It hasn’t really felt much like Ramadan this year, if anything can remedy this it is Iftar at The Palace Downtown. Actually work restrictions in the office remain, as do equivalent on camera requirements for working from home. However, cafes and restaurants have remained open during the day, no curtains or screens even. The flip side is that the wishes of Ramadan Kareem have been few & far between. No Iftar tents has meant that my Muslim friends haven’t been out to play and it feels like a bit of a let down, if I’m allowed to say it.
So when Jason suggests we do our own iftar I jump at the chance for an authentic Ramadan experience. We invite some friends along and choose a date. It sounds even better when the choice turns out to be Ewaan at The Palace Downtown.
We arrive and valet park. Brad and Diana have arrived just behind us and Kevin and Mariam are on their way. This is a beautiful hotel with a very Arabian vibe. We are promptly seated at Ewaan restaurant, however, there are still a few minutes left before we are allowed to eat – we need to wait for the cannon.
There is a screen up inside and we realise the cannon is just outside by the fountains so we decide to walk down to take a closer look. On our way out, the cannon sounds, giving us all quite a fright. It’s one thing knowing that it’s coming, it’s quite another listing to the boom firsthand, followed by the echo of it around all the downtown highrises. I have heard people say they can hear it from miles away, now I believe them wholeheartedly. In the moment Jason just about jumped out of his skin (uttering something rather inappropriate to boot!).
As the smoke clears and our nerves settle – quite a start to the evening – we make our way back to where iftar is now underway.
Although I had good intentions to properly fast for the day I have only partly fasted. I begin with the traditional lemon mint drink. I feel the hit of energy, the sweetness being designed to boost the blood sugar quickly after a day of fasting. The dates are plump and juicy, the lemon mint cold and refreshing (if a little on the sweet side, even for me). I follow this with a bowl of lentil soup. Another traditional started it is tangy and delicious.
Then I move onto some side salads selecting my favourites: moutable, tabouli, hummus and mixing it with a few that just sound worth a try – artichoke, tomato and bocconcini, calamari and some baby clams.
The salad course is sprinkled with conversation, mostly about work at this stage. It is Kevin and Mariam’s first iftar as Kevin is in town preparing for Expo. The project will hopefully come together, however, it sounds very ambitious at this point in time. It also sound like an awful lot of work.
Next, after a pause in the conversation, I move onto mains. The roasts do look extremely succulent and tempting but I really can’t go past the seafood and I select lobster, a(nother) calamari dish and a dal paneer as well as a spinach triangle and cheese sambousek.
Our discussions move onto travel. I am heading to Bulgaria tomorrow and still have to pack! Nevertheless, we spend too much time debating when Australia will relax the current hotel quarantine requirements. Two weeks in a 32sqm hotel room with the four of us is currently not an option. We’re not that desperate, yet.
After a lengthy pause for dinner thus far to settle, we head back to the buffe to make our dessert selection. It poses quite a challenge.
There are so many choices! I am eyeing off the kunafa though, given that we are at iftar AND they are coming out freshly made. Definitely top of the list served with a scoop of pistachio ice cream. Next I select some baklava – pistachio and cashew. Finally some strawberries drizzled with chocolate from the fountain (otherwise fruit can wait until breakfast time!).
The kunafa is good (though not excellent, possibly a result of me taking too long to make my other choices). The baklava is excellent and I seriously consider heading back to the chocolate fountain…
After a little more time Mariam is convinced by ice cream. I jump up with her to capture her first Turkish ice cream experience on camera. These guys are quick! Our ice cream man is no exception and it takes Mariam a full 60 seconds to complete the handover.
We linger a little longer at our table but by 9pm we are the only ones left in the restaurant. We settle out cheque and take a walk outside, hoping to catch a fountain show before heading home.
Our night at the Palace has come to a close and now I must pack. Tomorrow, new adventures await.
Good To Know
Ewaan restaurant at The Palace Downtown is one of the most pleasant Middle Eastern meal experiences in Dubai. The location alone is sure to draw me back. Iftar is popular here, be sure to book ahead of time.
Would I Return?
Yes. There are many more flavours to sample.
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