Iftar review: Diwan Al Khayal, Jumeirah Beach Hotel

We are what we eat. We are also how we treat our food.

The flipside to variety is that it can spoil us with lots of choice. In a country that offers multiple cuisines to suit all palates, we often forget the culinary significance behind classic dishes. And then we complain - as I did, in my first draft of the first iftar review for this year — about the lack of variety on offer.

To be honest, I expected a lot from the iftar at Diwan Al Khayal, Jumeirah Beach hotel and was disappointed to say the least. Struggling to write a balanced narrative, I chose the low path and lashed out at everything that could have been better that evening.

This was before I paused, took a deep breath and asked myself to rethink, redraft. After all, isn’t it the essence of Ramadan to reflect on all things good?

So what if the roast beef was cold? It was well done and beautifully- presented nonetheless. Besides, you can always reheat meat. And if culture calls for a fatayer to be filled ONLY with cheese, meat or spinach — so be it. Who am I to question its deep- fried destiny?

By the end of my meal, I’d tasted two variations of grilled kebabs in chicken and lamb, silky vermicelli rice, sweet and spicy baked potatoes and egg plant and black lentil-infused Moujadara. I’ve tried all of these before – one reason why the iftar added nothing new to my journey of taste. But that aside, the food was everything it was supposed to be. As were the traditional drinks such as the Qamardeen and the “mother of all desserts” — the warm, creamy, never-one-to-disappoint- Umm Ali.

So let’s let food be what it is supposed to be. And let it be our job to devour, not detest.

Fusion is great but original is not all that bad that either.

And in all originality, let me remind you that everything aside, variety is and should always be the spice of life.

Price: Dh180. Children below the age of 3 years dine for free. Iftar is served till 8:15pm. Call: 04-4068999