Mabruk, Sahara Star Food Review
Recently The Lifestyle Portal got a chance to witness the ethereal magic of Lebanon and Mediterranean cuisine in Mumbai and we’re so excited to tell you all about it. Read on~
The stage was set for an exquisite Mediterranean feast curated by ace Chef Jihad El-Shami from Lebanon who presented to us some of the finest gastronomical delights from his home country.
Dressed up for the occasion we arrived to a beautiful patio nestled in a corner, overlooking an indoor lagoon with floating lotus candles and twinkling lights. We took our seats on comfortable casual low seating sofas and while sipping on some cocktails and red wine we were instantly transported to a magical land.
We took a seat on comfortable low seating sofas and while sipping on some red wine we listened to the ghazals and Sufi numbers by the in-house singer Raja Pandit who sang effortlessly to the tunes of the Kashmiri Rabab. We sat in silence allowing the entire ambience to seep in after a long drive in the rains in the city.
It is incredibly hard to believe that with such beauty, peace and calm created in Mabruk, the city was battling with a heavy downpour and traffic snarls outside. Truly, we found a place in Mabruk to unwind in the heart of Mumbai.
As Chef Jihad rightly explained, ‘we first eat with our eyes’…actually, it involves all our five senses and what he presented were some masterpieces from Lebanon with a Mediterranean, Turkish, Moroccan and an Arabic influence to it.
Our entrées consisted of the quintessential Homous, Mouhamara (a walnut, tomato and chilli relish), W’rak Inab B’Zeit (stuffed vine leaves poached in olive oil and lemon juice), the popular Babaganouj (a lot like Baigan ka Bharta, but with a Lebanese twist) with Tabbouleh and Kibbeh to name a few – that went beautifully with the freshly baked pita breads.
The mains consisted of the iconic Kharoof Mahsh – which was a slow cooked raan served on a bed of flavoured rice, Imam Bayildi – garlic flavoured aubergine with cheese and tomato sauce that was served among other delicacies such as the Meshwi Mishakkal, Sharia Medfouna Mushroom and Kharoof Mahshi.
We signed off the royal feast with desserts ranging from the famous Baklawa (a crispy pistachio pastry), Umm Ali, Mish Moush B’loz (as cute as it sounds, it consists of apricots, almonds and pistachios), Kneefh (a baked ricotta with orange blossom nectar) and Znoud Al Set (orange blossom syrup with soaked creame cheese crusted cigars). Heavenly, isn’t it?
In order create a menu of such high standards, apart from the skills, the quality and freshness of ingredients are also of utmost importance and with just one bite the taste buds will tell you the utmost care that has been taken in the selection and preparation of a meal at Mabruk.
For an all-encompassing fine dining experience with a royal tinge to it, a meal at Mabruk may be the answer to your search in Mumbai. No wonder it is a five-time award-winning restaurant in the “Best Lebanese Food Category” by the Times Food Guide.
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