Pantry Café are inviting diners to eat their way around the world in eight dishes, with a special limited edition, all-day summer breakfast menu.
On offer – until the end of August only – are a series of distinct recipes recalling eight different cuisines on three different continents.
There’s familiar favourites – the “Parisian” is a Croque Madame, the “Canadian” a hearty pancake stack, while the “Full English” is bordering on obligatory for many an eatery.
However, it was the more exotic fare which intrigued me most, when I stopped by the original Al Wasl venue for a long, lazy – and very greedy – weekend breakfast. I somehow found space to try three different dishes...
The Mexican black bean torta (Dh45) was a delight – a spicy stack of soft velvety beans, avocado salsa, fresh rocket and a perfectly poached egg atop fluffy farmhouse bread. A wholesome, hearty dish lent the distinctive kick of coconut mayo.
Most intriguing was the “Asian” (Dh45), a light, bright “tofu scramble”. Served like scrambled eggs, it’s a mash of tofu cooked with sautéed vegetables and spiced liberally a cumin-esque flavour. Earthy and fresh, I was convinced it must contain egg – but was promised it’s nothing but bean curd, making this a much healthier alternative, and creating a vegan-friendly option. The most unique thing on the menu.
But I couldn’t leave without trying the shakshuka (Dh52), the popular Middle Eastern offering which was apparently established as a house speciality long before this special menu was crafted. Served in a huge, hot skillet, it’s easy to see why. For the unconverted, it’s a moreish breakfast treat of poached eggs in a wet bed of tomatoes, chillies and onions – an ideal day-starter, believed to have North African origins. A dish I’ve tried numerous times, I’d struggle to recommend a better example than Pantry’s offering, here served scattered with light feta cheese.
Highly recommended – everything I tried I’d gladly order again, and all the prices were reasonable. But hurry – you only have a few weeks to eat yourself around the world.
The special breakfast menu will be served until the end of August, most dishes Dh45.
Pantry Cafe is located at Al Wasl Square, Al Safa 1 and at Bay Square, Business Bay. See pantrycafe.me.