Food Review: Online Eateries- I

These are some of the food reviews I have done during my time at MAG The Weekly, Jang. I am pleased to share them with you. I have divided the reviews into category, the first of which is 'online eateries' that take order through their Facebook pages and deliver piping hot, fresh, home-cooked food at your doorstep within no time. I would love to know how my experiences compare with yours, do let me know in the comments section below. Happy reading!

Aghe Jee's - https://www.facebook.com/aghajeefood?fref=ts

3 stars

I had called them up for an urgent delivery in the evening to which they readily obliged and within the next few hours I had the food at my place. Craving for home cooked maghaz since a few days, I ordered brain masala with roti (PKR 200 per head). Traditionally, a homemade brain masala is made like a khakeena; sautéing a lot of onions and frying the brain along with turmeric, red chilli powder and salt amongst the most basic spices. The brain masala in question seemed to be made in the same manner only that it lacked the reddish brown colour we owe to the fried onions (it was of a natural grayish colour), wasn’t spicy and had a bit more salt than necessary.  The roti was just perfect, and is a must for anyone who misses or is craving ghar ki roti.  

Chicken Karhai (PKR 350 per 2 persons) had an amazing fragrance to it, there were some real high points considering the taste but it had a lot of oil in it! You will find the good taste and the oil problem pretty much anywhere you order the dish nevertheless this makes it quite unhealthy. The Singaporean Rice (PKR 400 per 2 persons) were a big box full of thick cut chicken and veggie sauce on a bed of plain boiled rice topped with plain boiled spaghetti and the signature Singaporean sauce which is basically mayo, tomato  and chilli ketchup. The sauce tasted exactly like the one at Karachi Foods (I am sure you know what I am talking about, everyone has had theirs) which is a good thing because their sauce is amazing too! There was some extra browned garlic here and there which really gave a kick to the overall taste, in the best possible way. Since the spaghetti already has to be plain, the rice should be at least garlic fried or some variation otherwise there is a risk to the dish becoming plain in taste. The sauce left me desiring for more as it was proportionately less.

The team at Agha Jee’s is courteous and very cooperative so these minor fixes can be easily made while placing the order. The place is worthy of a fair chance for its quality and home cooked taste.

Mashriqui Kitchen - https://www.facebook.com/MashriquiKitchen?fref=ts

3 stars

I had read people going on and on about how delicious their ‘Borani’ is so I immediately wanted to try it even though I honestly didn’t even understand what it was. I ordered two other really different dishes that I hadn’t tried yet - Sweet and Sour Caulifower (PKR 350) and BBQ Biryani (PKR 130).

I couldn’t wait to taste the Borani (PKR 170) of course, so I started with it. Its made of yogurt, eggplant and different spices of which cumin is the strongest. I eat like a kid, avoiding all the hardcore spices and veggies sometimes. But this was definitely a pleasant experience for my taste buds. I ate it with the biryani and it tasted even better!

The chicken in BBQ biryani tasted much like the BBQ chicken which is good, but for someone who likes masaledar biryani, I found it to be a bit dry and non spicy. By the rest, it should be well received especially considering the low price. The winner, however, remained the sweet and sour cauliflower. The bits of black peper were a bit too big, but the dish tasted like your regular Chinese sweet and sour with pepper and chilli flakes to add the hotness I love, plus it’s vegetable based which made me feel even better about having it. Kudos!

Syna's Kitchenette - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Synas-Kitchenette/462937520491552?fref=ts

3 stars 

Syna's Facebook page boasts of a lot of really good looking dishes, I decided to order Chicken Karahi and Chowmein (PKR 850 each per 3 persons), the latter was accompanied by their special chilli sauce. What I was amazed by is that usually online eateries take an order at least a day before the actual delivery, but my order arrived mere hours after placing it.

I started off with the chowmein; they were quite plain in colour and didn’t taste like the Chinese version of the dish. It had a homemade touch to it, which is what the eatery offers and if that’s what you’re looking for then you’re in luck! There were few vegetables and ample of chicken, all properly cooked, though I do feel the taste could have been a bit more enhanced through some salt/pepper and garlic. Since I love spice, towards the end I decided to add in the chili sauce. It was super spicy and a treat for all the spice lovers out there!

Later on, I decided to taste the karahi as well which had too much of oil in it, a lot of chicken pieces and little masala, something I wanted more of and was left craving for. This dish gave me the exact dish that I would get at a restaurant but with the satisfaction of it having been made fresh and clean at home. It had big chunks of tomato in its masala, just like it is supposed to, and tasted really good.

With all its ups and downs, Syna’s Kitchenette is definitely a place for some good food and worth trying!

*Not all pictures match the actual dishes.       

Bayaan- Heading Towards New Horizons

Bayaan, a promising new band comprising of Nescafe Basement alums, has been playing music together since NB season 1 even before it was formed. The music Gods united Shahrukh Aslam (guitarist), Mansoor Lashari (drummer), Haider Abbas (bassist) and Asfar Hussain (vocalist) with Muqueet Shahzad (guitarist) down the road at the NB jams, all of whom decided to put combine their efforts to create some originals pieces. Around three years later, the young lads have successfully released their debut song, Nahein Milta along with the video that has some 600 shares and 38 thousand views.

Q- How did Bayaan come into being? What does it stand for?

S.A- We created Bayaan with an intention and a promise that we will cater to no one genre or one type of music, we will indulge in various styles and embark on unique ventures. All band members have a varied background in terms of their musical inspiration and styles; this gives Bayaan a very rich sonic diversity and allows us to tap a lot of different styles of music. In future, apart from creating music, we plan to bring back the culture of releasing albums and not just singles as one time hits. Observing the increasing trend, we would love to provide score for a Pakistani movie. Strings seem to be doing a brilliant job with Moor, so is a good sign that producers are looking for bands to create compositions for their movies. And obviously, we want to play endlessly at live shows all over Pakistan and abroad.

Q- Who suggested the name? Is there a story behind it?

M.S- We spent endless hours discussing the name of our band, throwing in different names for months. Asfar put a halt to that madness and gave us the name Bayaan; it appealed to every one of us and purported the band’s ideology perfectly in just one word. What we are trying to do through our music is give life to various experiences that many of us have and situations we all face and give our perspective on them, hence, Bayaan which literally means to express something.

Q- The video and concept for 'Nahein Milta' is quite unique. Tell us about the collaborations on it. What is the song about?

M.L- The concept of Nahein Milta really embodies what ourmusic stands for; meaningful, rich, diverse and unorthodox. The song is written by Asfar Hussain, our vocalist. He just explains an element of his worldly experiences through this song and chorus of the song clearly sums up this journey- Jisko jo bhi milta hai besabab nahein milta, mujh se bolay munn mera sub sab ko sab nahein milta (no one gets what they get without a reason, my heart tells me not everyone gets what they desire) quite self-explanatory. The visuals of the song tell the same story but through a different medium. We decided to do something truly unprecedented and bring out something that will make a person re-visit that video again and again, just to understand it. The video is quite metaphorical in nature, it leaves out just enough for the viewer to figure out the rest. Raza and Jaffer, the two geniuses behind the video, have done a brilliant job in conveying the concept and we are very proud the way final product shaped up. Special mention for Maida Khan, for her amazing artwork and sketches that gave life to that girl’s story through Nahein Milta.

Q- What are the challenges such a young musician has to face? Do you think discouragement from parents and family members is a factor? How much do you think initiatives like Nescafe Basement help young artists and the local music scene? What else do you think can be done on a bigger scale to help?

H.A- Unfortunately, a daunting dearth of music platforms and avenues in our country greatly demotivates a young musician from growing beyond a certain level. After a hefty investment in music equipment and years of practice, musicians are unable to channel out their skills and creativity to a mass audience. With this lack of prospects, parents are generally uncomfortable with the idea of pursuing music as a career. A young musician has to defy these existent societal norms to take up music on a more serious level.

Initiatives like Nescafe Basement are working in the right direction to facilitate young and budding musicians in showcasing themselves to larger audience. More importantly, they are connecting musicians at a level where they can initiate music related projects in future. I ended up forming a band with my former Nescafe Basement artists; nothing compares to like-minded musicians coming together to make new music. We have received a commendable response on our first music video and plan to release more in near future.

Q- As a band, where do you see yourself in fuve years?

A.H- We hope to take Pakistan’s music to a level where it deserves to be. This country has seen some amazing times in terms of music, we have lost all of that now, but that does not mean we can’t bring it back. There is immense talent here and it’s just heartbreaking to see it being ignored due to lack of proper structure. Our aim is to create music that people around the world will recognize as Pakistani, take Pakistan to an international platform of arts that gives local talent its due limelight. We will keep trying and pursuing this vision through creating music for as long as it takes.

Check out their song, Nahein Milta here and let us know how you like it

https://www.facebook.com/Bayaantheband

The Next Myles Kennedy

People have been immensely supportive after Nescafe Basement and a good positive feedback is enough for a musician to keep moving on.

The full of life, rock music enthusiast is already out there living his dreams.He sings, plays in a band, Overdose (including Bilawal Lahooti, a Nescafe basement Alum and truly magical on drums), has performed at a number of concerts, produces music at Neon Studios an the list just goes on. It all started for the multi-talented rock star when he asked to be gifted a guitar after obtaining good grades and he hasn't looked back since! Here, he shares what its like to have his heart set on a kind of music that is still looked down upon in many circles.


1- Why choose electric guitar of all instruments?

Well, I was asked by Zulfi to play electric guitars, I guess judging what I use to do in my songs were mainly electric guitar parts that made the song more interesting which I think he needed from me to contribute.

2- In an age where rock music lacks support and appreciation, what urged you towards it and towards making a band based on such music?

I have always been a rock fan and  unfortunately, I know people here don't even consider 'rock singers' even though it needs a lot of exercise and stamina to pull off that kind of singing! But I feel that's the beauty of being a part of such a show; you can pretty much do whatever you want to without any boundaries and I just don't want to be one of those people who give up just for the sake of some harsh criticism. I will carry on for sure!

3- What problems did you face when starting to pursue rock music? Has there also been support and appreciation?

Making music in such a genre is tricky as it is not easily accepted and digested here but I tend to make it as easy for the audience as possible so that they can easily relate to it. People have been immensely supportive after Nescafe Basement and a good positive feedback is enough for a musician to keep moving on.

4- How has Nescafe Basement helped you? Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Nescafe has basically showcased us as artists and musicians which is all a musician these days needs. I am sure it's the best initiative taken in years. In five years I would definitely be producing more music!

Season 3 in a Go

Best range? Altamash

Most artistic? Zulfi bhai

The sharpest one? Arsalan

Most surprising? Hamza

Most laid back? Bilawal

Most reliable? Sharoon

Most fun? Bilawal

Most shy? Arfa

Most serious? Hassan

Most mischievous? Bilawal

Most emotional? Sibtain

Most mature? Hassan

Someone you’re sure is going to make it big in future? Sharoon

A Dream Girl Project

It was more than challenging to give harmonies in every song. You have to zone yourself out completely and then sing on an entirely different note.

A BBA student in her third year doing double majors from Lahore School of Economics, Amna Imtiaz is a vocalist and can also play a little bit of piano. She started experimenting with music back in grade 5 when her school teachers spotted the talent in her. This impressive young lady has an equally impressive sister, also a classically trained singer, who has been her music teacher all along. Not to ambitious, Amna stays grounded but does plan on hitting the music industry with my original compositions. So happened one fine day, as casually as it could get, she 'entered Nescafe Basement by simply inboxing Xulfi bhai' her cover songs.

1- How does it look from the seat of a backing vocalist? How hard or important is your job?

It was more than challenging to give harmonies in every song. You have to zone yourself out completely and then sing on an entirely different note. Xulfi bhai made the job quite easy but it took us a lot of effort to fine tune our notes.

2- How do your parents feel about both their daughters in the singing profession? How has been the support from family? Are there any hesitations or condition attached to what you guys do?

My family has been extremely supportive especially my sisters. There were times when I would simply reject any collaborations just because I was too shy! My elder sister would literally push me into it and force me to take up any venture, Nescafe Basement too. The only condition is that I refrain from appearing on TV but I am hoping this condition relaxes with time too.

3- Who inspired you to learn music at such a young age?

My sister is a classically trained singer and she has been my biggest inspiration in learning music. In fact, she has taught me some of my favourite ghazals and old classics.

4- Can we expect collaboration with your sister soon?

Any day... nothing better than singing with my first ever mentor! 

Season 3 in a Go

Best range? Hamza Tanveer

Most artistic? Usman Sheikh

The sharpest one? Sharoon Leo

Most surprising? Arsalan Hasan

Most laid back? Sibra and I all the way

Most reliable? Usman Sheikh

Most fun? Bilawal Lahooti

Most shy?  Sherry Khattak

Most serious? Melvin

Most mischievous? Almost all the boys would prank each other

Most emotional? Sibtain Khalid

Most mature? Arfa Chaudhary

Someone you’re sure is going to make it big in future?  Parizae and Usman  

Adele in the making

I owe a lot to Xulfi bhai for teaching me to be a better musician and also for giving me an opportunity I'll always remember and cherish. He's a great mentor and he's a great inspiration.

Maria Fatima Unera Qureshi, the 20-year-old half Filipino-half Pakistani  girl is not new to the industry despite her tender age. She has been pursuing music professionally for four years now and has already worked with big names such as Noori for Fanta and Zulfiqar 'Xulfi' Khan in Nescafé Basement Season 3. Currently, she is working on her originals songs with Walnut Studios and hoping to bring a change and wider perspective towards music and genres our country should explore and achieve the goal to motivate younger people to pursue their dreams and express themselves in any sort of art. It was a mutual friend who her to Xulfi through one of her videos and the kind of strong, beautiful vocal skills that Maria has, no wonder he called her up right then and there. 

1- Where did you learn music from? What challenges did you have to face being a young female vocalist? How has been the support and reactions from everyone around?

Music is in my blood. I've inherited it from my mother and her family. Being a Filipino, you're born with the passion for music and dance. Karaoke is famous in the Philippines so while growing up, I would grab the microphone and just sing out loud. Obviously making a career out of music, especially in Pakistan, is already tough to begin with only because there are not enough platforms or at least there weren't at the time when I decided for it. So I had a lot of issues in getting myself the right kind of exposure and it was hard to make people take me seriously as a musician. Despite all of that, the reactions of the audience has stunned me, the support I get from my fans is just absolutely heart warming. Nothing beats the support of my family though. They have had my back since I was little and I am so thankful to them.

2- Do you think there is still a stigma attached to singing and music in general especially for girls?

Definitely not stigma, at least not from my understanding. I know many many young female musicians who are extremely talented and even if they are not that recognized, they still post videos of their covers and are truly motivated. Music is in everyone's lives; it's a great form of art through which people can express themselves and feel other everyone else's emotions from. Musicians my age or younger than I, who have the passion for music must be motivated to do so and must work hard through out to get to the top. And in most scenarios, motivation is lacking.  

3- How much and in what ways has Nescafe Basement helped you, other young artists and the music scene?

Nescafé Basement has definitely made me a better musician in so many ways that it's hard to explain. It has taught me so much more about music and how much dedication I need to put into music to make it worth listening. All the endless video shoots and jams were literally all worth it. It is a platform where musicians like myself get to shine and show the world how talented we are. It has not only been a successful show in Pakistan but also in many other countries. I have met so many talented musicians with great stories of their own. Xulfi Bhai, has done a great job with this show and in bringing forward loads of talented young people of Pakistan to the world. I wouldn't be able to hit those 'crazy' notes if it weren't for the support from him- Xulfi Bhai, you rock! 

4- What would you like to say to the young girls who aspire to enter the music industry? Where should they start from, how should they go about it?

To all my fellow young musicians, not just girls, I want you all to follow your dreams and fight for the success. If you want to be a successful musician then grab an instrument, learn how to play, learn how to sing; make videos, post them online. This is the 21st century. The best way to show the world you are out there is through social media. If you really put your heart into it, you will get there. Struggles and all sorts of heartache will come along the way but that is only because that's how you get to the top. My great friend Shamoon Ismail once said (referring to himself, me and other fellow musician friends), 'We are where we are today because of all the struggles we've been through, we've worked hard to get here and we'll work harder'. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is that, if you really want to do something, you CAN do it. You just have get up, have a positive mind and start with something, anything. Never give up.

The Prodigy

I think it is the kind of music that a person listens that motivates his or her interests. I used to listen to classical symphonies by Beethoven and Mozart when I was really young, I remember, I would challenge myself to figure them out on the piano by just listening.

Arsalan Hasan is a mere 18-year-old from Lahore and recently finished with his A-Levels. A self learnt musician, producer, composer and song writer he primarily plays the keyboard along with sometimes experimenting with the guitars and drums too. But if you though this is it, think again, He is also a vocalist in the making. A firm beleiver of 'learning never stops', Arsalan was 3 years old when a got a toy piano as a birthday gift; believe it or not he learnt to play classical symphonies on that little piano. His major inspiration comes from the legendary musicians and composers like Beethoven, Mozart etc. By the age of 9, he had begun to record and make his own music. Growing up, he idolised Metallica, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd and other rock/metal bands and produced EDM and House music for fun. As his skills and talent matured over the years, he has started listening to more versatile genres. It wasn't until some three years ago that he picked up the guitar and has recently started playing the drums as well. While his favorite band is Dream Theater (most of his original compositions are inspired by their music), Jordan Rudess (Keyboardist for Dream Theater) remains his idol.

1- What do you think plays the most important part in motivating the a child from the start to recognize his interest and start working on it, be it music or something else?

I personally think that it is basically the experiences in life that play an important part. Musically speaking, I think it is the kind of music that a person listens that motivates his or her interests. I used to listen to classical symphonies by Beethoven and Mozart when I was really young, I remember, I would challenge myself to figure them out on the piano by just listening. For me the internet did not exist at that time. Plus it is the parents' and teachers' support that leads you to finding out and pursuing your interest.

2- What are the challenges such a young musician has to face?

The biggest challenge for young musicians perhaps is juggling their studies along with what they do. Personally it was a really huge challenge for me but I have been able to cope up with all of it for almost the last 10 years and have always managed to maintain my grades.

3- How did you get selected for Nescafe?

Basically, Xulfi was there at my school judging a competition where I was heading the event. He asked me if I played anything. I showed him a few videos I had in my phone. We got into contact , I was called in for a live audition and now here I am.

4- How do you see such massive appreciation and recognition at this age? Is it tricky to handle since it can go either way (make or break the artist)?

I think this depends on the nature of the person. For me massive appreciation and recognition at this age is a source of motivation to thrive and achieve more and more. Moreover, it has pushed me to improve and do what I do even better.

 Massive appreciation and recognition at this age is a source of motivation to thrive and achieve more and more. Moreover, it has pushed me to improve and do what I do even better.

Season 3 in a Go

Most mischievous? Bilawal & myself

Most mature? Haider Abbas

Someone with the best advice: Xulfi

Most fun: Bilawal Lahooti

Most surprising: Nazar Abbas

Most artistic: Melvin Arthur

Hairy Styles: Take care othose man tresses

Thinking of a getting a haircut? Or changing your look all together? This is what you need to know:

Option A: Go long 

I am noticing the high-and-tight side part losing some ground as the office dress code loosens up—and we're all for a longer hairstyle. Just know that letting it grow doesn't mean letting it go. A lot of men see a guy looking good in long hair and want the same but they have no idea what to do to get there. You need a plan.

1. Pick your long hair spirit animal

Do you want the Jared Leto/Abbas Jaffri, or something closer to the shag of the guy on the cover? Bring a photo to your barber. He will tell you if you can pull it off, then give you a trim that will help it grow in properly. It’s always good to have a fresh pair of eyes and a second opinion.

2. Stay regular

Make monthly visits to your barber; he'll tidy everything up to help it grow out smoothly. This is how you avoid returning to your old, boring 'do.

3. Keep an open head

Play with different styles: pompadour it out, slick it back, leave it a little messy. Test-drive looks and you might just find something better than what you first wanted.

Option B: Take it all off  

Too impatient to grow your own? Heartily endorse the all-business look of a low-hassle buzz. One piece of advice: Keep the sides a touch shorter than the top, thereby avoiding the tragedy known as ‘tennis-ball head’. I'd recommend letting a pro do it the first time—or every time, really. A fade is a terrible thing to make a mess of.

1. Say no to the man-bun: Don't get your hair in a bunch

Or the samurai. Or the topknot. Whatever you call it, the look has lost its mojo. Two years ago, rocking one would have made you a wild-eyed gender-bending iconoclast. Now you’d see those lover of dad jeans and cargo shorts, man-bunning during their beer-belly walkabout. My advice: If you're blessed with long hair, be proud. Let it hang.

2. Blonds (and greens and silvers) have more fun  

A little adventure might just be what you need which is why don’t rule out colouring your hair. This could go ways: Either you will find the right colour and love it, or it will fry your scalp, you’ll have to use a special shampoo to keep the colour from fading and after a few months, the dye job will make you desperately miss the regular hair that the follicle gods gave you. But whether you look like Halle Berry in X-Men or Richard Gere in Pretty Woman, the dye job will alleviate your hair boredom, make you feel pretty punk rock and over-all worth it.

Option C: Play with your gunk  

Sometimes the only thing standing between you and a new look is a change in the stuff you put in your hair. Let the experimentation begin.

1. Shine on, you crazy follicles: Pomade

Get it if you're ready to join the greaser look that's on the comeback trail.

2. Tame the mane: Cream

Get it if you are going long and you need a product with a little more weight to keep everything in check.

3. Matte's back: Clay

Get it if you want an easier, cleaner, more natural look that doesn't throw off blinding reflections.