Latest news with #Sombrero
Arab News
30-06-2025
- Arab News
Karachi TacoCop: Senior police officer runs Mexican food cart after dark
KARACHI: As evening settles over Karachi, a white and green rickshaw-turned-food truck named Sombrero parks quietly on the city's bustling Seaview beach. Soon, the aromas of spiced meat and soft corn tortillas begin emanating from the cart, suggesting a seasoned chef at work. But the man behind the counter is a top police officer with bullet wounds and decades of service in Pakistan's most volatile regions. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Usman Siddiqui has spent 23 years chasing kidnappers, leading raids on criminal hideouts and running anti-corruption and narcotics operations across Pakistan's Sindh and Balochistan provinces. Now, in a surprising second act, Siddiqui and his wife run a food cart, serving Mexican tacos, corn and flour tortillas filled with meat, vegetables, and condiments like salsa or sour cream. 'We made these tacos at home and they turned out to be really good,' Siddiqui told Arab News. 'Friends encouraged us to set up at the Karachi Eat festival in 2022 and the response was immense.' The idea eventually grew into Sombrero, first launched as a delivery service and then as a street food cart stationed in the Bukhari Commercial Area and at Seaview. Each evening, Siddiqui and his wife, Hubna Usman, personally oversee its operation, ensuring everything from prep to quality control is handled with care. 'She takes the truck out at 6 or 630pm. It's here [at Bukhari] till about 9-930pm and then it goes to Seaview McDonald's until 1am,' Siddiqui explained. FROM THE FRONTLINES TO THE FRYER Born in Shikarpur, a historic city in Sindh, Siddiqui joined the police force in 2002 and has since held key positions, including Inspector General of Balochistan Prisons, Director General of Narcotics Control, and Director of Anti-Corruption. He has also served as Senior Superintendent of Police in seven districts, including two stints in Balochistan. Much of his work has involved high-risk assignments, including the rescue of kidnapped children and operations against organized crime. 'The most satisfaction I get is when I rescue kidnapping victims, especially kids,' Siddiqui said. 'Someone's child is kidnapped. It's a very tormenting situation for the entire family.' He also survived a gunbattle in 2015 in which nine fellow officers were killed. 'I took a bullet in my arm,' he recalled quietly. 'It was a very difficult encounter.' Though few expect a police official to run a food cart, Siddiqui said cooking has always been his passion. 'I cook myself, even when I'm with my family at home,' he said. 'There are certain things that I cook better than most of my staff, even if they're trained professionals.' AUTHENTICIY Mexican cuisine, especially tacos, caught the couple's interest after friends asked for a themed dinner. 'There was a lot of space for Mexican food,' Siddiqui said. 'Nobody is doing it here, right? Nobody is doing it right.' Indeed, tacos remain a novelty in Pakistan. 'Me and Usman both tried this recipe a hundred times to come closer to Mexican food,' said Hubna Usman, a former banker. 'It was Usman who told me, 'Yes, this is the final product.' Because he's a foodie, I listened to him.' Their children were also involved in the early days of the business. 'Initially, it was all of us setting it up, me, my kids, and my wife. We used to drive the rickshaw ourselves. We used to wait on orders ourselves,' Siddiqui said. Now the cart is run by trained staff but Siddiqui still joins at least once a week. 'Once a week, at least, we'll come and assemble it ourselves or cook it ourselves' Despite the late hours and his demanding day job as DIG of the Sindh police's Rapid Response Force, Siddiqui insists the food cart is a labor of love. 'I can stay in the kitchen for two, three hours and cook without being distracted,' he said. 'I like it when people enjoy my food and appreciate it.' Customers agree. 'It's actually really good because the flavors are really good. Especially the hot shell. It's amazing,' said Zarian Turab, a regular at Sombrero. 'Mexican food is difficult to find in Karachi. But they're doing justice to it.' Another customer, real estate professional Asad Ameen, said he had never tried Mexican food before discovering the cart. 'I often come here to Seaview for food and snacks, and I discovered Sombrero. I've tried their tacos and they're absolutely delicious.' Despite calls to 'localize' the menu, Siddiqui remains firm on authenticity. 'This is about 80 to 90 percent authentic,' he said. 'You will never see me making chicken tikka pizza tacos for you because that's the local taste. It doesn't work that way.'
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Hubble telescope provides fresh look at stunning ‘Sombrero Galaxy'
As the Hubble Space Telescope approaches 35 years since its launch, marking over three decades of incredible images of the universe and science, Nasa and its partner, the European Space Agency, are revisiting some of the spacecraft's most striking first installment in the 35th anniversary series is the famous Messier 104 galaxy, also known as the Sombrero Galaxy. This time around, using new processing techniques, the galaxy is revealed in greater detail with more background stars and galaxies. The Sombrero Galaxy is about 30 million light-years away within the constellation Virgo. Its most recognizable feature is its Mexican hat-like shape, hence the Sombrero nickname. But this galaxy is no hat hanging on a wall. The sharp line of the brim is created as one solar mass of gas is converted into stars, making the looping, dusty disk. According to NASA, the galaxy's central supermassive black hole is 2,000 times more massive than the Milky Way's at nine billion solar masses. The Best Evidence For Life Outside Our Solar System Just Got Stronger NASA's other powerful space telescopes, including the retired Spitzer Space Telescope and its new James Webb Space Telescope in 2024, have studied the Sombrero Galaxy. Each uses different imaging techniques to capture the galactic wonder in a new light. NASA and the ESA will continue to release more images this year to celebrate Hubble's 35th anniversary. The telescope, sometimes called "The People's Telescope," launched on April 24, article source: Hubble telescope provides fresh look at stunning 'Sombrero Galaxy'
