Foodventurists, meet at Golden Oryx, Muscat

“Golden Oryx Chinese food is quiet something!”

“Golden Orxy has a Mongolian Grill, how exciting”

“We went to Golden Orxy for a business lunch and it was a munch fest”…

…These are some of the tempting statements Muscateers have said about one of the oldest restaurants in Muscat. Somehow our paths never crossed up until last week, when I was invited for a food blogger event at the restaurant.

The ‘food-adventurist’s meet’ coincided with the restaurant’s new Japanese Menu launch, which added to the excitement of being around a bunch of food lovers, who have explored the depths of Oman’s food scene.

As the conversations flooded the table, so did the food. The dishes from the new Japanese menu kept flowing. Yay! We go to taste it before anyone else in Muscat, the sushis, sashimis, California rolls, tempura and what not.

I am familiar with sushi; I worship Global Fusion the coolest sushi joint in Mumbai; but do not qualify as an expert (even though I am a major ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ fan). 

Image licensed under Creative Commons courtesy

Image licensed under Creative Commons courtesy <Movies in LA>

There are some dishes on the Golden Oryx Japanese Menu that I absolutely loved, some I couldn’t comprehend, a couple that I disliked, some familiar and some completely new.

I got introduced to EDAMAME – young green soybeans that were steamed.  An absolute must have!

EDAMAME_Japanese spices

Vegetarians will find this menu enthralling as some of my favourites during this exploration were Mushroom dim sum, Negima roll (Negi = green scallions), Three Seasons roll.

Mushroom dim sum
Mushroom dim sum
Negima roll
Negima Roll
Three Seasons Roll
Three Seasons Roll

I also loved the California roll and the Cocktail Roll (latter a combination of two types of sushi, with fish roe, adding an interesting flavour and texture to the sticky rice)

california roll

I am an understudy to Japanese cuisine, if you are the same then here’s a break up for you.

Sashimi Platter: Comprises of fresh slices of fish that is served raw, often with daikon (raddish) or gari (pickled ginger)

Sashimi Platter

I liked: Tamagoyaki (a slightly sweet, Japanese omelette made on the grill, by layering cooked sheets of egg), the sliced salmon was fresh and creamy, crabsticks…well were crabsticks, I always like them, tuna – not so much, octopus – not so much either.

Nigiri Platter: slices of fresh raw fish served over pressed rice.

Nigiri Platter
I liked: Salmon, Crabstick, Tamagoyaki.

So, after my visit to Golden Oryx, I have got a status upgrade, from being an amateur to being a Japanese cuisine understudy. Can’t wait to act like a ‘food snob’ with the newly acquired set of vocabulary.

All in all, I think, if you are familiar with authentic Japanese food, it may be hard to satiate all your senses. (I say this not because I doubt the chef’s calibre – He is driving this new Japanese menu based on his in-depth understanding and hands on experience with Taj New Delhi – one of India’s premium hospitality brand. But I say so because some of the produce (prawn in particular) used weren’t fresh enough)

Nevertheless, there are some winning dishes on the menu and the novice in me would like to go back and sample it after the official launch.

Merry Christmas with Buffalo Wings and Rings, Muscat

HO HO HO said a happy me after a merry meal at the cathedral for chicken wings in Muscat – Buffalo Wings and Rings is a must must must try.

Location: Al Saruj, opposite Fat Burger or Al Masa Mall. Facebook Page For Reservation contact: +968 9393 1931

Bufallo Wings and Rings Menu

I love places that have wacky, word play and colourful interiors… and if the quality of the food matches with the word play then nothing like it… This eating joint has got it right.

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We ordered the traditional wings in sweet barbecue sauce and another order of the same in mid-hot sauce. To my palate mild, wasn’t spicy at all, I enjoyed it though… so the spice adventurists out there… totally accept the restaurant’s ‘atomic sauce’ dare.

ACCORDING TO THE RESTAURANT “Table Manners are strongly discouraged” SO JUST DIVE IN!

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Traditional Wings barbecue sauce
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Traditional Wings Mild Hot Sauce
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Hand Breaded Onion Rings

Great food served by great people makes the experience thoroughly enjoyably. The staff is friendly and very well trained.

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Do respect the tradition called buffalo wings… Do not expect an Indian fiesta, Omani hearty dinner or Italian glitz as Buffalo wings is about sitting down and devouring saucy pieces of fried, crunchy, juicy  and bite-size goodness.

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The restaurants ‘CROWD CONTROL’ offering is perfect for large groups of (6-10, 12-16, 18-24). But only concern is their drink ratio doesn’t match. We went in for the 6-10 option but got only 4 glasses of coal. Probably something the restaurant should look into. Or probably I got my math wrong because of the wingy trance I was in.

Image stolen from BWR Menu
Image stolen from BWR Menu

The restaurant’s menu does boast of some other hits such as the Nachos Supreme – a dish packed with melted cheddar cheese, a spalsh of sour cream and stuffed with tex-mex chili olives and what not.

Nachos Supreme
Nachos Supreme
Veggie Quesadilla
Veggie Quesadilla
happy pics
Photo Courtesy: Food wingman and Happy trooper Fazal Mohammed Ajmal

Bon Appetit and let me know what you think!

Omanis love their BBQ & I love them for that!

I simply adore the outdoors and with places like Wadi Al Arabieen, Oman has casts a hypnotic spell on me… Fine… I confess, it is hypnotic because good food is part of every experience here.

Nothing in Oman is complete without food and that’s just the way I like it.

During the most recent long weekend, my friends and I decided to go back to the basics. We went camping to this place called Wadi Al Arabieen to enjoy the sights and devour the meat(z). I love going camping with my local friends as they are so adept with the ways of enjoying and making the most out of the outdoors and available resources.

Step 1: Preparing for the trip, which meant shopping for supplies (charcoal, lighting fuel, grills, skewers and of course an arsenal full of meat, veggies and more food)

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Step 2: Stopping for Ice (food has to be kept fresh no matter what)

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They... hard at work!
They… hard at work!

Step 3: Getting to Wadi Al Arabieen

On the way to Sur,  take the right turn where the road sign says Wadi Al Arabieen. For more details and visual treats of the location visit the Oman Tripper website, For tummy treats continue reading.

Step 4: Scan the scene and take in the vistas

Step 5: Now comes the fun part. Start the food prep.

I guess you are wondering, where the hell are the food pics… I want to insert them right away… please do wait a bit more.

First we dig the hole place the coal and collect from dried grass and then start the fire!
First we dig the hole, then place the coal and collect dried grass and then start the fire! – Only if it was as simple as that!

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corn and onion
corn and onion

Last Step: Sit together and enjoy the meat, flavored with a dash of fresh air and a sprinkle of nature. Look at the food shots below, don’t they look restaurant quality and believe me, the bbq chicken tastes so much better than what we get served at some of the restaurants.

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AND I HAVE TO MENTION THIS. LOVE FOOD BUT RESPECT NATURE. 

Cleaning up.. helps burn off the extra calories as well
Cleaning up.. helps burn off the extra calories as well

Please do not forget to clean up before leaving. There is something magical about unspoiled beauty.  Let the explorers and food nerds after you enjoy the space as much as you did.

List of inspiring must watch movies for food lovers

This space – ‘foodishlyinlove’, that I call my own, is probably the first step that I have taken on a journey towards an unclear yet exciting destination 😉

Successful people… correction, Happy People, generally tell us that the secret lies in following your heart and doing what you love. I understand that but the question is how do you know what is it that you love? And when you do know, how do you turn your love into a successful action?

Does the answer lie in finding the INSPIRATION? 

So this is what I have been up to the past 2 days of my 4 day, ‘Oman National Day Long Weekend’.

I believe these are the must watch movies for food lovers.
These movies are compelling enough to silence the critical thinker in you and wake up the doer. I have watched some of them earlier, but just like an interesting book, some scenes, some dialogues, some exchanges resonates more now than ever before.

Eat. Pray. Love

Takeaway from the movie:

Simplicity might sound simple but sometimes comes packed in a box of complications.

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Image licensed under creative commons Fab738

I love this movie because it is real, transitional and does not show the protagonist as the symbol of perfection. We all make mistakes but the society is hellbent on professing perfection, which according to me is a major detriment for those who are like me – Reactive yet clueless. When great minds Director Rayn Murphy, Producer Brad Pitt et al. collaborate with great artists Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem we get sometime like Eat. Pray. Love.

Julie and Julia 

Takeaway from the movie:

Find your inspiration yourself.

Julie and Julia
Image licensed under creative commons Kaleb Fulgham

We all need to find out inspiration to be happy in life. I have met so many achievers growing up. Most of them were self driven, I for one never found my drive. So for people like me, we have to consciously go around looking for the one thing that inspires us enough to get off our asses and do something.

Next on the list:

Chocolat

Chef – Director Jon Favreu, Actor – Robert Downery Jr.

The Lunchbox (An India movie)

Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown Iran (not a movie, but reality)

Oman’s love affair with Karak Chai

Many a times I have driven past these hole-in-the-wall eating joints with ‘Karak Chai’ written in bold, never to be missed font size. From past experience, I know for a fact that these places tend to be a treasure trove of flavours.

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Another Tea joint in Al Khuwair, Muscat, Oman
Another Tea joint in Al Khuwair, Muscat, Oman

I always start my weekends with a hot cup of tea, true Indian style. Not doing so depresses me to the core.

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My friends and I stayed over at my Omani friends place on one of the weekend and I was craving for my morning cup of chai. That’s when they introduced to me the world of Karak Chai.

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A hole-in-the-wall store that serves more than 10 different types of tea, made with tea leaves and flavouring of our choice. Saffron tea, mint tea, ginger tea, cardamom tea so on and so forth.

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‘Karak chai’ is derived from the Indian chai called ‘Kadak Chai’. The latter is very different from the English tea and tastes splendid and has an international fan following. It came to Oman from India and is yet another example of the historic camaraderie between the two nations. Omanis, fondly rechristened it as Karak.

Enough of the history. Next time you visit Oman, or if you live here and drive past this joint. Stop and enjoy the tea of your choice. You also get a tasty snack here that goes by the Omani name Rakhel and is a crepe like snack. It also resembles the south Indian delight Dosa.

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with honey & cheeese

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with egg and cheese
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with Oman Potato Chips & Cheese

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What my hubster does n what I do!

While my Hubster is toiling away in Tumkur, India

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I am happy gorging ahead at The Cave Restaurant, Muscat

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Such are the simple secrets to a happy marriage. He does his thing and i do mine. 😉 😉 😉 Life, love n Munch
must always go on. No matter what!

5 Must try dishes in oman

It’s not necessary to love everything about everyone we meet, right? Similarly when we go to a restaurant we need not like all of it. It might Be a tantalising main course or an absolutely glutinous dish that catches your fancy.

Here is a list of dishes found in muscat restaurants that are a must try according to me.

Murgh Musallam @ Fusion restaurant
MBD Area Ruwi

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Patthar Ghost (lamb) Shalimar Restaurant
Al Khuwair, Behind KFC, opp Al Amal Medical

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Vegetarian Cannoli Darcy’s Kitchen
MQ , Jawharat Shatti

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Labneh and honey fatayer – Turkish House Al Khuwair

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Karak Saffron Chai, Tea House Al Khuwair

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Let me know if anything entices you enough that it makes you want to know the direction

Speechless kind of love

Sometimes you don’t need paragraphs, sentences, phrases, words or even alphabets to express love. A single glance, a gentle touch, a warm hug or a passionate kiss is more than enough. Such is my post today. Of food that makes you melt at first sight.
Carrot Cake at Darcy’s Kitchen, MQ, Muscat

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Grilled fish at Turkish House, Al khuwair, Muscat

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Speechless? Nah! You must have let out a happy sigh.

Shang Thai Celebration Kind of Love

Love has to be celebrated, what is the point otherwise? and no one knows that better than my love-struck bunch of friends. They took me to Shang Thai for my well-orchestrated surprise Anniversary dinner.

Mr. Hubster is back in India, drowning himself in medical books and thesis work (or so I assume ;)) So my friends took it upon themselves to make sure I was celebrating this day. Hence Shang Thai.

Shang Thai, Muscat, Oman

When I think celebration, I think fireworks, music, dance, laughter, balloon, flowers and chatty, high-spirited people everywhere. But Shang Thai is a kind of celebration that made me alter my imagery. It is grand without being loud, it is warm without being overtly expressive and above all it is yummy without being pretentious.

I had the yummiest Tom Yum soup (not that I have ever tasted the original). But my friend Yousuf was in Thailand and has had the real thing and said that it comes really close to the original.

tom yum soup

We ordered the Tom Yum soup – seafood version. I didn’t mind paying 3.6 rials for it because the bowl of golden soup was bountiful with fresh fish, fresh mushroom, fresh cuttlefish, fresh mussel, fresh coconut gravy and was freshly infused with lemon grass. Oh did I mention it was fresh?

Talking about wedding anniversary, I also experienced a perfect union right there, as the Thai green curry – veggie version, perfectly complemented the Thai fried rice Kao Phad (RO 3.8).

thai fried rice

Gang Kiew Wan or the Thai green curry (RO 4.4) will blow your mind away again in the most subtle manner as that’s the Thai way. Exotic flavours presented in a clean and simple manner.

Thai green curry

One observation that I made, which I would like to share with you is that this is one place that treats veggies with a lot of care and honour. I am a hard core non-vegetarian and believe its criminal to have vegetarian food while eating out. But I stand corrected. This place is a haven for vegetarians as well. I loved the tender care with which the snap peas, mushrooms, broccoli, baby corn was prepared.

Best Thai restaurant in Muscat

Shang Thai, Muscat Grand Mall.

They have other outlets in Oman. Click here to visit their website

While you wait for your food, enjoy the complimentary prawn crackers and tantalizing dips

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The ‘Friends over Food’ Kind of love

Food can spark great conversations and wonderful friendships.

I had such a moment at work last week, when a colleague turned into a friend with something as simple as, thoughtfully picking up my favourite chicken quiche, from this one bakery in muscat that does it right – Modern Oman Bakery.

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS GOLDEN GOODNESS

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WHERE DO YOU GO TO GET IT?
Modern bakery, located in Ruwi, next to al masa hall. Yum yum yum

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Photo courtesy foursquare

First bite experience

This creamy, buttery fluff of Pastry with onion and shredded chicken filling will definitely crackle a smile that comes from the depths of your soul. Even my vegetarian friend seemed to be secretly salivating just looking at it.

P.S: Get there in the morning as these sell like hot cakes…ehhh like hot quiches.

Thanks Fazal for the yumminess n cheers to the food camaraderie!!!!

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