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In the mood for European cuisine? Have a meal at Islamabad’s Sicilian ristorante

In the mood for European cuisine? Have a meal at Islamabad’s Sicilian ristorante

The team behind Cafe Soul returns with a decidedly European take on the cafe
25 Apr, 2016

ISLAMABAD: The delicate strains of Quizás, quizás, quizás over the stereo and the smell of freshly-baked flatbreads that greet the visitor could easily fool you into thinking you’ve arrived at a cafe somewhere in Sicily. But you’re still in Pakistan, albeit an upscale part of the nation’s capital, and Cannoli is very much a locally-run enterprise.

Tucked away like a well-known secret in a corner of Sector F-6, the unassuming eatery has quickly garnered a fan following among the notoriously discerning denizens of Islamabad – thanks mostly to a decidedly European approach to food that is both unique and refreshing among a sea of continental pretenders that attempt to pass off pan-fried chicken as gourmet cuisine.

Despite its diminutive size, the cafe has ample space and is a nice place to sit, complete with a bar and stools for those who want to bring their books and laptops along. The interior is replete with memorabilia and references to Mafioso movies, with the iconic line from The Godfather, ‘Leave the gun, take the cannoli’ emblazoned on a cross-stitched wall hanging.

Manager Naveen Ahmed told Dawn that the cafe was envisioned as a quiet, small place where people could come for a spot of coffee or brunch. This explains why the menu has been reduced to a few select items and categories, but as the owner puts it: “This means we can focus on what we do best.”

Cannoli is the latest venture by Uzma Chaudhry and Dia Haider, the team behind the popular Cafe Soul.

Unsurprisingly, the menu at Cannoli features a number of popular items from the Soul menu, such as the Mushroom and Swiss burger, which still oozes sauce and drips cheese like the real deal.

New additions to the Soul burger menu include a malt-infused beer-cheese burger, as well as the Juicy Lucy, which is supposed to have a cheese-stuffed patty.

The menu at Cannoli features a number of items such as the Mushroom and Swiss burger. — Photo by Ishaque Chaudhry
The menu at Cannoli features a number of items such as the Mushroom and Swiss burger. — Photo by Ishaque Chaudhry

The menu itself extols the customer to ‘Eat dessert first’ and contains a veritable smorgasbord of options, such as tarts, pastries and, of course, finely rolled cannolis. This, Ms Chaudhry says, is down to the chef’s obsession with desserts. “Dia is crazy about desserts and there’s nothing low-calorie about them. She keeps changing the specials and there are new things to try every week or so.”

She even hinted that the famed molten lava cake from Cafe Soul may be making a comeback.

The food is standard European cafe fare, but has been toned down to suit the local palate, as well as working around locally-available produce. “We could go crazy, if only we had the ingredients. Fresh rocket leaves, for example, are a dream. If only I could ensure a consistent supply of quality organic veggies, we would be at par with any cafe in Geneva,” Ms Chaudhry told Dawn.

The flatbreads, or thin crust pizzas as they are better known, are a standout item. In particular, the one with capers and mushrooms is popular for its unique blend of flavours that will be a treat to both the carnivorous and the herbivores.

The salad servings are also quite voluminous and can be had with or without the meat, a good choice to have if you’re friends with a vegetarian.

The cafe even does a special breakfast menu, and it would be a shame not to try the authentic Shakshuka on offer here. This traditional Middle Eastern dish is prepared faithfully, down to the inclusion of caraway, which is not an easy ingredient to find in these parts.

But after conquering the world of rich, high-calorie foods, Cannoli is now looking to offer the diet conscious a healthier alternative for their snack needs. “We’re working with a nutritionist, who is also a fitness instructor, on designing a line of readymade snacks that won’t trouble weight watchers,” Ms Chaudhry told Dawn.


Originally published in Dawn, April 25th, 2016

Comments

PakistaniInPardess Apr 25, 2016 11:19am
this is very good to see these small business being run by Young Pakistanis and most importantly in Pakistan,The themed restaurants are definitely a big yes for the rapidly growing country as Pakistan,People are getting more buying power as More cars are being sold now than in Past five years, so why not growing a restaurant business? I support this Idea,and I have some agricultural land in sargodha very near to water canal,if this resturant need support to grow Organic Ingredients they are more than welcome to join me as i hv tried this a little but soon had to leave country,but arrangements can be made
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Rana Apr 25, 2016 12:48pm
having stipend of only Rs.9600/- i hate to read this article.
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Ijaz Apr 25, 2016 12:51pm
Looks nothing like the Sicilian food I had in Sicily!
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Alyee Apr 25, 2016 01:41pm
This is the good example of a bad presentation of food ever !
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Adma Apr 25, 2016 01:43pm
Caraway is what we call 'white zeera' we practically use it in every other thing in Pakistan and it is not at all hard to find. Its funny how these restaurants and their promoters try to make everything sound so exquisite and exclusive.
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Sarmad Apr 25, 2016 02:04pm
Please forgive me but there is nothing Sicilian about a hamburger oozing sauce and dripping cheese. A superlative-filled PR fluff.
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Foodie Apr 25, 2016 02:10pm
The picture of a horrible looking burger and the name Sicilian Ristorante don't go together. Italians are not fond of burgers and when one is talking about Sicilian food then Swiss burger would be too blend for Sicilian menu.
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Mahmood Apr 25, 2016 03:31pm
Only as European as Chapli Kebab with a slice of local-made 'Swiss' cheese on it! Except the humble Chapli Kebab is a little more appetizing.
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CasualObserver Apr 25, 2016 10:47pm
It seems as though people have nothing to do but criticise incessantly. Those who are complaining of the presence of burgers, you should read the article properly and understand that Cafe Soul is another initiative run by the owners, and they've included some of those menu items (like burgers) in Cannoli, alongside the Sicilian food items. Please read the article properly before commenting and criticising.
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Furqan Shaikh Apr 25, 2016 11:24pm
Name of the restaurant "Sicilian Ristorante" suggests the food to be Italian, but the meal shown in the photo has Zero percent resemblance with Italian food. I know it is not a crime but we should not treat our awam with non-sense just for the sake of business.
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