Tag: food reviews

  • Pakistani Sabir Sami becomes KFC Global Chief Executive Officer

    Pakistani-origin Sabir Sami has been appointed as KFC Global Chief Executive Officer. He will succeed Tony Lowings, who is stepping down as CEO at the end of 2021 in advance of his retirement in early 2022.

    “I’m incredibly privileged and excited to continue working with our talented and dedicated KFC leaders and amazing franchise partners around the world to keep strengthening and accelerating the development of our powerful, iconic brand,” said Sami. “KFC is uniquely positioned around the world as a well-loved, well-trusted brand with millions of fans – the future is certainly bright.”

    Sabir Sami received his MBA from the University of Karachi. Sabir has two sons and he currently lives in Toronto with his wife. Sabir has also worked for brands like Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Reckitt Benckiser, as per the information available on KFC’s website.

    https://twitter.com/kfc_pk/status/1441121094224662533
  • Five must-have desserts in Lahore

    Five must-have desserts in Lahore

    Stressed spelt backwards is desserts and nothing better than something sweet and delicious to make your day. Being a hard-core foodie with a very intense sweet-tooth, I love my desserts and pretty much spend all my money trying out new things. All through the year (and the pandemic), I have tried a vast variety of meetha from different home-based businesses and here are the ones I keep going back to.

    Chocolate Chunk Cookies by Vanilla by Hafsa Zulfiqar

    Without a doubt the best chocolate chip cookies I have had in Lahore. They are crispy on the outside but gooey on the inside and melt the moment they hit your mouth. The light dusting of sea salt adds to the flavour and I guarantee you that you will not stop at one. Priced at Rs 180 (without tax), they are a steal given that they are pretty big in size too.

    Look at that chocolate!

    Chocolate Brownie Dessert Box by Deliciuex

    There are often times when you feel like having something cool and sweet which is not ice-cream. Something that you can eat while watching your favourite season. Something that feeds the soul. In those situations, the Chocolate Brownie Box by Deliciuex is ideal for you. The dessert box, which includes layers of brownies, fudge and mousse topped with a layer of crunchy biscoff, is the stuff of dreams. You will not regret trying this.

    P.s. Deliciuex does amazing Lotus Milk Cake also.

    Frosti Ice-Cream

    There is something very enjoyable about having cold ice-cream in the chilly weather. Frosti has one of the best gelatos the city has to offer and that too in a variety of flavours. Creamy, smooth and oh-so-delectable, Frosti is a must-try for those who love to spend their winters curled up in front of the television watching their favourite show.

    Our picks – Salted Caramel, Oreo Crunch and Belgian Chocolate

    Cheesecake (Lotus, New York) by The Sweet Rack

    I was not a big fan of cheesecakes till I tried the New York Cheesecake by The Sweet Rack. While the cream is rich and absolutely delicious, it was the base that set it apart from other cheesecakes. It does not have your usual biscuit base – it has hints of walnuts and cinnamon which add so much flavour to the overall experience. Highly recommended. The Sweet Rack Lotus Cheesecake is also great and I am sure Lotus lovers will thoroughly enjoy it.

    P.s. Their brownies are also divine.

    Donuts by Big Fat Rolls

    Honestly speaking, I am a Dunkin Donuts loyalist. I have tried multiple donuts from multiple places at multiple food festivals but nothing came close to Dunkin for me…till I discovered Big Fat Rolls. Their donuts are ah-mazing: airy, soft and melt-in-your-mouth kind. My picks from their collection have to be Cherub Classic and Cupid Chocolate.

    Note – Before someone attacks me for not including Layers, please note that these picks are from home-based businesses only.

  • ‘Aur Chaawal’ offers delightful homemade desi food

    ‘Aur Chaawal’ offers delightful homemade desi food

    While we do miss eating out, home deliveries have their own charm. Especially in these testing times when we all have to abide by our civic duties and stay home to flatten the curve. Ever since the Sindh Government allowed home deliveries, I have been trying different home-based businesses, the most recent being Aur Chaawal – a food startup offering homemade desi food with warmth and love.

    Aur Chaawal is the brainchild of Akhlaque Ahmed, a filmmaker who has a palate for good food. Six months ago, when he launched Aur Chaawal, the eatery started off by offering delicious homemade daal chaawal, kurkure bhindi, masala mirchi, shami kebabs and laal chutney as a package. Priced at Rs 350, this was a complete meal at a very reasonable price delivered right at your doorstep. All items in this package were delicious and one meal was enough for two people.

    Akhlaque Ahmed

    Slowly, yet steadily Ahmed expanded the menu to include dahi baingan, white chicken korma, machli korma and daal rogan. From there onwards was no looking back. Many like me were quickly hooked to his delicious homemade food which undoubtedly is one of Karachi’s best.

    Dahi baingan, White chicken korma

    Unfortunately, the pandemic lockdown and subsequent suspension of home deliveries took a toll on eatery too. But not one to be defeated, Akhlaque soon bounced right back once home deliveries were allowed. He came back with a new, appetizing weekly menu much to the delight of the Karachiites. Apart from the food, their service is also impeccable which is why Aur Chaawal has become my go-to eatery for home delivery, even though I have a brilliant cook at home.

    Read more – Zafraan – Iranian cuisine at its finest

    One of my favourite things from the menu has to be the beef nihari. It is soft, succulent and full of flavour and I can say without a doubt one of the best available in Karachi. Highly recommended!

    Beef nihari

    Machli korma with fish is another of my favourites, as is the prawn biryani.

    • Machli Korma
    • Prawn Biryani

    Aur Chaawal is among the best desi food outlets in the city and you have to try it at least once because I guarantee you, after that you’ll be hooked.

  • Zafraan – Iranian cuisine at its finest

    Zafraan – Iranian cuisine at its finest

    With COVID-19 lockdowns, restaurants across the city (and country) have remained closed for over 3 months now. As a hard-core foodie, I have been missing going out to try out different yet delicious cuisines. This prompted me to look up some home-based food delivery outlets in the city and that’s when I came across a mother-daughter startup. What intrigued me was their Iranian cuisine, something which my husband and I always enjoy eating. And lo and behold I just discovered a gem.

    Read more – The quest for the perfect French Toast in Lahore

    Born in Tehran, in the heart of Iran, Elham learned the craft of Afghani and Iranian cuisine from a generation of exceptional cooks whilst spending a majority of her pre-marriage life in the Middle East. After moving to Karachi back in 1992, she won the hearts of many of her family and friends with her authentic Iranian food. When the lockdown was imposed and everyone went into quarantine, Elham discovered that she had a lot of free time on her hands now, allowing her to work on an idea that had been lingering on her and her daughter Mahum’s minds for a while. Free time along with the wish to be financially independent, gave Elham and Mahum the motivation to use their free time to do something productive. That’s when Zafraan came into being with the vision to spread the joys of Iranian flavours to the people of Pakistan.

    Zafraan’s menu is simple yet authentic and prices very reasonable. They offer home delivery, which is a blessing in the current situation, and pay special attention to hygiene and taste.

    Let’s begin with Chullu Kebabs which literally means ‘rice and kebab’ in Persian. It is the national dish of Iran and also the most popular. These legendary kebabs are a fan favourite and Zafraan’s ace of spade. The dish consists of buttery saffron rice and top quality minced beef kebabs served with grilled tomato and tomato sauce. The tenderness of the kebabs along with a combination of tomato sauce and buttery rice bring together an abundance of flavour that pays a rich tribute to the culture of Iran.

    Chelow Kebabs

    Next up, we have the Afghani Aush sometimes spelt ‘Aash’ meaning ‘noodle’ in Afghani. Aush is comfort food at its best. It’s a noodle soup consisting of tomato-based broth, filled with chicken chunks and mixed herbs and spices. The flavour is distinct and nothing like any other soup served in Pakistan.

    Afghani Aush

    Then comes the classic Zereshk Pulao, also known as “jewelled rice” because of the red barberries in it. The dish is balanced with a hint of sweetness for the perfect taste. The rice is served with Persian chicken gravy. This dish is exotic and simple at the same time and a must-try if you are a fan of any type of rice and chicken gravy.

    Zereshk Pulao

    Last but not least is my favourite Khoresh Gheymeh, which is mutton and split pea stew – a traditional and popular Iranian stew – topped with fried potatoes and served with aromatic white rice. If this doesn’t tickle your taste buds, I would be quite surprised.

    Khoresh Gheymeh

    Though quarantine and lockdowns have snatched the livelihoods of so many across Pakistan, the silver lining is where courageous women like Elham and Mahum have started their own business with an intent to not only serve classic, authentic Irani/ Afghani food but also the desire to be financially independent.

  • 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.

  • Which way does ‘Swing’ swing?

    Which way does ‘Swing’ swing?

    Cool pinks, misty greys and pastel mint, swings, flowers and all is the newest cafe in town – Swing.

    Though the interior appears to be inspired by the Elan Cafe in London, this place is quite synonymous with its name, it has cute swings for seating, in addition to the regular chairs. Pink, mint and gold crockery and cutlery, good service and the brother/sister duo (owners) in attendance was just the cherry on top.

    Apart from the regular salads and appetizers, the food thankfully had some delicious twists.

    While their hot sellers, Vietnamese Paper Rolls, Salmon roll-ups and Prawn trio are great in presentation and taste, the mains, however, are the ones you’ll be going back for.

    My favourites were the Beetroot Risotto with Snapper in Saffron Sauce, Halloumi Beef Bowl, Marrakesh Chicken, Asian Beef Bowl and Indiana Snapper. Cooked to perfection and full of flavour, each dish was a foodie’s delight.

    After a pleasant meal, we decided to indulge our sweet tooth with the Lotus Cheesecake, Nutella Brownie with Ice-cream and Flourless Brownie. While the Nutella Brownie was decadently sinful, the Flourless Brownie was light and airy.

    What was truly commendable about the place was the attention to detail and presentation – you could tell that the owners wanted to give their clients an experience, not just food. The menu also has pizzas, mocktails and coffees. Priced reasonably, Swing is here to stay.

  • Moocs doesn’t have anything new to offer

    Moocs doesn’t have anything new to offer

    Located behind Khaadi on MM Alam Road, Moocs is the latest addition to the Lahore food scene but not exactly a promising one, given that there was only one other party along with me, that too on a Saturday night.

    Rewind a few weeks and Moocs was all over our Instagram after it had a grand opening with Lahore’s socialites in attendance. A couple of weeks later, the hype seemed to have completely died down.

    Nonetheless given how much I like to try out new places, I decided to check out Moocs. After all, the name was kinda catchy.

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

    Moocs has a standard menu: pizza, burgers, Chicken Parmesan, Polo Chicken, Stuffed Chicken, etc – you know pretty much the same things you’ve tried a million times before.

    We decided to start our dinner with Pizza Fries from their ‘Starters Menu.’ The fries came in a skillet topped with cheese, sauce and jalapenos. The overall taste of the dish was pretty decent while the fries themselves were nice and crispy. But to be very honest, I’ve had better. Like for example, have you tried the Alfredo Fries at Urban Kitchen? Now those are divine.

    From the main course, we tried their Chef’s Special Stuffed Chicken and Muslo De Pavo Burger. Both the items were very typical. The Chef’s Special Stuffed Chicken was not all that special – the flavour wasn’t strong enough and fettuccini pasta was on the bland side. The sauce, meanwhile, was tasty but given the extravagant price, I’m not sure if it was worth it.

    Meanwhile, the Muslo De Pavo Burger tasted just like Jalal Son’s Crispy Chicken Burger but at double the price. Plus the bun wasn’t good because it was so crumbly. The thigh fillet had a thick layer of batter which though made it very crunchy, made it impossible to taste the chicken within.

    The dessert was probably the best thing we ate that night. We ordered their Cookie Pudding on our waiter’s recommendation and it was differently delicious. Loved the mix of pudding, cookie dough and ice-cream.

    While the food was somewhat passable, and ambiance on the cosy side (great for winters) the bill certainly wasn’t. For one starter, two main dishes and one dessert, our total bill amounted to a little more than Rs 5000/- which is definitely a hefty amount to pay, especially in such trying financial times.

    Read more: DOCK 27 has a secret saviour

    My overall experience at Moocs was average so I don’t think I’ll be venturing there again.

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

  • Khaadi’s Kanteen bursts with positive energy

    Khaadi’s Kanteen bursts with positive energy

    Nestled happily on the first floor of Khaadi at Bilawal Chowrangi, Kanteen is a sight for sore eyes with its bohemian look, comfy sofas, lovely woodwork and lots of green plants. The whole place is bursting with positive energy.

    This is a place where you would want to go with your friends for a happy evening or dinner with your family. And yes this place welcomes children of all ages. I finally made it to Kanteen after hearing good reviews from friends and I’m happy to report that I wasn’t disappointed.

    Kanteen’s menu is pretty elaborate and is dominated by a desi palette – you’ll find butter chicken, mutton karahi, palak paneer etc on the menu. The best part is that it is not very heavy on the pocket. The cafe is run by Meher, who started off as a home-based party planner. She did my bridal shower almost 5 years back and had impressed me with her services back then also.

    We started off with some crunchy Meethi Puri and Paani Puri and thoroughly enjoyed it – just what you want on a rainy day. We also tried some desi dynamite prawns which were different but delicious.

    • Paani Puri
    • Meethi Puri
    Desi dynamite prawns

    Next, we had the mini chapli kebabs on small parathas which were just perfect with just the right amount of spices.

    What’s life without a plate of good old daal chawal. Kanteen’s daal chawal was elaborate and was served with fried bhindi, paapar, aalo, qeema kabab, achaar and raita. It was a wholesome dish on its own and one of my personal favourites.

    We also tried Kanteen’s tawa chicken and that was also tantalising to the taste buds.

    For a sweet ending to a lovely evening, we ordered the Rabri & Jalebi and Caramel Bread Pudding. Both the desserts were delectable and absolutely delicious. One thing I particularly liked was that the sweet was nicely balanced and did not send you into a sugar coma.

    Rabri & Jalebi
    Caramel Bread Pudding

    Khaadi’s Kanteen lived up it to its expectations and hype and I will definitely be venturing there again soon to treat myself to some delightful desi food.