We’ve been to plenty of restaurants for Iftar this month but nothing like the cultural Iftar hosted at Seven Sands. Every Monday and Friday during the holy month of Ramadan, Seven Sands hosts a special cultural Iftar which includes an intimate talk about Arab traditions specifically on the local culture, described and explained by Cultural Connosseur Nasif Kayed. Cultural Iftar is priced AED 255, whereas you can still have a regular Iftar at Seven Sands for just AED 155 per person. Children between 6 and 12 pay half price and children under 6 eat for free.
It all begins at their Majlis which is found at the entrance of Seven Sands. We all sit facing each other with seats much lower than usual and is the traditional Majlis style. We are served Arabic coffee and dates to begin with. Our host begins by introducing himself and what the The Arab Culturalist program is all about, which is actually an open discussion and understanding of the Arabic Culture which includes their religious belief, culture, food, fashion, marriage etc. We were quite impressed to see the depth of discussion and it’s transparency. They were lots of interesting facts and insights which came into light after today.
There were assorted dates and ramadan drinks(Jallab, Kamar Aldin, Laban, Vimto, Water) available on our table. We could have these free flowing Ramadan drinks as much as we wanted through out the Iftar hour. We loved the quality of these Ramadan drinks. They were pretty authentic and true to taste.
STARTERS
- Hommous
- Babaghanoush
- Moutabel
- Lentil Salad
- Green Mango Salad
- Fattoush
- Tabbouleh
- Beetroot Salad
- Batata Harra
- Foul Bil Zeit
- Live salad station (mix lettuce, condiment, assorted dressing)
SOUPS
- Lentil Soup
- Chicken Madrouba Soup
They had two amazing soups. The lentil was thick and had a delightful taste in the mouth, the chicken Madrouba soup was lighter but had a nice flavor to it. Everyone on the table appreciated the soups and our Iftar started on a right note.
HOT STARTERS
- Harees Bowl Fried
- Vegetable Sambosa
They had only two hot starters. The fried Harees bowl was their signature and is something you can only find it here which is actually made from veal meat. It’s light in taste and crispy, an item you’ll enjoy more with a ketchup. The vegetable sambosa was a typical Indian samosa but I love these thin flaky sambosas.
MAIN COURSES
- Veal Harees
- Chicken Margougah
- King Fish Majboos
- Basmati Rice
- Penne Arrabiata
- Assorted Vegetable
- Lamb Okra
- Mixed Grill (Camel Kofta, Chicken Kebab)
It is when we reach the mains we really get to feel the Emarati cuisine. The veal Harees, King fish Majboos, Lamb okra are some of their signatures and is a must try. Emarati cuisine has been different with a variety of spices used in their food. The good part is none of their mains were spicy and at the same time you enjoy this new taste introduced to your palate. We loved the rice dishes, it’s the aroma and the texture that makes it stand apart. The meats here tasted fresh and I still can’t forget how juicy and tender the lamb pieces were found on the buffet. It was commendable. You appreciate the quality and freshness of the meats.
DESSERTS
- Fruits Salad
- Umm Ali
- Khabeesa
- Date Pudding
- Mohalabia
- Maamoul
- Meshabek
They had some interesting Emarati specials for desserts. The date pudding we ate here is the best in town. The data pudding would be easily be their no. 1 seller from the dessert section. I personally enjoyed the yellow cake which was soft, fluffy and light. There were a few other traditional Emarati desserts which you don’t find in other restaurants usually. It was surprisingly they didn’t serve the famous lugaimat(soft fried doughnuts drenched in date/sugar syrup) which you typically find in most heritage events in Dubai.
Overall the Iftar experience has been different at Seven Sands and truly speaks the real heritage of UAE. Click here to visit their official website. Click pictures below to see them in full screen view:
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