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

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 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.

Model Abeer gives acting a shot in Sahir Lodhi's Raasta

Is drama on the runway getting old for model Adeel Rizvi? She's signed on to make her acting debut in Sahir Lodhi's action packed thriller Raasta.

We saw a glimpse of her in the recently released trailer of the film, where it's obvious that she plays a doctor:

Abeer confirms this, "I play a doctor who is very committed to her profession yet a highly passionate woman who ends up falling in love."

The film also stars Sahir Lodhi, Shamoon Abbasi, Naveed Raza, Aijaz Aslam, Sana Fakhr and former model Saima Azhar. According to Azhar's earlier interview with Images, she and Sahir play the lead roles in the film.

About her first-time acting experience, Abeer said, "Acting was more fun than I thought it would be. I actually felt quite at home and relaxed. So while it was challenging as a new profession, it was also a lot of fun."

She hopes to keep up the acting gigs:

"I have always wanted to branch into acting. I knew I had an actress in me and that I would be good at it. I'm looking forward to my future projects, and hopefully you'll see me on the big screen soon."

What happens when Karachi goes to Hyderabad for a Sufi music festival?

During our two days in Hyderabad we made at least twenty new friends, all of whom exchanged their numbers with us and promised to meet when they were in Karachi.

There was the duo who carried a guitar and strummed tunes as we walked along; the girl we stopped to ask for directions who became our friend later; two Karachiites who had hopped on a bus to the festival just a few hours ago; their poodle Tina; the policeman who shared smokes and life experiences with us; the twins who were poets and artists; KU students who wanted to talk radical politics; the large crowd of music loving friends who huddled everyone into a crowd so they could sing for us; and the group of high school students who had just decided to volunteer their time to the festival, because as they said, “things like these rarely happened in the city.”

Tina, the poodle. One of the friends we made on our way.

Lahooti Mela — the Sufi festival — was taking place after a long hiatus. When we planned our trip, it was the music we were thinking about, not so much the people attending. Sounds of Kolachi, Mai Dhai, The Sketches, Zoe Viccaji, Gumby and Sara Haider — all in once place, in two days, and of all places —Hyderabad.

The Lahooti Mela took place after a long hiatus

The two days were quiet and serene when they weren't filled with bursts of music. In the morning, this came from the hordes of men setting up the stage, erecting tents and lifting instruments.

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The festival's energy, as it built up, stayed throughout the weekend. On Friday night, the Sketches launched their new album and performed for the first time in their home city. Perhaps that explained the crowd of 3,000 people — more than I one might imagine at a festival in Hyderabad.

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By afternoon, the sounds were the rush of people, occasionally the tapping of feet, and conversations in all tenors interrupted by music in Urdu, Sindhi, and languages we did not understand. All emanated from a tent smack in the center of the main garden of Niaz Stadium, the chosen venue... sometimes the crooning of Arieb Azhar, sometimes the fierce voice of Mai Dhai.

The place would soon erupt into a series of mini bhangra parties

Aside from the main tent, where people sprawled on every inch of the floor and others stood around them in a circle, the festival’s arrangements were minimal. Except for a second tent hosting food stalls, and an area further down for the main stage, the garden consisted of no elaborate decor but was cleverly planned; there was enough space for people to move about.

As the day got hotter, more attendees shuffled indoors to attend the panel discussions — festivals in our part of the world are incomplete without them, it seems!

Panel discussions weren't a bore

Speakers discussed everything from poetry to politics, but memorable moments were Ali Noor, Zohaib Qazi and Sara Haider opening up about their creative processes; the audience rippling with laughter (even those who could not understand Sindhi) every time poet Hafiz Nizamani took the mic; Suhaee Abro gracing the stage with her fierce presence; and YBQ regaling the audience (as always) with experiences of life and love.

An added bonus was the brief music performances before each panel.

Spontaneous dance circles broke out at Lahooti Mela

The crowd was headbanging by the time Gumby finished his set before his ‘beat to bucks’ panel, Nizamani garnered more laughter than I have heard in a single room, boys broke into bhangra when folk music was playing, first one, then two -- then a whole circle in sync, and singers joined the audience when they weren’t on stage, participating with the crowd.

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The Rs800 ticket meant many who wanted to attend could not. I couldn’t help but think how gatekeeping limits access and unfortunately, goes hand in hand with our ideas of promoting (and preserving) art and culture.

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The energy, as it built up, stayed throughout the weekend. On Friday night, the Sketches launched their new album and performed for the first time in their home city. Perhaps that explained the crowd of 3,000 people — more than I one might imagine at a festival in Hyderabad.

Sounds of Kolachi's were one of the anticipated performances at the mela

Despite the fact that an impressive number of people had shown up from all over the country and all over the city, the 800 rupees ticket meant there were many who could not. I couldn’t help but think how gatekeeping limits access and unfortunately, goes hand in hand with our ideas of promoting (and preserving) art and culture.

Still, Lahooti managed a convivial mood and spirit I have not seen in all of Karachi’s literary festivals and food galas. And all of this in the company of music.

Many panelists talked about their love and drive for music, and others elaborated on their passion their province and language. There was plenty of community to go around because of shared pleasure — it was visible at moments in the crowd too: when the audience collectively asked a speaker to switch over to Sindhi; when boys were urged by their friends to get up and dance to folk music, and they did not refuse; when volunteers helplessly explained that musicians could not comply to their demands of encore but no one minded; and when musicians and singers themselves got up — while continuing to play their hearts out — to join the audience in tapping to their own beat, perhaps their bodies inspired by crowd’s response.

Front seat: The truth is out there

If this is what first time director Dan Trachtenberg is capable of, then I can’t wait to see more. In 10 Cloverfield Lane, he has crafted a film that surprises on multiple levels.

For one, although the film is a sequel to the hugely successful horror sci-fi Cloverfield, it doesn’t employ the ‘found footage’ style that its predecessor utilised so wonderfully. This is surprising because sequels to such films are usually concerned with rehashing a successful formula rather than experimenting with something new. For the other, it stars comedic actor John Goodman (Howard Stambler), in a role highly unusual for the performer, as a possible psychopath.

Yes, it would be fair to say that 10 Cloverfield Lane is a highly unconventional film. It is a thrilling and suspenseful piece of claustrophobic work by Trachtenberg that largely takes place inside the basement of a house. The film begins like a kidnapping, and without giving too much away, slowly evolves into something far more substantial. For this reason, the film’s biggest disappointment is that it makes a break for the conventional during its finale.

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10 Cloverfield Lane may begin like a kidnapping but gradually it evolves into something far more sinister

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When 10 Cloverfield Lane beings, we are introduced to Michelle, who is played in an excellent turn by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Michelle drives on a dark and empty Louisiana road after getting into an argument with her significant other, while ignoring all attempts by him to reach her cell phone. Without warning, she finds her car struck by a pickup, in a crash that leaves her unconscious.

When she comes to, to her alarm, Michelle finds herself chained on a cold concrete floor. Here, she meets Howard, who looks far from a typical perverted abducter. Howard carefully explains to her that he recovered her from the accident, and brought her down to his bunker. He also tells her that a chemical weapons attack of some sort took place during her accident, leaving the outside world completely inhospitable for human beings.

Caught in disbelief, Michelle reacts with skepticism. Soon, she meets another captive, Emmett DeWitt (John Gallagher, Jr.), who she befriends. Michelle has her opportunity, and steals Howard’s keys in order to escape. However, when she reaches the door, she finds a woman named Leslie (Suzanne Cryer) on the other side begging to be let in. All of Michelle’s skepticism vanishes, when in a creepy sequence, Lesley dies a horrible death from a fast-acting infection. In spite of this, Michelle finds another reason to be mistrustful of Howard when she recalls something from her accident.

While Howard told our heroes the truth about the chemical weapons attack, he hid from them something far more sinister. Without giving too much away, Michelle and Emmett spend 10 Cloverfield Lane slowly uncovering the truth in scenes that both surprise and delight.

The performances here are excellent. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is very good as the strongly written female character who continues to fight in spite of the odds. Similarly, John Goodman is excellent in his turn as a paranoid man who could either be very good, or very bad. Just like Michelle, we have our hearts in our mouths as we try to decipher the truth.

Rated PG13 for thematic material including frightening sequences of threat with some violence, and brief language

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, April 10th, 2016

5 niche brands Pakistani celebrities just need to endorse

When you're an infant brand just starting out in the fashion industry getting your product out there can be a daunting experience.

You know how they say you have to spend money to make money? That's how it is; a ton of cash goes into marketing your label. However, sometimes you hit the jackpot with the right celebrity endorsement.

It's common knowledge now that when a style-savvy celebrity is spotted wearing a product it tends to fly off the shelves. Case in point: Kate Middleton. Most of what the duchess is spotted in gets sold out in hours. Closer to home starlets like Sonam Kapoor take risks with young designers. We'd love to see more of that in Pakistan.

Here are 5 niche Pakistani brands that should have celebs bringing them to our notice:

Mumtaz Jahan

The label that's exclusively available at House of Aphrodite in Lahore has been on our radar for a while and we can't figure out why not many celebs have been spotted wearing their pieces. Whimsical yet subdued, there's something special about Mumtaz Jahan's fusion wear.

Fusion wear is all the rage and Mumtaz Jahan is doing the trend justice

SOMA

How are these quirky khussas not being coveted by every other starlet out there?

Attention to detail coupled with comfort, what's not to love? A pearly pair of these were spotted in Elan's latest lawn campaign so we're hoping it's going to get this brand some much deserved traction.

Now that the shalwar has also made a comeback, these khussas will look even better paired with a dhoti shalwar

Mina Siddique

Mina Siddique is a Dubai-based IVS graduate who's taken her passion for fine arts and translated it into clothing. We reckon since Mahira Khan rocked Feeha Jamshed's zebra print sari, she might take a liking to the label's pop-art inspired saris.

Mahira looks smashing in this animal print Feeha sari; she could totally pull off Mina's funky saris

Jeem by Hamza Bokhari

Out of the four budding designers who were part of the Bank Alfalah Rising Talent show at PLBW last year, Hamza stood out right from the start and ended up winning the segment too. His brand, Jeem prides itself on excellent craftsmanship and while socialites love the clothes, we haven't seen too many celebs repping the brand -- it's time for that to change!

Hamza takes inspiration from his heritage and culture

Sui Clothing

The new kid on the block, Sui Clothing is still a bit of a mystery. Some pictures from their campaign caught our eye on Instagram and we're been intrigued ever since. Minimal chic crop tops and blouses are always a good addition to one's wardrobe and that's what Sui seems to be about; maybe Ayesha Omer should give them a shoutout, their pieces are right up her alley!

5 pressing questions Batman vs Superman totally fails to answer

Forgive me for being demanding, but when you put two superheroes in a film – one being the near indestructible Superman and the other being tech-savvy, ahead-of-his-time Batman – planet saving should be an easier job.

I mean, the X-men and Avengers managed mostly okay. Not so in the latest from DC Comics.

The film pits Batman against Superman – which is fine, it’s a battle that piqued the curiosity of thousands of fans and sold all the tickets. However, while the two are engaged in a series of one-upping action sequences, villain Lex Luthor is able to exploit their hostility to mastermind a plan of mass wreckage. That should make them feel pretty dumb, except that they show more evidence of brawn than brain through most of the film.

No wonder the city is a mess... just like the film. Batman vs Superman not only reduced the beloved superheroes to caricature but is also full of plot holes that fans find difficult to forgive.

Here are five pressing questions the film should've been able to answer, but didn't.

1. Do Batman and Superman have any good reason to hate each other?

Plot spoiler: We're told Batman hates Superman because he “brought the fight to us”, as in all the aliens that followed him to Earth and destroyed almost all of Metropolis in Man of Steel. Superman hates Batman because he suspects he’s up to no good. We’re never sure why; his editor at Daily Planetthinks he's a non-issue. Oh well. Commence the battle!

Really, these are not good reasons for superheroes who are essentially on the same side to hate each other.

In my estimation, Batman and Superman basically don’t like not being the only hero in town. Each thinks the other doesn’t do a good enough job of saving the city/country/planet. So they forget their primary duty of saving the city/country/planet and try to thwart each other’s attempts to do just that. It's really just male aggression on overdrive.

(Spoilers) First case in point: Superman forces Batman’s detour during his chase of the Kryptonite-carrying vehicle, which allows Lex Luthor to get a hold of it. (Sure, Batman also had anti-Superman weaponry, not world peace, in mind, but it's less disastrous than how Lex would have used the Kryptonite.) Second case in point: Batman gives Superman a sound thrashing (after exposing him to some of the same Kryptonite he had to steal from Lex later) and refuses to give ear to the imminent danger to Superman’s mother and everyone else (in the larger scheme of things).

And what does it take for the boys to cool down? Superman’s revelation that he and Batman’s mother have the same name. What?!

So, it could have taken one stiff conversation ages ago for those two to settle their differences and fight the bad guys together, but no. Not before the boys had a rough-and-tumble in somebody’s abandoned backyard (what is that random building anyway?). Ugh.

2. Why did Superman say ‘Martha’ in the first place?

Plot spoiler: In the above battle scene, Batman is moments away from taking Superman's life when Superman utters 'Save Martha', referring to his mother whose death Lex Luthor has ordered if Superman fails to produce Batman's head to him. Batman has an instant change of heart and really does go save Martha.

But seriously, who calls their mom by their first name? And couldn't Superman just say 'Save my mother'? It would have the same thawing effect on Batman, who knows all too well how trying the loss of a parent can be.

3. Why didn't Superman save his own mom?

Plot spoiler: So Superman and Batman are quick to reconcile and Batman goes to save Superman's mom while Superman goes to confront Lex Luthor.

Given that a) Superman doesn’t have to take the stairs, b) can pretty much flit in and out of places and c) has zero qualms about leaving gaping holes in buildings, I don’t understand why he didn’t just save his own mother. It would take him all of… five minutes, tops, to burst in, grab his mom, fly out while a volley of bullets bounce off his steel bod. And he could then join Batman at Lex’s new lair to show him, ‘Look, we’re a team now!’.

But Batman is sent to rescue mom, which takes a lot of bullet dodging, flame dodging and surviving an explosion. What a waste of ammo.

4. Why can't Superman have more... finesse?

Sure, his missions come with the element of urgency, but does he really have to cause so much of a mess?

We don't see Clark Kent ripping open doors and throwing over tables to swat a fly in the office of the Daily Planet, so why does he have to such a dangerous, life-endangering klutz when he's donning the red cape?

It's not just buildings he's destroying, he's costing people's lives. Does he really think the building he left crumbling won't crush at least half a dozen people. No wonder Batman can't stand him.

5. Why is Batman's mask just plain dumb?

This bears repeating: Batman's mask is just plain dumb. As a disguise, it needs to be pointed at and made fun of. For it fails to cover up Bruce Wayne's (as in Ben Affleck's) super-distinctive butt-chin. How does no one guess that Wayne is Batman is beyond me.

Also, it catches fire.. a lot. At the end of every other action scene, one tiny piece of the mask is in the process of slowly melting. If he can make a super-solid Batmobile, why can't the mask be made of stronger stuff?