In mood for festive New Year food

“Anything but a bowl of cornflakes” is Afzal Baig’s response when you ask him what’s on the menu today.

Breakfast on New Year’s day “could be anything from an Arabic breakfast to a wholesome south Indian spread” says Baig, a 35-year old business strategist and Dubai-resident. Also a lot will depend on his loved ones. And they’ll then head out to devour that elusive yet-undecided first meal of the year.

One thing is for certain — the new day will be treated as an occasion. And impulse being a part of Baig’s DNA, he might just end up driving beyond Sharjah to dig into the Nashef, thick gravy, fresh meat, freshly baked naan, “the size of your hand”, he adds – what’s not to look forward to?

As you read this, the new year is being ushered in. People in corridors, in the Metro, at malls will wish each other and smile. Your neighbours will have a feast on the table. Others will sleep on, after all that late night revelry. And phones world over will be exploited to virally spread best wishes and prosperity messages.

Ahmad Almulla loves to cook. No surprise then that he’s in the hospitality line. He owns Blue Barjeel in Creekside, Bur Dubai and Sett al Sham, restaurants that serve Egyptian-Lebanese and Syrian cuisine respectively. But tomorrow, he’ll be driving his family out to the farms and doing a barbecue. The weather being perfect, he says, for a slow easy meal around the grill.

At his restaurants, tourists and locals will be spoilt for choice. His European customers especially love the seafood and the humus and kebabs that his chefs prepare. And Jan 1, 2013 isn’t their day to be disappointed.

A real estate developer, Sammi, is another foodie, who says there’s nothing especially much planned for the day. The consensus is that it’s going to be a slow easy day wishing family and friends and letting their hair down after a hectic night out watching the fireworks at – no, not Burj Khalifa (too much traffic, and fireworks last only 4-5 minutes), but at the Burj Al Arab (the hotel where they last for at least a full 15 minutes). Friends and family are gathering around for a midday meal. The menu? Oh nothing extensive. Just, chicken curry, white rice, Harissa (a fiery orange meat meets wheat porridge), ice cream (“the kids love chocolate”), and there’s a little extra something for dessert: luqaimat (savoury dumplings) served with honey -to sweeten the new year deal.

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