Treats from the street: Delicious and affordable
Traditional street snacks are a significant part of Pakistani culture. Originating from rural areas, they have also earned popularity in big cities over the years. Not only are they affordable but very delicious too, with a tinge of the typically rural taste. Despite the advent of international fast food chains, the desi roadside snack hawkers continue to run a thriving business; serving eager customers on the streets, at signal stops and outside schools. Most of these snacks are made out of locally grown fruits, vegetables and kernels; thanks to the year round crops of our country. The cooking methods employed use little or no oil ...
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A foreigner’s love for Pakistan
My exposure to Pakistan was limited. I classified it as one of those countries that was created on religious concepts, was racist toward the rest of the world and wanted the Americans dead. Call me ignorant, but with the way Pakistan is portrayed in the media, as a foreigner it is hard not to be deterred. Then, by sheer luck and forged destiny, I met a Pakistani woman and fell truly, madly and deeply in love with her. There was beauty resonating from deep within her and it came out in her dark, soulful eyes. Little did I know, that in less than ...
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Satisfy your peri bite craving
Nando’s has taken grilled chicken to a whole new level and the secret lies in their amazing sauces. If eating at Nando’s can puts a dent in your pocket, you can always buy their sauces at any good grocery store. Like my fellow poultry lovers, I go to Nando’s for the best grilled chicken on the planet. But to truly whip up an appetite and to get the taste of what’s to come, you have to order their peri bites. These mouth-watering chillies are deep-fried with a crisp coating, and have a cheesy centre with a little chunk of their famous peri-basted ...
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Celebrate with a light chocolate cake
When you are a follower of a club like Chelsea FC, you don’t come across many reasons to celebrate. However, this week in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final at Camp Nou, Chelsea against all odds beat the Spanish giants Barcelona to the final. Overjoyed by the victory of my club, I instantaneously decided to celebrate and came up with this interesting version of a chocolate cake. You can call it an imitation of chocolate fudge cake because of the exclusion of butter and sour cream, which have been replaced by corn oil and buttermilk, respectively. This recipe is ...
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Things you never say to an overweight person
We’re everywhere. Your odds of having to interact with us are increasing with every fast food “temple” that is erected in your city. A conversation with an overweight person can be a faux pas minefield, so here are a few tips to help you out. Have you lost weight? Never say that unless it’s an honest compliment and not an actual inquiry. Remember, someone who is overweight knows very well whether his physical dimensions have changed recently. If he hasn’t lost any weight, your statement will come off sounding shamelessly specious. Nobody likes a boot-licker, especially one lying so transparently that it feels like ...
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A houseplant I named Hope
I woke one morning and decided to name one of my houseplants Amal, the Arabic word meaning ‘hope’. This plant (a variety of yucca if I am not mistaken) had been nameless since the day I bought it from a moving sale more than six years ago. But today, I realised how much she deserved this designation. For most of the last six years, Amal has seemed to be on her last legs. Her leaves would consistently wilt at the tips to a dry crisp or sometimes turn entirely yellow, even if I wasn’t over-watering it. Unable to re-generate, one leaf would die ...
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Pasta lover alert: Here comes Ravioli!
Ravioli is a very easy dish to make, and serves as a complete meal in itself. However, elbow grease is involved – especially in the making of the pasta – but a pasta machine can be used as well. The best thing about ravioli is that you can pretty much stuff it with anything. It works very well with seafood, but below is a vegetarian take on the same dish. Ingredients: For the ravioli dough: 2 tablespoons flour 1 egg A pinch of salt and black pepper For the stuffing: 2 cloves of garlic 1/2 onion (finely chopped) A handful of Mushrooms 1 tomato 3 tablespoons paneer (cheese) Olive oil For the butter sauce: 2 tablespoons butter 2 ...
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Once upon a basant
It’s that time of the year again when the frosty blues and grays enveloping start to disappear and in their place awakens a plethora of colours, fresh and vibrant as if after a long hibernation. As if by magic, people’s spirits start to soar and life starts looking more – excuse the pun – ‘sunny’. This reminds me of the time when I was growing up – when as soon as the flowers started appearing, so did kites all over the sky, with people getting ready for the much awaited Basant festival. I loved everything about Basant when I was a kid. My ...
Read Full PostCafé Forty4: An oriental taste in every bite
Café Forty4 is not just a regular cafe; it can be used as a venue for a range of events. The restaurant, a new addition to the eateries of the Clifton Block 4 neighbourhood, opened just a few months ago and is already creating a buzz in the city. Samina Bilgrami, one of the working partners, has been in the food and bakery business for over 25 years and has given personal attention to every little detail of the operation, making Café Forty4 an experience beyond dining. The contemporary, double-storey facility encapsulates many artistically designed seating areas. The ground floor has a total ...
Read Full PostSay Gracias if you love Spanish food
Cafe Gracias, a gorgeous new restaurant serving Mexican and Spanish cuisine, is a warm and welcome addition to Karachi’s fine dining scene. The eatery is run by sisters Sidrah and Hifza, whose love for cooking and Spanish culture resulted in this restaurant. Hifza, quit her job as a software engineer in the corporate world after three years to follow her dreams of opening a restaurant and now runs the place full-time. One of the things I instantly loved about this place was the refreshing decor and ambiance; a brightly colored and decorated space with beautiful wall murals and hanging square lamps. Each lamp shade bore a screen print on each side, which ...
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