In Photos: Dubai’s Alternative Iftar Buffet.

blankSince every Iftar advertisement talks about giving you the true spirit of Ramadan, I wandered out on the first evening of the Holy Month to better understand what that spirit really was. Here it is in photos, courtesy of the people who really endure the hardship of fasting and celebrate it with prayers, fortitude and togetherness. Ramadan Kareem.

(For a more wordy post from an alternative iftar evening two years ago, check out an earlier post here.)

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Ramadan - Iftar - Old Dubai - An Alternative Buffet

Author: InaFryingPan

With a family legacy of ingenious cooks, a nutritionist and chef-extraordinaire mother, and a father who introduced me to steak and caviar when I could barely reach the table, I had no choice but to acquire a keen awareness of food during my childhood years in Dubai. But it was only after I found myself on a college campus in Philadelphia – far away from home, too cheap as a student to spend on anything other than pizza, and with dorm rooms that had little rat-holes of kitchens if they even had them at all – when I developed a heightened appreciation of food. An appreciation of food that I once ate every night at the dinner table in Dubai, but that was now an entire ocean away. I lusted for the culinary treasures that lay outside the stale walls of my college dining hall, hijacked friends’ kitchens to try my hand at something, anything , remotely edible, and greedily raided different websites in search of highly-rated restaurants. With my move to New York to work for a consulting firm that secretly harbored self-professed foodies, my appreciation transformed into a passion, an addicition. I felt like everyone around me in New York was talking about food: where to get the best cupcakes, pizza slices, banh mi, kati rolls, pho, fried chicken, and every other food item out there that is just a plain old dish in some part of the world, but that’s become hyped to unforeseen proportions in New York. What fuelled my addiction over time was travel to different cities, both for work and play, which gave me unfettered access to the culinary havens of not only New York, but also of DC, Virginia, Chicago, Houston, Vegas, Austin, Seattle and even a little city called Bentonville (Arkansas!). After 9 years away from home, I’ve finally taken the leap to come back to Dubai – with not just an awareness, but genuine appreciation and passionate addiction for what I’d taken for granted as a child. Mom, I’m back to reclaim my seat at your dinner table, and to rediscover this city with its ever-expanding menu of international flavors.

7 thoughts on “In Photos: Dubai’s Alternative Iftar Buffet.

  1. Sally - My Custard Pie says:

    These are fabulous. I’m there with you in your neck of the woods, holding your hand, seeing through your eyes. I’ve always wanted to take a closer look at the seated meals at iftar outside mosques too but never dared to venture. Maybe I’ll have courage.

    Reply
  2. IshitaUnblogged says:

    Couldn’t leave a comment earlier… Ramadan Kareem to you and your family. Beautiful post… reminds me of my Ramadan 2 years back in Kolkata.

    Reply
  3. alice says:

    This sound amazing and it has a touch of real life, you know. I always feel loke all those luxuries are just illusion sold by companies.

    But … uhm … can a non Muslim join these Iftar ? Is this like a restaurant on street or something like that? I really wanna try this while in Dubai. Who know when will I have another chance to come here again?

    So could you please be a little bit more specific about these Iftar? Like location, how to join? What you shouln’t do (taking pic, laugh or talk loud, etc.) Things like that.
    I would hate to be rude in this holy month
    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. InaFryingPan says:

      Hi Alice! These are just photos of people having their Iftar on the streets. You will usually only see blue collar working class men partaking off Iftar on the pavement, and it’s not something that a woman can join. (Or I have never tried sitting down with the lads myself….)

      Without trying to do a shameless plug, I take people for authentic Iftar experiences around Old Dubai with http://www.fryingpanadventures.com. We offer a ‘Sacred Sunset Voyage’ where we hop between 4 down-to-earth restaurants in Old Dubai and talk about the significance of the month through the evening. Hope you will join us for one! Hop over to our website for more details: http://www.fryingpanadventures.com

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