Print

    Food Review Canapé: The Disneyland of Milkshakes

    Canape Cafe, F-11 Markaz, Islamabad

    Written by: Syed Hashir Ali
    Posted on: July 22, 2016 | | 中文

    The complete range of Freaky Shakes (source: 'Canap

    Ever wondered how four different chocolate bars, a brownie, a cupcake, cookies, whipped cream, wafers, chocolate sauce and sprinkles would look (and taste) like in a glass of milkshake? Well…neither did anyone else. But the chefs at a small café in Islamabad, known as Canapé, seem to have the answer.

    Situated on the first floor of Liberty Square Plaza in F-11 Markaz, Canapé has been attracting food enthusiasts in the city for quite some time now. When it comes to innovation in food, Islamabad has become a bastion. With the explosion of eateries in the capital in the last few years, foodies are always craving something new; the typical restaurants just don’t seem to cut it for us anymore. In the midst of this “foodie’s dilemma”, it appears that Canapé has hit the bull’s eye – by introducing its “freaky shakes” and other frozen beverages with some splendid toppings and a large variety of sauces. The “freaky shakes” come in five rich flavors, each with its own extensive list of toppings that are sure to satisfy one’s dessert cravings unlike anything else. These shakes are simply a treat to look at; each and every one of these calorie-packed jars of dessert dreams is reason enough for shake connoisseurs to celebrate.

    Canape Cafe, F-11 Markaz, Islamabad

    Lemonade flavors include Red Orange, Peach and Green Apple (source: 'Canapé' Facebook page)

    The innovation doesn’t stop at milkshakes – there is a distinct range of flavored lemonades, fresh juices and other beverages. The lemonade flavors range from Red Orange and Peach to Green Apple, among others. Apart from the drinkables, Canapé also serves a variety of mouthwatering food entrées. The Grilled Chicken Sandwich, the Crispy Chicken and the Grilled Fish Fillet are particularly worthy of a mention. The taste and quality of most food items is exceptional. The serving size is also usually quite generous. However, there are times when you may be served a bland lemonade, an overcooked Chicken Fillet, or a milkshake overloaded with sugar and sprinkles, which could prove costly to the loyal customers who pay over 800 PKR for one milkshake.   

    Canape Cafe, F-11 Markaz, Islamabad

    Cheat meal bucket list

    Despite a variety of entries on offer, the milkshakes remain the sole reason behind the huge online buzz over this bar and café. The “freaky shakes”, also called “crazy shakes” by their concocters, have managed to “freak out” many foodies over the internet. The most striking thing about these milkshakes (apart from the exhaustive list of sugary ingredients added to these concoctions) is the amount of effort put into their decoration. The rim of the milkshake glass, the contents inside, and even the plate underneath are meticulously worked on to create a visual and culinary masterpiece (which somewhat justifies the high price). All this hard work makes the milkshakes so photogenic that they frequently appear on Facebook posts, Instagram pictures and Snapchat stories of customers.

    Canape Cafe, F-11 Markaz, Islamabad

    When customers become fans (source: Snapchat, Facebook)

    It has been less than 4 months since Canapé opened its doors to customers. In this relatively small period of time, the place has managed to cut through the clutter and gain a positive word-of-mouth from the discerning population of Islamabad. Popular personalities such as Haroon, Vaneeza Ahmad, Faisal Javed and Abdullah Qureshi have already visited the place and spoken highly of it.

    Canapé was at first little more than a bar table with a few chairs. However, thanks to the outstanding response from customers, it has recently extended its seating area by including a number of tables and lavish sofas.

    Canape Cafe, F-11 Markaz, Islamabad

      (source: 'Canapé' Facebook page)

    A mere step inside this trendy little café can add zeal to an otherwise dull day. With a colorful interior, melodious tunes and an active staff, it is a lively place that warrants at least one visit from every foodie in the city.

    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021