Olivetto: Two thumbs up for classic European cuisine
Located right next to the Russian Consulate, Karachi in a relatively peaceful neighborhood is a uniquely pleasant eatery called Olivetto. It offers authentic Italian and French cuisine made to perfection and complemented by equally delicious side orders. Tucked away from the city traffic, the restaurant is divided into two main areas – the main restaurant which can house around 50 people and an attached coffee lounge with a seating capacity of around 25. There’s a separate function hall in the basement which is reserved for ceremonies. The exterior of this aesthetically built restaurant speaks volumes for the kind of hospitality we should be ...
Read Full Post
A pack of chips
I was travelling via air in the US in March this year and it skipped my mind that in local flights passengers have to pay for their meals. Very confidently, I asked the flight attendant for a pack of chips. “Well, you have to pay,” she said. As I was about to give her money, she informed me very kindly, “We take credit cards only and not cash.” The poor traveller in me was hungry but boldly let go of the pack of chips. Only for it to be returned with a smile by the flight attendant who said, “I often ...
Read Full Post
A brief tale of Pakistani hospitality
I got to see a total of six foreigners on my week-long trip to Lahore. I don’t know whether that is a good average for July, but it seemed low. Five of the individuals I caught a mere glimpse of at the Wahga border. I was in a line with one hundred men jostling for position to enter the gate for ensuing border festivities; they were in a Mercedes with tinted windows pulled down momentarily to take in the ‘local flavor’ before proceeding inside with their protocol. The sixth was a young woman, perhaps twenty five whom I ran into ...
Read Full Post
Weddings: Taking it to the next level
There is something about the summer season in Karachi that makes me love it, despite all that heat and humidity. Not only is it the best time to go swimming and enjoy succulent mangoes, it is also somehow the best time to get married for many. Talking about the week-long festivities, dancing the nights away to Indian tunes is the typical culture of a wedding household. Gone are the days when cousins and friends used to get together to sing traditional Pakistani wedding songs. Now, the trend is to dance to catchy Indian beats. Where exactly is our sense ...
Read Full Post1-4 of 4
