It was like a gathering of spoilt school mates with memories of the years that had passed. At Veranda in Gulberg we had gathered because Suleman, son of the renowned Hakeem Nayyar Wasti was on a trip ‘back home’ from Washington.
Our host was entrepreneur Sarmad Amin, with two retired generals, Tanvir and Afzal, to complete the five school mates. The eatery owner is a charming young lady who has set up an immensely impressive place. I understand that the food expert Kamran Sheikh is her adviser, and unlike other places the standard does not falter.
By the time we went on to eating, Suleman was talking non-stop, dropping big names like he was the Pentagon ‘who’s who’. There was no need for anyone else to give an opinion. Old classmates can be very patient listeners, especially for a friend who had ‘come home’ to old friends.
We started with soups. Four of us ordered ‘mulligatawny’ and Sarmad had to be different by ordering tomato soup. I must confess that though it was not hot enough, but it was the best mulligatawny soup I have had for ages. Not mellow, not sharp, just about right. Excellent stuff. I tried the tomato soup for the reader, and found it bitter. Rejected. But the mulligatawny was a class act.
We then moved to the buffet table. Well set and with enough space to operate, it was spanking clean. My move was towards the pasta, a beef steak and mash potato. Rest assured they were small portions. The steak was excellent and melted, literally, in the mouth. The mash was well creamed and the pasta just about fine. It was excellent starters. I did not notice what the others were taking.
Round two was steamed fish with a light sauce, a dash of spaghetti bolognaise and again a small steak and some mash. I must confess I was enjoying myself immensely. The taste was just right on the upper palette and, most importantly, the after-taste lingered most pleasantly.
We went on to the sweets, which the polite staff was kind enough to serve on the table. The egg custard with a burnt-sugar coating was excellent. All served in small cups, the variety was staggering and the taste exquisite. What a better finish! There was no need for a light tea to end matters.
Let me mark this ‘eating out’ experience on the Michelin Scale of one to nine. For food quality it gets seven out of nine, the food taste gets seven, the ambience eight, the service seven, the quality of the crockery and cutlery surely a well-deserved seven, the menu gets six for its measured variety, and prices get six, for it is not cheap. But then classy eateries cost a lot. This means this experience gets a massive seven out of nine, which is impressive. I would go there again, this time to try its a-la-carte menu.Highly recommended.
SHAUKAT’S DO: My dear friend Shaukat Hasan is a most gracious host. Last Sunday he was hosting his niece from England, who has a doctorate in comparative religion, as does her husband. The 50 or so invited guests were all highly educated and very much interested in researching religious themes. They were all close friends of the late Dr. Martin Ling, which tells us a lot about everyone.
Shaukat had called on a former Freddy’s employee by the name of Zaheer, who now runs his own food business. The barbeque, the fried fish, the crispy salads and the other excellent dishes amazed everyone by their quality. The entire menu was very well planned. This is his hallmark. He studies the guests and then prepares a menu. He advises clients according to their tastes and comes up with remarkable balanced menus. I must rate this chef very highly, and hope to pump into him on some otheroccasion.
AJMER DELIGHTS: I have a lot of faith in the baking of Ajmer Bakery in Gulberg’s main market. Last week I asked him to provide me with snacks for about six guests I was expecting. He recommended ten rich fruit pastries, six chicken-walnuts filled small open patties and a plateful of small ‘khatais’. They proved to be a great success. The best thing is that the entire fare cost less than Rs200. In this time and age this is excellent value for money. — AMSHE