During the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan, Double Tree by Hilton replaces its popular buffet evenings with a delicious Iftar. The Islamic faithful break their daily fast with this special meal served at sunset but this is also a culinary occasion for all to enjoy a delightful range of Middle Eastern and Tanzanian dishes.
The hotel provides dates from Saudi Arabia for those wishing to break the fast in the traditional manner. Also available is a nicely marinated selection of dried fruit, a speciality prepared by Chef Ayman Hady whose talented team lays on a full buffet which changes on a daily basis throughout Ramadan.
The northern Tanzanian favourite Mtori was served as the soup course during our visit. The banana and beef chunks were blended in a really tasty soup that was very satisfying. This was followed by the salad course with several freshly-prepared options to enjoy with a good array of vinaigrettes, dressings, mint yoghurt and olives. In addition, marinated salads with egg, chicken, shrimps and noodles were also served. Next on the menu was bhajia za Dengu, a Swahili appetizer made from chickpea flour followed by mezze (selection of small Middle Eastern dishes). Fluffy pitta bread was the perfect accompaniment to the hummus and Baba Ganoush, a delicious smokey aubergine dip. The classic Middle Eastern eggplant salad together with the Fatoush salad of croutons with tomatoes and cucumber were both delicious. Chef Ayman recommends diners combine the mezze with hot skewers from the BBQ. For this particular evening, diners enjoyed Lamb Kofta (superbly marinated minced lamb on a skewer), seafood (tasty marinated chunks of Calamari, Red Snapper and Prawns) and chicken mishkaki (grilled boneless meat).
One must leave space for the main courses that reflect the rich, diverse and delicious dishes of Tanzania’s regions. The popular Coastal staple of Pilau (rice cooked with spices) went well with the Samaki Paka of Red Snapper fillet cooked in a perfectly-prepared tomato and coconut sauce. The Chicken Makange, a Dar-es-Salaam speciality, was a triumphant rich and satisfying version of this dish that combined tomato, onion, garlic sauce, parsley, capsicum and lime juice. Room for more? From Tanga came the Beef Karanga ̶ diced meat cooked in a marvellous peanut sauce. There was also the hearty North Tanzanian stew of matoke (green bananas and beef) with sautéed vegetables.
The desserts covered many Swahili treats such as Kashata (a brittle made from peanut in this version); Kalmati (sweet dumplings); Visheti (mini sweet pastries) and more! The cake was a delightfully light sponge whose batter, filling and snow-white frosting had the unmistakeable flavour of coconut. There were also platters of tropical fruit.
Angel, our efficient and friendly waitress, kept us supplied with a selection of juices. These included Kamar (made from dry apricots), Tamarind, Rosella and Vimto (the British cordial now an Iftar staple in many Arabic states). The meal price also includes coffee and a selection of teas.
This great value Iftar offers a range of really well-prepared Middle Eastern and Tanzanian dishes in the magnificent ocean setting of the outdoor terrace. Pre-booking is advised for groups while a range of special deals are available for corporate bookings.
Enjoy Iftar at Double Tree By Hilton Hotel Dar es Salaam every evening during holy month of Ramadan for TSH 50,000 Per Person.
For Reservations call +255 779 999 026.
