The Layali Ramadan tent at the Marriott Hotel gives an opportunity to its customers to experience the warmth of the holy month and an extravagant Arabic heritage.
Lavish feasts comprising traditional and international buffets where chefs tempt the palates with favorites allow its customers to share the spirit of Ramadan over a bountiful selection at iftar and suhoor.
Underneath the massive shimmering moon-shaped lights, Ramadan lamps, dripping with hundreds of diamond-cut crystal beads, the large tent erected at the Atrium Lobby features sprawling space that promises a magical atmosphere and the essence of Ramadan experience.
Big enough for more than 200 guests, the traditional air-conditioned Layali tent’s sumptuous iftar buffet and a tastefully crafted suhoor is served with a variety of live stations by balancing the brilliant combination of simplicity and luxury. Around eleven main course meals have been arranged at iftar while about seven main course meals are on offer at suhoor.
The tables are stylishly set with a plate of dates and Arabic coffee for the guests to break their fasts.
From various salads to desserts, Layali’s buffet offers a daily rotating menu of traditional Arabic and intercontinental dishes and delicacies. The hot and cold mezzes include hummus with a puddle of olive oil in the middle and a few whole chickpeas floating in it, tabbouleh, moutabel, chicken salad, Lebanese cheese balls, fattoush, warak einab, green salad, beetroot and goat cheese salad, cheese, meat and chicken sambousek, spinach fatayer, kibbeh in addition to a variety of oriental and international salads with selected garnish and lettuce. Diners can also make a salad with their choice of toppings and dressings.
The iftar buffet menu includes an array of traditional Ramadan juices such as laban, Qamar Al-Din, tamer Hindi in addition to fruit juices. The soup station offers lentil soup everyday along with a rotation of different kinds of soups such as tomato, mushroom and chicken. Soft milk bread rolls, slices of baguette and Arabic flatbread are also on offer. Layali’s guests are also presented with a sushi station to enjoy the Japanese tidbits.
At the many hot stations, chefs prepare specialties such as kharouf, ful, lentil curry, mixed grill (lamb kebab, shish taouk, lamb kofta), curries, pastas, stir fry, tempura, chicken shawarma, kibbeh with labnah, sautéed vegetables, chicken makloubh, fish harra sauce, steamed rice, yellow rice and biryani, especially for Indian and Pakistani customers.
Besides, the guests also get a chance to create their own pasta at one of the stations. All this shows the excellence of the Layali culinary ambitions and the great hospitality from the staff makes the visit a memorable one. Despite Marriott being so upmarket the food has not become pretentious.
Alongside all the savory options, Layali has a wide range of delicious desserts to satisfy those with a sweet tooth. The dessert bar includes a selection of Arabic and international sweet creations such as kunafah — a cream-filled pastry drenched in sugar syrup and dry fruits, Umm Ali and basbousa.
The suhoor too offers a selection of delicacies such as labnah, grilled halloumi, feta cheese, plain and continental eggs and light dishes along with the main course.
John Louie, general manager at the Jeddah Marriott Hotel, said: “During the holy month of Ramadan one of the best forms of entertainment is enjoying a relaxed setting. The Layali tent has been built to enjoy the comfort of an indoor environment. The food is prepared by balancing international, local and traditional favorites. The tent allows families and friends to gather and break their fast with a delicious iftar and suhoor meal, while socializing and enjoying the warm, friendly and efficient service”
This superb fine dining restaurant serves a luxury iftar buffet every day from sunset until 8.30 p.m. The meal is priced at a reasonable SR185 per person, including regular coffee, tea and Ramadan juices, whereas, the suhoor costs SR 130 per person.
As an added treat, the daily raffle draw offers valuable prizes sponsored by Makkaj, Pepsi, Ajmal, Royal Jordanian, Garuda Indonesia, Sadia, L’azurdi, Andalusia Dental, Sahara Net and Al-Rabie. It treats guests to extremely valuable prizes and gifts every night.
—
Email: [email protected]
Relish Layali Ramadan tent feast at the Marriott
Relish Layali Ramadan tent feast at the Marriott
Where We Are Going Today: Wild Flower
- The menu offers a modern fusion concept: from Italian dishes to Middle Eastern cuisine with a local twist, there is something for everyone
If you are ever in AlUla and looking for a dining experience in the heart of the oasis, overlooking its lush farmlands and surrounded by palm trees, I highly recommend checking out Wild Flower in Daimumah.
What is really unique about Wild Flower is its farm-to-table concept: as you discover the different vegetables and herbs grown in Daimumah, such as eggplant, coriander, tomatoes, spring onions, arugula, and chili peppers, you get the burst of flavor from the fresh produce straight to your plate.
The menu offers a modern fusion concept: from Italian dishes to Middle Eastern cuisine with a local twist, there is something for everyone.
We started off the meal with some cold mezze. The avocado hummus and beetroot hummus, served with beetroot chips, were light and refreshing as we took a break from the harsh sun under the restaurant’s shaded seating area.
We really enjoyed the watermelon salad that had an interesting mix between tangy and sweet, but the crunchy parmesan truffle fries are a must.
For mains, we opted for the vegetarian biryani, which was not anything to write home about, but the lemon garlic pasta dish, served with grilled chicken, was definitely one we would go back for.
We also really enjoyed their Moroccan-style roasted chicken, which was super juicy and spiced to perfection.
The service, although a bit slow, was OK. The staff did their best to accommodate our needs. When I ordered an iced ginger lemonade and was served hot ginger tea instead, they were happy to change the order. The spot is moderately priced and perfect for sharing if you are going with a large group.
It is also a great spot to visit solo. While there is a small entry fee for Daimumah, you can explore the farms, pick vegetables to take home, feed the goats, join an art workshop at The Nest, see art installations, and learn about AlUla’s landscape, flora and fauna — and then finish the visit with a good meal.
