#InternationalIftar2019 at Avari Towers: Taste in Variety; Variety in Taste

Good food brings people together and a good buffet in Ramadan brings them even closer. United by fast and feast in the holy month of Ramadan, a bunch of bloggers was invited to try out a variety of lavishly served dishes and delicacies at #InternationalIftar2019 buffet being held at Asia Live - AvariTowers, Karachi.  

Serving desi delights and international favorites in a traditional setup, the Iftar/Dinner buffet at Avari Towers should certainly be on your checklist if you are looking for a sumptuous selection of food items, which are equally flavorsome.

My food itinerary began with a bowl of Chana Chaat and Dahi Baray without which an Iftaar platter would look incomplete to me. Next, I immediately headed over to the section where freshly-prepared Chinese/Japanese food was served. Since I had tried BBQ specialties at another buffet earlier, I decided to relish my taste-buds with some authentic Japanese/Thai cuisines this time around.

Starting off with some crisp Tempura prawns that were cooked to perfection, I also had portions of Thai Green Curry and Chicken Teppanyaki poured over a bowl of rice. The curry was creamy and delicious with the right mix of flavors while the perfectly spiced Chicken Teppanyaki also added to the savory experience. Other than what I tried, the huge variety at Asia Live buffet also included dishes like Beef in Oyster Sauce, Chicken in Black Bean Sauce, Wok Fried Noodles, etc.

A wide variety of Pakistani dishes were also included in the menu offering Halwa Puri, Mutton Karahi, Biryaani, etc, making it a challenge for us not to go for a second or third round. However, I kept some space for the desserts for I could see an attractively-presented assortment on the table serving colorful pastries, cakes, mousse, fruit tart, etc.

The food itinerary concluded with soft drinks and conversation over a cup of tea. How I wish I could have tried some fresh lemonade though!

The well-dressed staff was friendly and welcoming. One of their managers asked me if the buffet is worth the amount and I said YES! for this buffet doesn’t only have variety in taste but also has taste in variety that we all seek!

The #InternationalIftar dinner buffet also featured a mini exhibition where beautifully crafted products were displayed portraying our national beauty and diversity.

Priced at Rs. 3195 (+tax), it’s a food haven for those who are an ardent lover of Asian cuisines specifically the flavorsome Japanese delights. There’s no wonder that the space is usually fully-packed.

Here’s a quick rating of its taste, service and ambiance:

Taste: ✮✮✮✮✮

Service: ✮✮✮✮✮

Ambiance: ✮✮✮✮

For reservation and updates, Avari Towers can be digitally perused on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Iftaar-Dinner Buffet at Pearl Continental Hotel – Dishing Food with Style and Taste

Celebrating the spirit of hospitality and sharing in Ramadan, the good people at Pearl Continental Hotel invited me for an Iftaar-Dinner buffet on May 13, 2019 - the very first Iftaar invitation of the season. Organized at the grand, spacious PC Marquee with all the necessary arrangements being done flawlessly, the buffet was a visual treat to the eyes displaying a huge variety of main course meals and desserts being artfully arranged on the round table.

Of all the buffets that I have tried during this season so far, I believe that Pearl Continental Hotel has an edge over them when it comes to food plating or presentation (and I'll let you be the judge here after browsing through the pictures). Speaking about the taste, what had appealed to my palate were Tempura Prawns, Fried Rice, Sweet & Sour Fish and Chicken Wraps. Their live barbecue section delivering piping hot food items including Pasta, Chapli Kebabs, Sajji, Tempura Prawns, etc is worth giving a try!

The buffet also featured a decent selection of our regular Iftaar items including Pakoras, Samosas, Dahi Baray, etc. that I skipped for the dinner and desserts part looked more enticing to my taste buds. Moreover, there was a separate corner for tea enthusiasts where a good steaming cuppa was served to the guests.

The service was remarkable throughout the meal with their staff and chefs on a constant round, making sure that we enjoy the food (and know about what we are eating :p).

The event concluded with a lucky draw activity where prizes were distributed amongst the selected winners.  I was fortunate enough to win a whole bag of goodies by Mehran Foods, which has made my kitchen Eid-ready with its savory delights.

Priced at 2600 PKR (excluding GST), the Iftaar-Dinner Buffet at Pearl Continental Hotel could be your next choice of visit if you enjoy eating BBQ at a comfortable dining spot. Also, there’s some good news for Faysal Bank card holders who can avail 40% off on their reservations. Hurry up before the offer lasts, as they say! ;)

Here's a quick rating for its taste, service and ambiance:

Taste: ✮✮✮

Service: ✮✮✮✮✮

Ambiance: ✮✮✮✮✮

Pearl Continental Hotel can be digitally perused on Facebook and Instagram. 

Marhaba at Maraheb: Bringing Flavorsome Arabic Cuisine to Karachi

  

In the pursuit of adding new flavors to my life with good food,good people and good times,I decided to head over to a newly-opened eatery in K-town called, "Maraheb Pakistan." Located in Bahadurabad, the restaurant features a well-lit, elegantly-decorated setup with a friendly staff waiting to greet you at the entrance! The spacious seating area gives you another reason to visit this place along with your family and friends. 

Speaking about the food, the menu for the day included Rainbow Hummus and Loaded Batata as Starters, Saltah Fasah with Muluawa Bread and Zorbiyan as the Main Course Meals, and Red Velvet Milk Cake and Kunafa with Ice-cream for Desserts.

The all-so-colorful "Rainbow Hummus" was served as the house special in four different flavors including original, beetroot, roasted capsicum,and a spicy blend.

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A post shared by Urooj & Qirat Parekh (@littlesheknow) on Mar 22, 2019 at 9:27am PDT

While I got a bit late to try out the Rainbow Hummus, I started off with a bowl full of "Loaded Batata" that not only looked pleasing to the eye but also turned out to be pleasing for the palate. with spicy potatoes topped with mozarella cheese and dynamite sauce, the flavorful explosion had such a delicious impact that I didn't feel like settling for one bowl only!
Next came Saltah Fahsa being served with Muluawa Bread where the bread looked more like a huge garlic naan, enough to fill the tummy of a group of 2-3 people. A sizzling pot of curry containing shredded beef being prepared with a 7-spice mix, the Yemeni dish tasted more or less similar like the spicy Pakistani Beef Stew - a comfort food for the meat lovers.

Being one of the recently introduced items on their menu, "Zorbiyan" was served the next, drawing our complete attention to it because of the way it is being brought on the table. Given a choice to choose between Madhbi and Zorbiyan, I decided to opt for a small portion of the well-cooked traditional Arabian rice, "Madhbi" that I enjoyed eating along with some tomato sauce.

 

What came as a delightful accompaniment to the entire good food menu were the desserts! While some of us took delight in feasting on "Kunafa" with Pistachio ice-cream, I stuffed myself with a heavenly slice of "Red Velvet Milk Cake," making it the second best item of the entire dining experience at Maraheb Pakistan.

Here's a quick rating for its taste, service and ambiance:

Taste:✭✭✭✭

Service:✭✭✭✭✭

Ambiance:✭✭✭✭✭

Maraheb Pakistan can be digitally perused on Facebook and Instagram.

Until next, Happy Munching Folks!