Sufra: Silk Road or Stalin? | Mar 26

Duration: 3.5 HRS

Date: 26 Mar 2019

Location: Barsha, Dubai

Sufra Members

AED 200

14+ years only

Non Members

AED 330

14+ years only

Ticket price stated is not inclusive of 5% VAT and online processing fees. Refund/rescheduling policies on legal section of our website.

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Uncover the surprising links between Korean and Uzbek cuisines at two Barsha restaurants that serve everything from Kimchi to Kuksu.

This event will run once on March 26, 2018.

6:00PM to 9:30PM.

We will be driving between stops. Transfers provided for those without cars.

2 vegetarian dishes, 4 non vegetarian dishes, unlimited water.

Tastings include Gluten/Lactose/Dairy/Nuts please notify us of any severe allergies.

Carry earphones for our guide audio system.

Dress comfortably; carry a light sweater if you feel cold in restaurant air-conditioning

Minimum of four guests required; We may cancel and refund tickets if minimum is not met.

What to Expect

Explore a surprising connection between Korean and Uzbek food and ponder over what gave rise to the link – the ancient Silk Road or 19th-century Soviet politics.

Bond with fellow explorers over soupy noodles, molten cheese and crunchy fermented cabbage. We compare these specialities between a 22-year old Korean restaurant and a recently born Uzbeki restaurant while debating authenticity vs. evolution. As an optional digestivo after our two meals, we’ll drive down to a Korean gourmet supermarket to explore the moreish condiments that give Korean food its depth of spicy and umami flavours.

Our route and featured tastings are subject to change.

Korean Restaurant
Warm noodle soup, cold noodle soup, cheesy rice cakes and pickles.

Uzbek Restaurant
Warm noodle soup, cold noodle soup, cheesy chicken and pickles.

Korean Gourmet Market (optional)
Explore different pastes and pickles synonymous with Korean cooking.

Questions for our fellow food nerds who may want to start thinking before the experience:

  • How far back does the Korean-Uzbek connection go? Do we owe it all to Stalin, or to the Silk Road?
  • Do we always need to favour the authentic dish over the adaptation?

We meet inside Koreana Restaurant in Barsha. The table will be reserved under the name: Nahla. Please be on time, we don't wait for latecomers!

Parking is available, however we will be starting and ending at different locations. We will be driving between stops. Transfers provided for those without cars.. The nearest metro station is Sharaf DG or Dubai Internet City.

Get Directions

Have questions? Here are the most frequently asked.

Here’s how, and if any one or more of these distinguishing features resonate with you, then you’re our perfect Sufra guest:

  • Stronger community focus – You’re eager to connect with other intellectually curious members of our community, over a common passion for food, culture and exploration.
  • More dynamic and collaborative – You’d rather be involved in discussions moderated by a Sufra host, rather than being “guided on a tour;” you leave the event knowing that the dialogues you had within the group added richness to the experience.
  • More fringe discoveries – You already know the not-so-secret “hidden gems” in the city; you’re looking to access those cultures, conversations and experiences that are rarely on the mainstream radar. They’re either reserved to a few cultural circles or are often discovered only by people with special insider access, e.g. journalists.
  • Less formal, more fluid – You simply want to have a fun, not overly planned outing with like-minded people who love food!

Yes, you may join any Sufra experience as a resident or tourist, simply by booking any of the listed Sufra events on our calendar.

As of May 2019, we are in the process of replacing the membership programme with another exciting offer for residents to earn discounts on our Sufra experiences as well other signature tours.

For those who are still currently members, here’s more information about your package:

  • AED 990.00 for 9 months of the programme through the year*, excluding 5% VAT and processing fees of AED 15.00 if booking online or AED 2.00 if booking via phone at +971 56 471 8244.
    • AED 850.00 per person for couples’ or group membership bookings. If your group is larger than 8, please reach out to us at sufra@fryingpanadventures.com.
  • Perks include:
    • Discounts on every Sufra event, adding up to AED 220 in monthly savings over 9 months of the programme.
    • 10% off on our signature food tours for members and their guests.
    • Priority notification and exclusive 1-week booking access, every month, on new listings prior to the event going public.
  • Membership is on a rolling basis and always begins on the 1st of the next month; e.g. if you purchase the membership on October 15th, 2018, you become a Sufra member from November 1st, 2018.  In this case, your membership will expire on October 31st, 2019.
  • Once purchased, your membership cannot be frozen, transferred or refunded for any reason.

*Sufra is not operational from June to August due to the heat. If we do plan any indoor events, our Sufra members will be the first to know!

Yes, depending on the chosen experience and size of your group. In most cases, we would be happy to adapt an existing Sufra event for your private party or corporate team.

Still have questions?   Visit our FAQ page to submit your own