Places To Dine in Qatar: Spring/Summer 2023

Dining and Restaurants in Qatar

Time to Dine

If you’re looking to explore flavours and new tastes then you’re in the right place. The dining out experience in Qatar brings people together providing a variety of options to suit all, with traditional Middle Eastern cuisine, popular International dishes, refined gourmet dining, or family friendly buffets.

Doha’s luxury hotels offer a range of formal and casual venues, including Michelin starred chef experiences, which are perfect for enjoying an evening of fine dining and conversation.

Around town there are a plethora of dining choices from spicy Indian thalis and vibrant organic dishes, to fresh sushi platters and perfectly grilled meats. Exciting food and beverage concepts continue to be introduced to Qatar as new malls open, and existing venues expand. With a wide choice, great food and unique ambience, Qatar’s restaurants, eateries and cafés provide a menu for every occasion. As an added bonus, the beautiful Corniche awaits you to walk off any unwanted additions to your waist!

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Dining in Qatar

Reflecting its multicultural society, Qatar has a huge range of cuisines to choose from. Venues range from local cafeterias to gourmet restaurants in the finest locations. Many international franchises have branches countrywide for those addicted to certain brands. However, for patrons wishing to 'eat like a local', there's a plethora of options for Middle Eastern dining.

If you love food and want to keep up to date with all the latest news, food reviews and dining promotions, especially for holidays such as Eid, National Day, Christmas and the New Year, visit marhaba.qa and our social media.

Dining in the country

Qatar residents are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining out. There are numerous local and international restaurants, cafés, cafeterias and other dining outlets across the country.

Food trucks are everywhere selling juices, coffee, tea, sandwiches, sweets and other quick bites while the more discerning palate can find mid-range, casual dining restaurants in malls and around the country.

Throughout the year, hotel restaurants offer great choice and value-for-money promotions that include happy hours, early dinner offers and more. Before the arrival of high temperatures in the summer, enjoy the outdoors with al fresco dining. For weekday dining options, one popular choice is a 'business' lunch, which usually runs from noon until 3 pm, and includes a two or three course menu for a set price.

Thursday evenings, and Friday and Saturday brunches have become very popular with both locals and expatriates, and are widely available in hotels and outlets around town.

Brunches can be anything from all-you-can-eat buffets to a multiple course à la carte option. Brunches are most usually on Fridays and/or Saturdays with many establishments offering food in a family-friendly environment, and may include live music and other forms of entertainment. Prices vary with alcohol and non-alcohol packages. Buffet food and à la carte offerings abound with tiered pricing, making it a great option for family, friends and colleagues.

Dining at home and outside catering

A large number of restaurants offer a takeaway service; this will often include home delivery with a nominal delivery fee. Many restaurants and hotels

provide a full outside catering service for special occasions.

The following pages list some of the places to eat and drink in Qatar.

Helpful tips

Many restaurants have a family section and there are some with closed-off rooms should you require more privacy.

According to Law No 10 of 2016 on the control of tobacco and its derivatives, smoking is prohibited in closed public spaces. However, some licensed restaurants may have a smoking section.

The legal age for drinking alcohol in Qatar is 21. Your ID or passport may be requested if dining at a licensed restaurant, as well as at bars and clubs. Some clubs and bars will ask you to pay a joining fee, and issue a membership card to use on return visits.

On 1 January 2019, Law No 25 of 2018 on Selective Tax (Excise Tax Law) came into effect to regulate the consumption of 'health-damaging' goods, with a 100% tax on tobacco and alcohol products, energy drinks and special purpose goods, and a 50% tax on carbonated drinks.

Qatar Clean

Qatar Clean is an initiative launched by Qatar Tourism and the Ministry of Public Health to ensure maximum safety for all travellers and residents, rolled out across the hospitality sector and expanded across tourism sectors. This initiative introduces expert protocols for hygiene and cleanliness, and follows strict sterilisation and disinfection practices applied to hotels and restaurants across the country. qatartourism.com/ en/licensing-e-services/qatar-clean

Three Sixty at The Torch Doha

Enjoy an interactive brunch with our culinary experts preparing your dishes tableside, paired with appetisers from our artisanal bu et and live music by our resident DJ - the perfect weekend kicko .

QAR 185 per person / QAR 75, ages 6 - 12

Inclusive of soft beverages

QAR 285 per person

Inclusive of special beverages

Fridays, from 1 pm to 4 pm

For more information or to make a reservation, call +974 4141 6000 or email dohmd.fbreservation@lemeridien.com.

Must-Try Qatari Dishes

By Ola Diab

Qatar is home to a wide variety of cuisines – Chinese, Thai, Lebanese, Turkish, Italian, French, American – you name it. But you cannot dine in Qatar without trying Qatari cuisine at the country's traditional and modern local restaurants across the country.

Qatari cuisine shares many traditional foods of the Middle East and North African (MENA) region, especially the Gulf region. Their food consists of meat, grain, and dairy as well as vegetables, with many stew-like and rice dishes often cooked in a single pot. Traditional dishes include harees, madrooba, machbous and saloona as well as sweet dishes such as balaleet and luqaimat

Harees

Common across the Arab region, from the Levant to the Arabian Gulf, harees or harissa is a popular porridge-like dish of boiled, cracked, or coarsely-ground wheat, mixed with chicken or mutton. The wheat is soaked overnight, then simmered in water along with meat and butter. Any remaining liquid is strained and the mixture is beaten and seasoned. Harees may be garnished with cinnamon, sugar, clarified butter and cardamom as well as parsley at times. It is often served during the holy month of Ramadan.

Machbous

Machbous is not exclusively Qatari as it is a common dish in the Gulf in countries such as the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait. It is a rice-based dish that is slow-cooked with spices, meats and nuts. This rich combination of Eastern spices of cinnamon and cardamom, basmati rice, nuts, raisins and either mutton (laham), chicken, hamour fish, or even prawn is a staple meal in Qatar, served in a large communal dish. Machbous can be served with potatoes and hardboiled eggs. It is usually referred to as kabsa as they are two similar dishes.

Madrooba

Madrooba or mathrooba literally translates to beaten, which refers to the rice that is mashed after being cooked for a long period of time. It's made with fish or chicken in a creamy, buttery porridge. It's often eaten as a treat to break the fast of Ramadan. The dish can also be found in other countries in the Gulf such as Oman, Bahrain and the UAE.

Saloona

Saloona is a classic stew common in Qatar and the rest of the Gulf region made with meat and/or vegetables. The most common variety is prepared with chicken, but vegetables, other types of meat such as beef or lamb, and fish can also be used as the main ingredient. Saloona usually combines generously-seasoned, tomato-based broth with sautéed onions, garlic, ginger, vegetables, and the optional choice of the main ingredient. It can be eaten with or without rice, or bread, and is often served during the holy month of Ramadan.

Luqaimat

Known throughout the Arab world, luqaimat are small sweet dumplings made of butter, milk, sugar, flour, saffron and cardamom, deep fried and then drizzled with sugar syrup. They are usually served with tea and are a favourite during Ramadan.

In addition, coffee and tea are important in the daily lives of Qataris. Similar to the well-known Arabic coffee, Qahwa helw, also known as 'sweet coffee', Qatari coffee is a bright orange mixture with cardamom, saffron, and sugar. It can also be served with milk.

Try the Qatari way

If you want to try the best of Qatari cuisine, there are plenty of choices. You’ll be spoiled for choice at Souq Waqif and Souq Al Wakra. Local restaurants and cafés to look out for:

• Al Jasra Traditional Food, Souq Waqif

• Al Manchab, Al Hazm • Bayt Sharq, Ras Bu Abboud • E’asair Café, Souq Al Wakra

• Fouj Cafe, Grand Hamad St • Gahwetna, The Pearl Island • Harees Al Waldah, multiple locations

• Jiwan, National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ)

• Karak Mqanes, multiple locations • Matbakh

Balaleet

Balaleet is a traditional sweet and savoury dish popular in the Gulf region as a breakfast choice. It is a fragrant casserole of noodles or vermicelli cooked with sugar, cardamom, rose water and saffron, topped with a flat egg omelette.

Al Doha (Doha Kitchen), Bin Omran • Nassayem

Qatar, The Diplomatic Club • Opus, Park Hyatt

Doha • Saasna, Msheireb Downtown Doha

• Shay Al Shoomos Restaurant, Souq Waqif

• SMAT, Orient Pearl • Sofra, Alwadi Hotel Doha –MGallery • Walima, Mondrian Doha

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The Qatari desserts

MEET THE CHEF

Dario Cecchini

Bottega Di Carna

Marhaba interviewed Dario Cecchini following his recent visit to the luxurious Mondrian Doha for the opening of the newest restaurant, Bottega Di Carna.

Dario Cecchini, the brains behind Bottega Di Carna, is known as ‘The Greatest Butcher in The World’, thanks to his spirit of generosity and passion for using only the best ingredients. Dario, also known as the ‘Godfather of butchers’, was born in the Tuscan village of Panzano, where his father was the village butcher. He is the eighth generation of the Cecchini butchers, with a legacy of over 250 years of excellence. He studied veterinary science at the university in Pisa, but in 1976, three years into his six-year course, he had to take over the family business from his dying father.

Notorious for hospitality in abundance, Dario is known to butcher to the sound of rock music blaring, while reciting poetry, everything from Dante to Shakespeare. Synonymous for good food and a good time, Dario has acquired a celebrity and chef fan base worldwide, from King Charles III to Elton John.

Tell us about yourself, Chef Dario, besides as life being a butcher?

Other than being a butcher, I have built a very happy life thanks to my wonderful wife.

Tell us about being a butcher and how different it is from being known as a chef?

To be a butcher means having the responsibility to kill, which is why I feel it is imperative to ensure a happy life for the animals we raise, they have a merciful death, and that we use every part, from nose to tail,

without waste. This is my way of honouring the sacrifice and giving thanks for the gift we have received.

You come from a family of butchers. How has that had an influence on your success as a butcher?

I come from a family who have been butchers in a small village called Panzano in Chianti for 250 years, passed on from father to son. I am the eighth generation and have been a butcher on my own for 49 years. This has greatly influenced my training and the pride I take in being a good butcher.

You’re known as ‘The Greatest Butcher in the World’. What did it take for you to acquire that title? This title has been given to me with a lot of work, passion, and a little luck.

How does being a ‘good butcher’ impact the making of a good meat dish?

Gathering knowledge about meat over time: how best to cut it, cook it, and recognise quality. This is essential in order to obtain the best dish possible from each cut.

What would you say are essential ingredients when preparing meat?

For me, when the meat is of excellent quality, the only other ingredient necessary is a wood fire. Cooking requires, essentially, only meat and fire and nothing else.

Tell us about Bottega Di Carna at Mondrian Doha, and how it will bring a new concept to Qatar’s dining scene?

Bottega Di Carna at Mondrian Doha will be bringing the best quality modern Italian food to Qatar, along with my butchery experience, my pride, and my conviviality. We hope our guests will always feel well taken care of and very much at home.

For more information or bookings, call 4045 5999 or visit mondrian.qa-doha.com

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MONDRIAN DOHA

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF RAMADAN AT MONDRIAN DOHA'S WONDERLAND

For bookings please call us at : +974 4045 5555

MEET THE CHEF

Chef Izu Ani

IZU Restaurant

Marhaba interviewed Chef Izu Ani following his recent visit to the Mandarin Oriental, Doha to unveil his newest Signature Set Menu and Caviar Tasting Menu at IZU restaurant.

The award-winning IZU restaurant celebrates a mélange of modern and traditional Mediterranean cuisine; dishes burst with delicate layers of flavours and are made using the finest ingredients.

Growing up in London, Chef Izu’s passion for the kitchen began during economics classes at school. Chef Izu travelled to France to experience nouvelle cuisine, which influenced his culinary style and encouraged his flair for French flavours. Considered one of the upcoming food pioneers in the region, Chef Izu has experienced working in renowned restaurants such as two-Michelin-starred La Bastide Saint Antoine and the world-renowned three-Michelin-starred Auberge de L’Ill. After his time in France, Chef Izu set his sights on Spain, and worked in restaurants such as Arzak, Mugaritz and Akelarre. It was during this period that Chef Izu was offered the opportunity to relocate to Dubai to join the French restaurant La Petite Maison. Although his style remains firmly rooted in French cooking tradition, the Chef’s use of innovative flavours and techniques is often described as ‘modern Mediterranean’, resulting in dishes that are exquisitely presented and original.

How different is your new Signature Set Menu from your previous one and from other restaurants serving French Mediterranean cuisine?

I select hand-picked dishes to highlight in the signature set menu. This new menu highlights Tuna

Carpaccio with Clementine Dressing, Langoustine with Caviar and Slow Cooked Wagyu Short Ribs.

Do you have a favourite dish in the new Signature Set Menu? Why?

I would say the Slow-cooked Wagyu Short Ribs because this dish requires a lot of patience, starting from sourcing the best quality meat and ingredients to the lengthy cooking process. It requires a cooking time of about 48 hours. The sauce is prepared from the broth which needs lots of care and attention as well as technique to get the flavours right. This dish is meat that melts in your mouth; it’s full of flavour.

How do you tell if it’s time to change the menu? Do you follow trends, or do you stick to classic dishes? The goal is to continually delight guests that love our cooking and come back to enjoy the food. The menu celebrates my philosophy and passion of creating happiness through food and making food that feels good. Dishes are simple and delicious that is always my direction with any new menu and concept.

Regarding the new Caviar Tasting Menu, Marhaba was privileged to speak to Chef Suranaga, the Chef de Cuisine of IZU restaurant since January 2021, leading Chef Izu’s culinary team in preparing his signature French Mediterranean cuisine.

Can you tell us more about your upcoming Caviar Menu?

Chef Suranaga: The new caviar menu celebrates one of the culinary world’s most luxurious delicacies delightfully paired with Mediterranean dishes at IZU. It’s a five-course menu featuring four types of caviar paired with dishes like Caviar Kristal Blinis, Scallops Carpaccio with Oscietre Caviar, Prawns with Theo Olive Oil and Classic Baeri Caviar, Lobster Linguine with Beliga Caviar as highlights. Wine pairing is available, too.

For more information or bookings, visit mandarinoriental.com or call 4008 8888

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An exciting culinary journey awaits you at Mosaic with BBQ Lunch available every Friday. e experience features an extensive selection of BBQ specialties prepared among nine live cooking stations.

Barahat Msheireb Street, Msheireb Downtown Doha, PO Box 23643, Doha, Qatar

Gastronomic Experiences at Qatar Museums’ Venues

Every moment is an opportunity to savour new flavours. Journey through our restaurants and seize the day with flavourful and unforgettable experiences.

Breakfast at Café #999, Fire Station

An inspiring culinary space for everyone, designed by artists and creatives. Discover our compendium of classic Italian breakfast dishes at Café #999 to start your day filled with

Book at +974 4452 5659.

Brunch at Jiwan Restaurant, National Museum of Qatar

Head over to Jiwan and bask in the beauty of our terrace views, paired with sumptuous Qatari brunch selection crafted with that classic Jiwan twist. Brunch is available on Fridays.

Book at +974 4452 5725 www.jiwan.qa

Afternoon Tea at MIA Café, Museum of Islamic Art

A serene afternoon tea break overlooking the museum’s tranquil waterfront view, joined by perfectly curated selection of pastries, savouries, and beverages. Cap o the day at MIA Café.

Book at +974 4422 4168.

GLOSSARY OF MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE

The term ‘Middle Eastern cuisine’ includes Arab, Turkish and Persian food. In Qatar, chefs from all over the region provide delicious examples of their local dishes.

Find recipes in Recipe section

Al haysa Small sweets made from dates

Al arayess Deep fried lamb in a sandwich

Ataif (qatayef) Small pancakes stuffed with nuts or cheese, doused with syrup

Baba Ghanoush Chargrilled aubergine, tahini, olive oil, lemon and garlic dip

Baharat Arabian mixed spices

Baklawa (baklava) Sweet layered pastry with nuts, in lemon-honey syrup

Bamiya Okra and lamb in tomato stew

Basboosa Semolina tart soaked in syrup

Batata harra Potato cubes fried with hot pepper

Bukhari rice Lamb or chicken and rice with onion, lemon, carrots and tomato paste

Burghul (bulgar wheat) Wheat kernels used in tabbouleh and kibbeh

Cardamom Aromatic spice used to flavour Arabic coffee, yogurt and stews

Ejje Arabian omelette

Falafel, taamiya Small deep-fried balls of ground chickpeas or broad beans with spices and herbs

Fasenjan Chicken with walnuts and pomegranate syrup from Iran

Fatayer Pastry pockets filled with spinach, meat, cheese or zaatar

Fattouche Salad of toasted khubz, mint, cucumbers, tomatoes and lemon

Foul m’damas Slow-cooked mashed broad beans, lemon, olive oil and cumin

Gahwa, coffee Coffee is made in two traditional versions in Qatar. Gahwa arabiya, the cofee of the Gulf, is a light golden colour spiced with cardamom and served in tiny cups.

Baklawa

Baba Ghanoush

Gahwa Gahwa

Haleeb Milk

Halwa (halva) Sweetened sesame paste, with nuts, fruit or chocolate

Hamour White fish from the grouper family

Hamra Red Snapper

Hummous Puree of chickpeas, tahini, lemon, garlic and olive oil

Jebne White cheese

Kebab Skewered chunks of meat or fish cooked over coals

Kamareddine Apricot nectar used to break the fast in Ramadan

Kharouf meche Whole lamb stuffed with rice, nuts, spices, raisins and rose water

Khouzi A whole lamb served on a bed of rice

Khubz, pita Flat round bread for sandwiches

Kibbeh Oval nuggets of ground lamb, burghul, pine nuts and spices

Kibbeh naye Raw kibbeh, similar to steak tartare

Koshary Rice, pasta and lentils, with onions, chillis and tomato paste

Koussa Stuffed courgettes

Kufta (kofta) Fingers, balls or flat cake of minced meat and spices

Kunafah Thin pastry with sweet white cheese, nuts and syrup

Laban Tangy sour yogurt drink

Labneh Thick cream cheese made from yogurt, sometimes spiced

Laham bi ajeen Arabic pizza

Loomi Dried lime tea

Loubia (fassulya) Green beans in tomato sauce

Ma’amul Cakes filled with either dates, walnuts or pistachios

Machbous A favourite Gulf dish of lamb, chicken or fish with rice

Makloubeh Meat or fish with rice, broad beans and cauliflower

Maqdous Small aubergines stuffed with walnuts, garlic and steeped in olive oil

Mehshi Aubergines, courgettes, vine leaves or cabbage stuffed with meat, rice and onions

Mezze (mezzah) A selection of hot and cold appetisers

Moghil Crushed rice made into a pudding

Mouhammara Mixture of ground nuts, olive oil, cumin and chillis

Mouloukia Edible green leafed stew usually cooked with chicken

Moutabel Aubergine dip made with tahini, olive oil, lemon and garlic

Muhalabiya Silky textured semolina pudding served cold

Moutabel

Grilled red snapper

Kibbeh

Mutabak Sweet or savoury pastry stuffed with cheese, banana or meat

Qatayef Syrup soaked stuffed crêpes

Rocca Salad greens with peppery mustard flavour

Rubbiyan Shrimp

Sambusek Triangular pies filled with meat, cheese or spinach

Sayadiyah Delicately spiced fish served on rice

Saleek Lamb and rice dish, where the rice is cooked in milk

Shai (chai) Tea is an essential in much of the Middle East. It is usually served black in small glasses often flavoured with mint, cardamom, saffron, cinnamon or ginger and sweetened

Shaour Red Sea fish from the Emperor family

Shawarma A wrap of pressed lamb, chicken or beef roasted on a spit; the meat is shaved off as the spit rotates. Khubz is filled with shawarma meat, pickles and topped with tahini sauce

Shebsi A spinach stew flavoured with a variety of herbs including dill

Shisha A water pipe for smoking tobacco and (hubbly-bubbly) used when drinking coffee or after a meal

Shisk taouk Skewered chicken pieces cooked over coals

Shorbat addis A rich, nourishing lentil soup

Shrimp kabsa Shrimps cooked with rice and spices rather like a paella

Sukkar Sugar

Sumac Ground red powder from the cashew family, used as a seasoning

Tabbouleh Salad made from burghul, tomato, parsley and lemon juice

Tagine A rich slow-cooked stew from Morocco and western North Africa traditionally served with couscous in a conical serving dish of the same name. Samak tagine is cooked with fish

Taklia Ground coriander and garlic mixture

Tahini Oily paste made from ground sesame seeds, used in hummous, moutabel and baba ghanoush

Tamr Dates

Tatatour Thick dip made from puréed pine nuts, garlic and lemon

Umm Ali ‘Ali’s mother’ is a pastry pudding soaked in milk with raisins and coconut

Warak enab Vine leaves filled with rice, rolled into a cigar shape and cooked

Yansoon Hot spiced tea, used medicinally

Zaitoon Olives

Zaatar Thyme; ‘special’ zaatar is a blend of thyme, marjoram, sumac and salt

Zubeidi Pomfret

Shawarma

Tangine

Warak enab Shawarma Tangine Warak enab

SPICES

Spices play an important part in many dishes in Middle Eastern cooking. Needless to say, every cook should only purchase spices that are of the best quality, preferably in small amounts to preserve their freshness. Many prefer to use whole spices, which can be ground and used as required.

Souq Waqif has spices from around the world and is a legacy from Qatar’s long association with the sea, when dhows trading pearls with India and Africa brought back spices and dishes that have since become part of the local cuisine.

For a less adventurous shopping expedition purchase from the local supermarkets which have both Middle Eastern brands (usually in plastic packets and jars) or the more elegantly packed and expensive international brands.

Allspice (fulaifila) An aromatic flavour with a hint of heat, the seeds add an all-round spicy flavour to meat or chicken dishes.

Baharat (Gulf baharat or kebsa) A spice mixture or blend used in Middle Eastern cuisine, baharat is the Arabic word for ‘spices’. The blend usually contains all of the spices on these pages – in Gulf baharat, black limes and saffron may be used.

Black limes (loomi aswad) Whole dried fruit boiled in salt water and sun dried, and while not strictly a spice, black limes are often used together with spices to sharpen the taste. Pierce whole limes to release the flavour, and remove the pips If using them crushed.

Black pepper (filfil aswad) Buy pepper seeds then grind at home to get the full flavour. This is one of the most popular spices in Middle Eastern cooking.

Cardamom (hael) Small pods containing tiny black seeds with a strong aromatic flavour. Chew a pod after a meal to aid digestion, but swallow only the seeds. The pods can be used whole or split, and the seeds whole or ground. Cardamom is used in Arabic tea and coffee as well as savoury and sweet dishes. Fresh cardamom pods are green in colour.

Allspice

Baharat

Black limes

Cardamom

Chilli (filfil ah’mar) Hot in colour and flavour! Chilli powder is what gives the ‘kick’ to spicy foods in the Gulf. It comes in varying degrees of strength; cayenne pepper is not, in fact, a pepper but ground red chillies and is extremely hot.

Cinnamon (qarfa) Made from the bark of a tropical tree and sold in long, thin rolls, or ground in powder form. It can be used for both sweet and savoury dishes.

Cloves (qurinfil) Dried, unopened flower buds that can be used whole or ground to flavour meat, chicken or rice. Available in both ground and seed form, it has a pungent flavour and should be used sparingly.

Cumin (kamoon) Seeds are used whole in rice and bread, or ground in curries. It complements coriander in some dishes, particularly those from India.

Masala for chicken or fish A much milder Middle Eastern adaptation of the Indian mixture of ground spices. There are many different combinations but most contain black pepper, cardamom, cumin, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. It is often used as one of the ingredients of biriyani.

Mace (jarkon) Lacy, orange covering of the nutmeg seed. Look for whole nutmegs, which still have the mace attached; otherwise, buy it ground. Milder in flavour than nutmeg, it is used in both sweet and savoury dishes.

Nutmeg (jose al teeb) To get the best from nutmeg buy the spice whole and freshly grate for each use. It can be added to both sweet and savoury dishes.

Saffron (zaff’aron) The dried stigmas of a crocus flower, saffron threads impart a delicate flavour and yellow colour to dishes and are widely used in cooking rice. This is the most expensive spice in the world.

Sumac (soomak) An essential ingredient in local cuisine, used in spice rubs, marinades and dressings, and also served as a condiment. Sold as a coarse or fine powder, it is produced from the dried berries of a shrub common throughout the Middle East. It has a pleasant tangy taste with a hint of citrus.

Turmeric (kurkum) The plant belongs to the ginger family, the ground rhizome of which used sparingly gives a slightly sweet taste and a deep yellow colour to rice and chicken dishes. Use with care as it can stain.

Zaatar (kurkum) Used in Middle Eastern cuisine as both a herb and spice mixture – it is generally ground dried thyme, oregano, marjoram, or a combination, with toasted sesame seeds, salt, and sometimes sumac.

Chilli

Cumin

Masala

Mace

Nutmeg

Saffron

Sumac

Turmeric

Zaatar

FRIDAY B RUNCH

Hotels

Celebrate Holy Ramadan this year with Banyan Tree Doha at Sahara Tent on the 28th floor.

Join your family and loved ones and break your fast as you indulge in a wide spread of our International buffet, with Asian, Indian, Arabic and European corners.

Iftar: Sunset - 8.30 pm

Iftar Buffet QAR 230 per person

Suhour: 9.30 pm - 2.00 am

Suhour Buffet QAR 250 per person

For more information, call 4410 3310 or WhatsApp 3992 0808

JOIN US FOR IFTAR

FROM 5:30PM TO 7:30PM!

Enjoy an abundance of delicious dishes by our highly-regraded chefs .

QR79 per person at our Ramadan buffet!

Spend the evening celebrating with your favourite people over a mouth-watering array of flavours.

CELEBRATE MOMENTOUS OCCASIONS

THIS RAMADAN WITHIN THE GRAND AND ELEGANT VENUES OF REGENCY HALLS, WITH BANQUETS FIT FOR DOHA'S ELITE.

FOR BOOKING

50423194, 55676882

Places to Dine

Italian ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

American ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Galante All-day dining, Italian ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Panya Lobby lounge ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Qalamkarri Indian ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ Saffron Thai ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Pan Asian ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Indian ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Kitchen Thai, international ✔ ✔

Mezze House Lebanese ✔ ✔

IZU, Mandarin Oriental Doha

BRUNCH BRUNCH

Transport yourselves to Hawaii without having to leave Doha this summer! Elevate your Fridays and join us for a dining experience with dozens of delights for the whole family, including fun activities for kids. Come in your vibrant Hawaiian shirts and floral dresses for that tropical vibes.

EVERY FRIDAY AT AZRAQ RESTAURANT 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm

Prices:

In-house guests:

QAR 249 per adult (12 years and above)

QAR 125 per child (5 to 11 years)

Walk-in guests:

QAR 299 per adult (12 years and above)

QAR 150 per child (5 to 11 years)

For inquiries and bookings: Call : +974 4040 5075

WhatsApp : +974 6003 0776

Ramadan Journey of the Silk Road

Celebrate the spirit of the Holy month of Ramadan at Choices

Embark on the ancient journey of the Silk Road and explore the culinary touches from as far as Indonesia, China, and India, all the way to Central Asia, Turkey, and the Middle East, ending through the Mediterranean.

Iftar buffet: QAR 210 per person inclusive of Ramadan beverages

Iftar - 8:00 PM

For more information and reservations, WhatsApp 66085806 or visit hyattrestaurants.com

Places to Dine

Lounge, cafe, afternoon tea ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Masala Library by Jiggs Kalra Indian ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Provok Asian ✘ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ Vaya! Latin American ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Après Spa Café Healthy ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Curiosa by Jean-Georges Latin-inspired ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Elements International ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

ISLE Lounge Bar bites ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Library Lounge Bar bites ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Makani Beach Club Mediterranean, poolside bites ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Nobu Doha Japanese ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Seasons Tea Lounge Light bites, afternoon tea ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Shisha Terrace Middle Eastern ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Fuego, JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel Ipanema, Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

Places to Dine

Spice Market, W Doha

and Residences

Alba by Enrico Crippa, Raffles Doha

Places to Dine

HOTELS

Le Méridien City Center, Doha 4041 3333

CUISINE

Bar Rouge Wine bar ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Café Rouge French cafe and brasserie ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Caza Contemparary Morrocan ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘

CaZ Bar Mediterranean ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

La Gourmandise International ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

L'Apéro American ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘ ✔

Le Royal Méridien Doha 3100 3370

ADRIFT Anda by David Myers Italian ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Bagatelle Doha French Mediterranean ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Loleya Café French-Arabian cafe ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

The G.O.A.T Sports Lounge Sports lounge ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Yedi by Chef Esat Anatolian ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Mandarin Oriental, Doha 4008 8888

Ambar Bar bites ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Aqua Bar bites ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Baraha Lounge Afternoon tea, pastries ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Gelato Dessert ✔ ✘ ✘ ✘ ✘

IZU French, Mediterranean ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Liang Chinese ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Mandarin Lounge Afternoon tea, light bites ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Mosaic International ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Marriott Executive Apartments 4497 1234

Campagnia Caffe International ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Farmore Thn Burger International, burgers ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Marriott Marquis City Center Doha 4419 5000

Aqua Lounge International ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Champions American sports bar ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Crossroads Kitchen International ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Cucina Italian Kitchen ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Doha Baking Company Coffee house ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Glo Bar Cocktail bar ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Ipanema Brazilian Churrascaria ✘ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔

New York Steakhouse American steakhouse ✘ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔

Quick Bites International ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

West End Cafe Cafe, patisserie ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Avenue, Pullman Doha West Bay

Babylonia Restaurant, Delta Hotels City Center Doha

Places to Dine

Bywater, Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha

Elements, Four Seasons Hotel Doha

Places to Dine

Places to Dine

HOTELS

TELEPHONE CUISINE

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha 4428 1555

Bentley’s Grill Steakhouse ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Bombay Balti Indian ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Chingari Indian ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Hyde Park International ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Inginuity International ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Manhattan Bar/lounge ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Orion Bar ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Palm Garden Light bites ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Qube Night club ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Ruby Wu’s Chinese ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Sakura Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar Japanese ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Shehrazad Sports bar ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

The Italian Job Italian ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Raffles Doha 4030 7100

Acoustic Music Penthouse Bar, lounge ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Alba by Enrico Crippa Italian ✘ ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔

Blue Cigar Latin American, cigar lounge, bar ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

L'Artisan European ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Malaki Lounge, cafe, afternoon tea ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

International, Indian, Arabic ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Greek ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Crust Lobby lounge, afternoon tea ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ Farmhouse All-day dining, international ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Tailor Steakhouse Steakhouse ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ Rasa Indian ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ZOH Lifestyle Deck Poolside dining ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Farmhouse, Rixos Gulf Hotel Doha

Kaia, The Ned Doha

Places to Dine

HOTELS

Al Hubara All-day dining, international ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Al Sultan Brahim Doha Lebanese ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Atrium Lounge International ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Irish Harp Contemporary, pub ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Jamavar Doha Indian ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Lucia's Doha Italian ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Nusr-et Steakhouse Steakhouse ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Padel Cafe International ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Pool Cafe Poolside dining ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

by Tivoli

Al Shurfa Arabic gastro lounge ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Argan Moroccan ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

La Piazza Italian ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

La Patisserie Modern cafe ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✘

Steigenberger Hotel Doha 4020 1666 Avenue Cake, coffee, mocktails ✔ ✘ ✔ ✘ ✘

Crust All-day dining, international ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✘

Olea Terrace Arabic, European ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✘

Baaya Restaurant All-day

IZU, Mandarin Oriental Doha

O'Glacée Restaurant, Alwadi Hotel Doha –MGallery Hotel Collection

Dalchini

& Bar, Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha

Places to Dine

Luxe Lounge Cafe, afternoon tea ✔ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ Mix Lounge & Terrace International, sports bar ✘ ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔

Sabai Thai Thai ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Seasonal Tastes All-day dining, international ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Waves Pool Cafe Snacks, light bites ✘ ✘ ✔ ✔ ✔

Waldorf Astoria Lusail, Doha 4456 5656 Bywater International ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Bars and More

HAPPY HOUR

When the clock strikes 5, it’s Happy Hour somewhere in the world and Qatar is no exception! Happy Hours in Qatar are usually two or more hours of unlimited mixed drinks at discounted prices and the package may include limited or discounted prices on food. After a hard day’s work, unwind with friends at your favourite watering hole and save cash on your night out. There is something for everyone – Ladies Nights, gin promotions, wine tasting events and much more. Take it easy and enjoy comfortable cigar lounges or al fresco cocktail bars.

These are several promotions at hotels across the country. For more information, see Places to Dine, or visit the Marhaba website for our top picks.

KNOW YOUR GLASSES

Glasses have become increasingly sophisticated in shape in order to give the drinks they hold the best taste, and one look will usually suffice to guess what people are drinking. The champagne flute with its tall, narrow profile shows off the sparkling bubbles as they brush against the side of the glass, and gives the maximum enjoyment of their short journey into oblivion.

The triangular cocktail glass with its wide ‘V’ shape keeps the ingredients from separating, while long stems allow the glass to be held without imparting warmth to drinks that are shaken or stirred with ice before being poured. Its larger, more rounded cousin the margarita or coupette glass has a broad-rim for holding the salt essential for this drink, and is widely used for exotic or tropical drinks and is a popular container for other fruit cocktails.

A Hurricane glass is a glass tumbler which typically will contain 20 fluid ounces (600 ml). It is used to serve mixed drinks. It is shaped similar to a vase or a hurricane lamp and is typically taller and wider than a highball glass. The Poco Grande glass has a similar fluted bowl shape, but is shallower and has a longer stem. It is used for similar drinks as the Hurricane glass, but has a smaller portion size.

The highball and Collins glasses are very similar to each other. They each hold around the same volume – between eight and 12 ounces – though the Collins tends to be taller and more narrow, more of a chimney shape than the stouter highball glass, which usually tops off at 10 ounces. These tall glasses are typically used for ‘tall’ mixed drinks and filled with an abundance of ice. Usually, the drinks are built directly in the glass by pouring the ingredients over top of the ice and stirring.

The typical shot glass is made of thicker glass, particularly on the base. This reinforcement is designed to prevent breaking when, as is often done, the drinker slams the glass onto the bar top after downing the drink. Also, despite size and shape difference, they hold the same amount, which can be deceiving and something to be aware of in both shot glasses and beer mugs.

Poco Grande glass

Hurricane glass

Margarita or coupette glass

Places to Dine

CLUBS AND BARS

Places to Dine

Places to Dine

CLUBS AND BARS

Places to Dine

CLUBS AND BARS

Around Town

Places to Dine

AROUND TOWN

Places to Dine

AROUND TOWN

Places to Dine

Places to Dine

AROUND TOWN

*Most malls also have a wide selection of eateries available

Gastronomic Experiences at Qatar Museums’ Venues

Every moment is an opportunity to savour new flavours. Journey through our restaurants and seize the day with flavourful and unforgettable experiences.

Breakfast at Café #999, Fire Station

An inspiring culinary space for everyone, designed by artists and creatives. Discover our compendium of classic Italian breakfast dishes at Café #999 to start your day filled with

Book at +974 4452 5659.

Brunch at Jiwan Restaurant, National Museum of Qatar

Head over to Jiwan and bask in the beauty of our terrace views, paired with sumptuous Qatari brunch selection crafted with that classic Jiwan twist. Brunch is available on Fridays.

Book at +974 4452 5725 www.jiwan.qa

Afternoon Tea at MIA Café, Museum of Islamic Art

A serene afternoon tea break overlooking the museum’s tranquil waterfront view, joined by perfectly curated selection of pastries, savouries, and beverages. Cap o the day at MIA Café.

Book at +974 4422 4168.

Places to Dine

FAST FOOD

*Multiple locations, respective number listed

Places to Dine

HEALTHY OPTIONS

A few choice dining options among many

Provok, Fairmont Doha

The Secret Garden, Marsa Malaz Kempinski The Pearl – Doha

ARGAN RESTAURANT - Al Jasra Boutique HotelArgan offers authentic Moroccan cuisine with modern charm that will keep you coming back for more.

Open tuesday to saturday | 12:30pm - 11:00pm

AL SHURFA ARABIC LOUNGE

- Al Jomrok Boutique Hotel -

Al Shurfa offers a serene dining experience, a rooftop restaurant with skyline vistas and outdoor terrace.

Open daily 24 hours

LA PIAZZA - Al Bidda Boutique HotelLa Piazza’s menu has something for every discerning taste. Featuring authentic Italian cuisine.

Open Daily | 6:30am - 11:30pm

LA PATISSERIE - Al Bidda Boutique HotelLa Patisserie offers a wide variety of homemade French desserts and pastries.

Open Daily | 12:30pm - 11:30pm

Souq Waqif, P.O. Box 3496, Doha, Qatar

T : +974 7047 3687

E : fb.reservations.tswq@tivolihotels.com tivolihotels.com

The Power of the Date

For centuries dates have been prized for their health-enhancing benefits. Greek physicians, ancient Egyptians and Islamic scholars used dates in folk medicine to cure a plethora of ailments –from digestive disorders, bronchial problems, blood pressure regulation, liver ailments, tumours and fertility issues.

For thousands of years dates have been a staple food in the Middle East, especially during the Holy Month of Ramadan, when Muslims eat dates to break their fast just as Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) did.

In Qatar, the demand for dates peaks as Ramadan approaches, though you can find a huge variety of dates and date products for purchase throughout the year. Qatar produces around 31,180 tonnes of dates a year from a total of 649,616 palm trees spread across different farms in the country, and imports some 4,369 tonnes annually. In fact, the country has achieved 88.4% self-sufficiency in terms of the availability of dates in the local market.

The developmental-cycle of a date

The development cycle of the date fruit is divided into five distinct stages (Source: Date Palm Research Program, qatar-weill.cornell.edu):

Habakuk: Development of a small white fruit after a week of pollination.

Kimri: At about 5–17 weeks there is a visible change of fruit colour and size. The fruit is small and green and slowly turns yellow and red.

Khalal: In 18–25 weeks, the fruit grows longer and turns either fully yellow or red. The fruits are quite hard but can be consumed.

The Power of the Date

Rutab: The fruit ripens in another 5–7 weeks, turns brown in colour and is nearly ready to be harvested.

Tamr: Three weeks post the rutab stages, the ripened fruit is harvested.

What's in a date?

Science has revealed this humble fruit contains a remarkable lineup of essential vitamins and minerals:

• Dates contain vitamin A and numerous B-complex vitamins – thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid – all of which are necessary for healthy body tissue and muscle.

• They are fat-free, cholesterol-free and sodium-free.

• Dates contain 15 minerals; these include magnesium, iron, phosphorous, copper, calcium, manganese and potassium, which are essential for the proper functioning of muscles and the nervous system.

• A single date contains more potassium per gram than a banana!

• Dates are loaded with dietary fibre, both soluble and insoluble, which helps to reduce the risk of certain cancers and control blood sugar levels.

• Despite its high level of sweetness, a single date only has 23 calories!

• The date fruit has antioxidant flavonoids such as beta-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin and tannins. These antioxidants possess anti-inflammatory, anti-haemorrhagic and anti-cancer properties.

Healing properties and Islam

The age-old adage says ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’. In the Arab world, this can be adapted to ‘seven dates a day keeps the doctor away.’

Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) uses the number seven, which has a religious significance in Islam. Here an interesting fact emerges: seven dates weigh approximately 100 grams, and by today's standards, this is the perfect serving size to replenish the body with the required amount of daily vitamins and minerals! What is referred to as 'poison' in the referred hadith could be toxins in the body, and 100 grams of dates has a sufficient amount of nutrition to eliminate these accumulated toxins.

In effect, this hadith advocates the consumption of dates on a daily basis to promote overall well being – promoting a healthy body, which results in a healthy and happy mind.

Dates in Ramadan

A date is very dense in essential nutrients, a small serving can easily satiate hunger. Dates are an excellent source of fibre, sugar, magnesium, potassium, and have carbohydrates that aid the body and help it recuperate after the fast from sunrise to sunset. Additionally, the carbohydrates found in dates make the fruit a slower digesting food, which provides sustenance for longer.

Ajwa dates are smaller in size and have white lines on the surface. These features, especially the white lines on the surface of the date, are what to look for when purchasing this variety.

Dates and the Holy Month

To Muslims around the world, dates are an integral component at mealtime through the Holy Month of Ramadan. They are an essential on the Iftar (the meal at sunset to break the fast) table.

Through Ramadan, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is said to have broken his fast with fresh dates. If dates were not available, he made do with a glass of water before he performed Maghrib (the evening prayer).

Breaking the fast with dates

• Dates are not taxing on a fasting stomach, and are therefore a perfect starter for Iftar.

• Dates ease the stomach into accepting food after being inactive through the day, by helping secrete digestive juices.

• Dates satiate hunger quickly. This prevents over-eating after a long day of fasting.

• On consumption, dates provide an instant energy boost as they are rich in natural sugars.

• A high fibre content in dates helps keep the body regulated despite a change in meal patterns during Ramadan.

Popular date varieties in Qatar

When in Qatar you'll find an abundance of dates for purchase. In fact, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) says there are around 100 varieties of dates with distinct shapes, taste and names available.

Some of the top varieties are:

Ajwa: Ajwa dates are the most popular variety of date among Muslims. They are melt-in-the-mouth soft and fruity, quite dark in colour and tend to be wrinkled but not flaky.

Emphasis is laid on eating Ajwa dates in the Quran and in hadiths for the health of one's mind and body, which has added to their popularity. This variety is cultivated in Madina, Saudi Arabia, and is often the most expensive variety of date in the market.

Khudri: This variety is sought after for its plump body, larger size, caramel-like taste and chewy consistency. The skin of these dates flake a little, and range from smooth to wrinkly. They are commonly used in confectionery products. They are more reasonably priced.

Majdool: These dates are some of the most popular the world over, and are known as the ‘Queen of Dates’. They are well known for their large size, soft texture and rich 'date' flavour. This variety is also more expensive on the date spectrum, often only second to the Ajwa. They are great for shakes, smoothie and other sweet treats.

Khenaizi: These dates are soft, small to medium-sized and average in sweetness. Khenaizi dates are dark brown and have a juicy texture.

Khudri

Khenaizi

Segai

Ajwa

Fard: The Fard variety of dates are small and roundish, with tender skin and a small seed. They are usually reddish and light brown. A unique characteristic of these dates is its natural smooth, glossy and waxy covering.

What can dates be used for?

Dates make a sweet, nutritional snack and can be eaten raw. They can also be glazed and eaten with syrup. To add a delicious twist, they can be pitted and stuffed with a number of fillings, with nuts probably being the most popular – walnuts, almonds, cashew, pistachios, and pecans. Other fillings include candied orange or lemon peel, tahini, marzipan and even cream cheese!

Dates are so versatile that different countries have found their own novel uses for date fruit. In Qatar for example, they are used in a variety of puddings, and biscuits, for example the ever popular Date Maamoul, and other desserts. Dates act as a natural binding agent in baked treats. Date syrup is added to beverages as a natural sweetener, or to desserts for an extra flavour boost.

Over the last few years chocolate-covered dates have become popular – as an exotic dessert or as a gift box, be it a hostess gift or something expats take back home for friends and family.

This variety can be enjoyed even before the fruit is fully dried. These dates are grown in the Middle East.

Segai: Segai dates are a light brown and fade to yellow at the tip. These dates are somewhat crisp, with a dry skin and are mildly sweet. They are wrinkled but don’t flake.

Mabroom: These dates have a slender, longer and firmer body when compared to other varieties. They are more subtly flavoured and are moderately sweet. Mabroom are wrinkled but do not flake.

Sukkary: Sukkary dates have a yellowishbrown skin and are sweet. Generally soft and chewy, a crystallised layer often forms on the outer layer, offering a crisp bite. The crispness and sweetness is what gives them their name. They have a mild 'date' flavour.

Safawi: Safawi dates are soft, sweet and the colour varies from dark brown to black. These dark dates are fleshy and packed with vitamins. It is said that if eaten on an empty stomach, Safawi will kill stomach worms.

They are wrinkly, but the intensity varies between individual fruit – with the more wrinkled fruit being more chewy.

Safawi

Mabroom

Sukkary

Fard

Date Maamoul m

marhaba eats out...

The RitzCarlton, Doha

Friday Parisian Breakfast at Sel & Miel

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Every Friday, in Sel & Miel garden with fresh homemade croissants, eggs to your taste, freshly squeezed juices, Camembert and cold cuts, French toast with strawberries – it’s a culinary journey not to be missed.

Now you can enjoy your Parisian breakfast either in the Sel & Miel restaurant or outside in the lobby or, better still, in the beautiful gardens of The RitzCarlton, Doha. With the cooler weather, fresh air and colourful flowers it’s an excellent environment to enjoy a leisurely authentic experience.

The café au lait with a croissant or pain au chocolat is a perfect way to wake up and the basket of pastries

(including also brioche, danish and palmier) is indeed temptingly tasty – the more so as you don’t have ordinary basic jam to spread but specially homemade preserves, different types of scented honey; even the butter is pistachio flavoured.

Actually, I saved the sweet dressings until later as I was drawn to the tantalising tray of cheese and cold cuts and fruit and nuts and salad and baguette – a real hale, hearty and healthy way to take the edge off my hunger pangs…

Personally, I loved the “frenchy” way they serve their granola; it’s mixed with yoghurt and fruit and they call it a parfait... And yes, it is (perfect).

Don’t eat too much, though, as we now have The Choice of Eggs and their accompaniments. We went for the poached eggs with avocado on french country bread which was definitely delicious especially with its hollandaise sauce. Our other dish was an scrumptious omelette served with succulent salmon.

Yes indeed, both our egg choices, with their awesome additions, were most delectable. Delish and yummy, as the youngsters say.

In the rare case that you may still be hungry, the menu goes on… The Douce Fin or Sweet Ending (that’s in addition to the sweet beginning with its elegant honey) includes French Toast with strawberries and Nutella and the even more mouthwatering Waffles with captivating Creme Chantilly and maple butter. Oh, la la this breakfast is indeed your Friday breakfast – all day Friday you won’t need to eat again today!

But do not despair, those of us with finite appetites, there’s a sensible sweet ending option with visibly fewer calories which was clean, colourful – four colours and four different tastes and textures – and brought a happy and satisfying conclusion to this impeccable Parisian breakfast.

Parisian Breakfast at Sel & Miel, The Ritz-Carlton, Doha is available every Friday from 9 am to noon (midday). QAR125 per person.

For more information on The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, please call +974 4484 8000, WhatsApp +974 5599 0916 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com/doha. m

marhaba eats out...

Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The

Pearl-Doha

Café Murano Breakfast: A Comforting Daytime Escape with a View

Author: Weslee Dizon

Café Murano is one of those places you wish you could just stay the whole day. The ambience is relaxing, the food is comforting, and the view is marvellous. It’s nestled inside Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Doha, just a little turn to the left from the mesmerising grand lobby, before you go down the oyster chandelier-embellished staircase.

We visited the café for their Revamped Breakfast offering. Coming in early, I believe we were one of their first guests for the day. We were escorted to one of their prime seats, overlooking the pool and beach front. It’s still hot and dusty in Qatar during this time of the year and it’s energising to have some peaceful and calm mornings like this.

Looking around, Café Murano sparkles with its chic European-inspired interior. There’s plenty of big glass windows that allow the light to stream in. Colourful paintings and mosaic adorn the walls of the cafe and their glass racks at the counter are brimming with gorgeous cakes and delicacies one can easily mistaken as replica displays.

Their revamped breakfast package is priced at QAR95 per person, with a minimum of two persons per table. With it, you each get two beverages of your choice and a tower of morning favourites such as seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, a basket of assorted croissants and other pastries, jams, artisan cheese plate, cold cuts, muesli and fresh yoghurt.

Serving as the main course are the choice of breakfast eggs. I got the omelette which was served with more breakfast staples like hash brown, sausages and bacon and grilled tomato on the side. My colleague, Maria, tried the beautiful Eggs Benedict with one of the best sauce hollandaise.

The revamped package allows guests to stay until 1 pm. With the impressive breakfast spread on our table, we took hours lounging. The sunny beachfront is a perfect setting for a long breakfast and the

luscious couches make extracting yourself extremely hard. They invite lounging a little longer and just one more coffee or tea and so we did. Even though the breakfast package only includes two drinks, it’s hard to pass up the Matcha Latte as recommended by our server from their a la carte menu. Maria got herself some green tea. It was a wonderful end to a very happy breakfast.

If you plan on staying longer for lounging, meetings or other gatherings, Café Murano has an all-day dining offering until 11 pm. Their afternoon tea is also a must try. It’s a perfect daytime escape.

For booking and enquiries, call 4035 5011, WhatsApp +974 7479 0864, or email restaurants. marsamalaz@kempinski.com m

marhaba eats out...

Pullman Doha West Bay

Breakfast a la Carte at the Avenue

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Atrue five-star hotel with a history in luxury travel, the new Pullman hotel in West Bay is open, inviting and friendly. It looks and feels fresh and spacious; the decor is colourful and modern; huge windows give panoramic views over West Bay. And, you can drive straight in, it’s unbelievably easy. (PS - If you want to come on the Metro, there’s a Red Line station right outside by The Gate Mall which is next door.

We’ve come to experience the Avenue, one of eight distinctive restaurants at the Pullman. Surrounded by windows overlooking the heart of the city, the Avenue thrives in its natural daylight. Arabesque-

designed walls and delicate white marble floors bring this picturesque restaurant to life with its colourful CuisInMotion which touches all tastes and has amazing variety. We were treated to the a la Carte menu as the restaurant had just opened but, come September, the full breakfast buffet will be on offer. We definitely plan to come back to the Pullman and enjoy that, too.

I say a la Carte, but while busy ordering, here come the Avenue appetisers – a wonderful selection of delicious starters including cold cuts, salmon, different cheeses and dried fruit, a plate of hummus, labnah, olives and cheese balls coated with zaater, some fruit and a basket of bread, toast, croissant and danish. Plus, a delightful dish of fruit in yoghurt and a glass of your favourite fruit-flavoured yoghurt drink. (Note to self: keep some space for the extra-delicious dish that you have ordered from the a la Carte!)

And now, from the a la Carte, the piece(s) de resistance: we chose the fantastic Eggs Florentine and The Healthy One. The melt-in-your-mouth Eggs Florentine also included some tasty bacon, sausages and mushrooms, compliments of the Chef. The ‘healthy’ omelette was delicately infused with herbs and garnished with a tasty mizuna salad. Both dishes ticked all the boxes in their own way and both epitomise the skills of the Pullman chefs and the variety of dishes and tastes they produce from the ultra-modern Avenue kitchen.

And yes, it is worth a mention, the coffee is delicious too!

For more information and reservations, send an email to restaurants.pullmandoha@accor.com. You can also send them a message via their WhatsApp number3301 3666. m

marhaba eats out...

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa

Levantine Breakfast at the Luxe Lounge

Author: Lalaine Sumaray Turqueza

Have you ever tried an authentic Arabic breakfast? If you haven’t, maybe it’s time you try the Levantine offering at the Luxe Lounge of The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa.

This special breakfast can fill the length of a table and includes everything you need to start a busy day - several dips and bread, pickled vegetables and olives, halloumi cheese, fresh fruits and your choice of coffee or tea. Bread is the star of the show and every dish that comes with the spread is said to complement the bread.

While the price of this breakfast deal is reasonable enough for one person, bringing family or a group of

friends should be the way to go. Start with the hot stuff and work (or eat) your way down the colder dishes.

If you want to have a better understanding of the Levant region, this breakfast is a good start. The food, which is served in a number of small, ceramic dishes, are both colourful and overwhelming. How can one eat this much for breakfast? Surprisingly, the food is not as heavy as they look. The meal, in fact, is light and borders on the healthy scale.

Another attraction of the offer is the space. You can sit inside and lounge on their comfortable chairs, or sit outside and eat under the watchful eyes of birds and trees. We opted for a table outside. The weather this time of the year is perfect for an outdoor meal! Maybe the idea for this Levantine breakfast at Luxe Lounge is to give people time to catch up. Meals are considered family affairs everywhere, and more so for Arab families. The meal allows everyone to catch up on the latest news about each other. Having everything on the table will also allow for more time to talk.

If you find yourself craving for company and family this weekend, Luxe Lounge will be there waiting, ready with their Levantine breakfast spread.

This gastronomical journey from the heart of the Middle East offers a wide variety of authentic dishes for QAR99 every Friday and Saturday, from 8 am to 1 pm. Call 3359 8514 for reservations.

marhaba eats out...

Marriott Executive Apartments

Breakfast Bliss at Campagnia Caffe!

Author: Charlotte Wright

There’s no better way to start the day, than with an incredible breakfast. It sets you up for the whole day - a good breakfast can make a bad day seem okay, or a good day even better. And one local hangout where you are guaranteed a great breakfast is Campagnia Caffe in the Marriott Executive Apartments.

The Campagnia Caffe is nestled on the ground floor of the new Marriott Executive Apartments. This cosy café is perfectly situated in the heart of West Bay,

just opposite City Center. For West Bay residents, the location is spectacularly accessible, or for those living outside of West Bay the café is only a short walk from a Metro station. There are also plenty of parking for those of us who prefer to cruise around in a airconditioned car.

Whether you fancy lounging with a book and an incredible cup of coffee, or set up your laptop to reply to some emails with a mug of Dilmah tea. With oodles of natural light bursting through the windows, the café is illuminated with natural light and is perfect for lounging on a comfy sofa soaking up the Vitamin D.

To begin our breakfast experience, we decided to order the Arabic Breakfast. The centrepiece of the huge plate of food is the Shakshooka. A bed of roasted, rich tomatoes topped with two sizzling fried eggs, and layered with squares of crumbled feta cheese is an incredible way to start the day. Paired with three bowls of: smooth, creamy hummus, rich black olives, sundried tomatoes and feta cheese, and pink yoghurt sprinkled with pomegranate seeds. With warm, crunchy triangles of fresh bread, and falafel and kibeh to scoop out the mezzes, you will find little at fault with this breakfast platter! And keep a look out for the new Turkish Breakfast which is coming soon: if it’s half as good as the Arabic breakfast it will be worth the trip!

The next dish to arrive at the table were the Eggs Benedict. From top to bottom this dish was a show stopper. Served on a huge, crunchy, sweet English

muffin were two ginormous poached eggs. Upon closer inspection you could see two thinly-cut slices of turkey ham nestled between the muffin and the egg. But the piece du resistance was the lashings of hollandaise sauce that dripped from the muffin to the gorgeous enamel plate. The eggs were served alongside a hearty handful of arugula to mop up any hollandaise sauce that might escape.

Along with the Eggs Benedict we were served a Bruschetta Platter which featured all the different recipes of bruschetta available at Campagnia Caffe. All served on a crust of garlic crostini bread the delightful concoctions included feta cheese and mashed avocado, sautéed mushrooms with parmesan cheese, assortments of roast peppers, and a classic: tomato and drizzles of olive oil.

In an effort to be healthy, we also ordered the Campagnia House Salad which we were told is one of the most infamous dishes available at Campagnia. A bowl of tossed arugula with surprises of halloumi, avocado, pine nuts, pecans, pistachios, dried cranberries, cherry tomatoes and you can even add chicken, all drizzled with a tangy cranberry dressing. It’s easy to see why this dish is such a popular favourite.

Now to ruin our healthy cravings.... The nutella and banana waffle can only be described as a tower of sugary delight! The waffles were balanced upon layers of chocolatey nutella spread, fluffy marshmallows, cool, fresh bananas and all dowsed with a huge heap of vanilla ice cream and glazed with caramel sauce. Wow!

Breakfast, or any meal for that matter, at Campagnia Caffe is certain to be an incredible experience. With a relaxed, comfortable vibe you can enjoy a book, take a break from the office and get some work done, or just relax and savour the cuisine. We will certainly be returning to this incredible eatery.

Campagnia Caffe is open everyday from 7 am to midnight. Contact them on their website or call 6676 6785. m

marhaba eats out...

Education City Golf Club

The Most Colourful, and Deliciously Tasty Green You’ll Ever See!

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

One of the perks of being a resident in Qatar is being able to eat and socialise with friends at Education City Golf Club’s imaginative and creative restaurant, Green.

Entering from the busy streets of Doha and Al Rayyan, you feel immediately relaxed by the calm atmosphere of Education City. You’re soon at the Clubhouse Restaurant. Aptly named Green, and with both indoor and outdoor balcony seating and fantastic panoramic views of the expansive golfing greens, you’ll love seeing the myriad varieties of trees, bushes and shrubs interwoven with pretty colourful flowers.

Green offers a casual yet familyfriendly dining experience to refresh and unwind in a relaxing atmosphere. Operated by Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, Green offers delicious internationalstyle dishes from salads to sandwiches, sushi combos to vegetarian options, desserts and drinks. Pop in for a bite to eat and the friendly informative staff, led by Harlene the Restaurant Manager, will make you feel right at home. Plus, it’s a great place to start your weekend, as the breakfast menu has everything from a classic or vegan breakfast to eggs benedict and dosas.

Even the drinks look great. Especially if you like green! Try the Lemon with Mint; if you weren’t fully awake when you arrived you’ll be fully conscious now. And one drink, Peanut Berry Power, has so many healthy ingredients it’s literally bursting with goodness and energy. And it’s lips-lickin’ delicious, too. Highly recommended.

The choice of food from four continents should be enough to please all tastes; cooked to perfection, the dishes are arranged, decorated and dressed, as beautiful to behold as satisfying to taste. The Eggs Benedict and The Scotsman were such a gratifying blend of protein and vivacious vitamins – but it was a shame to spoil the presentation, a picture of perfection. As, indeed, was the sublime Shakshouka. Suffice to say, our compliments must go to Richard Ruiz, the chef, who has the amazing ability to make even a simple poached egg so attractive. With flowers! Tomatoes, too. Unbelievable!

Enjoy indoor and outdoor dining at Green – the Education City Golf Club innovative restaurant –with perhaps the most beautiful green scenery in Qatar, seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and early dinner.

Send an email to info@ecgolf.com or a Whatsapp message at 7773 7973 to book a reservation. For more information about the Education City Golf Club, visit ecgolf.com. m

marhaba eats out...

3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum

Lunch at NAUA

Restaurant: The Fun and Delicious Version of Healthy

Author: Maria Anicas

Fun and delicious – I could not think of better adjectives to describe what we had for lunch at NAUA Restaurant. But there’s another, and important one to add: HEALTHY!

Operated by the JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, with dishes crafted by Michelin-starred chef

Tom Aikens, NAUA, meaning ‘nucleus of the seed’, is a finedining restaurant that promotes mindful, healthy eating with gourmet plates that will surely entice your tastebuds.

First off, we were served three different types of starters: Cauliflower & Raisin Tabbouleh, Grilled Minced Prawn Skewers, and House Made Turmeric Ricotta – so creamy and smooth… hands down the best Ricotta I’ve ever tasted! The ingredients in these dishes are not new to me, but honestly, I wasn’t able to guess what was in the food because they taste so good, I couldn’t even believe I was eating healthy food!

Now to the main courses - there was Mellow Yellow, which looked as bright yellow as it can be because of the ingredients in it (turmeric grilled chicken, cauliflower cous cous, saffron, and turmeric dressing). I tell you what, the aroma of this dish was next level; you could literally smell it heading right to you from the kitchen! Every bite of it was a party in the mouth - the juicy chicken, the texture from the cous cous and the flavours of saffron and turmeric. 10/10!

Another main course was the Black and Green, and yes, the plate looked black and green, indeed! It was black bream, pistachio, shaved fennel, courgette, and dukkah. I love how the fish was well seasoned, but not overwhelming that it complemented with the other things in the dish.

I’m not a food expert, but there’s something about healthy food and I’ve only learned about it at NAUA

– healthy food fills you up, but in a way that doesn’t make you feel immobile after the meal. And the best thing about it is that it makes you feel great, knowing that what you had is good for your body.

Speaking of good, we had Vegan Chocolate Avocado & Lime and Seasonal Poached Fruits infused with Vervaine & Almond for desserts. I really enjoyed the desserts because one, they were really yummy and two, they didn’t make me feel like I’ve sinned. Imagine getting to enjoy dessert knowing it wouldn’t hurt!

Then we were served unique, exciting drinks –Aromatic Waters & Espresso Martini – the perfect way to end a hearty meal!

If you fancy a tasty, healthy lunch one of these days, NAUA Restaurant is located on the eighth floor of the 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum, and it operates Saturday to Thursday from noon until 3 pm.

For reservations, call 4452 5190 or email nauarestaurant@qm.org.qa m

marhaba eats out... Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

A Refreshing New Menu At Quick Bites!

Author: Charlotte Wright

The Quick Bites restaurant at Marriott Marquis City Center Doha is renowned in Doha as the perfect breakfast and coffee one-stop-shop for delicious, fast and tasty food. Now they have a new menu filled with old favourites, and new exciting dishes!

When you get to Quick Bites, the cool vibrant interior is the first thing that you notice. This soothing cafe is littered with comfy chairs for all occasions - deep

sofas for enjoying a cup of coffee and some light bites, or cushioned chairs and a table if you want to sit and check your emails - or enjoy a lengthy breakfast, lunch or dinner.

We were at Quick Bites to sample their exciting new menu so we ventured over to meet with Chef Josna Thakur who told us all about her special new additions to the menu. She was insisitant on preparing us a selection of her favourite dishes. Everything has a unique twist that makes it her own and that’s what makes this menu, and venue, so special.

Starters

The first item to arrive on our table was the Truffle Brie Cream served on fluffy, flat bread. Beware - the cheese is strong on this dish - but ever so creamy. The chunks of dried fig, and the bed of fresh, warm bread, enhanced the flavours of the brie and was soooo satosfying to indulge in. Alongside the brie, we were serevd a selection of the Wellness Signature Dishes: the Avo, Cucumbers and Smoked Salmon. Each was served on a thick wedge of sourdough bread but the toppings were so fresh and oozing with flavour. There is no better way to pack goodness in to your diet!

Next, we were brought an assortment of dipsCalifornia, Truffle Hummus and Muhammara - severed along side some exquisit triangle of crunchy pita bread. These are my favourite kind of dips - light on the bread, heavy on the dip! The taste of each dip was better than the last - the California was a minty, avocado dip, the Muhammara was an awesome red pepper dip, and the truffle hummus was an instant classic.

Main Courses

After we had finished licking the plates clean, our main courses began to arrive. First to arrive was the Salmon. It was served on a bundle of shaved zucchini and drizzled in an incredible parsley black garlic drizzle. So fresh and flavourful! Alongside the salmon, came the Waldorf Salad and the Egglant Mujadara Style. These dishes are both vegetarian friendly, and certainly tastebud friendly! The Waldorf Salad was tangles of shaved zucchini with delicate slices of green apple, crumbles of stliton, nuggets of caremlised walnuts all tossed in a lemon mayo confit. The Eggplant Mujadara was equally impressive - with baked eggplant stuffed with lentil rice, carmelised onions, cumin and melted burrata to top it off!

I want to give special mention the Spaghetti and Meatballs. What sounded like a simple dish, quickly became the most intriguing dish of the day. Chef Josna explained that it was her take on a Spaghetti Bolognese but in my opinion this creation far out shines it’s inspiration. The veal and lobster meatballs have a wonderful umami falvour that sets them apart from anything we had tried before. Couple that with a smoky tomato sauce, and you have yourself a masterpiece!

Vegan Options

Woven in to the fabric of this new menu are some exciting vegan options. These certainly aren’t your typical lettuce and boiled vegetable options either - they are fascinating, flavourful recipes bursting with different tastes. The best sellers that we would heartily recommend are the Impossible Burger and the Blueberry Textures.

Desserts

After all that food, it was hard to imagine tasting anything else. But when Chef Josna brought out her favourite desserts it was impossible nto to have a spoonful.... and then another. We were given two very different desserts - one was a healthy, wholesome fruit bowl and the other was a sweet and sticky creation. The Berry Bowl was a treat - it’s not often that you find fresh berries here in Qatar - and this dish had all of them! The base od acay cream was dabbled with strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, and infused with a sweet vanilla meringue. The Crepes on the other hand were all about the sugar. The crepes themselves were wonderfully light and fluffy, and folded around slices of banana, dollops of marscapone cream and lashings of maple syrup. The chunks of strawberry were an added treat!

Grab and Go Counter

If you don’t have time to sit and linger like we did - the Grab And Go counter at Quick Bites has to be one of the best. They have a ‘make your own’ salad station, huge baguettes, and even freshly baked pizza, prepped and ready to go! They also have freshly prepared meals waiting for you to grab - which include an impressive selection of vegan and vegetarian options.

To get in touch with Quick Bites and the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotelplease call 4419 5510. m

marhaba eats out...

The Avenue, A Murwab Hotel

Bang for the Buck: Lunch Buffet at Baaya Restaurant, The Avenue

Author: Maria Anicas

Buffets are very common here in Qatar – there are quite a number of brunches and themed nights offerings in hotels, and most of them are held during weekends. Lunch deals, too, are almost a staple in every restaurant. Now, what about a lunch buffet on a weekday?

The Marhaba team once again have been invited to try the lunch buffet at Baaya Restaurant in The Avenue, A Murwab Hotel.

Situated on the Mezzanine floor, Baaya is a straightforward restaurant. You enter, and a wide spread of dishes laid out in the middle will be greeting you. I roamed around and checked what’s on offer, and afterwards I had to ask one crew member: “All of this for just QAR110?!”

I was immediately impressed by the variety of dishes, all of which looked appetising, by the way. And so, I had to dig in.

For starters, there was Lentil soup and a selection of bread, some sushi rolls, cold mezze, and salads – the hummus and the Fattoush are a must-try! There also was smoked salmon and my favourite, dumplings. I love dumplings, but they’re a hit or miss when you get them from a place that doesn’t specialise in Asian cuisine. I have to say the ones at Baaya were really good, I had quite a few of them.

Honestly, I had to take a break after the appetisers because I was almost full, but it didn’t take long enough for me to get up and head to the main courses.

The dishes at Baaya are served on a rotating basis –the dishes may be different on the day you visit, but there’s always rice, meat, chicken, vegetables, fish, and pasta. And take it from us, every dish is worth a try!

When we came, there was Beef in Oyster Sauce, Chicken Curry, Stir-fried Vegetables, Mashed Potato, Seafood Pesto Pasta, and the one that stood out for me, Mansaf. The meat was so tender it was literally falling off the bone, and it was packed with flavours.

Don’t forget to drown the rice with the sauce! After all the savoury, dessert is a must. But, at Baaya, there should always be choices that even the dessert spread was big – from cakes to fresh fruits, Arabic sweets like Umm Ali, baklava, and kunafe. I could go on and on but I just wanna say, do NOT miss on the cream puffs!

Choosing what to get or where to go for lunch can be challenging, especially when you do it on a daily basis, and when there’s just a lot of choices around. You may want to consider Baaya’s lunch buffet at The Avenue – you might say “all of this for QAR110?!” too.

Special thanks to the crew at Baaya for making sure we were well taken care of, and to the man behind the amazing menu and food, Baaya’s Head Chef Amir Swedan.

Lunch Buffet at Baaya Restaurant

Daily, 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm

QAR110 per person; QAR55 for kids of ages 6 to 12 years old (including soft beverages)

For inquiries and reservations, call 4042 8222 / 7768 9088 or WhatsApp +974 3143 8000 m

marhaba eats out...

3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum

3-2-1 Café: Where You Can Be Healthy and Happy

Author: Brian Candy

Not being a fan of healthy eating, I don’t normally make an effort to visit healthy eating restaurants and cafés. So my visit to 3-2-1 Café, which is located within the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, came as a pleasant surprise. I learned that you can eat healthy and enjoy really tasty food. Not just tasty, but also very reasonably priced as well.

The café is obviously very sporty in appearance because of where it’s located. Spacious with a selection of seating arrangements, both indoors and outdoors which is going to be really nice when we start to move towards the cooler weather. The staff were friendly and helpful, guiding and advising on the menu choices.

I started with a salad. Chef recommended a Broccoli Salad, with mangetout, sugar snap peas and edamame. And as I watched him prepare this, I knew it was going to score high on my taste buds chart. My eyes didn’t deceive me. The salad looked amazing, tasted absolutely delicious and was totally healthy.

Next up was a pizza called Pizza Alive. But hold on there, this isn’t any normal pizza, not by a long measure. This pizza is guilt free and indeed dough free. The pizza base is made in-house using seeds. There is walnut ricotta instead of ricotta cheese, cherry tomatoes, grilled piquillo pepper, spinach, grated courgette and halloumi cheese. It’s bursting with flavour, so much so that you completely forget that this pizza is actually healthy. The chia seed pizza base is actually more filling than bases made with flour dough and contains a lot more beneficial fibre as well. I was eating healthy and thoroughly enjoying it.

And for the main course: Turmeric Brined and Grilled Chicken with Spinach Salad and Wild Rice. I fancied a bit of chicken, and this was a great choice. The chicken was juicy, the turmeric added a good touch of flavour, and was grilled to perfection.

For drinks I had a mixed berry banana and vanilla yogurt smoothie made with oat milk, which once again tasted so good that you forgot it was healthy. And I finished with a surprisingly delicious beetroot latte that I didn’t expect to like and ended up absolutely loving.

The broccoli salad cost QAR45, the pizza was QAR75 and the chicken was QAR85, totaling QAR205. The drinks were QAR40 for the smoothie and QAR23 for the beetroot latte, bringing the total for the meal to QAR268. There was more than enough for the two of us, so that works out to just QAR134 each including drinks. An absolute bargain for a tasty three-course meal, that was healthy and guilt-free throughout.

If you’re planning on visiting the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, make sure you incorporate a stunning meal at the 3-2-1 Café to complete your experience and make it extra special.

Opening Hours:

Saturday to Thursday: 9 am – 7 pm Fridays: 1:30 pm – 7 pm

For more information, visit their website or visit them on the third floor of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum. You can also follow them on Instagram at @321qosm. m

marhaba eats out...

Marriott Executive Apartments

Enjoy a Lunch Break at Campagnia Caffe!

Author: Charlotte Wright

Campagnia Caffe is a remarkable and comfortable café where you can enjoy a hot drink, breakfast, lunch, dinner - pretty much anything you can imagine! It’s situated on the ground floor of the Marriott Executive Apartments opposite City Center - right in the heart of West Bay.

When we walked in to Campagnia Caffe we were struck by how bright and airy it is. It’s the perfect place to take your laptop and get through some emails. It even has a fantastic outdoor seating area so you can relax and soak up some Vitamin D.

To start our lunch we decided to sample some mocktails and lemonades - perfect for a hot day!

I ordered the Lemon Breeze which was sweet and cool, while my lunch partners ordered the Innocent Mai Thai and the Spicy Margarita. There was nothing innocent about this Mai Thai - it was slightly sweet with a sour aftertaste that made your tongue sizzle. The Spicy Margarita however was exactly what it promised to be - spicy! You can’t go wrong with any of these incredible choices prepared by Campagnia’s expert ‘bartender’.

We decided to order a variety of lunch/dinner dishes and share - family style. Everything looked so delicious it was impossible to choose just one! We ordered the Pomegranate Glazed Chicken, the Skirt Steak, the Harissa Baked Cauliflower and we just had to try the Beef Burger from the “New Adds” menu.

The Skirt Steak was tender, perfectly cooked slivers of steak served with a dish of mint coriander salsa to dunk it in. The steak was served alongside some fat chips which must have been triple cooked because they were soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. They were served with dollop of black lemon mayo. We were ecstatic to discover that the Beef Burger also came with a side of these heavenly fries. The burger itself was piled high with delicious tit bits - carmelised shallots, cheddar cheese, tomato, baby gem lettuce, and a special tomato sauce and was a wonderful choice for anyone having a cheat day!

The Pomegranate Glazed Chicken was a fantastic choice as well but it was a half a chicken so not for the faint hearted. The chicken was served on a bed of arugula, herbs and lettuce to catch all the sauce that escaped the chicken. The pomegranate glaze was sweet and paired perfectly with the saltiness of the chicken - especially the skin. However, if you’re cutting down on the meat then the Harissa Baked Cauliflower is an impeccable choice. This cauliflower ‘steak’ is baked and then smothered with creamy, garlicy, hummus and peppered with crunchy fried chickpeas and raisins. Who knew vegetarian dishes could taste this good?!

To end our amazing lunch experience, we indulged in some piping hot tea and coffee which is roasted in Italy. The tea is served in ornate glass tea cups so you can distil your tea exactly how you like it - which make this the perfect venue to sample some exotic tea flavours. The list of desserts was mouth-watering including Umm Ali, Strawberry Hibiscus Tart and even a Snicker Tart with dark chocolate ganache and salted caramel. We will certainly be back to sample these - perhaps during Happy Hour from 7 pm to midnight where if you buy a dessert you also get a free hot beverage!

A huge thank you to the ladies who made our lunch experience so amazing!

The Campagnia Caffe is open from 7 am to midnight every day in the lobby of the Marriott Executive Apartments. Get in touch with Campagnia Caffe on Whatsapp at 6676 6785 or on their Instagram (@campagniacaffe). m

marhaba eats out...

Chef’s Garden

Looking for a Healthy Dining Destination in Qatar? Try Chef’s Garden

Author: Lalaine Sumaray Turqueza

This is not just a simple garden lunch, mind you. We were back at Chef’s Garden, the organic restaurant in Education City, near the Al Shaqab facilities. The restaurant is an ideal dining destination this season - outdoor seats, fresh air, lots of greens, and a menu that provides only healthy options.

First things first, book your reservation. You can check out their website, chefsgardendoha.com, and make your reservation from there. Just fill out the required information and submit. You will receive a call to confirm your booking.

We came in time for lunch, opting to go for something light and fresh in keeping with the garden theme.

The dishes are priced reasonably (on average around QAR100 to QAR150 per person) with servings big enough for two people.

Straightforward menu

Ideally, you’d want to start with soup, salad and bread before going for the mains. The soup and salad selection is varied enough and if you’re trying the restaurant for the first time, don’t skip on anything. They have special packages, in case you want a proper three-course business lunch.

Did you know that they grow their own herbs? Chef’s Garden is an actual garden growing kitchen staples like eggplants, peppers, and even cauliflower and broccoli! If the soup tastes fresh, it probably is!

Our three-person group opted for soups and bread and moved directly to our choice for the main course - Grilled Chicken Pappardelle Alfredo, Seafood Paella Risotto, and Grilled Beef Tenderloin.

Their menu does not really lean on a particular cuisine, although you are less likely to find Asian specialities among their offered dishes. Their offerings are incorporated with a lot of freshness and greens, and are very straightforward ‘healthy’. When in doubt about your choices, you can always ask any of their staff. Their servers are polite and attentive, and always there in case you need anything.

Aside from the food, we pretty much enjoyed the view of the greeneries outside - cold weather and warm sunlight did make an ideal combination when you’re finishing a good meal with coffee. Dessert? Maybe next time we’ll have time for their healthy sweets.

Chef’s Garden is located in Education City, accessible via Al Shaqab Gate 6.

Brunch plans? Chef’s Garden serves a Farmer’s Brunch every Friday, from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm.

QAR170 for adults, QAR75 for kids six to 12 years old and kids below six - free! Bring your family and friends and enjoy great outdoor dining!

The restaurant is open Monday to Saturday, from 7 am until 3 pm. Call 3027 7059 or visit chefsgardendoha.com to learn more about their offers. m

marhaba eats out...

Four Seasons Hotel Doha

Hybrid Lunch at Elements

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

If you’re in the West Bay area and you want a really delicious lunch, especially if your family and friends have diverse tastes, then this is the place for you.

There are Middle Eastern dishes, Japanese, International, Italian, Thai, Indian and some fresh fish favourites from right here, with the Catch of the Day, so there is sure to be a dish that really appeals to you. You can sample the best of modern Arabic, Asian and Western cuisine served in Elements, the vibrant and versatile signature restaurant of Four Seasons Hotel Doha. Like cosmopolitan Qatar with FIFA World Cup 2022, Elements is happy to be catering to guests from all over the world.

Four Seasons is a great and classy hotel; it’s a terrific location, too, at the start of the Corniche; with the cooler weather this is the season to enjoy Four Seasons; why not experience the Hybrid Lunch al fresco and let the sea breeze stimulate your appetite.

Elements is elegant – it is Four Seasons signature restaurant – and I like the interaction with the chefs in the live, open kitchen setting. But some may prefer to be outdoors on the garden patio with its dramatic fire table and views of the pool, gardens and Arabian Gulf.

A hybrid lunch with both buffet and à la carte options with international favourites and extraordinary flavours is perfect for a timely business lunch but, with an abundant selection of appetisers and desserts, also the ideal destination for a special leisurely lunch. The diverse international buffet includes appetisers and a salad bar, as well as hot and cold mezze, while the main course is prepared fresh from an exotic à la carte menu. But beware… with an indulgent dessert buffet, your business lunch may well give way to unbridled pleasure.

Atmosphere is elegant, but Elements also gives satisfaction. You will love your lunch here: first, help yourself to the wide selection of appetisers, a deluxe Arabic mezze selection, some exotic Asian treats like the salted duck eggs, dim sum and really tasty kimchi and seaweed with crispy treats like popadoms, and international standards.

Now choose your main delight from the menu; If you’re thinking of becoming a ‘veggie’, stop now: the Charcoal Mixed Grill, with shish tawook, lamb kofta and lamb kebab will keep you a voracious carnivore for ever. You can’t resist tucking into these dishes with such enthusiastic fervour.

Four Seasons chefs make everything extra nice: even humble hummus looks desirable, their crème brulée is extra tempting and their Pizza Bianco with its mozzarella, porcini mushroom, truffle, beef bresaola, and arugula is the most colourful charismatic pizza I’ve ever seen…

Shish Barak has nothing to do with American politics, but everything to do with one of the great Middle eastern dishes: lamb dumplings in yogurt sauce –healthy, tasty, satisfying and refreshing at the same time. And, by the way, the vermicelli rice was a revelation in how light and tasty a rice can be.

Exquisite, well-crafted yet delicate and dainty, the enjoyment like the variety of Elements desserts was possibly unending. In fact it would have been but we had to leave; the business lunch was over, with a vow to cancel appointments and make it a leisure afternoon repast next time.

About Hybrid Lunch:

Lunch is served Sunday – Thursday, 12:30 pm – 3 pm Brunch is offered on Fridays, 1 pm – 4:30 pm

BBQ Brunch is offered on Saturdays, 1 pm – 4:30 pm

For reservations, call 4494 8888 m

marhaba eats out...

Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel

India’s 9 States Theory at Jamavar Doha

Author: Lalaine Turqueza

Fine dining Indian restaurant Jamavar Doha at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel, is showcasing Indian cuisine differently, highlighting instead the country’s coastal offering and serving, for a limited time, seafood, matched with the usual spices and flavours of India’s culinary tradition.

9 States Theory Regal Menu

The generous coastal set menu, aptly called the ‘9 States Theory’ has fresh seafood flavoured with spices from India’s coastal states. Expect tiger prawns, lobster meat and fresh fish meats served grilled and sitting on flavourful sauces. Sides are also generous, with rice and various kinds of Indian bread. How different are regular Indian dishes from the coastal set? Except for the fresh seafood, which is the highlight of the new offering, the flavours of the new menu is not very different from other Indian dishes. What surprises us though is how the flavours, the usual Indian flavours that we are so used to here in Qatar, took in the freshness of the seafood.

Have you ever tried carom-soaked prawns? What about scallops wrapped in banana leaves?

These dishes are not usual and in a plate highlights the rich spice tradition of the Indian regions. The meal is served as a spread and includes an assortment of mildly spiced Indian crackers with chutneys and dips. The drinks are also served in quite an interesting manner. One came in a daiquiri glass with a delicate bubble ready to pop, which did pop and released a soft smoke.

The lunch had us thinking of sleepy afternoons, an indulgent hour to simply drink tea or coffee or anything warm. Rich food can actually do that to anyone. Jamavar food had us lulled into an almost dreamy state, full and pampered like a Maharajah.

Indian desserts

The regal set will give you three options for dessert: the saffron jalebi, the malai-berry kulfi (India’s version of ice cream) and the mango ras malai, their signature dessert. Malai is actually Hindi for cream, which means that all three are creamy and sweet, a perfect complement to the flavourful dishes served early on.

Call 4485 3000 to book your table at Jamavar. m

marhaba eats out...

Mandarin Oriental, Doha

No Fuss Business Lunch? Go to Mosaic!

Author: Lalaine Turqueza

How about a business lunch at Mandarin Oriental, Doha’s Mosaic restaurant?

Popular for its diverse collection of dishes, Mosaic will give you the chance to try their delectable offering for as low as QAR90! The new business lunch offers almost everything in their regular menu plus a selection of Asian noodle dishes, ‘inspired by the flavours and spices across the regions of the Silk Route’.

The servings are much more ‘manageable’ compared to their regular offering. Lunch is no fuss, efficient yet friendly. We had our pickings each of a salad,

soup and some sushi rolls for starters, followed by noodles - you can choose from their Italian or Asian list. Dessert is of course sweet enough to kick your brain back to work mode.

If you’re having a busy day and would welcome an hour and a half of some stylish mid-day meal in fashionable surroundings, this is the right place for you. The place is not as busy and you can choose to sit at a corner table overlooking the busy Corniche street.

The business lunch dishes are on a separate menu, together with the Asian noodles. Choosing is easier, especially if you are familiar with Mosaic. Our suggestion is to choose your mains first. If you’re having noodles or pasta, you can opt-out of the soup and choose instead the sushi rolls or the salad. If you’d rather go for the heavier option, you can stick with their Arabic and/or Indian selection, and an Umm Ali dessert.

Our operative word is ‘light’, a meal to bridge us through a busy afternoon.

The business lunch at Mosaic is available in twocourse or three-course meals, for QAR90 and QAR120, respectively. The restaurant is open from 11 am.

Call 4008 8888 or email modoh-reservations@mohg.com to book your table.

marhaba eats out...

The RitzCarlton, Doha

C’est Magnifique!

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Sel & Miel, nestled cosily on the ground floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, is a classy, authentic and top quality French-style brasserie, i.e. a cosy and less formal restaurant.

Here you are always guaranteed authentic French cuisine with recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation and you’ll immediately feel at home in the stylish and less formal atmosphere.

The man in the middle explaining all the details of each and every dish with his encyclopaedic knowledge of everything connected to ‘French’ and ‘cuisine’ is Malcolm who, in addition to unlocking the secrets of the kitchen, is really friendly and patient with all such questions.

Malcolm immediately set us at ease and quickly brought out a premenu offering of Sourdough Rye bread with some signature Sel & Miel dressings. While just a kind of amuse-bouche, the brown bread was warm and wholesome, especially with the dressings: honey and truffles, black olives with anchovies, and sea salt. Trust Sel & Miel to show its class even with these simple dressings.

For the Starter or Hors-d’Oeuvres, we went for the Classic French Onion Soup and the Burgundy Snails/ Escargots de Bourgogne. Created to sustain the workers in the market of Paris, the soup is made up of a marvellous selection of shallots, brown and red onion, brioche and two layers of cheese, the one on top beautifully browned. Individually basic but very enjoyable.

The Burgundy snails on their green bed of mixed parsley, coriander, and garlic herbs are iconic in taste and texture. This is why French cuisine at Sel & Miel is deservedly famous, transforming humble ingredients into heavenly dishes of delight.

If you like a glass of vin blanc or such you’ll be happy to know Sel & Miel have one of the best wine lists in Doha and, yes, even their soft drinks are outstanding

Now for Les Plats, the Main Dishes. Here I must mention that there are a dozen dishes to choose from – meat, fish and vegetarian – but we only sampled two. But the level of perfection achieved by these dedicated kitchen staff makes it crystal clear that marshalled by Malcolm, they deliver on every dish.

Leaving for another day the Bouillabaisse, recently voted by a colleague and fellow devotee as the best dish ever, and the undoubtedly succulent Halibut and Seabass, the Salmon was reaffirmed as scrumptious in the extreme. And, another Sel & Miel knocking it out of the park, with something basic: how about french fries? Indeed. Well, add some magic and some truffles and now you’ve got the finest fries in town. My choice of Duck Leg Confit was also connected to water but more important, as the word ‘confit’ means, is that the leg was slowly cooked in its own fat; that means no waste and less fat for you to digest. It was absolutely delightful, soft and tender, falling off the bone, melting-in-your-mouth mouthwatering succulent – and that’s without mentioning the succulent selection of colourful vegetables, the orange glaze and the very nice and palatable purée tinged with celeriac.

Oh my gosh, you could visit this brasserie a dozen times and have a completely different but equally delicious meal every time.

Not such a wide selection of desserts but both lemon and apple tarts, while traditional, truly justify their status (and I love the name Tarte Tatin!) But the Mousse au Chocolat doesn’t justify anything. It could be the source of the expression ‘sinful pleasure’ and may lead you to a life of hedonism and selfgratification.

With that one caveat, I’m definitely going to Sel & Miel again …

Siel & Miel is open daily, from 12 pm to 11 pm. Call 5576 4278 to reserve. For more information, visit their website at selmieldoha.com. m

marhaba eats out...

The RitzCarlton, Doha

Out for Lunch? Try the New Menu at STK Doha

Author: Lalaine Turqueza

The new menu at STK Doha, that chic place at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha, features dishes that are simple yet stylish enough to keep you holding your camera for another Instagram post.

Of course, we had to hold it in a bit as we are having a proper lunch, and just over two hours to sample their new offerings. Milan, the friendly staff who assisted our recent food adventure, served us a combination of STK’s old and new dishes to start with - crab cakes, burrata and their signature STK garden salad with passion fruit dressing.

Milan ‘dressed’ the burrata with the gazpacho dressing right on the table, adding a bit of pepper to taste. We love the crunch of the vegetables and the hint of passion fruit in the salad, a nice complement to the meaty texture of the crab cakes. Very refreshing!

Next came the braised prime short rib and the rib-eye steak paired with their ‘homemade’ gnocchi. Gnocchi is considered the ‘dumpling’ of Italian cuisine, although certain quarters would rather call it a special ‘pasta’. Either way, the homemade version at STK is pretty straightforward, not just your usual ‘side’. Come to think of it, none of these mains is ‘usual’. The short rib and the grilled steak were much more tender than expected. I had to take a second helping just to be sure it was indeed beef meat - it was.

Having tasted some of the best steaks around Doha, STK steaks remain one of the best, so far, in my opinion. No need to tell them if you need them rare, medium-rare or well-done. Just by looking at their guests, they can tell exactly how you want your steak.

Want a bit of drama for dessert? Go for the Junk Chalice. This is not a new item on the menu but a classic favourite that will have you ooh-ing and clicking away for at least ten minutes. Served on a double glass bowl with cool smoke (dry ice) under and a huge ball of cotton candy on top, it made up for all the toned-down mood of the other dishes. And the treasures beneath combine all your happy food in - ice cream, popcorn and marshmallow - we’d like another one of this, please and soon!

If you are looking for a leisurely place to dine, STK Doha offers the perfect ambience and just the right dishes - for lunch, dinner or anything in between.

STK is located on the 23rd floor of The RitzCarlton, Doha. For reservations, call 4484 8588 or send an email to reservations@stk-doha.com. m

marhaba eats out... Mandarin Oriental, Doha

Trying Tasty Chinese Treats with Liang’s Terrace Menu

Author: Sham Faleh

Liang at the Mandarin Oriental, Doha is known for serving authentic, sumptuous Chinese cuisine, and apparently that includes a fine dessert menu that one would not want to miss out on.

We recently tried the Terrace Menu at Liang and the experience gave us a whole new point of view, not only of the Chinese cuisine, but of the culture as well.

The ambience at Liang, especially when you’re seated at their spacious, cosy terrace, is already

an experience. With the weather getting better these days, it’s the perfect spot for a hot afternoon tea or coffee with some sweets on the side. There is Chinese music playing throughout, while the friendly staff are dressed in traditional Chinese attire.

The menu includes Classic Siphon Coffee, which is prepared using a special device, and made right at your table. The device relies on pressure, gravity and vacuum, which is why it is called the vacuum or the gravity coffee maker. The process is amazing to witness! The coffee turned out to have a rich, aromatic taste that makes you question if it’s actually coffee or something else. It feels like you are having both coffee and tea at the same time.

For desserts, we first tried the Red Bean Pancake. But it’s not your typical breakfast pancake! The velvety red bean paste is wrapped in a crispy, golden crêpe, served with mixed berries, crunchy peanut coconut crumble and Madagascan vanilla ice cream.

Then we tried the Deep-fried Milk Cake. Deep-fried milk?! And cake?! Well, surprisingly it tastes so much better than it sounds. It’s soft and crunchy on the outside, and creamy on the inside. It’s like a journey of texture and flavours, and it tastes so good you will ask for more.

If you are a cheesecake fan, you should try the Green Tea Cheesecake, served on a crumbly almond base topped with green tea mousse and yuzu cream. It’s a cheesecake that is not overwhelming; one that complements any drink you pair it with. One bite of it plus a sip of the Siphon coffee is *chef’s kiss*.

Mandarin Oriental, Doha has always proven itself with its unique and innovative culinary offerings – and again this time with the Terrace Menu at Liang. Make the most out of the lovely weather in the coming months and make sure you drop by Liang, sit at the terrace, and try their coffee and one (or all) of their desserts!

Terrace Menu at Liang is available daily from noon to 11 pm. For enquiries or reservations, call 4008 8888. m

marhaba eats out...

JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

An Elegant Afternoon Tea Experience at La Maison Martinez

Author: Charlotte Wright

The JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha has utterly transformed its lobby lounge in to a lavish, European-inspired café! So, of course, we had to take a look and experience it for ourselves! This wonderful space was once an ordinary lobby lounge, but has since been elevated to La Maison Martinez - a European and French inspired eatery serving sweet treat and delicious tea and coffee.

The first thing you notice is the fabulous new décor. The walls are plastered floor to ceiling in an intricate blue wallpaper that gives new life to the space. The floors have also been completely transfigured with elegant new carpets, and even the curtains are new! The old lounge chairs have been replaced with colourful, baroque chaise lounges, ottomans and refined chairs. This new social hub emits a timeless design reminiscent of historic Europe where guests can immerse themselves in an authentic European culinary experience.

A selection of curated dining experiences offered includes an Afternoon Tea crafted with a French flairinfused with a regional twist, designer cakes, pastries and a wonderful selection of beverages. To begin our afternoon tea experience, we were brought a small crystal glass of distilled water infused with lemon, mint and strawberry.

Quickly afterwards, the tier of delicacies appeared at our table. The waitress told us that each afternoon tea serving is prepared fresh that day so pre-booking is essential if you want to be sure to have all these tantalising sweets available to you.

Tier 1 - Savouries:

With so many bites sized delicacies on show, the only way to decide what to try first was to start from the bottom and work your way up! The most intriguing concoction on the savoury menu was the Green Apple & Chicken sandwich with Granny Smith apples, frisee, and Dijonnaise, served on cereal bread. Another that caught my eye was the Smoked Salmon Crepe which was tightly rolled to reveal a pink spiral. The other

savouries included Pan Bagnat with tuna, a quail egg, olives, and scallions, the Cecine & Manchego sandwich with a herb ricotta, and finally the Truffle Egg Brioche with creamy scrambled egg with black truffle oil and chives.

Tier 2 - Sweet treats!

On the tray above were more intricately designed cakes. Small details like the white chocolate feathers and the honey comb with bees elevate this afternoon tea above the rest. The Gateau aux Abeilles or layered honey cake with sour cream frosting was crunchy and sweet, while the Pomme au caramel which was apple tatin, salty butter caramel, and milk chocolate mousse was soft and tart. For chocolate lovers like me the Choux Surprise is sure to be your favourite. With dark chocolate choux, milk chocolate cream, and a puff rice crunch this dessert has outstanding flavour. Finally, the Tarte Citron was wonderfully tangy with grapefruit and orange, in a crème patissiere.

Tier 3 - The creme de la creme:

On this final tray perched three different morsels; the first was a Meringue Framboise with raspberry cremeux, almond sable, and burnt meringue. The second was a Le Petit Antoine which was an almond & hazelnut dacquoise, with chocolate cremeux, croquantine, and chocolate chantilly. The third was a Fraise Pistache which was a bed of pistachio biscuit, with a dollop of strawberry gel and compressed fresh strawberry on top. There was oodles of sugar and flavour in every bite - bring your friends with a sweet tooth!

Baked Scones:

No afternoon tea is complete without buttery, freshly baked scones to wash down with a piping hot cup of tea. And this afternoon tea did not disappoint. The scones were crumbly and soft and they were served with the traditional clotted cream, strawberry jam and orange marmalade.

This afternoon tea is a really showstopper. It’s the perfect place to take a few friends, sit and drink tea, nibble on some sweet and savoury bites and chat. Of course, the new décor and atmosphere provide the perfect setting, and the intricately designed cake and sweet are perfect to glamourise your Instagram story!

The afternoon tea at La Maison Martinez in the JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha is available for QAR240 for two people.

La Maison Martinez is open every day from 8 am to 10 pm. Please call 4429 5295 for more information or to book your reservation. m

marhaba eats out...

Steigenberger Hotel Doha

Looking for a Tea Date Venue? Why Not Try the New Avenue Café

Author: Lalaine Sumaray Turqueza

The Avenue Café at the new Steigenberger Hotel

Doha looks like your usual typical lobby café. They have comfortable chairs and you’ll be greeted by the smell of baked pastries and waffles just as soon as you step in.

But don’t be fooled by appearances. This café is definitely more than meets the eye. How different is High Tea at Avenue Café?

Well, the ‘not-so-usual’ High Tea at Avenue Café offers a selection of brews and a delectable spread of sweet

treats and savoury bite-sized sandwiches served ‘buffet-style’ every Wednesday. On other days, these treats come on a rolling tray. A smaller tea tray will be served on your table with a dainty see-through teapot set. They exclusively serve the Tchaba tea brand. We chose three flavours of their tea offering following the recommendations of their friendly staff - the soothing Ginger Zest, the minty Moroccan Nights and the fruity Happy Forest. All three came with honey on the side plus two biscuits.

A waffle maker is also on standby and you can choose your toppings - Nutella and maple syrup plus a selection of berries and nuts.

Nothing enhances the soothing effect of warm tea than these sweet treats and savouries. We helped ourselves to a few and say, they definitely spoil my appetite for dinner!

If you are more of a coffee person and only take tea on occasion, going to Avenue Café will probably convince you to drink tea more. Beyond the tea though, the new venue is ideal for catching up with friends. And with restrictions easing up, nothing beats an in-person tea date. Why not have it on Avenue Café?

High Tea at Avenue Café is available daily, from 4 pm to 6 pm. Call 4020 1666 or visit steigenberger.com more information.

marhaba eats out...

Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl - Doha

Feel Elevated with Kempinski’s High Tea

galore with eight delicious miniature chocolate, strawberry and white chocolate cakes. The third and last shelf consists of four freshly baked scones – two with raisins, two without – served with cream, butter and strawberry jam.

Sip on a brewed cup of coffee or choose from a selection of a range of teas, and look over the seaside pool, the turquoise sea of the Arabian Gulf and the luscious tropical gardens that surround Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl - Doha.

QAR290 for 2 guests, including two beverages of your choice.

Daily, 2 pm – 6 pm

Author: Ola Diab m

Spend a luxurious afternoon and indulge in an assortment of handcrafted delicacies by talented patissiers along with a range of tea and coffees, while overlooking the sea at Café Murano at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl - Doha.

Indulge in a collection of fresh, delicate cakes and tarts, and warm baked sweets and savouries. The Kempinski High Tea comes in an elegant three-shelf black and gold marble tray, which begins with eight savoury miniatures including egg, mushroom and cheese sandwiches. The second shelf is sweets

For reservations or more information, call 4035 5011, WhatsApp 7479 0864, or email restaurants. marsamalaz@kempinski.com.

marhaba eats out...

Alwadi Hotel Doha –MGallery

Afternoon Tea With Atteatude!

Author: Charlotte Wright

The perfect ladies day out has got to be a delicious Afternoon Tea. There’s no better setting to catch up with friends, dress up and relax together. A new Afternoon Tea to rival all others is the Summer Afternoon Tea at Atteatude in the Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery.

Nestled in the new, metropolitan area of Msheireb, the hotel oozed class and sophistication - and Atteatude is no different. The stylish café is situated at the back of the lobby and overlooks an outdoor patio so it’s bathed in natural sunlight. The café is splattered with intricately decorated cakes that would make an interesting Instagram post, and ornate jars of fancy loose-leaf teas.

Speaking of tea... a huge highlight of this afternoon tea was certainly the Iced Passion Fruit Tea. Not only was the flavour incredible, but the presentation and creation of this cool delight was impressive. Our waiter came to our table wheeling a baroque tea cart, and created our Iced Tea before our eyes. He began by mixing some freshly squeezed passion fruit in to a glass shaker, and then added a generous portion of passion fruit infused tea. He added some ice, closed the shaker and began to shake it - bartender style. The smooth rattle of the ice was so satisfying! After the tea and passion fruit were ice cold, he poured it Moroccan tea style - in to an adorable clear glass tea pot. After all - the higher the pour - the better the tea! He then decanted the iced tea in to a lovely pair of apple shaped glasses. Wonderful!

Endowed with our ‘apple’ of cool iced tea, we watched as the elaborate platter of tasty goodies was brought to the table. The tray itself was fantastic - an elaborate M (for MGallery) with three tiers - each displaying an array of delicate treats. You can see the entire menu below.

After snapping some shots for Instagram, which will be irresistible when you see how delicately, and elaborately each bite is decorated, we dived in to the savoury course. To begin, we tried the Cajun Prawn and Avocado Vol au Vent. The small hollow case of puff pastry encased the creamy, flavourful paste of prawn and avocado, resulting in delicious taste with a healthy crunch. Next we were drawn to the English Sandwich, which was a fresh white bread with rich cheese and turkey ham - a quintessential feature of a traditional English afternoon tea.

To cleanse the palate a little - ready for our next course - we tried the grilled watermelon and feta salad. It was a very unique and fresh dish, and the perfect segway in to our Pastry / Sweet course.

To begin our sweet treats, we decided to try the Caramelized Banana Macaron as neither of us had tasted one before. The macaron was crunch and sticky, and the flavour was indulgently sweetdefinitely the perfect bite for a sweet tooth! Next, we decided to sample the Lemon Meringue Tart, which may have been the opposite of the macaron. It was far more fruity than sweet, and had a wonderfully tart aftertaste with a dollop of flambéed whip on top. Continuing along our fruity theme, we decided to taste the Strawberry Ginger Cake which was an equally fruity delight. Finally, we tried the Mocha and Dark Chocolate Loaf. Even from the name I’m sure you can imagine how rich and creamy this dessert was - the perfect end to the second course!

To end our afternoon tea, what else could we do except devour our scones. The scones were served in a cute glass cloche to keep them warm, with a generous dollop of whipped, buttery clotted cream and sweet jam. The more savoury scones worked perfectly with the sweetness of the jam and the creaminess of the cream - a fabulous way to end our Summer Afternoon Tea For Two.

Summer Afternoon Tea is served at Atteatude from 3 pm - 6 pm everyday. The price is QAR175 for two people including refreshing beverages.

Call 4009 9666, Whatsapp 3075 8211 or email restaurants.alwadihotel@accor.com to book a reservation! m

marhaba eats out... Park Hyatt Doha

Afternoon Tea Delights

Author: Charlotte Wright

As lockdown ends, restaurants and cafes have launched endless special deals and offers to entice the Doha crowd back out on the town. But the Afternoon Tea at Park Hyatt Doha distinguished itself from the crowd with an incredible 5 course offering from The Living Room that wowed and thrilled us. Not only was the food delicious, but every bite was so immaculately designed - it was almost too good to eat!

A highlight of this experience was that not only did all of the treats on offer taste delicious - but they looked incredible as well. It was easy to see how much effort had been put in by Chef Steffan Schnetzke and his team to make the meal a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds!

To begin our afternoon tea we decided to indulge in a mocktail - after all why not! Our amusebouche arrived shortly afterwards and it’s safe to say neither of us had ever seen anything like it! It was a chocolate cotton candy tree donned with gorgeous, colourful and edible flowers. The highlight was that everything, and I do mean everything was edible! The base was made of sugar bites and mini macaroons, the tree trunk was made of dark chocolate and the canopy was made of pure white cotton candy.

The next course to arrive at the table, along with some napkins for our sticky fingers, were the Savory Canapes. My eye was immediately drawn to the goat cheese and mascarpone cone with avacado salsa. Goats cheese is a particular favourite of mine and this treat did not disappoint! The explosion of the goat cheese and mascarpone flavour was paired perfectly with smooth, richness of the avacado salsa. Nestled on the same plate were the green asparagus tarts with black truffle. This quickly became another favourite of mine, with a refreshing, light texture almost like a quiche.

Served alongside the goats cheese cone and the asparagus tart were the sandwiches. We were given a generous helping of both the truffled eggs and leek sandwich and the spicy, corn-fed chicken sandwich. Both were incredible but the creaminess of the chicken sandwich combined with it’s spiciness made for an intriguing combination. Finally, we sampled the bite-sized mozzarella sandwich topped with a sweet mango guacamole. This savory course was going to be hard to beat!

After a while nibbling at our savoury canapes and sipping our fruity mocktail, our next course arrived. What else could it be at Afternoon Tea but traditional, home-baked scones served with dollops of fluffy clotted cream and sweet strawberry jam? All we could talk about was the wonderful taste and how classy we felt and of course the age old debate - which do you spread on first: your jam or your cream?

After every crumb of our scones had been hoovered up, we were served our next course: the Patisserie Francaise. This was the highlight of the mealespecially for those with a sweet-tooth! The first dish to catch our eye was the strawberry shortbread tartlet which was literally smoking. Served on a bed of dry ice, this dish is one of the most Instagram-able on the menu. And not only is a treat for the eyes, it’s a delight for the taste buds as well. After our strawberry tart we dived in to the pistachio creamux. The nuttiness of the creamux worked perfectly with the sweetness of the delicate sliver of chocotate that rested on top.

Afterwards we were craving a chocolate fix, so we reached for the Madagascar chocolate profiteroles. Neither of us had ever tried one before and we were very pleasantly surprised! The firm outer layer housed a gooey centre of rich, creamy chocolate that was so satisfyingly sumptuous. Although the profiteroles were outstanding, my favourite dessert of the evening had to be the mango passion fruit desire. This dish wasn’t necessarily sweet but fresh and fruity.

Finally, with our sugar rush abated by a wonderful cup of tea, we were served our final course - the Gateau Roule. This was certainly the pièce de résistance of the evening. The Chantilly cake roll studded with berries, squeezes of lime, a flood of berry jam and topped with pink chocolate flakes. Wow!

The whole leisurely experience was incredible - after being cooped up during lockdown - this afternoon tea felt like the ultimate freedom. We were sitting outside, enjoying a cool breeze and the sunshine, with a mocktail, expertly prepared dishes and the best part: you could showcase the entire experience on Instagram! Each dish was a not only delicious but beautiful and just begging to be Insta-famous.

Afternoon Tea is available from The Living Room at the Park Hyatt, Doha from 3 pm - 7 pm. The price is just QAR260 for two people. Visit their website or call 4009 1234 to book your reservation now! Don’t forget you can also book a private room to enjoy your afternoon tea with just your friends - however you will need to pre-book in advance. m

marhaba eats out...

Holiday Inn

Doha – The Business Park

Kabayan-approved Filipino Night at Sirocco

Author: Maria Anicas

Sirocco Restaurant at Holiday Inn Doha – The Business Park has always been innovative enough to come up with awesome, themed nights that complete every dining experience. This time, we tried their Friday Filipino Night and once again, it did not disappoint.

Being an expat who has not been ‘home’ for over four years already, just entering the restaurant and seeing it decorated with traditional Filipino ornaments brought back so many memories of our festivities

and celebrations in the Philippines. For a good few minutes, I was just wandering around, until I reached the buffet section and saw all the food. I had been thinking of dishes I miss the most, wishing they’d be available at the buffet, and they were! *happy dance*

There’s a bread corner with Filipino bakeries that we used to eat for breakfast and snacks like Pandesal, Monay and Cheese Bread. There’s also a ‘tusoktusok’ corner with Filipino street food like fish balls, squid balls, kikiam and kwek-kwek, which are boiled quailed eggs coated with an orange batter and deepfried until the batter is crispy. Of course, they came with delicious sauces – the famous ‘manong sauce’ and seasoned vinegar. You could send me home after this section and I’d still be happy, but we were only getting started.

There also was a selection of salads like the Pinoystyle Macaroni Salad, Papaya Salad (Atchara), Salted Egg Salad, Eggplant Enchilada, King Fish Kilawin (Filipino ceviche) and many others. Beside the salads was a sushi section as well.

After warming up with the starters, I couldn’t wait long enough to try the mains. But be careful – take small portions of each dish so you can try them all because there are plenty of options… and they’re all so good that you might lose control. There’s Oxtail Kare-Kare (stew with a rich, savoury peanut sauce) paired with shrimp paste, Veal Menudo, Bopis and Tofu Sisig to name a few (or to name what I loved the most). And don’t miss out on the Chicken Inasal (grilled marinated chicken) and the Lechon Baka (roast beef) at the carvery station!

‘Always leave room for desserts’ as the saying goes, and with Sirocco’s Filipino Night, this is a must. It’s not your typical dessert station with cakes and pies though, but there’s Leche Flan (or the Filipino version of crème caramel), Brazo de Mercedes (meringue roll with a custard filling), Pinoy-style Fruit Salad, Maja Blanca (coconut pudding), Mango Sago in Coconut Cream, Biko (sticky rice cake) and Ginataang Bilo-Bilo (glutinous rice balls in coconut milk). And there’s a chocolate fountain with fresh fruits.

And to wrap up a sumptuous, filling meal, there’s a drink station with assorted Filipino refreshments, including the Magic Water, which is for you to discover on your visit.

When the craving for ‘home food’ kicks in, the Filipino Night buffet at Sirocco is the place to be. And for only QAR150 per person, it’s good value for your money!

Filipino Night at Sirocco is available on Fridays from 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm. For reservations, please call 4031 3636. m

marhaba eats out...

Toro Toro by Chef Richard Sandoval

Let’s Taco ‘Bout Toro Toro’s Taco Tuesday (and more)

Author: Weslee Dizon

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ is upon us and with all the revelries happening here and there, it’s nice to step back once in a while and enjoy a peaceful dining experience. Last Tuesday, we went to Toro Toro in Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl-Doha for that and experienced their Taco Tuesday offering.

Entering this Pan-Latin steakhouse is like stepping into an isolated world, particularly because of its sleek interior and dim lighting that is perfect for intimate dinners, overlooking a stunning view of The Pearl Island and the sea. But the weather is now getting better so we settled on a table on the waterfront patio where the live band was playing. The area feels spacious, adorned by soft lighting that gave the venue a relaxing ambience.

Without any further ado, we ordered what we came for: the tacos. Our server Assia guided us through their checklist menu that included six different taco flavours – you can get them all for QAR175 plus one glass of margarita. You can also have individual tacos from QAR25 to QAR35, to be paired with a glass of margarita for QAR35.

The platter came to us very quickly. All tacos were served in freshly baked flour tortilla, each one with different fillings and drizzles. For the meat enthusiasts, the slow cooked beef, picanha, and chicken stuffed fried chilli should be for you and if you are a seafood lover, you would love the spicy tuna and thin slices of sea bass. We recommend the deepfried avocado for those who are vegetarian. While everything was really delightful, the picanha and spicy tuna tacos stood out for us.

And just like how fast the platter came is also how quickly it went, so we had some more. ToroToro’s menu pays homage to the Central and South America cultures, offering a twist on the contemporary steakhouse with Pan-Latin flavours. From their à la

carte dinner menu, we sampled their Cachapas which is a Venezuelan sweetcorn pancake with halloumi cheese and sour cream that is matched with pico de gallo. This one is definitely for those who are looking for something sweet. We also tried their Prime US Beef Fillet ‘Anticucho’ Skewer which was served with antichuchera sauce and roasted corn, and their Crispy Prawns, served with melcocha sauce arugula, mango and red chilli.

All is good for sharing, as is the tradition in Latin American dining. But if you are in Toro Toro, you might as well also enjoy their Chef’s Specialities. The Beef Cheeks is such a feast to the mouth. It was slowcooked to tenderness for eight hours and matched to great success with purple corn cicha, red wine, and creamy polenta. The Grilled Octopus was also tender and succulent with a slightly smoky flavour. The taste was balanced with choclo, purple potato, chimichurri, ají panca, char siu sauce, and olives.

And to top everything off, their bestseller dessert should not be missed. It is called La Bomba, which translates to The Bomb in English. Served in a unique presentation, the chocolate ganache literally drops and explodes on your table, revealing different sweet treats.

Toro Toro is open from 7 pm to 1 am. Aside from Taco Tuesdays, you can also enjoy their unique specials and events – from brunch to happy hour and more. You can reach them at 4035 5101, 7794 1930 or via email at torotoro@torotorodoha.com. Visit www.torotorodoha.com for updates and more information. m

marhaba eats out...

Radisson Blu Hotel Doha

All Set and Ready for the FIFA World Cup™

Author: Lalaine Turqueza

The Radisson Blu Hotel Doha has always been a favourite hang-out place for residents who have been in Qatar long before the big malls and the frenzy of preparations for the FIFA World Cup™.

Marhaba’s recent visit was prompted by the reopening of their different outlets after months of hiatus because of COVID-19.

All set up to host the Japanese team for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the hotel is now actively ‘in the game’ - with menus and staff ready - and waiting for the big day.

Nineteen of the hotel’s outlets will have special offerings for the World Cup crowd and the public, from 19 November until 18 December.

Our eyes, however, were set on two outlets for this visit- Bubbles on Two and Sakura, which means maybe a bubbly glass (or two) and a hearty teppanyaki dinner.

Bubbles on Two

Located on the East Wing, Bubbles on Two have retained its cosy interiors matched by the warm welcome of the staff. The piano on the upper floor sits invitingly on the corner, and the bar is filled with all possible mixes.

The place remains an ideal space to catch up with friends - that before-dinner place to warm you up and prep you for an evening meal. Or the after-dinner place for a nightcap, to send you off with happy thoughts before you head home.

Sakura Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar

Sakura, meanwhile, is located in the hotel’s West Wing.

A number of people were already seated around the teppanyaki bar, watching the fascinating show by the chefs when we arrive. Knives and fires came in between meats and shrimp, and vegetables and rice; the amount of waiting time for the food hardly matters as we follow the movement of the chef.

Did you know that training to become a teppanyaki chef sometimes takes almost 10 years?

Teppan actually refers to the iron griddle used to cook meat; while yaki means grilled, broiled or pan-fried. The term ‘teppanyaki’ actually refers to the style of Japanese cooking that was said to have started after World War II.

These days, teppanyaki is popular as it nourishes and entertains at the same time.

There are not a lot of authentic teppanyaki restaurants in Doha, and Sakura is one of the more popular among the residents, mainly because of the food and the showmanship of the chefs.

Aside from the restaurant’s teppanyaki offering, you can also order from their à la carte menu. We recommend a proper salad, soup, and maybe servings of sushi and sashimi to get you in the Japanese spirit. And then, leave the food decisions to the chef!

That Sakura dinner left us happy and excited for the World Cup. The food and the warm welcome from the Radisson team had us thinking of happier days to come, not just during the anticipated matches but after, when everything is back to a normal pace. Until then, Radisson Blu Hotel Doha is definitely back in the game.

Sakura is open daily from 5 pm to 11 pm, at the West Wing of Radisson Blu Hotel Doha. Call 4428 1555 or send an email to fbreservations.doha@radissonblu. com to book your table. Visit radissonhotels.com for updates and more information. m

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Mondrian Doha

Sushi & Steak Night at Morimoto Doha: A Whole New Level of Fusion

Author: Weslee Dizon

The latest Sushi & Steak Night offer at Morimoto Doha puts ‘fusion’ at a whole new level.

We were expecting a not-so-busy Sunday night, and were quite surprised that the restaurant was actually busy. Were these people here for the Sushi & Steak Night offer? Maybe.

We started with a bowl of edamame, followed by the really tasty bowl of Prawn Tempura Soba. If this had been any other time, I would have stopped here and maybe order another bowl of soup. The very flavourful

soup would have been enough for a quiet Sunday dinner. But I know I was speaking in haste. More good things were coming. And they did come, in platters.

Imagine a platter with rolls of sushi, nigiri and sashimi followed by slices of Wagyu steak with sautéed vegetables and chips on the side. Both platters definitely did not disappoint.

We lingered longer at all the sushi goodness and finished all the fresh rolls in record time. The Wagyu steak, served medium rare and very tender, was seasoned just right to enhance the flavor of the beef. Paula, the friendly staff who served and regularly checked on us recommended drinks to go with the food. Beverage is not included in the package, but reasonably-priced drinks should keep you going until dessert!

We expected to be really full and seriously considering the possibility of skipping lunch on Monday just to make up for all the food this Sunday night, but surprisingly, the sushi and steak combo is not as heavy as expected.

It is something bold, as with all food fusions are, even for a restaurant with such good following as Morimoto. But you’ll get your fill of sushi and steak, perhaps until Sunday next week?

Sushi & Steak Night (every Sunday)

6 pm to 11 pm

QAR222 per person, minimum of two guests sharing Call 4045 5999 to make a reservation

marhaba eats out...

Lobito de Mar

Taste the Best of What’s Under the Sea

Author: Ola Diab

Abeach restaurant in the city with beautiful views of The Pearl Island and a seafood tapas bar all in one, Lobito de Mar is a restaurant that brings the freshness of the sea of Spain to the urban city of Doha.

Located at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl –Doha, Lobito de Mar is inspired by the most popular and accessible fish, seafood and paella dishes and it is everything that Michelin Star Chef Dani Garcia knew during his childhood, a maritime gastronomy that is distinctive to the south of Spain. Always linked to a kitchen in which the produce is the main protagonist, Lobito de Mar is based on a typical beach chiringuito, where the menu and the bar are always differentiated. Lobito de Mar source the best fish markets in Spain

to find the freshest fish and seafood to bring to Doha.

Our dinner began with an exceptional and delicious appetiser, coctel de langostinos, a Lobito prawn cocktail with pineapple and lettuce with cocktail sauce. Chef Oscar himself served it to our table – a pleasant surprise especially when he opened the pineapple, there was the cocktail of shrimp. As we picked each appetising shrimp, we were further pleasantly surprised to find a lettuce and pineapple salad with cocktail sauce.

Then came a platter of delectable croquetas de atun, creamy tuna croquettes with O’toro tuna, and croquetas de calamari, black squid ink croquettes –crunchy yet soft, richly flavoured breaded, deep-fried and béchamel-filled seafood dumplings that just melt in your mouth.

Then another appetiser came through, tomate alinado, an enjoyable tomato salad, spring onion, orange, green olive dressing and extra virgin olive oil (EVOO).

This was followed by a pulpo a la gallega, an entrantes or appetiser of mashed potatoes, crowned with octopus, topped with pimenton or paprika and EVOO.

Then finally came a large pan of paella de chuleta, a grilled rib eye paella, a classic Spanish saffroninfused rice dish, which can be served with your choice of chicken, fish and seafood, octopus, lobster or rib eye. The paella is more than enough for two people or more. The thinly cut rib eye on top of the paella was soft, juicy and tender.

Then came one of the greatest highlights of the evening, a delicious and rich cheesecake with grated Manchego cheese topping.

In addition to their exquisite menu, the restaurant itself is stunning in its all-white interior, not to mention the spectacular views of Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl – Doha and the natural Costa Malaz Bay that engulfs it as well as the rest of the colourful and vibrant Pearl Island. With various coral and sea life sculptures and artwork surrounding the restaurant, you truly feel like you’re under the sea.

Opening hours:

All-day dining:

Fridays & Saturdays, 1 pm – 1 am

Dinner:

Tuesday to Thurday, 6 pm – 1 am

Fridays & Saturdays, 4 pm – 1 am Sundays, 6 pm – 1 am

For more information or reservations, call 3100 0373 m

marhaba eats out...

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas

A Superb Dinner Buffet in a Superb Setting at Souk Kitchen

Author: Brian Candy

Souk Kitchen, located within the Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, serves a dinner buffet that excels in every respect.

It has eight stations serving hot and cold dishes across a broad section of cuisines including salads, Japanese, Italian, Indian, Arabic, British, and a very comprehensive selection of desserts.

One of my favourites was their carvery station, where I got some slices of the best roast beef I have had in a very long time. Cooked to perfection, juicy and tender, it literally melted in my mouth, and it was served with a delicious mushroom sauce that complemented it perfectly. To the roast beef I added cauliflower gratin, potato wedges and some ratatouille on my plate, there was a roast dinner that quite simply blew me away. I’d go back for another round of that any day of the week.

The good news is, I can actually go back and have it again literally any day of the week because the Souk Kitchen serves this dinner buffet seven days a week! Although my roast beef plate was the highlight of the dinner for me, I must also give a shout out to the dishes that completed my experience – the plate of sushi that I started my meal with, the roast lamb and baked salmon available on their carvery station, the Shepherd’s pie, the beef stew, the Biryani and a lot more than I can enumerate! It’s like they knew exactly what I like and how I like it prepared before I arrived.

For dessert, I went for the Banana Crumble that came with a lovely vanilla sauce. There were so many other options I could have gone for including cakes, fruit and chocolate creations, but I seem to have slipped into a British theme for my dinner and a good crumble is as British as they come.

At QAR198 for adults and QAR98 for kids, this dinner buffet is worth every single riyal. The quality of the food far exceeded my expectations for such an attractive price. Happy belly, happy wallet!

Also here’s a tip for you – if you buy a pool and beach pass for QAR150, you can redeem that amount against food and beverages in the resort. Instead of using the QAR150 to buy snacks throughout the day, you can hold on to it and redeem it against the Souk Kitchen’s buffet dinner. Meaning, you can use the pool and beach all day long for QAR150 and then just pay an extra QAR48 on top of that for an amazing dinner buffet. What a bargain!

For reservations or more information, please call 4423 6666 m

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Fire Station Artist in Residence

New Look, New Menu, Same Great Experience at Cafe #999

Author: Weslee Dizon

Since it was first launched in 2016, Cafe #999 inside the Fire Station Artist in Residence complex has easily become a local favourite for those looking for quick bites. It closed its doors for a period due to a transition in management. Fast forward to July 2022, and the well-loved cafe is back with a new

look, vibe and menu while keeping the same great experience.

The restaurant’s previous industrial finish is now replaced with retro art designed by French designer Helene Bonte. The furniture, ceramics and centrepieces are testaments to the pop-art inspiration of the cafe. Walls are painted grey and are waiting to be filled with colourful designs from international and local artists.

Popping out amid the restaurant is the vibrant brick oven spray-painted by local artist Mubarak Al Malik, featuring his trademark battoulah, a golden mask traditionally worn by Qatari women.

When we visited for dinner, Head Chef Fabio Fiovaranti came quickly to our table to welcome us. The Italian-born and raised chef talked so passionately about the work that they have done for the restaurant, most especially the menu which is uniquely printed in tabloid form.

The new menu is thoroughly Italian and it is structured in five courses. Their printed tabloid menu even has a guided ‘must-try’ full course set, but guests are not obliged to have all of them. If you want to jump straight to pizza, pasta, drinks, or dessert, feel free to do so. But as for us, Chef Fabio made sure that we got the full Italian repertoire.

The starters came in all at once, and everything was plated beautifully. The #999 chefs surely know how to provide an artful dining experience. The rich burrata cheese, which was combined with refreshing

tomatoes and basil with a balsamic glaze was a personal favourite. The grilled wild octopus and baby potato salad was also a masterpiece. It was cut so precisely that you didn’t want to destroy it, but you know you must to try it.

One thing that I have learned about Italian cuisine is that it stands out for keeping it simple. It doesn’t need tons of other ingredients, which was evident with our Primi, the Crustacean Linguini with just confit tomatoes, lemon and basil. It’s unpretentious, al dente, lightly sauced – just beautiful.

Without us noticing, we are already in the main course and Chef Fabio sends us two: the Gil-head Bream and the Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb. The bream was once again as simple and straightforward as it gets. Together with some coco beans, confit tomatoes and capers, it is almost unbelievable how delicious such a humble recipe is. The lamb, on the other hand, had a crunchy layering, but the meat was so tender and flavourful. Chef Fabio said he cooked it slowly for around five hours.

As for the dessert, there are several options on the menu, but Tiramisu tops the list for all the right reasons. It’s not too sweet, and with a good kick of espresso.

For an Asian who grew up with food drowned in a cacophony of spices, I honestly enjoyed Café #999’s Italian menu. The price is also reasonable, with food items ranging from QAR35 to QAR190, and are good for sharing. Coffee and mocktails are around the QAR15 – QAR25 price range. Not bad at all. Props to Chef Fabio, Executive Chef Philip Duc, Head Pastry Chef Lucas Fourdrinier, and to the rest of the team.

The next time you visit Fire Station Artist in Residence, or the nearby Al Bidda Park, make sure you drop by this contemporary trattoria which is open daily 9 am – 9 pm, and 1 pm – 9 pm on Fridays. They are planning to have their grand launch before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ celebrations. Call 4452 5650 to book a table or for further questions m

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Dusit Doha Hotel

Asian Food Adventure: Orient Express Dinner at Taste Restaurant

Author: Maria Anicas

We recently tried Dusit Doha Hotel’s Orient Express, an Asian-themed dinner buffet at Taste Restaurant. If you love Asian food, keep reading because this review might just be for you!

When you enter the restaurant, tiny Chinese umbrellas and lanterns welcome you. To me the setup felt like walking in an Asian street market, while a huge spread of dishes from different Asian countries like Japan, China, Thailand, Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka surrounds you.

For starters, I went mostly Japanese and Chinese. I had dumplings, bao buns, peking duck, sushi, sashimi, and the really delicious Kani crab salad. There’s just so much to try especially in the salad section, but if I try them all, I wouldn’t make it to the next courses. There are various cold appetisers of all sorts on offer, but you can also make your own Gado-Gado, an Indonesian salad of raw, slightly boiled, blanched or steamed vegetables and hard-boiled eggs, boiled potato, fried tofu and tempeh, and lontong, served with a peanut sauce dressing.

Then I headed to the soup station and asked the chef to make a soup for me – I pointed here and there for the ingredients I would like my soup to have in it and voila… a surprisingly nice, warm soup was served to me, and it was so good I could have asked for one more bowl.

Just when I thought there already was a party of flavours going on in my mouth, I went to the main course station and right there, was a festival. There was the Malaysian Lamb Rendang, the Indonesian Opor Ayam, Sri Lankan Pineapple Curry & Tempered Banana Blossom, Indian Mixed Vegetable Curry, and more. There also was the best among the rest, the one I kept coming back for - the Thai Green Curry. I tried most of the main courses although my mouth was on fire because most of them were hot and spicy, and I really enjoyed all the flavours.

For a change of palate, the dessert section should not be missed. The fantastic array included a lot of cakes, fresh fruits, the worthy-of-another-round Apple Crumble, banana fritters, tarts, and more.

There’s a coffee and tea station if you want to wind down after the food adventure. And don’t miss out on the fresh coconuts!

Head over to Taste at Dusit Doha Hotel for the Orient Express should you fancy an Asian food kind of night!

Orient Express at Taste Restaurant

Thursdays, 6:30 pm – 11 pm

QAR222 per person inclusive of soft beverages

QAR399 per person inclusive of enhanced beverage package

The Entertainer vouchers accepted (applicable for soft beverage package only)

For reservations or more information, call 4004 4444 or WhatsApp 3070 1295 m

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Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha

Great British Cuisine at Its Best

Author: Brian Candy

The Radisson Blu Hotel Doha has some of the best restaurants in town. There’s the Chingari which has won more awards than any other Indian restaurant in Qatar, there’s Bentley’s Grill which has won best Steak House, Most Romantic restaurant, and Favourite European restaurant in Doha, but the restaurant I want to tell you about today has won my award for Best Fish and Chips restaurant in Qatar.

Fish and Chips is a traditional Great British dish. Enjoyed for generations and one of the few things I really missed while living in Qatar.

Missed that is until The Frying Scotsman restaurant opened in the Radisson Blu Hotel Doha. And now my craving for good old British Fish and Chips has been dealt with. The name Frying Scotsman comes from the fact that the Scottish are famous for their Fish and Chip shops, where they fry lots of strange things, including Mars Bars, more about that later. And it’s also a play on words from the name of the famous steam locomotive ‘The Flying Scotsman’.

The Fish and Chips are amazing. With a choice of battered Hammour, Haddock, or my favourite Cod. And the chips are fresh cooked for every order. These are not frozen chips. They are made from potatoes which are specially imported, and the chips are cooked twice to make them nice and crispy.

And The Frying Scotsman is not only serving the best fish and chips in town. Oh no, they also have a choice of three amazing Great British pies as well. You can choose from Beef and Potato Pie which we call ‘Cottage Pie’ (and is my favourite), Scotch Pie or Chicken and Mushroom Pie. They are meals in themselves, substantial in size and enough fill my tiny tummy. And there’s delicious gravy or curry sauce available to go along with them. But wait! There’s more. There are traditional British fish shop mushy peas available as an accompaniment too. And trust me, these are the real deal. Mushy peas seem to be a British thing, only understood by Brits. I love them with fish, pies and even just with chips. But other nationalities seem to struggle to get their head around mushy peas. You’re going to have to give them a try for yourself to see if you can understand

why we Brits love them so much. And if that wasn’t enough, they also have traditional pickled onions, and pickled eggs available as well. These can be found on the counters of Fish and Chip shops up and down the country back home, and I would always buy one or two to go with my meal.

And for dessert, you can choose from a choice of ice cream, Sticky Toffee pudding, or why not give a fried Mars Bar a go. Out of these, I would choose the Fried Mars Bar every time, let’s see if you are adventurous enough to give one a go.

The restaurant is full of character, and there’s even a steam locomotive, well, two, chugging their way around the room. Although I must point out neither of them are the famous Flying Scotsman. But it adds a lovely bit of fun to the ambience.

Prices are exceedingly reasonable and won’t break the bank. I love the menu, and you will not be surprised to find me in there on a regular basis, I love it that much. I may see you in there.

Enjoy a real taste of Great Britain at The Frying Scotsman within the awesome Radisson Blu Hotel Doha on Salwa Road.

Operating Hours:

• Tuesday to Sunday: 4 pm – 10 pm

• Thursday & Friday: 1 pm – 10 pm

• Closed on Mondays

For reservations, call 4428 1555, 4428 1645 or email fbreservations.doha@radissonblu.com m

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Four Seasons Hotel Doha

Seafood Night at Elements

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

The Four Seasons is famous throughout the world for top quality in all its operations, including personal customer service and food and beverage. Now, we can all experience this all-round excellence at the Seafood night, every Wednesday at the five-star Four Seasons Hotel in Al Dafna, West Bay Area of Doha.

You are welcomed with a freshly mixed cocktail as you enter and immediately impressive is the size and scale of the variety of tasty-looking dishes on offer. There are salads all of types to get you started but the main attraction is, of course, the sparkling seafood, so fresh and tempting. There are scallops and oysters, mussels and more.

Make sure you visit the Seafood B-B-Q section early as your selection will be cooked to your order and it takes a few minutes to come to your table. And what a selection, there are Qatar favourites Hamour and Sherri, King fish and Sea Bass, plus many more, all waiting to be cooked to your taste.

And another selection greets you with your choice of dessert, including an array of cheeses and fruit to round off your meal. Make sure to leave enough space for your sweet finale, which is admittedly hard to do as you have so much to choose from throughout your meal.

Throughout your meal the personable and helpful staff are always at hand, ready to bring you whatever you may need and they really make you feel at home. There are very palatable white and red wines to complement all your dishes, in addition to smooth soft drinks.

Whatever your tastes, you are sure to find a delicious dish - correction, many delicious dishes at the Seafood Night at Four Seasons. You may not even be able to sample them all, but there’s always next week to explore more.

Seafood Night at Elements

Wednesdays, 7 pm – 10:30 pm

Price: QAR295 per person including local water only, additional QAR190 for alcoholic package

To make a reservation at the Four Seasons Hotel Doha, please call 4494 8600 or email res.doha@fourseasons.com

marhaba eats out... Holiday Inn, Doha

Not One to Miss: Indian Night at Holiday Inn

Doha!

Author: Maria Anicas

If there is one cuisine that, I would say, intrigues and interests me at the same time, it would be Indian. I’ve tried several Indian restaurants here in Qatar and I’ve been to international buffets serving a few Indian dishes, but I just realised – I’ve actually never been to an Indian buffet!

Sirocco Restaurant at Holiday Inn Doha – The Business Park holds an Indian Night every Wednesday and we, the lucky Marhaba team, have been invited to try it. Keep reading to find out how it went!

Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted with traditional Rangoli, an art of decoration drawn on the floor or the entrances of homes/properties. It is thought to bring good luck, prosperity on the house and in the family, and to welcome guests.

The place was set up as if you’re in the streets of India because there were live food stations from left to right – the food selection was fantastic! There were even fresh coconuts just waiting to be picked up!

For starters, there were Aloo Chaat, Chana Chaat, Kachumber, Vegetable & Bondi Raita, and a station with fresh vegetables if you prefer to make your own salad. Hot appetisers like Indian Pakora and Vegetable Samosa were there as well. On to the live food stations – Pav Bhaji, Tava Sabji, Dosa, Indian Maggi, Papdi Chaat and my favourite one to visit, the Pani Puri station. There was also an Indian Mixed Grill station with kebabs like Mutton Seekh, Chicken Tikka, Chicken Malai, and Fish Pahadi Tikka.

The best thing about visiting these stations is that the chefs were kind enough to give us an insight of the food before preparing/serving it to us. It’s like going on a mini field trip!

The selection gets better with the main courses –Chicken & Vegetable Biryani, Butter Chicken, Chili Chicken, Raara Gosht Masala, Indian Chopsuey, Mushroom Matar, Palak Paneer, Dal Makhani, Aloo Jeera, and Naan Roti or Basmati rice to pair the dishes with.

When I go to an Indian restaurant, Butter Chicken is my go-to order. I’ve had my fair share of Butter Chicken from different places, and the one at Sirocco did not disappoint. I also loved their Raara Gosht Masala although it made me tear up… it was super spicy!

After the party of flavours, it was time for sweets! There was a variety of cakes and Indian desserts like Kulfi, Rasmaili, and my all-time favourite, Gulab Jamun. There was a chocolate fountain and a Falooda station, too!

For drinks, you can choose from Mango Lassi, Chaas, Buttermilk, and Saffron Lassi. We all loved the Mango Lassi that we kept coming back for it! It’s made of mango, yogurt, milk, and cardamom – so refreshing!

Selection of food, check. Quality of food, check. Value for money, check. If you’re up for a food adventure, Indian Night at Sirocco is one to book.

Indian Night at Sirocco

Wednesdays, 6:30 pm – 11 pm

QAR195 per person

For reservations, call 4031 3333 / 4031 3631 / 5041 5309 m

marhaba eats out... Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

Mashawi Night at Crossroads Kitchen

Looking for a delectable dining experience this weekend? Why not try Mashawi Night at Crossroads Kitchen - you won’t regret it!

This is a fabulous opportunity to try a first class Arabesque experience every Thursday and Friday evening at Crossroads Kitchen, within the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel. On offer are delicious

meats seasoned and marinated the Arabic way, grilled to perfection as per your request. There is also succulent roast beef and lamb and a sumptuous selection of main dishes to tantalise your taste buds., along with mezze favourites to complement your meal. And of course a dessert section (if you have any room left in your tummy) to complete your evening.

They had all my favourites, so for me it was a challenge to decide what, and how much of each to eat. And everything I selected was cooked absolutely spot on. I knew I was going to eat more than I should, and indeed I left Crossroads wishing I had exercised a little more self-control!

There was a saxophonist/vocalist duo to entertain, adding a classy touch to a delicious buffet that represents really great value. You can opt for your meal to include soft beverages at QAR195 per person, or selected beverages (for 2 hours) for QAR295.

Author: Brian Candy m

Available between 6:30 pm and 11 pm, you get four and a half hours to spend quality time with your family and friends. Good conversation, great live music and fantastic food, what more could you want? If you’re looking for something to do in the evenings this weekend, I can strongly recommend you pop along to Crossroads Kitchen. Tell them Marhaba sent you!

For reservations, call 4419 5510, email mhrs.dohmq.reservation@marriotthotels.com, or WhatsApp 6643 6890.

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Dusit Doha Hotel

Level Up Your Thai Dining Experience at Benjarong

Author: Brian Candy

The Dusit Hotel Doha, located in West Bay hides a rather luxurious hidden gem. The Benjarong restaurant. A Thai restaurant that could almost be described as fine dining. Thai cuisine on a level above. In plush comfortable and opulent surroundings that make the whole experience rather special. And on this visit, I was joined by two more staff from Marhaba. Keen to find out what it is that makes Thai food in the Benjarong so exclusive. The first thing we discovered is that the restaurant is entirely staffed by Thai nationals. And Chef de Cuisine at Benjarong, Chef Ninja (apparently her real name is a bit long and difficult) is of course also Thai. And we found

out that some ingredients are not available here in Qatar, and Chef Ninja orders them specially from Thailand.

We asked Chef Ninja to choose the dishes for us. And she picked an absolutely fabulous selection for us to try. Let’s begin with the Appetizers:-

‘Goong Tord Song Kasad’ – Deep fried crispy prawn wrapped with silk thread and prawn spring roll served with pineapple and chili sauce. Followed by ‘Yum Hua Plee Bab Bo Ran’ – A delicious salad and one of my highlights of the visit. It’s a firework display of flavours going off in your mouth. An ancient recipe for banana blossom salad with Thai chili paste and poached quail eggs.

Next was the soup. I must be honest, whenever I’m in a Thai restaurant, I only ever order Tom Yum soup. Because it’s absolutely gorgeous and I can’t get enough of it. But Chef Ninja served me a bowl of ‘Tom Sab Nua Tun’. And it was a very pleasant variation for me. Slow cooked Thai spicy beef, North-eastern style with shallots, basil and birds eye chilies. Absolutely delicious. Now I have two favourite Thai soups.

Now for the main courses: ‘Gaeng Kua Goong Yai Subparod’ – A jumbo tiger prawn in thick red curry. With caramelised pineapple, kaffir lime leaves and red chilies. Followed by ‘Gai Kua Prik Hang Med Mamuang Himmapan’ – Wok fried chicken with cashew nuts, water chestnuts, onion and dried chili. And then we had ‘Khao Phad Poo Khai Krob’ – Jumbo lump crab in organic fried rice, fluffy Thai omelette, tomatoes, onion and of course more dried chilli.

And for the finale, ‘Khao Niew Moon Mamuang’ – Thai sweet sticky rice served with mango and pandan sako.

This wasn’t a meal, it was an adventure. An adventure where I discovered new flavours and new spins on food. If you love Thai cuisine it’s an adventure you should also take, and let Chef Ninja delight you as well.

To get in touch with Benjarong or the Dusit Doha Hotel, please email reservation.dhdo@dusit.com or call +974 4004 4444. m

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Radisson Blu Hotel Doha

Award-Winning Indian

Cuisine at Chingari

Author: Brian Candy

For over 25 years, one of Qatar’s most acclaimed Indian restaurants has been in the market to delight those who insist on the finest. And you don’t have to take my word for it, Chingari is unquestionably the most awarded Indian restaurant here in Qatar.

It’s not difficult to see why – just look at this lot: using their words, you will “Dine in the glory of the Maharaja as you feast on their irresistible meals, marinated to perfection while musicians sing sweet traditional Indian songs.” They literally transport you there.

The man behind their sumptuous Tandoor cuisine since the very beginning is Indian Master Chef Jograj. Yes, that’s right, Chef Jograj has been there for over 25 years! And boy oh boy, does he know his craft.

Talking of which, here comes the food. First up is Chef Jograj’s Selection (yes, that’s its actual title on the menu) – a delightful array of Tandoori kebabs consisting of chicken, lamb, fish tikka and a fresh prawn that was so big it could have passed as a lobster. If this was a competition, this dish would have made all the other competitors go home early. It’s available on platters in sizes of 1 to 4 people. I had a platter for 2, and as you can see, it’s a generous serving with enough to easily satisfy you and your plus one... and the taste was simply divine. Next up was Lamb Curry. Lamb is my favourite meat in a curry and this beautifully aromatic dish really put a smile on my face. It wasn’t too spicy and packed full of flavour.

Then there was Murg Makhanwala, which is chicken marinated and cooked in a tandoor, then simmered in a rich tomato gravy. The top selling British Curry in the UK, is Chicken Tikka Masala. And the Murg Makhanwala could have easily been mistaken by me for a Tikka Masala if I hadn’t been told what it was already. I will always order one of these for the table whenever I go back to Chingari.

Chicken Biryani was next up. For me, this biryani is as good as it gets – exactly how I like a biryani. It was overloaded with ingredients to delight not only your eyes, but also your taste buds. Absolutely amazing!

The last dish on the table was Dal Tadka. I love a good Dal, and this one had the perfect spicy heat for my palate. It wasn’t too weak, and not so strong that it stops being enjoyable. The spice was right there at my comfort level and delicious to eat with bread. And on the subject of bread, you get to create your own breadbasket by choosing any combination of 3 breads from an extensive selection of 12 varieties. For the finale, I went for the Malai Pista Kulfi –delicious Indian ice cream and my preferred dessert whenever I’m having Indian cuisine.

Not on the menu, but a vital ingredient to your Chingari experience, is the service. The staff are absolutely brilliant! They have extensive knowledge of the menu, and they can guide you through your selections, and then serve them to your table as if you were family. Nothing was too much trouble for them, and they deserve a shout out for being so amazing.

The Chingari Indian Restaurant is located in the Radisson Blu Hotel Doha. If you like Indian cuisine, this is one restaurant you simply must visit.

For reservations, call 4428 1555, 4428 1645 or email fbreservations.doha@radissonblu.com m

marhaba eats out... Mandarin Oriental, Doha

Mastering the Art of Dining at Mosaic

Author: Maria Anicas

It’s only been an hour since we finished our meal at Mosaic Restaurant in Mandarin Oriental, Doha, but if you tell me to go back now for another, I would.

The Master Cuts, Mandarin Oriental, Doha’s newest offering, is a three-course dinner set menu available at Mosaic Restaurant every Sunday from 6 pm to 11 pm.

Filling? Yes.

Satisfying? Definitely.

Mouthwatering? For sure!

When we arrived at the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was the open kitchen. I saw the executive chef preparing our food, and when I took a closer look, he even showed me how all the cooking was done.

The menu consisted of starters like US Prime Beef Tenderloin Maki, Hand-Chopped Beef Tartar, PanSeared Duck Liver, and Char Siu Bao.

I’m a fan of starters because, for me, they set the mood for the whole meal experience. The super-thin, melt-in-your-mouth M3 Wagyu beef tenderloin plus the freshly-shaved winter truffle made the Beef Carpaccio my personal favourite among the starters. I also loved the Australian Wagyu Beef Roll because of its perfect smoked flavour.

If you love meat, you will love their set of mains. We were served a generous platter of quality meat – all cooked just how we wanted it – the perfect mediumwell. The mains platter had Roasted M3 Wagyu Beef Tenderloin Steak, Slow-Roasted Lamb Leg with Herbs, Braised US Prime Short Rib, and Char-Grilled M5 Wagyu Rib Eye.

Along with the mains came a selection of nicely seasoned sauces and you could also choose one from the sides like Roasted Potatoes with Parsley, Sautéed Green Asparagus and Broccolini, and Homemade Onion Rings, which I liked very much because it was crispy and unlike other onion rings I have tried, even the batter was flavourful.

I know, that already sounds like a lot of food, but that’s not all! We were already so full from all the

delicious dishes served to us but the desserts were so appetising – it just seemed wrong not to give them a try.

For dessert, you can choose from Pistacchio Tart, Caramel Vanilla Cheesecake, or Crème Brulee, which was my favourite. It had just the right amount of sweetness and spot-on texture, while the mango passion fruit compôte gave it balance.

The overall experience, from the service to the food, at Mosaic Restaurant was superb. So if the carnivore in you is kicking in, for QAR390 per person, the Master Cuts Set Menu at the Mandarin Oriental, Doha might be a worthy one to try.

For reservations or more information, call 4008 8888 m

marhaba eats out...

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha

Orion: Elegant Surroundings, Exquisite

Tastes and Enjoyable Entertainment

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Orion, in the east wing of Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha, is now welcoming guests every evening with a menu of reasonably priced snacks and drinks of all kinds – guaranteed to suit all tastes. Who’s that guy at the entrance, you ask. He is Orion, a ‘star’ of Greek mythology who was in legend the tallest and most handsome of men. After a rather chequered career, he was finally raised to the heavens where he is now the most splendid and brightest of our constellations in the night sky.

So, here we are, not exactly in the heavens but up there, on the ninth floor of the east wing, and the impression when you enter is really awesome: very chic, wonderful lighting (not too bright!), plenty of space and very comfortable. As always at the Radisson, the staff are super helpful with the sole goal of making your stay as enjoyable as possible.

Beyond the comfortable ‘lounge’ there’s a long curved bar and plenty of seats with a saloon-type ambience. Every night, the atmosphere becomes more vibrant when the curtains open and the live band and DJ are revealed: the band and DJ are smart people, great performers and produce great sounds. Now to tackle that hunger and that thirst. The menu has lots of choices in both food and drink. From olives with feta cheese, or with green salad, to a fresh fruit salad, to those perennial veggie favourites, like spring rolls with a sweet chili sauce and samosa with its special chutney. Then there’s chicken in both tikka and satay forms, the first with its mouthwatering mint chutney and the second with that most palatable peanut sauce. Yummy!

Last, but not least, on the food menu are the fingerlicking and lip-smackingly luscious Orion Dusted Wings; a dozen chicken wings served with either BBQ or hot sauce. Hungry no more!

Those delectable food offerings are well accompanied by a diverse selection of ales and lagers, stout and cider. Wines are available, of course, but the brightest stars of the drinks menu are undoubtedly the cocktails, mocktails and the wide selection of spirits. The names alone can raise your pulse, like the Long

Island Ice Tea (that contains no tea) to the exotic-sounding tropical heat inducing expert concoctions that could highlight your evening. Orion is indeed a heady, but heavenly, blend to engage all your senses.

Open Friday to Wednesday, from 4 pm – 1 am

Open Thursday, from 4 pm – 2 am

Band schedule:

Monday – Wednesday: 8:30 pm – 9:15 pm, 9:45 pm – 10:30 pm and 11 pm – 11:45 pm

Every Thursday: 8 pm – 8:45 pm, 9:15 pm – 10 pm, 10:30 pm – 11:15 pm and 11:45 pm – 12:30 am

Contact the Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha at 4428 1428 m

marhaba eats out... Mandarin

Oriental, Doha

Izu: Exciting French, Mediterranean Cuisine

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Izu Restaurant (upstairs on the first floor, above the street side cafe) has a truly great French menu, showing the quality and variety of this rightly famous cuisine, enhanced and inspired by the talent and travels of legendary Chef Ani Izu. We are lucky that he chose the Mandarin Oriental, Doha for one of his restaurants.

To emphasise Izu’s dedication to quality, while we were waiting, we were treated to a vinaigrette dip using Chef Ani Izu’s own home-grown organic olive oil and balsamic wine vinegar together with three varieties of Izu’s own home-made bread.

Izu room decor was surprisingly understated, unlike literally everything else in this temple of culinary adoration. But you could say this was the blank canvas on which the Izu chefs would create their culinary masterpieces.

After the astonishing lengths gone to in the sourcing and preparation of the simple but scrumptious bread and balsamic dip, we now witnessed complex (and delicious!) cocktails meticulously prepared and ceremoniously presented – yes, even with a cafetière!

To start, we tried the bruschetta with truffle and the quinoa salad – both were interesting and flavourful. For the bruschetta, the chef even brought out his rare and valuable real truffles, sourced at great expense from the forêts of France, which absolutely fulfilled this satisfying hors d’oeuvre. The quinoa salad was, in contrast, lighter but still full of freshness and multiple sensory tastes and tactile satisfaction.

We only tasted these two starters, but there are over a dozen cold appetisers and almost twenty if you include the hot starters.

Now for surf and turf! We trusted our chef’s recommendations but awaited with some trepidation as we don’t much care for fish that tastes or smells too ‘fishy’ but this salmon was, without prevarication, the perfect poisson. It hit the sweet spot of palate pleasure without excess – and the thin strips of fennel were the ideal accompaniment.

Lamb ribs in contrast, if soft and tender, were low risk. In fact, the lamb ribs were very well-decorated, indeed a little spicy, but absolutely melt-in-your-mouth mouthwateringly delicious, the soft meat barely hanging by a thread to the bone. Both dishes were served by the expert chefs at ideal temperatures and levels of satisfaction.

Again, there is a wide choice of other fish and meat dishes, indeed almost every kind of sea and land dish imaginable, each enhanced by an exquisite sauce.

To finish on a sweet note, cheesecake has a reassuring creamy solidity and when combined with passion fruit it explodes with a wonderful zesty taste. Chocolate mousse and ice cream? Guaranteed to be delectable, yes, but the mixture of warm mousse and cold ice cream, when mixed together, created an extra special taste and the added sparkle of some crunchy chocolate chunks was a great idea.

In fact, every dish at Izu has a creative sparkle to it, let’s call it Izu zest, panache or initiative; this restaurant indeed has a touch of class.

Marwan our chef, and Julia our waiter, both were expert sources of information and friendly too; ‘sympathique’ as the French say. Not to forget Roman, our barman, who gave us some insights on how to make a killer cocktail.

Signing off with an unmistakable coffee. For reservations, call 4008 8888 or email modoh-reservations@mohg.com. m

marhaba eats out...

Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences

Doha

Thai Kitchen Opens With A Buffet Of Thai Treats!

Author: Charlotte Wright

If you are a Doha resident, you are certain to have heard of Thai Kitchen Night at Caprice. This table top buffet concept was so successful that the whole restaurant has been rebranded to offer the Thai Kitchen quality every night of the week.

Say hello to Thai Kitchen at Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha! The restaurant has transformed its burgundy booths to royal blue banquettes. The décor is magnificent - contemporary, bright and full of plants. This venue screams ‘Thai’ - down to the rice fronds and the framed picture of King Rama hanging on the wall.

Not only has the décor changed - the Chef has too! Chef Karthik Ravi brings his own twist to Thai food while remaining true to Thai flavours, dishes and spices. What I loved about this sampling menu was that it contained traditional Thai food that I had never tried before. As a Thai food lover, I’ve always seemed to find the same offerings in every Thai restaurant - pad thai, green curry et cetera. But this menu has enlightened my taste buds to the endless tastiness that Thai cuisine has to offer.

Premium Appetisers

What Asian meal would be complete without a generous helping of prawn crackers? In Thai Kitchen, their flavour is enhanced with your choice of siracha sauce, Thai chilli jam, crushed peanuts, or crushed chilli (for those who like it spicy).

After we had demolished our bowl of prawn crackers, our appetisers started to arrive. Our course began with a traditional chicken satay with peanut sauce drizzled decadently over the top, and a Yum Nua which is grilled beef sirloin, seasoned with lime juice, onions and scallions, and served with mint and ground toasted rice to add some extra crunch.

This was followed by Som Tam which is a green papaya salad with peanuts, tomatoes, chilli and beans. This is a remarkably flavourful dish with the freshness of the vegetables, the nuttiness of the peanuts and the mild heat of the chillies.

After we had eagerly finished our starters we were treated to a piping hot bowl of Tom Yum Goong soup to cleanse our palates - ready for our main course!

Main Courses That Stole The Show

This first dish was my absolute favourite of the evening! In fact, it might even replace Pad Thai as my favourite Thai delicacy. The Khao Soi is a northernstyle curried noodle dish with chicken and deep-fried egg noodles. The deep-fried noodles are served on top of the dish, and then when you’re ready you can stir them in and the relax and soak up all the flavour of the broth below.

The next dish might be a bit of a mouthful to ask for but trust me it’ll be worth it! The Pla Muk Tord Kra Tiem Prik Thai or squid with fried garlic are fantastic bites of flavour and crunch - they weren’t at all chewy which speaks to the freshness of the squid and the skill of Chef Ravi at cooking them to perfection.

Next to try was the Kaeng Massaman or lamb massaman curry which was remarkable when paired with the soft jasmine rice. We also tried the Pad Prik Nua which is stir-fried beef with homemade chilli paste, long beans and sesame seeds. To help us feel healthy, Chef Ravi also treated us to the Pad Pak Ruam Mit which was stir-fry vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, broccoli and mushrooms.

Delicious Dessert

While you might be tempted to go for the mango sticky rice which is the preferred dessert of many at any Thai eatery - I heartily encourage you to try the Tub Tim Grob. This dessert is a sweet, creamy concoction of water chestnuts with coconut milk served in fresh young coconut shell topped with edible flowers to make for the most Instagram-able delicacy.

No eatery in West Bay quite captured our hearts like Thai Kitchen at Centara West Bay. For the incredible prices they offer - the food is of an outstanding quality. On Thursday Nights you can enjoy a table top buffet called ‘Thai Kitchen Night’ featuring delicacies like the above - for just QAR88 per person. If this venue hasn’t made its way to your list of favouritesit should!

To get in touch or to make a booking please call 4009 5530 or Whatsapp 3001 5360. m

marhaba eats out... Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

Meat Lovers Paradise at the New York Steakhouse

Author: Charlotte Wright

The aptly named ‘Butchers Night’ at the New York Steakhouse is the literal meat lovers’ paradise in Doha. With five courses dedicated to superior cuts of your favourite meats this is the best night in town if you are serious about meat. On the second floor of the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, waits the New York Steakhouse. It is designed as a quintessential steakhouse should below lights, deep comfy armchairs and a warm, relaxing

atmosphere. We were seated by the roof-to-floor windows, by the charming and attentive staff, where we could gaze out across West Bay. At night the view is rather special.

To begun our carnivorous culinary journey, we were served some light starters to satiate our appetites until our meats arrived. There was: a shaved vegetable salad with mixed greens, slivers of seasonal vegetables tossed in lemon oregano dressing, a fascinating tuna ceviche dowsed in leche de tigre (tiger milk), and a creamy Caesar salad with romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, croutons, parmesan, and anchovies. This was such a refreshing way to start a meal, and more importantly it was light, as we knew we had five courses of meat ahead of us!

To start our assent to meat heaven, Canadian Chef James Warnica, wheeled over the first of five trolleys called the ‘Butchers Block’ and began to carve our first meat treat of the evening. The Omaha Tenderloin Wellington was my personal favourite of the entire evening. Golden, crispy puff pastry was wrapped delicately around a slab of beef tenderloin which was coated with a mushroom and foie gras duxelle. When drizzled with the mixed peppercorn sauce, this dish went from delicious to euphoric. This beef wellington was unreservedly the best I have ever tasted and if you try nothing else - this dish is a MUST HAVE!

It was impossible to imagine how such an incredible dish could be followed up, but when the next Butchers Block arrived with what may have been half a cow on it, we knew we didn’t have anything to worry about.

This behemoth was a whole prime rib which had been slow roasted for 24 hours. And that certainly resonated when you felt the meat practically melt in your mouth. This was served with a Cafe de Paris béarnaise sauce and some deliciously creamy gruyere mashed potatoes.

After two huge doses of beef, the lamb was a surprise. A huge, steaming herb-crusted rack of lamb was carved up for us. The meat was tender and juicy, while the herbs were flavourful and aromatic. The lamb was served with a fragrant rosemary jus which was wonderful when dribbled over the succulent lamb and sautéed vegetables.

The next dish to arrive to our table was a mystery. It arrived at our table encased in a hard shell of salt. But when expertly cracked open, it revealed a whole fish buried inside. The fish was a Norwegian salmonencrusted in salt - bust stuffed with lemon and herbs. The simple seasonings really allowed the flavour of the fresh salmon to shine through and tantalise our palates. Shortly afterwards, our final serving was a whole confit rougie duck served with sweet orange sauce and roasted baby potatoes.

After our meat-centric mains, we were happy to see the dessert trolley rolling our way. We could not have endured another course - we were so full! But each mouthful is so exquisite it’s impossible not to clear your plate. A sweet selection of the Chef’s signature desserts were poised on a tray for us - with rich, chocolate tarts and cakes, to nutty bites, and caramel mouthfuls. We were served a beautiful, velvety cheesecake as well with a tasty strawberry coulis. This was certainly an unforgettable, meaty, all-youcan-eat experience!

Indulge yourself at Butchers Night on Wednesdays from 6 pm – 11 pm at the New York Steakhouse on Level 2 of the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha. For more information or to make a reservation, please call or WhatsApp 5043 4035. m

marhaba eats out...

Banyan Tree Doha

Thai Night Adventure at Saffron

Author: Lalaine Turqueza

Marhaba’s weeknight outing brought us to the beautiful Banyan Tree Doha, another one of Qatar’s up and coming venue in Msheireb. The opulence of the place is awe-inspiring. Halls, suites and even each little nook are designed to happily surprise guests. Butterflies? You can almost hear them fluttering from some corner.

Julia Macario, the Marketing and Communications Manager of Banyan Tree Doha, gave us a quick tour of the new hotel and a glimpse of their spacious suites. While they are yet to officially open in October, the place is very much alive with people coming and going. Except for our face masks which we had to

wear at all times and the social distancing markers everywhere, everything is almost normal.

Our little tour ended at Saffron, the hotel’s signature Thai restaurant. With candles, incense and soft chairs, the space spells relaxation. Well, until the food started coming and then it became Thai food haven.

Our welcome drinks came in mini-glasses, seemingly floating on a tray of clouds. It was dry ice actually, but the ‘cloud’ magically spread on our table like fog. Impressive!

Thai food is spicy, well, most of their dishes are. That’s a fact. And if you are not much of a spice fan, you can always ask them to tone it down. We did ask Saffron Assistant Manager Rupesh Shrestha and he kindly obliged.

Before the formal starters, we were offered a surprise called Amuse Bouche, another pair of appetisers consisting of shrimp spring roll and a refreshing Miang Kam, a traditional Thai snack that has nuts, leaves and more. It literally translates to ‘one bite wrap’ and sort of prepared our palate for the food.

The appetizers were quite a spread. Called Khong Wang Ruam, it has chicken satay, prawns wrapped in crispy rice noodles, a reasonable serving of pomelo salad and three dips with all the flavours of Thailand in it - sweet, sour, salty, and of course, spicy.

Then came the papaya salad (Som Tum Puu Nin), served with crispy soft-shelled crab. Other countries in Asia have their version of this salad but the Thai version is probably the most popular. It looks simple

enough, but once you try to make one on your own, you’ll never really get there, flavour-wise. Good thing there’s Saffron.

And then came the soup: Tom Yum Goong

Tom Yum, like Pad Thai, is synonymous with Thailand. But Saffron’s Tom Yum Goong is way, way better, in terms of presentation and of course, flavour. Each serving comes in special bowls that are kept warm by a tea light candle. A couple of prawns are skewered and placed on top to garnish the bowl. Because we requested NOT SPICY, the soup is of course not spicy at all.

After the soup, they again served us a magical glass of sorbet - Butterfly Pea Sorbet - to prepare our palate for the main course.

There’s wok-fried beef tenderloin and Pad Thai Goong Sod - you can’t go wrong with noodles; there’s prawn (again) and so far, in my opinion, the most tender braised beef curry. These came with servings of four rice varieties.

Are we done yet? Not quite.

Going to a Thai restaurant is not complete without Mango Sticky Rice. Saffron’s version has mango slices that are sweet, with rice that is flavoured with just the right hint of coconut. It’s called Khao Niew Mamuang & I-Tim Kati and comes with a scoop of coconut ice cream.

As expected the Mango Sticky Rice provided the perfect ending to a flavorful and delicious Thai night, giving us another good reason to go out on a weeknight.

One interesting trivia about Saffron: they have an allfemale chef team led by Chef Porntip Eumanan!

Located on the 24th floor of Banyan Tree Doha, Saffron is open daily, from 6 pm until 11 pm. For bookings and reservations, call 3992 0808 or 4410 3333. Visit banyantree.com for more information. m

marhaba eats out...

Alwadi Hotel MGallery

The Exceptional Sofra

Author: Ola Diab

Sofra at Alwadi Hotel MGallery is where you can enjoy traditional cuisine with contemporary tastes. The charming restaurant is designed to be reminiscent of Qatari culture and local traditions, with dhow boats, pearl diving and travel bags adorning the walls.

Feast on the finest Levant cuisine and regional delicacies in the most unique and generous servings – tempting speciality dishes, which are available à la carte during dinner.

Our dinner began with very delicious, fulfilling cold and hot mezzes with a Sofra Signature Hummus Selection, which are six of the chef’s exceptional signature hummus preparations – different flavours

such as Hummus Beiruti (hummus with parsley, lemon juice and cumin powder), Avocado Hummus (hummus with avocado puree), Chili Hummus (hummus with chili paste), Hummus with Pomegranate Molasses (hummus blended with pomegranate molasses), and Meat Hummus (hummus served with minced lamb and pine nuts).

Following this immense selection of hummus, we enjoyed a richly flavoured Lebanese Fattoush with fresh cut tomato, cucumber, onion, capsicum, lettuce, mint leaves, fresh zaatar and special chef dressing, and a very tasty Tabbouleh with Pomegranate with dried pomegranate seeds and dressing. It’s Tabbouleh galore on Sofra’s menu, offering Traditional Tabbouleh, Tabbouleh with Green Apple and Tabbouleh with Pineapple. We also enjoyed Labneh with Beetroot. The menu also has Labneh with Garlic, Labneh Keshka and Labneh with Olives.

Then the Hot Mezzes graced our table, including Fried Shrimp Kibbeh (homemade kibbeh stuffed with minced shrimp, fresh coriander and pine nuts). The menu also offers Grilled Kibbeh, Fried Meat Kibbeh, Fried Chicken Kibbeh, and Fried Lamb Kibbeh with Pomegranate. This was followed by the Chef Selection of Mixed Fatayer (homemade wrapped fatayer stuffed with minced lamb, fresh cheese and spinach), Fried Halloumi Cheese (breaded and fried halloumi cheese with mint sauce), Potato Harra (fried cubed potato with garlic, chili paste, lemon juice and chopped fresh coriander), and Soujok with Pomegranate Molasses (soujok sausages cooked with pomegranate molasses).

Then, feeling fully appetised, we enjoyed a succulent Grilled Meat Grand Platter, which is charcoal grilled Australian lamb chops, shish tawook, lamb kebab and kofta, served with Khashkhash sauce, muhammara flat bread and steak fries, and a juicy Chicken Shawarma, served with homemade garlic sauce, cucumber pickles and fries.

Now, it’s time for dessert – as if we had space, but how can you say no to their delectable menu offering? We had Oriental Chocolate, which is dark chocolate cream with nuts and dried fruits infused with jasmine tea.

This delicious dinner is one we look forward to enjoying again soon. It’s the best of the Levant cuisine in a way you haven’t experienced it before.

Opening times:

Tuesday to Sunday 7 pm – 11 pm

Closed on Mondays

Only vaccinated people are allowed to dine-in. Those with a Green Ehteraz status are allowed to dine at the outdoor terrace.

For more information or reservations, call 4009 9999 or email reservations. alwadihotel@accor.com. m

marhaba eats out...

Mandarin Oriental, Doha Food with Thought

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

The new Liang Signature Menu presents a variety of Liang’s specialities and is designed for sharing with a minimum of two guests. It’s available every Friday and Saturday, from noon until 3 pm, for guests to savour the best of traditional dishes from many provinces across China.

For Liang, the word ‘authentic’ is perfectly fitting and correct. From Executive Chef Lam to all the staff dealing with us, the culture and atmosphere of the Mandarin Oriental, the exquisite Chinese setting and decor of Liang restaurant, all will transport you instantly to an expectation of heavenly delights from the middle kingdom.

Like a Ming vase and examples of jade culture and cloisonné, you’ll be amazed at both the technical expertise and the devotion of the Liang restaurant staff which is obvious in the presentation of this comprehensive exhibition of the best in Chinese cuisine.

A well-established meal and family tradition in China is Dim Sum and Liang presents both Steamed Dim Sum, followed by Baked Dim Sum. Different varieties are served, each with its own specially made sauce, such as vegetable, crystal shrimp and chicken consommé (that’s the one where you have to be careful not to spill!), then the drier baked samples of turnip cake, spring roll and crispy wonton.

Take a refreshing sip of your smooth white tea, as here you’re only a quarter way through the menu and you have already enjoyed – as I am sure you will – six different and distinctive flavours each accompanied by their matching and enhancing dressings.

We are then presented with Seafood and Sweetcorn Soup, so refreshing, so nourishing, with different textures in every sip, every spoonful; unsurprising, with a list of ingredients including shrimp, scallop, sweet corn and egg white. So scrumptious, so satisfying.

We were then treated to Hot and Sour Soup, a more spicy one with a long list of ingredients including tofu slices, black fungus, chicken slices, egg white and shiitake mushrooms. Now that was tasty!

Now onto that most renowned of Chinese dishes, the Peking Duck. The name seems to have resisted

all post-imperial revisionism and propaganda, and that’s because it’s simply delicious and, thankfully, some good things outlast the ravages of time. In addition to the delectable roasted duck itself, you will marvel at the expertise (and thorough knowledge) of your server who with deft strokes of her knife and chopsticks will surround the delicacy in a small and light steamed pancake which – with the addition of some splashes of Hoisin sauce – will have you, politely, of course, asking if she can make you more, and faster, of the same. Who else goes to this level of creation, in forethought and in execution, to bring you a taste you have probably never had before.

Now for some Rib-eye but stir-fried in the Liang way with its soy sauce reduction, served with garlic chips and again distinctively delicious; with the right blend of chewiness and melt-in-your-mouth smooth satisfaction.

Chinese cuisine reflects the size and diversity of the country, its peoples (including overseas) and history. As such the diverse dishes you experience at Liang multiply rapidly and your taste buds are never allowed to rest.

Until, of course, the dessert, Fresh Mango Purée, which with the infusion of pomelo and sago makes the perfect cooling digestif to reset your palate after the taste tsunami you have just experienced; or was it a taste tornado that just blew your mind…?

Call 4008 8888 or email modohreservations@mohg. com to book your table. m

marhaba eats out... Park Hyatt Doha

Taste the Best of Arabia and the Mediterranean at Opus

Making the best of this season’s pleasant weather, we chose to dine at their magnificent outdoor dining terrace with rays of sunlight on comfortable beige loungers and red velvet pillows, surrounded by Arabesque lanterns and greenery.

Our lunch began with a colourful and plentiful Mezze, resembling a Charcuterie Board, consisting of four homemade salads, each on a separate plate, resting on green seeds, accompanied by vegetables, olives and pickles, and two pieces of warm Arabic bread and breadsticks. The delicious salads were beetroot and mint, carrot vegetable crudités, hummus and baba ghanoush. Last but not least, cream cheese with beetroot. This selection of unique and diverse salads was one to remember and marked the beginning of an exceptionally scrumptious lunch.

W

ithin the architectural marvel Msheireb Downtown Doha stands the sophisticated Park Hyatt Doha, home to the elegant Opus restaurant.

A composition by Michelin Star Chef, Jean-Francois Roquette of Park Hyatt Paris, Opus is a spacious Arabesque restaurant with an open kitchen, cooking Qatari and Mediterranean dishes from the heart, which are served in generous, sharing style – just the way food is meant to be enjoyed.

By Ola Diab m

For our mains, we had Charcoaled Roasted Shrimp, on a mini-grill with pieces of corn ribs, saffron rice, and tomato chutney, and Charcoaled Chicken Majboos, which came in two separate plates of a perfectly seasoned and cooked chicken pieces with pine nuts, raisins, tomatoes and an egg, and wellspiced Basmati rice, almonds, pine nuts, and raisins.

To end an exceptional lunch, we shared a slice of a warm Date Cake for dessert, which was outstanding in taste and texture. It’s their most popular dessert along with their Saffron Cheesecake.

Opus is open for breakfast (6:30 am – 11 am), lunch (12:30 pm – 3:30 pm) and dinner (7 pm – 10 pm).

For more information on Opus, visit their Instagram pages @opusdoha and @opusmenugram

marhaba eats out...

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha

A Bella Notte at The Italian Job

By Charlotte Wright

The Italian Job at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha has been around for such a long time - it’s a cornerstone of Qatar dining! Little has changed; the waiters still sing (well, not at the moment), the décor is still inspired by Michael Caine’s classic film, and the menu is still spectacular - why mess with a winning formula?

So, rather than mess with perfection, The Italian Job have simply expanded it. This super Italian eatery is now home to a wonderful outdoor patio with gleaming lights, table-side fire heaters and the wonderful dishes.

As we sat at our table, our intuitive waitress ignited the outdoor heater. Between the glow of the fire, and the colourful hue of the fairy lights, the veranda at Italian Job is such a idyllic and charming venue. With Valentine’s Day coming up, you can’t help but think how it’s the perfect date spot for a romantic night out.

We decided to feast on our dinner family style, so we each ordered a plate to share. To begin, we delved in to two plates of insalate - the buffalo mozzerella with tomato and pesto dressing, and the marinated beef carpaccio with ruccola salad and parmesan cheese. How could we visit an Italian restaurant and not indulge in a pizza? We decided to try the Pizza

Valtellina which is topped with tomato, mozzarella, beef bresaola and shaved parmesan on top. The thin crust was perfect to scoop all the delicious toppings off the plate and in to your mouth.

Our second choice was another Italian classic - the Lasagna Alla Bolognese. This dish comprises layers of pasta, Bolognese sauce, béchamel and parmesan cheese. Exactly how mama used to make! We also tried the seafood pasta which is the ‘must have’ of the menu. The fresh tagliatelle pasta is heaping with rich tomato sauce with an array of seafood delicacies hidden inside - there were prawns and scallops aplenty! Our final choice was something on the lighter healthier side: a salmon escalope with a buttery lemon and mint sauce. The salmon was perfectly cooked and paired perfectly with the creamy, tart sauce it was served with. This is the perfect dish for someone who’s looking to cut out carbs.

For dessert we could do nothing else but sample everything on the menu. Yes everything. There was a glorious, sweet Tiramisu al fresco, a creamy chocolate Mousse el cioccolato in salsa alla menta and three scoops of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream. The tiramisa was layer upon layer of delicious creamy mascarpone cheese filling, and coffee flavouring while the mousse was a soft and tangy when you added the shot of mint dressing.

All in all our night was utterly fantastic. Sitting outside in the fresh air, enjoying the lights and the fire, while indulging in some infamous Italian cuisine. It truly was a bella notte.

To make a reservation at The Italian Job, please call 4428 1428. Or to find out more information about The Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha please visit their website by clicking here. m

marhaba eats out... Mandarin

Oriental, Doha

Flavour Tour of Mosaic

Author: Lalaine Turqueza

Mosaic sits on the 8th floor of Mandarin Oriental, Doha. Bright, friendly and boasts nine live food stations with everything you could possibly want - grills and dim sum, sushi and biryani, they even make their own paratha in ovens conveniently visible to diners.

Tables surround the stations, with views of the Barahat Square on one side and the blue waters of Doha bay on the other. We settled on a corner table. Our friendly server (we’ll call him C) immediately offered a refreshing watermelon mocktail.

The menu is straightforward. Salads, soups, a selection of starters, with the main courses classified accordingly plus of course a list of desserts on the last page.

We started with a basket of bread followed by a hot and sour soup matched with a plateful of Quinoa salad. The pairing was reminiscent of a sunny weekend brunch - fresh, green, hinting of sweet, with the soup spiced just enough to remind us of more good food to come. Bring it on.

For starters, we sampled several tasty servings of the ‘usual’ favourites - the Japanese sushi and tempura, some Chinese dumplings, a Turkish cheese pide and some very juicy Wagyu skewers (definitely a musttry). The servings are big enough for two people, but if you’d rather not share (for safety reasons *wink *wink) each plate, definitely, is too good for leftovers.

The first main event is a grilled black Angus beef ribeye that came with two sauces - creamy wild mushroom sauce and chimichurri. Chimichurri, as you know is a regular grill sauce, popular among fans of churrasco. You can choose from several sides, or follow the recommendations of the friendly staff. The second one is the Kaeng Kung, a Thai curry dish with tiger prawns, best eaten with steamed rice. Yum.

Mosaic’s choices of desserts are as many and as varied. They have cakes and ice creams and sorbets. They have Umm Ali and Tiramisu and lemon tarts. They have all the tempting sweets you can only want from a proper restaurant.

After all the food, we were thinking of just skipping dessert. But C was very insistent on us having at least a taste of their best sellers. We chose the chocolate brownie and their new Bourbon vanilla cheesecake. Was it a good choice? It definitely had

us lounging back and contemplating on all the fun summers we had before the pandemic. Good times.

Mosaic at Mandarin Oriental, Doha is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, from 6:30 am until 11 pm. Please note that only fully vaccinated guests will be allowed to dine inside the restaurant. Outdoor seating available. For reservations, call 4008 8888 or send an email to modoh-reservations@mohg.com. m

marhaba eats out...

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas Living

Life

The Italian Way at Dante

By Charlotte Wright

Every dish had a unique Tuscan flare and flavour, that with every mouthful you feel yourself being transported back to Italy.

The restaurant is named after Dante Alighieri, who was a poet in 1265 in what is now Italian Tuscany. He is best known for writing the ‘Divine Comedy’ and other infamour Italian literature. So, to celebrate the combination of poetry and cuisine, the menu is named Liber de Coquina and the restaurant was named after Dante himself. The restaurant brings you the best Tuscan cuisine that it is meant to look, feel and taste like poetry.

There’s no better chef to make this vision a reality than Chef de Cuisine Alfonso Ferraioli. He grew up in Tuscany so he knows the traditional way to prepare dishes and with plenty of experience in the Middle East, he knows how to give each dish a unique twist that will appeal to everyone.

We were seated at our table by Assistant Restaurant Manager Dexter who explained Dante’s unique origin and design. He was always keen to help and explain every dish, along with our waitress Jessica and Chef Alfonso himself. In fact, they recommended our drinks and food for the entire evening!

For our drinks, we were brought the restaurant’s favourite mocktails: the Via Cortona, the MostoMosto, the Orzata and the Bea. Our favourite was the Via Cotona which was made with citrus, basil, mint, and limonata. Delicious!

We began our Tuscan culinary journey with some salads. Now, for me, salads are usually just a sideshow while you enjoy the main event - but these salads absolutely stole the show!

The Panzanella or tomato salad was my favourite dish of the evening. The individual ingredients are brought to the table in glorious blue ceramic bowls so you can see exactly how the salad is made. To begin, a bed of croutons are heaped in to a large mixing bowl, mixed with fresh tomatoes which were ripened on the vine so they are extra juicy. These are then combined with a trickle of agrodolce bianco and lashings of olive oil. Afterwards the cucumbers, fresh basil leaves, salt, mixed herbs and pickled onions are added and mixed for 20 seconds. The result was a wondrously fresh and tasty concoction.

The next dish to arrive at the table was the Bruschettone Stracciatella Di Burrata - Pomodorini or a pulled burrata bruschetta. Served on a wooden board, this unique style of bruschetta comprised a thin bed of oven-baked bread, wedges of succulent tomatoes, heaps of pulled burrata cheese, sprigs of basil and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. The combinations of freshness from the tomatoes, creaminess from the burrata and the smoky undertone from the oven-baked bread made for another fantastic dish.

In a similar fashion the Pesce Al Sale was another incredible dish that was served encased in a ‘jacket’. However, this jacket was not for eating! The catch of the day was encrusted in salt which Jessica had to crack open to reveal the succulent fish inside. By this point, we were getting rather full but how can you turn down the pasta course at an Italian restaurant? We tried the Ravioli Di MelanzaneRicotta Al Forno, which was a ravioli stuffed with roasted aubergine with baked ricotta crumbled on top, and the Scoglio Per “Quatro”. This dish should not be attempted with less than four people - it’s massive! This overflowing plate of pasta comes with not one, not two nor three, but four different types of fish. It’s definitely a seafood lovers paradise.

There’s no better way to finish a proper Tuscan meal, than with some proper Italian desserts. Of course tiramisu is an infamous choice and Dante do it perfectly. with the Tanto, Tanto Tiramisu. We also had to try Grandpa’s coffee cafe or the Coppa Del Nonno. The strong coffee flavour is perfect to cleanse your palette and goes perfectly with something sweet like the Panna Cotta.

Another favourite of ours was the Crostoni Toscani In Teglia. Served on Tuscan bread, the chicken liver was paired with goats cheese, baby onions, bread, pesto, and herbs. Chef Alfonso was keen to tell us that we had to try a mouthful with all the ingredients to get a proper taste of Italy. And he was right!

A classic Italian dish that everyone knows and loves is... a margarita pizza. This Regina Margherita with buffalo cheese is a tasty addition to the menu and a fabulous choice for sharing with family or friends. This dish was served alongside the Cestino Di Olive Ascolane which had a fantastic rich, smoky flavour. What came to the table next was a puzzle at first. From a distance, it was hard to work our what it was but when it arrived at the table you could see it was black dough wrapped over a surprise ingredient. The Galletto - Crosta Di Pane is actually a whole free range chicken in a bread ‘jacket’. The whole chicken is stuffed with herbs and then encased in a black dough. This is regular pizza dough that has been dyed black with squid ink. By encasing it in the dough, Chef Alfonso was able to deliver a perfectly cooked, juicy chicken with salty skin which had absorbed all the flavours of the herbs which was trapped by the dough. Chef Alfonso was eager to tell us to try the baked dough as it’s perfectly suitable to eat.

In a time when you can’t travel anywhere, restaurants like Dante are so important. With authentic, traditional flavours and dishes you can be transported anywhere - and where else would you rather go than Tuscany?

Located at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, Dante invites residents and guests to ‘Celebrate Life the Italian Way’ from Monday – Saturday, 4:30 pm –11 pm. For reservations please call or WhatsApp 5045 9130.

You can read the full food review on our website marhaba.qa/food-reviews

marhaba eats out...

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa

Eat Like a True Italian at Seasonal Tastes

By Charlotte Wright

AThursday night is all about happinesssurviving the work week, not having to wake up early the next morning. And there’s no better way to celebrate the weekend, and Italian food, than enjoying the ‘Eat Like An Italian’ menu at Seasonal Tastes restaurant in The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa.

‘Eat Like An Italian’ Night is brought to life by Chef Massi - an authentic Italian, cooking authentic Italian food. We had to ask:

Marhaba: Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your history of cooking.

I am originally from Italy from a city called Vasto, which is on the seaside of Abruzzo on the Adriatic.

My passion towards cooking started when I was very young, I was so curious to see my mother cooking for the family that my father got me a step to be able to help her and watch her more closely.

Marhaba: What do you like best about cooking and being a Chef?

I have always believed that when cooking you MUST enjoy each moment. You can craft many dishes using a diversity of ingredients; enjoy working in different countries and learn to cook new dishes from different culinary cultures and a variety of ingredients. I believe that you can do the job only if you are passionate about it and you love to cook.

I love cooking, giving emotions to the people through food. Seeing the guest smiling and happy, while devouring all their plate. There is no better feedback than this.

Hearing this we were even more keen to dig in and taste the food! The central island was full of tasty morsels to get the mouth watering - and even though protected behind a screen - the smell of freshly baked bread, roasted vegetable bruschetta, and fried croquettes was enhancing our fervour.

After diving in to our first course, and with so much food still to choose from we asked Chef for some direction:

Marhaba: What is your favorite dish on the wonderful “Eat Like An Italian” menu and why?

Definitely, that would be Pizza and Brodetto di Pesce alla Vastese!

I can eat Pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner, hot and cold. I love Pizza.

When I was growing up, I used to buy fish with my father. We would go back home and my mother would cook one of the most famous dishes in my city, that is the Brodetto di pesce alla vastese. It is a seafood stew, cooked in a clay pot, using fresh seafood caught by our city’s fishermen the night before. We never missed cleaning the plate with our bread, Simply Mamma Mia how good that dish is!!!

With some fantastic direction from the chef, we headed back over to the food station, plates at the ready. There were three flavours of pizza on offer - a Margarita, a Beef Pepperoni and a tantalising Quattro Formaggi - or four cheese pizza. I decided that I had to taste the four cheese pizza and I can completely understand why Chef Massi would eat this pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The crust was thin and crispy, and the gooey melted cheese on top was strong and sharp but also creamy. It was the perfect balance of pizza and generous topping.

magnificent dish is cooked in a clay pot and has a wonderful and extensive array of seafood delicacies hidden inside. There were mussels, prawns, scallops, squid - all dripping in a rich tomato sauce. The stew was served with a generous chunk of garlic bread to mop up any leftover drops of sauce. Mamma Mia indeed Chef!

Marhaba: Is there a secret to great Italian food?

I create menus reflecting traditional Italian cuisine. Keeping the dishes simple and with the maximum flavour from all ingredients.

If there is a secret, Chef Massi certainly knows it! Dessert was a continuation of the masterpieces that came before it. There were plenty of bite-sized treats on offer - from chocolate cake to fruit tarts - and even ice cream. They were the perfect end to a wonderful meal.

Marhaba: And finally, what do you think makes the Italian Night at Seasonal Tastes so special?

It is special because I can assure you that the food has been cooked with love from my side. We have created live stations such as pasta, pizza, risotto and that would be a true culinary journey through authentic Italian cuisine. I also have some news for you, the menu will change every week so – if you become a loyal guest to our Italian Nights at Seasonal Tastes –get ready for a new taste of Italy every week! See you there!

Seasonal Tastes is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but Italian Night is every Thursday. You can call 3359 8514 to make a reservation. m

After the pizza, we decided to sample the Agnello in Casseruola and the Pollo alla Diavola. Both dishes had that ‘fall-off-the-bone’ quality that only comes with time and care being taken with the best ingredients.

I was craving pasta and to my surprise there wasn’t just a single pasta special on the menu - there was a whole dedicated ‘Make Your Own’ station and not only can you make your own pasta but your own risotto as well. And then - for an extra dose of flavour - your pasta or risotto is placed inside a huge wheel of parmesan cheese and tossed until every grain of rice, or every sliver of pasta, is coated in a fantastically cheesy layer of parmesan cheese. Wow... talk about taking Italian food to the next level!

All that food, and we still had one more recommendation from Chef Massi: the Brodetto do Pesce alla Vastese or seafood stew in English. This

marhaba eats out...

Mandarin Oriental, Doha

Chinese Cuisine at Its Very Best

By Brian Candy

Located adjacent to Mandarin Oriental hotel in Barahat Msheireb. Liang offers a unique Chinese cuisine dining experience with outstanding service and in a most opulent setting.

My guests and I collectively decided to be guided by our server. And two varieties of Dim Sum were quickly served; Xiao Long Bao Steamed chicken dumplings, and Har Gau Steamed crystal shrimp dumplings. Not being a ninja with chopsticks I decided not to try and be clever with the Dim Sum, and opted to simply pick up a Xiao Long Bao and pop it straight into my mouth. This was surprise number one, the Dim Sum was filled with what appeared to be a delicious chicken soup. The moment I bit into it there

was a flavour explosion inside my mouth. My eyes literally sprang open with astonishment. Firstly I was not expecting liquid inside a Dim Sum (how on earth do they get soup inside there anyway?), and secondly it tasted absolutely amazing. This was a delightful start to the meal.

Surprise number two was filled mushroom-shaped buns. We were told that these are exclusively available only in Liang here in Qatar. The buns literally and convincingly look like mushrooms. I felt a little guilty for destroying something that must have taken so much effort to produce. But they were absolutely delicious.

Then followed a succession of dishes that brought so much pleasure to my taste buds. Lotus Leaf-wrapped glutinous rice with chicken, crispy wonton dumplings, deep-fried prawn dumplings with sweet and sour dip, and Hong Kong style pan-fried turnip cakes with fermented shrimps and shiitake mushrooms. All of which were simply wonderful, and lead up to surprise number three; Chilled Sichuan Spicy Chicken. This is poached chicken in chilli sauce with sesame seeds and spring onions. Without doubt one of the tastiest things I have ever tasted.

Hot and sour soup was next to appear on the table which is firm favourite of mine. I was still enjoying this when out of the kitchen came a whole roasted Peking Duck. It looked and indeed was cooked to crispy perfection. Presented to us whole, then right in front of us skilfully carved and placed into steamed pancakes along with cucumber, leeks and Hoisin sauce. Absolutely delicious.

What remained of the duck was then diced and cooked in XO sauce or sweet soy sauce and served with lettuce wraps. Yum!

Two more dishes arrived, Kung Pao Tiger Prawns in sweet chilli sauce and Sichuan-style Braised Seabass served with wood fungus and capsicum in chilli and broad bean sauce.

Then ta-dah! Out came the Signature Wagyu Beef

Short Ribs. Braised short ribs with Sichuan chilli sauce. This is another dish I would return to Liang just to order again. The meat just melts in your mouth accompanied by a sauce that takes it to another level.

This is when the resident and certified Tea Master arrived at our table. Tea Masters practice for years before being honoured with the coveted title of a certified Tea Master. And he gave us an impressive performance with an exceedingly long-spouted teapot

which he seemingly danced with. Make sure your phone is ready to take video if he comes to your table. The finale was caramelised banana fritter with frosted sugar. Simple, yet with so little room left in my stomach, exactly what I wanted.

If you like Chinese cuisine, I can’t think of anywhere I would recommend more. Liang’s menu comprises traditional Cantonese recipes and innovative creations by Executive Chef Lam, and the handpicked team he has brough with him. m

marhaba eats out... Park Hyatt Doha

Sora: Spectacular Food, Spectacular Views

By Brian Candy

Located in Msheireb Downtown Doha, the Park Hyatt is in one of the most vibrant and fashionable areas within Qatar. The restaurant is spacious, modern and very premium. And the staff made sure I felt welcome from the moment I stepped out of the elevator.

The menu is Japanese, created, curated and brought to life by Sora’s head chef who is of course Japanese. My fellow guests and I decided to let our server select our meal for us. And in no time at all some Taiyaki Japanese Waffles arrived on the table. These filled hot pastries are complimentary and a great way to prepare your pallet for what’s coming. From this moment on,

the food arrived at the table just in time, every time, with no pause. Absolutely perfect timing.

Beginning with Crispy Mochi

Chicken which was black in colour thanks to squid ink, along with Lobster Tempura. These bite size lobster balls were exceedingly tasty, and very much to my liking.

Salmon Tadaki and Tuna Caviar Tadaki were next to make an appearance. I love salmon so much I headed straight for the Salmon Tadaki. Then I, with my absolutely dreadful chopstick skills, grabbed a slice of Tuna Caviar Tadaki and managed to get it across the table and into my mouth without dropping it. WHAT! NO! WHAT IS THIS! I had to enquire what this stunning dish was called immediately, because I had just found a very big reason to return to Sora. It was soooo…. Good. If you take just one tip from this review, make sure it’s to try the Tuna Caviar Tadaki. You will thank me.

Next out was Chef’s selection of Nigiri Sushi. Available raw or cooked, our selection was raw, just how I like it.

If you order the next dish to be served, make sure you have your phone ready and set to record video, because the Spiced Salmon Maki is one for your Instagram account. It comes out smoking!

Signature dish time! Up next was Wagyu Beef Tenderloin. Oh come on. The moment you see the word ‘Wagyu’ you know this beef is going to be exceptional. Not just exceptional, but the very best beef can possibly be.

Get your camera ready again, because the next dish was still moving when served. The Hokkaido Scallops are covered in fish flakes that chef has somehow managed to animate. I was mesmerised. And this is when I realised that Sora is all about spectacle. The view is spectacular, the taste is spectacular, and the presentation is, yup you guessed it, spectacular. Oh and the scallops… cooked exactly as I like them. Yum!

But wait, there is still one more chapter in this book. Desert! Mochi & Ice. Another spectacle and another photo op. So out comes some ice cream, well presented, fogging and once again Instagram ready. I love Dairy Queen ice cream, it’s the ultimate soft ice cream. My favourite Baskin & Robbins flavour is ‘Love Potion’, no wait, ‘Cotton Candy’, no

wait, ‘Love Potion’. And all of a sudden there was a new contender. Sora’s Pistachio ice cream. It was stunning! The best pistachio ice cream I have ever tasted. It was so good I had another plate of just pistachio bought for me.

My fellow diners and I enjoyed a Japanese menu at its very best. Would I return? I guarantee it. Would I recommend it to you? Absolutely! And have your camera ready. Sora has the Wow Factor! m

marhaba eats out...

The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa

Eastern Promise: Let Sabai Thai Take You on a Tour of Famous Asian Cuisines

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Sabai Thai, the award winning restaurant at The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa combines Qatari modernity with everlasting Eastern values; where good wholesome cooking with its exquisite flavours and tastes is a valued way of life. This also includes attractive, often beautiful, presentation and the chefs in Sabai Thai are both craftsmen and artists.

Once you enter Sabai Thai, the deluxe decor has a human, rustic touch with wonderful East and South-East Asian markers like the colourful fans, parasols and lanterns which will immerse you in its Asian-ness and make you feel at home even as you venture round the world’s most interesting – in culinary terms at least –of its five inhabited continents.

Have a refreshing drink to liven up your taste buds: there’s a Korean Watermelon Punch, a Japanese Sakura Lychee Spritz, Vietnamese Iced Coffee and – the one that tickled my fancy the most – a delicious Chinese Kumquat Lemonade. They are all so tasty you just can’t wait to get started sampling the menu. Well, there’s not a simple menu, more a smorgasbord, a cornucopia of delicious delights awaiting you.

First in line was the Japanese offering, with an attractive variety of sushi and sashimi plus different salads and dressings to accompany them. Be careful of the large mound of wasabi, you’ll only need to slice off a sliver…

Let’s cross the seas now to East and South East Asia and sample some of those succulent Vietnamese spring rolls, chicken and vegetable, plus some shrimp wrapped in seaweed and and chicken dumpling puffs. Korean specialities come up next with especially worth a shout-out a delicious dish of braised beef.

Surf ’n Turf up next with some luscious lobster and calamari, and for meat lovers slices of marinated

beef striploin, plus some chicken satay whose peanutbased sauce we all know by now, courtesy of South East Asia.

The colour and variety of all the vegetables and spices utilised in Asian cooking never ceases to amaze…

And now, for those still hungry and eager for a new taste, some hearty dishes from Thailand: there’s Pad Thai (stir-fried rice noodles with vegetables, and Nuea Prik Thai Dum (stir-fried beef with black pepper), some of that famous Thai green curry with chicken, and, of course, the famous spicy and sour soup, Tom Yum; this one with Gai (chicken).

Indonesia has its own hearty dish, Nasi Goreng, and there is another super tasty, braised beef dish Beef Rendang and you should also try the tasty chicken dish Ayam Woku.

After that culinary grand tour, the selection of desserts was very wide but the small portion size thankfully helped us to sample quite a few, well, most of them if I am to be honest. We loved all the different jellies, the rainbow cake, other cakes, a bitesize mango sticky rice, the cute mango cubes and the circular crème caramel and other smooth and velvety creams, especially the yellow one in the larger brown porcelain round dish with a strawberry on top and an extravagant zig-saggy type signature scrawled on top. Intriguing but worth the investigation: Yummy!

The textures and flavours of Sabai Thai’s authentic cooking make for a deliciously different brunch. The setting is wonderful and the staff are genuinely friendly and informative if you have any questions.

For a long and lazy lunch, or brunch, Sabai Thai at The Westin Doha Hotel & Spa is an ideal place to go.

About brunch at Sabai Thai:

• When: Saturdays, 12:30 pm – 4 pm

• Price:

o QAR248 per person for soft beverage package

o QAR375 per person for enhanced beverage package

• Marriott Bonvoy 20% applicable

For more information about Sabai Thai, please visit their website sabaithaidoha.com or call 3359 8514 and email dining.doha@westin.com. m

marhaba eats out... Pullman Doha West Bay

Friday Brunch at the Avenue

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

lychees and was a perfect appetiser. There are lots of starters on display but firstly you are treated to a spectacular Japanese starter ‘box’ of varietal sushi, sashimi, nigiri (with wasabi and ginger to taste) and the ultimate and original in ’special taste and texture’ – fresh, raw and utterly awesome oysters.

Now you can navigate the cold section, with salads, dressings and mezzes, enhanced by cold cuts, seafood specialities, slices of chicken and salmon, for you to accumulate and formulate.

But my eyes were drawn to something which is becoming increasingly popular – baked Camembert. With a piece or two of fresh baguette, the hot cheese was a new and enjoyable experience.

Global gourmet experience

W

e were so happy to come back to the new Pullman Doha West Bay where we had enjoyed their wonderful breakfast choices in the Avenue Restaurant.

A true five-star hotel with a stellar international history and reputation, the new Pullman hotel in Al Dafna is inviting and friendly. It looks spacious and feels fresh; the decor is colourful and modern; huge windows give panoramic views, and, you can drive straight in, it’s unbelievably easy!

The Avenue Friday Brunch welcomes you with an interesting selection of cocktails; my choice featured

The ‘global gourmet’ experience is everywhere on view. Avenue boasted of four pillars of excellence –Japanese, Turkish, American and French – and now they have welcomed Rene, their new Mexican chef, the offerings will only get more flavoursome and with yet more variety. For your main dish(es), you’ll love the Turkish Mixed Grill, or the Iskender Doner Kebab, or the Hamour a la Talla, the Sirloin steak, the Testi Kebab, the Teriyaki Duck, the Chow Mein Seafood, the Eggplant Miso, the Prawns and Calamari – yes, it’s a long list but it’s not just long, it’s a varied and interesting list from all four corners of the globe with food that you can really enjoy without being too calorific.

You will love the dainty dessert treats – but what’s this for goodness sake?! – here comes the Avenue dessert of desserts: a great big chocolate sphere is presented to our table and we are told to ‘bash the balloon’. Like guerrillas storming a castle, our spoons rained blows upon the walls and then triumphantly we gazed over the ruined ramparts and feasted our eyes on the mellifluous mess within, a mélange, a medley of tastes and texture each spoonful of which seemingly more succulent than the previous. That includes the fallen chocolate which at 66% cocoa may be the perfect compromise between smooth and milky and rich and dark. All in all, it was awesome and also such fun.

The Avenue chefs are both innovative and inspired. There are truly great signature dishes. The variety derived from hundreds of years of evolving human cultures and civilisations brought together here literally at your fingertips, or maybe at the tip of your tongue. Choose whatever you like or ask the chefs for their insight; stick to what you know or set off and explore for new discoveries.

No dish is ordinary and none is overdone either. Delicately infused and garnished, they will definitely tick all your required boxes and epitomise the skills and vision of the Pullman chefs and the infinite variety of dishes and tastes they produce from the ultramodern ‘global gourmet’ kitchen.

Harmonious musical accompaniment, featuring Latino, modern and mid-modern melodies, is provided by a glamorous singer supported by talented artists on keyboard and drums.

Friday Brunch at the Avenue, Pullman Doha West Bay is available from 12:30 pm to 4 pm, QAR300 with soft drinks, QAR445 with cocktails and sparkling drinks. A group of six gets a 20% discount.

For more information and reservations, send an email to restaurants.pullmandoha@accor.com. You can also send them a message via their WhatsApp number3301 3666. m

marhaba eats out...

Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl –

Doha

Public House’s Newest

Family-friendly Brunch

Author: Maria Anicas

Let me introduce you to a brunch where you don’t have to party because it is THE party –Public House’s Brunch N’ Roll!

Public House at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl –Doha has launched its newest family-friendly brunch, where you can enjoy diner favourites and indulge

in a buffet of classics while you roll into the retro vibes with live entertainment, games, sports and more.

Don’t forget to bring your little ones for the face painting, balloon twisting, miniature bowling, and other kids-approved activities!

Not only kids can play – adults can also enjoy the Jenga competitions, foosball (table football), and some hops pong!

But that’s not the only fun part, because the food is also something to look forward to! There are stations for eggs should you fancy a hot, scrambled one, some sliders, chicken wings, refreshing salads, variety of breads, and the NOT-TO-MISS hotdogs! Please, don’t miss the hotdogs!

And since it’s a Saturday brunch, there is Saturday Roast! Visit the carvery station for the rib-eye roast beef, roast vegetables, and Yorkshire Puddings. For the kids, there’s a special corner with Mac & Cheese, chicken nuggets, French fries, donuts, and more.

The dessert station is as big as all the other stations combined, so yes, you have options. There’s a chocolate fountain, fresh fruits, yummy cakes and pies, chocolate and fruit bars, and even a tower of French macarons. Oh, and you should visit the pop corn and cotton candy station!

It doesn’t end there – there’s also a live band that makes you want to sing along (and dance), a guy in roller skates that delivers your drinks and a streetstyle ice cream station!

All this fun for only QAR175 including soft drinks, QAR375 including grape, bottled hops, and enhanced drinks, and QAR90 for kids aged six to 12.

See you there!

Brunch N’ Roll

Saturdays, 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm

For booking and inquiries, please call at 4035 5011, WhatsApp +974 7479 0864, or email restaurants. marsamalaz@kempinski.com m

marhaba eats out...

The RitzCarlton, Doha

Saturday Roast is the New Sunday Roast at STK Doha

Author: Brian Candy

The Ritz-Carlton, Doha is home to one of the finest steakhouses in Qatar, STK Doha. And at lunchtime on Saturdays, this vibrant and lively American steakhouse serves their take on the most famous of Great British meals, the Sunday Roast. Back home in the UK, regardless of how busy family members were during the week, and no matter how many meals we didn’t sit together for in the last six days, Sunday lunch was the one meal we would make an extra effort to enjoy together. And Sunday Roast is what the vast majority of families would sit down to on a Sunday.

It’s called a roast dinner because a lot of the contents on your plate would have been oven-roasted.

Of course, the meat would be roasted. It could be roast beef (the most popular), roast chicken or roast lamb among others. And also, on the plate would be roast potatoes, perhaps roast parsnips or indeed any vegetable that could be roasted along with Yorkshire Pudding.

And then there are the boiled vegetables, cabbage or broccoli, carrots (if you haven’t decided to roast them already), peas, and perhaps some boiled or mashed potatoes for good measure. And then the most important ingredient that turns this mountain of food into a roast dinner - lashings of gravy. Some like their gravy on the side of the plate, but I like mine poured over absolutely everything and then a good sprinkling of pepper on top!

STK Doha takes this popular British dish and moves it to a Saturday. And instead of the traditional joint of roast beef found on most tables on a Sunday in the UK, they offer you the choice of succulent spiced brisket or a juicy USDA prime ribeye steak. And although not mentioned on the menu, they throw in some complimentary roast lamb as well, which they bring and carve next to your table.

Yorkshire Puddings are a savoury batter mix cooked individually in the oven and rise (if you are skilled enough) to big fluffy puddings – crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I have to say that STK Doha has got the art of cooking Yorkshire Puddings absolutely spot on.

I selected spiced brisket for my roast beef and they served it on top of my Yorkshire pudding, which I then proceeded to smother in their specially prepared gravy.

Instead of roast potatoes, they provide seasoned thick and chunky potato chips and there is a wooden platter containing roast beetroot, cauliflower, broccoli, and courgettes. All this comes along with a skillet of macaroni cheese and another filled with mashed potatoes. The complimentary lamb that was carved at my table was served on a separate plate.

Portion sizes are very generous, and you may or may not have room for one of the delicious desserts, which are New York Cheesecake, Special Brownie or Toffee Pudding.

STK Doha is located on the 23rd floor of The RitzCarlton, Doha and the views from up there are simply stunning! The restaurant is plush and super cosy. The service is exceptional and the food is out-of-this-world!

Whenever I am undertaking a review, I always pay a lot of attention to the tables around me. I’m very interested in seeing how much they are enjoying their experience. And everyone in the room seemed to be having a great time!

Why not give this Great British tradition a try for yourself and take your family and friends to enjoy a Saturday Roast at STK Doha this weekend?

Available every Saturday, 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm ‘grapes for two hours

For reservations, call 4484 8522 or WhatsApp +974 6655 2429 m

marhaba eats out...

Mondrian Doha

Five Reasons Why You Should Try the Party Brunch at CUT Doha

Author Weslee Dizon

CUT by Wolfgang Puck in Mondrian Doha nails opulence with its Party Brunch. This is certainly a place for special occasions or even just to treat yourself to one of the best restaurants in the country.

‘Steak’ is what comes to mind whenever we hear the name of Michelin Star Chef Wolfgang Puck. So, when we heard that we were to try the Party Brunch at CUT, we have prepared out palates for a pleasing steak experience. And we got more than that.

Let’s cut to the chase and list down five reasons why you should also try this Party Brunch.

1. The place is a work of art

Mondrian Hotel Doha is one of the most luxurious hotels in Qatar. Its architects clearly knew what they were doing, marrying Qatari culture with contemporary design.

On the ground level of the hotel just a little to the left, you’ll find CUT, just across the gigantic ‘floating’ staircase. As you enter, you’ll immediately feel the fresh and stylish ambience, bathed with the live music provided by the DJ. Welcoming guests into the restaurant are the gorgeous marble cocktail bar, the open kitchen on the side and the black leather couches. Inside, small tables were combined with even larger couches and oversized light fixtures, but each one is well-distanced giving each table ample space for privacy and comfort. There is also a separate area for private and al fresco dining with the magnificent view of West Bay Lagoon.

2. Menu is never boring

This architecturally striking hotel and restaurant has food to match the sophistication of its surrounds. CUT Doha’s main focus is meat but each week, they rotate their Party Brunch menu, mix-and-matching the finest selection of beef, produce and locally-sourced ingredients. Executive Chef Luke Omarzu carefully curates the menu as approved by Wolfgang Puck.

In our case, we were given a generous serving of bread and a refreshing strawberry granita to start, along with our beverage of choice. I got a red sangria.

What followed immediately after is an ensemble of starters including the Wedge Salad, Australian Wagyu Steak Tartar, General Tso’s sweet chili Chicken, Mini BBQ Sandwich and Tom Yum Risotto. It’s like a fusion of different Pacific and Asian cuisines carefully handpicked and brought to our table at once. We didn’t have to wait long for the main course headlined by the Korean Style Grilled Skirt Steak which was served with housemade kimchi, crispy potato, and gochujang jus, and the Pan-seared Local Sea Bream with summer squash, fennel fumet, and confit tomato. We also had the Organic Chicken Pot Pie with baby vegetables, and natural roasted gravy. Everything was served family style so each guest gets to taste each of the dishes. And for the table, we were also given the Cavatappi mac and cheese, and truffled parmesan fries. It was honestly a joyous blend of flavours and quality ingredients. The combination of cuisines and types of dishes is an adventure many food lovers would appreciate. We thought we didn’t have any more room for dessert but we simply couldn’t say no to the decadent Classic Strawberry Shortcake and the No-bake Mango Cheesecake. And what a better way to end this culinary journey with a hot cup of tea or coffee.

3. Drinks are highly encouraged

CUT Doha’s Party Brunch is a great opportunity to combine elements. And in this case, food and booze. Their enhanced package offers guests with a pretty wide range of beverages to choose from. Ladies also get complimentary drinks.

The restaurant also boasts of its bespoke handcrafted cocktails. And we didn’t have to go to the bar to try their cocktail of the week because it went to us! The barista, who was set to impress, offered us his Whiskey Primavera which tasted not too strong but surely had the kick.

4. Service is impeccable yet relaxed and not rushed

The Party Brunch at CUT Doha starts at 12:30 pm and ends at 3:30 pm, in time for the restaurant’s midday closing. It’s a perfect time to have a good few hours of eating, drinking, and actually having real life conversations with friends or colleagues over great food and drinks.

Our server, Joaquin, was extremely knowledgeable, attentive and patient with all of our questions. He also makes great recommendations. His colleagues, who were also equally attentive, were evidently smiling all throughout even with their masks on.

5. You get value for your money

At QAR315 for the basic package and QAR465 for

the enhanced package, Party Brunch at CUT Doha is at the higher end of the Friday brunch scale. But with that, you can be certain that you will be treated to one of the very best brunches. It’s a great experience. Splash out and treat yourself once in a while.

Available from 12:30 pm till 3:30 pm every Friday.

Alcoholic Package & Non Alcoholic packages available.

Call +974 4045 5999 to book a table. m

marhaba eats out...

Mandarin Oriental, Doha

Worship at the Inner Sanctum of Chinese Cuisine at Liang

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Liang Brunch Set Menu – an idyllic way to pass some of your free time worshipping at the inner sanctum of Hong Kong Chinese cuisine

Liang – one word says it all… In both Qatar and China, the moon has always played an important part in the customs and traditions of their people. It is a symbol of gentleness, of peace and family values, its monthly cycle influences our planet, and it is a beacon of light where there would otherwise be darkness.

At Liang, the spotlight is firmly on the fulcrum of fine food, produced by what many people say is the

leading cuisine in the whole world, whose practitioners can render delicious anything that grows or lives on our planet. And do so with food that is generally cleaner and less calorific than some other cuisines (but don’t be too worried about not being able to fill your stomach, as you will see from this set menu).

Authenticity is the value most cherished by Mandarin Oriental, in Doha and everywhere else. They are proud of their roots in Hong Kong and their Chinese character. When you step inside Liang, you most definitely feel you are in China: the genuine decor, the paintings, brush strokes and calligraphy, and the staff who look so cool in their black Chinese outfits. Imagination and expectation are already being awakened.

To slake your thirst and satisfy your tastebuds, you can first choose between a Chicken Soup with Wontons and a Chicken Soup with Noodles. The Wontons are interestingly filled with chicken and prawn, while the Noodle Soup has shredded chicken and Pak Choy. If you are hungry, you may find that the wontons have a reassuringly fulfilling look and feel to them…

If you want to spice up your soup, then you have not one, but three condiments at your disposal. The main one, Soy Sauce, has been associated with Chinese food for more than 2,000 years, so it should have proved itself by now. Chinese food always gives you variety which is amazing when so many people eat their daily food with maybe only one sauce or salt. This selection and presentation is certainly not boring.

To accompany your soup, there’s also stir-fried scrambled egg with minced tomato and spring onions, plus another dish of chilled marinated celery sticks, Cordyceps flower and walnuts. This is diversity, Chinese cuisine-style.

Now to enjoy a full bowl of steaming Congee. Congee is like porridge, but this Cantonese-style congee is prepared with king crab meat and diced shrimps and topped with an intricate, pretty flower. It’s deliciously smooth and tasty and appeases your appetite. Just to make sure you are replete, there a small pancake and fritter to consider, too. The pancake has that other famous sauce, Hoisin, extensively used in Cantonese cuisine with its thick and fragrant (make that ‘intensely flavourful’) qualities.

And now for the finale, the pièce de résistance, unveiled in its traditional bamboo basket, the traditional Chinese weekend family brunch – the internationally famous Dim Sum. Dumplings may not initially sound so exciting but the Mandarin mastermind, Chef Thomas, offers a selection of shrimp and chicken creations, plus some very tasty vegetarian ones with their ‘see-thru’ wrappers revealing a mélange of sweetcorn, assorted mushrooms, carrots and celery. Last but not least, and leaving the rice to the end to fill any empty spaces remaining in your happy stomach, you will unwrap a traditional lotus leaf to reveal glutinous rice. But this is not a monotonous rice, it’s wonderfully interesting, as within it you have different mushrooms, pieces of chicken and gratinated egg yolk.

Yes, Chef Thomas and his attentive and supportive staff have taken us on a tour of China; we’ve tasted so many ingredients, in such wonderful combinations that we can only wonder at the creativity and attention to the smallest details.

When? 10 am to 3 pm, Fridays and Saturdays

How much? QAR 230 per person (minimum 2 people) For booking, call 4008 8888 m

marhaba eats out... Banyan Tree Doha at La Cigale

Musheireb

Flying High at The Upper Brunch in Il Galante!

Author: Charlotte Wright

It’s hard to find a brunch that has it all, but we might have found one that does at The Upper Brunch in Il Galante at the Banyan Tree Doha. This Italian eatery has expanded its expertise globally to produce an international buffet offering that is sure to whet your appetite while you enjoy a spectacular view and vivacious tunes.

Anyone who has visited the Banyan Tree Doha before knows that the hotel is a work of art. Walking into the lobby is like wandering into an architect’s dream - with virtual waterfalls of fire and ice on either side of the foyer. To get to our brunch we headed up to the 27th floor where we found the Il Galante restaurant.

The first thing you notice upon arriving at Il Galante is the view through the walls of windows. It’s staggering! If you are brunch frequenter, I’m sure you’ve been to other sky-high venues, but the view from Banyan Tree Doha rivals them all. Most other views are within West Bay so you can enjoy the city lights and skyscrapers but from Banyan Tree Doha, the entirety of West Bay frames the horizon so you can enjoy the city centre in all its glory. The view doesn’t just stop at West Bay - you can peer out over what seems like the entirety of Doha.

The second thing you notice, is that your musing of the view has a soundtrack. As you enter, there is a piano and accompanying musician who serenades the crowd with sweet classics that are sure to have you jiving in your chair and humming along. We couldn’t help but have a wiggle on our way to the table. When we arrived, the playlist was lively but not too aggressive, but as the afternoon progressed the music amped up the energy into a fervour. For the final hour of The Upper Brunch another musician arrives to give the crowd dancing fever. It’s one heck of a way to end brunch!

On to the food!

Il Galante specialises in Italian cuisine, but for brunch they had expanded their expertise globally.

Wandering through the lavish buffet you are certain to find something that tantalises your tastebuds. There is a huge selection of various delicacies ranging from oysters and ceviche to handmade pasta and Charcuterie.

The first wing of the buffet table is dedicated to the salads, appetisers, and cold dishes. The selection is packed with bite-sized samples of international favourites like the Scallop Ceviche, Tartar di Wagyu, Caprese, Smoked Salmon and Vitello Tonnato. Il Galante seems to know that EVERYTHING on offer is incredibly tempting so they’ve made it possible to pile your plate with as many different things as possible. Of course, there were bigger samplings of popular classics like the Sicily Salad (with fennel, cherry tomatoes, and oranges), Insalata di Mare (mixed seafood salad) and the Charcuterie platter. Everything is routinely replaced so relax, indulge, and enjoy! Afterwards you might fancy a deeper dive into the seafood offerings at Il Galante. Such a variety of seafood is a luxury for most of us and The Upper Brunch has it all. Head over to the Fish Bar and choose from their fresh selection of oysters, prawns, king prawns, blue soft-shell crab, jumbo mussel, and razor clams. You can enjoy them unadorned, or you can choose from an array of toppings to add: Tobasco, citronette, mojito sauce, or spice vinaigrette. The Upper Brunch isn’t just about food... it’s about food and a show! At the centre of the brunch buffet lies a live cooking station that highlights Il Galante’s speciality: Italian cuisine. This pasta live station showcases fresh, home-made pasta straight from the kitchen and a vast choice of toppings, vegetables, and sauces to make your very own pasta concoction. Everything about this live station sets it up to succeed in creating some of the best pasta dishes of your life. Fresh pasta, fresh ingredients, and a professional chef who know pasta like the back of his hand. Not only can you create your dream pasta dish you can also carve up a huge wheel of Grana Padano cheese to sprinkle on top.

After your pasta, you can lose yourself in the abundancy of mains courses that are on offer. There are classics like lasagne, Polpette Della Domenica (juicy beef meatballs in rich tomato sauce), Roast Beef Steak, Salmon (served with fresh herbs), Pan Fried Hammour, and a succulent Gateau di Patate or potato pie served with chunks of mozzarella, turkey ham and beef salami.

The highlight for me was the Pollo Alla Diavola which was juicy, grilled chicken breasts smothered in a thick, spicy sauce. However, the most unique dish of the evening had to be the Fried Kataifi Prawns which you could enjoy with tzatziki, sweet chilli, or sriracha sauce.

Time for a sweet treat!

After you have satisfied your savoury craving, you might want to luxuriate with some sugary desserts or earthy cheeses. The Upper Brunch has everything sweet that you could possibly desire with tarts, cakes, ganache’s, crème brulee, puddings and cheesecake. Or if you aren’t a sweet tooth, you might dive into the cheese platter with crumbling blue cheese, soft brie, and even more traditional Swiss and cheddar. You could even drizzle it all in oodles of warm, rich chocolate from the chocolate fountain if you chose to! Perhaps you can’t move by this point, perhaps you want dessert to come to you. Well rest assured – it will! Holy moly there’s a Cannoli…trolley. When the cart trundles to your side, you can watch as sweet, creamy, ricotta filling is piped into tube-shaped shells of fried pastry dough. You can then choose which toppings you would like to be sprinkled on top – like chocolate flakes, chopped pistachios, or strawberry crumble.

The Upper Brunch at Il Galante is the definition of a banging brunch! Lively music, an extensive expertly executed buffet, and a splendid view peering over Doha. This is certainly one to try with friends!

Fridays, 12:30 pm – 4 pm

QAR300 per person including soft drinks

QAR400 per person including enhanced beverages

For reservations or more information, call 4410 3310 or WhatsApp 3992 0808 m

marhaba eats out...

The RitzCarlton, Doha

Lazy Saturday Brunch at Sel & Miel

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Lazy Saturday Brunch at Sel & Miel – not so lazy, more like enjoyable, exquisite, exciting, entertaining; in fact excellent all round!

Sel & Miel at The Ritz-Carlton, Doha combines Qatari modernity with the everlasting values of the brasserie which place emphasis on flavour and freshness. Sel & Miel is à la carte so you can settle down and concentrate on the food and conversation. Make no mistake, the chefs here are masters of their craft and the flavours and tastes are exquisite.

Reminiscent of a Parisian brasserie, Sel & Miel brings an authentic slice of France to Doha with a menu of classic French favourites, kept up-to-date by the

innovative chefs at The Ritz-Carlton for a young and modern audience. Designed to echo the tastes and flavours of Paris, the bistro-style setting combines nostalgia with excellent dishes that blend simple flavours and exceptional ingredients. Effortlessly sociable, it’s the ideal spot for gourmet diners to gather for à la carte choices, memorable specials and regular get-togethers, like Lazy Brunch served every Saturday.

For the Lazy Brunch, the menu looks amazing with everything you could wish for but leaving you wondering how you could manage to appreciate all these dishes as they deserve. Not to worry, your dedicated waiter, in our case Mr Nader, is there to explain all. Firstly, he greets you with a welcoming sparkling drink. He’s friendly and informative with a professional desire to please. Firstly, you are presented with a full selection of famous French Hors d’oeuvres and Nader explains everything: there is pâté, rillettes of salmon, charcuterie, tuna, king crab, prawn, burrata, and a choice of crispy or softer sourdough bread with dressings and condiments, including their trademark salt and honey – sel et miel.

Nader seemed to know everything and was always at hand to top up your glass with your choice of colour and carbonation. The variety of these tasty treats (I counted at least 10) was so satisfying, including the famous silky smooth soup Vichyssoise (a chilled creamy potato and leek soup which was introduced to Americans by French chef Louis Diat at the RitzCarlton in New York in the summer of 1917, to help keep patrons cool).

That was great and now the main dishes are a-coming. All the staff are friendly and sociable and we are presented with a greeting card and a special drink, I presume just to keep us in the mood… The barman (who knows everything about drinks) made a great cocktail with all the usual moves and shakes. Four dishes that headline the best in French Cuisine: Foie gras – duck liver seared in a pan, with some brioche and apricot chutney – delicious. Then Confit de canard - a luscious leg of duck slowly cooked in duck fat until meltingly tender, complemented by lentils and skinny, crisp fries – luscious. Next up Steak frites – the French national (and now international) dish, slim, succulent, so easy to digest with the same mound of skinny fries which, unlike thick-cut fries, add a touch of drama to your plate, served with a soupçon of cafe de Paris, a flavoured butter for steak that’s infused with an tantalising mix of herbs, spices and savoury condiments –scrumptious. Then, down to Marseilles and the Mediterranean, to all the bountiful diversity that the sea offers, and that feast-in-itself Bouillabaisse, that mouth-watering mélange, that marine medley that aims to the depths of your soul – yes, its splendid, spectacular and sumptuous.

After that culinary climax, the selection of (thankfully petit) desserts, with a relaxing cup of coffee, was the ideal way to wind down and realise how many pleasant and agreeable moments can happen together in a short space of time. Variety is the spice of life, and in Sel & Miel we experienced the best cuisine, the best professionalism which was still friendly, engaging and pro-active.

I will definitely go again and recommend it to anyone. Sel & Miel – the modern brasserie in Doha –showcases elegant yet comfortable interiors with four different seating sections both indoors and outdoors. Lazy Saturday Brunch adds a touch of glamour to the Doha brunch scene to be shared with your friends and family.

Saturdays, 12:30 – 3:30 pm

QAR 275 per person, inclusive of unlimited hops, grapes, beverages, cocktails, cocktails, soft beverages, tea and coffee.

QAR 125 per child (6 to 12 years of age)

For reservations or more information, call 4484 8522 or WhatsApp 5599 0916

marhaba eats out...

Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences

Doha

Enjoy This Brunch With Friends at Dalchini

Author: Brian Candy

The Dalchini Restaurant in the Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha has a very modern take on Indian Cuisine thanks to the innovative mind of Chef Ravi. We joined him for his outstanding Dalchini Social Brunch which is served every Friday from 12 noon until 4:30pm.

Things get started with a real piece of theatre as chef prepares a delicious Patta Chaat right in front of you. What better way to start your meal than with a cooking spectacular right at your table.

My eyes told me that it was going to taste spectacular as well, and my eyes didn’t lie. It was absolutely delicious.

You can choose from their vegetarian menu or from their non-vegetarian menu, either way it’s just QR 199 per person including soft beverages, and for couples there’s an outstanding value price of just QR 249 for the two of you including soft beverages. This is an absolute bargain for some of the finest Indian dishes anywhere in Qatar. Alternative drinks packages are available if you prefer something other than soft, and they represent great value as well.

All of the dishes from starter to dessert look amazing. And I mean really amazing. Prepared with a passion that tells you are dining in a very special restaurant.

Oh, and their Biriyani is one of the best I have ever had anywhere in the world. It was so good I ordered a second one. Which you can do with any of the dishes by the way, as much as you like as many times as you like.

For dessert there is their Theatrical Desert, which I would have ordered a second helping of as well, if I had any room left in my tiny tummy, which I did not.

The restaurant is beautiful, has a well-stocked bar and is full of character with plenty of different size spaces to suit different size groups.

The Dalchini Indian Restaurant in the Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences Doha. If you like Indian cuisine, you simply must try it.

For reservations or more information, call 4009 5520 or WhatsApp 3001 5360

marhaba eats out... Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

Indulge on a Saturday at the Ipanema Sabadao Brunch!

Author: Charlotte Wright

The renowned Brazilian Churrascaria restaurant Ipanema at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha - and my personal favourite eatery - have a brand-new Saturday offering! The Sabadao Brunch!

When you first arrive at Ipanema, you are greeted by a hoard of friendly faces and eager smiles. This particular Saturday we were welcomed by Mariella who was more than happy to see us and took excellent care of us throughout the brunch. I have to say that her attentiveness, and the friendliness of the whole staff, is a huge reason why this eatery is one of my favourites.

After being seated by the window, where we could enjoy an excellent view of the luscious hanging plants and urban decor of the restaurant, we decided to dive right in with a welcome drink. Served in a coconut, or an elegant cocktail glass, you can enjoy a coconut milk and passionfruit mocktail which is heaped with flavour and so refreshing for your palate. You can even add some rum... If you dare!

After sipping on our cocktails and reveling in the warm atmosphere of brunch, we decided to investigate the culinary offering of the Sabadao Brunch at Ipanema. Wow! We were hugely impressed by the quantity, quality and selection of food that was on offer - for just QAR195!

Appetisers

First, we glanced over the make your own salad station and investigated the cold starters. There was plenty to choose from if you want to pace yourself for this four-hour brunch expedition. There were plenty of fresh, healthy ingredients to heap together to create your own ultimate salad dish. Or. If you want to sample some premade Brazilian starters I can highly recommend them! They are heaping with flavour and you can tell they’re freshly cooked specially.

Our favourite had to be the burrata with fresh strawberries, mint and figs. It’s not often that you get such fresh fruit here in Qatar! If you prefer something hotter however, there are plenty of options available. There were rice dishes, roast potatoes and fried banana bites. I was partial to the barbequed sweetcorn - its full of flavour and crunchy - a truly unique Brazilian dish. I would recommend small bites though as there are so many more courses to come!

Ceviche

I know that at a Brazilian Churrascaria restaurant like Ipanema, the meat is supposed to steal the show but I was so, so impressed by the ceviche station. There were five different options for the ceviche - white fish, salmon, tuna, shrimp and octopus - with an abundance of ingredients. I’m sure you could create your own personalised ceviche, but I had 100% faith in the lads behind the station. They created some excellent, excellent dishes and I just had to try the white fish AND the tuna. Both were delicious and full of flavour made with the freshest fish and lime juice. The presentation was gorgeous as well - you could spend two hours of the brunch indulging in the ceviche alone!

Meat, meat and more meat!

Now it’s time for the highlight of the brunch - the meat! The Sabadao Brunch includes seven different types of meat - beef, rump steak, marinated beef cubes, chicken wings, chicken thighs, and two different types of lamb. Each offering is better than the last but there were certainly a few honorable mentions that I must recommend. The marinated beef cubes are fall-apart-in-your-mouth fantastic! Because they have been marinated, they are full of flavour and so soft that they just fall apart in your mouth. The chicken thighs were incredible as well - the glaze that they were cooked in was great and the chicken was tender and perfectly cooked. The rump steak was a fabulous treat with soft red meat encased in soft juicy fat. For QAR195 I can’t believe the variety of meat on offer!

This dessert is on fire!

After a long rest listening to the live band, we decided to luxuriate ourselves and explore the dessert station. The dessert station had loads of mouthwatering dishes. There was decadent chocolate cake, Maria Mole (a traditional Brazilian berry) marshmallow, flans, tarts and so much more! Everything you could ever need for dessert is on offer at Ipanema. However, if you don’t fancy leaving your table for dessert the wonderful staff will always bring you the traditional Brazilian dessert of pineapple rolled in sugar and cinnamon and grilled over the fire.

It wouldn’t be the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha if they didn’t have a statement dessert station! But this one has a flaming twist.... It’s a fruit flambe! You can choose whatever fruit you would like and the chef will flambe them up for you. The chef adds sugar, butter to the pan and watches as it melts in to a golden, sticky goop. He then adds your chosen fruit and tosses the pan until every chunk of fruit is thickly coated in the caramel sauce. Then... he adds vodka

to the pan and when its all melted and golden - he ignites it! Stand back or you’ll lose your eyebrows! The result is served with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and is utterly delicious!

About The Brunch:

Sabadao Brunch at Ipanema

• When: Saturdays, noon - 4 pm

• Price:

o QAR195 per person including soft drinks

o QAR305 per person including selected beverages

For more information and reservations, please call 4419 5510 or Whatsapp 6643 6890. m

marhaba eats out...

Mondrian Doha

Saturday Roast at Hudson Tavern

Author: Brian Candy

Sunday Roast’ is a traditional British family meal where the whole household assembles to enjoy at least one meal together in a week. As the name implies, there is a lot of roasting involved. It could be roast chicken, beef or lamb, accompanied by traditional British roast vegetables like potatoes, carrots and parsnips, and probably some boiled cabbage, peas and/or sprouts as well. It wouldn’t be complete without Yorkshire Puddings, which would be an easy way of adding bulk to the meal and also an excellent way of mopping up any surplice gravy.

In the past, meat was an expensive luxury, so all the roast and boiled vegetables along with lashings

of gravy were used to turn a few slices of meat into a large dinner capable of sending the whole family to sleep on a Sunday afternoon –it’s a tradition I grew up in, and still continued even when I had my own family.

Hudson Tavern at the luxurious Mondrian Doha has taken the spirit of the Great British Sunday Roast, except they hold it every Saturday, and to their own style. We, the lucky Marhaba team, were once again invited to try it.

Starter was a fresh green salad served with breadcrumbed cheese sticks, chicken wings and dips. The serving was fairly sized, and we were offered more salad if we wanted it. This was an excellent way to get the meal underway.

The main is, of course, the star feature – a sumptuous roast dinner. Hudson Tavern has swapped out slices of roast beef for a succulent ribeye steak that is cooked to your liking, and to be sure you have enough meat on your plate, they included roast chicken as well (major bonus). There were roast carrots and parsnips cooked al dente for some texture in your vegetables. There also were green beans, tomatoes, roast potatoes and Yorkshire Puddings, and the delicious gravy. The portion of the gravy could be better to cover what’s served in the plate, but fret not – that was resolved very quickly when I uttered the famous words of Oliver Twist: ‘Please, sir, I want some more.’

For dessert, it was one of my all-time favourites, Apple Crumble – another great British dish served with ice cream.

Hudson Tavern has a wonderful ambiance – cosy and oozing with character. We felt very at home in there. They also played some great 80’s tunes (not just the mainstream 80’s music, but songs that were a little further down the charts back then and less heard these days), which I absolutely loved. They put on a playlist that is much harder to create – something I appreciated very much.

The venue was quite busy, and I could see and hear that the other tables were having a great time as well. The food was delicious and an absolute bargain at just QAR125 per person (food only). There is also a food and beverage package available at just QAR250 per person (valid for 2 hours).

Saturday Roast at Hudson Tavern in Mondrian Doha

Saturdays, 12:30 pm – 4 pm

For reservations or more information, call 4045 5999 or email wineanddine-mondriandoha@sbe.com m

marhaba eats out...

Alwadi Hotel Doha –

MGallery

Levantine Restaurant’s Exuberant Saturday Mediterranean Brunch

Author: Ola Diab

Enjoy a lively Saturday Mediterranean Brunch at Levantine Restaurant at Alwadi Hotel Doha –MGallery with delectable food, drinks and live vibrant music.

As you walk into Levantine Restaurant, a pleasant aroma, a colourful buffet and a beautiful live singer welcome you. The charming restaurant is designed

to be reminiscent of Qatari culture and local traditions, with dhow boats, pearl diving and travel bags adorning the walls.

There’s a delightful spread of breads including baguettes, croissants, olive and cheese breads, as well as sweet breads such as strudels and pain au chocolate. Adjacent is a cheese spread with nuts, dried fruits, jams and honey.

Then head over to the salad bar where you can find appetising Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cold appetisers such as moutabal, warak enab, a beetroot salad, a Greek salad, a shrimp salad and even a unique Mediterranean watermelon salad. Nearby are hot appetisers with cheese, meat and spinach fatayer. In addition, you can order speciality dishes such as a delectable burger, steak, salmon, macaroni and cheese, and more from the kitchen. From the grills, you can order seafood, meat or chicken – well marinated, well cooked and delicious.

A live pasta station is also available – spaghetti or penne with either white or tomato sauce as well as cheese, onions, olives, mushrooms and other vegetables.

Drinks? There’s a bartender at his own minibar to prepare the drink you like!

Here comes the sweet ending, and it was sweet, indeed. The dessert was rich, colourful, artistic and delicious! There were beautifully decorated fruit tarts, chocolate cakes, a banana cake, a carrot cake, red velvet, crème brulée and more. There’s also ice cream –passion fruit, strawberry, mango, pistachio and banana.

So why not relax and enjoy the Saturday Mediterranean Brunch while listening to live music performed by a Lebanese singer who sings popular hits in English, Arabic, Italian, Spanish, French, Turkish and more.

‘La Côte d’Azur à Doha’

Saturdays, noon – 4 pm

QAR250 per person with soft drinks

QAR299 per person with elected beverages

For enquiries, call 4009 9999 or WhatsApp +974 3075 8211 m

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Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park

Strongly Recommended: Aramede Friday Brunch

Author: Brian Candy

It’s not often that I get wowed by a Friday Brunch, but my visit to the Aramede Restaurant within the Crown Plaza Doha – The Business Park was exceptional. For a very reasonable price of QAR280 per person (plus they accept 2 for 1 vouchers from promotion books), it ticked all of my boxes! I honestly enjoyed this brunch a great deal, and its reasonable pricing makes it one of my current strongest recommendations.

Let me start by commending the chilled seafood section. I love cold, sliced salmon a lot, and it is always my go-to starter whenever it’s available. I had a lovely plate of not one, but two varieties of salmon – there was Beetroot Gravalax and a Dill Gravalax duo on offer. I added a nice terrine to the plate and some cold sliced beef with Stilton cheese and figs – a perfect starter for me, especially because the salmon was sliced thicker than normal, which is exactly as I like it. I was going to follow this with sushi because it looked so tempting, but I decided to move on to something hot instead.

My next plate was a simple dish, but one that tells me a lot about the chef cooking it. I had a nice Cottage Pie, a firm favourite of the British, and of course a firm favourite of mine. The Cottage Pie was bang on target for me – delicious, minced beef in gravy cooked with carrots, peas and onions, and topped with mashed potato. Simple, and a real taste of home.

Next, I proceeded to the wet fish station, which deserves a shout out. You get to choose from the likes of Red Snapper and Sea Bass, and they will grill it to perfection for you. I went for the Sea Bass and enjoyed every mouthful. The chef also prepared a nice seafood medley with mussels, octopus, squid, shrimp, and salmon steak – a tower of seafood happiness!

As a curry lover, I had to give the lamb curry a go, and it didn’t disappoint either.

Then I headed to the BBQ meat section, and asked for a grilled sirloin steak (well, two, actually), and a lamb steak. What another delicious plate of food, that if I had any room left, I would have ordered a second serving of!

Their extensive cheese selection was beckoning to me, and much to my disappointment I simply didn’t have room for it.

Their dessert section was very extensive, but I estimated I only had room left in my tiny tummy for a scoop or two of gelato. I had two scoops of chocolate and two scoops of vanilla (they were fairly sized scoops). The gelatos were soooo good that I went again for two scoops of mango and two scoops of strawberry!

For QAR280 per person, unlimited soft beverages are included, and you can add an extra QAR120 for enhanced beverages.

Also, while enjoying the delicious feast, a rather nice gentleman on stage was keeping guests entertained with his guitar playing and crooning vocals.

Friday Brunch at Aramede was an absolute pleasure, it was enjoyable from start to finish. Value for money, 100%!

Aramede Brunch

Fridays, 12:30 pm – 4 pm

QAR280 per person

Additional QAR120 for enhanced beverages or QAR160 with bubbly

For reservations, call +974 6641 5504 m

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Park Hyatt Doha

Join The Brunch Club at Opus Every Saturday!

Author: Ola Diab

Join The Brunch Club at Park Hyatt Doha Every Saturday!

Welcome to Opus, a Marhaba favourite at Park Hyatt Doha, where every Saturday, you can enjoy an exquisite buffet-style brunch that caters to all tastes, cultures and ages.

As you walk into Opus, you are welcomed by a selection of colourful and refreshing drinks to choose from. You’re then greeted by rich aromas coming from their open kitchen as well as the buffets spread out at the restaurant. There’s a rich spread of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean salads such as a

delightful beetroot hummus, baba ghanoush, mutabal and other green salads, with a selection of breads on the side. This is followed by delicious dumplings of chicken and shrimp as well as a live ramen station, where you can choose what ingredients you want in your ramen.

At the open kitchen, you can choose from fresh seafood, chicken and meat, which can be prepared for you on the grill according to your preference. Also prepared by a chef at the open kitchen is risotto, which once cooked, the chef pours into a big wheel of cheese, then serves you a plate of cheesy risotto.

As you got a little taste of China and Japan with dumplings and ramen, you can now get a taste of India with butter chicken, saffron rice, shrimp biryani and more. Nearby, there’s also the popular Middle Eastern lamb and rice dish, which is rich in spices and flavour.

And finally, the dessert buffet – it’s a feast. You’re spoiled for choice and might return for a second plate as there’s a scrumptious raspberry cake, lemon tart, strawberry tart, pistachio cake, crème brûlée, Umm Ali, fruits and a variety of chocolate cakes. Nearby is a kid’s dessert buffet where they can savour donuts, cupcakes and other enjoyable child-friendly desserts. Children can also retreat to a fun supervised kid’s club area where they paint, draw and make miniatures sculptures.

As for the adults, as they relish in the exquisite buffet, they can also enjoy some live music.

Saturdays 12:30 pm – 4 pm

QAR199 Soft beverage package

QAR299 Enhanced beverage package

For more information or reservations, call 4009 4330. m

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Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel

A Shera-ton of Fun at Al Hayakum Saturday Brunch!

Author: Sarah Palmer

Breaking news: The Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel has a fabulous new Saturday brunch for all you gourmets!

It is exciting to hear that not only are buffet brunches back on the menu at the stalwart hotel, but that the new Hayakum brunch at iconic Al Hubara restaurant will feature a number of Qatari speciality dishes. We went along to the opening to find out more.

Al Hubara restaurant is always a special treat to visit, with its glamorous, spacious seating areas and opulent décor, a real aesthetic pleasure. And on our visit this time, as well as the affable staff there was also a large blue cockerel to greet us!

Brunch on a Saturday can be a more leisurely affair compared to its Friday counterpart, a declaration of ‘we’re not quite ready for the weekend to be over yet, thank you very much’. Al Hubara is not resting on its laurels though – the chefs have been busy whipping up all manner of food! The brunch offers delicious authentic Qatari and international cuisine, something for everyone to enjoy.

The extensive buffet spread entices diners with uberfresh salads, seafood and sushi, and soups to ensure a healthy start to proceedings. We indulged ourselves with luxurious poached lobster, chilli prawns, and a chickpea quinoa salad, alongside traditional favourites hummous, moutabel, vine leaves and fattoush. The additional selection of sushi was perfect, some of the best we have eaten.

And so, with halos polished, we were ready for the main event.

We made a beeline for the roasts and barbecuesand boy, we were not disappointed. My dining partner immediately procured a succulent turkey leg – I had

to remind him we were in polite company and to not throw it over his shoulder, medieval banquet style, once it was finished. Its companions were melt-inthe-mouth slow-cooked ribeye, daoud pasha, a Qatari dish of meatballs in tomato sauce, and kebbeh b sayaniyeh, baked beef and bulgur wheat. A real meat feast.

We also decided to plunge into the bounty of the ocean again, this time with Arabic-spiced hammour. The fish was delicately but beautifully seasoned and perfectly complemented by the accompanying roasted Romanesco.

One thing you absolutely must do at this brunch is sample the two feature dishes: whole grilled hammour with biryani rice, and lamb ouzi. You’ll find these in the two domes sitting either side of the food stations. If you are not familiar with Qatari cuisine, they are excellent introductions to a taste of the region. In fact, they are confirmation that those deceptively simple looking dishes provide the best flavoursome experiences.

And hurrah, for those with a sweet tooth, the hotel’s justly famous Um Ali is available! This perennial bestseller sits in solid company, with the celebrated Sheraton Signature Cakes also making an appearance. There is a wonderful selection of regional and international cheeses as well. This can all be washed down with a cup or two of freshly brewed Turkish or Arabic coffee. A delightful way to end the banquet!

For reservations, call 4485 3000, WhatsApp 5594 9701 or email f&breservations.doha@sheraton.com m

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Alwadi Hotel

Doha – MGallery

O’Glacée Oh-So-Cool Saturday Brunch

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Glacée Saturday Brunch – The Mediterranean comes to Msheireb with a wonderful choice of flavourful dishes, delicious drinks, accompanied by an infectious Latin beat at Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery poolside terrace restaurant.

The streets and architecture of Msheireb are pristine and proud, and Alwadi Hotel Doha - MGallery is so classy but – have no fear – Saturday Brunch at O’Glacée Pool Bar is really fun and friendly. It’s so cool on the sunny but shaded terrace – it’s the perfect venue to sip delicious drinks, relax to music and meet up with family and friends.

Enjoy an aperitif and some creative starters; there are lots of little bread, including a freshly baked brioche with delectable tapenade and condiments, artisan cheeses, charcuterie and cold cuts, grilled halloumi, assorted breakfast bites in pretty little glasses, plus a variety of appetising pizzas on small trays and sizzling pots of delectable lasagna.

‘Countless choices in sensible sizes’ is the mantra and you can’t go wrong as the staff are all superfriendly, helpful, and well-organised. The drinks keep coming and, here comes a lady with a saxophone! Yes, mixed with the French cuisine is the sound of salsa.

Healthy appetites will appreciate the pizza, pasta and macaroni on offer, and there’s a barbecue with multiple meats and fish, seafood and shellfish. If all this variety was not enough, O’Glacée Saturday Brunch also has an amazing à la carte menu with top-quality items delivered to your table for your delectation: tender Wagyu beef, creamy lobster, grilled lamb, both smoked and pan-seared salmon, shakshouka (egg with tomato and cheese), plus a couple of very palatable plates of charcuterie and artisan cheeses. The choice and quality – both buffet and à la carte – is awesome.

The same goes for the desserts; sweet little things, so many colours and textures, nothing too large to tempt you to excess, but, on second thoughts, the sheer variety may do just that…

And me, a cheesecake lover of many years experience, even discovered a cheesecake I’d never

seen before – Basque Cheesecake – which you will not be surprised, did not disappoint. Au contraire! And if Basque cheesecake is too strange for the kids, there’s lots of ice cream with toppings and syrups so adored by kids worldwide.

O’Glacée

When: Saturdays, noon – 4 pm

Why: You’ll love it!

Call 4009 9666, WhatsApp 3075 8211, or email restaurants.alwadihotel@accor.com for more information or reservations. m

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Marsa

Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl – Doha A Real Public House with Retro Vibes Offering

Great Value American Diner Menu

Author: Brian Candy

In the UK, stand-alone establishments that primarily serve drinks (food secondary) are called Public Houses, or ‘pubs’ for short.

Ever heard of the phrase ‘going down the pub’? Well, last Friday, I went down the pub, and the pub I went to is actually called the Public House — the one that can be found in Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl - Doha.

There is a separate entrance and dedicated car park for the Public House, which from here on I’m going to call the ‘Pub’. As you drive on to the hotel’s island, turn left and head for the giant horse. The entrance is right by the side and it’s very well signed.

The Pub has a large spacious indoor area with plenty of comfortable seating/dining tables and a lot of large screens sprinkled around the room for everyone to see. There are games available to play at your table such as Jenga and, of course, a first-class music system. It also has a terrace for when the weather permits, and a chef from New York — all the ingredients to a fun, relaxed and most enjoyable visit. Talking of ingredients, let’s get on to the food. The menu is classic American Diner, plus a bit extra. All my favourites are there: burgers, salads, corn dogs (yum), sandwiches, etc. It’s a huge comprehensive menu of feel-good food prepared by a true New Yorker, the portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable. Also, the whole menu including breakfast is available all day long, seven days a week. I started with a Mixed Market Salad. I’m not much of a salad person, but the Mixed Market was exactly how I like a salad to be: with slices of apple, walnuts, Manchago cheese and a delicious dressing. It was super tasty and refreshing.

Next I tried the Lobster & Crab Rolls. They are exactly what their name suggests; bite size rolls (well bite size for me anyway) filled with lobster and crab meat mixed into a mayo dressing with ‘Old Bay Spice’. They went very nicely with the salad.

One of my favourite American diner foods was next on the table: a plate of two large and perfectly prepared corn dogs dressed with honey Dijon mustard, Japanese mayo, and good old Heinz ketchup. I would come back to the Pub just for more of those.

Last out was the delicious Not Just a Baked Potato, a hearty, very generous portion of baked potato filled with shredded smoked brisket, avocado, chive and sour cream. That, along with a pint of my favourite beverage after work, would be a lovely way to end a hard day.

For dessert, I decided to try a slice of carrot cake, which is big enough to share (if, of course you are into sharing). It was a lovely, moist carrot cake served with frosting, walnuts, cinnamon and ice cream. I’m going to be popping down the Public House at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl - Doha again very soon, and I recommend you do the same. I may see you there.

For more information, follow @publichousedoha on Facebook and Instagram. For reservations, call 4035 5011 or send a message via Whatsapp at 7449 6058, or email to reservation.marsamalaz@kempinski.com m

marhaba eats out... Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

The New Big Apple Brunch at the New York Steakhouse!

Author: Brian Candy

So today I find myself seated in one of the most reputed Friday Brunches in Doha. I’m in the New York Steak House within the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha. And my expectations are high. Is it going to live up to its reputation? I’m about to find out.

The Brunch format is a la carte. There’s an extensive brunch menu, and you can order anything you like

from it, as many times as you like. Some dishes are for one, some to be shared. The menu was so extensive that I asked chef to make recommendations for me. And he did a great job of it.

Here we go, first out was an amazing seafood platter, named the ‘Fulton St. Seafood Tower’ with Poached Canadian Lobster, Alaskan King Crab, Giant Prawns, Scallop Ceviche, Octopus Escabeche, and Tuna Ceviche. Beautifully prepared, beautifully presented, and an absolute delight to eat. As a true seafood lover, this was a fabulous start. Of special mention is the lobster and the tuna. Here in Doha, I have had plenty of lobster that didn’t make the grade for me. This knocked the ball out of the court. Delicious!

Next up was the amazing slow roasted Wagyu Tomahawk rack. This comes to your table on a trolley, and they slice it right there in front of you. Served with Milk Buns and Cheddar Popovers both of which are mini breads. And dollops of mustards along with their very own freshly prepared horseradish. I tasted the breads and they were very nice, but I decided against eating them to save room for more delights to come. The Wagyu was cooked to perfection. Oh my goodness I am in beef heaven. Am I making you hungry yet?

Most of the dishes on the menu are named after New York districts and next up was an assortment presented on a board. First I tried the ‘Staten Island 36 Hot Dog’ Scallop, Lobster and Black Truffle Sausage in Espellete Brioche with Fennel Relish and Caviar Mayo. Well that’s a hot dog with a difference.

Next was the ‘Williamsburg Standard Toast’. Avocado served on organic sourdough, with blistered tomato and Quail Egg. Very nice indeed. Next the ’East 65th Burger Junior’. A Wagyu patty served with Foie Gras and Raclette. And last on the board but one of my favourite dishes of the day so far, was the ‘Angus Sandwich’. Prime Striploin, Edam cheese and a spicy hollandaise sauce served as an open sandwich.

Then came ‘Short Ribs Croquettes’. Vine braised short ribs with breadcrumbs and a spicy sauce. He shoots, he scores! Goal! These were amazing and jump to the number one position on my Croquettes top 10. And that was followed by a plate of ‘Hudson Valley Carpaccio’. And this is going to delight your palate the same as it did mine. Yum! If I wasn’t working my way through the menu, I would have repeat ordered this as well. Tastebud tastick!

And then for my final mains salvo, ‘Beef Cheek’, ‘Grilled Skirt Steak’ and ‘Long Beach Seabass’.

The beef cheek is served on what looks like mashed potato, but turned out to be celery root cooked in truffle oil. Served with a tasty braising jus, pecorino and a fried egg on top. A really hearty dish which if I ordered again, I would ask them to hold the fried egg.

The grilled Skirt steak was a delicious piece of steak beautifully seasoned (Montreal Spiced) and served with Raclette Poutine. This I would order a lot more of. Absolutely delicious!

And finally surprise of the day was the Seabass. I have ordered Seabass in some very reputable seafood restaurants. And here I am in a Steak House eating what in all honesty is one of the best plates of Seabass I have ever had. And I had to compliment chef on an outstanding dish.

And for the finale (drum roll) dessert (symbol strike). I had an individual strawberry cheesecake served with chocolate ice cream, and a chocolate fondant pudding with vanilla ice cream. Now I’m no expert (Errr…. Wait a second… yes I am) but the ice cream being freshly made right in front of me, seems to be cream and plenty of liquid nitrogen. Result… ice cream granules. And this represents the end of a wonderful afternoon spent in the most eloquent of surroundings.

Did the New York Steak House live up to its reputation? Oh yes it did. For a quality brunch with the finest quality dishes, look no further than the New York Steak House, located in the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha.

About The Big Apple Brunch:

When: Friday, Noon – 4 pm Where: New York Steakhouse

Prices: QAR495 including soft beverages or QAR595 including selected beverages

To get in touch with the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, and the New York Steakhouse, please call 4419 5510 or Whatsapp 6643 6890. m

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W Doha Hotel & Residences

Time to Tuk Tuk into a Delicious Friday Brunch at Spice Market

Author: Brian Candy

WARNING! The word delicious is used on more than one occasion in this article.

The W Doha Hotel & Residences has just launched their new Friday ‘Tuk Tuk Brunch’ in their Spice Market restaurant.

They have taken delicacies from seven countries; Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand and presented them beautifully on Tuk Tuk themed live stations. This is a food bloggers paradise, no need to fly anywhere, it’s all in one place. Being British, I unimaginatively

started with a roast beef dish from Hong Kong. Roasted Striploin with Hong Kong Sauce – one of the best slices of beef I’ve ever had. Pink exactly how I like it with roast vegetables. I was just tucking into that when a nice gentleman appeared and asked me if I’d like some sushi. I said that would be very nice and he disappeared and promptly reappeared with enough sushi for me to open my own restaurant. I’m not an expert on sushi and so I was super glad he brought me a selection that I didn’t have to think about. And it was all delicious. I’m not an expert on sushi, but I know good food when I have it, and this (and no I’m not kidding) was the best sushi I have ever had. Bursting with flavours that I had never come across in sushi before. And the amazing thing about it, is that this is part of a Friday brunch. I was beginning to understand why my friends always spoke so highly of the Spice Market in the W Doha.

Next I visited Thailand, and foolishly asked the chap on the Tuk Tuk to cook me something. I actually said cook me anything you like, surprise me. He asked me to return to my table and said he would bring me something shortly. And true to his word, he did bring me something, and then something else, and then something else. Service was awesome, nothing was too much trouble. Staff go out of their way to please you. The dishes from Thailand were absolutely gorgeous. I erroneously forgot to ask what they all were, however I know one of them was Pad Thai. I started making my way through them enjoying every mouthful, when I realised, I still had five more countries to visit.

Then I took a Tuk Tuk to Sri Lanka. Where I learned never to tell a Sri Lankan Chef you like it spicy. He prepared me a Koththu Parata. Boom! I say again, never tell a Sri Lankan Chef you like it spicy. Luckily I do like it spicy, and this is why Sri Lankan continues to be one of my favourite cuisines. But this may challenge some of you.

Before taking another Tuk Tuk, I simply must tell you about the mocktail’s in the Spice Market. They are so good I can’t stop drinking them. Especial the Pina Colada. I think I’ve already drunk about five of them.

Hong Kong, Thailand and Sri Lanka done. Next up China, and Glass Noodle Japchal. A spicy noodle salad dish. By this point I’m starting to ask for small portions because Thailand took so much of my stomach real estate early on.

Another short Tuk Tuk ride, and I’m in Vietnam. I decided to go for Beef Broth with Rice Noodles. A light delicious beef broth with vegetables and noodles. This is a delightful dish that is so much more than its name infers, bright with tangy flavours. This would have been my appetiser if I had known about it.

Taxi! I mean Tuk Tuk! Malaysia please driver. And on arrival I order a Nasi Lemak and a Pomelo Salad. Nasi Lemak is a rice dish with beans and fried boiled egg. The boiled egg, fried, was something a little different for me. Quite nice actually. And Nasi Lemak a salad with a slight bitterness in its flavour. And last but not least Indonesia for some Mixed Seafood Skewers and Beef Satay. Phew!! I’ve made it. Seven countries, seven Tuk Tuk Live Stations and a massive portion of sushi. I’m done!

Oh no… wait a minute, there is an eighth station… Desserts. I can’t leave without a dessert. And they had just the thing for me. Teppanyaki rolled ice cream, prepared right in front of me. They literally pour coffee and cream onto a cold plate, spread it thin until it freezes and then scrape it into rolls. A perfect dessert to finish my culinary journey around Asia.

Tuk Tuk Brunch is available every Friday, noon – 4 pm. At just QAR350 for soft drinks, QAR450 for special sips and QAR550 for sparkling you get an afternoon packed with more variety than you could possibly handle.

For reservations or more information, call 4453 5135 or WhatsApp 7794 3975. m

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W Doha Hotel & Residences

The First Brunch at COYA

Doha Is One Of A Kind!

Author: Charlotte Wright

At Marhaba, we are lucky enough to have some pretty spectacular invites - but to attend the very first brunch at the renowned COYA Doha was truly a thrill!

This restaurant is well known for its exquisite Peruvian dishes, fabulous and intricate design and spectacular location - at the W Doha Hotel & Residences. And now they have added a brunch to their resume - and not your standard brunch either - a five course brunch!

First to arrive at our table was just a small sampling of what’s to come - a selection of Oysters, Peruvian Bean Dip and, of course, a guacamole! A huge stone mortar and pestle was brought to our table contain all

the fresh elements of a traditional Peruvian guacamole, which were all quickly mashed up by our wonderful server. The result was a truly fresh, creamy guacamole.

For our first course, we were treated to a fabulous selection of Maki Rolls - Maki Roll de Aguacate and Maki Roll de Salmon. The first was a mouthful of shiitake, avocado, quinoa, sesame seeds and aji limo. The second platter were rolls of salmon sushi with spicy mayo, soy, daikon and orange tobiko. In addition to these flavourful treats, we also had Croquettas de Lubina with chilean sea bass croquettes sprinkled with red chilli and Papa y Pollo Taco. These balls of grilled chicken, bell pepper, and huayro potato were packed with flavour!

This second course features the classic Peruvian dish that COYA Doha is known for - ceviche! I’ve never had better ceviche than at COYA Doha and this course displays all of their various flavours and styles. There was Lubina Clasica with sea bass, Salmon Nikkei, Atun Chifa with yellowfin tuna, Pez Limon with yellowtail, and Atun Nikkei with yellowfin tuna and pickled cucumber. There were loads of other treats as well like Tuna Tacos, Octopus Causa and Picante de Pepino. My two favourite dishes were the Hongos which was wild mushrooms, choclo, shallots, and crispy enoki which had this fab umami flavour. The other favourite of mine was the Tataki de Res Wagyu which is Wagyu beef tataki with cashew nut puree.

This next course may have been my favourite! The prime short rib served in mantou baos with aji amarillo or ‘Baos con Res’ was utterly divine - the meat was so soft it just fell apart in your mouth. In

addition to the Baos we were served a tray of various skewers on a bed of charcoal. There were three different skewers - the Res Anticucho which was a beef fillet, with aji panca and coriander, the Pollo Anticucho which was chicken with aji amarillo and garlic, and then the Setas Anticucho which was forest mushroom cubes tossed in aji amarillo and garlic. For course number four, COYA Doha has switched things up and you select a larger course of your choice. We decided to try the Costillas de Res and the Pollo a la Parrilla. The costillas were beef ribs cooked with miso and aji limo. The pollo was a succulent corn fed chicken, roasted with aji panca and coriander. In addition to your main courses, you can choose some delicious side dishes like patatas bravas, arroz con choclo, and brocoli.

Finally, we were treated to an excellent platter of various sweet treats - all served on a bed of fresh popcorn. There was ice cream, churros with orange chocolate sauce, passionfruit ice cream, berry sorbet with a surprising cinnamon flourish. There really is something for everyone!

About the Brunch at COYA Doha:

When: Friday, noon - 3:45 pm

Price:

QAR350 - Non-alcoholic package

QAR450 - House beverage package

QAR550 - Premium beverage package - includes bubbles and pisco sour and infusion of the day

To get in touch with COYA Doha, please call 4453 5416 or email wdoha.coya. reservations@whotels.com m

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JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

Swimming in Flavour and Fun at Koi Brunch in Shanghai Club!

Author: Charlotte Wright

Perched on the top of West Bay, on the 43rd floor of JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, is Shanghai Club. This haven of Pan-Asian cuisine has views that will give you goose bumps, and food that is sure to delight you. Their new Koi Brunch is the perfect opportunity to sample all the best that Shanghai Club has to offer.

Under the feet of the huge dragon that towers over the restaurant, lies what the Doha community have been craving.... Live entertainment! This electric jazz band ignited the atmosphere at Shanghai Club creating the perfect bouncing brunch vibe.

In addition to the band, there was a huge coconut collection where you could sample exquisitely fresh coconut water to hydrate before your foray into Friday brunch. In addition to the fresh coconuts, there was an array of fancy mocktails, cocktails, wines, beers and bubbly on offer. And the drinks menu was a revelation - literally. At the centre of the table were two Chinese fans; if you open them up, inscribed on the fabric between the blades are all the luscious sips on offer.

After you have drank your fill, you can initiate the march of delicious food that is sure to come your way. The first treat to arrive was a piping hot bowl of sour and spicy Tom Yum soup. It was the perfect palette cleanser to began our parade of Pan-Asian delicacies.

When our bowls were licked clean, our appetisers arrived. Every dish was presented immaculately but the Assorted Sushi platter stole the show. With shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, lobster rolls crispy phili, shrimp nigiri and sashimi, and salmon nigiri and sashimi this assortment is truly paradise for sushi lovers. Continuing with our seafood theme, we were served a Soft Shell Bao - which looks very intimidating at first - but once you dive in, you won’t regret it! The Kani Salad paired wonderfully with the seafood as well, the yuzu juice and ginger garlic really paired well with the seafood palate.

Buried in ice, was the tuna tartar. Served ice cold this dish is a wonder for tuna lovers - and if you’ve never tried it before - this would be the venue to do it. You won’t find better anywhere I imagine! In addition to the classic chicken satay with lashings of peanut sauce, and mango salad, we were treated to corn tempura - which I had never tried before. The corn obviously sweetened the dish, but the tempura style of frying in batter added a salty flavour that was incredibly tasty.

In addition to the mocktails, cocktails and sparkling vino there was also a roaming cocktail cart shaking up a secret signature cocktail served with a delicate rose petal.

For our main course, as if we hadn’t been treated enough, we were served another fantastic array of delicious dishes. Including, Malaysian BBQ Mamak Chicken, and Steamed Seabass served and cooked inside a banana leaf, served beside Phad Thai Noodles, Wok Flashed Vegetables and steamed rice.

Despite the deliciousness of the dishes above, my two recommendations would have to be: the Peking Duck and the Short Ribs. The slivers of perfectly cooked Peking duck were served with thin pancakes, shredded leek and cucumber and oodles of Hoisin sauce to make your own mouth-watering bites of sweet and savoury flavour. The Short Ribs had been cooked for 48 hours so you can imagine how the meat simply fell apart in your mouth.

Time for the sweet tooth’s to rejoice - it’s time for dessert! In addition to great savoury dishes, Shanghai Club also offers an array of sweet treats. These are actually some of my favourite desserts in Doha; not too sweet, full of fresh, fruity flavours. We enjoyed the passion fruit cheesecake (Giggly Cheesecake) - which is my personal favourite - a raspberry Sans Rival, a Matcha Espuma and of course the classic: Mango Sticky Rice.

A (Squid) Game:

Inspired by the hit Netflix show, Squid Game, Shanghai Club have created their own game to end your fabulous brunch experience. If you can break your heart away from the rest of your Dalgona Candy - without cheating! - you win a cute selection of signature shots! A wonderful, fun task to laugh about with your friends and family.

The Koi Brunch at the Shanghai Club in the JW Marriott Marquis is a MUST TRY! With spectacular views, incredible dishes, and a fabulous atmosphere this brunch is perfect for everyone. And the best news of all - it is one of the best priced brunches I have seen here in Doha - especially when you consider what is included.

About Koi Brunch:

When: Friday, noon - 3 pm

Price: QAR240 for soft beverages, QAR360 for enhanced beverages package

Call 4419 5510 or Whatsapp 6643 6890 to book your reservation m

marhaba eats out... Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

A Casa Della Nonna Brunch at Cucina

Author: Matthew Wright

For lovers of authentic Italian food look no further than Cucina! This haven of Italian cuisine is located at the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, offering both à la carte and a brunch option there truly is something for everyone.

We were fortunate enough to be invited for a delicious brunch at Cucina and upon entering the restaurant we were greeted by the friendly, knowledgeable and very helpful staff. They directed us through the beautiful, rustic yet refined interior and past the display of

incredible looking desserts to our table. It was here we could truly appreciate the atmosphere created by the exposed brick walls and archways, hanging lights and varnished wood furnishings, immediately it felt like being transported to Italy for a wonderful candle light dinner. As we took in the warmly lit interior the excitement for what would surely be an amazing Italian dining experience with authentic Italian food grew.

Masterminding the menu available at Cucina is the Sicilian-born Head Chef Claudio Trovato. His craftsmanship and understanding of Italian flavours brings unique dishes to Cucina that nonetheless feel authentically Italian. Chef Claudio believes that to get the best from Italian cuisine local and seasonal ingredients should be used, to ensure you are enjoying fresh ingredients at the height of their flavours. Beyond just crafting the delicious menu, Chef Claudio brings warm Italian hospitality to Cucina, the notion of guests being part of La Famiglia (The Family) certainly shows through in his dedication to make amazing food for all his guests. Perhaps the best example of the family welcome you will receive comes from the name of the brunch itself. ‘A Casa Della Nonna’ brunch isn’t just any brunch as its meaning in English is brunch at grandmother’s house.

As for our dining experience at Cucina, we were first brought the chef’s selection of appetizers; these delicious treats were mostly a collection of different vegetables cooked in an Italian style. The caramelised onions were particularly delicious. A big stand out of the brunch was brought shortly after the

appetizers, this being the fried calamari and the mac and cheese croquette. The batter for the calamari was crunchy and the tartar sauce brought alongside it offered a fantastic crunch with a pop of zesty flavour, making for a truly fantastic experience. The mac and cheese perfectly walked the line between being dry and moist, creating a centre of deliciously melted, stringy cheese and soft macaroni, truly it should be a must have for any fans of savoury foods.

Following next was probably the highlight of our Cucina experience; a truffle pizza! This piping hot, fresh-from-the-oven pizza was brought to our table on a classically Italian pizza peel. As the pizza slices were split a wave of delicious aromas were released, the combination of the earthy truffles and melted mozzarella was incredibly inviting. Biting into this pizza was like taking a bite from a work of art and we couldn’t help but feel slightly sad when we had finished. Part of the reason this dish was so great is the care Cucina takes when making their dough, this process takes 72 hours and it is definitely worth it. Their method involves using traditional techniques to ensure that the dough for each pizza ends up perfect, allowing for the ideal rise on the crust.

Along with the pizza we were brought a seafood risotto and bucatini pasta in richly flavoured tomato sauce. The seafood risotto was truly fantastic, and for a dish with such reputation for being difficult to master, Cucina made it look easy. The bucatini pasta in tomato sauce was perhaps the most anticipated of all the dishes, owing to it being so synonymous

with Italian cuisine and it truly did not disappoint. The pasta was cooked to a perfect degree but the real stand out was the tomato sauce, richly seasoned with Italian herbs it was mouth-wateringly delicious.

Believe it or not, because we certainly didn’t, we were still to have our main course. We were given multiple options but ultimately we settled on the seafood salad, swordfish, mozzarella in carroza and a ‘squashed meatball’. The seafood salad seemed to contain as many types of seafood as the sea itself, making this salad fitting for any lover of seafood. The ‘squashed meatball’ was incredible; the meat practically melts in your mouth. This was covered in a rich tomato sauce that had been made to better pair with the meatball, showing the dedication of the chefs to give the best possible experience. The fried mozzarella in carroza had a fantastic crunch from its breadcrumb coating and the inside was filled with molten mozzarella that practically oozed deliciousness as we cut it apart.

If you are looking for a reasonably priced Friday brunch to spend with your family or friends, this Casa Della Nonna brunch is perfect for you! Cucina is a homey, beautiful restaurant which is brought alive by Chef Claudio and his passion for cooking!

A Casa Della Nonna costs QAR145 or QAR265 with selected beverages.

Reservations are required, to make a reservation or for more information please call 4419 5510 or WhatsApp 6643 6890.

marhaba eats out...

Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park

Friday Brunch at Aramede, the Wonderful International All-Day Dining Restaurant

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

What a spread! There’s an amazing array of dishes on display; I’ve never seen such quantity and variety and it’s all laid out in gorgeous colour in the spacious, light and airy Aramede Restaurant on the ground floor of Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park. This is going to be good, so Bon Appétit to everyone!

I was going dizzy taking in all the displays: from cold cuts, to pizza, to cold and hot Arabic mezze, cold and roasted vegetables, and of course soup. Lentil, of course. Good for you. And then to the sea: Red Mullet and Snapper, Seabass, Seabream, and Salmon which the friendly and professional staff will grill you one right now; takes about 10 minutes. Can’t wait. So good, and good for you. Plus oysters, lobster tails poached shrimps, mussels, squid and octopus, take your pick.

On the outside of the circle was the carvery, showcasing the most tempting-looking joint of beef and roasted leg of lamb for which I can personally vouch for the veracity of the qualifiers ‘mouthwatering’ and ’melt-in-your-mouth’.

Don’t look now but there’s an enormous section with desserts and sweets and cakes and, goodness me, are they good for me? We’ll come back later. There’s a waffle station; well, it is brunch and some people do absolutely love waffles for their breakfast. And to involve as many continents as possible, but only discovered by the incongruous sign of a red lantern, you could treat yourself to a colourful and beautiful selection of Sushi and Sashimi.

After I have eaten starters, Arabic and marine, I turn away from the centre circle towards another outside station with all my favourite cheeses therein. And one which I didn’t know of but which has now entered my favourites chart very high in the rankings; it’s Italian, called Taleggio, and it gives my lovely brie, emmenthal, edam, cheddar and blue a run for their money.

Exec Chef Jonathan recommended it while we were enjoying the brunch and since then I have bought a nice piece of the same from my favourite French supermarket to prolong the pleasure. But look, to add another taste to your tasty cheese, what about adding a little truffled honey and/or some fig chutney, not to mention some soft and dried apricots and nuts.

Dishes that we chose and enjoyed: the cold starter with beef bresaola… but wait, add roast figs, truffled honey and blue cheese and it’s transformed. Wonderful, especially with chicken liver and pistachio terrine and a slice of their freshly baked bread. Try, like us, a plate of seafood starters, mussels, shrimps and squid, and most delicious the tail of lobster. Arabic cold mezze is very common in Doha, but come to Crowne Plaza and the common becomes sublime.

I haven’t shaken off the temptation of the dessert station and thank goodness there were no giant cakes… actually, there were three, well not giant, but still very impressive, very artistic cakes: one with the word strawberry in it, one with coconut and one with chocolate. One of our party died for the chocolate, one went for the Charlotte because he knew a girl called Charlotte, and I just love coconuts, the most natural food and indeed drink. What can go wrong?!

The staff are great. Friendly, professional, informative, and all seem willing to go the extra yard to bring some special sauce or intelligently explain away some culinary misconceptions I may have had.

But leaving the Arabic desserts smouldering in their attractiveness, I really liked the cute presentations of coconut mango panna cotta in a cocktail glass. It’s cruel, and unfair, to choose only one, but it was time to go, it was the end of the affair – an exquisite finale. Cheers!

For reservations, call or WhatsApp

+974 6641 5504. m

marhaba eats out...

Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park

Strongly Recommended: Aramede Friday Brunch

Author: Brian Candy

It’s not often that I get wowed by a Friday Brunch, but my visit to the Aramede Restaurant within the Crown Plaza Doha – The Business Park was exceptional. For a very reasonable price of QAR280 per person (plus they accept 2 for 1 vouchers from promotion books), it ticked all of my boxes! I honestly enjoyed this brunch a great deal, and its reasonable pricing makes it one of my current strongest recommendations.

Let me start by commending the chilled seafood section. I love cold, sliced salmon a lot, and it is always my go-to starter whenever it’s available. I had a lovely plate of not one, but two varieties of salmon – there was Beetroot Gravalax and a Dill Gravalax duo on offer. I added a nice terrine to the plate and some cold sliced beef with Stilton cheese and figs – a perfect starter for me, especially because the salmon was sliced thicker than normal, which is exactly as I like it. I was going to follow this with sushi because it looked so tempting, but I decided to move on to something hot instead.

My next plate was a simple dish, but one that tells me a lot about the chef cooking it. I had a nice Cottage Pie, a firm favourite of the British, and of course a firm favourite of mine. The Cottage Pie was bang on target for me – delicious, minced beef in gravy cooked with carrots, peas and onions, and topped with mashed potato. Simple, and a real taste of home.

Next, I proceeded to the wet fish station, which deserves a shout out. You get to choose from the likes of Red Snapper and Sea Bass, and they will grill it to perfection for you. I went for the Sea Bass and enjoyed every mouthful. The chef also prepared a nice seafood medley with mussels, octopus, squid, shrimp, and salmon steak – a tower of seafood happiness!

As a curry lover, I had to give the lamb curry a go, and it didn’t disappoint either.

Then I headed to the BBQ meat section, and asked

for a grilled sirloin steak (well, two, actually), and a lamb steak. What another delicious plate of food, that if I had any room left, I would have ordered a second serving of!

Their extensive cheese selection was beckoning to me, and much to my disappointment I simply didn’t have room for it.

Their dessert section was very extensive, but I estimated I only had room left in my tiny tummy for a scoop or two of gelato. I had two scoops of chocolate and two scoops of vanilla (they were fairly sized scoops). The gelatos were soooo good that I went again for two scoops of mango and two scoops of strawberry!

For QAR280 per person, unlimited soft beverages are included, and you can add an extra QAR120 for enhanced beverages.

Also, while enjoying the delicious feast, a rather nice gentleman on stage was keeping guests entertained with his guitar playing and crooning vocals.

Friday Brunch at Aramede was an absolute pleasure, it was enjoyable from start to finish. Value for money, 100%!

Aramede Brunch

Fridays, 12:30 pm – 4 pm

QAR280 per person

Additional QAR120 for enhanced beverages or QAR160 with bubbly

For reservations, call +974 6641 5504 m

marhaba eats out... Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

Samba Along At The Rio Carnival Brunch At Ipanema!

Author: Charlotte Wright

Brazilian Churrascarria is an incredible treat for any meat lover and the best place to enjoy it is at Ipanema in the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha!

This lively Brazilian Churrascaria showcases 12 cuts of meat and Rodizio-style service, set to the soundtrack of live music. Sadly, live entertainment isn’t allowed yet - but watch this space! With the

recent relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions, there may be even more to enjoy at this decadent brunch spot!

While the Brazilian Churrascaria is the highlight of this brunch, you don’t want to make the mistake of ignoring the incredible South American treats on offer or the extensive buffet of appetisers, salads, roast vegetables, ceviche and so, so much more.

If you haven’t been to Ipanema in a while you might not recognise the place. Don’t worry - the funky art wall hasn’t disappeared - it’s just been enhanced but walls of hanging plants and new chic wicker baskets, and even more plants. The abundant sunlight, the art wall and the plants give Ipanema a warm glow where you feel happy to enjoy a languorous brunch with your friends.

Speaking of friends, what struck me about this brunch at Ipanema was how wonderful the gauchos (and gauchas?) like Rey were. Adorned in Brazilian themed dresses (on the ‘gauchas’ obviously) and a party attitude, they were a huge embellishment to our experience. We were taken care of by Izabel who brought us our drinks in not ones, not twos but threes! What more could you ask for?

Speaking of drinks, as soon as we entered we were treated to a loco coconut cocktail. A cart filled with fresh coconuts await - and if you are celebrating with the alcohol package - they’ll add a kick of something extra. In addition to the Coco Loco you have to try the different Caipirinha and Caipiroska flavours: classic, mandarin, and strawberry. According to Izabel, if you visit Brazil and you neglect to try Caipirinha rum

- “you need to go back and try again!” The same sentiment certainly applies at Ipanema. You can also try the notorious Pisco Sour which comes in classic, mandarin, and strawberry flavours and is made with Peruvian Pisco - which is similar to grapa from Italy or cha cha from Georgia.

And now to the food! As you walk in to Ipanema, there is a huge cart of fresh empandas. There are many different flavours, like Cheese and Truffle, Wild Mushroom, Short Ribs, Lobster, Shrimp and lemon, and Potato Siracha. Regardless of the flavour, each empanda was tasty and cooked perfectly with a light but crunchy casing. In addition to the empanda station, there was a table decorated with corn on the cob and huge pots of tamales. The slivers of corn was grilled and coated in a sweet marinade which was absolutely scrumptious.

Towards the back of the restaurant, there is an extensive buffet of South American and Brazilian delicacies including ceviche, roasted vegetables, salmon, salads, cheese and burrata, and crochettes - to mention a few! In addition to this extensive buffet, there is a ‘design your own taco’ stand run by Richard, who is happy to make any flavour taco you would like. You can choose between beef, shrimp and chicken and an array of fillings and sauces.

After you have sampled the appetiser and salad buffet to your hearts content, it’s time to flip your coaster from ‘Red’ to ‘Green’. That begins a carousel of gauchos bringing you 12 different types of meat. The signature meat of Ipanema is the Picanha

which has a large ‘cap’ of fat which make the meat incredibly tender and flavourful.

In addition to the Picanha, there are six other types beef on the menu like smoked topside of wagyu beef, rump steak and flank steak. Each are expertly prepared and oozing with flavour. In addition to beef, Ipanema offers other meats like marinated lamb chops with herbs and grilled prawns. There really is something for everyone!

If you still have room for dessert there is certainly plenty available. There is a dessert buffet which contains plenty of sugary delights - brownies, chocolate bark, cakes, churros, meringues, macarons and so, so much more.

This brunch is an incredible option for anyone who wants to really celebrate their Friday. It’s incredibly priced for the array of delicious food and drinks on offer. Ipanema is a wonderful eatery to dine in - it’s got a fabulous party atmosphere which is certainly infectious so you don’t only revel in the food and cocktails or mocktails but the atmosphere as well!

About the Rio Carnival Brunch

Friday, 12 noon - 4 pm

Rodizio Buffet & Limited Soft Beverage PackageQAR325

Rodizio Buffet & Soft Beverage & Selected Alcoholic Beverage Package - QAR435

To get in touch or to make a booking please call 4419 5000 m

marhaba eats out...

Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha

Orion: Elegant Surroundings, Exquisite

Tastes and Enjoyable Entertainment

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

Orion, in the east wing of Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha, is now welcoming guests every evening with a menu of reasonably priced snacks and drinks of all kinds – guaranteed to suit all tastes. Who’s that guy at the entrance, you ask. He is Orion, a ‘star’ of Greek mythology who was in legend the tallest and most handsome of men. After a rather chequered career, he was finally raised to the heavens where he is now the most splendid and brightest of our constellations in the night sky.

So, here we are, not exactly in the heavens but up there, on the ninth floor of the east wing, and the impression when you enter is really awesome: very chic, wonderful lighting (not too bright!), plenty of space and very comfortable. As always at the Radisson, the staff are super helpful with the sole goal of making your stay as enjoyable as possible.

Beyond the comfortable ‘lounge’ there’s a long curved bar and plenty of seats with a saloon-type ambience. Every night, the atmosphere becomes more vibrant when the curtains open and the live band and DJ are revealed: the band and DJ are smart people, great performers and produce great sounds. Now to tackle that hunger and that thirst. The menu has lots of choices in both food and drink. From olives with feta cheese, or with green salad, to a fresh fruit salad, to those perennial veggie favourites, like spring rolls with a sweet chili sauce and samosa with its special chutney. Then there’s chicken in both tikka and satay forms, the first with its mouthwatering mint chutney and the second with that most palatable peanut sauce. Yummy!

Last, but not least, on the food menu are the fingerlicking and lip-smackingly luscious Orion Dusted Wings; a dozen chicken wings served with either BBQ or hot sauce. Hungry no more!

Those delectable food offerings are well accompanied by a diverse selection of ales and lagers, stout and cider. Wines are available, of course, but the brightest stars of the drinks menu are undoubtedly the cocktails, mocktails and the wide selection of spirits. The names alone can raise your pulse, like the Long

Island Ice Tea (that contains no tea) to the exotic-sounding tropical heat inducing expert concoctions that could highlight your evening. Orion is indeed a heady, but heavenly, blend to engage all your senses.

Open Friday to Wednesday, from 4 pm – 1 am

Open Thursday, from 4 pm – 2 am

Band schedule:

Monday – Wednesday: 8:30 pm – 9:15 pm, 9:45 pm – 10:30 pm and 11 pm – 11:45 pm

Every Thursday: 8 pm – 8:45 pm, 9:15 pm – 10 pm, 10:30 pm – 11:15 pm and 11:45 pm – 12:30 am

Contact the Radisson Blu Hotel, Doha at 4428 1428 m

marhaba eats out...

Four Seasons Hotel Doha Enjoy a Classy Hour or

Two at Arabica

Author: Terry Sutcliffe

For just a couple of hours – while you have this chance – let Four Seasons show you how to relax.

As the weather remains cool, but still feels bright and fresh, it’s a great time time to enjoy a warm convivial atmosphere, good views and the great outdoors. Four Seasons Hotel Doha invites visitors to unwind at its restaurant terraces, the perfect escape from busy city life, enabling guests to enjoy the stunning open-air settings and breath-taking views of the Arabian Gulf.

Life has never felt more refreshing at Arabica with its newly renovated terrace where visitors can enjoy a signatures afternoon tea featuring premium tea,

scones and mini sandwiches, surrounded by rich greenery and overlooking the Gulf. Arabica – a cosy, casually elegant spot to meet friends or relax on your own – is also Doha’s newest destination for bespoke coffee, specialising in single-origin beans, sourced for sustainability and roasted for rich flavour. Sit inside in cool, airy comfort, or outdoors on comfy chairs and sofas in the restful beachside garden.

Currently, between 5 and 7 pm every day, you can enjoy G&T Time: a unique promotion of unlimited Gin & Tonic for QAR195 per person with a choice of complimentary bites which include crispy shrimps with chilis mayo on the side, vegetable spring rolls with sweet chili sauce on the side and duo sliders with french fries on the side.

All the famous Gin names are there: Gordons, Beefeaters, Bombay Sapphire and Tanqueray and each Gin has its unique mixers, one being absolutely loaded with fruity berries, making each glass worthy of close attention and intense tasting…

The complimentary bites were delicious and quite filling, but if anyone is inexplicably still peckish, there are plenty of hot and cold sandwiches, soups, salads, salmon, spaghetti, beef and mixed grill available on the menu, all of which are served in the stylish and sophisticated manner that you expect – and always get – at Four Seasons.

Equally possible, if one of your party doesn’t care for gin, there’s a wonderful choice of alternative spirits and wines from all corners of the globe on an similarly well-planned drinks menu.

For that most symbolic of Qatari and indeed Middle Eastern leisure activities, nothing can compete with the Shisha especially with the most-fruity-offruit selections, and the impeccable hygiene of the superior Four Seasons shisha.

Service is constant and attentive, but not intrusive; it’s knowledgeable and always with a smile. That starts with the welcome to Arabica, the qualities of the various gins, the accompanying food and available options, any odd thing that might crop up and even the humble shisha comes with full after service.

Happy Hour is available daily from 5 pm to 7 pm. Call 4494 8600 or email res.doha@fourseasons.com for more details. m

marhaba eats out... Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

free-flowing oysters and two complimentary sips of sparkling wine. Everything you need to know is in the title: PEARLS - BUBBLES - HEELS.

All You Need For A

Stylish Ladies Night: Pearls. Bubbles. Heels.

Author: Charlotte Wright

Are you looking to enjoy a sophisticated ladies night out on the town? Perhaps somewhere to wear that amazing new dress or those fancy heels and catch up with your girlfriends?

Hosted at the wonderful New York Steakhouse in the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha, this ladies night is made exclusively for those who enjoy spoiling themselves... and eating oysters.

Every Thursday night, The New York Steakhouse features a ladies night for QAR149 with unlimited,

PEARLS

Feel free to bust out your favourite string of pearls, but in this instance, the pearls are the unlimited platters of oysters that are on offer. You can enjoy two hours of as many oysters as you can handle! Each portion of oysters is served on a bed of ice with a wedge of lemon to ensure that each oyster is as fresh as possible. Every platter has three oysterseach with a unique dressing to highlight their natural, creamy, salty flavour. For oyster lovers this offer is heaven - especially when the oysters have been prepared by Chef James Warnica. Chef James hails from Canada where some of the best oysters in the world originate so he certainly knows what he’s doing!

BUBBLES

In addition to unlimited oysters, the lucky ladies also get two free glasses of sparkling wine. That means two hours of luxuriating in the New York Steakhouse’s regal red chairs sipping bubbly wine and sampling delicious oysters. Can you think of a snazzier way to spend your Thursday evening?

HEELS

The New York Steakhouse is an unparalleled venue to sit, relax and bask in gorgeous views of downtown West Bay which comes alive with lights at night time. This eatery is wonderfully comfortable and classy so feel free to dress up in your finest clothes (and heels).

If you are still hungry for more, you can order some more of Chef James’s specialties. We decided on an indulgent Filet Mignon steak and an assortment of side dishes. The Filet Mignon was unfathomably good; as it has been on every trip to the New York Steakhouse. You can read our review of Butcher’s Night here.

The sides we chose were the Truffle fries, the Mac and Cheese and the Broccolini. The truffle fries were delicious, crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. The broccolini was cooked al dente and lightly dusted with parmesan cheese. Finally, the mac and cheese is a well-known classic American dishand it certainly didn’t disappoint. This upscale dish was creamy, cheesy and perfect!

All in all, this ladies night is an excellent way to catch up with your gal pals at the end of the week or if you’re looking to start your weekend in style. These oysters are made unique with Chef Warnica’s distinctive dressings and toppings and are perfectly paired with a sparkling glass of vino. Ladies - check it out!

For more information and reservations, please call 4419 5510 or WhatsApp 6643 6890. m

marhaba eats out...

JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha

On Sparkling Wednesday, ladies can enjoy two hours of unlimited sparkling wine for just QAR99! Between the two of us we each decided to try a glass of each sparkling wine on offer - the rose and the white. With tables of girlfriends giggling and chatting and some lively tunes, the atmosphere was bubbly and full of energy.

We were happy to discover that Shanghai Club’s bubbly offer wasn’t the only special deal available that evening... the appetisers were buy one, get one free. It’s not like we needed an excuse to overindulge in the Pan-Asian delicacies that were on offer but it was nice to have one anyway!

Wednesdays Are For The Ladies

At Shanghai Club

Author: Charlotte Wright

Do you find that your weekend is just too short and before you know it - it’s Sunday again? Well at Shanghai Club, ladies can live it up on a Wednesday night and extend the weekend by a night in glorious sparkling fashion!

To enjoy Ladies Night at Shanghai Club, take a quick ride to the 43rd floor of the JW Marriott Marquis City Center Doha and indulge in some of the most breathtaking views of West Bay.

Something that was a favourite of mine from the Shang High Brunch on Friday, were the Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Rock Shrimp Tempura and the Chicken Satay so of course we ordered those. Neither of us had tried the Summer Roll though so we decided to surprise ourselves. The spring rolls and the shrimp tempura were flavourful, golden and crispy - especially when dipped in the sticky sweet chili sauce. As I remembered, the chicken satay was delicious and drizzled in creamy peanut sauce. The summer rolls were refreshing and tasty - with salmon, avocado, mint and coriander wrapped in glass noodles and dipped (generously) in a siracha emulsion.

Although the appetisers were incredible, how could we visit Shanghai Club without sampling their signature dish: Peking duck pancakes! If you have never tried this they are absolutely worth the trip -

they would be worth the trip if you had to climb the stairs to the 43rd floor to try them. Delicate slivers of crispy duck, thinly sliced leeks and spring onions, and lashings of hoisin sauce all wrapped in a intricate pancake make these the perfect bite-sized morsels to lose yourself in!

Sparkling Wednesdays: Every Wednesday, 6 pmMidnight

Price: QAR99 for two hours of unlimited sips and fun!

To learn more about Ladies Night at Shanghai Club call 5506 2798 and ask about Sparkling Wednesday. m

marhaba eats out...

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas

An Evening of Pub Grub and Drinks at The League

Author: Lalaine Turqueza

The League sports bar and restaurant at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas has a homey vibe, with plenty of rooms to do your own thingbilliards, foosball - or you can choose to watch any of the ongoing matches on one of the big screens, which you can find everywhere in the restaurant.

We came before sunset and the place was happily preparing to open for guests. Assistant Restaurant Manager Tebo Kabelo Ngidi welcomed us warmly with cold drinks and stories, before serving us some of The League’s special offerings.

But first, let us tell you about the resort.

Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas is approximately an hour and 15 minutes from Doha and sits on a long stretch of beach southwest of Qatar. It has villas and a number of good restaurants and a world-class waterpark that is ideal for a weekend outing with the family.

Why would you want to go to a bar that is almost a hundred kilometres from Doha?

Well, driving the long road to the resort can get you on a ‘thinking’ mode. While it is indeed a stretch to drive that far for a couple of drinks, driving on an open highway can help relax your mind and ease the tension of city living.

Drink up! The drinks are served in fun glasses, garnished with generous slices of fruit. They have a wide selection of mocktails and cocktails plus a lot of other ‘fun’ drinks to choose from. If you intend to have ‘fun’ at the bar, it will be safer to book a room at the resort and stay overnight. A dip in the clear waters of the Gulf can do wonders for the spirit. Plus they just might give you a discount!

Now for the food

Pub grub does not raise a lot of expectations. They’re usually greasy and quite easily satisfy. But the food at The League takes the usual bar food a notch higher. Empanadas served on buckets, cordon bleu served rolled, even their salad has more colours.

The pièce de résistance (or should I say pieces) was of course their burgers. Aside from their very sporty names classified as Offence and Defense in

reference to American football - these burgers have add-ons that are not usual in burgers. Maine lobster and foie gras? That long voyage to The League had such delicious rewards, we should go back!

Their sweet treats are such treats it’s almost unbelievable you can actually order them from a bar. We have in fact, officially added their Banoffee Pie in a Jar to the list of our favourite desserts!

And now we’re back to the question: why would you want to go to a bar that is almost a hundred kilometres from Doha? Well, we liked the food and the people and the long drive that seems to take forever but ends in this relaxing place very near the sea. Plus anything that gets us out of the city is a good enough excuse for us. The League certainly is more than just a good excuse.

The League at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas is open daily, from 1 pm until midnight. Please note that entry is restricted to fully vaccinated individuals 21 years and older. For reservations, call 5593 8084. You can also follow them on Instagram - @theleagueqa - for updates. m

marhaba eats out...

Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences

Binge Biryani with a Biryani Box from Centara West Bay!

Author: Charlotte Wright

To dine on five-star cuisine it turns out that you don’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home! Centara West Bay Hotel & Residences are making that dream come true with their new delivery concept: Biryani Box!

Biryani Box has burst on to the scene this week in a major way. Their Instagram has been teasing their

arrival for some time until finallythey launched. You can follow their Instagram at @biryanibox.doha and see all their latest offers AND find out which of your favourite apps will be delivering biryani to your door. At the moment, Biryani Box is on Talabat, Snoonu and Rafeeq.

We were eager to receive our Biryani Box and when it arrived we weren’t disappointed! The unique and colourful box was packed with goodies for us to sample - and it was still hot! The danger with deliveries is that your food is cold and soggy when it arrives but that was not the case for our Biryani Box. Each Biryani Box contained a HUGE portion of biryani and was served with a pot of fresh yoghurt Raita and a tart Pomelo Kachumber Salad. We shared the biryani between four people and we still had leftovers! We decided to try the Gosht Biryani which was tender lamb and aromatic biryani rice with smatterings of dry fruits and accents of rose water. This might be the best biryani I’ve tried for a long time - the lamb, in particular, was so flavourful and cooked immaculately. We also tried the Subji Biryani which is a vegetarian options for those who don’t eat meat. The pulao rice was mixed with seasonal fresh vegetables like cauliflower, cashews, coriander masala, peppers, and sprinkled with rose water. Although the rice looked similar the flavour was completely different but equally tasty!

We would heartily recommend either of these fantastic biryanis but there are so many options available from Biryani Box. Their signature dishes are sure to be a feast for the palate - in particular their

Chicken 65 and Chicken Tikka biryani. Enhance your next movie night with friends or family with a five-star biryani!

Follow @biryanibox.doha on Instagram to see the latest Biryani Box. You can place an order on Talabat, Snoonu or Rafeeq from 12 pm - 11 pm or for more information and a menu you can call 4009 5520. m

marhaba eats out...

Mondrian Doha

A Taste of the Exquisite

Mondrian Doha at Your Home

Author: Ola Diab

How does receiving a little bit of the best from Mondrian Doha’s kitchens at the comfort of your home sound?

Mondrian Doha has recently launched ‘Taste To Go’, an initiative that allows the people of Qatar to continue enjoying Mondrian’s exceptional culinary experience from the comfort of their homes.

Offering the convenience of take-away and delivery, Mondrian Doha has started delivering some of its most popular dishes from its restaurants Hudson Tavern, Morimoto, CUT by Wolfgang Puck, Walima and EllaMia.

Marhaba gave it a go with a selection of our favourites from Mondrian Doha.

From Walima, a Marhaba favourite, we enjoyed a beautiful and delicious spread of Cold Mezzeh, which included Hummus, Beetroot Moutable, Fattoush and Tabouleh.

From Morimoto, the famous Japanese luxury dining experience, we had exquisite Maki and Sushi combo with shrimp, tuna, salmon, crab and more – fresh, unpretentious and authentic.

From Hudson Tavern, which has one of the best burgers in town, we had a Cheese Burger (beef patty, American cheese, shredded iceberg, tomato, pickles, onions) and The French One (beef patty, Comtécheese, truffle garlic mushrooms, house onion relish, truffle mayo) – everything, from the bread to the patty to the condiments, was exquisite. We also enjoyed Hudson’s delicious 12 Wings, which come with hot sauce, celery, carrot and blue cheese – how wings should be served.

From CUT by Wolfgang Puck, another Marhaba favourite, we had a delicious, cheesy and bready Cavatappi Pasta Mac Cheese, and an appetising Butter Lettuce Salad (marinated cherry tomatoes, Roquefort blue cheese, herb vinaigrette). Next was a spicy and tangy Hong Kong Style Norwegian Salmon (baby bok choy, sweet soy, jasmine rice), and a juicy yet tender sirloin steak (USDA Prime, Tenderloin Sirloin from ‘The Cuts’, served with a petit salad, French fries and sauce Bernaises.

For a sweet ending, from EllaMia, we enjoyed delightful Coconut Macarons, Pistachio Delice

(pistachio sponge, ivory mousse, pistachio praline) and a creamy Passionfruit Cheese Cake. There was also a unique Cajun Chicken Salad Bowl (Cajun spiced grilled chicken, roasted butternut, wild rice, spinach, mixed peppers, avocado, pecan nuts, Feta cheese, herb vinaigrette). For some hydration, we had a few health juices.

As part of Mondrian’s ‘Taste To Go’, you can also opt for an ‘Afternoon Tea To Go’, a ‘Roast Box Specials’ and much more.

Delivery timings:

Morimoto 3 pm - 10:30pm daily

CUT by Wolfgang Puck noon - 10:30 pm daily

Hudson Tavern 3 pm - 11:30 pm daily

EllaMia 9 am - 10:30 pm daily

Walima 4 pm - 10:30 pm daily

You can make your order now by calling 4045 5999 or by WhatsApp 5050 7888. Free delivery. For more information, visit bit.ly/TasteToGo m

marhaba eats out...

W Doha Hotel & Residences

Eat Fit!

Author: Sarah Palmer

If you’re feeling the need for some healthy food, but either can’t face cooking after a hard day at the office or don’t know where to start on portion control, we have just the thing for you!

Those splendid chaps at the W Doha Hotel & Residences have a superb subscription meal plan that is ideal for taking the stress out of eating healthily. You can choose from three options offering different calorie values – Low Cal, Classic and Active.

And breaking news: the hotel now offers a totally vegan option! I ordered this straightaway, and next day, the shiny yellow WFIT2GO box was delivered promptly to the office.

So what do you get? For my day’s meals, the box includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack. So straight to breakfast, which today was the enticingly namd Fiesta Scramble – this comprised a tofu scramble with onion, tomato and bell pepper, accompanied by two potato cakes. Delicious, and the perfect start to the day.

Having waited for the appropriate time to eat lunch – the food looks too good to wait! – next up was spaghetti bolognese. Of course, this is made with no meat or other animal product; instead Beyond Meat is used, a plant-based substitute, with a sprinkling of vegan cheese. So tasty and quite filling – this will see me through the afternoon!

A quick workout after work, and it was time to treat myself to a snack. The edamame kale salad was the ideal quick and easy post-gym meal – just the right portion size and a good mix of protein and carbs.

Feeling tired in the evening means cooking is usually out the window, so I was over the moon to know dinner is already prepared for me. It’s one of my favourites, cauliflower ‘steak’, with red quinoa and roasted carrots, and a tasty, piquant dressing. The perfect end to the day! (Can you come tomorrow as well, W team?!)

Interested in WFIT2GO Vegan? Here is all you need to know:

Subscription costs: 1 Day QAR195; 2 Weeks QAR1,950; 1 Month QAR3,900

Daily take away or home delivery is available (delivery locations: West Bay and The Pearl-Qatar, no delivery on Fridays).

Contact the W Doha Hotel & Residences, and let them take care of the rest! 3025 5262, Wdoha2go@whotels.com m