Restaurant reviews: Awadhi Flavours

Awadhi cuisine is a gastronomic experience like no other.

So much so that even celebrated chef Gordon Ramsay was bowled over by its distinct flavours when he visited India recently.

The Michelin-starred chef was visiting Lucknow (the capital of the former Awadh region) as part of a television show in quest of authentic Indian cuisine when he met Mohammad Irfan, the younger son of renowned Indian chef Imtiaz Qureshi. Ramsay was so taken by the flavours of the food there that he had to confess to Qureshi that the kind of Indian food served in the West was nothing compared to what he had tasted in Lucknow – home to some of the best kebabs and biryanis in the country. Important role

The Qureshis, for their part, have played a pivotal role in popularising Awadhi cuisine across India and the world.

Dubai residents can now get a chance to taste some authentic dishes with Irfan and his older brother Mohammad Ashfaque organising a festival of kebabs and biryanis at Qureshi's Kebab & Kurry restaurant at The Country Club Hotel.

Chef Imtiaz, the grand old man of dum pukht style of cooking, is credited with making the style famous all over the world and one can rest assured all the dishes at the festival in Dubai will have his signature touch.

The spread focuses on Awadhi specialities, but it also includes some dishes from Hyderabad and Delhi. One can savour delicacies such as Hyderabad's shikampur and pathar ke kebab, Delhi's dora kebab and murgh tikka kaali mirch and Lucknow's famed gilawati kebab.

Kebabs and biryanis don't have to be strictly made of meat. In their effort to encourage vegetarians to try out their signature dishes, the Qureshis have designed a special fare which includes kathal kebab (jackfruit) and biryani, moong dal Awadhi, dum kumbh biryani and subz Bohri biryani.

One of the specialities to try out is the jashn-e-biryani. Delicately flavoured with herbs and spices, this dish is sealed with dough and cooked on a slow fire.

The other exciting biryanis on offer include dum Lucknowi, murgh anari and kachchi gosht.

Details

Where: The Country Club Hotel, behind new Gold Souq, Bur Dubai

When: Until May 9