As a pop culture enthusiast, I consider myself quite a campaigner for diversity. So much so that Tilda Swinton and Scarlett Johansson have both dropped off from my favourite actors list — because they’re both responsible for erasing Asian characters in their upcoming films. I mean, the #whitewashedOUT hashtag is basically my battle cry!
So what’s all that got to do with an iftar review? Well, because diversity is at the heart of the spread this year at Cascades at Fairmont Dubai.
“We’ve got the dishes from all the countries are chefs are from,” said Chef Mahmoud Haidar, the senior Chef de Partie.
So there’s the khoresh anaar from Iran, a wonderful alternative to the roast chicken but with a bit of zing, thanks to the pomegranate. There’s thareed laham, the Emirati lamb stew served with flatbread. And and, of course, the lamb tagine, an iftar staple from Morocco.
But they really do mix it up. There’s also opor ayam, chicken cooked in coconut milk - one of my favourite Indonesian dishes. And I was pleasantly surprised to find jeera aloo, a vegetarian potatoes and cumin dish in the Indian station, and Citir tavuk, Turkish deep fried chicken pieces.
Even the dessert station is all rainbow-coloured. My picks include the Indian sooji gujiya, a fried pastry stuffed with semolina and then dunked in sugar syrup. The classic umm ali, because I got mine dry and creamy, just the way I like it. And the kunafeh, the best dessert to come out of the Middle East. Oh, whatever you do, don’t skip the ice cream station.
The details
Where: Cascades, Fairmont Dubai.
Price: Dh170 per person.
Timing: Sunset until 9.30pm.
Call: 04-3118316 or email dbi.fbconcierge@fairmont.com
Website: fairmont.com/Dubai
