A traditional Arab saying dictates, ‘Eat what you like, and wear what people like’. This proverb is highly revered at Fashion café, where one is best advised to dress to impress, yet is free to indulge in a mélange of delicacies. Food is fashioned for every taste, and every whim is scrumptiously satisfied. A common characteristic shared amongst fashion followers: they are known to be the most difficult critics of taste. When the association devoted to the glitzy world of fashion, and is considered the primary trendsetter to many markets, decides to take on gastronomy, every bite is critiqued in terms of taste and presentation to deliver a memorable impression and a flourishing relationship with gourmet aficionados.
Bringing the concept of Fashion café to Kuwait might seem simple; yet trying to adapt the menu to suit the Kuwait market was no easy feat for the owners. Given a highly sophisticated market segment, the food was intricately designed by the crème de la crème of gastronomic consultants to deliver a unique and memorable taste to every dish. Fantastical salad creations, socially sharable appetizer platters, flawlessly crafted main courses, and palatable desserts. Not only so, a new breakfast menu is now offered for a stylish start to the day, and a fun Kiddie menu has been introduced to include the whole family. Creatively utilizing the freshest ingredients, the focus of the food at Fashion café is based on the ideology that food needs to look amazing, and taste even better in order to remain up to the Fashion standard.
Choosing the buzzing dining district of Al Arjan Complex in Bida’a for its flagship location, the owners of Fashion café decided to stay in tune with the brand’s original objectives in choosing to expand the brand’s activities in Kuwait. Renowned for showcasing all that is ‘in’ and fabulous, Fashion TV started diversifying, fashionably, into various activities, including lounges, energy drinks, and retail merchandise. The Middle Eastern concept materialized in the form of a restaurant. Starting out in the swanky town of Amman, Jordan, the dining aspect of the Ftv brand is no less fabulous in Kuwait.
Showcasing different local and international fashion brands on a continued basis, the interior is a glamorous, dramatic presentation of the elusive Ftv diamond; mannequins are immaculately dressed by retailers choosing to display their garments in different crevices throughout the interior, elegantly lit by spotlights as diners enjoy their food while admiring the different fashion collections on display. Not only so, Ftv retail merchandise is exclusively sold at the café restaurant. Given the beautiful whether enjoyed during the mild months of winter, the rooftop terrace makes for the perfect ambience for evening gatherings, as the glitterati dine under the stars.
For appetizers, we chose to sample a few of the extensive salad creations on offer, as well as the famous sharing platters. Starting with the Exotic Fusion, we were delivered a chic presentation of lettuce, artichokes, palmetto, asparagus, mushrooms, beetroot, and tomatoes, with a side of French dressing. Feeling a little adventurous, we also ventured to tease our taste buds with the Tropical salad, a fruity explosion that yielded a pleasant experience of taste and contrasting textures. In this special creation, the zesty chunks of pineapples, strawberries, kiwi, and oranges expertly compliment hearty legumes, including crunchy lettuce and tomatoes. Topped with slices of Halloumi cheese and herb vinegar dressing, the Tropical salad is a winner, and is not to be missed when using the fresh seasonal fruits.
For the warm appetizers, and renowned sharing platters, we chose to go with a contrasting taste to rinse our palate, and that taste could not have been better when we were presented with the Cheesy Mushroom platter, with lightly-fried breaded delicacies like Kashkaval cheese, mozzarella, stuffed mushrooms, and olives with a marinara sauce. Another tasty delight is the shrimp on toast, which we found to be as extremely filling, as whole shrimp are deep fried on toast bread, accompanied by a sweet chili and soya sauce.
The main courses are no less impressive, as creative renditions are the highlight, with traditional favorites given a designer twist. We tried the innovative Halloumi Fusion, with perfectly bite-sized, tenderized, beef fillet rolls stuffed with Halloumi cheese, sautéed carrots and onions, served with sweet corn kernels, potato wedges, grilled vegetables and an aromatic herb sauce. Following the Halloumi Fusion was the elegant presentation of Steak on Puff, where slices of succulent beef fillets are served on a crispy puff pastry with duxelle sauce, a mushroom paste cream sauce, complimented by char-grilled vegetables, potatoes and in faultless French fashion, green peas. Seafood lovers may indulge in the Passion Del Mare, a generous offering of grilled lobster, hammour, grilled shrimp deliciously lathered with a garlic lemon sauce.
For dessert, it is always best to go with the house specialties, and ignore the ongoing battle against temptation. Look no further than the light, fluffy, yet lusciously creamy cheesecakes. Styled to impress, there are various options to choose from, including chocolate, caramel, strawberry, or a mixed berry cheesecake. Other sweet temptations available include the three different flavors like strawberry, mango, and chocolate. We quite fancied to order all three and mix those seductive flavors together. For devote cake eaters, we recommend the Sticky Toffee pudding served with the fine Haagen-Dazs vanilla-bean ice cream.
Fashion café and restaurant is located in the Arjan Complex extension in Bida’a. For more information, please visit www.ftv.com.
