Our latest Venture:
We experience food enthrall last week. Taking cues from culinary innovations and the modernist movement, dishes served bathed in bubbles. They came in miniature trucks and chic wooden chest and perched atop pristine logs and marble slabs. Such unusual presentations you might have experienced so far in a fine dining set-up but wait hey this is a café? Are we on the right address!! WOW it surprised us, Ladies and Gentlemen get ready to be amazed as #DubaiGetsFarzified with recent launch of Farzi Café at City Walk Phase II. It was impressive to find attention to details and artistry to ceiling work. Ambiance and décor personified with every latest element and trend around.
Background about the owners & inventor:
Jiggs Kalra’s name is known for his food finesse and culinary élan that was inimitable. His input in invigorating desi khana (local food) with restoration earned him the title of ‘The Czar of Indian Cuisine’ and ‘Tastemaker to the Nation’. His notable bequest is booming till date as his son is keeping the legacy. He has brought his bold and unique take on Indian food to Dubai. It was an honor to be greeted by the man behind the whole concept himself, Zorawar Kalra.
Innovation, Spark, showmanship, ZK has many such tales being a Spice Bistro. He has opted for a challenging style cuisine that too in a Café style set-up. We were amongst the few lucky ones to get an exclusive invite to preview the menu and venue by Lovely Ishita from FoodemagDxb (an online food & travel magazine) before it’s official launch.
Like their earlier signature fine dining venture back in India we feel that Dubai Farzi Café will carve a very special forte on the food scene in UAE. It’s his personal commitment to niche Indian cuisine at worldwide affinity. This latest venture of his is of course aided by the tips of his legendary father and his own acumen. But beneath the otherworldly showmanship is his solemn love for his core cuisine. He aims to preserve the soul of countrified & pastoral virgin ingredients and taste palates.
Food Rundown:
Farzi-Tales
Beginning with its cocktails, some of which have flourishes such as Ananas Orbits, basically Pina Colada served in chic cat’s tail glasses with Caviar in it. Another one I had and was not much of the taste interest for hubby was raspberry iced-tea BIIT with medium sweet flavor yet refreshing. This molecular cocktail was also cooled by liquid nitrogen ice, hence displayed a steamy engine /spume lava presentation. Unfortunately, we couldn’t try their Irish Haze but will soon be back to try the same.
Amuse Bouche
This welcome treat i-e yogurt amuse bouche with cumin-specked berry coulis was more like a bite size Jell-O mass. It is pot-frozen surrounded by chemically created clouds. It’s a dessert compote which deliciously melts in our mouth. Can I have one more please!!
Classic Galouti Burger with Roast Tawa Lamb Boti
We’re really eager to just know the technique and recipe about this one on the menu called Galauti Burger. With many burger joints in UAE you reach the level of taste monotonous, this one will hit all the right notes of your taste buds. In my opinion the finest triumph for Indian cuisine and the best burger I ever had so far (Surprised yeah as this is not cuisine’s forte even, but hey welcome to gastronomy world!). It’s traditional taste (bun-kebab style) velvety Lucknowi galouti mixture snuggled in puffy, pav style bread/brioche. I simply love it! and it is also favorite for my Nawab (hubster is not toothless though; I wonder if you guys know the history where these were originally made to impress the toothless nawab)
Legend has it that the galawati kebab was created for an aging Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Lucknow who lost his teeth, but not his passion for meat dishes. Galawati means “melt in your mouth” and was perfect for the toothless Nawab who continued savouring this until his last days. The original recipe that brought many a smile on the Nawab’s face, albeit toothless, and many a sigh of satisfaction, is supposed to have more than 100 aromatic spices.
Tangy Chaat Puff, Crispy Okra Salad, Chutney Foam
This crackle-pop appetizer is gone down in no time. Being a great channa papri and chaat fan I simply can’t resist myself finishing this entire raj kachori with kukurey bhindi alone, shamelessly. They say Farzi Café’s small plates are good for sharing, we agree not, I may devour 3 of each appetizer myself alone (hands down to its perfect taste).
Deconstructed Shepherd’s Pie
The items were individually placed in random order and were served on a half-moon ceramic platter, it has an unusual yet bold presentation of juicy beef, potato and beetroot crisps and was unique in taste. It is a dish that you wish would never end.
Rasmalai Tres Leches with carrot cream and rose petal net
For a fond farewell on Zorawar’s request we tried Rasmalai Tres Leches with carrot cream and rose petal net. They did a great job I would say keeping a par-balance with both of my favorite desserts fusion i-e Rasmalai and Gajar halwa, creating a flavorful combination.
Those were only few of many Standout dishes, trust me there was a lot more on the menu. Other notable menu items include Deboiled Quail Egg with ragout, Zaatar, labneh, Chilli Spiked Beef Toasties and pepper mutton with lacha (layered) paratha. Even their simple version of Khousey did not fail to impress us.
Our Take:
Staff are very well trained and can elaborate you the whole dish from the process involved in creating till the ingredients substitute which is commendable. Hats off to whole team, keep up that taste flow.
I must congratulate them on great launch and thoughtful marketing campaign (kudos to Ishita!). The “food paparazzi” (UAE foodies and bloggers gang) were out in full force this evening. Each table in the cafe had at least 3-4 camera on it, including my Mr. K, who packed a speed light and zoom lens to go with his humongous click partner cum BFF Nikon. I didn’t feel out of place snapping shots of each dish as it was the thing to do indeed.
The thing about great pioneer and entrepreneur is that apart from fabulous food, they also serve memories along with food at their venture. We encountered exactly same at newly launched Farzi Café, Dubai. It has treated us to the new modern twist that has introduced to Tastiest eclectic menu with molecular gastronomy. Mahi Blog highly recommends the same to our readers and fans. It’s going to be a very Smokey experience indeed 😉
#DubaiGetsFarzified !
Really wow!! I love the place. :))