Dishes from across Pakistan are being served at the festival. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
A five-day-long regional food festival kicked off on the lawns of Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel on Friday night.
Traditional cuisines from across the country were on display at different stalls which attracted a large number of visitors as live music played at the venue.
Among the diverse array of dishes were specials from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa such as Kabuli pulao, chapli kabab and other barbeque items. Sindh was represented by its haleem and biryani, while sajji and dum pukht flew the flag for Balochistan. Some of the main attractions from Punjab were lassi and kata-kat.
Organisers said the purpose of the event was to present culture, tradition and music to the people of the city and show the rest of the world that K-P is peaceful, vibrant and culturally diverse.
As they enjoyed their meals, foodies listened to musicians playing the rubab, sitaar and other instruments live. “More such events should be organised as they can breathe life into the city which has been affected by disturbances for more than a decade,” said Dr Fatima, a visitor attending the food festival with her family.
She said the event showcased the traditions of art and music to the public on the spacious lawns of the hotel. “To add to the fun, the different local cuisines were delightful,” Dr Fatima added.
“The surge of militancy and unrest shaped certain perceptions about the city and its people,” said PC General Manager Sheharyar Mirza.
He added the great response from the city’s residents showed that locals were enthusiastic about food, culture and traditions and wanted these things preserved.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 22nd, 2015.
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