Tune meets taste in a traditional Indian setting Published: 18:41 January 29, 2010

Music and cooking are creative processes and can either flow like a beautiful raga or leave a bad a taste in your mouth.

Live song performances have always been part of the elegant dining scene in the UAE. Extending the music to your menu, however, is a new concept that Gharana at the Holiday Inn Al Barsha explores.

A “gharana” refers to a famous style or school of classical Indian music or dance. The restaurant offers a medley of flavours from four culinary styles in India — Rajasthani, Punjabi, Lucknowi and Hyderabadi. The dhol and bhangra of Punjab; the colourful ghoomar on the golden sands of Rajasthan; the mushairas of Lucknow; and the mridangam from Andhra Pradesh, one of the originators of Carnatic music, are soulfully blended with dal makhani (black lentils) and lassi (buttermilk); laal maas (slow-cooked mutton); the kebabs and the kachchi biryanis.

But that would be mentioning only some of the mouth-watering dishes on the menu. Each part of the menu comes with eight to ten dishes, including starters, main course and desserts.

The culinary team is led by chef Shaukat Ali Quraishi, who hails from the legendary Quraishi family who have carried the legacy of Nawabi cuisine for over 200 years.

The silver swing just inside the entrance, the arched niches and the dark mahogany furniture are reminder of the glory of the Indian royal homes.

The moving pictures of the digital frames on the walls display Indian history and culture while Deepa and Sudhanshu sing you hit Bollywood and folk songs.

Sudhanshu is great with voice modulation and he sings Mohammad Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Sonu Niigaam and Kumar Sanu with equal ease.

The service is impeccable and the pricing reasonable, considering the portions and the taste. Put together with some great music, it’s the menu for a perfect evening out.