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    Karachi Eat 2018: The Good & the Bad

    Written by: Hareem Zafar
    Posted on: January 16, 2018 | | 中文

    Karachi Eat 2018

    Holding true to its legacy, Karachi Eat Food Festival opened its gates to the foodies of Karachi, for the 5th time in a row on January 12th, 2018. The most awaited event of the year, KEFF was even bigger and better this time around.

    Relocated from its previous venue of Frere Hall to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park, the three day long food festival welcomed hordes of people from all age groups. The entry passes were for Rs. 300 each. However, unpredictable delays, long queues and complaints about poor management, made many people change their minds to visit on Day 2. We rolled up our sleeves and finally leaped into Karachi Eat 2018 on Day 3, and it was totally worth it! The event saw possibly the largest turnout of people, all eager to try out the whopping 125 stalls set up this year.

    From hosting famous eateries such as Chatterbox, Roaster’s, Butler’s Chocolate, the Waffle Cart to the relatively newer food ventures such as Naan Sahab, Fry Guys, Meat the Cheese, Hot Bombz, Poffertjes, 2 Guys 1 Grll etc, the festival showcased a diverse variety of eateries.

    Mashed Potato Balls at Hot Bombz!

    Mashed Potato Balls at Hot Bombz!

    With rumbling tummies, we entered the event ready to drive away those hunger pangs with something filling yet easy on the pocket. We hit the Hot Bombz stall and were intrigued by the colorful, fluffy, mashed potato balls. Crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, the BBQ Bombz were flavorsome, but nothing out of the ordinary for Rs. 250. The drizzled siracha mayo was a definite hit, adding flavor to the otherwise bland batter.

    Offering a unique way to serve their famous raclette cheese, we then ordered Insanely Cheesy Burgers and Smoked Beefed Panini from Meat the Cheese for Rs. 300 each, and the cheese just melted in our mouths. Their cheesy chick on a stick is also a must try on the menu.  For Rs. 300, the Chicken Cheddar Melt Naan from Naan Sahab was to die for; filled with a scrumptious chicken and cheese filling, it was totally satisfying in terms of flavor and quantity. Their Paneer Reshmi Naan was one of the hit items of the festival too!

    Chicken Cheddar Melt at Naan Sahab and Insanely Cheesy by Meat the Cheese

    Chicken Cheddar Melt at Naan Sahab (L), Insanely Cheesy by Meat the Cheese (R)

    One of the major highlights of the event was the Fry Guys! For Rs. 250, their deep fried chicken in a waffle cone was a hit! The line was the longest at this stall but after 20 minutes of waiting in a queue, the result was worth it. Perfectly deep-fried delectable chicken pieces, served in a waffle cone, poured with tangy, sweet and sour sauces - it was a snack sent from heaven! Another option, the two freshly cooked chicken balls dipped in succulent cheese for Rs. 100 at the Nurpur stall, were also lip-smacking and so easy on the pocket. Serving the cheapest dishes at the event was Dalda with Fish and Chips & Chai for only Rs. 40!

    Cheeseballs at the Nurpur Stall and Deep Fried Chicken in a Waffle Cone by Fry Guys

    Cheeseballs at the Nurpur Stall (L), Deep Fried Chicken in a Waffle Cone by Fry Guys (R)

    Moving onto the sweets, serving ice pops for Rs. 150, the pomegranate and chocolate brownie combo was a hit at Ice Pop Co.! The chilled ice-lolly was the perfect answer to the blistering noon sun. However, while talking about desserts, the Minikins from Poffertjes stole the show - 6 mini pancakes for Rs. 200, topped with nutella and strawberries, and sprinkled with sugar. They were heavenly, I must say!

    Minikins from Poffertjes and Pomegranate Pop by Ice Pop Co.

    Minikins from Poffertjes (L), Pomegranate Pop by Ice Pop Co. (R)

    Wrapping it up, the ‘nays’ from the event were the Cheesy Nachos from Nacho Khan. Drowning in sauce, the soggy nachos instantly made me regret the Rs. 300 I spent on them! The Pizza Fries from CheezSheez for Rs. 250 was totally disappointing too.

    Cheesy Nachos from Nacho Khan and Pizza Fries from CheezSheez

    Cheesy Nachos from Nacho Khan (L), Pizza Fries from CheezSheez (R)

    Since the event was ‘families only,’ a cordial environment was maintained throughout. There were volunteers picking up the trash while a play area for kids was also set up. Tables and chairs were arranged near different stalls along with stand-alone tables for visitors, but since it was a Sunday, these got occupied pretty fast. As early birds, we happened to be quite lucky, since post 3 pm the venue got considerably congested.

    Several stalls offered live cooking and free tastings, along with games and other exciting activities that kept the customer engaged. Unfortunately, some other popular items I couldn’t try out were - Chaat Shots from Kuiya, Donut Burgers at 2 Guys 1 Grll, and the Chimney Cakes at Café Praha. The musical gig by Atif Aslam on Day 2 and the breathtaking fireworks on Day 3 were truly the cherry on top!


    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