Salted Caramel Brownie (Rs 180/-) and Gooey Fudge Brownie (Rs 170/-) was gooey, fudgey and so New York. They have the perfect ratio of chocolate and sweet and it’s a must have dessert with a cup of chai and perfect weather.

    Gooey Fudge Brownie
    Salted Caramel Brownie

    Didn’t try this cheesecake but it sure looks lovely.

    Awesamosas

    This fusion eatery never fails to disappoint – from their samosas to their chaats, we’re a fan. This year Awesamosas introduced a new ‘Botilicous Menu’ – Peri Patakha, Malai Tarragon and Satay Tikka – we absolutely loved. The strong flavour and spice level were perfect.

    Price – Peri Patakha, Malai Tarragon Rs 150 per stick, Satay Tikka Rs 200 per stick

    Aladdin Foods

    The bun in the bun kabab from Aladdin Foods was the real winner. It was crispy yet soft and took the entire snack to a whole new level. A must-try for anyone who enjoys street food and misses a good Karachi bun kabab.

    Price – Rs 80/-

    Apart from these, the Lahore Eat also had a variety of local eateries – there was Urban Kitchen, Burns Road, Novu, Savour Foods, Bombay Chowpatty, Delish, Upper Crust etc, restaurants you can visit everyday, which didn’t have anything new to offer. Karachi beats Lahore quite often when it comes to the food festival wars but this year, Lahore Eat did not disappoint.

    Send us your reviews and pictures and remember to take your masks along. You never know when the smog will strike.

  • Food Wars: And the winner is…

    Food Wars: And the winner is…

    The Biryani vs Pulao debate has long dominated social media. But now we have an official winner.

    According to a survey carried out by Gallup & Gilani Pakistan, 47% Pakistanis claim that biryani is their favourite Pakistani dish.

    A nationally representative sample of men and women from across the four provinces was asked, “Please tell us what your favorite Pakistani dish is?” 

    In response, 47% said biryani as their favorite dish, 14% said pulao, 9% said karahi, 11% said paaye, 6% said haleem, 3% said nihari and while 8% said something other than these options, 2% did not know/did not wish to respond.

    So basically biryani has officially beaten pulao in food wars. The Current totally endorses this survey! Munch munch…

  • To brunch or not to brunch at Thanda Garam?

    To brunch or not to brunch at Thanda Garam?

    Finding a decent place to brunch in Lahore is quite a feat considering most of the good brunches are buffets. And those that aren’t, aren’t really all that great. You have them once and you don’t want to visit again.

    Thanda Garam had been on my list for quite a while and last weekend, I finally got the chance to brunch there. We went to the Gulberg branch, which is located off MM Alam Road. The interior of the place was done in pastels and it was bright and lit. The staff was also welcoming and very friendly which added brownie points to the overall experience.

    The restaurant/cafe had a simple brunch menu with only a handful of options to choose from. Most of their brunch dishes are perfect for those who are health conscious since they consist of eggs and fresh vegetables. The waiter who took our order recommended us the Hugo based upon our preferences and so we ordered that.

    Hugo Bowl

    When our order arrived, it looked very appealing. The breakfast bowl had eggs, spinach, grilled chicken, carrots, mushrooms and rocket leaves. Two small pieces of multi-grain bread accompanied it. The taste of it, however, wasn’t all that great – there was too much creamy spinach which overpowered the rest of things in the bowl. The scrambled eggs were fluffy but lacked flavour. The best part of the entire dish was the bread – it was absolutely delicious.

    French Toast

    After the overdose of spinach, we needed something to tantalise our tastebuds so we ordered their French Toast and oh God, those were divine. They were crispy from the outside and fluffy from the inside. The cream that accompanied was so delectable that I had to stop myself from licking clean the plate. The only thing I disliked about the dish was that there was too much Nutella – but then again those who love Nutella will absolutely love this. I’d recommend the restaurant to make Nutella optional and add a jam option as well – Strawberry or Apple Jam with these french toast would be delightful.

    Last but not least, I also tried their Mocca Mocca Frappuccino and didn’t like it much. The taste of the coffee was too strong because of which the frappe ended up tasting bitter. The perfect Mocha Frappe strikes the perfect balance between chocolate and coffee and this one sadly missed the mark.

    Though the food was well presented and I quite enjoyed the ambience of the place, Thanda Garam’s brunch failed to impress. The only thing I’ll be going back for is the french toast.

  • Déjà by Khadija – a cosy experience

    Déjà by Khadija – a cosy experience

    Tucked inside Sui Northern Officers Co-Operative Housing Society, Déjà by Khadija is a cute little bakery café. Decorated in pink, gold and grey, this cosy café’s décor and the presentation of their dishes set a good impression.

    Now let’s discuss food! We tried their sharing platter, which was quite delectable and filling. The taco parathas were yummy, as were the assorted bread, especially the one with white sauce in it, but the aalu chaat was not all that great. While the chicken strips were nice, they could have been better. The mozzarella sticks with sauce were great but the assorted fries were so-so, especially the wedges.

    Sharing Platter

    We also tried the K’s Style Chicken Parm – it was well cooked and the sauce wasn’t too acidic though we do think they could have added a bit more parmesan. The Open Lamb Sandwich was also very well made with soft meat, which wasn’t smelly. It was served with sauce, didn’t taste too meaty and the cabbage was paired well with it.

    Meanwhile, the Baked Marinara could have been better but as an afterthought, it wasn’t all that bad. We absolutely loved the Mushroom Toast. It had just the right amount of mushrooms, and the chilli scrambled eggs were just perfect. We highly recommend that if you love eggs!

    • Baked Marinara
    • Mushroom on Toast

    What we really enjoyed were the drinks which were presented in a very fun way; they reminded you of Chemistry Lab at school. The ice-cube with rose petals was also a nice touch. Strawberry Lemon Potion was nice with the right amount of tangy and strawberry juice. Strawberry Slammer is also lovely.

    • Strawberry Lemon Potion

    Coming onto the desserts now. Déjà also serves homemade ice-cream. We tried their chocolate ice-cream, which was nice but very creamy. Their gurr (jaggery) ice-cream wasn’t good; too much aftertaste of butter or cream and minimum taste of gurr.

    Meanwhile, their French Toast is excellent – it was soft and crispy and the caramel sauce that comes with it was delicious. The best part was that they didn’t skimp on it like a lot of other places. After Amu and Aylanto, this is another place that makes really good French Toast in Lahore.

    Off-the-counter Mango Cheesecake was meh (5 out of 10) – it was more like mousse than a cheesecake. But the Apple Pie slice was good (7 out of 10).

    Overall, Déjà was a good experience because of the nice and cutesy ambience. They serve good portion sizes for a reasonable cost, which is a major plus point (Per person cost comes to Rs 1500). If the owner is around, she ensures that you feel welcomed and are properly taken care of. However, we do wish the chairs were comfier; it felt like a ‘grab your food, quickly eat and go’ place. Or maybe – given the shortage of space – this is their aim at the moment.

    We recommend that everyone should try out this place as you get value for your money and the ambience makes it different from the rest of your restaurant experiences. Just keep in mind that it is a small place with very few tables so if you’re a large group, either reserve a table in advance or otherwise be ready to wait.

  • TheCurrentWala reviews Special Memoni Curry Khausa

    TheCurrentWala reviews Special Memoni Curry Khausa

    In the quest to try something different and exciting, TheCurrentWala ended up at Special Memoni Curry Khausa, a small dhaba located in Karachi. In case you didn’t know, khausey is a Burmese dish, which has a soup meal made of egg noodles and curried beef or chicken.

  • NOI-Stir Fry Kitchen – The takeout Lahoris have been waiting for

    NOI-Stir Fry Kitchen – The takeout Lahoris have been waiting for

    We’ve all grown up watching Hollywood movies in which Chinese takeouts are the thing. And let’s be honest, we’ve all secretly wanted that. Though most Chinese and Pan Asian restaurants in Lahore offer takeaways and deliveries, they rarely offer single servings which is why you usually have to think twice before placing an order.

    Enter NOI-Stir Fry Kitchen – an Asian Stir Fry Kitchen which has been creating waves on social media and all the food groups. After reading some fabulous reviews on their dishes, I gave in to my temptation and placed an order. Considering their prices were also comparatively reasonable, I didn’t need any more convincing.

    From the 16 gravy options they have, I tried their Crispy Honey Sirachi, Sweet and Sour Manchurian, Mixed Mushrooms Teriyaki and Hot BBQ Shashlik and am happy to report that not one of them let me down.

    All dishes are single servings and come with a side of plain steamed Asian rice packaged in a paper carton. The food was delivered piping hot in small black plastic containers and it was good to see that their serving size was pretty good – it was more than enough for a person. The quantity of vegetables in each dish was also impressive and they were well-cooked.

    My favourite from the options has to be the Mixed Mushrooms Teriyaki and Sweet and Sour Manchurian. Most of us Pakistanis are used to eating saucy Manchurian which tastes like ketchup mixed with chicken. But Noi’s Manchurian was neither saucy nor ketchupy – it was just like the name suggested – perfectly balanced between sweet and sour. The Mixed Mushroom Teriyaki also had a similar flavour but with a stronger Ginger flavour. The mushrooms in this dish were delicious – they were better than anything else and I would order this dish for the mushroom alone next time.

    Meanwhile, the Crispy Honey Siracha was extremely spicy and literally puts your mouth on fire. What I didn’t like about it was how it was barely crispy and the taste of honey was hardly detectable.

    Mixed Mushroom Teriyaki, Sweet and Sour Manchurian

    Nonetheless, given the quantity, taste and price, Noi is highly recommended. Their kitchen is open 5:30 pm onwards till late night but they are usually sold out long before closing time. Best is to place your order ahead of time so that you don’t end up disappointed.

  • Loafology: Divine Breads

    Loafology: Divine Breads

    There was a time, not very long ago when the only bread we found in our cities was Dawn ki white wali bread. Foreign sounding breads weren’t available in Pakistan until they came with a big bang.

    Loafology in Islamabad took the lead when it comes to producing the best bread in Pakistan. And as an avid bread finder and baker, I say that with full authority. There is no better multigrain bread in the country than the one at this bakery-cafe.

    The Walnut Raisin

    Making bread is a real art. After spending a week of learning how to make bread in a bakery in small-town France, I quickly realised that it isn’t an art. Its downright precision. The ingredients, the temperature, humidity, space where it’s kept varies from bread to bread. Writing on a small note pad as a young Frenchman explained with gestures and broken English on what temperature to keep for which bread, I felt small in the even smaller white space.

    Inside the Restaurant

    I am not a fan of their popular brioche and sourdough bread but their raisin and walnut bread and the eight-grain bread will take your breath away. So much so that you’ll be sure to buy the bread in bulk and lug it back to your city, freezing it for a month, cutting a piece every day and hoping it lasts forever.

    Its not always the bread that makes the sandwich. It might be the core of a good breakfast or sandwich but if the other ingredients don’t hold up, it can’t be the only saviour. Sadly, Loafology’s breakfast and sandwiches have never done their bread justice.

    Desi Omelette

    The interior is quaint, a guaranteed hit with foreigners and aunties out for a lunch. Bright and happy, it reflects the openness of Islamabad and the joy of the abroad. But the food stops short of being good. The Loafology Omelette walks the bland line and bite after bite, falls into the land of no salt and the slow-cooked shredded beef needed more BBQ sauce. While the food has all the elements needed, it just doesn’t match up to the mark – not once but a few times.

    Regardless, we will all keep going back. For the bread, for the happy ambiance and the joy of knowing you can freeze the bread and let it linger for a month or more.