• Home
• /
• UAE

Can you stomach this metre-long kebab?

Let this weekend before Eid be dedicated to food and feast.

Braving peak hour traffic on a weekday to reach the Al Ghurair Arjaan by Rotana, near the Fish Roundabout in Deira, I was ravenous. In hindsight, that was good considering I was about to devour a metre-long kebab at the newly launched Shayan restaurant that specialises in Lebanese and Iranian cuisine.

We (me and my foodie friend) decided to go easy on the starters as we wanted to keep a lot of space in our tummies for the special kebabs. Knowing in advance what we were in for, I had roped in a foodie friend who loves all things meat.

We started on a light note with traditional Arabic mezzeh. On the platter was hummous, a flavourful fattoush, sambousek and kibbeh. The staple at such joints. Nothing to complain about here. However, what tickled our tastebuds were - Kashk e Bademjan (cheese curd mixed with grilled eggplant) and Borani Esfenaj (thick yogurt with spinach and spices). Both dishes whetted our appetites as we waited in anticipation for the dish of the day.

No sooner had our culinary wait reached a crescendo than a waiter arrived with a long wooden platter heaped with a variety of oh-so-inviting kebabs!

There were kebabs, more kebabs, and then there were Iranian kebabs. Prepared by an Iranian chef, who said he had adopted the recipe from his ancestors, the Iranian mixed grill comprised a selection of three metre-long kebabs. The Joojeh kebab is a juicier version of the Shish Tawook (chicken kebab), considering how it is marinated in yoghurt and labneh. The Iranians like their kebabs more juicier, I am told. The Kebab Kubideh (minced lamb) didn't delivery any surprises. But, what packed a punch was the melt-in-your-mouth Kebab Masti, again marinated in thick yoghurt.

As accompaniments, you have the traditional tandoori bread which comes from a clay-baked oven, marinated olives and feta cheese. The metre-long kebabs are a meal in itself for a family or a small group of friends. The restaurant, which can seat 80 people, offers a separate semi-private dining area, several seating booths and large communal tables for larger groups.

The metre-long kebab varieties include Joojeh Kebab (chicken) for Dh139 and the pricier Lamb Bonanza (with Kubideh, lamb chops and lamb tikkas) for Dh240.

If you are not in the mood for a metre-long kebab, you could always opt for the Lebanese mixed grill which includes staples like Shish Tawook and Kofta kebab. Both the Iranian and Lebanese mixed grills are priced at Dh210. So, if you are game to work those incisors and canines on some delectable meats, make no bones about it. You know where to head.

- deepthi@khaleejtimes.com