Dastarkhwan with Chef Shaista and Sarah Rehman @ EatwithIndia

September 26, 2016
1,100 Comments

I am not an ardent fan of Awadhi cuisine, but after
witnessing a conjugation of perfect aroma and flavor with Dastarkhwan @EatwithIndia , I changed
my opinion. Indians portray their love for guests through food and it was overwhelming
that day as I was a part of the Dastarkhwan with the hosts Sarah and Chef
Shaista Rehman.

Chef Shaista hails from Lucknow, studied at Loretto convent
and hails from a Brahmin family. After getting married in a Muslim community,
she adjusted well with their lifestyle. So as she goes on to describe her
in-laws perfection in food, her face shines even further in awe.

Her precision
in cooking comes from her mother-in-law who later made her a Masterchef in
preparing the finest dishes especially during Ramzan days. It was her daughter-in-law Sarah Rehman who brought her
culinary finesse to the world through eatwithIndia.

They culminated Dastarkhwan
– a Persian term which literally means a big, ceremonial dining spread, that is
also used to display traditional dishes of Ramadan.
The concept is simple with eatwithIndia. They introduce
the finest chefs to people who love to eat but are tired of the regular
restaurant food. This concept brings together culinary geniuses and food lovers
to interact at home with light conversations and scrumptious homemade meal.
A warm family awaits me and my husband as we enter their abode
in Gurgaon. The bright and beautiful home looks even more inviting with their
warm smiles and heart touching hospitality. The family was a well knit one with
cultural combination of ethics and values streaming through their food choices.
The warmth and love between family members complimented well with the subtle
tones on the walls and tasteful upholstery. A welcome drink in the form of Tukhmarein
Faluda was served.

Packed with the goodness of iron, the Tukhmarein is bit similar to chia
seeds that add nutritional value to smoothie and drinks. This one was made with
rooh-af-za, a frequently preferred drink during Ramadan days. I loved the
drink.

While we waited for the other guests to join in, Chef
Shaista kept us occupied with Chicken shikampuri kabab.

The soft kababs were
impeccable and melted in the mouth. I could not resist the temptation and
indulged in more than one.

She served hot ones and in spite of being full, I indulged
for few more servings with homemade mint chutney and onions.

The guests arrived and we sat to relish the dishes prepared
by aunty and the team. Her son and husband equally participated in laying the
spread. It was a delight to watch the entire family helping each other to make
the feast a grand success.
Chef Shaista ensured I try each
dish without fail. On realizing that I do not eat mutton, she served me the
Chicken Korma which was succulent and juicy.

My husband began with Kachri ka Keema that was spread on a Paape
(usually called rusk) with some onions and chilies sprinkled on top. I did
take a bite and really liked it.

The Aloo ghosht ka salan looked equally
tempting. I tried the gravy with taftaan –  a thick bread that is both sweet and
sour. The combination was perfect and the taste astounding. The Badami Pasande,
another mutton delicacy looked rich in spices and color.

The mutton according
to my husband was perfectly done and the gravy that I relished with roomali
roti was rich and flavorsome.  The mutton
biryani was the most delectable dish I have ever tried. Tempered with saffron
and spices, the mutton biryani smelled heavenly and tasted delicious.

We sealed
the meal with a sweet delicacy called kheer. Seasonings such as raisins and
saffron are compelling in this dessert, adding a unique taste that reminds me
of flowers and incense. It was a wonderful way to end an Indian meal.

I loved the entire experience that was made even better with
a paan in the end. We thanked the lovely hosts for their warm hospitable and
bid adieu to them with a token of thanks in the form of a masala mix in a
packet that was gifted to us. 


I could not express my gratitude with the team of
EatwithIndia that made my experience cherished and memorable. 

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