The ionic Indian chef will be cooking for guests for a limited period during Ramadan
Dubai- First-year anniversary celebrations continue at The Crossing, with the announcement that the inimitable Padma Shri Grand Master Chef Imtiaz Qureshi, will be visiting as a guest chef this Ramadan. The modern Indian restaurant will be welcoming the world-renowned chef into its kitchen, for what is set to be an unforgettable 12-day celebration of Indian gastronomy.
Chef Qureshi will be taking over the helm of The Crossing’s kitchen from 5 to 16 April, he will be joined by his eldest son, Chef Mohammad Ashfaque Quereshi who like him is a master in the unique and historic Awadhi cuisine. Guests can look forward to dining on an exquisite à la carte menu, ‘Renaissance of Royal Repast’ which will be available to order for iftar and suhoor. Curated exclusively by Chef Qureshi for the event, the menu will showcase his expertise in traditional and modern Indian cuisine.
Highlight dishes include Murgh Balai Imtiazi Dhs105 (tikka of chicken dipped in an aromatic royal cumin marinade, grilled in the tandoor before being finished on Dum), Haleem Dhs125 (lamb stew cooked overnight, made with lentils & garnished with cilantro, egg, fried onions, & lime), Lamb Paya Nihari Dhs95 (slow cooked lamb trotters in a spiced stock) and Guchhi Pulao Dhs105 (saffron-seasoned basmati rice, cooked with morels, stuffed with herbed cheese, finished in a sealed handi with cardamom & served with spiced yoghurt).
The 84-year-old culinary icon has cooked for eminent personalities from around the world, from preparing a grand meal for a Majlis hosted by Begum Akhtar, to serving Kakori kababs to Queen Elizabeth II, and most recently he tutored a humble Gordon Ramsay on the art of making the perfect Goat Biryani. With over seven decades of gastronomic experience, the celebrated chef has been awarded numerous accolades including the prestigious Padma Shri for his contribution to Indian cuisine.
Ankur Chakraborty, Chef and Co-Founder of hospitality group Lemon Butter and a former student of Chef Qureshi said, “The Qureshi name is respected worldwide, the family have been pioneers of Indian cuisine for the last 200 years. However, the distinction of making Indian heritage cuisine world famous, undoubtedly belongs to Grand Master Chef Imtiaz Qureshi, he was responsible for reintroducing age-old recipes and cooking styles like the concept of the ‘Stand-up Tandoor’ and ‘Dum’. I am honoured to host my good friend Chef Mohammad Ashfaque Quereshi and his father – a culinary legend and my old mentor – Chef Imtiaz Qureshi at The Crossing, and even more so to have them cook in my kitchen.”
Padma Shri Grand Master Chef Imtiaz Qureshi commented, “Myself and my team are looking forward to making The Crossing our home for the next two weeks and bringing our hospitality to the residents of Dubai. We want to offer guests a unique dining experience, a culinary journey that will transport them back to a time when recipes were created for monarchs of great dynasties. The menu celebrates our rich cultural heritage dating back thousands of years, and features dishes that beautifully showcase the best of Indian cuisine.”
Chef Imtiaz Qureshi will be at The Crossing from 5 – 16 April
The Renaissance of Royal Repast menu is available to order for iftar & suhoor (5 – 16 April only)
