We started with some fresh chilled coconut water that was served rather nicely in a milk bottle glass. I know I love coconuts, and coconut water is one of top 3 favorite drinks, but having chilled coconut Water that doesn’t taste stale is probably the best.

Along with the cold drinks, we were offered some hot Manchow chicken soup. Apart from the fact that its super spicy, my favorite part about this soup has always been the crunchy noodles that are added on top and enhance the flavour of the soup even more. I love how these noodles maintained their slight crunchiness even after being soaked in the soup and at the same time, they were soft enough to not fall off the spoon.

The only Indian dish in our otherwise Chinese dominated meal, the Chicken Tikkas came in next. Omg, were these delicious or what. So tender, so full of flavour and just the right amount of spices, these tikkas are a must have, especially if you are a grills and barbecue fan. They are perfectly good on their own as well as with the green chutney on the side.

Moving on to mains, we were brought a selection of the most popular Chinese dishes – triple Schezwan rice with gravy, chicken Manchurian and prawns Manchurian. The rice dish, mixed with noodles, topped with a fried egg and garnished with crispy noodles was such a filling and comforting dish. I didn’t quite like the gravy though. I feel the dish is already so full of flavor, adding a gravy doesn’t do justice to the dish.

Among the chicken and prawns dishes, I loved the chicken variety mainly because I love the Manchurian sauce, and secondly because the chicken was really tender. The prawns however didn’t impress me too much, and I found the flavor slightly off.

We ended our meal with a cup of refreshing tea and would love to return to try their Indian dishes, especially thali.

Meals Corner

Location: Near Hilal Al Madina Supermarket, Maliha Road, Muwailih Commercial, Sharjah
Contact: 04 5260942

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Discover Mleiha is an archaeological spot that features the tomb of Umm Al Nar along with a museum that offers great insights into the history of the area along with exciting tours and day & night activities.

As we walked around the property, we stumbled upon the stables where we met a bunch of attractive and well groomed horses – all awaiting the riding season. After all that driving and walking, it was time for a treat.

Adjoining the museum is Bystro Mleiha. The only food spot located literally in the middle of nowhere, this restaurant serves up a brilliant and healthy selection of continental favorites – right from Mediterranean to American to Asian. Supporting the global cuisine is a wonderful choice of smoothies, mocktails and some refreshing colas, as well as a few indulgent desserts.

Here’s all the food we tried and loved:

Falafel bites with beetroot hummus and mint labneh

These were not at all dry. In fact had a mushy moist lentil filling which didn’t stale up even after a few hours.

Superbowl salad with grilled chicken

One of the best salads I have eaten in a long time, this was everything healthy in one big bowl. If only I could eat this everyday, I would be the healthiest soul on earth.

Chicken ‘n waffles

The right mix of sweet and savory, this is one item on the menu I can never ignore. I simply loved the addition of a sunny side up and the little maple syrup on the side.

Malay chicken curry with rice

This was wow! Seriously WOW! The curry was coconut based (my favorite) and the rice was dotted with lots and lots of cumin (my favorite again). Together they made a brilliant curry and rice combination – something that I would refer to as the perfect comfort food.

Coffee

We had this beautiful cup of latte before leaving from Bystro Mleiha just so we could prep-up for our drive back home. Also, how sassy is that caption on the cup?!

All in all, Bystro Mleiha is the perfect place to satiate your hunger before or after your museum tour. And it is also a great breakfast or lunch stopover if you’re heading in for a long cross-country drive.

Bystro Mleiha

Location: Mleiha Cultural Park, Sharjah
Contact: 06 883 1849

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Black Salt is all of that and more. Quite a newbie in the flourishing foodie lane near Sharjah University City, Black Salt is already a favorite among locals, youth, families and foodies. A casual dining spot reflecting elements of modern urban decor, Black Salt transports you to a different world that’s filled with innovative food and drinks presented with lots of style. You will know what I mean when you read the rest of this post >>

Drinks

Served with the flamboyance of dry ice, each of these drinks come with a little twist that sets them apart from the rest.

Kandy Crush is a berry mocktail topped with pieces of sugar candy.

Good Ole Mint Mojito, a classic in every right, sparks a lot of interest thanks to those tiny bottles.

Pina Colada makes an entry in a giant golden pineapple which is quite the trend these days.

And the lovely Home Brewed Peach Iced Tea comes with actual fruit pieces placed over ice.

Starters

Starters are such an important part of the menu, they set the tone for the rest of the meal. And these few starters at Black Salt did quite a great job.

We took off to a great start with the Super Dynamite Shrimps which instantly brightened me up because, well, you should all know by now – I love shrimps. Despite how spicy and creamy the sauce is, I left feeling a slight bit disappointed with the actual size and texture of the shrimps. The pieces are too small which makes it difficult to grab them with toothpicks, and they fall apart quite easily.

The Watermelon & Feta Salad is quite the refresher. Juicy pieces of watermelon sandwiching cheese in between is something I believe we should all try atleast once. If it was up to me, however, I would swap the feta for something less salty like cottage cheese, or else tone down the thickness of the piece so it can balance the sweetness of the fruit instead of overpowering it.

The Fiery Bites are more like the poultry version of dynamite shrimps. Tender, juicy pieces of chicken come marinated in a sweet n spicy sauce making them quite irresistible. While I would have liked them more spicy, probably in a hot sauce coating, what I love the most about this dish are the potato straws on top.

The Citrus Corn on the Cob yet again proveshow corn is breaking out of its image and increasingly being accepted as a starter than just another side. And then again, I would have preferred the corn off the cob.

Mains

The mains at Black Salt have their own individuality. You won’t find a dish in different versions, but you’ll get to try it the way they make it best.

We started with their Instagram worthy bestseller. A class apart from regular butter chicken in a regular plate, Butter Chicken Chow comes in a bread bowl with accompaniments in small pans. The gravy itself is quite the bomb, but what I love the most is that it’s an all-in-one dish – gravy, white rice, bread that substitutes for roti, salad and pickle. What more could you possible ask for?

Pepper Chicken Pasta was next. This, in all honesty is my favorite of all mains, simply because of its creamy texture and comforting taste. The white sauce is perfect – not too salty, not too cheesy. And the pepper seasoning adds the right amount of spice. The chicken and pasta are cooked so well – they literally melt-in-your-mouth. Don’t miss that little parmesan pan on the side, incase you like your pasta slightly more cheesy.

Shish Tawook on Paratha that looks much like a taco is a combination of Arabic, Indian and Mexican cuisines. Sitting over a bed of fries, the Tawook pieces are a dream, but I guess it’s important to realize that once the dish is on the table and after the pictures have been clicked, it needs to be deconstructed a bit in order to enjoy it completely. So instead of eating the tawook pieces right away, only to realize the paratha doesn’t have any partner left, the pieces need to be placed next to the bread so they can be eaten side by side.

Swedish Kebab Flatbread is quite unusual. I took some time to gather that it was a) Swedish (meatballs?), b) Kebab (meatballs translated) and c) Flatbread (Italian). While I couldn’t piece these 3 concepts together so well, what I did do is take a piece of that flatbread and enjoy it like a regular pizza. And there was nothing disappointing about it.

Desserts

It’s clear. Having been to so many restaurants and trying so many desserts has me spoilt. So much so that every time a dessert is at my table, I almost immediately expect it to have some presentation twist by default. These two at Black Salt live up to my expectations quite well.

The first one is something out of a fairytale. A deep hued red velvet cake, cut up in discs and decked up like a tower beautifully mingles with a glossy cream cheese icing. Aptly named Red Velvet Tower, this is served in a deep glass bowl over lots of dry ice smoke. It creates a magical display that we are so in love with. Not very sweet in taste, but just right in terms of its density, these are the kind of cakes that please my palate.

The next one – another marvel – is their signature Black Salt Date Cake. Hidden within a caramelized sugar dome, this dessert has elements of Arabesque style, thanks to all that gold appeal. A couple of taps on the dome reveals a lovely date cake inside. This, just like the red velvet cake, isn’t too sweet, and had a nice sponge texture to it.

I do know that there are a lot of other desserts on their menu, that are all equally appealing. And honestly, I can’t wait to go back and try them all!

Black Salt

Location: University City Road, University City, Sharjah
Contact: 600546649

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Popular among tourists, locals and art lovers, you are quite likely to stumble upon this restaurant while strolling around the museum and art area near Sharjah corniche. In addition to art galleries and a mosque, this complex also accommodates a compact library and Fen Café amidst the heritage inspired ‘Arabian house’ structure, that allows them to cater to a wider audience.

This one is worth a visit if you are located in Dubai. And a must if you reside in Sharjah or Ajman.

Read on for my review and photos of some beautifully crafted dishes.

Falling in line with their minimalist approach, the menu at Fen Restaurant spans across a mere 3 pages, but offers a variety of globally influenced dishes with a touch of Middle Eastern flavors.

Their menu highlights the concept of clean eating and healthy living, and this is evident in every dish – right from the organic ingredients, to the minimalist plating and the authentic flavors.

While we were waiting for our dishes to arrive, we were offered these crusty sesame bread sticks, which are honestly the best I have had in a long long time. They somehow reminded me of the Indian jeera biscuits that make a perfect match with tea.

We ventured into their variety with two delicious soups that were perfectly warm and got us on to for a healthy start.

Broccoli soup

The creamy Broccoli soup was sparsely spiced to maintain the vegetable flavor and came with a wonderful walnut garnish.

Roasted Pumpkin

The Roasted Pumpkin soup gave off a slight tanginess and blended perfectly well with the macadamia nut garnish.

Like most of the items at Fen, these soups were topped with edible micro-greens that added a beautiful organic touch. They were served alongside lightly buttered crusty bread that went hand in hand with the thick texture of the soup.

At Fen Restaurant, classic meets contemporary, and we were humbled to get a feel of both. The salads at Fen are prepared using fresh, locally sourced, and wherever possible, homegrown ingredients. This makes everything taste so fresh and interesting.

Classic Caesar Salad

The first one, Classic Caesar Salad comes with grilled herb chicken that is cooked to a juicy perfection. It is served over a bed of romaine lettuce with parmesan shavings and a creamy light Caesar dressing.

Shaved Fennel & Rocket Salad

The second one, Shaved Fennel & Rocket Salad, is a good option for vegetarians. I have always been in love with fennel and there was nothing more refreshing that nibbling on those shaved fennel pieces. This salad comes with fresh peach pieces placed around rocket leaves that are topped with macadamia nuts and dressed with their homemade citrus yoghurt.

My favorite was the latter, mainly because of the fennel, but if you want to go Japanese, you can also try out their Aburi Hamachi Sashimi with rocket leaves and yuzu dressing.

A little fish, and a little meat go a long way, and then the whole world seems better again. Inspired by global cuisine, yet adhering to Middle Eastern flavors, the menu options at Fen Restaurant surprise you with their very concept.

Wild Hammour

This one is a Wild Hammour cooked in sous vide style and presented in a lettuce wrap. The Hammour fillet, placed over a bed of organic brown rice was served alongside Hoisin and chilli garlic sauce. The fish was as tender as cotton, really. And even though I am not a very big fan of Hoisin sauce, the chilli garlic (being more of my forte) went perfectly well with the brown rice. And yes, the rice! I prefer brown rice over white any day, and love them especially for their crunch.

Wagyu beef Ravioli

The next one was Wagyu beef Ravioli with smoked mozzarella. The pasta with all those pretty edges, was perfectly al dente, and the beef cheek meat was spiced just right. The ravioli was topped with a balsamic glaze that gave it a rustic look and feel, along with a drizzle of linseed oil and micro greens garnish.

Wagyu Rump Steak

The last main course, and honestly the one I loved the most was this Wagyu Rump Steak. The meat in this one is locally sourced and it was cooked well done on our request. What I loved the most was the manner in which it was served over a homegrown sweet potato mash. The mash, topped with a mixed green salad, dressed with Yuzu, black lava salt and a savory home made gravy gave it just the right finish.
Every bite of this meat was a revelation. I would have loved to have a second serving of this, but well I was too full to even finish one. And then we had to leave some space for desserts too!

Desserts. Love ‘em, hate ‘em (well, don’t), but you cannot escape them. And why should you? They are quite literally the sweetest, most interesting part of the menu, right? We were served an amazing selection of these at Fen Resturant.

Cupcakes

First,came in these pretty cupcakes. Look at that red velvet goodness on the first one and the galaxy effect on the second!

Cookies

This homemade cookie tower was the next surprise. The base Chocolate Chip, moved up to Pistachio with sea salt, Oreo, and Peanut Butter Cookie. These were comparatively much lighter and felt healthier than cookies you would get elsewhere. Plus, they looked almost like muffins which made them a 2-in-1 delight!

Cake

The final dessert was slightly more authentic to the heritage feel of the restaurant and the complex. Perfectly scrumptious, the carrot cake was served freshly baked. What made it even more interesting was the pomegranate seed and pistachio garnish and the sauce on the side.

Drinks

We also tried some of their special Mojitos which proved to be real coolers amidst all that May heat.

Fen Cafe & Restaurant

Location: Inside Sharjah Art Foundation, Al Mureijah Square, Al Mareija, Sharjah
Contact: 04 2759083

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We tried almost everything off the menu and were totally impressed with not only their variety but also their use of fresh ingredients and made to order cooking.

Take a look at their tiny yet colorful outlet and read on for more on their food!

Jarritos Mexican Colas

Take a look at this amazingly colorful collection of Jarritos Mexican colas at Fahita. Available in 8 different flavors, these chilled drinks are perfect for the season. And with so much variety, you are sure to find the flavor you prefer. But hey, that does not mean you can have only one! Go all out and try at least 2 or 3. You will still keep coming back for more!

The flavours in this picture are as follows: Mandarin, Mango, Lime, Guava, Fruit Punch, Grapefruit, Mexican Cola and Tamarind.

We tried out their Mango and Mexican Cola. And since we were at the restaurant for lunch in this scorching UAE heat, these drinks totally wowed us with their refreshing flavors!

Sandwiches & Subs

Sandwiches were plenty at Fahita. Plus, the ingredients were grilled and sautéed right in front of us on their hot plates, which really upped the taste. The sesame breads, oh em gee, they were soft like cotton, and the grilled chicken breast in both the sandwiches was cooked and spiced perfectly inside and out.

This is the Crunchy Fahita and comes with mozzarella cheese, peppers, onions and mushrooms in addition to the protein. This sandwich is served with a side of crunchy spicy Fahita chips as well as special avocado sauce and hot sauce.

The is the Mexicana, which is very true to the very essence of the restaurant. This one too has mozzarella cheese, peppers, onions and mushrooms along with the grilled chicken, but includes more toppings of corn, iceberg lettuce, jalapenos and mayo. Don’t miss the hot red chilli with this sandwich which perfectly highlights the spice level of this sandwich, while also adding a pop of color.

Just when we were thinking we were done, our kind host placed this Guacamole & Beef Sub in front of us. And we could obviously not say no! Totally spoiling you for choice, this sandwich comes with Italian submarine bread packing within sauteed beef, lettuce, tomato, white cheese, guacamole, mayo and hot sauce. Wonderfully filling and tasty.

Quesadilla

Mexican food cannot be complete without Quesadillas, and our visit couldn’t be complete without trying out these favorites. These chicken quesadillas have all the classic elements that make it so good. Right from the tortilla to the grilled chicken and all the fillings – red beans, peppers, onions, corn and tomatoes – this one was perfect. And the side servings of sour cream and guacamole made sure we didn’t miss out on the complete Mexican experience.

There’s not much you can do to stop yourself from falling in love with such wonderfully presented food. Right from the sandwiches and subs to the quesadillas, everything was presented on a wooden board. And then came these bowls of delicacy.

Fahita fries

The Fahita fries start with freshly fried crisp golden French fries, followed by layers of melted cheddar cheese, diced jalapenos and hot sauce. These spicy cheesy fries are served in true Mexican style with sour cream and guacamole sides.

Burrito Bowl

The Burrito Bowl comes with a lovely healthy mix of everything that delicious dreams are made of. With Mexican rice at the base, it has a little of everything – grilled chicken, corn, purple cabbage, green leaves, beans, peppers, tomato salsa, grated cheddar and that lovely avocado. The dressings are quite light too with a lemon vinaigrette and spicy tomatoey green sauce served alongside.

Fahita

Location: University Road, University City, Sharjah
Contact: 04 2759025

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Their compact menu features some amazing appetizers, petite pasta specialties, tempting tacos and beautiful burgers. Not to forget the delicious desserts and drinks.
Read on to find out what I tried, what they did right, and what they can do to get better!

The Blended Platter

Our first selection on the menu was The Blended Platter. I have really mixed feelings about this platter. For one, the shrimps tempura were perfect. Perfectly marinated and coated in panko crumbs, these tiger prawns were the right amount of spicy and right amount of crispy. The tempura fried veggies along with it weren’t so much. They felt excessively oily and it was quite difficult to taste the flavor of the vegetables within the coating. I would have preferred steamed or sauteed veggies instead.

The Japanese cheese balls actually squirted out cheese when I first poked my fork into them. But that was alright because what followed was unbeatable cheesy goodness. A combination of cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese along with jalapenos and hot sauce, these little spicy cheesy balls are wrapped in Noori sheets and fried to a crispy perfection. Yes, they were somewhat oily too, but it was acceptable and went hand in hand with the cheesy inside. I would recommend trying the tempura shrimps but give the veggies a miss.

Other famous options include Crusted Chicken Stack and Street Fries which will probably be on my wishlist the next time around.

Crispy Chicken Burger

While the appetizer platter was a little oily, the burger really made up for all the previous disappointment. This Crispy Chicken Burger is available as a burger as well as a slider so you can choose your preferred size. I would suggest go for the burger, since it’s not as huge as you would dismiss it for. Simple but perfect in every way, it starts with soft buns that sandwich a piece of crispy fried chicken within. Other toppings and condiments include a slice of cheddar cheese, pickle, lettuce, tomato and a very tangy mustard mayo dressing.

If this is not enough, or if you want more variety, try out their Buffalo and sweet & spicy chicken burgers. Or opt for the signature or classic beef variety. They also have a crispy tiger shrimp slider which I’m definitely eyeing for my next visit.

Prawn Tacos

One thing very apparent from the menu at Crafted Blends is their mix of different distinct cuisines. There is a heavy influence of Japanese, Italian, American and Mexican flavors and we tried three of the four. After the Japanese tempura and American burger, it was time for these Mexican tacos.

Placed under the Fusion Tacos section on the menu, these Prawn Tacos came with crispy fried shrimps placed over melted cheddar, and topped with tomato salsa inside a flour tortilla. The cheese and salsa combination added a little Italian pizza touch while the side Wasabi mayo dip brought along a Japanese twist. This was probably the most fusion oriented dish on the menu. In terms of taste, the tortillas were quite fresh and the prawns were just yum.

Their beef tacos are similar to the prawn ones. But if you want to try something different, go for their Middle Eastern inspired chicken tacos with dill, jalapenos and Harissa sauce.

Churros

Did someone say Churros? These crispy creamy sugary Churros at Crafted Blends was yet another Mexican inspired dish, only this time, it was a dessert.
Coated with sugar and deep fried to a crunchy perfection, they were slightly saltier then I had expected, but crunchy and doughy nonetheless. The chocolate and dulce de leche dips on the side saved the day.

Coffee & Cold Drinks

We had to try their coffee, because that’s one thing they pride on. We opted for the cappuccino and it came with a beautiful latte art on top.

As for the cold drinks, they are yet to come up with Mojitos, so we just settled for this Fentiman Rose Lemonade instead. Honestly, this one has become quite a favorite for me these days.

While Crafted Blends is gaining a lot of popularity amidst foodies, I would strongly suggest they add a healthy section to their menu or the option of baked/grilled for otherwise fried items. They have recently come up with a new breakfast menu with eggs, French toast and pancakes which looks quite interesting. If you’ve tried that out, let me know how it was in the comments below.

Crafted Blends

Location: Next To Super Bonanza Hyper Market, Opposite Defence Camp, University City, Sharjah
Contact: 06 5353330

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