Dive into an array of biryanis at Biryani Festival

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Antique Bazaar Biryani Festival will run from September 11-27 at Antique Bazaar Four Points by Sheraton Bank Street Bur Dubai.“Biryani was invented in Iran” commented Antique Bazaar’s sous chef Munna Singh Bisht as he stopped by our table to explain a few of his culinary creations which will be included in the Indian restaurant’s upcoming Biryani Festival. We digested that formerly unknown fact while previewing four of the seven biryanis on the festival menu. The strains of a sitar were a pleasant accompaniment to the beginning of our meal while the homely ambiance and ethnic decor coupled with traditional music made us feel as if we were back in India.

And as for the food the Yakhani Mutton Biryani was by far our favourite. Having previously tasted many mind boggling concoctions passing off as biryani in the city the perfect blend of spices and tender meat in this one came as a pleasant surprise. The rice was enjoyable having completely absorbed the flavours of the meat an essential element in any good biryani.

The chicken offering in the menu - Bohri Murgh Biryani - fell short of the perfection of its mutton predecessor as the rice did not seem to possess the same intensity of flavour. Made with tandoori chicken tikka the masalas just did not seem to permeate the rice though the chicken itself was enjoyable.

The Lehsuni Machhli Biryani cooked with fish (cream dory) marinated in garlic paste was adequate though again the fish seemed a separate entity from the rice and the authentic taste of the mutton biryani was not recreated. Vegetarians will no doubt enjoy the Vegetable Kofta Biryani with koftas made of minced cooked vegetables that were soft and flavourful and almost melted in our mouths. A special mention must be made of the mango-ginger lassi and raita both of which complemented our meal perfectly. We were so engrossed in the biryanis that we failed to notice that the music had become louder and much more uptempo. At some point it was impossible to ignore and while the musicians who replaced the mellow sitarist were extremely popular according to Antique Bazaar’s Assistant Manager Ravinder Manhas perhaps a slight lowering of the volume would have been desirable as it was impossible to hold a conversation. It must be said however that the band played beautifully and an element of nostalgia lingered throughout perhaps because of their excellent choice of songs.

The Antique Bazaar Biryani Festival menu includes Nali Chaamp Ki Biryani Yakhani Mutton Biryani Bohri Murgh Biryani Lehsuni Machhli Biryani Soya Boti Mutter Biryani Vegetable Kofta Biryani and Hyderabadi Dum Subz Biryani. It will run from September 11-27 at Antique Bazaar Four Points by Sheraton Bank Street Bur Dubai. enidkhaleejtimes.com Éclair view

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One lucky City Times reader can win a dinner for two at Antique Bazaar’s Biryani Festival. Write in to us at citytimeskhaleejtimes.com along with your name age and contact details by Saturday September 13 and tell us what makes a perfect biryani according to you. The best response will win the voucher.