Including the finest locations to enjoy iftar in London, Layla Hassanali discusses how Ramadan helps her feel more connected to her faith, family, and cuisine.
Not even water, I say. A term that will be well-known to the 1.9 billion Muslims who practice fasting worldwide. Muslims who are not incapacitated are required to fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, known as Ramadan. Muslims believe that was the time when the Holy Prophet received the Quran, making it one of the holiest months in Islam. At this time, and by fasting, they are urged to deepen their spirituality to become nearer to Allah. Muslims are cultivating their compassion and thankfulness while upholding one of Islam's five pillars.
Ramadan was one of my favorite months of the year as a child. The suhoor meal, which is had with family in the early morning hours before the fast begins at dawn, brings back happy memories for me. When I was young, having a mini-feast early in the morning with all of my older siblings and parents was exciting and entertaining. I would keep track of how many seconds I had left to down a big glass of water before the fast started.
Mum would fry up exquisite platters of crispy samosas, bhajis, and pakoras for us kids to distribute to our close neighbors from the neighborhood an hour before iftar, the fast-breaking meal served after sundown. My stomach started to growl just from the short walk to their homes carrying a dish of hot, fresh food, but the array of treats we would get in exchange made the trip worthwhile. And if we weren't breaking fast at home, we would all be together for iftar at a family member or friend's home. I was in utter happiness as a 9–10-year–old for a full 30 days of late nights, delectable fried foods, seeing my friends, and, of course, receiving gifts for Eid at the end!
Yet as we become older, life as we know it changes. As a result of my siblings getting married, moving away, or having children, suhoor ceased to be the elaborate meal it once was and instead evolved into a quick bowl of cereal. The same could be said about iftar since I now had to hurry through my assignments for school or university. Ramadan had a unique effect on me, but that was changing. The moment eventually came for me to leave the family home and begin observing the Ramadan customs for my new family.
Moving ahead to the present, Ramadan has changed, and while certain traditions are regretfully slowly disappearing, new ones are always being created. Now that I'm a parent, Ramadan means something new to me. Although I still enjoy a few freshly fried samosas at iftar and spend more time with my friends during this month, I now view Ramadan as a 30-day chance to genuinely reflect on the past year and strengthen my connection with Allah. One thing is for certain: I'll keep making an effort to make Ramadan memorable for my children as they become older, just as my mother used to do for the three of us back in the day.
Also, I must remark that it is now simpler to observe Ramadan in the UK. Muslims do not feel alone throughout the month of Ramadan, it would seem, as the UK has gradually begun to recognize Ramadan for what it is. It has evolved into such a great time for Muslim gatherings, as evidenced by the Mayor of London's Eid In The Square celebration. Muslims are now more able to breakfast outside the home and freely share their experience of the holy month with non-Muslims thanks to charitable iftars organized around the nation by the Open Iftar project and unique iftar menus offered by several eateries. The list of restaurants offering iftar meals may be seen below.
5 locations to have iftar during Ramadan
Great Portland Street's Honey and Smoke
The Honey and Smoke crew has secured halal meat, which they do not often serve, specifically for this occasion, and will serve an iftar meal throughout Ramadan for a memorable event. Here, you may start your fast with smoked almonds and ripe dates to dip in date molasses and tahini. After a variety of mezze, a big skewer of flavorful chicken, lamb, and veggie shish with salads will be presented. With small desserts, including the well-known feta and honey cheesecake, and limitless mint tea, your dinner will come to a delicious conclusion. 10% of the earnings from the £65 per person iftar meal are donated to Choose Love in support of the Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Location: 216 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5QW
Ramadan: This is what the Islamic month of fasting looks like for me https://t.co/thy7bonVek pic.twitter.com/ByBvVPagmr
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Open Iftar, several places
More than ten years ago, the Ramadan Tent Project launched the Open Iftar initiative to bring together people of various faiths and cultures to break the fast. Their daily iftars, held across the country from Trafalgar Square to Coventry Cathedral, have helped them connect over 500,000 people as part of their mission to build bridges between diverse communities. If you want to learn more about Islam and get a taste of what Ramadan is all about, this is a great option. Just make sure to reserve your spot for the following big iftar as soon as possible!
St. Johns Wood's Ritu
Ritu has created an outstanding iftar menu for families and friends to break fast together in St. John's Wood. After receiving your appetizers of corn and jalapeño samosas and yellow pepper pakoras, you will be given a tray of dates, fruits, a rose and nut sherbet, and laban (a buttermilk drink) to break your fast for £30 per person. Soon after, the main course of chicken tikka and lamb chapli kebabs prepared in the Nawabi manner is served along with masala and cheese kulcha.
Ritu can be found at 1 Blenheim Terrace in London, NW8 0EH.
URL: ritu.london
Stockley Park's The Orangery by Sapnas
If you want to take the family out during Ramadan, The Orangery by Sapnas' three-course iftar meal is a perfect choice. Before being offered a variety of appetizers, such as the renowned Sapna's aloo papri chaat, masala fish, seekh kebab, and chicken tikka, you will be given Medjool dates and crispy pakoras to break your fast with. Then, finish your dinner with some delicious gajar halwa and kulfi with kadak tea. The main courses include butter chicken, palak paneer, and lamb karahi with rice and fresh naan. After this lunch, you won't even need to eat suhoor!
Address: Stockley Park, Hayes, The Orangery, Golf Club, Uxbridge, UB11 1AQ
URL: theorangery.uk
Paddington, Melur by Pak Awie x Nasi Bungkus
Visit the iftar buffet at the Melur by Pak Awie restaurant, which has partnered with Alia Ahmed of Nasi Bungkus, for some of the best Malaysian food in the area. Anticipate tables piled high with many traditional Malaysian delicacies, such as fruit platters, sweets, and enough of teh tarik and kopi tarik (tea and coffee mixed with sweet condensed milk) to keep you going into the night. All of the aforementioned items are available for £25 per person, but reservations are required.
Melur is located at 175A Edgware Road in Tyburnia, London W2 1ET.
URL: melur.co.uk