Tag: foodnews

  • 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.

  • Lahore restaurant management thrashes family for asking Sales Tax Number

    Lahore restaurant management thrashes family for asking Sales Tax Number

    A restaurant, located in Lahore, thrashed a man and his family when they asked the restaurant management for the Sales Tax Number (STN) number. 

    According to reports, a family’s dinner at Bashir Dar ul Mahi, Hussain Chowk, turned into a nightmare when they asked the restaurant’s management for the STN number to confirm if they pay their taxes. Not only did the restaurant manager deny the request, but he also turned to humiliate the family by beating up a male member while harassing the rest of the family.

    The management reportedly admitted to not paying taxes which is why they couldn’t entertain the request of the family. They allegedly further added that law enforcement agencies cannot bring them accountable.

    The victim family has demanded immediate action against the restaurant management.

    Meanwhile, it is pertinent to mention here that a branch of Bashir Dar ul Mahi in Mozang was previously sealed by the Punjab Food Authority for having ‘a record-breaking level of unhygienic conditions’.

  • Kate and William’s Pakistan tour in-flight menu revealed

    Kate and William’s Pakistan tour in-flight menu revealed

    The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge undertook a whirlwind tour of Pakistan late October. While it has been a couple of days since they left, the couple is still sneaking into our conversations as we reminiscence the days they spent here.

    Little details of their trip continue to excite us and a chef has now revealed what Kate and William ate on their flights as they travelled to different places within Pakistan.

    Read more: Royal Visit Day 2 – Kate & William explore the mountainous North

    Chef Samina Gul, a former Professional Cookery student at University College Birmingham, shared pictures of the food the royal couple ate while in-flight during their recent five-day tour of Pakistan.

    Fresh salad with beetroot and quinoa

    Samina Gul, a product development chef with Pakistan’s KC Flight Catering, made elevenses, afternoon tea and dinner for Prince William and Kate on two of their Royal Air Force flights during their visit. KC Flight Catering is the largest private in-flight catering operator in Pakistan.

    Samina shared pictures of her delicious delicacies on Facebook and we have to say they look mouth-watering.

    And it appears that the people on the flight loved the food because Samina’s company received a letter from the catering manager of 101 Squadron Royal Air Force, Sgt Steve Roberts, expressing his appreciation of the in-flight chefs’ services and hard work.

    EXCLUSIVE: What did Mehwish Hayat & Prince William talk about and other inside details from the grand royal reception

    Previously, Samina also got to cook for Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman during one of his visits to the country.

  • 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…

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Cafe Rustic – A burger lover’s delight

    Cafe Rustic – A burger lover’s delight

    Nestled in a quiet corner in Shaheen Market, E-7 Islamabad is a tiny eatery called Cafe Rustic. According to the cafe’s Facebook page, the eatery is the “dream mixed with a perfect dash of passion, vision and perseverance” of two foodie friends. With Cafe Rustic, they hope to present a “handcrafted selection” of foods from around the world. Though the eatery has several options on the menu, it is their burgers that really stood out.

    Considering burgers are a staple diet of millennials, it was actually my teenage son who introduced me to this cosy, little cafe. Though I was content with my favourite joints in Islamabad, I decided to give this place a shot and I’ve been a regular ever since.

    I’m not really a big fan of chicken burgers, so I opted for their lamb burger and voila! I was sold. The patty was thick, juicy, with just right amount of toppings. And the best part is that the burger was not sloppy. Lamb burgers are tricky to make and not everyone can get them right, but Cafe Rustic managed to nail it with their offering. The size of the burger is also adequate and leaves you more than full.

    Watch how they make their lamb burger in this video:

    https://www.facebook.com/caferusticislamabad/videos/688691434935829/

    Meanwhile, my friend ordered their chicken burger and he was quite satisfied with it. According to him, the chicken burger was the right amount of juicy and full of flavour – it struck the right balance between mild and spicy – which was a winner. The bun was also great as it didn’t crumble.

    Apart from their burgers, we also tried their fries. Cafe Rustic offers three different types of fries – Halloumi, Green and Sweet Potato – and each one of them has a unique flavour, are absolutely delicious and a must-try. Their Halloumi fries, in particular, are excellent- they are crunchy, fried to perfection, and have an amazing taste.

    Photo Credits – Momina’s Space

    As far as the drinks are concerned, once you’re done eating, you will definitely need their Peshawari Tea to wash down all the food and digest it. Other than that, their coffee is authentic and frothy – absolutely loved it.

    The only problem with the eatery is that it is small and there is not much place to sit which can be a little overwhelming and a nuisance, especially if you’re a bigger crowd.

    Nonetheless, the place is a must-try for everyone who loves their meat and is looking to try some succulent, gourmet burgers. Hope the owners can maintain the standards and their interest in keeping it alive.

  • New York Chicken and Rice: Did Karachi’s Walla get it right?

    New York Chicken and Rice: Did Karachi’s Walla get it right?

    Anyone and everyone who has been to New York City has tried – and raved about – Halal Guy’s chicken and rice. The dish is so popular that there are copycat recipes of it online. I’ve tried making it once but to tell the truth, is not as easy as it looks.

    The key is the sauce and the rice and of course, the chicken. You really need to get all three down to create that New York synergy.

    The Halal Guys in New York. Check out those lines

    A new hole in a wall restaurant in Karachi, Walla, situated in the upcoming restaurant hub on Khayban-e-Shahbaz, is run by a Pakistani who spent many years abroad. He’s come back because he believes there is a big market for a shawarma and chicken and rice joint in Karachi – and says that business has been good.

    Walla

    I went in specifically to have the chicken and rice – and to see if it lived up to it’s inspiration.

    Walla, which means “I Promise” in Arabic is a strange name for a restaurant but maybe since it has an instant Arabic recall, it was the name of choice. With a black and orange theme, an animated Shaikh with shades, it’s not your regular dhabba-style “Arbi Shawarma” joint. Seems like it’s got an uplift, perhaps an ode to the modernism being declared by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.

    The interior

    I called and ordered ahead:

    “Just the chicken and rice?” the person taking my order asked.

    “Yes, with extra sauce.”

    The white sauce was on point. Perfectly seasoned, with the right amount of garlic and yogurt. I could have just sat there and taken tiny spoonfuls of the sauce with nothing else. This particular chicken and rice also had a red sauce, which felt a little unnecessary – and also under seasoned. If they really wanted to keep the red sauce, they should just mix a little more than necessary Sriracha in the white sauce and be done with it.

    I added a lot of white sauce and a sliver of red

    The chicken was tender and flavourful, perfectly balanced. It had the tang of lemon and the zest of coriander but the knife in the heart of this almost, almost perfect dish was the rice.

    I assume the chef thought that a Pakistani palette would require Pakistani masala. So instead of the rice being slightly tinted with yellow turmeric, the rice was shoved into haldi like no one’s business. With a mix of other masalas, the taste of the rice was so overpowering, it took over the whole chicken and rice and that’s where it’s New York inspiration disappeared into the Times Square sir. Poof.

    Meanwhile, I didn’t try the shawarma but I’ve heard good reviews.

    While Walla did not match up to Halal Guys, much to our disappointment, it was a close second and decent place one can go in case the cravings get unbearable. As for the rest of those who haven’t tried Halal Guys, you’ll probably enjoy it more.

  • Caffè Praha – the new, happening brunch place in town

    Caffè Praha – the new, happening brunch place in town

    Interior done in simple, soothing shades of mints and greys, Caffè Praha has caught the attention of Karachi ladies since it’s opening a fortnight back. Whether it is breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea, or dinner, the place is always buzzing.

    I first visited the place for lunch and though I was really impressed by the mini lunch menu – it had just 6 mains – it was my second visit for a breakfast brunch which I actually enjoyed.

    Nonetheless, we began our meal with some meaty starters – Korean Sticky Wings, Prawn to be Wild and Chicken Strips. All three dishes were juicy, succulent and an absolute treat.

    • Chicken Strips
    • Korean Sticky Wings

    From the breakfast menu, we tried the Old Town Omelette, which was stuffed with cheese and spinach; the Salmon Avocado Brioche served with Hollandaise Sauce and Guacamole and the American Breakfast which consisted of scrambled eggs and sausages. All three dishes were pleasing to the taste buds and did not fail to impress.

    • American Breakfast
    • Salmon Avocado Brioche
    • Old Town Omelette

    But the winning dish on the breakfast menu was the Steak on Toast. The delightful dish had succulent pieces of meat on scrambled eggs and mushroom in white sauce all perched on a bed of toast, potatoes and peas. I am without a doubt going back for this one.

    Steak on Toast

    Last but not the least we tried their Freshly Brewed Coffee and Rose Latte, which is coffee mixed with pink rose water. While we enjoyed the fresh coffee, the Rose Latte was a total disappointment – not recommended at all.

    • Freshly Brewed Coffee
    • Rose Latte

    To sum it all up, my friends and I had a wonderful experience at Caffè Praha. Happy staff, sinfully delicious food and reasonably priced, this place is here to stay.

  • 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.