5 show-stoppers at the Islamabad Food Festival 2016

Chefling Tales partnered with the Islamabad Food Festival as their official food blog, and we had a great time reviewing food startups and meeting the entrepreneurs behind them at the festival. It was great to see Islamabad’s enterprising connoisseurs come up with amazing food; from yummy parathas to chocolate-coated fruits.

Over 15 eateries took part in the festival, including big names such as Des Perdes. Some startups stole the show though, winning over foodies at the festival. We took a stroll through the stalls and present to you our top picks from the Islamabad Food Festival.

Pait Pooja

This little desi-style eatery served the best parathas at the festival, and were one of the most visited stalls. Pait Pooja caught our attention when we heard people all over festival raving about their Nutella Paratha, so we headed straight there. At their stall, we saw how parathas were being made live on a huge tawa (flat frying pan), quite a delightful to see! We personally loved their Meetha Paratha (sweet paratha), and thought the Mooli Paratha (radish paratha) was absolutely divine.

Meetha Paratha by Pait Pooja

Another reason for their popularity was their prices. Nothing on their menu cost over Rs.300, and most items were well below that.

Sadiaz Cuisine

One of the most well-managed and beautifully displayed stalls at the festival was Sadiaz Cuisine, and was a delight to visit. They serve a range of sweet and savory products, including Banana Cake, Striped Layered Brownies, Chicken Cheese Bread and Chicken Breast Filled Rolls. But the star of the show for us were their exquisitely decorated Mini Cakes and delicious Chocolate Balls.

Mini Cakes by Sadiaz Cusine 

The staff at the stall were some of the friendliest we had come across. The Mini Cakes thoroughly impressed many, with their cute, intricate designs and thoughtful displays. Their Chocolate Balls were sold out by the end of the day.

Fru-V

This startup gets the concept of healthy sweets just right! Fru-V offers a variety of fruits covered in delectable chocolate toppings. Imagine – instead chewing on unhealthy candies, you can now munch on strawberries and dried apricots covered in chocolate! Just writing about it is setting off our cravings!

Courtesy: Fru-V

People at the Islamabad Food Festival loved Fru-V’s idea of chocolate coated fruits. Their stall also (rather ingeniously) had two young children running about to do their promotion at the festival. These kids weren’t just adorable, but did a great job. Coupled with one of the cutest stalls at the show, its no surprise Fru-V was another of the most visited stalls at the festival.

Naan Warka

Who doesn’t love a good naan? Whether it’s a savory Shawarma Cheese Naan or the succulent Nutella Naan, people were in love with the naans on offer by Naan Warka. As the day came to an end, and visitors were looking for something hearty to satisfy their hunger, they all started heading for this stall. Their naans are delicious and just the right size. Plus, the dips they provide perfectly compliment each naan filling. The Chefling Tales team loved the Shawarma Cheese.

Photo Credits: Naan Warka

TooSoo

For pizza-lovers at the Islamabad Food Festival, TooSoo was a life saver! These guys were serving some amazing pizzas with chilled cold drinks. We were told by more than a few foodies at the festival that TooSoo is famous for its burgers, which are said to have a unique taste. Sadly, we have yet to try them, but stay tuned for a review soon.

Photo Credits: TooSoo

With a great selection and flavors, its easy to see why TooSoo was giving bigger eateries at the festival a run for their money.

Foodies in Islamabad have been blessed with yet more fantastic options. Be sure to check out each of the places we’ve mentioned, and let us know what you thought stood out at the Islamabad Food Festival.