Global Village: Street food paradise

Dubai: Food is as much an integral part of the Global Village as are cultural entertainment and shopping. The best part is that visitors get to sample a range of delicacies from streets around the globe at one venue, making it a major attraction among tourists and residents alike. So get ready for a mouthwatering ride as XPRESS takes you on a culinary journey at the Global Village.

 Kunafeh

Those with a sweet tooth will simply love this. The Turkish kunafeh is a cheese pastry soaked in sweet sugar syrup. The dough is either made from noodle threads or semolina. The cheese is a special goat cheese. Price: Dh10

 Luqaimat

There is always a crowd in front of the Heritage Cooking stalls in the Global Village and what is popular here is the famous Emirati sweet – the luqaimat. Perfectly round, hot, crispy, yet soft and drenched in dibbs (date syrup) – these little golden balls are heaven. Price: Dh10 (small), Dh20 (large)

Roasted corn and chestnuts

If you’ve been to Turkey you would not have missed this authentic street snack of roasted corn and chestnuts. It’s a healthy bite to snack into as you take a stroll around the Global Village. Price: Dh20

Pani Puri

No line-up of street food is complete without the mention of the Indian pani puri. Made of fried puff-pastry balls filled with spiced mashed potato, spiced water, and tamarind juice, this is sheer delight. Price: Dh10

Kwek Kwek

A popular street food snack in Philippines, the Kwek Kwek is made from quail eggs wrapped in an orange coloured flour dough. It is served along with a sweet and sour sauce and is a hit with many visitors at the annual shopping destination. Price: Dh15

Goto

Goto is a rice porridge or ‘congee’ with beef tripe – the first three chambers of a cow’s stomach - as the major ingredient. Popular in the Philippines, this porridge is served hot and is best enjoyed in cold weather. Price: Dh20

Karak Biscuit Tea

If you are looking for a strong drink to pep you up before you start to explore the Village, a ‘Karak Biscuit Tea’ should do the trick. Served in an edible biscuit cup, the tea is as good as it looks. An Emirati special, the tea comes in a number of flavours - saffron, cardamom, horlicks and cerelac! Price: Dh15

Flower Pot

It’s actually a rich milk shake set in a pot and dressed with crushed Oreos (chocolate biscuit) to look like a flower pot. A hit with young kids – the ‘flower pot’ is a meal in itself. Price: Dh15

Kesar Phirnee

This is a traditional Indian sweet – a rice custard cooked with milk and set in earthen containers. As the name suggests the ‘Kesar’ Phirnee is flavoured with saffron. It’s a must taste at the kiosk in front of the Indian pavilion. Price: Dh10

Turkish Borek

Another Turkish street snack is the Borek - a family of baked filled pastries made from thin flaky dough called phyllo. It is prepared in a large pan and cut into serving portions. The fillings can vary from cheese, chicken to tuna. Price: Dh25

 Tabouna

Tabouna is a fast moving Tunisian street food. The bread is freshly prepared and stuffed with garlic sauce, a special harissa chilli paste, green salad, tomatoes and onions. The main filling can be a choice of chicken or authentic Tunisian tuna. Price: Dh20

Tamarind Juice

This talented Syrian man does a few tricks of throwing and catching a cup before pouring a glass of tamarind juice from a silver caddy on his back. There is ample sweetness in the juice to soften the tanginess of the tamarind. It’s a drink that will surely get you high spirited from all its sweetness.
Price: Dh10