An Iftar quite Nigerian, yet so continental

This Ramadan, I made a conscious decision to break my fast at the Transcorp Hilton’s Bukka restaurant, squarely thinking it would be the Arabian-inspired theme of last year. I was right, and wrong, in equal measure, as this year’s saw a ‘remixing’ of the surroundings and menu, to accommodate Nigerian and continental favourites. Gone is […]

This Ramadan, I made a conscious decision to break my fast at the Transcorp Hilton’s Bukka restaurant, squarely thinking it would be the Arabian-inspired theme of last year. I was right, and wrong, in equal measure, as this year’s saw a ‘remixing’ of the surroundings and menu, to accommodate Nigerian and continental favourites. Gone is last year’s lavish boudoir, Persian rugs, and Arabian dishes, and hello to a lighter, breezier version which incorporates familiar tastes given a continental twist. 

To begin the buffet, there were varieties of warm semi-solid starters like pap, Kunun Gyada, and Kunun Tsamiya. Accompany them were slices of moist, flavourful Moi Moi with an assortment of lightly sautéed peppers. There’s also the traditional Kosai, flavoured to perfection. After I washed it all down with water, I went for a salad, and there was a dizzying array, from Italian fare like Cesar’s, to Lebanese Fatoush, and perennial Nigerian favourite dressing-drenched salad.

The Bukka’s assortment of mains is also daunting, especially for one breaking his fast. The problem is a strange one, and making a choice was difficult, but I settled for a large plate with some Tomato Rice, a little Coconut Rice, with a juicy slice of perfectly-grilled lamb, accompanied by roasted potatoes. This time, a glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice washed everything down.

Noteworthy, too, is the assortment of spices and sauces placed at strategic positions. From powdered pepper (Garin Yaji), to peppered stockfish and dried fish, lightly oiled with rich palm oil, and perfectly salted.

After a short walk around the lawn which skirted the outdoor part of the Bukka, I returned to the table for a special treat I had saved: Umm Ali, an Egyptian pudding made from milk, bread, and nuts, baked to creamy perfection. This treat alone is worthy of the price of admission, and quite a shame that it’s only on the Ramadan menu, not available year-round.

Having had my fill of the buffet, which it seems gets refreshed every fifteen minutes, I went for a cup of cafe latte, reclined into my seat, taking in the ambience. A welcoming one, right from the cheerful hostess at the entrance, to the courteous serving staff. I noticed quite a number of families, and single diners like myself. The lighting is bright, without any glare. The Bukka is certainly one of the best restaurants offering Iftar in Abuja, so the rather steep price of N11,000 per person is justified. It is, after all, a five-star restaurant.

After everything, and with no stomach real estate to spare, it was difficult to go for dessert, and I ended up only staring at the wide selection at the section wishfully. ‘Next time,’ I told myself, even as I knew it would be impossible to sample every single one of the Iftar delights of the Bukka this year, as it was the year before. Bravo!