Qatar Happening - November 2011 by Qatar Happening

CMY

QH NOV 2011 C.indd 1

10/26/11 12:49 PM

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OUT om K C E CH appening.c

A Cosmopolitan Conductor

atarh information! www.q test for the

CONTENTS In EvEry IssuE Entertainment Arts & Culture 6 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LETTER 17 HOTLIST QH’s editor-in-chief tells you what’s 18 Breaking Boundaries happening this month.

8 QH TEAM Meet the QH staff!

10 QH RECOMMENDS QH’s picks of the best beauty products, snacks and music

26 VIRGIN RECOMMENDS Virgin Megastore’s top five books this month

86 EVENTS LISTINGS Find out everything that’s going on this month

109 IT HAPPENED

Meet Suzee X, one of the most versatile DJs in Doha

20 All Up in the Club Get a peek at the newly renovated Crystal

21 A World Class DJ DJ Sam World returns to the Doha club scene

22 The Music Man The best music to download this month, courtesy of DJ Mark Bambach

24 BEACHFEST 11-11-11 The hottest beach party of the year

29 HOTLIST 30 The King’s Singers A world-famous a cappella group brings smooth sounds to Doha

32 A Cosmopolitan Conductor Korean conductor Nanse Gum works his magic in the opera house

34 Cinematic Lust One of the finest filmmakers at last month’s DTFF

35 Boxing With Her This gripping film had its international premiere at DTFF

36 A Slam Dunk Film

QH’s photo gallery of the latest

The DTFF film that will change how

happening events in Doha

you view Iraq

116 PHONE DIRECTORY Need-to-know phone numbers

37 More to See at Katara A new arts centre opens at Katara Cultural Village

More content

NOvEmbER

CONTENTS Community 39 HOTLIST 40 Born to Play A look at the Qatar International Amateur Football League

45 Diabetes in Doha Time for the annual Diabetes Awareness Walk

47 Asian sian Flavour Added to DTFF The first independent Filipino film to ever show at DTFF

Food 49 HOTLIST 50 Best Sushi Roundup

pg 50 Best Sushi Roundup

Sushi, sashimi, maki and more!

57 Endless Choices Chinese versus Japanese food in this lunch showdown

58 Al Mourjan Food Corner Learn how to make chicken, avocado and strawberry salad

61 Bread and Bagels Dine in Doha reviews this popular bagel joint

62 The Mediterranean Spirit Distinct, unrelenting flavours to be found at Figus

Health & Wellness 64 Pamper Me From Top to Toe Facials, mani-pedi’s and Thai massages galore!

QH sensations 66 Live: Cape Town Adventures

73 HOTLIST 74 Getting to Know Al-Arabi

Travel to South Africa’s coolest city this Eid

QSL’s second-oldest sports club

68 Look: FASHION HOTLIST 69 Look: From Day to Night Accessories to help you transition from day to night

70 Experience: Reasons to Fly

sports

76 ASPIRE4SPORT The International Sports Congress and Exhibition

82 The Speed Demons The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation’s top three events this month

Our pick of top destinations

, d subscription questions For customer service an g and account status, such as renewals, billin pening.com email to info@qatarhap

NOvEmbER

FROM THE DESK OF THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The weather in Doha is changing and so is the exciting number of social events that will be taking place in the coming months. While last month marked the opening of the social season in Doha, there continues to be a plethora of activities in November. Music continues to dominate the entertainment scene in Doha this month. QH interviewed Suzee X and Sam World, talented DJs who contribute a lot to Doha’s music scene. We also have DJ Mark Bambach’s knowledgeable opinion on the music industry in his exclusive QH music column. Last month brought the 3rd Annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) to Doha. DTFF has brought some much-deserved attention to Doha, as this year’s festival featured the premiere of Black Gold, starring Antonio Banderas. The film, a Doha Film Institute co-production, was shot in Qatar. QH also spoke with several directors who had documentaries in the festival to find out what inspired them to create their films and to garner their thoughts on DTFF. We spoke with famed Korean conductor Nanse Gum, who will be conducting the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert this month. QH also examines the new Katara Art Center at Katara Cultural Village. QH hit the field with members of Alba FC, a team in the Qatar International Amateur Football League (QIAFL) to find out more about the league and how it operates. Anyone with a love of football will enjoy either playing in or watching the league this season. This month, we celebrate Eid Al-Adha. Check out our top pick for an exciting travel destination for your Eid holiday. November also marks the second edition of ASPIRE4SPORT, the International Sports Congress and Exhibition. This unique event will take place at Aspire Dome Nov. 12-15. QH brings you all the information you need to know about this important event. Eid Mubarak!

Publisher: The Art of Business Chairman: Ahmed Hassan Bilal Editor-in-Chief: Nasser Ahmed Hassan Bilal Executive Director: Moona Masri-Whitice Executive Editor: Sydnee Bryant Contributors: Abdulla Almoli, Mark Bambach, Charlie Gandelman, Jennifer Gray, Khalifa Saleh Haroon, Christina Maria Paschyn, Jesus Jonson Palanca, Mikhail Quijano, Nitya Shukla, Tarn de Villiers Senior Art Director: “Boby” Ildiko Francia Finalizer/Production Manager: Srimani Welagedara New Media Manager: Susanna Wolfe Business Development Consultant: Kristina Helg Sales and Marketing Manager: Deliah Furcoi Sales and Communications Manager: Jorge Granda Marketing Coordinator: Katrina Senga Distribution & Accounts: Lanie Fillo-Pana Have Your Say: Feedback and comments are always welcome. Please forward letters to the editor: Email: editor@qatarhappening.com info@qatarhappening.com marketing@qatarhappening.com Call Details: Inquiries: Marketing: Fax:

+974 4427 8416 +974 5556 5046 +974 4427 8415

Postal Address: P.O. Box 7848 , Doha, Qatar

QATAR HAPPENING (QH) is published 11 times a year by The Art of Business, Doha, Qatar, an associate of Ahmed Hassan Bilal Group of Companies. The information contained in QATAR HAPPENING (QH) is correct at the time of printing. Details may change at any time without liability on the part of The Art of Business. Readers are advised to confirm details with the event organizers. All rights reserved 2011, The Art of Business. Reproduction in part or in full is strictly prohibited. QATAR HAPPENING (QH) assumes no responsibility for content of advertisements. QATAR HAPPENING (QH) retails for QR 8. Bulk subscriptions are available for QR 3 each, for orders over 50.

Thanks for reading Qatar Happening.

Nasser Ahmed Hassan Bilal Editor-in-Chief

ON THE COVER

Khalifa Stadium in Aspire Park Photo provided by Aspire4Sport.

QH TEAM

Moona, G

uru

Lanie, Admin Master

Sydnee, The Editor

Boby, Design Diva

After a solid month of parties, soirees, beach parties and film festivals, you might think we’d be ready for a break from the Doha social scene. But that’s not how we roll here at QH! The social “season” in Doha is only just beginning and there’s plenty more to do and see this month. We’re looking forward to new restaurants opening, new musicians coming to town and, of course, more beach parties! In between our pre –and post-party times, we checked out new DJs, got pampered at the spa, fought potential mercury poisoning and won, and found out what it takes to make a film go from its inception to its premiere at a film festival. Here are just a few of the things we’re looking forward to this month: • American Thanksgiving - mmm, turkey! • The AWA Bazaar Nov. 19 - holiday shopping! • Trying the new Persian restaurant at Sharq Village and Spa (look for our review in the December issue!) • DJ Suzee X’s launch party at Lava Nov. 18 – go female DJs! • Walking around the souq – perfect outdoor weather! We hope you’re enjoying the start of the social season as much as we are. Thanks for reading.

The QH Team Biz Wiz Kristina

Sporty Jor

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RECOMMENDS

Feeling the need to spoil yourself? Try some of our all-time favourite things.

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MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Diwali Festival Doha Marriott until the 9th

New Tasting Menu at La Mer Ritz-Carlton Doha all month

Coromandel Seafood Festival Ramada Plaza until the 17th

SATURDAY

FRIDAY

Mexican Giant Burger Doha Marriott all month Carnival Party W Doha Fridays

Jazz & Swing Night Mövenpick Hotel Doha Wednesdays

Mushroom Mania Promotion Holiday Villa Doha all month

Italian Night Mövenpick Hotel Doha Mondays

Champions League Football InterContinental Doha Tusdays and Wednesdays

Chamber Music Series: Mozart and Haydn Opera House, Katara Cultural Village

6 Cult Movie Night W Doha Sundays

Cooking Class Ritz-Carlton Doha

QTEL FIM Endurance World Championship 8 Hours of Doha Losail International Circuit until the 12th

BEACHFEST 11-11-11 InterContinental Doha

6th International Hotel, Restaurant and Food Exhibition in Qatar (DIYAFA) Doha Exhibition Center until the 24th

Sushi and Martini Night W Doha Mondays

Lebanese National Day Oryx Rotana

The Good Life Festival Sharq Village & Spa until the 26th

Asian Noodle Promotion Holiday Villa Doha all month

Lamb and Lavender Promotion Sheraton Doha all month

Quiz Night Ramada Plaza

27 28

Garden Club The One Coffee Shop, Landmark Mall

Traiteur Thanksgiving Specials La Cigale until the 25th

Retail Night Oryx Rotana Saturdays

11 QPO: Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto Opera House, Katara Cultural Village Doha College 10K Run The Pearl-Qatar

QSL: Lekhwiya vs Al Saad Al Gharafa Sports Club

DJ Suzee X Launch InterContinental Doha

Thanksgiving Brunch and Dinner Doha Marriott until the 27th

Greek Night InterContinental Doha until the 25th

21 22 Thai Food Festival Doha Marriott until the 30th

Happy Hours Ritz-Carlton Doha Sundays to Wednesdays

Ladies Big Night Out InterContinental Doha Wednesdays

ASPIRE4SPORT

Aspire Dome until the 15th

1st KAC International Video Art Marathon Exhibition Katara Art Center, Katara Cultural Village until Dec.17th

16 17

DJ Night with DJ Roger Choueiry La Cigale Sundays

The Red Carpet 3 Sheraton Doha

The League of Extraordinary Comedians Sheraton Doha

1 Eid Kids Party Kempinski Doha

Theme Nights at The Atrium Best Western Hotel all month

Guerlain Les Voilettes Mineral Loose Powder boasts invisible skin-fusion abilities that unify and mattify skin. The rosy, silky Red Hot Lips: powder glides onto skin and If you desire luscious red lips, leaves it looking even and matte pick up a MAC Pro Longwear without any dull residue. The Lip Pencil in What A Blast! This silver dome case is the classiest thin, creamy pencil helps deliver we’ve ever seen and the black smooth lips with dense colour. powder puff adds a major touch Carefully draw on some of this of class to our primping routine. orangey-red lip colour to add Easily one of the fanciest loose a touch of Hollywood glamour powders we’ve ever used, we’re to your look. This pencil gives happy to note that it also leaves powerful colour that stays put our skin camera-ready. Setting but isn’t dry, making it ideal our makeup and ridding our for long nights when you want faces of shine has never been to look your best. MAC Pro so classy. Guerlain Les Voilettes Longwear Lip Pencil in What Mineral Loose Powder is A Blast! is available at MAC available at Perfumery4U at City stores in Villaggio Mall and City Center Mall. Center Mall.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

NOVEMBER SUNDAY

Skin Fusion:

QPO: Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto Opera House, Katara Cultural Village

QSL: Rayyan vs El Jaish Rayyan Stadium

CHECK OUT

www.qatarhappening.com

for the latest information!

Our handy calendar is now detachable. Tear out the November Highlights!

NOVEMBER SUNDAY

MONDAY

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

Diwali Festival Doha Marriott until the 9th

New Tasting Menu at La Mer Ritz-Carlton Doha all month

Coromandel Seafood Festival Ramada Plaza until the 17th

FRIDAY

SATURDAY Mexican Giant Burger Doha Marriott all month Carnival Party W Doha Fridays

1 Theme Nights at The Atrium Best Western Hotel all month

Eid Kids Party Kempinski Doha

2 Jazz & Swing Night Mövenpick Hotel Doha Wednesdays

Mushroom Mania Promotion Holiday Villa Doha all month

7 Italian Night Mövenpick Hotel Doha Mondays

8 Champions League Football InterContinental Doha Tusdays and Wednesdays

9 Chamber Music Series: Mozart and Haydn Opera House, Katara Cultural Village

Cult Movie Night W Doha Sundays

3 The Red Carpet 3 Sheraton Doha

Cooking Class Ritz-Carlton Doha

QTEL FIM Endurance World Championship 8 Hours of Doha Losail International Circuit until the 12th

BEACHFEST 11-11-11 InterContinental Doha

DJ Night with DJ Roger Choueiry La Cigale Sundays

Sushi and Martini Night W Doha Mondays

6th International Hotel, Restaurant and Food Exhibition in Qatar (DIYAFA) Doha Exhibition Center until the 24th

1st KAC International Video Art Marathon Exhibition Katara Art Center, Katara Cultural Village until Dec.17th

Lebanese National Day Oryx Rotana

20 Happy Hours Ritz-Carlton Doha Sundays to Wednesdays

21 22 Thai Food Festival Doha Marriott until the 30th

23 Asian Noodle Promotion Holiday Villa Doha all month

Quiz Night Ramada Plaza

27 28

Garden Club The One Coffee Shop, Landmark Mall

Lamb and Lavender Promotion Sheraton Doha all month

Traiteur Thanksgiving Specials La Cigale until the 25th

12 QPO: Rachmaninoff’s Third Piano Concerto Opera House, Katara Cultural Village

Doha College 10K Run The Pearl-Qatar

QSL: Lekhwiya vs Al Saad Al Gharafa Sports Club

DJ Suzee X Launch InterContinental Doha

Thanksgiving Brunch and Dinner Doha Marriott until the 27th

Greek Night InterContinental Doha until the 25th

The Good Life Festival Sharq Village & Spa until the 26th

Retail Night Oryx Rotana Saturdays

16 17 Ladies Big Night Out InterContinental Doha Wednesdays

ASPIRE4SPORT Aspire Dome until the 15th

The League of Extraordinary Comedians Sheraton Doha

QPO: Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto Opera House, Katara Cultural Village

QSL: Rayyan vs El Jaish Rayyan Stadium

CHECK OUT

www.qatarhappening.com

for the latest information!

CALENDAR IBQ-NOV.indd 2

10/26/11 12:08 PM

SPOTLIGHT ON QHENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDS

Gluten-Free Goodness: Julie’s Organic Gluten Free Lemon Yogurt Sandwich Cookies are perfect for those who don't eat wheat. Dig into one of these tasty rounds made with rice flour, vanilla cookies and tangy lemon frozen yogurt. You will lick your fingers they are so good. The rice cookie is deliciously crisp and the yogurt is light and refreshing. It’s hard to eat just one. Our advice - you better stock up because when they are gone, you will wish you had a bigger freezer! Julie’s Organic Gluten Free Lemon Yogurt Sandwich Cookies are available while supplies last in the frozen section in all Lulu hypermarkets.

Cranberry Crush For the perfect mid-morning nosh session, pick up a bag of Marks & Spencer’s Dried Cranberries. These sweet, chewy cranberries are the ideal work snack for when you need something that is both delicious and nutritious. Dried cranberries are full of fibre and are considered one of Marks & Spencer’s “eat well” products. We love getting our daily sugar high from a natural source, plus we feel like dried cranberries are a responsible snack choice compared to chips or donuts. If you decide to make these your ultimate work snack, be sure to stock up, as your coworkers will most likely steal from your stash. Marks & Spencer’s Dried Cranberries are available at Marks & Spencer’s in Villaggio Mall and Landmark Mall.

Creamy Cheesecake The Cheesecake with Glazed Cherries and Sour Cherry Sorbet at Market in W Doha is the ultimate cheesecake treat. This luscious dessert caught our attention with its beautiful presentation, creamy texture and bold attitude. The tart cherries mingle with the soft, mild cheesecake to create the sort of flavours tastebuds dream about. We love its sharp but sweet taste and the sense of comfort it brings us with every bite. This is our go-to “happy place” dessert, as it truly cheers us up with every mouthful. Cheesecake with Glazed Cherries and Sour Cherry Sorbet is available at Market in W Doha.

Sweet Sounds Gavin DeGraw’s newest album, Sweeter, took us by surprise with its soulful tracks and catchy lyrics. This album is a nice break from some of the more commercial music out there but there is still some radio appeal. DeGraw is raw and soulful without being cheesy; catchy and relatable without selling out. The fantastic, piano-driven music is just a bonus. Standout tracks include Sweeter, Sweeter Not Over You, Candy and Where You Are. You’ll fall in love with DeGraw’s earnest emotions and ability to draw the listener in. Sweeter is available through Sony Music.

BEST SUSHI

Best Sushi

We are happy to announce that the winner of the QH Lifestyle Award for Best Sushi is Blue at Grand Heritage Doha. QH teamed up with www.iloveqatar.net to poll residents of Qatar to find the most popular sushi in town. Respondents chose from a list of 16 sushi places in Doha, most of which are featured in this month’s QH sushi roundup. QH would like to thank I Love Qatar and everyone who voted for their preferred sushi place. 15

Home Delivery Available Buy any 2 main courses and get any pizza free N:QH126 VALID UNTIL 31/12 NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFER

ENTERTAINMENT

HOTLIST

OUT om K C E CH appening.c

atarh tion! www.qthe latest informa for

Dr. Gabs Is Back Sat 5th, 12th, 19th, Mon 7th, 14th: W Doha. Move into an oasis of musical splendour at Spice Market, with the master of swing, jazz and boogie woogie, Dr. Gabs. A genius on the keys and a voice to remember, Dr. Gabs creates a night filled with his own smooth rhythms. From 8:00 p.m. till 12:00 a.m. For more information, call 4453-5135.

Jazz Night Fri 4th: MĂśvenpick Hotel Doha. Join Chris and his band in Piano Bar from 8:00 p.m. onwards, as they play the best in modern jazz from Miles Davis to John Coltrane. Featuring Mike Pigneguy on drums and Matt Gazpacho on double bass. For more information, call 4429-1111, email gigs@dohajazz.com or visit www.dohajazz.com

Paloma On The Beach Thurs 3rd: InterContinental Doha. Come join the barbecue and three bars open on the beach. Live entertainment provided by Big Mouth and DJs Shadi and Paul Mendez. Unlimited drinks for ladies from 9:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.! ID Required. QR 120 for guys, QR 60 for girls, QR 185 with dinner and QR 250 for VIP. From 8:00 p.m. till late. For more information, call 4484-4444.

Cinema Under the Stars Saturdays: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Enjoy the balmy evenings of November whilst relaxing in the lush gardens of Lagoon Terrace and watching all-time classical movies. Starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Quiz Night Mon 28th: Ramada Plaza. Becoming more and more popular each month, the original and best pub quiz in town returns. Bring along your team of six to take part in Dohaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite Quiz Night! With no entry fee and great prizes to be won, why not get your competitive hat on and have some fun. Starts at 8:00 p.m., free of charge. For more information, call 4428-1555. 17

SPOTLIGHT ON ENTERTAINMENT

Breaking boundaries By Sydnee Bryant

Female DJs are still considered a rarity in a male-driven world. But when it comes to Suzee X, the newest resident DJ in Lava at InterContinental Doha, the fact that she is a woman shouldn’t be a big deal to the party-goers of Doha. The fact that she’s fresh and talented? That should be grabbing everyone’s attention.

f you run into DJ Suzee X in Lava, you might think the pretty blonde is there to party, not to play. But after a few minutes of listening to her do her thing, you’ll understand why the enthusiastic music lover belongs behind the DJ booth, not dancing in front of it. She feeds off the energy of the partygoers in the club to put on a passionate, Ibiza-inspired show. Her love of music goes a long way back. Even at a young age, Suzee was obsessed with music. When she went out to a club with her friends, it was to hear music, not to socialize. This set her apart from her friends in a way she probably didn’t fully recognize at the time. She didn’t immediately realize that she could turn her passion into a career as a DJ. “It was always a man’s world,” Suzee said. All of that changed about 10 years ago, when Suzee saw the female DJ Sonique play, and realized that it was a territory she herself could venture into. When she got into the business, Suzee was still a rarity, a fresh-faced girl amongst traditional male DJs.

a long time, she refused to take any jobs from people who hadn’t heard her play. Then a fellow DJ advised her to take any gig she was offered so she would have the chance to prove herself to people. After all, if people didn’t hear here play, how would they ever change their minds about her? Soon after, Suzee got a manager so that she could be assured she would be playing the right gigs. Even after she has proven herself and become a well-known name in the club scene, Suzee is cautious of being promoted solely as a “female DJ” because it sends the wrong message about her. “I don’t want to be a novelty. I want people to value what I do,” Suzee said.

“I don’t want to be a novelty. I want people to value what I do.”

Suzee was often treated like a commodity but she didn’t accept that kind of treatment. She used to get a lot of offers for gigs simply because she was a female DJ. For

Her career has taken her around the world and, by chance, she landed up in Doha. Last year, Suzee was playing in Egypt prior to the revolution. After the revolution began, Suzee went to Dubai to play a gig. During that trip, she came to Doha to visit her friend, DJ Laura Love, and ended up staying. DJ Laura unfortunately fell ill and Suzee offered to step in to finish what was left of Laura’s contract. What was supposed to be a brief engagement with Lava turned into months.

SPOTLIGHT ON ENTERTAINMENT

Now, Suzee plays several nights a week in Lava as the resident DJ. Her main show will be Friday nights but she will also play Sundays and Tuesdays. The sunny blonde is already having a good time connecting with the crowd in Lava. “I’m enjoying Lava and I think it has a lot of potential,” Suzee said. The bright, bubbly DJ hopes to focus on her production work while in Doha. One of her more techno-driven tracks, No Sleep, will be released in a few months on Funkagenda’s label Funk Farm. The popular song has already gained attention on dance floors around the world. In the past, Suzee has collaborated with a variety of artists. In 2009, she teamed up with ‘The Beatthiefs & Peyton’ to create the summer anthem Feeling Nina. Her production allows her to express herself and her ideas, while still embracing her love of music. “Music has always been a huge part of my life,” Suzee said. “There’s just so many ideas that I want to get across.”

Her dream is to one day combine her two passions into one business, by having a yoga studio and a music studio in the same building, “like a retreat for music lovers to have the best of both sides,” Suzee said. Suzee has played in clubs all over the world, from Cream in St. Petersburg to Space in Ibiza. A year ago if you had asked her if she could see herself settling down in one place for months at a time, she would have laughed at you. But now she is content to stay in Doha for awhile, though she will continue to do the occasional international gig. Traveling the world to play to packed crowds gives her a natural high but it can also be a bit of a lonely life, said Suzee. Contrary to the popular stereotype of the usual DJ, Suzee is not a massive partier and probably spends more time in airports than she does in clubs. But the time she spends behind the decks each night makes up for all of the quiet hours she spends in airports and hotel rooms twiddling her thumbs, explained Suzee. “The two hours you spend on the decks, you think ‘this is why I do it,’” Suzee said.

Photos provided by DJ Suzee X

“Music has always been a huge part of my life. There’s just so many ideas that I want to get across.”

Suzee may be one of the most interesting people in the music scene in Doha. In addition to DJing and producing, the athletic DJ is also a qualified personal trainer and yoga enthusiast. Her healthy approach to life means she balances late nights and endless gigs with exercise, yoga and healthy eating. While in Doha, Suzee will also be offering personal training sessions. On top of her already-hectic schedule, the multi-faceted DJ will be doing a radio show here in Doha, bringing her fresh style to the Qatar airwaves.

Suzee X’s launch will take place Friday, Nov. 18 in Lava at InterContinental Doha. For more information, contact 4484-4444.

SPOTLIGHT ON ENTERTAINMENT

All Up

in the Club By Jorge Granda

All club-goers relish the thought of lights, loud music and entertainment when choosing a good nightclub. In Doha, there are several options to choose from, but what really makes a successful nightclub? QH takes a look at the newly-renovated Crystal in W Doha.

Photos provided by W Doha

rystal, located in W Doha, has Thursday is Pure Crystal INSIDE CRYSTAL become a point of reference for all The best DJ line-ups from around the globe party-goers in the country. Since its The Champagne Lounge will be present at Crystal every Thursday, opening two years ago, the club has Before partying hard with Doha’s glitterati, including famous DJ Stephane Karl on Nov. 10 Crystal offers you the chance to sit back emerged as a major player in Doha’s party and 24 and DJ Sasha from London on Nov. 17. and unwind at the Champagne Longue scene. The legendary nightclub has been (located at the entrance). This area is open Fridays are Carnivals enhanced and redesigned, and will bring seven days a week. From Mondays to in top-notch DJs from all over the world. Every Friday of the month, Crystal will give you Thursdays, the guests can enjoy the talents a carnival party night filled with funky, house, The vast space, lavish design and unique of singer and pianist Lisa Lofthouse. entertainment offered every week make R&B and commercial music that will rock your From Fridays to Sundays, the resident DJ it stand out among Doha’s clubs. Another senses and keep you dancing till you drop. plays music. Opening hours: 7:00 p.m. till important addition to the updated Crystal 11:30 p.m. is the new manager, Amjad Haider, who Arabic Saturdays successfully managed some of the hottest On Saturdays you can enjoy the best of nightclubs in Abu Dhabi and Lebanon for the The Nightclub Arabic and house music. past seven years. He comes ready to kick up Every clubber has “The Club,” that special place that makes every weekend a celebration. These Now it is up to you to visit this glamorous and the nightlife in Doha. “When it comes to entertaining a crowd, the sky is the limit are just some of the unique parties that makes sophisticated club and decide if Crystal has Crystal one of the best places to unleash the for me,” Haider said. what it takes for you to make it “The Club.” party animal within. With a capacity of 800 people, new rooms, Opening Hours: Tuesdays is Retro Night a new bar (in addition to the two already11:30 p.m. till 2:30 a.m. existing ones), a new DJ booth, a secluded Dance to the most famous hip hop and R&B Dress Code: Smart-chic; no hats or tunes while sipping one of your favourite VIP areas, stunning chandelier valued at sports shoes. beverages. Ladies will be treated to an QR 500,000 and impeccable personalized Membership: exclusive offer of three free drinks. service, the new Crystal is designed for Males - QR 200; females – QR 100; and club goers to have a good time. Crystal cabin crew - QR 50 (all airlines). Wednesdays is Kiss and Fly, still holds a cherished spot in the heart of Hotel guests enter free of charge and Ladies Night! almost every clubber in Doha. Not only is don’t need reservations. Crystal opens its doors for all ladies to enjoy it a great place to party all night long, but For reservations the best house and commercial music, with Crystal also has the right environment to call 4453-5453, 3017-7049, cocktails pouring in all night long. relax before hitting the dance floor. or BBM 26E78A27.

SPOTLIGHT ON ENTERTAINMENT

“I would love to work with Adele; she just has this unique, amazing voice.”

A World -Class By Sydnee Bryant

DJ Sam World is back in Doha. The DJ, born in Baghdad and raised in Qatar, got his start in the DJ world right here in Doha. Although he now lives in South Africa, World has returned to Doha for a stint as the resident DJ in Crystal at W Doha. QH chats with World over a cup of tea to track his career path. QH: How did you get your start in the music industry? SW: I was first introduced to DJing at the age of 15 by a friend of mine, who was an established DJ at the time. I bought my own equipment and started practicing at home. When my DJ friend saw me play, he was like, 'You need to do this full-time, because you’re just so good at it.' QH: How would you describe your style and sound?

Photos provided by DJ Sam World

SW: I would say I love all the different styles out there and I embrace them all but right now my style is focusing more on house music. QH: What attracted you to DJing? SW: I think the feeling that you get when you see people enjoying your music. QH: Who are some of your musical influences? SW: When I was younger, I used to be involved a lot in hip hop, so people like DJ Premier, 9th Wonder and J Dilla influenced my style a lot. But then I kind of moved to

the house scene, so people like Chocolate Puma and Chus & Ceballos grabbed me to that style of music.

SW: That is going to be a long list; there are so many. I would love to work with Adele; she just has this unique, amazing voice.

QH: Tell us about some of your most memorable performances.

QH: What are your plans for 2011?

SW: My most memorable performance would have to be when I played at the Tiesto and David Guetta concert - the energy was just amazing. QH: What can the audience expect for your show? SW: An unforgettable experience. QH: What’s your favourite thing about being a DJ? SW: The joy that people experience when dancing to my music. QH: What’s the hardest part of DJing? SW: The traveling part of it, it becomes quite tiring when your flight arrives just a few hours before you have to perform again.

SW: In December, I am releasing my second single that I’ve produced, called Feel Good. QH: Where would you like to be in five years? SW: I would like to see myself equally successful in music production to match up to my DJing career. QH: If you weren’t a DJ, what would you be doing? SW: I’m not exactly sure, but I know that it would involve music, because it’s my passion.

DJ Sam World will be the resident DJ in Crystal at W Doha from now until January. Learn more about World by following him on twitter @djsamworld.

QH: If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be? 21

SPOTLIGHT ON ENTERTAINMENT

The

music sic

Man

By DJ Mark Bambach

DJ Mark Bambach is back in Doha and is the resident DJ at the newly refurbished Rocca at Grand Hyatt Doha every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. QH has teamed up with Bambach on a new monthly music review page, where Bambach delivers his verdict on the latest in the world of dance music.

Soulful House Shimma – Heartache (Black List Records) Produced by Brooklyn New York DJ “John Julius Knight,” this track borrows elements of the late Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson’s 1979 Disco classic Found a Cure. This is simple but effective feel-good disco infused soulful house. Deep House Shur-I-Kan – Staying In (Lazy Days) From the E.P Life Live, Staying In is a more up-tempo cut from London-based deep house producer/DJ Tom Szirtes. Definitely my tune of the month - I can’t playing this one. Club House Prok N Fitch VS Jaun Kidd – Star Guitar (Toolroom) U.K. -based Prok & Fitch & Juan Kidd knock out a full-on peak time house anthem with 22

haunting “You should feel what I feel” vocals and distorted guitar. This is one of those essential hands in the air floor-filling moments.

(He Wasn’t Last Night) and house divas Lisa Shaw and Aya. This album is a slight steering away from his usual straight up house venture into a more jazzy, R&B, and mid-tempo house affair, whilst still keeping Commercial House the sound, funky, deep, soulful and slightly Kelly Rowland – Down For Whatever more mainstream. Stand out tracks are (Island) Close Your Eyes, Tonight, Don’t Stop and Taken from her highly anticipated third Everybody, although there is not a dull track album, Here I Am, Down For Whatever stays out of the 14 on the album. The lyrics are on the commercial house tip, which has well-penned, the vocals are exceptional equalled success for Rowland previously. and the production is top-notch. All in This is not Rowland’s finest moment by far, all, this album is an essential addition to but catchy enough, and should secure her any iPod; this cool, sultry dance music is another Top 10 hit. This comes with a club perfect for your workouts, by the pool, or remix package from my U.K. friends Pitron your next dinner party. & Sanna, True Tiger & Jorg Schmid. Music can be found at beatport.com, Essential iPod Album traxsource.com and iTunes Miguel Migs– Outside the Skyline (Salted) San Francisco DJ and producer Miguel Bambach is no stranger to dance music, with a Migs delivers his third, and possibly best, album since he hit the underground soulful DJing career spanning more than two decades. Bambach has built a reputation and fan bases deep house scene in 1998. Migs teams on five continents, DJing in London for over 15 up with legendary disco vocalist Evelyn “Champagne” King (best known for her 1979 years, Ibiza, New York, South Africa, Asia, Europe hit Shame). Plus Me’shell Ndegecello, soul and the Middle East. Mark also is one-half of and spoken-word vocalist who first came to production team NU Addiction, with official remixes for Alicia Keys, Macy Gray, Toni Braxton light on Madonna’s Maverick label back in 1993 with her debut If That’s Your Boyfriend and Mariah Carey, to name a few.

Photos provided by Coco Latte

Chill out/Lounge 7 Samurai – Jah Music (Poets Club Records) Jah Music is NU Soul at its absolute best. With sultry female vocals and an infectious chorus, you will not be able to get this one out of your head. I guarantee it will be on repeat on your iPod.

Oriental Family Lunch Show appreciation to your family and treat them to a lavish international buffet lunch with a distinctive Oriental flavour offering the widest of choices. Oriental delicacies are cooked at the live-cooking station with a sumptuous hot and cold buffet. You just know this promises to be a family gathering to remember Every Saturday, for QAR 175 per person For reservations or more information please visit: www.rotanatimes.com or call +974 4402 3333 PO. Box 29922, Doha, Qatar, T: +974 4402 3333, F: +974 4402 3300, oryx.hotel@rotana.com

rotana.com

SPOTLIGHT ON ENTERTAINMENT

bEACHFEsT – 11-11-11 By Jorge Granda

Internationally-acclaimed DJs will land in Doha this month to rock the beach at the InterContinental Doha during the first-ever BEACHFEST. QH tells you all you need to know about the hottest concert of the fall. Get ready to party all night long at the biggest festival of the month. A super exclusive line-up of international DJs will be playing their famous tunes at the beach of the InterContinental Doha. Crowd performers will be also part of Doha’s first BEACHFEST.

THE ACTS MARCO V

This Dutch DJ is considered inventive, diverse and creative when it comes to producing electro music. At the beginning of his career career, he became the architect of the tech-trance - a sound that went on to become a musical phenomena. For years Marco V has created dance classics including Godd, Indicator, Echnalava, More Than a Life Away and Coma Aid, among others. Marco V has played all over the world at the hottest parties. As a result of his outstanding track record, he has spent the last seven years on the ranks of DJ Magazine’s Top 50.

FUNKERMAN

Funkerman is well-known for his constant quest to find, make and play new and varied music. This year, he will be releasing his debut album. Funkerman has played in the world’s best festivals and clubs. 24

MISS DIVINE (Defected In The House / Ushuaïa Beach Ibiza Resident) Even though Miss Divine has been around only for a few years, she has emerged as one of the most influential female DJs of her generation. Her animated personality and energized house sets have made her gained a loyal following. To top it all off, she was the first woman to be signed by Defected Artist Management.

PAUL MENDEZ

Mendez has 18 years of experience as a professional DJ. He can’t be categorized as a house, trance or techno DJ, as his incredible abilities to read any dance floor makes him a global DJ that can play any type of genre or music style. Mendez has played in more than 200 cities in 55 countries to millions of party-goers.

JARED MCCULLOCH

In the past eight years, Jared has gone from being an unknown DJ to being a respected performer in the electronic music scene. His charisma and ear for good music made him responsible for introducing electronic music to Doha, in addition to bringing some of the most famous DJs in the world to Doha to entertain the crowds. Jared is the creator of Global DJs, an event that gathers thousands of party goers from all over the region.

What’s happening: BEACHFEST – 11-11-11 When: Nov.11 Where: InterContinental Doha Time: From 6:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. Dress code: Jeans, flip flops, shorts, shirts, T-shirts. Ladies are asked to dress moderately within the rules and regulations of Qatar. Tickets: Tickets available at Virgin Megastore in Villaggio and Landmark Mall or online at www.tickets.virginmegastore.me Tickets also available at InterContinental Doha, Crepaway and Columbiano Coffee in Ezdan Towers. This event is 21+ only. Original Qatar ID or Passport or Lava or Paloma Membership Card must be presented at the door. Other acts coming to perform at BEACHFEST include DJ Ian, DJ Steve KZ and DJ Passant.

VIRGIN RECOMMENDS

Here’s how you can find out what’s hot this month: QH brings you the top selections from Virgin Megastore. And watch for the QH heart in stores!

MY LIFE IN DOHA: BETWEEN DREAM AND REALITY BY RACHEL HAJAR This book tells the story of Dr. Rachel Hajar, a cardiologist in Qatar. Hajar, born in the Philippines, never thought she would fall in love with and marry an Arab man. But when she moves to the U.S. for medical school, she falls in love with a young Qatari man. After marrying, they move to Qatar and Hajar must leave behind her Western life for one that is completely foreign to her. In this moving tale, Hajar examines how her love for her husband transcends the traditional Arab culture.

BOOK OF AWESOME BY NEIL PASRICHA

KITCHEN: RECIPES FROM THE HEART OF THE HOME BY NIGELLA LAWSON This book pays tribute to Lawson’s self-described “love affair with the kitchen.” Kitchen is a book for foodies and cooks, with recipes, answers to cooking quandaries and solutions for leftovers. While it’s easy to write this off as just another cook book in disguise, Lawson prefers to see it as a “comfort chronicle,” a book that takes readers through her journey in the kitchen while examining the connection between what we eat and how we live.

This optimistic book builds on the author’s blog 1000awesomethings. com. Filled with short quips and longer anecdotes about the small things in life that are supposed to make us happy (everything from an out-of-town boss to the cool side of the pillow), this book is designed to lift your mood and make you see the silver lining in life. While some of the tidbits may make your teeth hurt, the book is a good reminder that having an optimistic outlook on life is always possible.

PURE WISDOM BY DEAN CUNNINGHAM This simple book is filled with motivational stories by martial arts expert and life coach Dean Cunningham. The author shares his ideas for living a happier life in this novel, filled with advice about the attitudes, characteristics and behaviours necessary to take control of life. The book is divided into three parts: Right Attitude, Right Practice and Right Understanding. This conversational book is full of Cunningham’s ideas, motivational stories and funny anecdotes.

DEPARTMENT 19 BY WILL HILL Half modern thriller, half classic horror novel, this book focuses on the supernatural, including vampires and monsters. The protagonist must save his mother from an evil vampire by teaming up with Frankenstein’s monster, a female vampire and a secret agency. This thrilling novel takes you through a variety of eras and places, such as Victorian-era London, prohibition-era New York, Russia and Transylvania. This suspenseful novel is a far cry from the vampires of Twilight and True Blood, so be prepared for murder, mayhem and mystery!

ARTS & CULTURE

HOTLIST

Sajjil: A Century of Modern Art Tues 1st – Wed 30th: Mathaf.

School Concerts: Peter and the Wolf (English) Tues 29th: Opera House, Katara Cultural Village. Michalis Economou, music director. Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67. Narrated in English by Christoph Schmitz. Tickets are available at Virgin Megastore in Landmark Mall and Villaggio Mall. Starts 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. For more information, visit www.qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org or email qpopr@qf.org.qa

Sajjil: A Century of Modern Art Tue 1st – Wed 30th: Mathaf. Sajjil, an Arabic word meaning the art of recording, features more than 240 paintings, sculptures and mixed-media works made by more than 100 artists, representing pivotal moments in the development of Arab modernism throughout the 20th century. For more information, visit www.mathaf.org.qa

Visual & Studio Arts Daily: International Academy for Intercultural Development. The visual and Studio Arts program is a progressive course from Beginners, Advance, Fine Arts 1 and 2 that covers colour theory, art styles, drawing and painting techniques, shapes and figures, visual art perception and portraits with the use of various art mediums. For more information, call 4432-0974 or 6671-0589 or email enquire@iaidonline.org

Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony Sat 12th: Opera House, Katara Cultural Village. Gerd Albrecht,

Mathaf Voices: Exhibition Tours Saturdays: Mathaf. Join the Mathaf Voices interns for special tours of the exhibitions, held in English and Arabic at 12:00 p.m. with Mazin and 4:00 p.m. with Maryam. For more information, email mathaf_education@qma.orrg.qa

conductor. Petra Fröse, soprano. Mendelssohn: The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave), Op.26 Mendelssohn: Infelice, Op. 94 Beethoven: Ah, perfido, scene and aria for soprano and orchestra, Op. 65 Beethoven: Symphony No.7 in A major, Op.92. Tickets available at Virgin Megastore, Landmark Mall and Villaggio. Starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org or email qpopr@qf.org.qa 29

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

The King’s

Singers By Christina Maria Paschyn

The world-renowned a cappella group The King’s Singers will bring their smooth sounds to Doha this month during the monthly concert for the Friends of the American School of Doha Chamber Music Series, sponsored by IBQ. QH learns the legacy behind this must-see musical act.

t’s hard not to swoon when The King’s Singers perform on stage. Dressed impeccably in sleek suits and matching ties, these six suave, silver-toned men possess the charisma of a retro pop band.

They have the following to match: each year the group performs hundreds of concerts across Europe, North America and Asia. Hailed as one of the best vocal ensembles in the world, The King’s Singers have garnered numerous accolades, including a 2009 Grammy. Not bad for an a cappella group that’s been around since the 1960s. The King’s Singers’ smooth and organic sound contrasts sharply with the electronically synthesized style of many artists today. Their repertoire is far from mainstream. Although the group performs pop and jazz numbers, from the The Beatles to Michael Bublé, they are best known for their mastery of Renaissance compositions - a forte that stems from the men’s similar training as boy choristers and choral scholars at prestigious universities in England. 30

Founded in 1968, the group takes its name from King’s College at the University of Cambridge, where its six original members studied. As each founding father retired, a replacement was brought in. This revolving system has continued to this day, and the group has had a total of 21 singers. Its current stars are all relatively young, handsome vocalists (their ages range from early-20s to mid-50s).

pitch, rhythm and even shiver-inducing falsettos. But you would be forgiven for thinking that the ensemble’s British and Eurocentric repertoire may not exactly appeal to audiences in the Gulf. On the contrary, The King’s Singers seem to enjoy a passionate following in the region, a fact that surprised baritone Christopher Gabbitas when the group performed for the first time in the U.A.E. in April.

But perhaps more importantly, they are “There were people who had driven from all quintessentially English. The King’s Oman and people who had driven from Singers have tested German and American Kuwait [to see the show],” Gabbitas, 32, vocalists, but it’s telling that only British explained in a phone interview from Belgium singers have ever made it through the during a short respite from the group’s grueling and somewhat secretive audition European tour last month. “I think we felt process (auditions are not advertised or as though we had fans in the Middle East else the group would be inundated with for quite a while, but because we hadn’t thousands of applications from around performed there they hadn’t had a chance to the world. Instead, potential members hear us. It’s nice to sort of collect everybody are hand-picked). The group says this is in one place. And I’m hoping the same thing simply common sense: members have to will happen with Qatar.” come from similar choral or conservatory backgrounds to ensure the proper mimicking The King’s Singers will perform in Doha at and blending of vowel sounds. the end of this month as the opening concert of the fourth season of the Friends of the The King’s Singers may possess perfect

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

American School of Doha Chamber Music Series. Sponsored by the International Bank of Qatar, the series showcases local and foreign talent in the fields of classical, opera, operetta and folk music.

Photos provided by The King's Singers

This will be the group’s first visit to the country where they plan to present an eclectic mix of light and serious repertoire, including English Renaissance music. Gabbitas said the program will exude a ‘frothy’ feel in keeping with the buoyant spirit of the Christmas season.

Cup and 2000 Sydney Olympics, and Eric Whitacre, the popular American conductor, composer and lecturer. “Promoting contemporary work is a very important part of what we do. Partly to promote the group and its work, but also to make sure that we are contributing to the choral library for future generations,” Gabbitas said. Gabbitas is keen to include Middle Eastern composers in the group’s repertoire. He hopes that The King’s Singers’ travels to the Gulf (they will be return to Dubai next year) will inspire local musicians.

“We’ve been to Jerusalem but never to the Gulf states, to the Emirates. And I think flying such a long way for two days is something we don’t normally do,” Gabbitas explained. “But arriving, there was so much energy in Dubai. To arrive in the desert and see these incredible buildings, wonderful roads and people from all different nationalities and all different cultures in one place, by the sea and by the desert, was just a unique experience for us.”

The King’s Singers’ performance in Dubai underscored the group's ability to bring “When we go somewhere new we want together music aficionados from different to ease people into The King’s Singers. ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We want to make sure that we’re very approachable and we give a program that “Certainly in Dubai there is a good cultural “People talk about [music] transcending is, first and foremost, very enjoyable,” languages and cultural barriers and that’s true Gabbitas explained. “When we get invited set up, but funding for the arts might be difficult,” Gabbitas said. “I think the culture to an extent. But I think the fact that we do back we tend to challenge people a bit tends to fund sporting events and other such a variety of music, that there is always more, and once we’ve got a feel for a community and for a culture and a territory, high-profile events a bit more than classical something that people can cling on to, that people can identify with,” Gabbitas said. it gives us a lot better of an idea as to how music, which is fine. That’s how it is culturally. But I think that means that there we can program it.” aren’t enough choirs and organizations Gabbitas expects nothing less in Qatar. promoting classical music at the moment. The King’s Singers are certainly not afraid to And that’s something we hope to stimulate expand audiences’ horizons. In 2005, they by visiting regularly.” released Sacred Bridges, a CD and concept The King’s Singers will perform at the project that featured Old Testament psalms end of November as part of the Friends set to music by Islamic, Jewish and Christian Despite their demanding schedule – they of the American School of Doha will spend just one full day in Doha before composers. Their aim was to show the Chamber Music Series, sponsored by similarities among the world’s main religions. departing for the rest of their Asian tour IBQ. As per the American School of – the group always makes time to share Doha’s regulations, the exact date and their skills with local choirs or harmony The King’s Singers have also commissioned location cannot be published. ensembles. They plan to hold a workshop more than 200 works by contemporary with choral students at the American School composers. This season, they premiered Tickets are priced at QR 150, QR 75 for of Doha this month. pieces from Paweł Łukaszewski, a Polish IBQ customers and QR 50 for students. composer specializing in choral and sacred music, Uzbek-Australian Elena Kats-Chernin, For Gabbitas, the 2011-2012 season has For more information and to order tickets proved momentous, if only for the group’s whose music played at the opening email: asdchambermusic@gmail.com forays in the Middle East. ceremonies of the 2003 Rugby World 31

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

A Cosmopolitan

Conductor By Sydnee Bryant

Celebrated conductor Nanse Gum will be taking over the stage at the Opera House at Katara Cultural Village when he conducts Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto Nov. 26. QH finds out more about this fascinating musical aficionado. QH: Where are you from? NG: I was born in Busan, the second big city in Korea, in 1947. My father was a composer and was teaching in the girls’ high school, so I naturally grew up with a musical atmosphere and had the chance to meet lots of musicians. QH: At what age did you become interested in music? NG: When I was a middle school student, I saw a TV program “Young People’s Concert by Leonard Bernstein,” which was a strong stimulus for my musical enthusiasm and made me to decide be a conductor.

NG: After graduating from Seoul National University, majoring in composition, I had a chance to go to Sweden to attend the international conference for young musicians, which was a very rare opportunity at that time. I moved to Germany after the conference to find an opportunity to learn more to be a conductor, which was my dream from my middle school days. I entered Hochschule der Kunste Berlin and studied under Prof. HansMartin Rabenstein. [I won] the Karajan Competition in 1977, which led me to debut officially on the European stage.

NG: Of course, but basically my parents wanted to educate children to stand up independently. They always trusted children and tried to cheer them up.

I was thinking about staying in Europe but Mr. Stresemann, the director of the competition, advised me to go back home because he assumed that there would be many possibilities for young and ambitious conductors in the emerging country. After coming back, I became the youngest principal conductors of KBS (Korean National Broadcasting System) Orchestra.

QH: How did your career as a conductor begin?

QH: How many concerts a year do you conduct?

QH: Were your parents supportive of your career choice?

NG: More than 100 concerts every year. I’m conducting two orchestras regularly: Euro-Asian Philharmonic in Seoul, founded by myself in 1998, and Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra where I [have been] the artistic director since 2010. Besides these two orchestras, I also conduct many other orchestras in Korea and abroad. In November 2008, I founded the World Symphony Orchestra, with 90 musicians from 22 countries all over the world. The concert tour in the five big cities in Korea showed how music can make people become friends. I’m also the founder and the director of the Jeju Music Isle Festival from 2005, a unique chamber music festival in lovely Island Jeju, the southern edge of Korea. QH: What are some of the countries you’ve conducted shows in? NG: I had toured many countries, conducting Berlin Philharmonic, Berlin Radio Symphonic Orchester and the Rundfunkorchester Hannover des NDR and Zagreb Philharmonic, Deutsche

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

Kammerorchester, European Master Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Orchestra, among many others. Recently, I conducted Euro-Asian Philharmonic, Gyeonggi Philharmonic, Extremadura Orchestra and Orchestre Régional de Cannes, touring major cities like Badajoz, Caceres, Valencia, Toledo, Cannes, Ljubljana, Varazdin, Los Angeles, Boston, Washington, D.C., Beijing and Shanghai, among others. I will conduct the Costa Rica National Symphony Orchestra in March 2012. QH: How do you feel when you are on stage conducting a concert? NG: I am always thinking about how to make the audience happy. I want to be a friendly guide through a happy journey to the classical music. QH: Who are some of your favourite composers? NG: Basically, I am a symphony conductor. So my favourite composers are ‘symphonists,’ like Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich.

Photos provided by QPO

QH: Last year, you conducted a concert in Doha. What was that experience like? NG: It was really a wonderful time and I was very much thrilled. It was a discovery of a new world. I always like to meet new challenges and want to keep collaborating with Qatar (and more broadly with Middle East region) for the cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

QH: This month, you’ll be conducting Beethoven: Emperor Piano Concerto No. 5 in E Flat Major, Op. 73 and Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68. What kind of concert can the audience expect? NG: Both works are masterpieces from the great classical world and I've conducted them various times. I’m planning to explain about the works and let the audience listen to some parts of them, as I used to do in Korea. I hope that it will be of help for audience to feel friendly with the works to be played. QH: Is music a big part of the culture in Korea? NG: Really, it is. Korean people are very energetic and emotional. As you see on the world stages, there are many distinguished musicians from Korea with highest level of musicality, as well as technical skill. There are lots of concerts every day in Korea and going to concerts and enjoying culture has become a meaningful part of daily life. Especially, I want to stress that there are many young [people in the] audience in the concert halls in Korea, which is absolutely different from Western countries. I am so proud that I have been doing a certain role for the cultural scene of today. QH: What is your daily schedule like when you’re working or preparing for a concert? NG: Always very busy. Rehearsals, concerts, meetings, lectures, interview with various media, etcetera. In recent years, I had continuously devoted myself to teach gifted young musicians through

creative and energetic orchestral training, which reached monumental success during the KUCO (Korea United College Orchestra) concert at Seoul Art Center in January 2011. KUCO made a successful concert, as well for the Model United Nations Conference in 2011 Incheon for the hundreds of young audience from various different countries. QH: What is the most important thing you’ve learned during your career? NG: Music is just for those who enjoy it. That’s to say, Beethoven is not [just] for German people but for those who really like and enjoy it! Classical music originated from the West but spread to be a common treasure for the whole world. That’s why I am still delightfully doing my job. I am a Korean, but when I’m conducting, I am a cosmopolitan beyond countries, East and the West. I’m always dreaming of sharing happiness altogether through the flavour of splendid heritage to all mankind –classical music. QH: What is the most difficult part of your job? NG: I am hardly thinking of difficulty, even when I am confronted with the barriers against what I want to do. I like facing challenges. I’m an optimist. It’s my own way to meet life. Nanse Gum will conduct the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra’s Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at the Opera House at Katara Cultural Village. For more information, visit www. qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

Cinematic Lust As told to Sydnee Bryant

Last month, filmmaker Khaled El Hagar took part in the Doha Tribeca Film Festival for the first time, with his film El Shooq/Lust. El Hagar reveals how he got his start as a director and the message behind his latest film. The Film Khaled El Hagar’s film El Shooq/ Lust brings viewers into the lives of the inhabitants of a marginalized street in Alexandria, the second largest city in Egypt. Familiar, moving and funny, each character is isolated in his or her fierce, yet fragile dreams. The central character is Umm Shooq, a woman whose sense of shame and inadequacy drives her to gain leverage over the little world in which she lives. Her personal story feeds the unfulfilled longings and repressed desires of her family and neighbours, while driving the oppression that grips them all. El Shooq/Lust very clearly shows how the poor people of Egypt lived before the revolution; many critics said that the film predicted the revolution. El Shooq/Lust was number one at the Egyptian box office for the two weeks prior to the beginning of the revolution.

From an early age, El Hagar has wanted to make movies. “I was just born with the love of making films,” El Hagar said. After earning a law degree, he worked as an assistant director to the renowned director Youssef Chahine. That experience inspired him to do a post-graduate degree in film directing at the National Film and Television School in England. Afterwards, he worked as a director in Egypt, Germany, France and England. His work includes his film Room to Rent Rent, the first British film to be written and directed by an Egyptian filmmaker in the U.K. The film went on to win eight international awards and was shown in theatres in the U.K., Europe, the U.S. and Canada in 2001.

Next up for the director is not one but two feature films. El Hagar is currently in preAt the Cairo International Film Festival in 2010, production for the film Tomorrow Is For Us. the film won the best international film award He’ll also be working on another film soon, called A Very Hot Summer Summer. (The Golden Pyramid) and the best actress award for Sawsan Badr. The film is also in the El Hagar’s films have been shown in more Egyptian entry for the 2012 Oscars. than 150 international film festivals, including Cannes, New York and Montreal. The film was shot in Cairo and Alexandria. This is the director’s first time taking part The main message of the film is a simple but in the Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF), powerful one: that greed and the misuse of something he is very happy about. “It’s a power can kill whoever is running after those great feeling and a great honour and I hope things, in addition to destroying dreams. people liked [the film],” El Hagar said.

The Director Khaled El Hagar, born in Cairo, Egypt, is now based both in Cairo and England. El Hagar has been directing movies since 1989, when he did his first feature film Little Dreams. El Shooq/Lust is his sixth feature film. The wellrounded auteur has also made four short films and a television drama. 34

The festival, which just finished its third season, is significant for Qatar for several reasons, said El Hagar. “The festival is an important culture venue for people to know other cultures,” El Hagar said. “The festival does promote the country and help tourism and give a chance to people in Qatar to see films from other Arab countries.”

Khaled El Hagar

El shooq/Lust

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

Boxing With Her By Sydnee Bryant

One of the most interesting documentaries at last month’s Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) was the ground-breaking Boxing With Her Her, which featured the lives of several female boxers in Tunisia. QH spoke with directors Latifa Robbana Doghri and Salem Trabelsi to find out how this remarkable documentary was made and why its international premiere at DTFF is significant. QH: Where are you from? LRD & ST: We are from Tunisia. We were born here and we have been living here ever since. QH: Was this your first time directing a film? LRD & ST: Yes, it is our first film after a long career in literature (Latifa is a writer for children and Salem is a novelist and a journalist). QH: Was this your first film at Doha Tribeca Film Festival?

LRD & ST: With the organization of this festival, Qatar has shown the world that even though it has succeeded with its economic development, it does not turn its back to culture, which is considered as an essential element for progress and balance in any society. By having its own festival, Qatar endows itself with an added-value, which is the importance of the cultural message and of the human sense of communication. This festival constitutes an important gain for the region.

QH: What is your film about? LRD & ST: Our film focuses on the portrait of Tunisian women boxers and the way they are perceived by the Arab-Muslim society. QH: Where was your film shot? LRD & ST: Shooting took place in Tunis and its suburbs. QH: What is the main message of your film?

LRD & ST: We wanted to show the QH: How long did it take to make courage of Arab women and their ability to resist backward mentalities. this film?

LRD & ST: This was the first time we were honoured by the Doha festival!

LRD & ST: The production of this film took a QH: What type of audience are you hoping to reach with this little bit more than eight months. film? QH: How do you feel about QH: Why did you become a having your film included in this filmmaker? LRD & ST: Most of the viewers believe in year’s DTFF? the Terence quote: “I am human and nothing LRD & ST: We have always been fascinated of what is human is alien to me.” LRD & ST: We were very pleased to by cinema, which expresses itself through participate in this prestigious festival, which the image and there lies all the magic! QH: What are your plans for your is a reference in the region and in the next project? QH: What inspires you to make world and which has a very good audience LRD & ST: We will continue to make films? in Tunisia. documentaries but we also have other QH: Why is it significant for Qatar LRD & ST: Our source of inspiration is the projects for fiction and animation for children human side of things. to have their own film festival? and we have got one project ready now. 35

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

A slam Dunk Film

Khaled El Hagar

By Sydnee Bryant

If we had to pick one film from last month’s Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) that will resonate for years to come, it would be Salaam Dunk Dunk, a documentary shot in Iraq about the American University of Iraq - Sulaimani (AUIS) women’s basketball team. QH spoke with American director David Fine to find out about a film that features a side of Iraq most people have never seen. QH: Tell us a bit about your film Salaam Dunk. DF: Salaam Dunk shows us the powerful realities of modern-day Iraq - the contagious fear, energy and hope that inevitably accompany political and social change. For these young women, playing basketball means much more than just scoring points; it represents a powerful source of pride and hopeful proof that Iraq will one day be known as more than a war zone. QH: How did you get involved with the film? DF: The man who started the team was a friend of a friend. He went out to Iraq to teach and finish a novel he had started while working on his masters in the U.S. He’d write me these emails about how amazing the kids were at the school and about how he’d been asked to start a women’s basketball team. Then the emails came to be about the practices – how much the girls loved to play. They had so much joy around this new opportunity, but also so many difficult stories from their pasts. Something about these emails made it clear that this would make for a strong film. QH: What was it like working with the cast? DF: The AUIS women’s basketball team are the coolest people on the planet. Please

El shooq/Lust

quote me on that. They are honest, sincere, hard-working young people who, despite concerns about how the film might be received, believe in its message and want others to see it. I cannot thank them enough for allowing me to tell their story. QH: What was the most challenging part of making this film? DF: The most challenging part of making this film was throwing out my notions of what the film was going to be and allowing ourselves to tell the story we captured, not the one we thought we were going to capture before going to Iraq. QH: How do you feel about the film being a part of Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF)? DF: Incredibly honoured. Truly. This was such a fantastic opportunity to show our film at an amazing festival. In some ways, it doesn’t feel entirely real. I can’t thank the festival enough. We knew early on that screening in the Middle East would be an extremely important step, so we’re absolutely through the roof that our International Premiere was in Doha. QH: Why is Salaam Dunk an important film to watch? DF: Salaam Dunk is an important film to watch because people need to begin to look

at Iraq in a different light. In the U.S., all the images we see of Iraq depict violence. Negative images are pervasive. We wanted to make something to counteract those images. We wanted to make a feel good movie about Iraq that didn’t sugarcoat the situation. I think, in many ways, for Iraq to truly move forward will require the world to see Iraq in a new and different light than we have become accustomed. We hope that Salaam Dunk will contribute to this sort of shift in thinking about Iraq.

ARTS & CULTURE

More to see

at Katara

By Jorge Granda

Katara Cultural Village has amazed residents of the country and tourists alike with its unique concept, extraordinary architecture and one-of-akind cultural events. Luckily, there is still much more to be discovered at Qatar’s ultimate cultural hub. QH spoke with Sidonio Costa, the artistic director and head curator of the new Katara Art Center, to find out more about this new addition to Katara Cultural Village.

Photo provided by KAC

he recently-opened Katara Art Center (KAC) aims to become an integral part of Katara Cultural Village’s vision for the development of the arts in the country. “KAC at the Katara Cultural Village is aiming to be the meeting place for creative minds,” Costa said. “With its opening in Doha, we are hoping to create a community of artists, art lovers and, in general, creative minds that are looking for a place to nurture their talent and interest in the arts.”

One of the aspects that will make KAC stand out among the other cultural venues in the country is that all the work to be exhibited is being created by talented artists living in Doha and also from around the world.

The centre’s purpose is to create a dialogue and exchange between artists and their work. “Our education programs and our events are all aimed at enlarging community participation in the processes and dialogues about art in Qatar. KAC Costa’s plan is to create a platform for all will have several educational programs designers, artists and art entrepreneurs in and workshops where different age Doha to express their creativity. The centre groups and sectors of the Qatari society will provide different retail spaces where artists can sell their creations, fashion designs, and community at large can participate and improve both their knowledge photography, literature and art. “Our two of art as their amusement through art galleries will exhibit mainly artists based participating in such events,” Costa said. in Qatar, young talent that deserves to be “Our project is a long-term one, and it is exposed and that can develop their work anchored on our ambition to support the through this exposure and the responsibility nation's development in the arts through that comes attached to it,” Costa said. “As a encouraging the Qatari talent to surpass curator, I will work directly with the artists in helping them review and develop their artistic themselves and reach a quality level akin to the one we can view in any of the practice and ameliorate their artistic creative Qatar neighbouring countries." processes.”

EvEnTs TAKInG PLACE AT KAC In NOvEmbER Event: DTFF Harrer Harrer Video Installation at the Central Courtyard Date: Nov. 12 Time: 10:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. Event: Grand opening party of the Katara Art Center Date: Nov. 17 To receive an invitation, email: info@kataraartcenter.com Event: 1st KAC International Video Art Marathon Exhibition Date: Nov. 17 till Dec 17. Time: 10:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. Event: Dia Al-Azzawi Photography: Images From a Trapped City Date: Nov. 28 till Dec.7 Time: 10:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.kataraartcenter.com 37

F A B R I C A www.benetton.com

AL MANA TOWERS, SUHAIM BIN HAMAD ST., TEL: 44982590 LANDMARK MALL, TEL: 44870248

COMMUNITY

HOTLIST

Crossing Boundaries Lecture Series The Pursuit Sat 19th: Souq Waqif. Register your team of three for a Mathaf-inspired scavenger hunt. After meeting at a home base to receive instructions, teams will seek locations featuring tokens and using Smartphones to snap and upload photos through Twitter. The first team to correctly catalogue the photos claims a prize! From 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information and to register your team, email mathaf_education@qma.org.qa. Deadline for registration is Nov. 15.

Wed 16th: The Atrium at VCUQ. Speaker Bruce Sterling is an American science fiction author, best known for his novels and his work on the Mirrorshades anthology, which helped define the cyberpunk genre. He teaches Internet studies and science fiction at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland and has been the instigator of three projects, ‘The Dead Media Project,’ ‘The Viridian Design Movement’ and ‘Embrace the Decay.’ He won the Hugo Awards for his novelettes Bicycle Repairman and Taklamakan and has also won Clarke and Campbell Awards. This event is free and begins at 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.qatar.vcu.edu or call 4402-0555.

DIYAFA 2011 Tues 22nd – Thurs 24th: Doha Exhibition Center. DIYAFA is the sole hospitality trade show taking place in Qatar. It exclusively caters to showcasing everything that falls under the hospitality umbrella in the country. DIYAFA prides itself on demonstrating the best and latest of what is happening in the hospitality industry, both locally and on an international scale. For more information, visit www.diyafaqatar.com

AWA Holiday Bazaar Sat 19th: Grand Hyatt Doha. Come buy all your holiday goodies at the annual American Women’s Association Holiday Bazaar. Explore dozens of booths featuring holiday decorations, handmade crafts, jewelry, baked goods, artwork, gifts, local businesses and so much more! Advance tickets are QR 10; at the door, tickets are QR 20. From 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information, email president@awaqatar.com.

Children of Gaza Wed 2nd – Thurs 3rd: The VCU Gallery, VCUQ. Featuring the work of artists Giuseppe Aquili, Jim McFarlane, Anthony Dawton and Dia Azzawi for the benefit of the Save the Children Fund. Curated by Anthony Dawton and Dia Azzawi. The event is free and opens at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.qatar.vcu. edu or call 4402-0555. 39

SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY

Born to Play By Sydnee Bryant

Craving some good, old-fashioned competition on the football field? Then get ready to cheer on the teams in the Qatar International Amateur Football League. Or, better yet, join one yourself! QH shakes off our cleats and hit the field with the Alba FC team, one of the league’s most enthusiastic teams.

ichael Brady and Simon Joss love football. Like, really, really love it. They also love their home country, Scotland. So for the two friends, combining those passions into one awesome activity was only natural. The best way to do that so far away from home? Finding other Scots who share their passion for the game. That shouldn’t be hard, since in Scotland playing football is about as natural as breathing and a passion for the sport is instilled into youth at an early age. “As soon as you can walk, you start playing football in Scotland,” Brady said.

The League Brady and Joss are both a part of the Alba FC team, which is a member of the Qatar International Amateur Football League (QIAFL). Brady coaches the Alba FC team, while Joss tears up the field as captain. QIAFL started five years ago but did not run last year, as the massive Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup took over the majority of the football pitches in Qatar. Last month, season four of the QIAFL begun, with

approximately 12 teams joining up. Joss hopes that over time QIAFL will continue to expand until it reaches 16 teams. The QIAFL doesn’t have any restrictions - players can join any team they want, although players tend to stick with either their friends or their countrymen. Each team in the league operates under their own system, so things can vary from team to team. Brady is a long-time football player and coach that recently switched solely to coaching. As the coach of the Alba FC team, Brady runs the training sessions and coaches the players. He also picks the squads for the games – 16 players per game. The team has a pool of about 75 players on their distribution list but usually has a team of about 20 players. While the majority of the players on Alba FC are Scottish, some of the players are from other countries. They’d like to recruit more Scottish players but will take players of any nationality for the team to play in the league. “Brady and I are very competitive so we want to bring in good players but

SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY

“As soon as you can walk, you start playing football in Scotland.”

we’re not going to turn people away who are willing to try hard,” Joss said. “There’s no age limit. We’re always looking for people to assist us in training and we’re always looking for numbers.”

The Challenges

Photos provided by Alba FC

The Alba FC team, and likely the majority of the teams in the league, face the same challenges: volunteers, funding and facilities. It costs each team QR 10,000 to be a part of the league each year. The fee covers the cost of the practice stadium, football pitches, water, supplies, etcetera. For the Alba FC team, the cost is divided amongst the players, so the price varies depending on how many players are on the team each season. Players for the Alba FC team need to provide their own footwear and shin pads but the training equipment and strips are supplied. Finding proper facilities in Doha can be a bit of a headache. “We found it very challenging to be awarded facilities,” Joss said. “For the first three years, we were awarded the College of the North Atlantic. We were very grateful but it was a solid surface. It was Astroturf and many injuries occurred. Because of health reasons, it wasn’t ideal.” They started negotiating with Aspire to use a pitch there. This season, they will play at a football pitch at Aspire.

Another struggle the league faces is getting officials to officiate the matches, said Joss. Each team appoints a few representatives to officiate the matches. However, because the league is getting bigger and more people want to play in it rather than officiate, it’s getting a bit difficult to find enough people to officiate, said Joss. “The cost of getting league officials from QSL or FIFA is not within our budget, obviously,” Joss said. Still, having the proper amount of officials is important to everyone. “It’s very much an amateur league but we try to make it as official as possible,” Joss said.

How to Get Involved People can get involved in several ways – as a player or a social member. Social members join in on the training sessions on Fridays but aren’t members of the league and don’t play in games. Players sign up in the fall but then in January, players can sign up for clubs or swap clubs. But people can get involved any time of the year. The Alba FC team has a group of supportive friends, coworkers and partners that come out to watch their games. “It’s good fun. The facilities are good enough for the spectators to enjoy the game,” Joss said. Joss, who has been in Doha for three-anda-half years, sees his role as captain of the team as a way to contribute to the team that has given him so much joy. “It’s nice to give something back,” Joss said. “I love to compete and the adrenaline [from playing football].” 41

SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY

The Alba FC Team The Alba FC team is hardcore, with practices every Friday morning. They train at Doha Stadium from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Anyone is welcome to join their training sessions, even if they don’t want to participate in the matches. The biggest challenge when training is adapting to the heat in Doha, said Brady. “We’ve got players that have played at a decent level back home but after one training session, can barely move because of the heat,” Brady said. He leads the team through a lot of fitness work with a football. As the season goes on, Brady looks for areas of weakness in the players and works on those things during the next training session. Although training is often tough because of the heat, Brady tries to make it as fun for the players as possible.

Why Play? Being a part of a team is a great way to meet other people in Doha that you might not normally come across in your daily life, said Brady. “This gives us an amazing chance to meet engineers, interior designers, all kind of different people from different countries and different areas of Scotland, who all love football and share that passion,” Brady said. “It’s been great for me and gives you something else to do, to get away from the stress of [work].” The QIAFL season runs from October to February, with a break mid-December. The team with the most points at the end of the season wins. The league is a major benefit to Qatar because it increases Qatar’s exposure to the outside world, said Joss. “Now that Qatar has been awarded the World Cup 2022, there’s going to be so many countries and cultures that are going to be coming to Qatar, that they have to expose those people to football now by offering extracurricular activities, so that people outside of Aspire and QSL are

interested in football,” Joss said. The QIAFL will help put Qatar’s name on the map for offering these services to everyone.

The scotland-England Game For Joss and Brady, the highlight of each year is the Scotland-England game, a long-standing tradition that has gone on for decades and takes place every March. “It’s either the best day of your life or the worst day of your life, as a Scotsman,” Joss said. He’s won two of the matches and lost one. The game revolves around the long-time friendly rivalry between Scotland and England; for this reason, only British players are allowed to participate in the game, regardless of what team they play for. If there are any Scottish players on other teams in the league, they are welcome to join Alba for the Scotland-England game, said Joss. More than just a game, the Scotland-England match is a good day for families to bond, said Joss. The all-day event starts with the players going for breakfast as a team. Then they do training and plan strategy before the big game starts. Joss hopes to play the match at the Aspire Dome this year. Historically, the turnout for the match has been high, around 1,500 people. “With the right marketing and the right push, getting the expat community involved a bit more and families involved a bit more, we should get a decent crowd,” Joss said. After the game is over and the victors have hosted the giant trophy, there is a formal ball for both teams. “We’re all good friends, on both teams,” Joss said. “I have a lot of respect for them and they have a lot of respect for us. We reflect on the match and reflect on the season as a whole.” For more information about the QIAFL, visit www.qiafl.com. For more information about the Alba FC team, email Michael Brady at mikeyb1111@hotmail.com.

SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY

DiAbETES in Doha By Sydnee Bryant

November is Diabetes Awareness month. QH spoke with Dr. Amel Adam Mustafa, head of health care at the Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), to find out more about this disease and how to get involved in the annual Diabetes Walk. QH: November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Why is it important to have a month to recognize this disease? AM: We concentrate our efforts in educating the people during this month to fulfill the the key messages of the campaign which are: • Know the diabetes risks and know the warning signs • Know how to respond to diabetes and who to turn to • Know how to manage diabetes and take control

AM: More than 12 years. QH: How long have you been involved with the walk for? AM: I personally have been involved in the diabetes walk for nine years now. QH: What is your role with the Diabetes Walk?

QH: When and where is the Diabetes Walk?

AM: My role, from a medical point of view, is to make the people with diabetes walk safely by testing their blood and managing the acute problems, if there are any. Also, in case there are any inquiries about diabetes, we answer them. Usually there are different books available (diabetes educations, dietary advises, blood testing, etcetera).

AM: Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Doha Corniche.

QH: What are some symptoms of diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)?

QH: What is the purpose of the Diabetes Walk?

AM: Symptoms are the same for both types, which are: frequent urination, unusual thirst, extreme hunger, unusual weight loss and extreme fatigue and irritability.

AM: The walk draws people together in a healthy activity for a worthy cause, raising awareness about diabetes and supporting a family member or a friend who lives with diabetes or is at risk to have diabetes. Above all, it's an event you will feel good about being a part of. QH: How long has the Diabetes Walk been in Qatar for?

QH: What causes diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)? AM: For Type 1, it is autoimmune, in which the beta-cells gets destructed and no insulin is produced, which is essential to carry the sugar to the cell. In Type 2, the pancreas secretes insulin but there is resistance,

making it not effective in controlling the blood sugar. QH: What are some ways to prevent diabetes? AM: Early screening, diet control and exercise. QH: Are there high rates of gestational diabetes in Qatar? AM: Yes, the rates are very high. QH: How is gestational diabetes different from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes? QH: Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but have high blood sugar during pregnancy. This happens because of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy causing resistance to insulin, leading to high blood sugar.

The Diabetes Walk takes place Nov. 18 at the Doha Corniche. For more information about the Qatar Diabetes Association, visit www.qda.org.qa

COMMUNITY

Asian Flavour Added to DTFF By Khalifa Saleh Haroon

Khalifa Saleh Haroon, co-founder of iloveqatar.net, spoke with Carlo Jerome, the male lead actor from the independent Filipino film I Love You Ma’am, to find out how the first-ever Southeast Asian film to show at Doha Tribeca Film Festival (DTFF) came to be. ILQ: What is I Love You Ma’am about? CJ: It was the first-ever Southeast Asian Film entry in the Doha Tribeca Film Festival. ILQ: Is the plot based on real life? CJ: The story was conceptualized by Carlo Yan, based on a true story of an Filipino expat working in Hamad Hospital, who was separated [from his love] in the Philippines. ILQ: Who wrote the screenplay?

CJ: I Love Qatar has always been a great supporter of different communities. We approached them to help us spread the word about what we were doing and to provide us with some financial support, as well to help fund the idea. We’re so proud to have iLoveQatar.net and our other sponsors (Qatar UAE Exchange, MediaCom, Golden Relations, Team, Inihaw Republik, Jolibee, Aqua Park and Simply Pinoy) support our small dream. ILQ: Is this the first film you’ve ever made?

CJ: Janix Pacle write the screen play and he is also the director of the film.

CJ: This is the first ever film that I’ve produced and acted in as the leading actor. The director and editor have already done several films before.

ILQ: What inspired you to make this film?

ILQ: Did your experiences in Qatar help shape this film?

CJ: The inspiration of the film is to have a official entry from the Philippines and to give Doha Tribeca Film Festival an Asianstyle film.

CJ: It definitely helped us to finish this film because knowing people in the community helped us to have a connection to various people and access to different agencies that help us.

ILQ: Where did you shoot the film? CJ: Young Achievers Montessori School and Philippine School of Doha in Qatar. ILQ: What were the different steps of making this film? CJ: Conceptualization, brainstorming, looking for funds, shooting and editing. ILQ: How did community groups, such as I Love Qatar, help out with the making of this film?

ILQ: What makes this film unique? CJ: The concept of the film is very unique and its story in its entirety, compared to the usual Arabic films that were featured in the past Doha Tribeca Film Festivals. ILQ: What kind of audience will enjoy watching I Love You Ma’am? CJ: We expect the whole Filipino community to watch, as well as other

nationalities that wants to experience and watch a Filipino-style film. ILQ: Will the film be screened in the Philippines? CJ: We already contacted film distributors in the Philippines that will help us to show this in the Philippine cinema movie house. ILQ: Are you planning on shooting any future projects here in Qatar? CJ: We already shooting our next film, titled VOICE TAPE. I Love You Ma’am was directed by Janix Pacle and produced by Paolo Carlo Gorriceta. For more information on the film, visit www.iloveqatar.net/forum/ 47

FOOD

HOTLIST

Thanksgiving Dinner Extravaganza Sun 20th - Sat 26th: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Unwind with friends and family at The Lagoon Restaurant and indulge in a luxurious buffet, and a lively yet relaxed atmosphere. Complimentary Ritz-Kids Corner available for children aged four years to 12 years old. From 7:00 p.m. till 10:30 p.m. QR 180 per adult and QR 90 for children aged six to twelve years old. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Chopstix Brunch Fridays: Holiday Villa Doha. Enjoy this splendid spread with an array of Chinese and Japanese delicacies served with steamed or fried dumplings, spring rolls, steamed buns, sushi and teppanyaki and a free flow of Chinese tea. For more information, call 4408-4310 or email nurina@holidayvilladoha.com

Eid Al-Adha Lunch Mon 7th - Wed 9th: Kempinski. Aroma is offering a delicious selection of dishes in celebration of this wonderful occasion. Dine for only QR 195 per person, including juice, coffee and Arabic sweets. For more information, call 4405-3325 or email aroma.doha@kempinski.com or visit the website www.kempinski.com/doha

Cupcake Carnival Fri 4th: W Doha. W Cafe stages its cupcake carnival, featuring all-you-can-eat cupcakes, plus a beverage. First sitting: 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m.; second sitting: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Child price: QR 70, adult price: QR 100. For more information, call 4453-5385 or BBM: 275987BC.

Chopsticks Business Lunch Saturdays, Sundays and Tuesdays to Thursdays: Wyndham Grand Regency. This offers the ideal solution for busy professionals: a variety of distinctive modern Asian Food presented in an exceptional three-course menu. Daily changing set menu, which should be served in only 59 minutes for QR 59. Otherwise, you get it for free! From 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. For more information, call 4434-3203 or 4434-3333 or email sdesilva@wyndham.com. 49

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

roundup

壽司 SUSHI Best

By The QH Team

QH has ordained 2011 the Year of the Roundup. This means we’ll be scouting out restaurants, coffee shops, cafes and hotels all over Doha to find the best of the best in the food and beverage industry. This month, we bring you the best sushi in Doha. We sampled sushi, sashimi, nigiri, maki and hand rolls at 15 – count ‘em! – 15 places around Doha to find the most sublime sushi around.

Market at W Doha Pull up a seat at the sushi bar in Market and watch the restaurant’s sushi artists pull fresh fish off of the ice display and slice and roll them into creative, delicious sushi and sashimi. Pour yourself some delicate homemade soy sauce and put a dollop of spicy mayonnaise, also made in-house, on your plate and prepare to savour everything from tempura hand rolls to bbq eel and avocado rolls. Guests can also ask for custom maki rolls if nothing on the menu catches their fancy. Devour the spicy crisp deep fried crab. The crispiness adds a wow factor and even though this dish is deep fried, it’s not oily; the extremely fresh crab retains a delicate taste. The spicy tuna maki packs a kick – it’s definitely only for the adventurous eater! Overall, the high-quality fish and flavourful spicy mayonnaise elevate Market’s sushi to another level. The fried garlic sprinkled on the rolls is also an amazing addition to what can already be considered outstanding sushi.

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

壽司 Brassiere on the Beach at Four Seasons Doha While Brassiere on the Beach is the hotel’s main outlet for sushi, guests can order the Japanese treat from any of the hotel’s outlets, if they so desire. At the moment, Brassiere is undergoing renovations, so the restaurant’s operations have relocated to a tent just outside of the hotel. Next time you find yourself in any of the hotel’s elegant outlets, order up a platter of traditional but yummy sushi and sashimi. The chefs at Four Seasons Doha whip up everything from smoked salmon and eel topped with tobiko to a vegetarian California roll. The sushi is all beautifully presented, especially the crazy roll with egg. The chefs take what is a fairly basic maki and turn into a visual delicacy. The salmon sushi is light and fresh, while the octopus sashimi is amazing and unique. The crispy salmon tempura maki is also a favourite. The spicy tamaki is bold – the tuna tartare filling is definitely a spicy treat. The rice in the vegetarian tamaki is perfectly cooked and holds itself together well, a trademark of high-quality rice.

D'Chopstix at Holiday Villa

This Japanese and Chinese restaurant offers up generous portions of traditional sushi, such as unagi sushi, squid sushi, tamago sushi, foto maki, shiko maki and kappa maki. The inari sushi, which is rice wrapped with tofu and sweet mushrooms, is delicately sweet. The texture is interesting – chewy on the outside but soft on the inside. Overall, this vegetarian roll is very good. The California maki roll has crab, veggies and avocado on the inside and salmon on the outside, resulting in a great taste. This unique take on the California roll is a playful, hearty treat. The tobiko sushi is very interesting, with lots of roe, chewy rice and an explosion of briny flavour. The fresh shrimp sushi has a bite to it and the salmon sushi is superbly fresh, with really good rice.

Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar at Ramada Plaza

This classic sushi joint features a teppanyaki bar in the middle of the room but also offers tables and bar seats, so you always have a great view of your fresh sushi being prepared by expert chefs. Start with a yummy Philadelphia House roll, with Scottish smoked salmon, cream cheese and avocado. This generous roll offers a creamy mixture of sweet salmon and cream cheese. Those who love spicy food will adore the spicy salmon maki, which is absolutely amazing. Adorned with Japanese chili oil, the authentic spiciness of this maki is super delicious, plus the spice is gently introduced to your tongue so your mouth doesn’t catch fire. The tempura maki, which consists of deep fried prawns rolled with iceberg lettuce and a touch of Japanese mayonnaise, is firm and crispy, with a hint of teriyaki. The tempura filling is deep fried but the rice remains moist. Admire the sakura blossom-shaped maki before devouring this very traditional but always satisfying sushi. If you’re really hungry, try a Sakura Special – eight pieces of different kinds of sushi nigiri and 13 slices of sashimi, with two different varieties of kappa and tekka maki.

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

壽司 Best SUSHI roundup Neo at Salwa Road

This cozy restaurant is a staple in the sushi scene in Doha. Neo offers a huge menu and a special sushi buffet every Sunday and Tuesday, starting at 9:00 p.m. and offering all-you-can-eat sushi for a reasonable price. With a new menu starting this fall, Neo is sure to surprise its guests again and again, while still delighting them with old favourites, such as the crunchy, light cucumber maki, tuna salad maki, ebi maki, Canadian maki, and the spicy black dragon maki with tuna and black sesame seeds, not to mention the amazing spicy salmon maki. The crazy crab maki is a crowd-pleaser, with a nice, light coating of sesame seeds. The mouth-watering, heaven-sent Philadelphia maki features salmon, Philadelphia cream cheese and asparagus. The Playboy maki has a good mixture of textures, with avocado, cream cheese, shrimp and cucumber, resulting in a multi-faceted, robust sushi. Devour huge portions of salmon and tuna sashimi, cut fresh at the sushi bar in the middle of the restaurant. The flavour of the exotic maki will hit you right away and take your breath away. The vegetarian maki, with asparagus, carrot wrapped in rice and coated with parsley, is a mild and crunchy treat.

The Café Restaurant at InterContinental Doha

This restaurant features a sushi bar for both lunch and dinner every day. Watch as the sushi bar chef prepares a variety of sushi and sashimi for you to enjoy. Take your pick of flower-shaped salmon sashimi, fresh tuna and tempura sushi. For something really unusual, try the smoked eel sushi, which has a lingering flow of flavour. The duck breast with fois gras is a salty treat. The figs provide a rich, unique flavour and the cool sensation of the fois gras dances over your tongue. The salmon nigiri has a fresh, light taste. The spicy tuna is a fun maki; the chili flakes create a welcoming warmth while you devour bite after bite of delicious sushi. The soba maki, which has Japanese soba noodles wrapped around it, has an interesting texture and a slightly salty flavour. It’s definitely the most visually interesting sushi at the sushi bar. 52

Sushi Yen at La Cigale

Sushi Yen at La Cigale consists of a sushi bar with a conveyor belt bringing sushi goodies to guests seated around the tall bar. The chefs create huge portions of beautifully presented fresh sushi, so prepare to fill your belly with fish. Start your sushi journey with a huge, delicious Philadelphia ura maki. The fresh salmon nigri is intensely satisfying, especially with a wedge of lemon squeezed over it. The deep fried scallops are very tender and the Japanese mayo provides a different level of flavour. The sashimi salad is out of this world; the capers add crunchy texture and the tuna, salmon and white fish sashimi is tender, with a delicate taste, making it ideal for a sensitive palate. The crab salad is both intense and light; you don’t have to eat a lot to feel full or experience a ton of flavour. For a spicy delight that melts in your mouth, try the marinated scallops. The tempura maki is amazing, with a unique seasoning and dressing, plus a crisp flavour. The fried futo maki is firm and the deep coating adds to the overall flavour of the fresh fish. The deep fried eel and salmon is light but the flavours of this meaty, crispy dish complete each other without overwhelming the palate.

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

壽司 Chopsticks

at Wyndham Grand Regency

Chopsticks offers a special sushi menu, in addition to their sushi fiesta night (an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet) every Saturday. Try a variety of sushi, including magura, shake, ebi, unagi, Majuro maki, shake maki and ebi maki. Bite into a delicious naked maki, which consists of salmon and avocado. Other gems include tobiko maki, which is flying fish, egg and cucumber; tobiko California, which is crabstick, cucumber, avocado, flying fish and egg; crazy California, which is crabstick, cucumber, avocado and kani salad; or crispy California, which is cucumber, avocado and crispy tempura. Try the sesame California maki, which is crabstick, cucumber, avocado and sesame seed. This fresh maki is crunchy, light and not overwhelming. The salmon sushi is simple but good. The tasty eel maki features deep fried eel, which is delicious but still light. For something simple but amazing, try the salmon sushi or the avocado maki, which has a creamy texture and stunning taste.

Asia Live! At Marriott Doha Our sushi journey starts with a demonstration on how to properly use our chopsticks, something we desperately need. Once we figure out how to use them, we scoop up the spicy tuna maki, which is really good, with a burst of spiciness. The smoked salmon maki with crunchy cucumber inside is sure to please the pickiest of palates. All of the sushi features Japanese rice, made in-house everyday with authentic Japanese vinegar. With big portions and intriguing concepts, this sushi menu will both excite and fulfill you. The restaurant will soon offer a new sushi menu, complete with exciting items such as the rainbow row and the crazy dragon. The rainbow row is destined to become a favourite, with fruit and avocado wrapped with rice. The strawberry on the outside provides sweetness, while the raspberry, avocado and kiwi on the inside gives the sushi a burst of intense flavour. The crazy dragon features eel and avocado. This special sushi will convert even those who aren’t fans of eel with its soft, not chewy, texture.

Al Dana

at Sharq Village and Spa

The fresh fish market in Al Dana provides plenty of tasty ingredients for the sushi and sashimi at this tranquil restaurant overlooking the beach. The restaurant offers a variety of Japanese delights, including volcano spicy crab with mayo and crispy salmon skin, seaweeds flack with Philadelphia cream cheese and asparagus, vegetarian mango with pepper, takuan and asparagus, California crabstick with avocado and cucumber and tempura prawn with Japanese mayo and sesame seeds. The cucumber and mango maki is fresh, light and citrusy. The fascinating mango sushi is so ridiculously good that we can’t believe it’s not on every sushi menu on the planet. The velvety smooth unagi comes with a special barbeque sauce with a hint of sweetness. The spicy tuna maki has a smooth texture, smoky taste and perfectly cooked rice. The octopus is firm, providing a nice contrast to the rice. For a totally refreshing treat, try the California maki or the cucumber California roll, which is covered in crunchy sesame seeds. End your sushi feast with a spicy tuna roll tobiko – the contrast of flavours creates a heightened sushi experience.

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

壽司 Best SUSHI roundup The Jazz Club at Oryx Rotana

This hip jazz club offers a sushi special every Saturday night, aptly named Jazz on Sushi. For only QR 220, you can gorge on unlimited sushi, including salmon and tuna sashimi, tuna tataki, salmon, tuna and eel nigiri, gunkan sushi and hand rolls. The salmon hand roll with roe has salty explosions of flavour. The salmon sashimi is tender and thick, while the salmon nigiri is fresh and light. For something slightly more exotic, try the rainbow roll, dragon roll or sumomasen roll. A must-try pick is the dragon roll with eel. The creamy texture of the avocado and the subtle sweetness of the eel melts in your mouth and doesn’t taste too “fishy.” Vegetarians and veggie lovers alike can feast on cucumber maki, avocado maki, vegetable fiesta and asparagus nigiri. All of the veggie maki are very smooth and light, making them the perfect accompaniment to any sushi platter.

Blue at Grand Heritage Doha Sushi is one of the main focuses of this hip restaurant, and they really know how to tantalize our taste buds. The flavours of the sushi speak for themselves, so you barely need wasabi, ginger or soy sauce. Start with salmon maki with avocado and salmon tartare for sushi that is very daring but still within the bounds of normalcy. Try some lobster maki with shrimp and avocado, plus poached lobster on top. The vegetables nicely complement the flavour of the sushi. Enjoy a crunchy roll with avocado inside and crab on top for something satisfying but exquisite. One of the most original and delicious rolls is the chicken teriyaki roll with mushrooms, asparagus, carrots and teriyaki sauce. With a crunchy exterior and tender interior, this roll will delight your palate. The scallop maki offers a surprising twist, courtesy of the Japanese chili oil. The crispy shrimp roll with king oysters, mushrooms and miso mayonnaise is coated in a seasoned, slightly salty breading. The playful textures of this sushi will surprise you with every bite. The sweet and salty fois gras maki is so good you’ll want to keep it all to yourself, so shield your plate from would-be sushi thieves.

Megu

at the Pearl-Qatar

This high-end Japanese restaurant is all about presentation. From the freshly grated wasabi to an enchanting Japanese garden ice igloo filled with sashimi, Megu is all about being visually entertaining. Our ice igloo held king salmon sashimi, yellowtail sashimi, hammour sashimi and ohtoro sashimi. These super-fresh, high-quality sashimi don’t disappoint; the generous slices melt in your mouth. The hammour sashimi is delightful and the ohtoro is amazing. Aside from the fancy ice igloo, there is a variety of sushi to enjoy. Special house rolls include the spicy salmon belly, salmon and avocado and the spicy yellowtail maki. The sensational spicy yellowtail maki, coated in sesame seeds, is incredible, with a light but pleasing spice. The individual flavours of the salmon and avocado maki are very both prominent but don’t overpower each other. But the roll that will really blow your mind is the spicy crispy shrimp maki. The firm nori holds the roll together, allowing you to chew it; the flavours come out with every bite. Each nibble is a different flavour, including nori, crispy shrimp and spicy mayo. The raw grated wasabi adds a hint of sweetness to the sushi, while the wasabi paste provides a spicy, nutty addition.

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

壽司 L’wzaar Seafood Market at Katara Cultural Village This massive fish market has a huge display of fresh fish on ice ready to be gobbled up. Head a little further into the restaurant and you’ll find a sushi bar. Pull up a stool and watch the Japanese chef create sushi, sashimi and maki for you. Try the light, yummy tuna sushi or the cushiony soft scallops sushi. All of the sushi, including salmon, hammour, prawn and sweet prawn, come with a wallop of wasabi between the rice and fish, so be prepared for a kick! There is a variety of maki, including the outstanding tempura spicy shrimp maki. While it is very spicy, the prawns are lovely and the batter is absolutely delicious. The Japanese salad maki contains an intriguing mix of crab, veggies and roe, plus a creamy sauce. This mega spicy maki is not for the faint of heart! The California roll contains crab and asparagus and is decorated with roe on the outside. This fresh maki is crunchy but not at all spicy, so it's good for those who don’t care for spicy food. The Japanese pickles maki is crunchy and slightly sour; it’s an interesting take on both pickles and sushi.

Issan at Grand Hyatt Doha This Thai restaurant features a sushi station during their Friday morning brunch. Issan puts an interesting spin on sushi by using soy wrapping instead of nori for some rolls. Chef Dan teaches us how to make sushi, step by step. He wraps some of his rolls with the brightly-coloured sheets of soy, while we stick to the traditional nori. Rolls range from tuna and cucumber maki to crab, tobiko and cucumber maki with Japanese mayo and a coating of sesame seeds. Our personal triumphs include a lovely, light avocado and carrot maki with Japanese mayo and wasabi. This creamy, crunchy maki is slightly sweet and oh-so-good. Chef Dan’s best creation is the soft shell crab with lettuce and tobiko maki. This wonderful roll is crunchy on the outside and meaty on the inside, creating a rich mix of textures. Other great rolls include the hearty avocado and salmon rolled in rice and topped with tobiko, tuna salad maki with chives and egg salad maki. The soft texture of the tuna salad melts in your mouth, whereas the egg salad maki is fresh and light. Both rolls present familiar flavours in new ways.

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

Endless Choices By Sydnee Bryant

Where to go for a quick lunch often leads to brawls in the QH office. To solve our issues and find a consensus, we decide to add some variety to our lunchtime routine. QH picks up its chopsticks and digs into not one, not two but three different business lunches at D’Chopstix in Holiday Villa.

here is no lack of choices at D’Chopstix when you check out their extensive lunch menu. The sunny restaurant offers two types of set menus for lunch – Chinese and Japanese. But the choices don’t end there – within each type of set menu, there is a huge selection of choices to be made. The Japanese set menu alone is broken down into four categories – bento box, teppanyaki set, donburi monot and men rui.

spicy beef, ginger duck, five-spice lamb and chicken with yam is tricky but in the end, we all vote for the five-spice lamb. The braised lamb is slightly spicy, with star anise flavour in the sauce. This very traditional dish is mixed with veggies, including some of the most delicious mushrooms known to man.

It turns out to be one of the best versions of egg fried rice we’ve ever tasted.

The Chinese business set lunch allows guests to choose between wok fried chicken or beef, The mushrooms in the clay pot soak up all wok fried prawns, squid or fish fillet, deep the flavour from the lamb sauce, leaving fried crispy boneless chicken, a clay pot dish, them tender and tasty, with an underlying roasted duck or noodles. All of those main sweetness and subtle spice. For soup, we course options come with soup (chicken try the sweet, thick sweet corn soup. From mushroom, sweet corn chicken or hot and the first sip, this hearty soup is an instant sour), egg fried rice or steamed rice and comfort food. The egg fried rice is stunning, dessert. Diners can also pick their favourite with tons of flavour. It turns out to be one sauce to go with the main course. Options of the best versions of egg fried rice we’ve include sweet and sour sauce, black pepper ever tasted. sauce, Kong Poh sauce, ginger and spring onion sauce, barbeque sauce, lemon sauce, The Japanese set menu is almost mango chili sauce … and the list goes on. overwhelming. We try two of the types of lunches within the Japanese set – the For our Chinese set lunch, we go with a Bento set and the teppanyaki set. The clay pot dish. Choosing between hot and bento box offers a choice of chicken, beef,

mackerel, salmon, tori katsu (deep fried chicken) or gyu katsu (deep fried beef). Guests can dig into a delicious main course, along with miso soup, salad, pickles, garlic fried rice and fruit. We pick the deep fried chicken bento box. The light, crunchy chicken is hearty without being too much. The salad is sensational, with an amazingly tangy but not too strong dressing. The miso soup is interesting, with a delicate, woodsy flavour. For our teppanyaki set, we try the shake (salmon). The salmon is nicely cooked and perfectly light, with a slightly sweet sauce. The salmon is also served with a generous helping of miso soup, garlic fried rice and fresh salad. After endless choices and an extreme amount of delicious food, we are relieved we don’t have to make any choices when it comes to dessert; each set lunch comes with fresh fruit. We dig into watermelon, honeydew and pineapple, while enjoying a cup of delicate green tea. We head back to the office, full and satisfied, no brawls necessary.

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

Al Mourjan Food Corner Compiled by Sydnee Bryant

Ashraf A. Raad, chief executive chef and cuisine concept chef at Al Mourjan, shares his favourite recipes with QH in his new food column. This month, Chef Ashraf explains how to make Chicken, Avocado and Strawberry Salad.

Chicken, Avocado and Strawberry Salad Ingredients

Half an iceberg lettuce / Lollo Rosa lettuce 8 oz / 225 g strawberries 1 avocado 4 boneless chicken breasts, skinned ½ tbsp / 10 g butter 1 tsp curry powder 1 tsp dried thyme Salt and pepper For the dressing: 3 tbsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp lemon juice 3 tbsp sunflower oil 1 tbsp rapeseed oil Salt and pepper

Method

• To make the dressing, put the vinegar, lemon juice, sunflower and rapeseed oil in a large bowl and mix together. Season with salt and pepper. • Tear the lettuce leaves into bite-size pieces and arrange on serving plates. Hull and slice the strawberries. Slice the avocado in half lengthways and slice the flesh. • Add the avocado and strawberries to the dressing and carefully mix together. • Slice the chicken into strips. Heat the butter in a skillet. Add the chicken slices and fry gently for about five minutes until lightly browned on all sides and cooked through. • Add the curry powder and thyme to the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Cook gently for a further four-to-five minutes until the chicken is tender. • Arrange the meat on top of the lettuce. Pour dressed avocado and strawberries on top and serve at once. 58

for information call : 44864747

Buy 1 main course get 1 appetizer free N:QH128 VALID UNTIL 31/12 NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFERS

FOOD

Bread and Bagels - Beach Tower

By Jennifer Gray, ILQ community member

Iloveqatar.net, one of Qatar’s most informative websites, reviews Bread and Bagels in Beach Tower for Dine Out Doha. When we first arrived in Doha in August of 2009, I had no idea what to expect. I was pleased to find that almost everything I was used to was available and easy to find at the grocery stores. Everything except … bagels! So when I heard a rumor that a store called Bread and Bagels would be opening in Doha, I was pretty excited. They’ve been open for quite a while now and I’ve been a frequent patron. So I thought it was about time I reviewed this amazing place.

rating Rate it on www.iloveqatar.net

crisp romaine lettuce, fresh croutons and parmesan, plus chicken or prawns, if you’d like. My husband enjoys their chicken curry salad (notice a trend with my husband?).

just need to ask for the password. I will continue to order lunch from Bread and Bagels and stop in on the weekend when I’m in the West Bay.

Lastly, if you have a sweet tooth, you won’t You should check them out if you haven’t be disappointed here! They have a delicious already! carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, crushed walnuts, and sultanas in the cake. Address: Beach Tower It’s moist and so delicious! They also offer Ground Floor cheesecake, both plain and Oreo, along with brownies and an assortment of muffins. Enjoy Telephone: 4411-0041 it with some of their coffee (hot or iced) and Website: www.breadandbagels.com you’ll be craving more. Attire: Casual They have a super-friendly staff, who are Accepts Yes fast and efficient. They are always ready to Credit Cards: assist you however you need it. They found it Parking: Yes amusing that I took pictures of my breakfast.

Bread and Bagels offers takeaway and delivery - everything from bagels, to sandwiches, muffins, pizza and desserts! On the weekend, they offer a brunch special of eggs (however you like them cooked), baked beans, sausage, beef bacon, orange juice and a muffin, all for only QR 49. I ordered this and it was fantastic! Plus, it is such a steal at that price. If you’re looking for a lowI keep in touch with Bread and Bagels on key place to have coffee and brunch with Twitter, and once I had mentioned I was friends on the weekend, this is a perfect stopping there on my way to a haircut. As it place for that. turned out, the pool above them had fallen and their ceiling was leaking, so they were I also order delivery for lunch at my work weekly from Bread and Bagels, and they’re closed. But they set aside a muffin for me! They even sent it over to the hair salon for always quick and efficient. I love their me to enjoy it there! That was amazing Halloumi Pesto on an Everything bagel. It service; I’ve been equally impressed with has sundried tomatoes and the halloumi is always cooked perfectly. My husband loves them ever since. They’re eager to make their guests happy and will do whatever it their Chicken Curry, also on an Everything bagel. I always get the side of potato salad, takes! and it reminds me of home. If you’re in the West Bay area, check them I’ve also had their salads - I love the Caesar out in Beach Tower. They have outside and indoor seating and free Wi-Fi; you salad. The dressing is fantastic, with

Price Range:

Low - nothing over QR 50

Good for Groups:

Yes

Good for Kids:

Yes

Takes Reservations:

Yes

Delivery:

Yes

Takeaway:

Yes

Waiter Service:

Yes

Wheelchair Accessible:

Yes

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

The

Mediterranean

Spirit By Charlie Gandelman

Mediterranean food is familiar, comforting and inherently safe. But can it also be bold and adventurous without losing the essence of the cuisine? QH dines at Figus, the newest Italian restaurant in Doha, to find out.

ine Italian dining can challenge even the most accomplished chef. Italian cuisine, the universal comfort food, the choice for diners who know what they love and want what they know, features inherent creative limitations. Chefs can only be so daring, they can only be so experimental, before the beloved recipes we adore become alien imposters on our plate.

But the Grand Heritage Doha’s newlyopened Figus, inspired by the cuisine of the Sardinian island, has found a unique solution to this creative conundrum: resident chef Vittorio Cudrano. While most master chefs spend their formative years in a prestigious cooking school, Cudrano was engineering robots and microchips. When he decided to enter the competitive world of Italian fine dining, his analytical, scientific background provided him a natural leg up, as he fashioned adventurous, bold but thoroughly Italian 62

creations. The wondrous offerings of Figus are a testament that Italian food can be fresh, exciting and different—while still satisfying our primordial Italian urges. A cursory glance at the menu hints that Figus may validate its promise of offering a modern twist on traditional Italian. This is the clichéd promise of nearly every restaurant these days. But the food allays any skepticism. From the moment the tuxedoed waiters present the appetizers, to the final spoonful of molten chocolate cake, the food dazzles with creativity, robust flavours and that ever-important Italian familiarity. The first appetizer, a myrtle breaded tuna roast with tomato and basil, takes me by surprise. Its futuristic appearance seems to draw inspiration from the Doha skyline. The tuna roast stands upright like a rectangular prism, towering over its neighbouring

tomato-bruschetta saucer. Technically marvelous, visually stunning, the type of creation you regret destroying with fork and knife, this is tuna of the future. But its essence isn’t its appearance, but its flavour. The perfectly tender, pink, slightly warm tuna meat is slightly smoky, its myrtle breaded crust seasoning every bite for a thoroughly rich, flavourful experience. The accompanying bruschetta disc, with its slightly sweet tang, overpowers with irresistible freshness and a slight sweetness. I am likewise impressed with the pecorino cheese flan, artfully presented and masterfully layered with complementing textures and flavours. The flan, like a soufflé in texture, is soft and warm, the salty sweet cheese melting generously into the creamy, buttery base. Like the appetizers, the pastas and risottos are presented with a modern twist that doesn’t sacrifice the Italian

Photos by Mikhail Quijano

SPOTLIGHT ON FOOD

spirit. The colourful chicory and saffron risotto is plucked straight from a Tim Burton film. Centered within the vivid, colourful risotto rests an exotic vegetable tempura sculpture, the breaded vegetables projecting upwards in a surreal chaos. Served in the classic al dente style, the risotto ideally blends the chicory and saffron, yielding a unique, deeply satisfying flavour. It is a completely new taste, a bold flavour greater than the sum of its parts. The featured Nino Figus spaghetti dish, named after the restaurant’s founding chef, also features al dente pasta cooked to perfection. Though the dish does not feature the otherworldly aesthetics of the risotto, it does not need to; the spaghetti is laid out beautifully, resembling a double figure-eight formation. The sauce, a creamy yellow blend, drapes the pasta and suggests a light seafood flavour, but the ingredients remain a secret. Like the risotto, the spaghetti and its sauce delight with a careful collaboration of tastes, spices and aromas. The result is an alluring, sumptuous, creamy flavour. The risotto and pastas are thinking-people’s dishes - Italian for grown-ups who still appreciate the cheesy, gooey staples. The main courses impress me in a different way. In contrast to the previous dishes,

which offer subtle, complex recipes, the main courses attack the taste buds with distinct, unrelenting flavour. The sea bass is skillfully cooked within a filo pastry resting on a bed of creamy eggplant puree, mozzarella and caviar. It’s the type of intricate dish whose preparation you can’t even imagine. Sea bass, a versatile fish that absorbs the flavours of its surrounding, is in fine form here. The filo dough is crispy, flaky and wonderfully salted; the eggplant puree provides a delicious complement to each bite of the sea bass. The lamb chops are similarly inviting, delivering a robust, irresistible flavour. Circumscribing the chops is a mouthwateringly smooth fried onion and cheese side that just barely avoids overshadowing the carefully grilled, succulent lamb chops. The dish sizzles with confidence and self-assurance, an overpowering appeal that hides nothing beneath its surface. Another tastebud electrification is dispatched in the form of the tender beef striploin, served alongside finely shredded red cabbage and drizzled with pumpkin-infused olive oil. As the final morsels of the main course disappear from the plates, my dinner companions and I are pleasantly surprised

that our bellies are not bursting at the seams and our belts require no adjusting. After appetizers, pastas and main courses, we are content, comfortable, spared from the dreaded food coma that often arises after a complete Italian meal. The sumptuous desserts that follow, however, left little doubt that we have just completed a superb meal. Our final moments at Figus are spent with a sweet, tangy panna cotta, a warm, bubbling, cascading chocolate molten tortino, and a special ricotta-filled sweet ravioli soaked in warm honey. To dine at Figus is to experience a culinary diversity that remembers its Italian roots. Some dishes are subtle and complex, others strong and resounding; some exquisitely, masterfully, artfully crafted, others beautiful through a more simple modesty. The savoury naturally mingles with the sweet, the creamy with the crispy, the warm with the cold. The skillful, analytical creativity of robotics engineer-turned chef Vittorio Cudrano fuels the wondrous creations, galvanizing the cuisine without forgetting the reason people love Italian food in the first place. 63

SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH & WELLNESS

Pamper Me From Top to Toe By Sydnee Bryant

Looking for a way to pamper your skin and revitalize your body? Go for a head-to-toe package at Diva Lounge Beauty Spa. This cozy spa offers a variety of treatments to ensure you’re always looking and feeling your best.

hen I first walk into this women-only spa, I am greeted not only by the warm and friendly staff but also by the sweet scent diffusing into the air and the glow of the candles placed along the floor and stairs. I’ve been to this spa many times but I’ve never done the full shebang before. Today, that is all about to change, as I prepare to enjoy a full beauty package. The Pamper Me From Top to Toe package includes a Thai massage, a Gatineau prescription facial and either a luxury manicure and pedicure or a shellac manicure and pedicure.

Thai Massage I’ve never had a Thai massage before, so I’m not sure what to expect. The first big difference between a Thai massage and a more traditional massage is that you can leave some of your clothes on for a Thai massage. It’s good to wear comfortable clothes, such as leggings and a tank top. Another difference is that the massage takes place on a mattress on the floor, rather than on a massage table. The biggest change is that a Thai massage is more like a lazy-person's-guide-to-yoga than a massage. It’s all about stretching out the body and loosening things up. Over the course of about 90 minutes, my Thai therapist pulls, pummels and stretches my body in every direction possible. She pulls my arms back while planting her foot firmly in my spine. 64

She hits my legs with a resounding ‘thwap’ repeatedly until every muscle in my body feels like jelly. Despite her tiny size, my massage therapist is fully capable of pulling and pushing my body around to ensure it is stretched to the maximum. A Thai massage is definitely an experience and is one of the best ways to get fully stretched out. My Thai massage relieves my back pain and shoulder pain and reveals that I should probably start stretching more often!

Gatineau Prescription Facial Living in Doha certainly takes a toll on one’s skin. The dusty, dry conditions aren’t doing anyone’s skin a favour. My skin tends to be combination/oily but has turned rather dry and rough during the past year. Basically, I am in desperate need of a professional facial. Diva uses Gatineau products, one of the finest skin care lines in the world. My facialist starts by removing my makeup and gently washing my face. Then she applies a variety of lotions to my face before steaming it. After my pores are steamed open, my facialist gently removes several blackheads from my skin. Although extractions do always hurt (it’s unavoidable when someone is pinching gunk out of your skin), my facialist has a surprisingly gentle touch; it’s not pleasant but my extractions don’t hurt. Afterwards, she applies a thick mask to my skin to

SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH & WELLNESS

moisturize and revive my face. My facialist allows the mask to fully sink into my skin before removing it and applying a creamy moisturizer. She warns me not to wash my face until the next morning to allow the mask and moisturizer to fully work their magic on my skin before sending me off with glowing, smooth skin. My skin is noticeably more even and cushiony, plus it retains its dewy appearance for a full 24 hours.

Photos provided by Diva Lounge Beauty Spa

Shellac Manicure/Pedicure Offering fabulous, quick and low-cost manicures and pedicures is what Diva is known for. But the beauty lounge recently upped their game by bringing in shellac nail polish, a revolutionary kind of polish that stays set for two weeks without chips. I nestle into my cozy seat at the pedicure tub and relax as my mani/pedi team go to work. For my shellac toenails, I choose a dark burgundy shade ideal for fall. For my hands, I go with super-light, clear pink with French tips. My manicurist paints a base coat on my left hand, sticks that hand in the UV light machine to set the polish and goes to work on my other hand. After the first layer of colour is slicked on, she adds in a white line on the tips of my nails. She bakes each layer of polish in the UV light machine before finally adding on a top coat. In the

meantime, the other manicurist works on my pedicure. She carefully paints on each coat – base, first round of polish, second round of polish and topcoat – and sticks each foot separately into the machine in between coats. After the polish is finally done, my manicurists wipe every nail with a solution to remove any gunk and set the polish. My nails look stunning, especially my hands, which look like the perfect French manicure. The best part of a shellac mani/ pedi? The fact that I can put on my shoes – not sandals, shoes – immediately and dig in my purse and use my phone the second my manicure is done. This may sound like a simple pleasure but it really is the ultimate luxury not to have to spend an hour getting your nails done, only to ruin them five seconds later. Knowing that my nails not only look fabulous but will stay that way for at least two weeks is priceless.

The Pamper Me Top to Toe package is QR 700 with a luxury manicure and pedicure. Upgrade to a shellac manicure or pedicure for an additional QR 50 each. For more information or to book an appointment, contact 4431-8488.

QH SENSATIONS LIVE

n w o T Cape tures Adven By Tarn de Villiers

This Eid, take a fabulous journey to the exciting destination of Cape Town, South Africa. QH gives you an insider look at all the best places to check out.

Where to go for...

re Adrk cagveedivinngtu is a must for those who

Sha this guarantee an seek a thrill. Not only does tion, but it also edi exciting, educational exp your fears and e fac to gives you the chance the incredible for ls ma ani se appreciate the wnhill Adventures creatures they are. The Do sbaai, the great Gan team does a daily trip to rld, where you will wo the of white shark capital in a protective head out to Dyer Island to dive sonal view per steel cage for an up-close and y scuba ma rs dive the sharks. Experienced y snorkel ma rs dive ced rien dive, while inexpe the surface. in the cage about a metre from dolphins, Cape Other likely sightings include ican penguins, Afr ts, gannets, Cape cormoran rmation, visit info re mo For and even whales. m www.downhilladventures.co

Adventure

shopping and leisure

The Victoria and Al fred Waterfront bo asts a huge variety of mo re than 450 shops fro m high-end fashion sto res like Louis Vuitton to local market-stalls wh ere you can pick up gre at authentic African gif The Neighbourgoods Market at the ts, such as wooden ca rvings, beaded decor items Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock offers a and jewelry. Here yo u will find endless entertai selection of the finest organic foods in nment; take a sunny yacht trip around the bay or ex town. With Champagne oysters, salmon perience true South African ‘gees’ (a word mean and poached egg rostis, fillet steak and ing ‘spirit’ in one of the local languages, Afrikaans rocket baguettes, home-style vegetarian ) by supporting a game of rug by at one of the many quiches and chocolate tartlets galore, sports bars. Children you’ll find flavours to satisfy every palate. may get their faces paint ed in local designs at the Craft Zone or get kit Feast at charming bespoke trestle tables ted-out at fabulous ch ildren’s fashion stores like Gu made from old wooden doors while ess Kids or the local label, Naartjie. The Waterfr background sounds of jazz and laughter ont’s Two Oceans Aq uarium and heavenly aromas delight your senses. is another great visit which the whole family will enjoy. Whether you’r After a bite, sit in the sun sipping minty e looking for some do wntime drinks or take a stroll through the fashion with your family, or some serious retail therap y, The V & A is the place to go. and art stalls. For more information, visit For more information , visit www.waterfront.co.za www.neighbourgoodsmarket.co.za .

Brunch

QH SENSATIONS LIVE

Where to Stay

sunset

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Go up the Aerial Cableway in the early evening and watch the sun set from the top of Table Mountain. The mountain is an iconic symbol of the Cape and offers a spectacular, panoramic view of the city. Not only is this an opportunity to view natural wildlife which inhabits the mountain, but a chance to view the historical Robben Island where politician s, such as former South African president and national hero, Nelson Mandela and curre nt president, Jacob Zuma, were imprisoned during Apartheid. “During the many years of incarceration on Robben Island we often looked across Table Bay at the magnificen t silhouette of Table Mountain ... To us on Robben Island, Table Mountain was a beac on of hope.” - Nelson Mandela, 1998. For more information, visit www.tablemountain.net.

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If you fancy living it up in the heart of a bustling city with nothing but glamorous luxury and style, Cape Town’s One&Only hotel situated in the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront - is highly recommended. With generously furnished and spacious rooms or suites decorated in African-chic class topped off with over-sized bath tubs and marble finishes, you’ll feel endless bliss. This hotel hosts two of the country’s most acclaimed restaurants: Nobu, by illustrious Michelin-starred chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and Reuben’s, by South African celebrity chef Reuben Riffel - both an experience of culinary cloud nine. The One&Only Spa is situated on its own private island and has been named the best in Cape Town, not only revitalizing body and mind, but transporting one on a journey of true spiritual relaxation. Being centrally situated, you’ll find nightlife and entertainment within walking distance, and views of the ocean and Table Mountain practically on your doorstep. For more information, visit www.capetown.oneandonlyresorts.com. Should you prefer something more rustic and edgy, The Old Mac Daddy Luxury Hotel, situated on the forest-green Trailer Hotel slopes of the Elgin Valley just outside of Cape Town, makes for a different but equally relaxing getaway. Choose from twelve vintage Airstream Trailer Suites, all designed in unique themes created by local interior designers. Themes include: The Dream, Life Before Colour, Metalmorphosis, Yellow Submarine and more. You can even book to stay in a different suite each night. The Barn is a stylish wooden lodge in the middle of the site where guests may commence for hearty organic meals, enjoy drinks out on the balcony with views of the pine-slopes, bask in the sun on the pool deck or simply curl up next to a roaring fire with a book from their library. Rural mountain-bike trails, apple-picking in the orchards, vineyardstrolls and lakeside picnics are just few of the many relaxing activities available. The soul of this charmingly quirky resort lights up the forest like fireflies in the night and offers a truly inimitable experience. For more information, visit www.oldmacdaddy.co.za. 67

FASHION

HOTLIST LOVE The Rose Dior. This stunning necklace

READ Painfully Hip a hot fashion blog started by fashionista Amber Mortensen in 2007. Mortensen, a former contributor for About.com, shares her tips for every fashion quandary from how to dress when you’re in between sizes to how to be a successful thrift store stalker. Mortensen, along with her sister Eve, share photos of their favourite outfits and give plenty of ideas for cheap but chic fashion, or, as they put it “fashion-forward fare for the weak of wallet.” The blog features bright clothes, tight jeans and cheeky attitude, three of our favourite things. Find out more at www.painfullyhip.com/.

is a tribute to Monsieur Dior’s favourite flower. Dripping with diamonds, this necklace somehow manages to be classy, not ostentatious. This necklace is the perfect statement necklace to wear for formal events; it also makes a mighty fine decoration for any jewelry case! We love the delicate diamond chain, the exquisite detail and the overall magic of this piece. Whether you’re a fan of roses, or simply a fan of diamonds, this necklace makes the perfect gift for any elegant lady who doesn’t mind a little sparkle. The Rose Dior collection is available at Dior, located in Villaggio Mall.

CARRY BUY Glfex Contrast-Waist Pants from The Gap. It’s finally the perfect weather for running outdoors again! That means it’s time to stock up on adorable but functional workout clothes (because you never know who you might run into while jogging along the Corniche). We love these comfy but cute workout pants from The Gap. The coloured wasteband provides a flash of fashion without sacrificing the purpose of the pants. We have very high standards for our workout clothes: we want style, we want comfort and we want them to stay in place when we run! Glflex Contrast-Waist Pants are available in Gap stores in Villaggio Mall. 68

Mulberry Bayswater with Fox Rivets. Mulberry’s classic Bayswater bag gets a “foxy” twist with miniature fox face rivets decorating the body of the bag. This neutral but exciting bag is finished with calf hair, making it both snuggly and fierce. Mulberry retains the traditional aspects of the Bayswater, such as the Postman’s Lock closure, but adds in animal fierceness to fall in line with their autumn 2011 theme. At a glance, this bag looks like a safe, classic choice for everyday use but the addition of the detailed fox face rivets elevate this bag to a daring new level of fashion. The Mulberry Bayswater with Fox Rivets is sold in Mulberry at The Pearl Qatar, Parcel 1, Porto Arabia.

SHOP Karen Millen This popular but sometimes-overlooked store has boatloads of fabulous pieces this season, from evening wear to everyday basics. Pieces we have fallen madly in love with include: a stunning indigo trench coat with silver details, a snug purple leather bomber jacket (again, full of fabulous details and hardware) and a beyond gorgeous maroon velvet dress with pleats, ruffles, a daring slit and a classy belt cinching everything in. Other sweet finds include a variety of to-die-for heels and elegant clutches. We love the esthetic nature of this brand, not to mention all of the rich colours. Karen Millen is located in Villaggio Mall and Landmark Mall.

QH SENSATIONS LOOK

By Sydnee Bryant and Susanna Wolfe

urn heads 24/7 with a versatile dress that can go from day to night in the blink of an eye! By adding the right accessories, you can turn almost any dress from a chic work outfit into an after-work look with minimal effort. Think big, slouchy bags and ballet pumps for day; shiny clutches and killer heels for night. Throw in a scarf for daytime and switch it for a statement piece when the sun goes down.

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QH SENSATIONS EXPERIENCE

Escaping to fantastic happening destinations around the world does wonders. Here are some

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Nov. 24: U.S. One of New York’s most popular traditions is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This renowned event turns 85 this year, with what is sure to be their best parade yet! Watch as Shrek, Spider Man, Hello Kitty, Smurf, SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Snoopy, Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear fill the streets of New York. To plan your American Thanksgiving adventure now, visit www.social.macys.com/parade2011

Paris Autumn Festival

Roxette Live in Concert Nov. 19: Spain. Travel to Barcelona to check out the Swedish band Roxette! One of the most popular European bands of all time, Roxette will be delighting fans with their awesome tunes at the Palau Sant Jordi. Don’t miss this iconic band live in person in one of the coolest cities in the world! To get in on the action, visit www.roxette.se

Sept. to Jan. 2 France.The 40th edition of the famous Festival d’Automne à Paris (Paris Autumn Festival) is sure to delight those who crave culture. Held at various venues around Paris, the festival features the best in theatre, music, dance, visual arts and film. With more than 40 events and 100,000 visitors, this event is sure to draw in culture enthusiasts from all over the world. To find out more, hop on over to www.festival-automne.com

Budapest Christmas Market

Nov. 18 to Dec. 29. Hungary. Budapest starts buzzing with holiday spirit in November with their annual Christmas Market. Browse through more than 100 stands in Vörösmarty Square and buy some unique, handmade gifts. Munch on some traditional Hungarian foods, such as lángos (fry bread with a variety of toppings) and kürtöskalács (a cone-shaped sweet hollow pastry). To learn all about it, stop by www.visitbudapest.travel/budapest-events/budapest-christmas-market

EID MUBARAK! 70

Bangkok Marathon Nov. 20: Thailand.The Standard Chartered Bangkok Marathon is one of the city’s most cherished fundraisers. Residents and tourists get together every year to raise money for charity. Not only is it a worthy cause; it’s also a great way to see the city! Register online at www.bkkmarathon.com

For more informaaon call

www.holidayvilladoha.com | clubmngr@holidayvilladoha.com

SPORTS

HOTLIST

The Doha College 10 km Run Fri 18th: The Pearl-Qatar. The Doha College 10 km run starts and ends at the car park behind the mosque behind the Oyster at The Pearl-Qatar. The run, which starts at 7:00 a.m., is open to the public. Participants must register in advance. For more information, visit www.dohacollege.com.

Cool Runnings Fri 18th: The Pearl Qatar. Each team will design and build their own “homemade” vehicle to ensure maximum sliding speed. It is going to be a fun day for all, so come and witness this event, plus games on the beach, water-sport activities, music, food and drinks! For more information and registration, contact Mark at 7701-6968.

QTEL FIM Endurance World Championship 8 Hours of Doha Thurs 10th – Sat 12th: Losail International Circuit. This is the final race of the championship; it will decide the attribution of the 2011 crown and the FIM Superstock World Cup. The great final will be held on the Losail racetrack on Saturday. Grandstand is free access, VIP Lounge tickets are QR 250. For more information, visit www.circuitlosail.com or call 4472-9151.

QATAR STARS LEAGUE 2011-2012 FIRST LEG - SCHEDULE NO.

DAY/DATE

TEAMS

TIME

VENUE

WEEK 7 37

Friday, Nov. 18

38 39

AHLI

WAKRAH

Sunday, Nov. 20