Iftar at Sharq Village & Spa

Last night we went to an Iftar dinner (this is the meal when they break their fast) in a Ramadan Tent at the Sharq Village & Spa. We wanted to taste and experience some of the local food/entertainment.

The outside of the Sharq Village & Spa

The main lobby

Inside the Ramadan Tent - it is called a tent but its just inside a room, this is one of the ballrooms in the hotel

Nick and I right up the front by the "BAND" well entertainment

(see video)

A Shisha Pipe (hookah - egyptian water pipe) shisha is flavoured tobacco.

We did not indulge. You can get many flavours - there were lots of groups of men - they just come to smoke shisha and socialize.

The Shisha Menu

A private dining booth

The ceiling - the place was so extravagantly decorated

Nibbles provided on every table -they just love their dried fruit and nuts

Some of the food on offer

Hot food - the lids on these were sooo heavy.

It was set up very old arabian style - it was very well done

More food....dessert - unfortunately most of it contained dates and neither of us like dates

The worst food station was the one with the 'animal' on a plate surrounded by mounds of rice. I just went for look and was talked into trying some.  I asked what the animal was - it was the 'whole' animal on the plate.  Its lamb he said - cooked for 5hrs so tender and delicious he said. So he asked the man to get me some of the tender meat (pointing to its neck and back) that put me off straight away.  With gloves on he pulled away the skin and ripped off some meat for me. 'You want some fat' he asked.  But I have to admit it was quite tasty. But the sight alone was nearly enough to turn me into a vegetarian. (Hence no photo)

The 'Band' - entertainment

Ramadan drinks ie: liquid detox (pure apricot juice)

More Ramadan drinks - it tasted like  liquified turkish delight and it was topped  with nuts, it was so delicious 

There is no alcohol served anywhere during the month of Ramadan

More desserts. We arrived at 8.30pm and we didn't eat until 9.30pm.  There was no-one serving food until this time.  People did not start arriving until 9pm - Ramadan everything happens really late.