By S. Kenneth Shishir

Ramzan, the month of fasting and prayers for Muslim brethren, is also the season for others to enjoy the tasty delicacies. The mouth watering variety include such special items like Haleem from Hyderabad, varieties of samosas (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian), Kashmiri Faluda and, Dry Fruit Sherbet.

The exotic Middle-East delicacies such as Arabian dessert, Arabian Biriyani, Arabian Faluda and Arabian Mutton Samosa, among other delicacies beckons food lovers to roadside vendors who have put up stalls and shops in Mandi Mohalla, Ashoka Road and to Etihad Arabian Restaurant at Siddique Nagar on Bengaluru- Mysuru Road here.

Though only a few shops or stalls have come up, the old timers are offering exotic delicacies to food lovers. From delicious mutton curries and biryanis to irresistible desserts and refreshing sherbets, the Iftar meal (It is the evening meal when Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset), is certain to make you salivate.

Come, let us celebrate the fiesta of love and food by walking into these food stalls in Mysuru.

SF Samosa Centre

Start your Ramadan food trail at about 6 pm from SF Samosa Centre on Sawday Road in Mandi Mohalla, which is offering piping hot samosas such as Mutton Kheema Samosa, Brain Samosa, Chicken Samosa, Fish Samosa, Egg Samosa and Vegetable Samosa.

Muslim brethren, who break their fast at nearby mosques and the public, throng this place not only to eat, but also to take the freshly made samosas home. If one visits this place at about 6 pm, one can guess the popularity of the shop.

SF samosa Centre sells Mutton Kheema, Brain, Chicken and Fish Samosas at Rs. 20 each,

Egg Samosa at Rs. 15 and Vegetable samosa at Rs. 10 each. 

Zam Zam Samosa Stall

Another shop that prepares the delicious samosas is the Zam Zam Samosa Stall on Ashoka Road. Sheik Mujeeb, the owner of the stall said that it is selling freshly made Mutton, Chicken and Vegetable Samosas apart from Chicken Roll and sweets such as tender coconut pudding and Qurbani sweet. He said that the stall is also selling Pista House Haleem in containers.

Mughliya Juice Centre

After having delicious Samosas, visit Mughliya Juice Centre in Savoy Chowk on K.T. Street in Mandi Mohalla for Kesar Mix Badam Milk (Rs. 20 per glass), Milk Badam Faluda (Rs. 20), Kashmiri Kesar Faluda (Rs. 30 & Rs. 50) and Special Kesar Dry Fruits Khova Lassi (Rs. 30 & Rs. 50), which are this year’s Ramzan specialities.

This apart, the shop also sells regular juices such as Nannari Badam Sherbet, Khova Special Dry Fruits Lassi and Dry Fruits Special Sherbet, which is available throughout the year.

Established in the year 1983 by late Syed Jaffer, the shop is now looked after by his son Fairoz Pasha, who said that Muslim brethren throng his shop to break their fast during the Ramzan month as it gives them enough energy during fasting time.

Etihad Arabian Restaurant

For dinner, visit Etihad Arabian Restaurant in Siddique Nagar, serving Arabian dishes and Arabian desserts, which diners swarm, especially during Iftar. It is a perfect place to dine with family and enjoy finger-licking food. It is clean and has decent seating.

Mohammed Huseffar Rehman, a chef who is certified by the Yemeni Government and the owner of Etihad, says that the Arabian Mutton Samosa, the Biriyani-Rice Khebab, Arabian Biriyani, Mandi Biriyani and the Arabian Dessert are the most sought after dishes during the holy month of Ramzan.

“The Arabian Dessert is our speciality during Ramzan. It has a layer of powdered biscuits in the bottom, with a layer of custard and chocolate, sprinkled with coconut powder, which makes a perfect dessert after iftar,” says Huseffar.

He said that all the dishes prepared by him are in Arabian style, which is not spicy as it contains a lot of different ingredients like genuine basmati rice, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, nutmeg, saffron, rose water and raisins and added that utmost care is taken not to use artificial colour.

Huseffar, speaking about the dishes  said that variety of biriyanis such as Arabian Biriyani, Mandi Biriyani, Kapsa Biriyani (Saudi) and other dishes like Irani Kheer, Arabian Juice, Arabian Faluda, Harees, Kheema Ash, Mutton Pal, Arabian Maqluba etc. were available at his restaurant.

He said that Kheema Ash is prepared by using mincemeat, oats, vegetables and butter and added that Arabian Maqluba, a traditional Arabian dish, is made of potatoes. Etihad also prepares Haleem, by adding oats, broken wheat and other ingredients.

With Arabian Desert being sold at Rs. 50 for a 250 ml container (for four persons); Irani Kheer is sold at Rs. 50 (250 ml) and Rs. 100 (500 ml) for four to eight persons; Arabian Mutton Biriyani Rs. 200 per plate and a family pack for seven persons is priced sat Rs. 1050.

Mandi Biriyani: Mutton Rs. 190 per plate; Chicken Rs. 150 and family pack for seven persons is Rs. 1050. Kapsa Biriyani (Saudi): Mutton Rs. 180 per plate, Chicken Rs. 130 and a family pack for seven persons would cost Rs. 1000.

Arabian Theetar roast is being sold at Rs. 100 each while mutton and chicken samosas are sold at Rs. 10 per piece. Haleem is sold at Rs. 50 for 250 ml container and 500 ml container costs Rs. 100.

Etihad Arabian restaurant is a must visit place during Ramzan, as it allows food lovers to relish various Arabian delicacies.