Dubai: I think I will have to admit I haven’t seen a more lavish and elaborate iftar buffet than the one I reviewed last week at the Dubai Ballroom Ramadan tent in JW Marriott Marquis, the world’s tallest hotel. Over 100 dishes and condiments inspired from almost every world cuisine make this iftar a tall order to cover for even the best of foodies in town. Here’s a mini guide, if you like.
Start off with their soups – a cream of mushroom and a lentil broth served with Arabic pita crisps and lemon wedges. As accompaniment, there’s a selection of breads – from French baguettes to sour dough to dusted English rolls and regional Arabic bread besides fatoush and tabbouleh from a live salad station.
Their line-up of cold mezzehs including hummus, moutabel and labneh is long but do try their ‘okra salad’ cooked in tomato sauce with onion and garlic and fried vegetables. There are at least 10 different items in the antipasti section but I picked two that appealed to me at least visually – colourful roasted red and yellow peppers, marinated in olive oil and grilled eggplant and zucchini with thyme and black pepper.
Love oriental? Then try chicken siew mai, vegetable gyoza and prawn hakao – the three stylised dumplings that make up their dim sum station replete with six different sauces. Recommended from the Arabic main courses are kibbeh and shish barak or meatballs cooked in yoghurt and garlic and their whole lamb ouzi besides mixed grill.
A delightfully fragrant lamb biryani and dal makhni, a cheesy grilled vegetable lasagna and a Thai green curry with all its Thai essence are some of the must-haves from the other main course sections. End this special feast with a choice of 20 top desserts including dondurma or what is popularly known as Turkish ice cream.
Details:
Iftar price: Dh195
For Bookings contact: 04-414 0000
Where: Dubai Ballroom, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai
We recommend: Kibbeh and Shish Barak, Whole Lamb Ouzi, Lamb Biryani, Thai Green Curry
