Bahrain’s most exciting new Indian restaurant, Jashan, now serves up a flavourful Indian brunch. Farah Baig tells us about the delightful feast.
Growing up in the Middle East, being surrounded by family on a Friday has turned into an unspoken tradition. Strolling into Wyndham Garden Manama’s spectacular Indian restaurant – Jashan, I soon realised that the warm and welcoming atmosphere of their brunch was perfect for a Friday feast with family – the wafting aroma of spices, bustle of their live cooking stations and welcoming team made us feel right at home.
Going through the extravagant spread, it’s clear that celebrity Chef Jainul Khan and his team have presented the best of Indian cuisine – aromatic curries, light and refreshing chats, sumptuous khatti rolls, and a colourful array of desserts. To start our dining experience, we had Chef Jainul put together some delicious chat: Pani Puri, Dahi Papdi Chat and Bhel Puri, washed down with bottomless Mango Lassi and Jal Jeera.
While we whet our appetite, our hostess served vegetarian and non-vegetarian starters at the table. Of the vegetarian starters, the clear favourite was the Paneer Tikka while the tender and flavourful Malai Chicken Tikka took centre-stage with the non-vegetarian varieties. The Lamb Seekh Kebab and Fish Tikka (made with the freshest of hammour) were succulent too. The Kathi rolls were a delicious combination of paneer or chicken, in a rich gravy, rolled in a fresh paratha that’s then toasted on a skillet.
Scouring the main courses we set our eyes on the aromatic Dum Chicken Biriyani, which we paired with raita, fresh chilis and green chutney. Avid Indian cuisine enthusiasts appreciate the Dum cooking process as it seals in the flavour and fragrance of the spices resulting in an unforgettable, concentrated taste.
Jashan does nothing by half measures so we were pleased to tuck into the abundance of curries including a few fan favourites such as the Chicken Makhani, Paneer Butter Masala, Dal Jashan and Mutton Rogan Josh. Freshly-made garlic naan was the best companion for the Mutton Rogan Josh which was beautifully cooked to a tender, melt-in-your-mouth consistency. The Paneer Butter Masala was a flawless combination of pillowy-soft paneer cubes and delightfully creamy curry while the boneless Chicken Makhani had us revisiting the spread for seconds.
It’s worth mentioning that while each and every dish had a terrific blend of flavours, we thoroughly enjoyed experimenting with the array of chutneys and other condiments to surprise our palates. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy the delightful tang of perfectly pickled shallots?
Indian mithais have grown to be an essential addition to celebrations and festivals in India, but we didn’t need a special occasion to gorge on Jashan’s tantalising desserts. Embellished with a sheet of edible silver, the Shahi Tukda is a Mughal dessert that proved to be fit for royalty with its rich creamy milk and mix of textures. The Phirni (bowls of rice pudding) had the unmistakable flavour of saffron and was topped with crushed pistachios. The Kubani ki Halwa, was something completely new to us – a rich blend of fresh apricots cooked down to a jam-like consistency. Revisiting a classic, we ended our meal with the warm, comforting Gulab Jamuns – a sweet finish to our Jashan feast.
Jashan enchanted us with their quaint atmosphere and fantastic brunch (priced at just BD 10). So, needless to say, it’s sure to become a regular for our Friday family feasts.
