Iftar of the day: The Market Place, JW Marriott Hotel, Dubai

As a child, I would always look forward to trips to the marketplace with my grandmother, my naniammi.

There was no particular reason for this, except that I was assured of an hour of quality time with her every Sunday, every week. It’s on these trips that I learnt how to be courteous with vendors and finalise the best price for the fresh produce that would be accompanying us on the autorickshaw ride home. The trips would always end with a tall, chilled glass of sugarcane juice — my treat for being nani’s little helper.

The iftar at The Market Place brought back eerily similar memories. Not that I’m comparing one of the finest restaurants in town to a vegetable market, but good things usually find us in the least expected places.

Here’s how: Every turn you will make at every food station here will conjure up a new delight — just like a magician’s hat, the possibilities are endless. Be ready to be bombarded with flavour — this could be while tucking into honey dripped and draped smoked turkey, or the tomato gazpacho which (you’ve got to see it to believe it) looks exactly like an egg yolk.

And this is just for starters.

Right when you least expect it, Chef Redia will arrive at your table to enquire about your choice of bread for the evening. She will in turn go on to make the most delicious, unbranded Saj your tastebuds will have ever stepped foot in. Thumbs up to everything else that found a place on my many plates — the kabsa rice, Beiruti chicken wings and the heaven-in-a square German chocolate cake.

And in keeping with tradition, I finished my meal with a tall, chilled glass of Tamer Andi — just to raise a toast to yet another successful trip to The Market Place.

*Dh150. Iftar is served until 11.30pm. Call 04 607 79 77