I am a huge fan of the alternative iftar experience. As we inch closer towards the end of Ramadan, I start to get bored of the lentil soups and the lamb ouzis, so Hakkasan was a great opportunity to try something different. The Ramadan menu created by Executive Chef Toh Chye Siong offered a four-course sharing menu inclusive of selected Ramadan beverages, mocktails and iftar seasonal sweets.
The dimly-lit restaurant is very spacious and offers lots of compartmentalised seating so, although the venue fits more than 150 guests, our table felt very private, as we sat down to break our fast.
The alternative iftar commenced with a unique take on mushroom soup — a Chinese wild mushroom soup to be exact. The bowl was filled with a clear yet flavourful broth with different types of fungi and green vegetables. A little nerve-racking to eat, since the word fungus isn’t exactly the most appetising in my food dictionary, but my bravery ended up paying off. The soup (fungi included) was pleasantly delicious, full of flavour and filled with different types of chewy wild mushroom that made it a great start to the meal.
My favourite course had to have been the second one. We were offered a Hakka steamed dim sum platter, with four different types of steamed dumplings, including a scallop shumai, seafood har gaw, black pepper duck dumpling and prawn and chive dumpling. As a massive fan of dim sum, I was over the moon. The selection was perfectly varied and each dumpling had a distinctive flavour that made the entire dish work. The second course also included a crispy duck salad made with pomelo, a slightly bitter fruit, pine nuts and shallots, which added a sweet element to the dish.
For the main course, we enjoyed a wok-fried Assam prawn with okra on the side. A bit too spicy for my sensitive palate, but my dining partner ate the entire dish and mopped up every last bit of sauce. I enjoyed the other main, which was a crispy roasted chicken with garlic and sesame. The chicken was soft and tender on the inside and full of crunchy flavour on the outside. I paired it with a side of stir-fry lily bulb and garlic shoots with preserved olive and dry chilli, a unique side dish, but that made it a perfect meal.
Our dessert was a light and airy mandarin mousse with slivers of almond nougatine and a scoop of almond ice cream. The beauty of Hakkasan and Asian cuisine in general, is that you get up feeling just full enough, without the heaviness that comes from many other iftars.
The details
What: Hakkasan Dubai
Where: Emirates Towers
Price: Dh298 per person
Timings: Daily from 7pm to 12.30am
FIVE SUHOURS TO TRY
Where: Liwan Ramadan Majlis, City Walk 2
What: The brainchild of UAE entrepreneur Mohammad Al Hakim, the tent has shifted base from its earlier location at Kite Beach and has positioned itself in the hub at City Walk. The contemporary venue sets a perfect backdrop for those suhour nights.
Price: Dh150 minimum spend per person, excluding shisha.
Timings: From 10pm until midnight.
Where: Asateer Tent, Atlantis The Palm
What: Arguably one of the most popular Ramadan tents, the suhour serves up an a la carte menu that offers all the favourite mezzes, along with mouth-watering grills and manakeeshs to appease any taste and palette.
Price: Dh160 minimum spend per person, excluding shisha.
Timings: From 9.30pm until 3am.
Where: Al Fayruz Tent, Fairmont Ajman
What: For those going further afield, this is luxury at its best with an a la carte suhour menu, with savoury saj, grills and live cooking stations whet your appetite whilst live Oud and Qanun music sets you in the mood for a night out with friends.
Price: Dh100 minimum spend per table on weekends.
Timings: From 10pm until 4am.
Where: Mamemo Majlis, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai
What: A seasonal a la carte menu featuring traditional Arabic fare and international dishes, along with over 25 flavours of shisha and live Arabic music to complement the ambience and set the mood over the course of the evening.
Price: Dh150 minimum spend per person, excluding shisha.
Timings: From 10pm until 2am.
Where: The Meydan Hotel Ramadan Tent
What: Get away from the hustle bustle of traffic and head over to the Meydan Hotel luxurious tent where delicious Arabic fare and international cuisine awaits with the company of family and friends. A kids play area also at hand.
Price: Dh100 minimum spend per person, excluding shisha.
Timings: From 9pm until 2am.
