Part 1: Sharjah Food Trekking

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If someone asks me where they could dig around here for a goldmine of authentic restaurant gems, I’d point in the direction of that dreaded National Paints Roundabout and whisper, Sharjah.

I spent the first six years of my life in Sharjah. A pity, because my food memories are restricted to Cerelac, Pofak and Omani chips. And Areej. One of the few ‘restaurants’ I remember was one where my sister and I jointly celebrated our birthdays—Hardees. I loved the place to bits and my parents had organized the best kiddie birthday in the world. I still remember the musical chairs (and I remember losing at it. I hated losing at musical chairs. Until I stopped playing it one day—the tension of scramming over in my frilly dress and furiously plonking down on that chair or wiggling myself into the seat even after it was obvious I had been second to grab it, all of it was just overwhelming. No number of Barbies you could throw in my face as a prize could change that. Why can’t everyone just get a chair, sit down, listen to one continuous track of music, and each get a free prize.)

From the left, my sister and moi, in all our frilly girly splendour
From the left, my sister and moi, in all our frilly girly splendour

I was back in Sharjah for a food hunt last week, and now, I finally have memories that span beyond Hardees.

The person who led me on this food trek was Shiyam, the affable, brilliantly smart and impossibly understated food genius who really, truly, knows his stuff. Just read the About page on his blog, and you’ll start to get a very small idea of what I mean—small, because he’s humbly left praiseworthy bits and bobs out. I have nothing less than a Mount Kilimanjaro of respect for him. Two other men extremely critical in this foodie quest were Bjorn and Sheban, the Sharjah soldiers who keep stumbling across brilliant foodie gems, and then tempt me right when we all know that there are hideous pythons of Dubai-Sharjah commuter traffic between them and me.

The trek began with muffled conversation between bites of Aunty’s Dabeli: potatoes smashed and tossed in a tomato and onion gravy reminiscent of spicy pav bhaji, swaddled in the belly of a soft buttered pav. 2.5 dirhams, 250% flavour.

Dabeli - Mazeej Al Punjab Restaurant - Sharjah

Between mouthfuls of food, Shiyam started feeding me little snippets of his fascinating life story, one that I hope he or somebody else with a distinctive storytelling voice brings to life someday. We need these authentic stories to be told. I am done with the social media drama queens (and kings) who’re thrown up on a pedestal for every reason other than their knowledge of food. It’s humble yet knowledgeable guys like Shiyam from whom I’ve got a bucket load to learn.

Bread Pakoda - Radhuvanshi - Sharjah

He led me into a kitchen with a kadai full of Bread Pakodas foaming at their mouths with bubbling hot oil. After seeing them on Shiyam’s FoodnFlavours blog, I’d expressed a craving for potatoes sandwiched between bread slices and deep-fried in batter. If you think that that combination sounds preposterous, then you’re probably right. It’s carb in carb, and deep-fried into a more cohesive and crunchy-squishy carb. It’s that minimalist’s arch nemesis served with a combo of not one, not two, but three chutneys parading around the plate—sweet dates chutney, coriander chutney, and sukha lasan (dry garlic) chutney. It’s that notoriously nonsensical hodgepodge dish that is so characteristic of Indian street food. That mocks intuitive and logical culinary composition. That snickers in the face of everything that is healthy and good for you. That when you’re craving comfort food, is so Goddamn Good.

Bread Pakoda - Radhuvanshi - Sharjah

We nibbled so much that night that I honestly don’t even remember scarfing down the batter-jacketed potato patty that arrived in the familiar patty-bun-chutney garb of a Vada Pav.

Raghuvanshi - Vada Pav - Sharjah

But the Bhel Puri I remember, because that was a revelation. I’ve had this haystack of puffed rice and fried sev (gram flour threads) with potatoes and onions and pomegranate seeds and every other chutney and masala within one-hand reach of the chaat maker many times before, but I’d never had it Mumbai-style—with raw mango strips. Somewhere in that consciously confused medley of ingredients, those mango slivers really shine through with a sharp tart acidity that I will want forever more in all future Bhel Puri renditions.

Bhel puri - Raghuvanshi - Sharjah

Lucky Shiyam, he lives within easy craving distance from these places and has figured out the good grub from the not-so-good stuff that often lurks just footsteps away. And what’s great is how he’s connected with the folks, building bonds strong enough to entertain his strolling into their kitchens for a peek. This ex-chef and serious food and wine connoisseur has probably wined and dined with revered top chefs of the world, but you’d never detect it in the twinkle of his eye. He seems to have a knack of befriending everyone, be it the guy standing over the kadai of frothing bread pakodas or…ahem…an Arab sheikh. And that humility and genuine engagement can be so refreshing in an online nation of food that all too often, courts popularity rather than the palette.

Stay tuned for Sharjah Food Trekking, Part 2. I clipped this post into 2 bits not because I didn’t get around to writing part 2. It’s already done to be honest. I just get so blitheringly bored myself reading long posts that I can’t imagine you having to suffer through it either.

Dabeli and Chai
Mazeej Al Punjab Cafeteria
Phone: 06-5480150
Near Immigration Office, Behind Al Mahatta Park, Al Nud, Sharjah

Raghuvanshi Chaat – Bread Pakodas, Vada Pav, Bhel Puri
Al Rajwah Cafeteria
Phone: 06-5633726
Al Khayal Building, Rolla Road, Umm Tarrafa, Sharjah

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.

18 thoughts on “Part 1: Sharjah Food Trekking

  1. Jasmine says:

    Love the post on food finds in Sharjah! I share mutual feelings living in Sharjah for the past 20 odd years. I still share love for an occasional Pofak and Omani chips! Sharjah really is a goldmine, a foodie’s paradise! Look forward to Part 2 x

    Reply
    1. inafryingpan says:

      @twitter-596233192:disqus – now then, YOU must share your foodie find with us!

  2. Life in the food lane says:

    Brings back great memories of a recent impromptu food crawl in Sharjah with the very same Shiyam! A must-do again.

    Reply
    1. inafryingpan says:

      @0574e8f77fe1e806f0134d076f36469b:disqus – you were spoken highly of during our little jaunt…we missed you!

  3. MyCustardPie says:

    Staying tuned – and like LITFL it reminds me of a really special day in Shiyam’s company. You are right to heap on praise – he’s a fount of knowledge and enthusiasm in an understated and generous way.

    Reply
    1. inafryingpan says:

      @writebyte:disqus – yes, I remember the pictures from that day in Sharjah. Was so disappointed then to have missed it…but glad I had catch up time last week!

  4. IshitaUnblogged says:

    I so agree to what Sally has to say about Shiyam. He took us through an amazing food trek the other day, very short but long enough to linger in the memory as an experience. Even your nostalgic touch down on your birthday – these are small things that make your write ups so beautiful. Look forward to the sequel.

    Reply
    1. inafryingpan says:

      @ishitaunblogged:disqus – thanks for the sweet message! Glad you had a chance to trek through Sharjah with Shiyam as well :)

  5. IshitaUnblogged says:

    Also curious to know about Shiyam’s story. DO you think I can re-tell that?

    Reply
    1. inafryingpan says:

      I will leave that for Shiyam to decide hun. I’m not sure that’s blog material to be honest. Was thinking of something bigger than that, but again, I’m no judge. He is.

    2. IshitaUnblogged says:

      Wow! Then I also hope that he gets a bigger voice. Fingers crossed:)

  6. MaryAnn says:

    Great post Arwa and I look forward to finding out more about what Sharjah has to offer in good eats! :)

    I would like to suggest Amoon restaurant near Al Zahra hospital, across the street from the cinema which is next door to the hospital.

    Reply
    1. inafryingpan says:

      Hi @disqus_vPgtrGL72P:disqus , thanks for the tip! Will make sure to hit up Amoon the next time I’m in the area :)

  7. Mehnaz Anshah says:

    Very excited to read about Sharjah eateries! I hope you have also covered the infamous lassi and lucknowi kebabs at AL AFADHIL.

    Reply
    1. inafryingpan says:

      @twitter-74493244:disqus – Indeed I have. Though to be honest, wasn’t quite a fan of the kababs, but I have raved about the lassi in the past :)

  8. RC says:

    There are so many places in Sharjah that are waiting to be discovered, have you ever eaten at Amrutha? They’ve got some really nice dosas like Podi Dosa and their Special Dosa. You should also try their stuffed tomato curry. Yum!

    Another one would be the pie at Mukhtar Bakery or even Sanobar at the Al Khan Beach- its a seafood homegrown restaurant that has been around for years and serves fresh grilled food.

    Reply
  9. manu shaji says:

    Raghuvanshi now open in Burdubai near choitrams. Opposite mini punjab restaurant.

    Reply
    1. InaFryingPan says:

      No way! That’s great news Manu, thanks for sharing. I’ll be heading there for my bread pakoda fix :)

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