The most delicious food is often the simplest, served in a straightforward manner, and this was certainly the case for Darren when he visited the Omani capital, Muscat. Despite staying in one of the Middle East's most luxurious resorts, his top meal of the trip was a traditional affair of lamb and date stew with rice in a local restaurant in downtown Mutrah.
"I was lucky enough to be staying at the gorgeous Al Husn at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort, on the Omani coast outside of Muscat. It's a stunning property, and the food there was to die for. One day, however, I ventured outside of the resort to explore a little of Muscat, and to sample some local cuisine. Muscat itself is a fascinating place, with walled fortresses and the Sultan's Palace in the old city, while nearby Mutrah is the commercial area.
After exploring the brilliant souq here, I headed outside to find something to eat. Just behind the Souq, on the main road from Mutrah to the Old City, a small, local restaurant seemed like a good option. The menu was typical Middle Eastern options of chicken, falafel and kebabs, with a Lebanese influence as is common throughout Oman. One dish looked particularly good - a traditional lamb and date stew. For just a few pounds, I had a feast - the stew itself was delicious, with tasty meat slowly cooked with the dates, and served with traditional flat breads cooked in a huge oven, plus a variety of salads (which I have to say I declined, as I couldn't vouch for where the water to wash them in had come from - 'peel it, boil it or leave it' remains my basic motto for eating in various parts of the world!)" |
|
|
