A B KHAN

It is Nicolas Verdun’s first Ramadan in Pakistan and the General Manager of the newly opened Movenpick hotel Centaurus Islamabad invited academia, business entrepreneurs, media fraternity and diplomats to join him and his team to break the fast at their Centaurus Ballroom of the hotel. 

The interior of the ballroom was very artistically decorated, influencing middle eastern touch. As the guests were in large number, the food stalls were set in the foyer, whereas, the seating was in the Centaurus Ballroom. General Manager Verdun who has a rich experience serving in the middle east welcomed the guests and highlighted the salient features of the hotel.

“This is your home, this is your place to meet friends, dine, make business deals and arrange corporate meetings. The hotel has everything under the sun to offer with top-of-the-line facilities and highly professional team,” he informed with a lot of enthusiasm.

Movenpick hotel’s plans are ambitious. With two big ballrooms, seven restaurants, coffee shop and an upcoming “market place” there is no stopping.

A Pakistani restaurant named, Koh, a middle eastern influenced joint, Dessert Rose and Zen Asia, a pan-Asian fine dining eatery already open to the public and there are more surprises in store.

Sardar Yasir, CEO of Movenpick hotel Centaurus Islamabad was also very optimistic on the success of the hotel and on the future plans. “We have set our benchmark with world class hotels in the likes of St. Regis, Fairmont, Hilton and this hotel has the largest Presidential Suite in Pakistan covering an area of 320 Sq meters, seeing is believing,” he said while inviting the guest to make Movenpick hotel as their next go-to place. 

It was time for Iftar and the beeline has already been formed at all the serving stations. Many guests were filling their plates with iftar items but a few opted to go straight to the dinner menu. Sizzling dynamite prawns and Au gratin potato cheese balls were in high demand as it is not a routine item at iftar in general. Charcoaled bbq, Mediterranean food in the likes of lamb mandi and spicy fish, pan Asian cuisine represented by sushi, and umpteen Pakistani items in the cauldrons as one lost the count made the Rozadar’s money worth every penny. 

The Centaurus Ballroom was packed with the guests downstairs, so was the roof top restaurant Sky 21 on the top floor of the hotel. It was difficult to decide what to appreciate more, the culinary treat or the observatory experience. The grandeur of the Faisal mosque nestled in between the Margalla hills, the sunset, and the golden blue sky changing colors. It was just mesmerizing.

The open kitchen on the 21st floor was bustling with activities as chefs at both the restaurants, Koh and Zen Asia were busy dishing out vegetable samosa’s, crumbed prawns, cheese balls from the hot woks swimming in cooking oil. Starting with cream of mushroom soup was a good idea instead of fritters.

The soup was light and served as a nourished appetizer to break the fast. The food menu at Sky 21 was different than the one at Centaurus Ballroom. Chicken Kabsa, Lamb Ouzi, and Sama Harra were novelty for a foodie who is in love with Arabic cuisine and knowing that the chef behind these Mediterranean delicacies is an experienced chef from Jordon, makes its quintessential to go for the seconds. As many international dishes require an acquired taste, chicken biryani, mutton karahi and BBQ kebab’s fan club seemed quite happy trying out their regular favorites.  

The Chinese chef from Zen Asia too deserve applause for so artistically crafting the sushi corner as it marveled his artistic craftsmen ship. Supporting the Japanese delight was chicken in pepper sauce and fried rice. A table with in the middle of the hallway with ostentatious presentation of an infused cultural milieu  was not to be missed. Tortillas, variety of cheese, green and black olives, hummus, baba ghanoush, assorted dates, fresh strawberries, undercut beef roast, the display was more like an entree rather an appetizer. It was dessert corner bustled with activity as the bussers cleared the dinner plates from the tables. Pena cotta, kunafa, kheer, gulab jaman and a chocolate foundation were the highlights of this dessert safari. 

The tea helped to offer as a palate cleanser but one could spot a lot of campers even after the sunset as rounds of tea replenishment seems unstoppable. Sky 21 now has adorned a new look by the night and the guests were now looking for their stars in the milky way galaxy.