Take a step into the past
In the world of innumerable supper clubs, one has to truly bring something new, something different to the table to be noticed. Plenty of supper clubs are flourishing in the underground dining scene of Dubai, but there’s now one in Sharjah that is worth taking the drive for – Al Atlas, a supper club series, designed to celebrate Sharjah’s heritage while blending Emirati traditions with influences from across the Silk Road, presented within the curious and colourful halls of the beautiful Bait Elowal.
This new series celebrates Sharjah’s role as once a gateway into trade and commerce, a vibrant commercial centre, connected to the Silk Road through this very outlet, where Bait Elowal stands by the creek. Teeming with an exchange of trade, it also welcomed tradition, knowledge, learning, storytelling and cuisine, a natural consequence of fostering a kinetic, cosmopolitan society.
The distinctive menu, ‘A Pilgrimage of the Senses’, takes diners through a journey, just like the travellers of yesteryear. Each night from the series will unfold like a story, punctuated not just by the flavours, but also the textures, scents and sounds across cultures, illuminating Sharjah’s illustrious connections of the past. The whole culinary profile and experience is inspired by the Silk Road, the backbone of Sharjah’s trade history.
The experience begins by regaling one of the five senses – the sense of smell. Guests are taken into a room housing the different vessels of fragrances from around the world, from incense to oil and dried tea, and one is made to recall the fond memories of their own childhood, a time when mothers and grandmothers prepared homes for guests. It’s a beautiful, heartwarming start to the evening, a sort of whetting of your emotional appetite.
The meal comes after, with an array of dishes celebrating the very best of ingredients from across the route. Each plate tells a story of ingredients that travelled across seas, of spices exchanged in souks, and of recipes passed down through families that have been reimagined by chefs. This enables guests to taste the flavours and also enjoy the journeys and traditions behind them. The whole experience is quite theatrical – a stamp is sealed every time a country is explored, as gentle candlelight warms the conversation.
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An extensive menu of non-alcoholic mixology completes the menu, with carefully curated creations accompanying the meal. The thought, the effort, the understanding of flavours is evident from the complexity of the drinks and the inspirations behind them. These are not your run-of-the-mill fruit juice mixes, a pleasant surprise.
At the end, we are given a fortune card each – a nugget of wisdom at the end of a culinary journey.
What Bait Elowal Brings
One can call it a dining destination, a concept store, a museum, a library, or a fusion of any of those things, but Bait Elowal is foremost, a love letter to the past of Sharjah.
The property belonged to one Mohamed Bin Salem Al Mazrou, whose family had deep roots from Hotat Bin Tamim in the province of Najd, Saudi Arabia. It was built in 1925, and more than 100 years later, it now has a new purpose.
The project was brought to life by Her Excellency Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, daughter of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. It has been filled with pieces of art and history from Sheikha Bodour’s personal collection.
Image credit: Supplied
Deeply passionate about food, culture and community, Manaal loves telling extraordinary stories of ordinary people. Besides sniffing out a tale to tell, her favourite things to do include binging true crime documentaries, chasing cats on the streets and curating a good outfit.
