Authentic Pakistani Restaurant in St Albans
If you’re looking for authentic Pakistani cuisine then look no further than Tavah, located on Hatfield Road, St Albans. I was thrilled to have been invited by lovely co-owners Nauman and his wife Aisha to try an array of dishes.
The name itself, Tavah, literally means “pot”. Looking from the outside in, the attractive interior alone is enough to entice you to go in. Once inside, you’ll be greeted with an interior that definitely made my eyebrows rise with pleasant surprise. The colours, the décor, the booths, the open kitchen and the friendly front-of-house staff who are ready to greet and take you to your preferred seat (unless there’s already a reservation).
I’ve been coming here a while now and I can’t believe I didn’t notice that the designer of the restaurant took an actual karahi (wok-style pot) and made it into a lampshade! A genius touch! So I would definitely request a booth seat if you can just for this!
The essence of Ramadhan
I couldn’t give Iftar (breaking my fast) at Tavah a miss during Ramadhan. Ramadhan is the holiest month for Muslims where we fast from dawn till just before sunset, fulfilling the fourth pillar of Islam. The sole purpose of Ramadhan is as states in the Qur’an: “O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (pious).” [Chapter Al-Baqarah, chapter 2, verse 183].
Therefore, the reason Muslims fast is so that we may become pious and be closer to God. Kindness, acts of charity, upholding exemplary character and avoiding gossip are all ways in which we can get closer to God in this month and then reap the fruits of this adherence after Ramadhan.
Charity is a huge deal for Muslims outside of Ramadhan but is magnified during the month. We believe that every good deed during this month is multiplied therefore, we hasten to do as much good as possible. Charitable acts such as feeding and clothing those less fortunate, cooking for worshippers in mosques and catering for community events run through the very fabric of Muslims but are highlighted during this blessed month.
When it comes to gatherings, you will often see groups of friends and families eating together and it is not uncommon to see loved ones rushing and playfully arguing to pay the bill first to compete for those good deeds!
Time to feast!
During my iftar at Tavah, the first thing I noticed was the complimentary dates and water already on the table. Dates and water are what Muslims are recommended to break their fast with so it was nice and thoughtful seeing these ready for me. Along with the dates and water, I was greeted with a ridiculously generous spread of dishes one would typically find in a Pakistani home during iftar. There was so much food on the table I actually did not know where to focus my eyes lol. Each dish was just as appealing as the last.
I could just see from the dishes they were light and not heavy or stodgy which was great news for me as it meant I could eat most of them! In Pakistani culture, it is typical to start the meal with Fruit Chaat, which comes in different forms, however, this variation contained various fruits, yoghurt, cream, a bit of sugar and a bit of pineapple juice. It was such a simple dish but I genuinely could not get enough of it.
The second dish was Dahi Bhalle; dumpling-like balls made using gram flour, spices including ginger and garlic, and yoghurt. Hidden inside was puri which is small pieces of fried bread to add texture. Again, another light dish to compliment the spread.
Rice with keema (minced meat). The very first thing I noticed about this dish was how each grain of rice was separated and had its own personality. It was made with minimal oil and I could tell because it was not heavy at all. This was complemented with raita (yoghurt-based side with mint and cucumber. Really refreshing and a great accompaniment to the starch-based dishes.
Papri chaat. This! This one simply tantalised my taste buds and the moment that first bite landed on my tongue I actually forgot where I was for a couple of seconds. This Papri Chaat consists of chickpeas, diced tomatoes, onions, and turmeric mixed with yoghurt and lightly drizzled with chilli sauce. It was bursting with flavours and when I tell you I didn’t know where I was when I had that first bite, I’m not joking! It is a collision of flavours and takes up no room in your belly so you can really just keep on eating.
The spring rolls were another win for me. These were lovingly homemade by sister Aisha using freshly grated carrots and other vegetables, shredded chicken and various spices. I was most impressed by how light the chicken was, alongside the characteristic crunch of the pastry making it addictively good!
Don’t sleep on the Aloo Tikkis! Usually only made with potatoes, however these ones consisted of potatoes, shredded chicken and spices formed into a small rounded shape then lightly fried. These are pockets of FLAVOUR and honestly had it not been for table etiquette, they would have been one-biters for me lol.
As though all that I ate wasn’t enough, I was then greeted with Keema Naan (bread with minced meat) which was lightly fried. These were made very thin and extremely flavoursome. As soon as the waiter put the keema naan down I was immediately met with the beautiful aroma of fresh spices, meat and naan. With all of these incredible dishes, I was truly in food heaven and was met with some outstanding flavours.
Gratitude
This was truly a memorable evening and one I am extremely grateful for. Thanks to Nauman and Aisha’s loving hospitality, I was able to try an absolute spread of dishes. Also a huge shout out to the incredibly talented Chef Imran who cooks with pure love. “There is only one Imran!”
I really, really appreciate good food and I am so blessed to have Tavah so local to me where I can taste the love. Because of its beautiful and unique interior, Tavah is somewhere you can go whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner you’re after and it is definitely somewhere you can take anyone to whether it’s a group of friends or a work-do.
Written by Najima El Bouchikhi @najima_travels
