Page 14 - Antique Bazaar PR Report - February 2024

You walk in for the flavours; you walk out with flavours and melodies: Antique Bazaar, Dubai. - The Indian Trumpet

You walk in for the flavours; you

walk out with flavours and
melodies: An que Bazaar, Dubai.

BY TEAM TRUMPET BLOWERS -INDIAN BELLY, INDIANS IN DUBAI, MY DUBAI, TRUMPET TASTES

On a few days, you want to hit rewind, pause even. Surrounded by the choicest of foods prepared by the best of chefs in the world — at
your doorstep and your finger ps — on a few days, you don’t crave the Michelin-star meals nor the most exo c cuisines — what you miss
and hence crave is an Indian meal, cooked with authen city (no fusion, please) over some comfor ng, soulful music. With that in mind, we
entered the doors of the An que Bazaar, Carlton Downtown Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai. You may remember visi ng the restaurant in
another loca on since its founding in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In its new loca on, too, the chefs con nue to pay tribute to the me-
honoured Indian dishes. There are no surprises on the menu — expect comfort and familiarity instead. Think the good ol’ Dal Tadka or Dal
Makhani, the humble raita, a selec on of biryanis, and more.
As we talk spices, if you wish to sample a street delicacy in
a hygienic, fancier se ng, order a por on of Samosa
Chaat! It was easy on the tummy and a delectable start for
the rich food we ate later. Our a en ve, lovely server
suggested we go for the chef’s recommenda on. So came
our selec on of starters, Gulzar Harre Kabab, Jheenga
Sultani, Jangli Murgh Tikka, and Noori Malai Tikka, each
complete with a small por on of onions, carrot, and
lemon on the side. As melodies hung in the air, we
relished these delicacies and would agree with the meat-
eaters that the non-vegetarian fare was be er than the
vegetarian.
The evening would turn into midnight, sooner than you’d
know, for you’d have numbers like Lag Ja Gale, Mitwa, Ye
Honsla, and more transport you to the mes that were
and also serve as a reminder to take a moment to slow
down in the era of deadlines, melines. The tradi onal
flag fans (pankha) on the wall make for beau ful
adornment, complemented by the carvings in the wood
and the cobbled-together red brick verandah facade with
ny windows. Of course, if history is your thing, then you’d
not want to leave before admiring the historical portrait of
Mumtaz Mahal, the empress of Mughal Emperor Shah
Jahan, under whose name the celebrated monument of
the Taj Mahal was built. Talking of aesthe cs, one needs to
men on the flower-shaped silver thalis, which added to
our experience of consuming the mains comprising Dum
Subz Ko a, a co age cheese ko a prepara on in a gravy
of your choice chef suggested a cashew nut gravy), and
the Lal Maas — we can vouch for the la er’s authen city
regarding the spice level and the tenderness of the meat!
The Lal Maas gravy’s yoghurt, garlic, and chillis were
devoured with a selec on of garlic naans and pudina-
methi paranthas.
We stayed longer than planned, thanks to the live music and interac ons with Asif, the fabulous tabla and keyboard player, and the female
lead singer. We needed me to digest all the food we’d eaten and may return to taste the desserts and absorb more melodies. In the end,
the evening felt like being on the wedding grounds, with the music bringing together everyone (guests from other tables joined us as we
spoke music) and the ghee-dripping, creamy-rich meal reminding us that an Indian meal is best when shared with one and all.

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