All that Jazz Cafe and Grill!

Written by: Salma Chaudhry - Posted on: October 01, 2014 | Comments

Cooking at the egg station at Jazz Cafe and Grill

I was keen on giving this new place a try purely because of its name – Jazz Café and Grill. Recently, I ate at the newest addition to Lahore’s dining landscape on M.M. Alam Road and was not disappointed.

As you enter the cafe, you see pictures of celebrated jazz rock stars and musicians beautifully displayed on the walls. The decor is pretty good and chairs are comfortable enough that might make you want to stay on for after-dinner drinks as well. Although I was expecting some live musical performances (first thing that comes to my mind when the word ‘jazz’ is mentioned), the restaurant only offer background compositions; they’re rather enjoyable, though, combining quirky horns, conventional guitar, accordion, piano and vibraphone, creating the perfect atmosphere to eat out and relax.

The best pancakes ever!

Jazz offers a complete dining experience. The chefs demonstrate a masterful understanding of food, producing well balanced, novel dishes, presented with panache and meticulous attention to detail. If you’re going for breakfast, the heavy continental menu with waffles, oatmeal, eggs, sausage and fresh fruit is a must. Best to go for the cooked-to-order breakfast, with omelets and scrambled eggs made on the spot. The breakfast pancakes are among the absolute best I’ve ever tasted - downy on the inside and crusty on the outside.

Their Sunday brunch includes a full halwa puri breakfast along with channa bhaji, nihari and roasted chicken. The demand for halwa puri, however, is pretty high so make sure you get there a little earlier in the day as they do sporadically run out. Pair it all up with one of the endless variety of fresh juices on offer.

The tea menu at Jazz is splendid and their coffee will make you buzz too. They offer a dizzyingly large selection of savory and sweet temptations including sauted vegetables, some hot rolls, mini burgers, chocolate coffee mousse, chicken sate, chocolate Diablo, Cadbury cake, a very special bread pudding, along with several varieties of tea or coffee to choose from.

Rich coffee and delectable dessert

This is a venue ideal for people who want to enjoy a calm, tranquil and lavish ambiance whilst they kick back and relax. The place is endemic with interesting Jazzy paraphernalia that is just as striking as the food is tempting, but which also soothes the senses.

On the whole, Jazz Café and Grill is a great place to wind down and lighten up because of the well trained staff, who are always wearing an inviting smile for everyone. Needless to say, you need to try out the place at least once.

As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
January 2021