The team and I were requested to come with an empty stomach for a never-had-before dining experience. We were going to be served a multi-course meal as we spoke about Sarah’s experiences, the challenges she faced and her inspiration behind D’Alma – which translates into ‘The Soul’. We entered the dimly lit restaurant with Sarah waiting to welcome us. One wall was covered with glass bottles while graffiti adorned another. Handicrafts and artwork collected during Sarah’s travels hung on the remaining walls.
As we sat at our table, sangria was poured in our glasses and we got chatting. Having worked at several senior positions in the corporate field, Sarah eventually realised her true calling; food! “I quit my job, packed my bags and travelled,” she shared, adding that “I started working with and writing about chefs and that lead me to learning about their cuisines, the combination of flavours and the importance of understanding the ingredients.”
As our Maltese style grilled fruit salad arrived, Sarah placed emphasis on the fact that not many people in Pakistan talk about gastronomy and its importance when it comes to experiencing food. The lovely aroma kicked in and we could already tell this was going to be an experience we’ve probably never had before in Karachi. With an unplanned path ahead, Sarah stumbled upon two of her biggest inspirations; Kiko Martin and Henrique Sa Pessoa during her travels. “Kiko Martin and Henrique Sa Pessoa inspired me to fall into this trap,” she said, while explaining how D’Alma happened by chance and nothing was planned.
Three more unusual looking dishes arrived at our table as we continued to chat. The ceviche with batata doce, jumbo prawn with potato puree and wasabi chicken (all very unique combinations that neither of us had tried before). The delicious amalgamation of flavours kicked in and our taste buds were most definitely tantalised. Sarah went on to explain how the cuisine at D’Alma is a mixture of uniquely crafted dishes with rich flavours from across Europe. Contrary to popular belief that the eatery serves only Portuguese cuisine, Sarah explained that the cuisine is experimental and cannot be categorised or restricted to just one type.
“I wanted to give back to my country, contribute in some way or another and this is the idea behind the cuisine,” Sarah explained as she delved deeper into her inspiration behind establishing D’Alma. We continued talking over some grilled squid with capers and herbs and Greek cud with undercut smoked beef. Treated with herbs, the flavours were divine and left us wanting more.
Our next plate of food, the squid ink spaghetti served with oregano, thyme, rosemary and dried herbs had us intrigued. The squid meat was tender and the sauces flavourful. Definitely one of our top picks from the whole course and a must-try - especially if you’re a seafood lover. Served exclusively to very few of Sarah’s patrons, we felt humbled to have been served with this delectable dish. “While D’Alma aims to work with local products, many of the dishes use ingredients that are not readily available in Pakistan, so we have to get these imported,” Sarah shared as we were intrigued by the squid ink spaghetti.
As we sipped on our sangrias to clear our palettes, we knew it wasn’t going to end there. Out came two more platters which truly were a visual treat. The Gnocco Fritto – fried bread- topped with an assortment of prawn and beef carpaccio and the Latin taco platter; complete with mouth-watering fillings with a side line of homemade sauces. From the piled chicken to the minced meat and tarter steak, it was difficult to choose our favourite. The meat was scrumptious and the ingredients blended perfectly well together.
After enjoying every last morsel of food, we had lost count of how many courses we had been served and while we would have loved to end our meal on a sweet note, we really didn’t have the capacity for dessert. Our experience at D’Alma was a true awakening of our senses and as Sarah had promised, an experience we had never had before. Each ingredient and each flavour was more unique than the next. Despite the negative reviews, D’Alma may have received; it is most certainly a restaurant that deserves a chance for the change it is trying to bring about to Pakistan’s food culture. On days when we want to splurge, we’re definitely heading back to D’Alma; an eatery where food meets soul!
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