Just got back from lunch and so excited to write about my date with yumminess. So let me dive right into it… coz ‘SHARING IS CARING’ 😉
Location: Deccan Darbar is located just off Ruwi high street. The lane opposite Raymonds showroom. (Thanks Fazal for the directions.)
Our Thursday Lunch Group – We have rules: 1] we don’t share our food, 2] we don’t talk while we eat, 3] we think highly of food pairing… ALAS! we forget about all the rules as soon as we see food.
Word of Caution: Not a glitzy place, but you won’t regret a second.
What to Have: If you are going there for the first time then these are the must try dishes.
Mutton Fry: (RO 2) Heard of cooked to perfection, falling off the bone, melt in your mouth etc? Well the Mutton Fry at Deccan Darbar is all that and more. We always order an extra plate because we know one is not going to be enough.The mutton pieces are cooked perfectly, which makes it so much easy to eat. Its a bit spicy for me as I do not have a high tolerance level for green chilli. Paratha:(100 baiza 1.no) Perfect accompaniment with the Mutton Fry.
Chicken Hyderabadi: (RO1.6) For some of us, an Indian meal is not complete without curry. This is the best one to try. Cooked in true Hyderabadi style with a smoke infused flavour this rich chicken gravy is sensational.
Biryani: Tender chicken and the hidden boiled egg with perfectly dum cooked rice makes this biryani a must try.
The Sultanate of Oman has given me so much. When I came to this country 3 years ago I didn’t know what to expect. My mind was blank but this beautiful country has managed to turn a blank canvas into a colorful collage and Oman is Oman because of our Sultan, the visionary and compassionate leader His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. This post is a tribute to him, a celebration of his safe return. He is back in the country after an absence of eight months (as he was under medical care in Germany)
This morning (at work) we walked into a celebration. the nation is celebrating our Sultan’s return in many different ways and we joined the festivities with songs, speeches and of course food.
For a change food was not the hero… His Majesty Sultan Qaboos was and rightfully so. No marketing campaign, no 360 degree activation, no PR brigade… We salute the ‘father of modern Oman’, whose 45 years of reign is a living testimony to what leadership should be; what a leader should truly be!
Trying to think of excuses as I type… Why haven’t I blogged since January?
I was squashed under pre-vacation work load.
I was busy traveling to and in India.
I did not always have good internet connectivity… or
I was so engulfed by family and extended family drama and stress, that I couldn’t even think of EATING. The last reason will and can never fly… because no matter how stressed I am, I EAT. I eat when I am happy, I eat when I am sad and I eat because that’s what I do.
So no excuses and given the number of people who read my blog, I am sure an explanation is not due. What have I been up to? I was on a whirlwind of a vacation to India. Hopping between states and cultures in the land of diversity. Travelled from the laidback Southern part of India to the loud and colourful North. I spent a week in Kerala; devouring my mom’s yummy treats, prepared specially for me and only me (I can safely claim that as I was the only one in the house), walking down memory lane in my ancestral home, exploring my uncle’s vegetable garden and spending time with cousins at Kentucky Fried Chicken – clear sign of how easy it is for food to break cultural barriers. And not to mention attended the coming together of a beautiful bride and the most compatible groom at a family wedding and feasted on the true Kerala feast – Sadhya.
Early morning veggie hunt at my Uncle’s Backyard
I knew I was heading to the northern part of India, when Mr. Hubster came with ‘Idlis in a Cup’. Yeah heard of Cup Noodles… well now its Cup Idlis. Tasted pretty good though for airport food.
Landed in Chandigarh. Was amazed at how polite and well-spoken the taxi drivers there are. And not to anyone’s surprise, while Mr. Hubster enquired about the great French architect, the mastermind behind the planned city Chandigarh, I cut in with the most pertinent question “WHATS THE BEST PLACE TO GO FOR AUTHENTIC PUNJABI FOOD”. He asked us to go to Pal Dhaba. He said, “It doesn’t have the glitz n glam of a shiny five star restaurant but the food is the best in the land”. Exactly my kind of place.
It was just the two of us, so we ordered half butter chicken, a dish which can most definitely be called the brand ambassador of Punjab or even India. Wasn’t prepared for what arrived. The portion sizes in this land matches the heart of its people. The half portion was equivalent to two full portions elsewhere. The taste – can never have butter chicken outside Punjab again. I am ruined! And the tandoori roti, just reminiscing about it right now makes me crave for it. In Punjab, and how can I say no to dessert. Headed to Gopal Sweets for Moong dal Halwa and Gulab Jammun. After quiet literally supping up all the richness of Chandigarh we went into snooze mode. I wrapped up my trip at a big, fat Punjabi wedding. My bestie was tying the knot, post which she will be relocating from Muscat. I was welling up with the sheer thought of having to part with her and my sole solace was the juicy tangadi kebab (tandoori chicken drumstick) and the endless mouth-watering dishes on display. My friends and I without a doubt devoured every bite
The radio, the newspaper and the social media channels have been abuzz about this new restaurant Qureshi Bab al Hind, located in Muscat, Oman. My friend has been pestering me to go there but I never took the initiative as Indian restaurants tend to easily disappoint me… That’s probably because I know the flavour profiles so well.
Nevertheless we were there last night! This restaurant is actually housed inside the hotel Homruz Grand, located a few meters away from the glorious Bank Muscat building at Airport Heights, Seeb. It is on-route to the resident/labour card renewal ROP office.
As soon as I entered the porch, the high ceiling, larger than life columns and doors, the immaculate interiors, tastefully selected cutlery, velvet & leather couch, and the mesmerizing courtyard pool view, established that I was in for a fine-dining experience; did a quick math and made peace with the fact that its going to be an over the budget dinner. Hoping and praying that it doesn’t disappoint and makes it a worthwhile experience.
We started our meal with Masala Lassi (buttermilk) and it was just perfect, not overpowering with condiments, herbs or salt. It was fresh and woke up our taste buds for the coming onslaught of complex yet divine flavours. The beverage list at Qureshi is truly special, wanted to try the Thandai but there is only this much a girl can eat 😉
The appetizer, though not fancy looking, scored high in taste. The Murgh Peshawari (chicken kebabs) were A] tandoored to perfection and B] were coated with creamy layer of smokey marinade. The dish prepared in desi ghee (clarified butter) added oodles of richness to the soft and moist chicken. The pickled onions, carrots and veggies (a staple in most homes in Uttar Pradesh, India) as garnish was an accompaniment that elevated the dish to a whole new level. A MUST TRY!
The Koh-e-Awadh (lamb shank) RO 11.5 made me want to cry out of joy – for it introduced me to the simple yet soulful flavours emanating from a slow-cooked dish. Famous celebrity chefs keep emphasizing the merits of a slow cooked dish, but last night I got to live it. This dish is cooked for 6 hours and this process brings out the true character of the meat. I wiped the dish clean. Don’t be deceived by the looks, this one dish can be shared between 3, even 4 if you order other stuff from the menu.
We also sampled the Warqi paratha (layered bread dressed with desi ghee). Perfect match. Most dishes here follow the authentic recipe, hence they are richly laden with butter and spices.
Please do not equate spices with spicy, as the spices played the role of the supporting cast and allowed the key ingredient to shine.
My Verdict:Splurging justified!Dinner for two with one appetizer, two refreshing drinks, one hearty main course with bread, cost us around RO 34. When you are able to gauge the quality of the food presented in front of you with just a whiff then you know you are at the right place.
Word of Caution: The restaurant is in its debut phase, thus don’t expect the service to roll out like a well-oiled machine – but like me, you will forget that and melt into submission after devouring the dishes that represent the passion of the chefs and the soul of Awadhi cuisine.
Semsom is the newest addition to the Sultanate’s restaurant scene with a promise of delivering “Lebanese Cuisine with a Twist”. So I visited this restaurant to explore the offerings; And… did it live up to its promise? A HUNDRED PERCENT!
Don’t you just love it when restaurants can walk the talk… the promised twist, was not only delivered but it was done in excitingly unexpected ways. The magic of Semsom lies in its ability to surprise your senses like never before! It is about doing a hundred little things right. Its about truly taking us on a culinary voyage.
The Hummus Trio
When the notoriously famous pink hummus (RO 2.1) was placed in front of me; my eyes instantaneously started feasting; followed shortly by my taste buds that went on a merry discovery ride. The tanginess from the sumac powder (tart red berries) and the freshness from the zaatar (thyme) blended in perfect unison with the creamy chickpeas. Drizzle some Olive oil (imported from Lebanon) over the hummus if you find the dip a bit too tart. (please note: I have been told tart n tangy are the predominant flavours in Lebanese cuisine)
The olive & sesame hummus (RO 2.1) was another personal favourite. Do sample this one and enjoy the delicate flavour profiles. It Is a must try.
Next on the menu was the hot appetizer chicken liver. I honestly liked this dish. It was hearty, tasty, packed with flavour and a richness, which I was not expecting at all. It’s not a dish you would find everywhere and it definitely is not a dish that everyone can get right. But Semsom does. They Nailed It!
Moving on… the Lamb Bread (Lahm b’Ajine RO 2.3)… I ate not one, not two but three slices… Do I need to say more???? The pastry was soft, the meat succulent and packed with oodles of fresh-burst in your mouth flavours.
The next dish is one of the Semsom favourites Fish Kebbeh (RO 2.9) – Apt for fish lovers and the not so enthusiastic seafood diners. Put your cutlery down, scoop up the mini parcels, bite into it and sup up the oozing sensationally juicy caramelized onions. For a second you might think there is nothing fishy about this dish, you are not hit by the clichéd ‘taste of the sea’. The flavours are masked and you unlayer it as you work your way through the crust, which is a dough made with fish and burgol mixture. Expected? Nah…totally Unexpected!
Now comes the big daddy of grills. Mixed Grills (RO 6.5) This was a true treat, a peek-a-boo kind of dish, as the succulent chicken grills were kept hidden by the colourful and tempting bread. Once the veil of bread was lifted, our curiosity was rendered speechless with the sheer sight of lined rows of grilled meat and chicken. Needless to say, I broke into an invisible happy dance. Grilled to Perfection.
It’s Dessert Time!
I generally brace myself as desserts are really hard for any restaurant. You either get it right or you don’t. There is no midway here. Just look at the pictures below, I am sure it speaks for itself. If it doesn’t speak to you, then read the captions.
Lebanese Pannacotta – Mhallabieh
Only legends can come up with something as yummy as this. This dish is special, as it is the owner’s grandma’s recipe. Cannot get more authentic than that. Do you know what orange blossom water tastes like? If not you don’t know what you are missing! And now you know where to find it.
Desserts are incomplete without a whiff of chocolate for some, hence this version of chocolate ice-cream with crispy flavoured vermicelli will truly leave you in a choco trance.
I nearly forgot, and that would have been a crime! Jelab – try this drink, it is a must, must must… (did I mention MUST) try… I think this could possibly be the drink of the Lebanese Gods! The floating pistachio and pine nuts make for excellent munchies after you slurp up the sweet, rose water flavoured ambrosia.
Jelab
My verdict: A must try, leave all food prejudices aside and surrender yourself to the Semsom kitchen. The passionate owner Christine has made sure that you will be taken care of just as if you were a guest in her own home.
As they say in Lebanon 1000 Sahtein!
Semsom Restaurant, Location: Level 1, Muscat Grand Mall, Website, Facebook
“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 <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!
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 sumNegima RollThree 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)
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)
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.
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.
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 PageFor Reservation contact: +968 9393 1931
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.
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!
Traditional Wings barbecue sauceTraditional Wings Mild Hot SauceHand Breaded Onion Rings
Great food served by great people makes the experience thoroughly enjoyably. The staff is friendly and very well trained.
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.
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
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 SupremeVeggie QuesadillaPhoto Courtesy: Food wingman and Happy trooper Fazal Mohammed Ajmal
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘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.
with honey & cheeese
with egg and cheesewith Oman Potato Chips & Cheese
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
Patthar Ghost (lamb) Shalimar Restaurant
Al Khuwair, Behind KFC, opp Al Amal Medical
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