With the skies finally clearing over Karachi after havoc-wreaking rains last week, the Karachi Eat Festival has proven that second time’s the charm! Whether it’s the hordes of foodies coming in to chow down or just families seeking some fun and frolic, the festival swiftly became a bustling destination in the metropolis. However, for those who still haven’t been, we’ve taken the liberty to point out three things you surely missed!
The Food
While this is an obvious thing at a food festival, we all know that not every delight is created equal. Hence, when we recommend things like Lal’s Gelato Puffs, Chai Wala’s Kashmiri Tea, or Breast & Loin’s steak and cheese sandwich, we mean it! And if these gastronomical delights still do not pique your interest, the plethora of desi food available can sway anyone towards it.
However, despite all the varieties, might we point out that there’s a limit to eating Nutella. We’re not kidding. With the amount of Nutella in each and everything there, it might as well be called the Karachi Nutella Festival! So, while desserts are always tempting, probably have them in a limit.
Nutella and strawberry crepes from Crepe Tease (absolutely delicious) and Nutella and strawberry waffles from Bond Street Waffles (an absolute hit). Result = OD of Nutella.
Also, it needs to be pointed out that one goes to a food festival for novelty food, not for restaurant food that is available in the city all year around. If restaurants are present at the food festival, they must make an effort to develop a specific menu.
The Crowd
Despite a huge uproar by the privileged men of the metropolis, the ban on stags created a peaceful environment for families to enjoy. Whether it was a harassment-free zone or the fact that a community of like-minded foodies grew at the festival, the crowd control kept us happy and content throughout. That being said, by no means does one mean that a stag-free zone means less of any evil, but, judging by the kind of situations created recently, it was a welcomed respite from hordes of unwelcome staring.
The Culture
It’s great to have a festival culture in town but given the crowds, the ill-disciplined parking plan and the general dustiness of the venue, better strategy is in order. Hopefully things will be better organized next year.
With Frere Hall as the backdrop, Karachi Eat has become more than just another food festival. Whether it’s the community structure it helps create or the fact that it actually makes people own their public spaces, the festival has easily become a bastion of Karachi’s diverse culture. Plus, the amount of grub we all end up eating already becomes a huge topic to discuss on social media and of course, at the festival itself!
But Hey Careem!
So, we were unable to book a Careem from Mujahid with the Promo Code and because of the jammers at the festival, connectivity was so low that we were unable to book a Careem when we wanted to leave. Result: after standing in front of the Japanese Consulate for half an hour (moving further away from Frere Hall, hoping that 3G would eventually work) we decided to take rickshaws back home and were about to hail one if it weren’t for a known face in the ocean of cars willing to give us a ride back.
