A lovely Iftar in a traditional setting

To experience a slice of Arabic hospitality, head to Azur (043248888), Raffles Dubai. The restaurant's vibrant interiors have been further adorned with traditional elements to mark the Holy Month. With an array of both traditional and international dishes at the buffet (Dh195/person), the Iftar had something for everyone. Its splendid surroundings (a tropical garden on the terrace) makes it a perfect place to spend a memorable time with friends and family. Let's dig in.
Appetisers: We began by sampling the dates on the table and followed it up with a variety of hot and cold mezze dishes like the fresh Fattoush, lightly spiced Muhammara, and more. The Green Basil Hummus deserves a special mention for its zesty flavours. Also, I had a lot of fun dipping the Falafels in Tahini fountain. It also made for great pictures. The Oriental Lentil Soup was top notch and served as the perfect palate cleanser. I paired my starters with Tamar Hindi, the classic Ramadan juice made with tamarind, which was not very sweet and it complemented the appetisers. My companion opted for Jallab and kept going for refills of the refreshingly sweet, date-based, summer drink.
Mains: There was a wide variety of authentic specialities to choose from such as Chicken Moghrabieh, the classic Lebanese couscous dish with tasty pieces of chicken and a tempting fragrance; the Arabic Mixed Grill, which comprised boneless chunks of succulent chicken as well as lamb kebabs; and Fish Sayadieh, a melt-in-the-mouth baked fish dish with a delectable onion gravy. Lamb Ouzi was the highlight of the buffet and the chefs were at hand to carve tender pieces from the whole roast lamb, which was served on a bed of scrumptious Oriental rice. There was also a Shawarma (a must-have), Manakish and pasta station.
Desserts: The dessert counter was an instant hit with me, a die-hard sweet lover. It had everything right from a chocolate fountain (I dipped and devoured fluffy marshmallows to my heart's content, here!) to the decadent Mouhalabia (a creamy, pink colour Arabic milk pudding), and an Apple Tart to the classic Crème Caramel. I also indulged in the gooey Sticky Date Pudding. The inner child in me was thrilled to sample scoops of chocolate ice cream from the ice cream cart at the venue.
deepa@khaleejtimes.com