Festival of mouth-watering delights

For me Diwali is the festival for mouth-watering delights. It's a time for gastronomic experiences with feasts fit to impress friends and family.

I remember during festivals when I was young — especially during Diwali — my mother made the best dishes. She used neither bottled ingredients nor referred to recipe books, it came straight from the heart, with spices pounded in a heavy stone pestle and mortar, creating magical flavours.

But this Diwali, why not wave goodbye to your kitchen, grab your friends and head to Zaika. You can be assured that your taste buds will thank you. Zaika has whipped up a special Diwali menu with plenty of classics to placate your palate.

This elegant restaurant, with its gorgeous settings saturated with rich colours is a feast for the eyes even before you open the menu. In this case, first impressions turned out to be lasting impressions — delicate, flavourful and memorable. The food is fun — taking concepts from here, there and everywhere (Hyderabad, Bengal, North Indian and Kashmir) to produce mostly happy fusions.

The high standard of the starters was best exhibited in a mixed platter: each dish was a hit. A tender, subtly spiced dahi ke kebab, (deep fried yoghurt patties), a more assertive lasooni achari jhinga (tiger prawns marinated and grilled to perfection), and a delicate tawa pomfret (pan-fried fish mildly spiced with garlic and red chillis) graced the platter. The dahi ke kebab scored highly — its texture is so smooth it immediately melts in your mouth.

Flavour delight

Mains were also more than happy mélanges. The nalli ka salan (tender lamb shanks slow-cooked for 12 hours in aromatic gravy with exotic spices) proved the adage that hard work pays off in the end.

This was followed by murgh makhani, bhuna paneer aur palak, which worked well with garlic naan and ghee rice — it's worth struggling to finish even if you're full. It's easy to see why this restaurant, which prides itself on dishing up contemporary Indian cuisine, is liked by all. I saw a Filipino, an Arab and a British family giving in to daab chingri — shrimps spiced with mustard cooked in a coconut shell — and biryani without much resistance, and enjoying the sumptuous fare helped by the skilful service.

Though I am not sweet toothed, I listened when dessert called this time. Rasmalai — cottage cheese dumplings in saffron flavoured milk — gulab jamun and badam phirni are not be missed.

Zaika certainly lives up to its name, which literally translates into "sophisticated flavours". It really is Indian food as you've never experienced before.

Zaika

Where: Al Murooj Rotana. Tel: 04-3211111

Must have: Nalli ka salan (lamb shanks)

Ambience: Warm and friendly

Décor: Chic and classy

Price: Dh650 for two

Al Manzil Hotel

Conservatory: Tempt your tastebuds with cuisine nights featuring foods from different regions of the world from Dh149.Phone 04-4285923

 Al Murooj Rotana

Pergolas: Far feast every Wednesday, featuring the best of the Orient. From Dh159, including unlimited beverages. Phone 04-3211111

Bateaux dubai

Enjoy a Caribbean Friday brunch on the creek with music by DJ Sticky Fingers for Dh350. Phone 04-3994994

Dusit Thani

PAX: A lavish antipasti buffet for lunch or dinner at Dh55. Phone 04-3174515

Emirates Golf Club

Le Classique: Saturday brunch, with a buffet for starters and dessert, and an unlimited number of à la carte main course. Dh195, or Dh295 including selected beverages. Phone 04-3802222

Hilton Dubai Creek

Verre by Gordon Ramsay: A "fashionably late" menu for a five-course meal from 9.30pm at Dh350. Phone 04-2271111

Intercon Dubai Festival City

Anise: Feast upon a Pink Brunch buffet of multi-ethnic cuisine in a themed environment for Dh395 with beverages.Phone: 04-7011111

Jumeirah Rotana

brauhaus: Celebrate all things German this Oktoberfest with a traditional Oompah band and hearty German cuisine for Dh289 including beverages.Phone: 04-2820000

Kempinski Hotel, Mall of the Emirates

Sezzam: Indulge in Chinese cuisine with a an array of dim sum until October 12.Phone 04-4095999

Metropolitan hotel

Al Saffa: Enjoy the best of Filipino cuisine on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays for Dh120, including beverages. Phone 04-3430000

Qamardeen Hotel

Esca: A Friday brunch in aid of breast cancer awareness for Dh195. Phone 04-4285923

The Monarch

Ruth's Chris steak house: Eat in the restaurant between 6pm and 8pmand enjoy a lavish three-course meal for just Dh150. Phone 04-5018666

Shangri-la Hotel, Dubai

Essence: A new twist to Arabic as well as Asian dishes every Friday for Dh285, including beverages. Phone 04-4052703

The Country Club Hotel

Qureshis Kebab and Kurry: Hyderabadi food festival until October 25, featuring an extensive range of mouth-watering dishes from the city of Nizam, at Dh300 per couple. Phone 04-3988840

Le Meridien, Abu Dhabi

Experience the exquisite flavours of Thai cuisine at the Talay Thai Food festival until October 15. Phone 02-6446666

Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi

Indulge in the Ushna Sattva healthy menu. Choose between two-course meal at Dh95 or three-course meal at Dh155. Phone 02-5581769