QATAR
Foodie Fantasies
For the gourmet and the gourmand, the city has plenty on offer. We take a quick look at the recent launches and places that are waiting to please our palate.
Burj Al Hamam
Lebanese Fine Dining
This home-style cooking Lebanese joint was founded by Fayez Elias Khoury in 1958, and half a century later arrives in Doha. Run by Khoury’s sons the family’s culinary empire expand all across the Middle East, from Amman and Aqaba, to Kuwait and Dubai. Burj Al Hamam’s extensive menu boasts a complete range of favorites, beginning with a full selection of salads, as well as both hot and cold mezze. For the main entrēe, there are the ever popular staples of grilled lamb and chicken, as well as shish taouk, and kafta. Seafood lovers will also relish a ‘Catch of the Day,’ as well a choice of lobster, shrimp, barracuda, red mullet and sea bream. Location: Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar
Tse Yang Chinese Glamour
The Tse Yang story began in Paris, the culinary capital of the world, in 1980. Since then, it has brought its unique blend of classic Chinese cuisine and contemporary dining to cities as far afield as Geneva, Munich, New York and now Doha. The name Tse Yang refers to part of Beijing’s famous Forbidden City and is designed to evoke the glamour of the Chinese emperors. Tse Yang Doha was designed and created by leading Japanese design company Glamorous. Glamorous has been responsible for some of the most memorable and influential interiors in the hospitality industry worldwide, and has created a smooth and sophisticated environment for the Tse Yang restaurant in Doha. The design balances modern luxury with classical touches to create an authentic air of luxury. Location: Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar
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Pampano A Mexican Note
Pampano, a restaurant co-owned by opera star Placido Domingo and celebrity chef Richard Sandoval, had a musical launch recently. Domingo himself opened the first Pampano in the Middle East. Sandoval and Domingo created Pampano, inspired by Mexico’s coastal recipes, translating classic dishes but giving them a modern, artistic flare. The restaurant offers exclusively modern Mexican seafood fare. The Pampano restaurant received a stellar review by the New York Times and was voted by Esquire Magazine as one of ‘The Best New Restaurants in America’. The Doha menu is similar to the New York one in that it offers a selection of ceviches and Mexican appetizers, alongside an extensive range of entrees, including snapper with red and green salsa, red chili marinated salmon and shrimp with pineapple and bell pepper salsa. Location: The Pearl-Qatar
Dean & Deluca
Specialty Delights
Internationally renowned gourmet food store and cafe Dean & Deluca has now set up shop in Doha bringing with it its well-known gourmet and specialty foods. The flagship store was opened in SoHo, New York, in 1977, by Joel Dean, Giorgio DeLuca and Jack Ceglic. Dr. Duncan Garrood, President – Food Services, said: “The store and cafe will enable us to meet the discerning palates of food connoisseurs by offering the high customer service standards and superior quality foods that Qatar and the Middle East is increasingly demanding. We aim to be the innovators, helping to raise the culinary expertise and appreciation in the region.” Location: Villaggio Mall
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QATAR
The Art of the Hot Stamp Bvlgari brands their bags
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n the back room of the brightly lit Bvlgari store at the Villagio mall, Gianluca Pacini practices his art. He rubs the leather, elephant grey, between his hands – soft, smooth, firm. He carefully judges the color. Yes, his eyes tell him, for this one, silver. His fingertips brush over the gold letter plates, combining and recombining sets of initials, slotting them onto the chunky stamp. The monogram sits, heating until at last Gianluca plunges the letters down to meet the tanned cow hide, marking, searing, branding. Gianluca’s hot stamping technique dates back over 100 years. Using pressure, heat and time, the process transfers metallic pigment onto different surfaces, something Bvlgari likes to offer customers as a special personalization. Gianluca has worked for the brand ever since it
A bird’s eye view of Gianluca’s improvised work station at the back of the store – a sharp contrast to his customary working conditions in Italy. To the right is a round burner where a stamp lies heating.
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The moment of impression – stamp poised, Pacini will thrust it down onto a foil covered luggage tag to create an instant marking.
bought his family’s leather goods business in 2005. Now, far from his native Italy as part of promotional visit to the Middle East, fabric scraps are enough to bring Gianluca home. “I was born in a leather factory,” he says. “I love the smell, the feel of it.” Although, as Internal Production Manager for
Gianluca slots letters onto his stamp. The most common type of stamping he does is monogramming, but any design can be created using the technique.
one of the biggest Italian designers in the world, Gianluca can now choose any number of materials to work with, beyond his heirloom fabric. Among the gilded tools of his trade, the table is littered with crackled black snakeskin and caramel colored cloths. Blank canvases yet to be claimed.
Gianluca scrapes the initials clean before beginning a new stamping. Traces of gold foil stick to the stamp after being heated, melding into its original color.
QATAR
The Shape of Time
Harry Winston introduced a series of exquisite timepieces for Basel 2010. The pieces explore the essence of craftsmanship and the thrill of innovation – be it the glamour of ‘Avenue Squared A2’ and ‘Talk to Me, Harry Winston’, or the romance of the ‘Cluster of Time’ diamond pendant watch, the sportive style of ‘Project Z6’ and the revolutionary technology of ‘Project Opus X’.
TALK TO ME, HARRY WINSTON
In 2009, Harry Winston launched an ultra-feminine new timepiece for women – Talk to Me, Harry Winston. Inspired by Harry Winston’s insatiable obsession with the world’s finest diamonds, the scintillating style is a true celebration of these precious stones. A new midnight blue ‘Talk to Me’ is available as a limited edition of 50 pieces. Shown in rich rays of diamonds and blue lacquer illuminate the dial, like spotlights against the evening sky.
OPUS X
In 2001, Harry Winston launched The Opus Series – a creative new initiative designed to reconstruct and redesign time. It has a mechanical movement with manual winding. This is a limited edition model, with only 100 pieces available.
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Dive Right In J12 marinep
J12 Marine is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year by stating its identity as an authentic diving watch, with three versions – Big Blue, Foaming White, Anchor Black, and two sizes.
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RICHARD MILLE TELLS TIME FOR RAFAEL NADAL Richard Mille has created for Rafael Nadal the lightest mechanical watch in the world: hardly 18 grams, strap included. The watch that Nadal wore at Roland Garros, while winning his fifth consecutive French Open title. To achieve this feat, the movement is made of Lital alloy, a high lithium content alloy coming from the aerospace industry, while the case is made of a carbon-based extremely resistant composite, combining ultra lightness and extreme rigidity.
Qatar
where style lives.
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QATAR
Eau Essential Escale aux Marquises
After Portofino and Pondicherry, Christian Dior Parfums invites you on a new journey. The cruise heads to new faraway lands, setting a course for Polynesia and one of its legendary archipelagos: The Marquise Islands. A tribute to the very symbolic Tiare Flower... The Escale aux Marquises fragrance is thus orchestrated around the magnificent Tahitian Tiare flower, symbol of welcome and femininity. Spices from the most beautiful islands of the Indian Ocean were also selected to accentuate freshness.
Chance Eau Tendre Chance Eau Tendre is the fragrance of an optimistic woman who believes in happiness and holds onto chance. At the heart of its composition is an unexpected accord, which constantly surprises us with its transformations. Pure olfactory poetry, a reminder of how rare and precious chance is. A true burst of tenderness.
1 MILLION Paco Rabanne 1 Million goes over the top with a large 200 ml version mirroring its success. Although the flamboyant metal clad bottle constantly attracts new addicts, fans and collectors will appreciate its new XL size in the shape of a giant gold ingot. A simple finger click is enough for all the vibrations of a fresh spicy leather to reveal – just like magic – its inimitable, sensual, bewitching, sensual and irresistible trail.
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