Qatar Happening - January 2012 by Qatar Happening

January 2012

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Learn to Dance, Paint Like Picasso or Play a New Instrument

Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2012

Start off the New Year refreshed and revitalised at the Bay View 26 Wellness Centre, high above the West Bay on the 26th floor. With our 4 stunning treatment rooms providing a wide variety of treatments and massages added to an indoor pool and relaxation area, whirlpool, sauna and fully equipped gym, all complemented with breathtaking panoramic views of the city, Bay View 26 is a heaven of health and tranquility far from the hustle and bustle of the streets below. Bay View 26 Wellness Centre – Your New Year’s resolution for complete rejuvenation and revitalisation. For more information on treatments and bookings, call us on +974 4496 66 00 Ext 6410.

Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha West Bay Area, P.O. Box 22752, Doha, Qatar Phone +974 4496 66 00, Fax +974 4496 66 10 tower.doha@moevenpick.com

www.moevenpick-hotels.com

Resolution

rejuvenation.

pg 34

OUT om K C E CH appening.c

Challenging Public Perception

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CONTENTS

january ENTERTAINMENT

IN EVERY ISSUE 6 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LETTER QH’s editor-in-chief tells you what’s happening this month.

8 QH TEAM Meet the QH staff!

19 HOT PICKS 20 A love of Music 22 The Music Man The best house music to download this month, courtesy of DJ Mark Bambach

Pullout monthly events calendar with

109 IT HAPPENED QH’s photo gallery of the latest

28 ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS Find out everything that’s going on this month

happening events in Doha

116 PHONE DIRECTORY Need-to-know phone numbers

31 HOT PICKS 33 Puss In Boots

ROCK to the tunes of DJ JOJO at W Doha

10 EVENTS CALENDAR happening events in Doha

ARTS & CULTURE

Doha Players presents a classic fairytale for the whole family to enjoy

34 Challenging Public Perception Interview with Co-Principle Cellist Hassan El-Molla Moataz

37 ARTS AND CULTURE LISTINGS Find out everything that’s going on this month

COMMUNITY 38 HOT PICKS 40 Mr. Q - Making Qatar a Better Place Khalifa Haroon shares the

programmes iloveQatar supports throughout the year

41 Ways to Get Involved in your Community The hottest organizations to join in 2012

44 Doha Trade Fair Largest indoor trade fair to come to Doha

45 Oscars of The Travel Industry

WTA hosts the prestigious awards this month

46 COMMUNITY LISTINGS Find out everything that’s going on this month

pg 54 Three Sixty

47 KIDS CLUB LISTINGS Ideas to do with the kids

FOOD & DINING 49 HOT PICKS 50 Renowned for A Reason Spice Market - Review

52 A Heavenly Experience Trendy and unexpected flavours to be found at Neo

54 A Dining Revolution Dine in Three Sixty and enjoy the best view the restaurant has to offer

56 Al Mourjan Food Corner Learn how to make green olive and lemon chicken

58 It's All in the Details Refreshingly genuine cuisine to be found at the New West End Steakhouse

60 FOOD AND DINING LISTINGS Find out everything that’s going on this month

SPORTS 71 HOT PICKS 72 Qatar Exxon Mobil Open 2012 Tennis Tournament is back - find out all the details - Venue Map enclosed.

78 Discovering Qatar SC Al Gharafa An in depth look at the Qatar Sports Club team and AL Gharafa

80 Ten Years of Living The Dream IAID - a closer look at all this international academy has to offer

83 SPORT LISTINGS Find out everything that’s going on this month

QH SENSATIONS 89 Detox For a Healthy New Year A personal account of a 4 day detox treatment at Six Senses Spa

93 Look: FASHION HOTLIST 94 Look: Men's Fashion 2012 Mens accessories to help you transition from day to night

97 Touch: Turquoise Gallery A store review for a home makeover

99 Experience: Reasons to Fly Our pick of top destinations QH’s picks of the best beauty products, snacks and music

101 TOP MOVIES THIS month's top five films

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

For customer service and subscription questions, such as renewals, billing and account status, email to info@qatarhappening.com

FROM THE DESK OF THE CHAIRMAN Dear Readers, In our passage into the next year and the years to follow, we look forward into the future with hopes, aspirations, desires and dreams, resolve and confidence in our purpose, and faith in God Almighty. Every country has its own set of challenges and no one can deny that during the past year, our determination was put to test. We should avoid unnecessary distractions this year - occurrences that can divert our attention from the important work that has to be done. The uncertainty of the world economy, which is often the subject of conversation and which has left most of us apprehensive of our future, is one such distraction. As Citizens and Residents of this great country, let us not be intimidated by them for we are a strong nation and I have faith in that strength and in our capacity to rise to the occasion and triumph over adversity. Despite challenges, we have made great strides in the areas of Industry and Infrastructure, Education and Sports, Arts and Culture and Diplomacy as well, and our Nation’s name continues to be broadcast from the world media. When I look at our achievements of the past year painted on a colorful canvas, I realize more than ever that we have much to be proud of, and it is on our achievements that we must build this coming year. As our beloved Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani leads us into the future, we have progressed rapidly as a strong Nation, and I have faith in that strength and in our own individual capacities to rise and triumph over challenges. We have more successes and victories to celebrate, than be disillusioned with what we did not believe was necessary to achieve. We must applaud these successes and capitalize on the rich pool of talent that has placed our Nation in the forefront of global achievements. The Qatari people have created a success story through economic achievement. Qatar is a land of hope and promise. Let us salute the unparalleled efforts of our First Lady, Her Highness, Sheikha Mouza bint Nasser, in her unrelenting efforts in shaping the future of the youth and the global women, that have rightfully taken Her Highness, among the world’s most powerful and influential women, and a special place in our hearts and a deep respect for her. Qatar Happening has made a contribution in its own small way, to the continuing saga of Qatar’s success as a Nation. We reaffirm our commitment of continuing our tradition not just in this year, but for many years to follow. In closing, I wish our country great success and everlasting prosperity. And to all our Citizens and Residents, we wish you peace, good health and happiness. We also wish that all other nations throughout the world enjoy the same blessings as we do. It is my pleasure in wishing all our Readers a very Happy New Year. Ahmed Hassan Bilal Chairman 10

Publisher: The Art of Business Chairman: Ahmed Hassan Bilal Editor-in-Chief: Nasser Ahmed Hassan Bilal Executive Director: Moona Masri-Whitice Editorial Coordinator: Marlynne Mallari Graphic Designer: Reem Mofti, Badir Bechara Sales and Marketing Manager: Deliah Furcoi Sales and Communications Manager: Jorge Granda Marketing Cordinator: Jeniffer Declan Ruiz Photographer: Jesus Jonson Palanca Finalizer/Production Manager: Srimani Welagedara New Media Manager: Susanna Wolfe Business Development Consultant: Kristina Helg Distribution & Accounts: Lanie Fillo-Pana Contributors: Sydnee Bryant, Mark Bambach, Alex Corey, Charlie Gandelman, Khalifa Saleh Haroon, Kristin Russell, Christina Maria Paschyn, Victoria Scott, Nitya Shukla, Ed Thomas 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.

ON THE COVER The Winning Photo and Essay for the First-Ever QH-ExxonMobil Qapture Qatar and 500 Words Contest. Picture by Hissa Khalid Al-Atiya, First Place Winner Photo Contest

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LIKE US ON FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/qatarhappening

RECOMMENDS

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

Stay Put:

Glossy Locks:

Supple Skin:

Pick up Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner for smooth, shiny hair. The shampoo instantly infuses locks with tons of moisture, leaving hair softer and healthier. Protect your hair from dry weather and dust by using the shampoo and conditioner together to ensure your hair has all the moisture it needs. Use regularly to reduce the breakage and split ends that can come with dry hair. We love its nourishing, creamy formula and light, sweet scent. Federic Fekkai Shea Butter Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner is available at Faces, located in Landmark Mall and Villaggio Mall.

To tighten and rehydrate skin, try To keep your eye makeup firmly in place, dab on some Benefit L’Occitane En Provence Almond Stay Don’t Stray. This primer has Supple Skin Oil. This delightful the consistency of concealer concoction, full of essentials and goes on light. Pat a tiny oils, such as peppermint, portion on eyelids and under palmarosa and immortelle, the eyes prior to putting on restores moisture in skin and concealer and eye makeup to protects it from dry conditions. ensure that your makeup stays The almond oil in this elixir on all day long. This potion also tighten the skin and fights helps makeup go on evenly. This against the loss of elasticity, is a can’t-miss step to a longwhich happens as skin ages. lasting makeup look. It’s perfect Keep a bottle handy to use for days when you need your every time you step out of the makeup to stay on from dawn shower, as it is ideal to apply until long after dusk. Benefit on damp skin. L’Occitane En Stay Don’t Stray is available at Provence Almond Supple Skin Sephora, located in Landmark Oil is available at L’Occitane Mall and Villaggio Mall. En Provence stores, located in Landmark Mall and Villaggio Mall.

Smell Sweet: Envelop yourself with the sweet smell of Nina by Nina Ricci Perfume. This spellbinding potion is floral, fruity and original. Spritz some on to be instantly transformed with this juicy, feminine scent. With a hint of caramel, mixed with a dash of a woodsy note, this scent is both sweet and seductive. We love its adorable apple-shaped bottle, which only lends to the designer’s desire to make the scent seem like something straight out of a fairy tale (we think the fairest of them all would definitely have worn this scent!). Nina by Nina Ricci Perfume is available at 4U Perfumery, located in City Center Mall.

Lifestyle Award 2012 Details coming soon 14

SPOTLIGHT ON QHENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDS

Mint Splash The Mint Splash at Al Mourjan is one of the tastiest lemon with mint drinks in Doha. This zesty beverage features a heavenly blend of mint and lemonade, plus a ton of shaved ice, making it more like a lemon mint slushee than just a drink. This is the ultimate refreshing beverage to enjoy on a hot Doha day. Each sip results in a burst of flavour, making it delightful to the last drop. The Mint Splash is available at Al Mourjan, located on Corniche and at Souq Waqif.

Saffron Sensations For a mouthwatering treat that you won’t soon forget, try the Saffron and Pistachio Crème Brulee at Parisa, located at Sharq Village and Spa. This creamy, sweet crème brulee is one of the best in Doha, with a luscious filling and perfectly hard shell of caramelized sugar. The pistachios add crunch and the flavour of the nuts blends with the saffron to create a unique, delicious dessert that will linger on your mind for months to come. The Saffron and Pistachio Crème Brulee is available at Parisa, located at Sharq Village and Spa.

Spicy Sushi For a delectable treat that will zing your taste buds with pleasure, try the Spicy Salmon Maki Roll at Market, located in W Doha. This sensational sushi is not technically on the sushi menu; the menu only offers spicy tuna, but the accommodating staff will gladly swap it out for spicy salmon, should you desire. And desire you should – it’s luscious, mouthwatering and utterly addictive. The crunchy layer of fried garlic on the outside of the rice adds texture, while the spicy Japanese mayo adds intense flavour. Every bite will surely put a smile on your face. The Salmon Maki Roll is available in Market, located in W Doha.

Yummy Gelato For a truly fantastic dessert, try the Peanut Butter Gelato at La Cigale Traiteur, located in La Cigale. While the Traiteur offers a huge variety of delectable flavours of both gelato and Arabic ice cream, it is their peanut butter gelato that is their true triumph. It’s smooth, creamy taste melds together the texture of ice cream with the flavour of peanut butter. The taste is reminiscent of North American peanut butter, which is quite different than peanut butter from the U.K. The gelato’s flavour is distinct without being overwhelming; comforting without being heavy. Peanut Butter Gelato is available at La Cigale Traiteur, located in La Cigale.

ICONIC LANDMARK HOTEL OPEN NOW AL WAAB STREET, DOHA, QATAR TEL: (+974) 44465600 WWW.THETORCHDOHA.COM

THIS MONTH'S

TOP PICKS

ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE

Back II Beats Fri 13th and Sat 14th: W Doha. DJ Klaus and Ameet “El Bongo.” Free entry. Reservations highly recommended. For more information, call 4453-5135.

Comedy Show

Fri 20th: InterContinental Doha Paloma is hosting talented humorist Craic Attack. He will make you laugh big time! From 7:00 p.m. till 9:00 p.m. Entrance fee QR 120. For more information, call 4484-4444.

The Clash “6”

“Winter Warmer” Class Fri 20th: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Join the Habanos’ team and learn how to make some of the most exciting combinations of flavours and drinks recipes including: “Breath of Life.” QR 225 per person. From 4:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Fri 6th: Ramada Plaza. For the sixth consecutive year, The Clash is back! The most talented local bands have thrashed it out on stage, and are now a step closer to winning the title of "Best Band in Doha!" Now all that remains is the grand final. Price per person QR 80, inclusive of one sponsored beverage. For more information, call 4428-155.5.

Pub Quiz

Mon 30th: Ramada Plaza. First pub quiz of 2012! Bring along your team of six to take part in Doha’s favourite Quiz Night! No entry fee and great prizes to be won. Starts at 8:00 p.m. For more information, call 4428-1555.

OUT om K C E H .c C ppening

atarha tion! www.qthe latest informa for

ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE

A love of Music By Sydnee Bryant

DJ JoJo has landed in Doha to play at the W Doha, fresh from Beirut where he is the resident DJ at Skybar. QH caught up with The DJ, who is known to family and friends simply as Georges Zarifeh. QH: How did you get your start in the music industry?

GZ: A lot of energy and positive vibes. QH: What’s your favorite thing about being a DJ?

GZ: It was mainly a hobby. As a teenager I was living in the U.K. and I started out helping class A DJs at The Ministry of Sound.

GZ: I love being behind the decks, entertaining the crowds and setting a happy mood.

QH: How would you describe your style and sound?

QH: What’s the hardest part of DJing?

GZ: I am basically committed to all sorts of house music.

GZ: Well, the working hours are crazy, you get very little sleep, lots of travelling and lots for pressure on your personal life.

QH: What attracted you to DJing? GZ: My love for music

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

my own and possibly creating a label for upcoming young artist DJs QH: If you weren’t a DJ, what would you be doing? GZ: Private banker! I originally began studying finance and banking. Crystal Lounge at the W hotel is the ultimate destination for nightlife in Doha. Sip on the best bubbly in town and sup on upscale fare while grooving to DJs spinning the world's trendiest beats and music. DJ JO JO will play on January 19th from 11:00 pm to 2:00 am. For more information, contact 4453-5135.

About the club:

QH: Who are some of your musical influences?

GZ: Cor Fijerman.

Cuisine : Light Fare

GZ: CJ Macintosh and Tod Terry

QH: What are your plans for 2012?

Atmosphere : Stylish

QH: Tell us about some of your most memorable performances. GZ: Skybar in Beirut, Club Billionaire in Sardenia, Kauflauten in Zurich, and, most of all, my opening set at my own venue Chocolate Club four years ago. QH: What can the audience expect for your show?

GZ: I will be in Skybar (in Beirut) in the summer and at my own club Chocolate in winter. I also have many bookings and gigs in venues abroad. QH: Where would you like to be in five years? GZ: Hopefully, having a bigger venue of

Setting : Bar/Club Dress Code : Casual Sophistication Hours : 6:00 PM - 3:00 AM Smoking Permitted : Yes Membership: For men: QR 200 For ladies: QR 100 Must be 18 or older to join.

for information call : 44864747

ENTERTAINMENT AND NIGHTLIFE

The

Music Man By DJ Mark Bambach

DJ Mark Bambach is the resident DJ at the newly refurbished Rocca at Grand Hyatt Doha every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. This month, Mark selects the top house/ lounge music for 2012. Soulful House/Lounge Bucie - Get Over It (Foliage) Hailing from South Africa, Bucie is set to be one of 2012's featured vocalists. She’s already causing a stir on producer/DJ "Black Coffee's" 2011 release Superman and Turn Me On. Her sound is sultry, deep, chilled and soulful, and her album Princess of House is full of gems and well worth checking out. Bucie has caught the attention of European house producers like Ralf Gum and Andy Compton and is signed to legendary New York producer Jellybean Benitez's Jellybean Soul label. Bucie is high on rotation in my sets and looking hot for 2012. Deep House Maya Jane Coles – Don’t Put Me in Your Box EP (Hypercolour) Maya was previously featured in QH's December music review as one of the big deep house tracks of 2011. Now, the British/Japanese DJ/producer gets a consecutive review for the big names of 2012. No doubt that 2012 will skyrocket Maya even further. Already a highly in-demand DJ, this 24-year-old not only engineer's, produces and writes her material, but has also designed the artwork for this new EP Don't Put me In Your Box. There are four distinctively Maya Jane tracks in this EP, with her signature deep hypnotic style chords. With tracks Parallel

Worlds and Cutting it Fine being the highlights, 2012 looks set to be her biggest year to date. Jackin’ House Bryan Jones– Get a Feeling (Coyote Cuts) There is always a new “genre” of house being created - this time it's Jackin' House. It's a style of largely and primarily sample-based house music. Jackin' House has skippy beats and percussion, big bass-lines and a slightly faster tempo at 128-132. It has an urban street style to it, with chopped up samples, taken from jazz, hip hop, funk and disco to 1920s to 1950s jazz. Bryan Jones’ track Get A Feeling uses elements of Randy Crawford's Rio De Janeiro. Jackin' House is already getting big in Europe so let's wait and see what 2012 holds for what could be a passing phase or a new craze. Club House Chris Lake – Sundown (Ultra Records)This has closing party in Ibiza written all over it. From his forthcoming yet untitled album, this scorching peak time melodic house tune from Chris Lake is already getting big club and radio play. Sultry vocals, summery guitar licks and rolling bass-lines - what more could you want?

Commercial/Club Rizzi Kicks – Mama Do The Hump (Universal) This British dance act, falling under the genre of “Brithop,” is back with their biggest single to date, this time teaming up with legend Norman “Fatboy Slim” Cooke. The original radio version is strong enough in itself, sounding distinctively Fatboy Slim; there are also club mixes from Freemasons and Bimbo Jones to help take this one to the top of the charts.

House Music is a style of electronic music with a heavy bass beat. ABOUT ROCCA : Rocca is a sophisticated Mediterranean influenced eatery, cocktail bar and DJ lounge, surrounded by turquoise swimming pools and nestled on the edge of West Bay Lagoon at the sumptuous Grand Hyatt Doha. Reservations essential Thursdays and Fridays and for Coco Latté's special parties once a month. Hotline (+974) 77192974 email rocca.ghdoha@hyatt.com

FRESH THINKING ON EVERY LEVEL

Welcome to Doha’s West End. Enticing dining, entertainment and relaxation over seven floors, it’s a harmonious blend offering a world of choice. Choose from inspirational restaurants, lively lounges or retreat to the tranquillity of the Saray Spa. Anytime, day or night, discover the perfect balance at West End. Reservations: +974 4419 6100 Fax: +974 4419 5800 restaurantreservations@westenddoha.com

ONE DESTINATION – A WORLD OF SENSATIONS westenddoha.com

! S N O I T A L U T A R G CON

SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY

ontest

Words C 0 0 5 d n a r ta a Q bil Qapture

QH- ExxonMo

The Qatar Happening – ExxonMobil Qapture Qatar and 500 Words Contest were two different competitions launched throughout the student community of Qatar University and Northwestern University. QH would like to take this opportunity

By Hissa Khalid Al-Atiya

to thank everyone who participated, especially our partner, ExxonMobil, for making it possible. Congratulations to the winner of Qapture Qatar Hissa Khalid Al-Atiya from Qatar University, whose photo is on this month’s cover and Munazza Sayed the winner of the 500 Words contest whose essay perfectly portrays Qatar’s direction towards becoming the epicentre of sporting events.

By Al Marri a zn e M

3 rd By Noora Alm

ansouri

In order to be eligible for the Qapture Qatar contest, photos had to be portrait shots, with no visible logos, or brands in the photo. Photos had to be shot in Qatar and previously unpublished. Photos were judged based on several things, including if they met the aforementioned criteria, artistic creativity and originality. .

For more informaaon call

www.holidayvilladoha.com | clubmngr@holidayvilladoha.com

QATAR: RISE OF A GLOBAL SPORTS CAPITAL W By: Munazza Sayed

INNI ESSAY NG O EXXON F QHM 500 WO OBIL RD CONTE S ST

" We are witnessing history. This is the most dominant athlete on planet earth today." Jim Courier, former world famous tennis player, commenting over Roger Federer.

ith a steely gaze locked on the ball, he flung it high in the air, and then leapt athletically, just enough so the racquet in his outstretched hand could “smash” the ball with the right amount of force. The net quivered as the ball zipped to the other side. Now it was the opponent’s turn to swing into action.

All around was pin- drop silence, as a thousand unblinking eyes darted to and from across the net, glued intently on the tennis ball. In the final nail—biting moments of the match, the only sounds that echoed in the stadium were those of the squeaking of the players’ shoes against the hard court and the boisterous noise of bat hitting ball, sending it spinning across in a blur of noise and color. Then, suddenly, the crowd erupted into a maddening roar-- Roger Federer had won. “This is his third win in Doha.” began an equally enthused commentator, as people rose to a standing ovation, “And his 95th career final. The appetite is so strong….“ When questioned about his confidence in the games in Qatar, Federer promptly replied, “I’m really proud to be back to Qatar and playing so well already. Coming back to a place where you feel comfortable, where you feel very welcome, where you’ve had

Roger Federer aptly hinted at the germination of a country into a nucleus of sporting activities. Today, Qatar is widely recognized as a fast mushrooming global sports hotspot. It has well evolved into a respectable athletic hub, endorsing and promoting a kaleidoscopic variety of sports from tennis and badminton to football and golf. Nestled coyly along the Arabian Peninsula, this tiny country is beginning to generate powerful ripples the world over, with an astounding pace of progress and modernization. Qatar is attracting a lot of attention in this process of emerging as a gargantuan breeding ground for sports "the microcosm of human life."

lines, local newspapers effectively highlight the increased significance of sports and widely popularize the notion of Qatar as a harbinger of a comprehensive sports culture. These facts had never struck me as profoundly as on that fateful night, when the ExxonMobil 2011 Tennis Tournament drew to a close. I realized, more than ever, that the nation indeed has a bright future ahead. Thinking of Qatar and its global recognition as a sports capital, I couldn’t help but wonder about the possibility of boundless progress in the long run. Where the “the appetite is so strong…”, the sky is the limit.

Furthermore, the fact that Qatar is to host the 2022 World Cup is an evident stamp of approval on its remarkably high aspirations. Reportedly, the gross, overall expenditure for the same amounts to a staggering $138 billion. With its appreciable level of involvement and investment, this Middle Eastern country will soon lead the beacon in the fast paced world of sports and athletics.

500 WORDS CONTEST RULES

Accordingly, media in Qatar is actively promoting the country’s metamorphosis. On 6th December 2011, for example, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Chairman of the Arab Games Organising Committee (AGOC), officially cut the ribbon in commemoration of the Arab Games Doha 2011 Main Press Centre. Along similar

In order to be eligible for the 500 Words contest, essays were limited to a maximum of 500 words. All essays had to be written in English and previously unpublished in print or online. Only original material was considered. Submissions were judged on writing style, clarity, grammar and originality.

ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS “ Winter Warmer” Class

Fri 20th: Sharq Village & Spa. Join the Cigar Lounge team and learn how to make winter warmers for your friends and family to enjoy during the cooler nights in January. QR 210 per person. From 3:00 p.m. For more information, call 4425-6666.

Monthly Vino Club Meeting

ONE OF A KIND Resident DJ Kinky D @ Wahm

Wed 4th – Fri 27th: W Doha. Everyone’s favourite DJ mixing and mingling Londonbased DJ. More than 16 years on the decks spinning from Ministry of Sound to BBC Radio. Wed 9:00 p.m. till 1:00 a.m., Thurs and Fri 10:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. Reserve your cabana by calling 4453-5135.

DJ Stephane Karl

Thurs 5th, 12th, 26th: W Doha. From the hottest parties in St. Tropez, DJ Stephane Karl brings the best of electro house to Doha. From 11:00 p.m. till 2:30 a.m. For more information, call 4453-5135 or BBM 26E78A27

DJ JOJO

Thurs 19th: W Doha. Crystal presents DJ JOJO, all the way from Sky Bar in Beirut. From 11:00 p.m. till 2.30 a.m. For more information, call 4453- 5135 or BBM 26E78A27

DJ Mark Bambach

Fri 21st: Rocca Poolside @ Grand Hyatt, West Bay Lagoon.Join. DJ Mark Bambach for a journey through three decades of RnB classics spanning the Eighties, Nineties & Noughties. Featuring Salt N Pepa, TLC, SWV, En Vogue, Michael Jackson, Mary J Blige, Usher, Ne-Yo, Destiny's Child, Jade, Janet Jackson, Mariah, Jay-Z, Missy Elliot and more. Ladies drink two-for-one all night from 9:00 p.m. till 02:00 a.m. 32

Rock Star!

Mondays: InterContinental Doha. Ever wanted to be a rock star? Well now you can, as you join resident band Big Mouth on stage to perform the songs of your choice. Free drinks for everyone who participates and prizes for the weekly and monthly winners, to be chosen by the band! For more information, call 4484-4444 or 4484-4936.

Mon 23rd: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Enjoy a variety of cheese and canapés in conjunction with exclusive vino, provided by Da Paul Performing at Three QDC. Open to members of the vino club only. Sixty New members are welcome. QR 4,500 for Mondays to Saturdays: The Torch couples and QR 2,500 for singles. From 7:00 Doha Hotel. Check out the only revolving p.m. till 9:00 p.m. For more information, call restaurant in Doha, situated on the 47th 4484-8000. floor of Qatar’s new iconic hotel The Torch-Doha Hotel. Da Paul has impressed audiences with his energetic live Bandeoke Grand Finals performances and his unique and versatile Mon 30th: InterContinental Doha. The piano and vocal style, working winner gets round-trip tickets for two professionally in the international pop sponsored by Etihad Airways. For more music industry since 1990. Da Paul will information, call 4484-4444. perform live from 1:00 p.m. till 2:00 p.m. and from 8:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more EVERY WEEK information, call 4446- 5600.

Chill Out Night

Sundays: W Doha. Come and enjoy whimsical adult beverages or groove to the music in Crystal Lounge. Tempt your tastebuds with lights bites and indulge yourself with an early drink! For more information, call 4453-5135 or BBM 26E78A27.

After Work Aperitivo

Sundays – Thursdays: W Doha. Mix, mingle and move. Wash down complimentary tapas with your favourite tipple. From 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. For more information, call 4453-5135 or tBBM 26E78A27.

Sushi and Martinis Night

Mondays: W Doha. Join Crystal Champagne Lounge for a special sushi and martini evening with Lisa on the piano live performing the best classic and romantic songs and more! Sip one drink and the second is on the house. From 7:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4453-5135 or BBM 26E78A27.

Mashups with Paul Mendez, DJ Shadi and Suzee X

Tuesdays: InterContinental Doha. The three resident DJs presents their unique mashup sounds at Lava with free drinks for ladies from 8:00 p.m. till late. For more information, call 4484-4444.

Retro-electro

Tuesdays: W Doha. Wanna dance? Now’s your chance! This is the night to start, with cool tunes and a wide range of 80s and 90s hits. And that’s not all - three drinks for ladies on the house from 11:30 p.m. till 1:00 a.m. For more information, call 4453-5135 or BBM: 26E78A27.

Champions League Football

Tuesdays and Wednesdays: InterContinental Doha. Catch the games live on huge screens while enjoying special beverages. For more information, call 4484-4444.

ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS Chill Out with Lisa

Tuesdays to Thursdays: W Doha. Celebrate the week in style at Crystal Champagne Lounge, as Lisa performs the best classic and romantic songs. For more information, call 4453-5135 or BBM 26E78A27.

Kiss N’ Fly

Wednesdays: W Doha. What’s that tingling sensation on your tongue? It’s Ladies Night at Crystal, where all ladies get three complimentary drinks from 10:00 p.m. till 11:30 p.m.! Check-in at Crystal for a special flight with international DJs. For more information, call 4453-5135 or BBM 26E78A27.

Ladies Big Night Out

Wednesdays: InterContinental Doha. Big Mouth will kick off the night in Paloma from 9:00p.m., followed by DJ Shadi. DJ Paul Mendez will be in Lava from 10:00 p.m. The centre door will be open, allowing you to pass between the two rooms as you wish. Unlimited free drinks for ladies at the bar in Paloma from 10:00 pm until late. QR 80 entrance for men; ladies enter free of charge. Membership required. For more information, call 4484-4444 or 4484-4936.

Jazz Up

Daily: Movenpick Hotel Doha. A new haven for jazz lovers in the heart of Doha. The perfect spot to chill out in contemporary, yet intimate surroundings while listening to smooth tunes and indulging in quality drinks, creative cocktails and an extensive snacks menu. For more information, call 4429-1111 or visit www.moevenpick-doha.com

Habanos Happy Hour

Daily: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Throughout the month of January enjoy two drinks for the price of one! From 6:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Shisha Under the Stars

Daily: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Come have your favourite shisha under the stars and enjoy traditional Arabic fair in the newly-opened Shisha Terrace. From 3:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. QR 65 per shisha; a la carte food and beverage menu available. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Cigar Lounge Happy Hour

Daily: Sharq Village & Spa. Throughout the month of January enjoy two drinks for the price of one! From 5:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. For more information, call 4425-6666.

DJ Mark Bambach @ Rocca WEEKENDS Wednesdays: Grand Hyatt Doha. Immerse Mirror Ball Classics @ yourself in beautiful vocal house music in Rocca plush European-styled surroundings from 9:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. Two-for-one house adult beverages until 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 7719-2974.

Thursdays: Grand Hyatt Doha. Classic house, soul and disco stylishly mixed by DJ Mark Bambach from 9:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. Two-for-one house drinks till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 7719-2974.

DAILY Happy Hour at the Jazz Club Past, Present and Future Daily: Oryx Rotana. There is nothing better than Happy Hour at the Jazz Club after a full day! Now you can bring your friends and family and make sure your night starts in style! From 7:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. 30 per cent off on selected beverages. For more information, call 4402-3333.

QH REMIN You must be DER 21 or over to enter all nightclubs. Don't forget to bring your identificatio n card

Thursdays: InterContinental Doha. DJ Paul Mendez takes you on a musical journey through decades of dance floor classics mixed with the latest club tunes. For more information, call 4484-4444.

Pure Crystal

Thursdays: W Doha. Let the night take over as international DJs play the best in eclectic house music. For more information, call 4453-5135 or BBM 26E78A27.

Pure House

Fridays: InterContinental Doha. DJ Suzee X plays only the latest house and techno all night long. For more information, call 4484-4444.

Carnival Party

Fridays: W Doha. Enjoy a carnival party at Crystal with the DJ’s special twist, elaborate tunes mixed with a sprinkling of Crystal magic. From 10:00 p.m. till 3:00 a.m. For more information, call 4453-5135 or BBM 26E78A27.

Ladies Night @ Rocca

Fridays: Grand Hyatt Doha. Beautiful vocal house music by female pop stars only, mixed by resident DJ Mark Bambach from 9:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. Ladies drink two-forone until 11:00 p.m.. For more information, call 7719-2974.

Salsa & Candela

Fridays: Sharq Village & Spa. QR 85 per person inclusive of a welcome drink. From 9:00 p.m. till 12:00 a.m. For more information, call 4425-6666.

Arabesque

Saturdays: W Doha. Pure Arabian magic! The Lebanese one-man show, Fadi Khoury, will be performing all the latest Arabic tunes. For more information, call 4453-5135 or BBM 26E78A27.

English Premier League Football

Saturdays and Sundays: InterContinental Doha. Join fellow football fanatics as the games kick off! Early opening for every game, with special drinks throughout the matches. For more information, call 4484-4444.

Sip & Savour

Saturdays to Thursdays: W Doha. Sip one, the second is on the house, together with complimentary Spice Market snacks. From 5:30 p.m. till 7:30 p.m. For more information, call 4453-5363.

or passport.

THIS MONTH'S

TOP PICKS

Maazel Conducts Mahler’s First

Sat 7th: Opera House, Katara Cultural Village. Enjoy an evening with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Lorin Maazel. Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnol, Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D Major. Starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

ARTS & CULTURE

Chamber Music Series: Mozart and Beethoven Trios Wed 18th: Opera House, Katara Cultural Village.

Andrea Mereutza, viola, Christoph Schmitz, cello, Aleksandr Haskin, flute, Mohamed Saleh, oboe, Tamás Marschall, clarinet, Simone Zanacchi, clarinet, Daniel Hrinda, horn, Sonja Park, piano. Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra presents Mozart: Kegelstadt Trio for clarinet, viola and piano in E Major, KV 498. Beethoven: Trio No. 4 for clarinet, cello and piano in B Major, Op. 11. Poulenc: Sextet for piano and woodwind quintet. Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf for woodwind quintet, violin and drums. Starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

Crossing Boundaries Lecture Series presents Fabio Sasso Tues 17th: International Academy for Intercultural Development.

Rachmaninoff’s Paganini Rhapsody Sat 14th: Opera House, Katara Cultural Village. George Pehlivanian,

conductor, Herbert Schuch, piano. Watch as Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra presents Khalaf: Dances civilizations anciennes, Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme from Paganini, R. Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life). Starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www. qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

The Atrium at Virginia Commonwealth University. Fabio Sasso is a graphic and web designer from Brazil. In 2004, he started ZEE with architect Fabiano Meneghetti to help companies have a better presence online through well-crafted websites. Starts at 6:00 p.m. For more information, call 4402-0555 or visit www.qatar.vcu.edu

A Lecture by Dak Kopec

Wed 25th: The Atrium at Virginia Commonwealth University. Environmental psychologist Dak Kopec (David Allen

Kopec) is associate professor at the NewSchool of Architecture and Design. He is the author of three books and two monographs. He was a host of a television pilot for TLC (The Learning Chanel) and hosted a second television pilot produced by Baja Posse Movies. Starts at 6:00 p.m. For more information, call 4402-0555 or visit www.qatar.vcu.edu

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atarha tion! www.qthe latest informa for

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

PUSS IN BOOTS A PANTOMIME

The Doha Players presents a traditional and lively pantomime telling the fairy tale of the remarkable talking cat who secures his penniless masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s future by helping him obtain the hand of a princess. Puss in Boots

The original French literary tale was written at the close of the seventeenth century by Charles Perrault (1628â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1703), The book was an instant success and remains popular even to this date through the voice of Antonio Banderas in DreamWorks version of this classic. The Doha Players' Puss in Boots Pantomime will be a real treat for the entire family as it will feature all the elements of the traditional pantomime - the Dame, a Fairy Godmother, and even a giant ogre and his wicked aide Gruesome! Not to mention the hero Peter, the beautiful princess, the archetype buffoons and fabulous musical numbers which feature a chorus made up of children of all ages. Accompanying will be the talented musicians of the Doha Players playing live sing-a-long tunes that everyone knows.

Set in a fairytale village, the audience is taken on a magical tour to witness and participate in the battle of good versus evil! Expect fun, laughter, audience participation and good old-fashioned entertainment in this annual Doha Players' event!

The lead players are:

Mother Goose (Fairy Godmother to all) Gill Hope Marjory Daw - Maysoon Lange Jack Spratt - Louise Wilson Caspar & Hector are the Miller's lazy sons - Paul Cooper and Gary Mond Peter (their younger brother) - Iona Gibson Puss - Raelene Dufresne Gruesome (the Ogre's henchman) - Julian Kent Fanny the Fifth (Queen of Arcadia) - DAME - Christopher Churchouse The Lord Chamberlain - Ahmet Bikmen Freckles (a Page) - Elvira Rossi Princess Miranda - Holly Steele Crunchbones (Ogre) - Muge Ozbey

ged other Doha Players has sta ch 2011 luding Aladdin in Mar famous musicals inc

The pantomime is being performed at the Doha British School, 25th & 26th at 7:00 p.m., 27th at 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. and 28th at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at: THE One in Villaggio and Landmark Malls from 9th January..

For more informati on,

please conta ct doha_playe rs@yahoo.c om or Tel. 5575 5102 during office hours (weekdays8am to 1pm).

Aladdin 37

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

Challenging Public Perception By Christina Maria Paschyn

Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra is constantly balancing and sometimes intertwining classical music and traditional Arabic music in order to please and educate their varied audience. Co-principal Cellist Hassan El-Molla Moataz is one of the musicians leading the way in QPO’s efforts to challenge public perception of music in the Middle East.

The first things you notice when you enter Hassan El-Molla Moataz’s rehearsal room are the strange instruments strewn across the floor like mere sheet music. The three cellos are not unexpected; Moataz is, after all, a cellist in the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s the rababas that catch your eye. A Persian-Arab folk fiddle dating back to the 8th century, the rababa is considered to be “the mother of all string instruments,” and Moataz boasts six of differing sounds and origins. There’s the deep-voiced rababa with the square leather body that Bedouins in the Gulf play to this day, and a rare Iranian device safely tucked away inside a large imposing case. But my eyes and ears are most entranced by Moataz’s Egyptian rababa, as the Cairene strums some startlingly haunting notes; this thin-necked rababa, strung with horsehair and a base carved out of coconut shell, is the same one Moataz played as the featured soloist in the QPO’s premiere of composer Marcel Khalife’s Concerto for Rababa and Orchestra in 2010. The opus – a masterpiece 38

that so effortlessly conjured images of golden sand dunes and moonlit desert vistas that it’s a wonder it wasn’t used as the title score for Black Gold - held the audience spellbound thanks to no small effort by Moataz, whose stirring solos formed the soul of the piece. Surprisingly, Moataz, 31, only started playing the rababa when he was 23 years old. Up until that point, his life had been devoted to the cello, an instrument he fell in love with at the age of nine as a pupil in the Cairo Conservatory. Determined to master the instrument and grow up to be a professional musician, the young cellist was willing to wake up every day at 5:30 a.m. to endure a two-hour bus ride to attend classes. “My schedule did not matter. After one year I really felt so happy and lucky to play the cello,” Moataz said. Moataz’s parents were happy to support their son’s passion. “My father was supporting me so much. He was making sandwiches for me in the morning and took me to the place where the bus came every day,” Moataz said.

“He also helped by picking me up very early [after school] because the bus would come at 4:00 p.m. and I would be finished at 2:00 p.m. So he would come to me, pick me up and drive me home.” Moataz’s hard work paid off when he played his first solo concert with the Cairo Opera Orchestra at age 16, an opportunity not often awarded to students that age. He performed with the Opera House from 1995 to 2000. He then joined the Cairo Symphony Orchestra and earned the title of principal cellist in 2004. In 2008, he was accepted into the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra as a sub-principal cellists. Music remained a fixture in his life even during his mandatory

SPOTLIGHT ON ARTS & CULTURE

year-long service in the Egyptian Army, where, from 2002-2003, he was asked to teach soldiers the cello and conduct the army chamber orchestra. Even during boot camp, Moataz’s artistic aptitude came in handy. “One day I was changing my clothes and whistling, and my commander was listening to me and liked my whistling so much that he asked me to make a recording of some songs of me whistling,” Moataz recalled. “And he said he would give me three days off for this. I gave him the tape and he liked it so much, and after that he asked me to whistle in front of 200 people during break times. I became known as the whistling man to my friends.” Not long after Moataz left the army to resume his professional music career, the director of music activities at the Library of Alexandria approached him; he was looking for a rababa player to incorporate a unique rendition of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. “At the time I didn’t play the rababa, but I said ‘if you give me two months I will

practice and try to play it for you.’ But I realized I didn’t need to learn the rababa because it’s the same technique as the cello,” Moataz said. The cello and rababa may share technical and physical similarities, but Moataz says a musician must take a different and contradictory approach to each instrument and to classical and Arabic music in general. “In classical music, there is melody, harmony, expression, dynamics and many other things. And everything is planned very well and written to the orchestra instruments [like violin, cello, etcetera]. But for Arabic music, it’s often one line written for the singers and there’s very little when it comes to accompanying voice or two voices,” Moataz explained. “The difference is the melody and how to play Arabic music so beautifully and also include improvisation. In Arabic music there are many scales and they use quartertones. The improvising is how to move among the scales and improvise melody and move to many scales within a few minutes.” It’s a skill he had to master for his solo in

Khalife’s Rababa Concerto, which Moataz says proved a defining for moment for him and the QPO. “In the QPO there are very professional musicians who are playing in a country [whose population] is not that familiar with classical music and are more [knowledgeable] about traditional Gulf music,” he said. “To write a concerto for this [traditional folk instrument] is a very strange chance, and it was very good for the name of the orchestra to perform a premiere piece. When my friends knew that the QPO did this, they thought that it was a really new thing to add these two together, blending Arabic into classical music. It was a good thing for foreigners and Qataris to listen to such a concerto and folk music.” Moataz said he hopes to continue sharing his passion for the cello and rababa while challenging public perception and understanding of music in the Middle East.

Most concerts of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra are presented in the Opera House Building 16 of the Katara cultural Village in West bay. For more information log onto www.qatarphilharmonicorchestra.com. Tickets for concerts are available at Virgin Megastore.

ARTS & CULTURE LISTINGS

F for Faculty

Sun 1st - Sat 21st: The Gallery at Virginia Commonwealth University. The aim of VCUQatarâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Faculty exhibitions is to give faculty members an opportunity to present their results of current artistic and design research and exploration in a select, juried exhibition that provides enhanced visibility to both faculty members and The Gallery. The exhibition showcases the diversity among faculty members and the range of materials and approaches involved in the art and design disciplines with the hope that viewers will be inspired by the talents and the creativity at VCUQatar. The Gallery is open Sundays to Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 4402-0555 or visit www.qatar.vcu.edu

Omar Khairatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Music

Sat 28th and Sun 29th: Opera House, Katara Cultural Village. Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra presents the music of Omar Khairat. Nader Abbassi, conductor, Omar Khairat, piano. Starts at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.qatarphilharmonicorchestra.org

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

COMMUNITY THIS MONTH'S

TOP PICKS

Freshwater and Marine Fish Conservation in the Arabian Peninsula Wed 4th: DESS. Dr. Fareed Krupp will speak. With more than 2000 species, fish diversity in the Arabian Seas Region is one of the highest globally and the degree of endemism (species that occur nowhere else on earth), is significant. Starts at 7:00 p.m. For more information, email pr-representative@qnhg.org

Talking Matters Toastmasters Mon 9th and Mon 23th: Oryx Rotana.

Develop into an excellent communicator, leader and human being. Meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. For more information, call Faizal Arikkoth 6609-9047 or Paul Easy 5580-7524.

Dinner Party Master Class

Doha Garden Club Sun 8th: Holiday Villa Doha.

All your questions and doubts about gardening in Qatar will be answered. From 9:30 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. Registration fee QR 120, membership fee QR 45, guest QR 65. For more information visit www.dohagardenclub.com or email publicrelations@dohagardenclub.com

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Fri 27th: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Chef Frederic will take you through the planning and preparation of a great menu you can present to your family and friends at home. Each class will include a three-course menu, focusing on basic fine dining, cooking techniques, proper equipment needs and plate presentation. Starts at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch in La Mer restaurant. QR 265 per person. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Mr. Q A Qatari's Point of View By Khalifa Saleh Haroon

I thought I’d take the time to go ahead and update you all on what iLoveQatar supports throughout the year. For those that don’t know, ILQ spends profit made from all advert banners you see on charitable causes to support the local community. The goal at the end of the day is simple, to make Qatar a better place! Somewhere that everyone can be proud of. QSports

more active and healthy life-style! Oh and did we mention that it’s free? Yep! 6-16 year olds can enjoy football, basketball, Now these guys are doing something that netball, dance, and karate! Just come on I’ve been waiting for, for ages. Not only is down to the Doha Rugby Club on Saturday QSports supported by the Qatar Olympic September 17th from 9am to 2pm. There’ll Committee but they’re now supported by be coaching sessions, live DJ, BBQ, ILQ as well. We’ll be sponsoring teams who giveaways, competitions, and a bouncy can’t afford basic entry fees or uniforms on a castle too! Oh and if you go on down, you case by case basis Interested? Registration can probably get a free sports shirts with is FREE. So what do they do? They organize the ILQ logo on it too! Visit sports tournaments that you can register to www.evosportsqatar.com for more. be a part of. Want to play football and don’t know where to go or even have enough Humanisation of Cities of players for example? QSports solves that! They’re still looking for more sponsors in Tomorrow case you work for a company that might be interested! Visit qsportsleagues.com for We partnered up with Naseba many times more information or to sign up! in the past. We think we make a good

Evo Sports Academy’s Super Sports Day EEvo Sports Academy decided that they wanted to get people active in Qatar. They went to Bassam with a mission; they wanted to help youngsters in Qatar pick a sport they’re good at, perhaps one that they never thought of trying before. Bassam gave the Evo Sports team an excited grin and we were in. Imagine! Helping people live a

team actually. Last year, ILQ also supported this event and we got a standing ovation since Bassam was a speaker. So what’s it all about? Well on October 4th and 5th, global city leaders, ministries and influential people will get together and share their insights and thoughts as to how we can all work together to build a better future. There’ll be different pavilions under different themes “Knowledge”, “Urban”, “Power” Well-being”, “Hospitality”, Green” and “Infrastructure. I’m very excited about the summit and hope that

asome great change will come out of this. One of the things that Bassam and I often talk about is encouraging future businesses to focus on partnership models and competition. More info at www.cityhumanisation.com

Green Programme for Schools I’m going to start to start this off by saying… I’m disappointed… This is a fantastic cause. The goal of GPS is to educate children in schools as to the importance of taking care of the environment. Sounds like a great cause right? Well why haven’t many people ‘liked’ their Facebook page then? Look, it takes two seconds and it shows them that you care! Go on visit http://www.facebook. com/GPSQatar I’ll wait…. I’m waiting….. Done? Hope so! Inshallah partnering and sponsoring these different events makes Qatar a better place. What do you guys think? Good job?

‫أطلق العنان حلبك ل ّلحوم‬

Unleash the Carnivore in You

Qatar: Villaggio Mall, Tel. 4413 5797

www.butchershop-me.com

Other Locations: UAE | Bahrain | Kuwait | South Africa

SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY

Ways to Get Involved in Your Community By Kristin Russell

Welcome to 2012 and the New Year’s resolution season. It’s the time of year when you look back on the past year and decide on ways to improve yourself. QH has a fun and exciting resolution that can last all year - community involvement. Here is a list of the hottest community organizations to get involved with this year.

Doha has dozens of community, special interest and volunteer groups, so there is sure to be one that is right for you. For those who are new to the Doha scene, and even for us veterans, getting involved in community groups can seem overwhelming. Many of us may not know where start looking. Whether your passion is gardening or volunteering or you’re just looking for a professional organization, we’re certain that you can find the right group to participate in.

communities throughout Asia by providing quality primary and secondary educations to children affected by crisis. ROTA volunteers consist of more than 800 people of all ages and backgrounds. ROTA’s vibrant and diverse volunteer programs vary from events and activities in Qatar (including community impact days, literacy programs and Ramadan campaigns) to volunteer trips abroad working with schools, providing

workshops and learning about local culture and traditions. ROTA volunteers make a big difference in the lives of many. ROTA volunteer programs are flexible with any schedule; volunteers can choose to help on a regular basis or for just a few hours. To learn more about the benefits of ROTA and how to get involved, visit the website at www.reachouttoasia.org.

The Humanitarian ROTA: This year, if you find your humanitarian spirit rekindled, there’s no short supply of various volunteer organizations that provide you the opportunity to lend a hand. One such organization is Reach Out to Asia (ROTA), a non-profit group that aides 45

SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY

The Family Doha Mums: You may think it is tough finding an organization that can be fun and entertaining for the whole family. But Doha Mums has the solution to your worries. Founded in 2008 as an organization for dedicated expat moms, its membership has continued to grow to over 930 people. With moms from all over the world, from working and stay-at-home moms to expectant moms and moms with older kids, this community is a source for advice and support for life in Doha. Don’t let the name fool you; this “mom’s group” has a calendar full of activities (about 80 to 100 events a month) for adults and children of all ages. Playgroups, family events, adult socials, like Mum’s Night Out, and different subgroups celebrate all things family. If you’re an expat mom looking for community group that everyone can enjoy, contact the Doha Mums on their website ww.dohamums.com.

Nature Lovers Qatar Bird Club: Enjoy the great outdoors! With the temperature outside cooling down, it’s the perfect time to get out there and explore the natural wonders that Qatar has outside the city limits of Doha. These two groups take you on adventures to experience the wildlife and beauty of Qatar. The Qatar Bird Club is for all bird lovers, big and small. This group’s focus is on the wild birds of Qatar, their observation, study and conservation. You will share with more than 100 members during regular meetings to inform and discuss highlighted topics on the various species of birds in Qatar and around the world. Bird watching treks are held frequently throughout the month to explore and observe our feathered friends in their natural habitat. Members receive a regular newsletter that reviews techniques and tricks of the trade for better bird watching and include articles by noted avian experts. Bird lovers wanting to get involved and communicate with other “birders” can contact the Qatar Bird Club at qatarbirdproject@gmail.com.

Animal Lovers Q.A.W.S.: All animal lovers welcome! Qatar Animal Welfare Society (or Q.A.W.S.) is a purely volunteer-based group dedicated to animal rescue in Doha. Q.A.W.S. volunteers assist with most aspects of running the shelter, from walking dogs, feedings, grooming, cat cuddling, socializing, collecting donated items and so much more! Volunteers are able to pick and choose which aspects they would like to get involved in and how often they visit. With over 200 animals ranging from dogs, cats and rabbits to chickens, donkeys and goats, there's always plenty to do! If you’re strapped for time and still want to help, don’t worry - there are other opportunities to get involved. Q.A.W.S. holds several fundraising events every month, which are all advertised on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ qaws.org, and they are always in need of donations. New volunteers wanting to get involved are asked to contact Q.A.W.S. by email at volunteer@qaws.org for more information.

SPOTLIGHT ON COMMUNITY

Professional Networking

Green Thumb Doha Garden Club: If your green thumb is feeling a bit rusty and you’re having trouble making those plants bloom, then the Doha Special Interest Garden Club has the answers you’ve been looking for. Gardening can be a challenge Doha Players: If you’ve been bitten by in the desert climate. The Doha Garden the acting bug, then Doha Players has the Club has a wealth of knowledge to help you ultimate outlet for you. Started in 1954, learn the gardening ins and outs of Qatar. this amateur acting society puts on various This group of culturally diverse ladies have productions ranging from small events like a shared passion of all things gardening. monthly Open Mic music nights to large ensemble performances. The Doha Players’ Monthly meetings are held to promote good current project is the humorous Pantomime, gardening practices and include programs with lectures and demonstrations. Private Puss in Boots. A production whose cast ranges from the young to the young at heart, garden tours are coordinated to explore the Doha Players is an activity that is fun for the beautiful, private residence gardens hidden throughout Doha. If you don’t mind getting whole family to enjoy together. The Doha your hands a bit dirty to turn that sandy Players have about 40 active participants patch into your own private desert oasis, and are always on the lookout for new join the Doha Garden Club! Start by visiting talent to join their ensemble. However, if www.dohagardenclub.com acting isn’t for you but you still love the dramatic arts, then come and support the Doha Players production of Puss in Boots playing Jan. 25 to Jan. 28 at the Doha British School. For more information about the Doha Players, getting involved or performances, email at doha_players@yahoo.com

Qatar Professional Women’s Network: Women who are looking for are looking for a professional, yet informal, networking group to expand their professional connections and capabilities may consider the Qatar Professional Women’s Network (QPWN). The group, comprised of Qatari and expat women, is open to women in any profession, including students, parttime workers and homemakers who wish to keep professional networks. QPWN holds regular events throughout Doha to give women the opportunity to network and listen to keynote speakers, as well as hold career workshops and mentoring programs to female students entering into the work force. Events are pay-as-you-go, so there is no membership fee to join. Women interested in being a part of this organization dedicated to improving female networks in Qatar. Qatar British Business Forum: In business, and especially here in Qatar, it’s always good to have contacts. When there is an organization that concentrates on building and cultivating these relationships, it’s a prime opportunity to get involved. The Qatar British Business Forum (QBBF) is an organization that specializes in promoting potential business opportunities in Qatar and, in particular, encouraging trade between Qatar and the U.K. Established in 1992, QBBF is now represented by more than 400 members from all spectrums of business. Potential members who meet membership criteria will be rewarded with dozens of events throughout the year, such as monthly business luncheons and multiple social events. Interested potential members can visit their website at www.qbbf.com 47

Doha Trade Fair As told to Jorge Granda

Start the New Year at the Doha Exhibition Center -visiting the 2012 edition of the largest Trade Fair to date. Hunt down bargains with over 100 exhibitors to choose from. The Doha Trade Fair 2012 edition will run from Jan 1 till 10 featuring over 570 exhibition booths from 29 countries representing five continents. The massive event is organized by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) in cooperation with q.media events.

Inside DTF Upon entering Doha Exhibition Center – the venue of DTF 2012 – visitors will be welcomed by a kaleidoscopic atmosphere bursting with hundreds of exhibitors offering bargain prices on everything from household consumables, cosmetics, fabrics, textiles and food.

Electronics: children’s toys, computer and electronic gadgets, gift items and souvenirs, accessories and more, Perfume and Cosmetics: perfumes, make up, creams, beauty products, soaps and more, Clothes and Apparels: clothes, children’s clothes, bags, shoes, accessories and more, and Food: spices, sweets, pickles and more. The massive inventory will come from, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, KSA, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, the UAE, the United States and Yemen.

In a move away from the last edition, and For The Kids to make navigation through such a large exhibition space easier, the DTF 2012 will be As adults get busy in haggling and decision organized based on product profile and not making, kids will have plenty to keep them on a country specific pavilion basis. occupied thanks to a separate 2,000 square meter area featuring: inflatables, face The sections will include Household: painting, a family of mascots, and a parade. furniture, lighting designs, home décor, embroideries, candles, bed sheets, duvet The parade will perform four shows daily covers and more, Toys, Gadgets and starting from 2 :00 p.m., and will include a fire show as well as a barrel show. 48

“The Doha Trade Fair has proven to be a highly anticipated event benefitting both the tourism and business sectors in the country. It brings together a large number of participating countries from across the globe, while spreading Qatar’s name as a premier business and tourism hub in the region,” said Ahmed Al-Nuaimi, chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority. s event complements QTA’s domestic and regional strategy to bring exciting and interactive activities to Qatar. The involvement of q.media events in the last trade fair has helped to upscale this event, making it a much more successful and attractive trade fair. With this show, we will offer more exclusivity in products and more excitement in entertainment, ensuring all visitors have a positive experience,” added Al Nuaimi. For more information log onto: www.doha-tradefair.com

The “Oscars of the travel industry” As told to Jorge Granda

The prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA) will host this month the Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Doha in partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA). QH finds out what is it all about.

n January 11, 2012 more than 1,000 of the most important decisionmakers in global travel and tourism will gather at Katara Cultural Village to attend the Grand Final Gala Ceremony of the WTA. The choice of Doha to host WTA’s Grand Final reflects the country’s growing importance and stature in the industry and QTA is lending as much support as possible to make the awards the best ever. “The staging of the ceremony in Doha is an illustration of the confidence the travel and tourism industry has in Qatar as well as the potential it has to develop further,” Mr. Ahmed Al Nuaimi Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) Chairman said. “Qatar has allocated more the US$25 billion for the development of tourism infrastructure in preparation for the 2022 World Cup. WTA’s Grand Final forms part of our country’s growing roster of world-class events, ranging from art and music to sport and travel.” The evening marks the culmination of a year-long search for the very best travel and tourism brands in the world, and will feature the winners from WTA’s regional heats competing head to head. The regional ceremonies included Middle East (Dubai, UAE), Europe Europe (Antalya, Turkey), Africa and Indian Ocean

(Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt), Asia and Australasia (Bangkok, Thailand), and Caribbean and The Americas (Montego Bay, Jamaica). “We are delighted to host our Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Qatar as it is such an exciting place to be right now.” Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards, said. “Our Grand Final will see the winners of our five regional “heats, who represent the cream of the global travel and tourism industry, compete head to head for the ultimate travel accolade.”

Created under the leadership of HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, Katara Cultural Village was born out of a vision to position the State of Qatar as an international cultural lighthouse through theatre, literature, art, music, conventions and exhibitions. Katara features a remarkable array of attractions, from an opera house and art galleries to world-class restaurants and a beach.

COMMUNITY LISTINGS Doha Mums Pearl Coffee Break

Wednesdays: The Pearl-Qatar. Calling all moms on The Pearl to go to HaagenDazs, near Tower 4. From 3:00 p.m. till 4.30 p.m. for a social catch up. Colouring books and pencils will be provided for the little ones. For more information, visit www.dohamums.com or email events@dohamums.com

Expectant & New Mums Coffee

ONE OF A KIND Breastfeeding Support Group

Tue 3rd: Various. Some find it tough, others find it easy ... it’s nice to meet other moms who are doing the same. Babies and their siblings of any age are welcome. Light refreshments will be served. From 9:30 a.m. For more information, visit www.dohamums.com or email events@ dohamums.com.

Depression Support Group

Wed 4th: Various. For those of you who are feeling low and do not know what is wrong, this group will by no means be a cure but it will give you someone to talk to and let you know where to get professional help. From 10:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. Locations change monthly so check out the website www.dsg@dohamums.com

Toy Swap Event

Sat 28th: Al Faisaliya compound Al Waab. Bring “outgrown” toys and swap them for new ones. From 10:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.dohamums. com or email: events@dohamums.com

Cancer Support Group

Mon 30th: Various. CSG is a support group for anybody whose lives have been affected by cancer. The key to the group is to provide a support network from people who truly understand. From 10:30 a.m. Locations change monthly, so check out the website www.cancersupport@dohamums.com

Garden Club

Monday 30th: The One Coffee Shop, Landmark. Join the Garden Club to talk about all things green! They have regular presenters and garden tours. This month, they will visit the Garden Souqs. From 10:30 a.m. till 12:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.dohamums.com or email events@dohamums.com

EVERYWEEK Fertility Support Group

Sundays: Al Soudan (near Billboard Intersection). Are you experiencing a challenging fertility journey and need someone to talk to in a similar position? From time to time, guest speakers will be invited along to provide information and be available for Q&A in a more intimate environment than the formality of the consulting room. For more information, visit www.fertilityA@dohamums.com

New Arrivals Coffee

Mondays: Hyatt Plaza. Join the Doha Mums in welcoming prospective members to Doha at the Café de Chalet! It is located near the "middle entrance" of Hyatt Plaza, and at the far end of Kiddy Zone (the enclosed toy store "kiosk"). Kids are treated to free play on a bouncy castle courtesy of Kiddy Zone. From 9:30 a.m. No RSVP necessary. For more information, visit www.dohamums.com or email events@dohamums.com

Thursdays: Various. Join other new moms and moms-to-be to talk “all things baby!” Doha Mums hosts a coffee from 9:30 a.m. till 11:30 a.m. The location varies, so check the Doha Mums website for dates and details. For more information, visit www.dohamums.com or email events@ dohamums.com

Soccer Break for Dads

Saturdays: Qipco Compound. Take part in a friendly pick-up game with like-minded dads! Starts at 6:00 p.m. For more information, www.dohamums.com or email events@dohamums.com

For more communit y listings, check out

www.qatarha

ppening.com

KIDS CLUB LISTINGS EVERY WEEK Pool Playgroup

Mondays: Intercontinental Doha. The little ones will enjoy the shaded pool and the older kids can explore Doha's longest private beach. Morning session is from 9:30 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. and the afternoon session is from 3:00 p.m.till 6:00 p.m. For more information, visit www. dohamums.com or email events@dohamums.com

Children’s Library

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: The American Community School. Explore the world of literature with your kids. The library will be opened three days a week and you can come and read, browse, borrow and return books! For more information, visit www.dohamums.com

Rays Reef Fun Time

Tuesdays and Sundays: Royal Plaza. Located on the 2nd floor, from 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday and from 3:00 p.m. on Sundays. It’s a fun and clean area with lots of options for your kids to choose from; suitable for different age groups. RSVP is required. For more information, visit www. dohamums.com or email: events@dohamums.com

Gondolania Soft Play Area Playgroup

Wednesdays: Villaggio Mall. It's great for kids of all ages! From 2:30 p.m. OnlyQR 15 for as long as you want. Turn right at the entrance and follow it round and you will see some trampolines and an enormous soft play area that’s where the group will be! For more information, visit www.dohamums.com or email events@dohamums.com

Kids Arabic Reading Group

Saturdays: This reading group is held at Doha Mums Library at ACS. This group is suitable for kids who can read and understand simple sentences in Arabic. From 3:30 p.m. till 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.dohamums. com or email events@dohamums.com

DAILY Kempinski Kids Club

Daily: Kempinski Doha. Kids Club is providing a safe, clean and stimulating environment for children to play, learn and grow in. They create inspirational and imaginative programs for the intellectual, emotional, physical and social development of the children. Accepting children from four to 12 years of age, under supervision. They offer morning and afternoon membership programs, and various workshops geared for children. For more information, call 4405-3308, email kidsclub.doha@kempinski.com or visit www.kempinski.com/doha

FOOD & DINING TOP PICKS

THIS MONTH'S

Indonesian Food Festival

Thurs 5th – Fri 27th: Holiday Villa Doha. Yummy Indonesian food featured on Thursdays and Fridays in Lagenda International Restaurant. QR 155 for adults. From 7:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4408-4220.

Chinese New Year

Mon 23rd – Tue 31st: Ramada Plaza. Ruby Wu's welcomes in the Chinese New Year. 2012 is the year of the Dragon - GONG XI FA CHAI! The Water Dragon is the fifth sign of the zodiac, and symbolizes free spirited ambition. Celebrate and enjoy one of the specially selected set menus, full of delicious Chinese treats. Each table will receive a lucky red envelope offering prizes and gifts galore. For more information, call 4428-1555.

Chef Frederic’s Table Mon 16th: Ritz-Carlton Doha. For food aficionados and aspiring chefs, The Chef’s Table is a moment to remember. The event is hosted the third Monday of every month by international master chef’s and Ritz-Carlton’s own sommelier. It is a five-course dinner paired with wines. From 7:00 p.m. onwards. QR 450 per person. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Outdoor Catering Promotion

Sun 1st – Tue 31st: Wyndham Grand Regency Doha. Book your

outdoor catering event and "pay for 40 and get served for 80 guests." Skillful chefs and the experienced and friendly team will craft your memorable events. For more information, call 4434- 3203 or email: sdesilva@wyndham.com

Australia National Day Thurs 26th: InterContinental Doha. Paloma will be offering a special menu to celebrate Australian National Day. For more information, call 4484-4444.till 3:00 p.m. For more information, call 4434-3203 or 4434-3333 or email sdesilva@wyndham.com.

OUT om K C E H .c C ppening

atarha tion! www.qthe latest informa for

SPOTLIGHT ON DINING

Renowned for a reason By Alex Corey

Everyone knows the Spice Market. It’s been one of the go-to restaurants in Doha for the last few years. But with a newly revamped menu, do you really know it as well as you think you do? QH takes you through a journey of gastronomy inspired by one chef’s 12-year exploration of Asia. I have a sweet tooth. I have always had one. I love my licorice and sweets, sodas, candies and anything else in between, except for desserts. I have never been much of a dessert guy, especially while eating out, even though desserts have always been my own mother’s forte. Or maybe it’s precisely for that reason that I’ve never been a big fan; no son can say that any cooking is better than his own mother’s (unless of course, he’s married!). If, however, I were allowed to say, then I would have to say it about the Spice Market’s Ovaltine Kulfi. It simply struck a chord with me in a way that is normally reserved for falling into love, or out of an airplane. Of course, the rest of the menu is full of beautifully designed and delicious dishes too. In fact, you are going to have to come back a few times just to try them all. The Spice Market was supposed to be a book. Upon completion of an extended trip throughout South-East Asia, Executive Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten was going to write a book documenting his experience with the foods he encountered. Instead, he decided that a far more appropriate way to share this experience would be to open a restaurant in order to allow one to actually, well, experience it. I should note that “Spice” is loosely defined in the name, as I found none of the dishes to be particularly spicy. At most, I may have briefly stumbled over “two alarms,” but in a way similar to an alarm clock that gently

and consistently increases the volume, resulting in a smooth transition to the experiences of the day. We start by browsing over the extensive beverage list of the many delicious and imaginative mocktails and adult beverages available. Though very different from each other, each drink is vibrant and revitalizing. The meal begins with tuna tartare, black pepper shrimp, Omani lobster cake and an apple and green papaya salad.

The tartare is soft and light in texture. It is served with a soy yuzo (Japanese citrus fruit) that adds a burst of summer freshness to the tuna that seems to somehow enhance the experience. The shrimp is glazed with a sauce composed of bitter black pepper balanced with a sugary sweetness. The result is a tantalizing flavour of deliciousness that complements the texture of the shrimp perfectly. There is just a whisper of spice that leaves a warm glowing feeling on one’s palate. The salad is a medley of flavours and textures that feel

SPOTLIGHT ON DINING like a walk through a summer orchard. It’s light and sweet, juxtaposed with a hint of tart and spicy. This is a great choice for vegetarians and omnivores alike. My preferred appetizer is the Omani lobster cake, a lightly fried golden crust that encapsulates a buttery, flaky and moist nugget of lobster. It is topped with a tangy ginger lime sauce that is light and loud, whereas the lobster is rich and subtle - just beautiful. If you asked me to choose what my favorite main course is, I would have to say it would depend on my mood. The soy glazed short rib is decadent and a perfect cap to a long, cold day. The meat is so rich and tender, it could almost be described as creamy. This is enhanced by the celery puree. The rich flavour and creamy texture of the rib and puree is complemented with a cool crisp flavour of apple salad. The hammour is beautifully prepared and would be a great way to start the day at the crack of noon. It is barely brisk on the outside, and firm, juicy and succulent on the inside. The gentle flavours of the sauce do not overbear the more subtle taste of the fish and the whole experience leaves you so satisfied, you feel as though you caught the fish yourself. The red duck curry is for those who love their meat soaking in sauce. The dish consists of chunks of delicate duck bathing in a creamy curry sauce that has a little bite to it, but leaves you wanting more after each bite. The overall favourite of all the main dishes is the char grilled chicken. It has a light, thin coating that provides a crispy, clean texture that seems to seal in the chicken’s natural juices. It’s topped with a kumquat lemon dressing that soothes the slight bitterness of the char grilled meat, resulting in a beautiful orchestra of flavour that is destined to please. Naturally, since all of the dishes are served family-style (and are meant to be shared), there needs to be suitable sides available. My favourites are the ginger fried rice, which is light and fun (and goes great with the duck), and the crispy brussels sprouts. I could describe to you how the tartness and brisk texture of the brussels sprouts is subdued with a light tossing of oil, sweet honey, lemongrass and mint, but all you really need to know is that kids will actually eat and love these brussels sprouts.

"It simply struck a chord with me in a way that is normally reserved for falling into love, or out of an airplane."

For dessert, you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. The Thai Jewels is a popular dish and for a good reason - the passion fruit, mango, lychee and papaya are shredded, chilled and presented in coconut milk with a hint of vanilla essence. It is a simple, yet exquisite, experience. If you close your eyes while eating it, you can imagine the sweetness of a fresh spring morning that still has the lingering chill of winter in the air. My favourite dish however, is the aforementioned Kulfi. It has an absolutely perfect velvety texture. It’s like someone cut a rectangular piece out of a deep, dark storm cloud of chocolate and topped it with caramelized banana, fluffy popcorn and whipped cream. Just be careful not to tell your mother – or mine.

SPICE MARKET FACTS: Timings:

Open 7 days a week, 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m

Dress Code:

Smart Casual

Average meal price:

QR 200

Reservations:

Yes - 4453-5363

Family section:

Available Upon request (with advanced reservation)

Vegetarian selection:

Available

Gluten Free items:

Available

Live entertainment:

On special occasions Take Away available

Take away or home: delivery Smoking or non smoking:

Both available

Vino:

Yes

Telephone No:

4453-5363

SPOTLIGHT ON DINING

A Heavenly Dining Experience By Charlie Gandelman

Neo restaurant dazzles in unexpected ways. Hidden within the strip mall archipelago on Salwa Road, a world detached from Doha's skyscrapers and five-star hotels, Neo is an unlikely destination for a trendy sushi restaurant. Once inside, you get the feeling the location is part of the plan. Neo dares you to abandon your comforts. The restaurant is not content with serving superb food; it wants to take you on an adventure. It's holistic dining. From the moment you enter beneath the metallic sign, the restaurant challenges and provokes you, confusing your typical understandings of eating, food and taste. Neo knows that it must deconstruct you, it must break down your preconceived notions, before delighting you with the most bold, unique and creative dishes in Doha. The restaurant confronts your typical comforts before even laying eyes on the menu. The dark, clashing wall colours; the spacious, sky-high ceiling entrance hall juxtaposed with the intimate seating area behind; the concrete art studio floors. A layer of stones border the restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge, radiating a distinct red glow and creating the illusion of floating on lava. Opposing words splash across the pastel-coloured walls. It is impossible to characterize the interior; the restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identify shifts as your eyes cross the room, taking in a striking tapestry of mismatching colours, images and meanings. But it works. The interior oozes post-modern mysteriousness and intrigue, preventing you from getting too comfortable, ensuring you enjoy a different kind of restaurant. 56

Even the bathroom, with its cleverly placed mirrors and its imposing bronze monolith sink, contribute to the disorienting effect. Neo is more like that cool kid you want to be around, who forces you to do cool things, than the comfortable friends you've known your whole life. And then there is the food. The menu features a dizzying array of food types. The sushi - Neo's specialty - is placed at the end. You could enjoy an entire meal there, not even notice the smell of wasabi, and not miss a beat. The food is just that good. The Italian caprese arrives first, in stunning fashion. Slabs of buffalo mozzarella are wedged between slices of tomato, stacked together vertically. It looks like a food that could be eaten in Avatar. Eating it means destroying the form, but the taste is as equally impressive as the packaging. The soft, flaky mozzarella and a tangier-thanusual tomato provide the classic dish with a unique interpretation. Neo's Caesar salad likewise changed the way we view this staple starter. It's difficult to even label it as merely a salad. It's a parmesan crust tube stuffed with salad, drizzled with dressing and topped with croutons. Similar to the Caprese, the

presentation does not overshadow the taste; once the fork strikes through the crust and the mini-masterpiece is no more, the tastebuds delight where the eyes once marveled. Fresh, crispy lettuce, a creamy, robust sauce and the parmesan flakes, combined with the croutons, gives the normally pedestrian Caesar salad a much appreciated dress up. Following the technical and flavour marvels of the starters, the soups, though inherently limited in their presentation, impress for both their visuals and tastes. The carrot soup is topped with sizzling beef and a dollop of cream. It hints at a timeless autumnal flavour, with the beef and cream providing a welcome spin. The wild mushroom and truffle soup does not stray far from its origins, but the dish serves as a perfect rest stop before the entrees. Its aromatic flavour effortlessly blends with the truffle sauce, producing a deceivingly simple taste with each slurp. With the starters and soups having sufficiently warped our traditional understandings of food presentation and flavours, the entrees ramp up the effort. The hamburger, one of the best in town, provides a welcome counterweight to the mammoth, sloppy heart attacks on a plate

SPOTLIGHT ON DINING normally around town. At Neo, the burger is economical, maximizing its space to deliver a juicy, succulent and manageable portion that won't send you into food coma. The meat is tender and cooked to perfection and the sesame bun buttery toasted. Arriving next is the chicken stuffed with cashew nut, black beans sauce and stir-fry vegetables. This dish perfectly epitomizes the restaurant: a sensory mish-mash of tastes, flavours and unusual presentation, slightly arresting initially before tantalizing your taste buds. The vegetables are piled generously, concealing the chicken entirely. Whereas the chicken is theoretically the centerpiece of a chicken dish, the vegetables and cashews are the first to greet you and throw you off just a bit. Good luck trying to wade through and make sense of the vegetables - there are so many, mingling together so closely, that you just have to dive in. I have long been revolted by zucchini, but the dish forces you to shed your arbitrary preferences; I don't even realize that I am eating, much less enjoying, a medley that includes the dreaded vegetable. The chicken pieces underneath, though delicious and quickly eaten up, are almost an afterthought. It is a unique take on a chicken dish, but after several rounds of food at Neo, we are not surprised at the

creativity and thought behind it. So what about the sushi? After such a thrilling dining adventure, we nearly forget that the sushi, Neo's piece de resistance, is still on its way. Though we discover that we do not even require the delicacy to enjoy a distinctive, wondrous experience at the restaurant, the sushi shouldn't be missed. The sushi brings you back; it grounds you. It is artfully presented and carefully constructed for powerful flavour, but not alien. It is distinct, but recognizable and accessible. The maki is particularly impressive. Featuring a generously portioned smoked salmon and asparagus exterior encircling a cream cheese nucleus, the Philly maki is addictive and leaves us craving more. The playboy maki likewise features cream cheese, this time accompanying avocado, crab and a crunchy shrimp tempura jumping from the roll. The Canadian maki, a more traditional sushi choice, features crispy salmon skin marinated with teriyaki sauce.

While some restaurants are content with serving good but run-of-the-mill desserts, Neo continues to impress. The apple tart features warm, cinnamon-sprinkled apples over crispy, flaky dough - like no apple tart you've tasted before. The chocolate fondant oozes warm, undulating chocolate and should be accompanied with ice cream for a blissful contrasting flavour. Overall, the desserts are a fitting end to an utterly superb dining experience. The sensory blitzkrieg of Neo does not quickly fade. Its otherworldly food and amorphous, elusive and sleek ambience keep you thinking long after you exit the restaurant. Away from the bright lights of West Bay and the predictable comforts of hotels, Neo will disagree with everything you come to expect in restaurants. But it will provide a unique dining experience in its truest sense.

The other sushi offerings are also outstanding. The spicy tuna hurtled against the upper limit of spiciness for a delicious, mischievous flavour. The salmon sushi provides an unusually sizable piece of the fish atop a bed of rice, but the freshness and rush of taste makes it wholly worthwhile.

"Once the fork strikes through the crust and the mini-masterpiece is no more, the tastebuds delight where the eyes once marveled."

NEO FACTS : Timings:

Opens daily, 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Dress Code:

Smart Casual

Average Meal Price: QR 150 Reservations:

Available

Family Section:

Available upon request (with advanced reservation)

Take Away:

Available

Smoking or Non-smoking Area:

Available

Vino:

Telephone No:

4432-2539

SPOTLIGHT ON DINING

A Dining Revolution By Victoria Scott

The Torch, the new five-star hotel inside the Aspire Tower, is home to Doha’s first revolving restaurant, Three Sixty. QH samples the cuisine of the restaurant where every diner has the best table. The Torch is the sort of building that makes you work up an appetite. There’s a sense of excitement as we drive up to the front entrance and make our way inside the cavernous lobby and towards the hotel’s express lifts. Having dinner in what is arguably Doha’s most impressive landmark is not an everyday occurrence, and there’s no doubt the hotel’s unique design adds to the overall experience. Emerging from the lifts on the 47th floor, we’re greeted by Three Sixty’s friendly receptionist, and then led out onto the revolving floor to our table, which is currently showcasing a night-time view of Aspire Park. The waiter’s attempts to seat us are thwarted by our desire to run towards the view and start spotting places we recognize. He’s very patient with us. The restaurant has something of a retro feel, with green leather seats, brown wood finish and 1970s-style light fittings. A resident pianist playing in the background adds to the classic atmosphere. Three Sixty also has a glass-fronted smoking room, which, despite its unusual design, works perfectly – we 58

smelt no smoke at all during our meal. Finally seated, we peruse the menus. The restaurant has a broad international range, and we’re spoilt for choice. First, we order drinks. As The Torch is a dry hotel, Three Sixty does an excellent range of mocktails and smoothies. Our party orders a mint cooler (lime juice, ginger, mint and honey, much more refreshing and less sickly than others we’ve tried) a Torch sunset (orange, carrot and beetroot) and a Palm Colada (pineapple, coconut and sugar – sweet, well blended and just a little bit decadent.) After much deliberation, we settle on our order for starters and main courses. One of our party takes advantage of Three Sixty’s set dinner menu, which, for QR 230, includes mixed mezze to start, a mixed meat or fish grill or Fish Sayadiya for main course, and a choice of desserts. The rest of us pick items from the a la carte menu. We’re all impressed when the dishes arrive. The Scottish smoked salmon tower, served with ginger, lumpfish caviar and quail egg, is presented in a beautiful boat-shaped dish. It’s light and has just the right balance of flavours. The filo tart with Australian

lamb and yogurt sauce is an unusual combination, but it works. The tomato soup is particularly highly praised. The unquestionable star, however, is the mixed mezze. Served in many small glass dishes on one enormous plate, there’s enough here for all of us. Of particular note is the hummus (deliciously rich) and the moutabal (unusually chunky). As we await our main courses, our view moves to the Khalifa stadium, where the Arab Games team is rehearsing for the opening ceremony. The view is spectacular, and we feel very privileged to be here. Luckily, our main courses are more than capable of competing with the view. The ravioli Bolognese, one of three pasta options on the menu, is perfectly seasoned, and melts in the mouth. The Dijon crusted lamb rack is served with garlic potato, tomato chutney and broccoli with a rosemary sauce. The lamb is moist, tender and the vegetables complement the dish well. The Angus beef striploin, served with barbecue sauce, potato crisps and rocket, is cooked exactly to order, and well seasoned.

SPOTLIGHT ON DINING Similarly, my choice, the filet tenderloin of Angus beef, is perfectly cooked to my taste, and it’s tender and simply delicious. The accompanying blue cheese sauce is tasty without overpowering the delicate flavour of the meat. Two of our party have fish; the first, spiced hammour, served with carrot, asparagus and braised white cabbage, is succulent and satisfying, and the absence of carbohydrates from the plate means the dish is good lighter choice. Meanwhile the roast hammour, served as part of the set menu, is accompanied by tomatoes, courgettes and rice, and is well presented, with a good mix of flavours. Feeling slightly full by this point, we gamely soldier on to the dessert menu on a mission to provide a thorough review for Doha’s pudding fans. All the crowd pleasing favourites are here. The chocolate fudge cake is extremely rich and very pretty, too; the coffee Crème Brulee is not too sweet, deliciously creamy and not too heavy on the coffee, which we like; the double apple tart is refreshing and unusual; the cheesecake has a good consistency and melts in the mouth, and the Umm Ali is gorgeous, hot, rich and tasty, just as it should be.

Strawberry Cheesecake

Filet Tenderloin Angus Beef

As we finish our coffees and reluctantly head back to the lift, we all agree that Three Sixty’s unique dining experience is a real winner. The fact that the restaurant is fully booked on a weekday evening shows that its fame is spreading, despite the fact The Torch has only just opened. Great food, combined with the novelty of the restaurant’s design, makes it an ideal destination for a celebration, a romantic meal, or a great place to bring visitors to Qatar, too. We’ll be back – but next time, we’ll bring binoculars so that we can take full advantage of the sightseeing from Doha’s finest viewpoint.

FACTS: Timings:

Open daily from 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Dress Code:

Smart Casual

Average Meal Price:

QR 300

Reservations:

Yes

Live Entertainment:

8:00 p.m - 10:30 p.m

Vino: Telephone No:

No 4446-5600 59

SPOTLIGHT ON DINING

Al Mourjan Food Corner Ashraf A. Raad, chief executive chef and cuisine concept chef at Al Mourjan, shares his favourite recipes with QH in his monthly food column. This month, Chef Ashraf explains how to make Green Olive and Lemon Chicken.

Green Olive and Lemon Chicken Ingredients

15 g butter, softened 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind 3 cloves garlic, crushed 30 g pitted green olives, chopped finely 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 1.5 kg whole chicken 2 unpeeled medium lemons (280 g), quartered For the decoration: ½ kg potato parisian 1 pc artichoke 50 g pomegranate peas

Method

• Combine butter, oil, lemon rind, garlic, olives and parsley in medium bowl: • Season. • Rinse chicken under cold water; pat dry, inside and out, with absorbent paper.. • Use fingers to make a pocket between the breasts and skin; push half the butter mixture under skin. Rub remaining butter mixture all over chicken. • Tuck wing tips under; fill cavity with lemon, tie legs together with kitchen string. • Trim skin around neck; secure neck flap to underside of chicken with small fine skewers. • Place chicken in 4.5-litre slow cooker. Cook, covered, on low, for six hours. • Cut chicken into quarters to serve.

SPOTLIGHT ON DINING

It’s All in the Details By Alex Corey

Need to get away from it all for a few hours? Enter the world of New York Steakhouse in the new West End at Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel. In a city of show, the steakhouse offers a refreshingly genuine experience. From the food to the people, you just might feel like you have been transported to the Big Apple itself. This is the kind of place Don Draper would Porterhouse, Kansas and T-bone steaks? appreciate. It’s everything the iconic Need help choosing a vino? No sweat. personification of the 1960s man would They have all the answers. All of the staff love. Classy. Genuine. Simple. In a world of members are invested in you enjoying your quantity, this is quality. In a generation time spent at the steakhouse. The most of “hurry up and go,” this is “sit down and noticeable thing about them all though, relax.” From the moment you enter, you feel is that it is genuine. They enjoy looking a sense of being looked after. It’s not fake after you and ensuring your utmost delight smiles or hurried service to get the next throughout your experience. They love batch of customers seated. This is a place what they do. And it shows. Of course, where each member of staff is sincerely the backbone of the restaurant is the food. interested in your well-being and where Like everything else, it’s all first class here. every detail is well thought-out but still completely flexible so that even the most The evening begins with an amuse bouche. demanding of us will be satisfied. This is designed to whet your palate and prepare you for the experience to come. This is not just a “meal,” but rather an We are served an espresso-sized cup of experience, thanks to the knowledgeable cauliflower and truffle soup, toppedwith staff. Not sure what cut of meat to get? a truffle and Parmesan foam. The They’ll have an informed suggestion. Not flavour is simply transcendent. The perfect sure what the difference is between serving temperature combined with the 62

poignant mixture of flavours and textures is enough to make us think we might skip the rest of the meal, and just have them bring us all the soup we can eat. Of course, if the soup is this good, the steak must be divine. So, we carry on. Instead of a bread basket, we are presented with a pop-over. What’s a pop-over you say? Well, it’s essentially Yorkshire pudding, but with cheese, garlic and herbs added and served with chimichurri sauce, spinach and artichoke dip and vanilla salted butter. This beats any breadbasket I’ve had anywhere, hands down. Next, we move onto the appetizers. Though there plenty of other options, I suggest you start with the Wagyu beef tartar. It all starts with superb quality Wagyu tenderloin being hand-chopped

SPOTLIGHT ON DINING

loin medallions wrapped in their own fat and the intriguing butternut pumpkin pot pie. Now, it is going to be hard, maybe downright impossible, but you’re going to want to save room for dessert. I know, I know, you don’t go to a steakhouse thinking about the desserts. But you’ll leave this steakhouse thinking about them. I try the warm biscuit chocolate “coulant” coeur de guanaja 80 per cent. OH MY GOODNESS.

Onions Rings right there in the kitchen. It is then mixed with Worcestershire sauce,Tabasco sauce and capers and is presented with pickled tomatoes and shaved Foie Gras. The dish has a little kick to it, but it is not overly spicy by any means. It has a beautifully smooth texture, is tender and has an overall freshness to it that is simply addictive and satisfying in the same bite. If tartar isn’t your thing, try the creamy Caesar salad with veal bacon or the seared Foie Gras with Bourbon spiced mango and Mignonette crackers. Next, we move on to the raison d’être of a steakhouse - the steak. After being fully informed of the three different types of beef available - Australian Wagyu, Australian Black Angus and U.S. Black Angus, - as well as being shown the different cuts available, I decide on the 250 gram Wagyu filet mignon, cooked medium rare. Often when I order a steak medium rare, it is medium on the outside, rare on the inside and medium rare in between. But here, I’m able to enjoy a steak that is homogenously medium rare. From the first bite to the last, this steak is cooked to perfection - seared succulently on the outside, with just a hint of chargrilled flavour, with a juicy, consistent and tender texture throughout. The higher marbling of the Wagyu beef is obvious from the first bite, giving the meat a rich and delicious taste and adding a melt-in-

Wagyu Filet Mignon your-mouth experience. There are a number of sauce options available for you to adorn your steak with, but I keep it simple and just add steak butter, to truly enjoy the quality of the beef and the precision of the preparation and grilling. The steak is served with poached garlic that can be either rubbed or squeezed onto your beef. Maintaining their commitment to detail, our server offers us a choice of different handmade, top-notch steak knives for us to carve out each beautiful bite of joy.

"All of the staff members are invested in you enjoying your time spent at the steakhouse." On the carte blanche-like menu, there is a choice of side dishes to accompany the pure delight that is your steak. We choose the onion and cheese spatzle, as well as the Bourbon mashed sweet potato. Like everything else, these two dishes are simply fantastic. The spatzle is the ideal texture and very tasty. The bourbon mashed sweet potatoes are creamy, rich and served with lightly torched and melted marshmallows, adding a little extra sweetness and texture to the already delectable dish. For those of you who like to break tradition, the menu offers up a variety of other entrees, such as a delectably crispy duck leg confites, lamb

The chocolate cake is baked to order, so it comes out warm, with fresh-from-the-oven ambience. The chocolate gooey goodness on the inside is just thick enough to ooze out almost imperceptibly as you dig in. Pair it with homemade peanut butter ice cream and your head will almost explode from the amount of pleasure your tastebuds are experiencing. Milk, sugar, cream, eggs and peanut butter. That’s it. That’s all that goes into the ice cream. It’s made in the hotel and freshly whipped up just before you order. It is the very definition of creamy. If you enjoy great food, you have to try New York Steakhouse in the West End. It offers a fine dining experience, without the pretension. It is a refined, yet relaxed, atmosphere designed and executed with the sole goal of ensuring that your needs are not just met, but exceeded.

FACTS: Timings:

Open Tuesdays

through Sundays,

6:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Dress Code:

Smart Casual

Average Meal Price: QR 400 Reservations:

Available

Smoking or Non-Smoking Area: Available Vino:

Yes

Telephone No.:

4419-6100

FOOD AND DINING LISTINGS EVERY WEEK Grill Night Sundays: W Doha. Steak

connoisseurs and red-meat lovers converge upon Market by Jean-Georges to savor their prize cuts of tender meat, fowl and seafood every Sunday night. Char-grilled or seared, rare or well done: have it your way with your choice of sauce and side dish. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4453-5135.

Asian Night

Mondays: Oryx Rotana. Take a culinary journey around Asia at Choices restaurant. Expert Thai, Indonesian and Philippine chefs prepare an exquisite buffet of authentic Far Eastern cuisine for QR 185 per person, including unlimited juices and soft drinks, or QR 260 per person, including unlimited selected house beverages. For more information, call 4402-3333.

ONE OF A KIND Sushi Mania

Sun 1st – Tue 31st: Sharq Village & Spa. Sushi doesn’t come any fresher than at Al Dana. There will be a fresh sushi station all month and all-you-can-eat sushi on Mondays from 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. QR 135 per person. For reservations, call 4425-6666 or email rc.dohsq.reservations@ ritzcarlton.com

Win a Car!

Sun 1st – Tue 31st: Ramada Plaza. Come and dine in The Italian Job between November 15th and February 28th and enter a "cinquecento" draw to become the proud owner of a brand new 2011 Fiat 500. For every QR 100 spent, guests will receive one raffle voucher to enter the draw, which will take place on February 29th, 2012. For more information, call 4428-1555.

Al Kut Café Waffle Promotion

Sun 1st – Tue 31st: Wyndham Grand Regency Doha. A variety of sweet and salty waffles served to your taste. Specialties are tomato and mozzarella waffles and caramel and cream waffles. From 10:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m. For more information, call 4434- 3203 or email: sdesilva@wyndham.com

Chocolate Afternoon Tea

Sun 1st – Tue 31st: Sharq Village & Spa. Luscious chocolate afternoon tea at Al Jalsa, which combines this truly British pastime with the Italian love of stopping mid-afternoon for a rich cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and a homemade chocolate pastry or two. QR 135 per person. From 2:30 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. For reservations, call 4425-6666 or email rc.dohsq.reservations@ritzcarlton.com

Al Wanis Promotion

Sun 1st – Tue 31st: Sharq Village & Spa. Enjoy the chef choice Oriental three-course menu, including shisha and one beverage. QR 220 per person. From 2:30 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. For reservations, call 4425-6666 or email rc.dohsq.reservations@ritzcarlton. com

Chinese New Year Yee Sang Special Thurs 19 – Tue 31st: Holiday Villa Doha. Celebrate Chinese New Year with the traditional “Prosperity Toast.” Large portion QR 188 or small portion QR 138. From 11:30 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4408-4230.

Italian Night

Mondays: Movenpick Hotel Doha. Savour the delicacies of the Italian cuisine, choosing from a wide array of antipasti, live pasta station, pizzas and Italian cheeses. Get a feel of “La Dolce Vita” for QR 195 per person. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information call 4429-1111 or visit www.moevenpick-doha.com

Meat the Grills

Mondays and Tuesdays: InterContinental Doha. Eat as much as souvlaki BBQ as you can by the outdoor terrace! Enjoy an open buffet with fresh cold mezzedes and salads, complemented by desserts. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. QR 150 per person. For reservations, call 4484-4074 or 4484-4444 or email mykonos@icdoha.com

International Buffet

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays to Saturdays: Wyndham Grand Regency Doha. Thescrumptious buffet at Grand Gourmet offers different cuisines from around the world, such as Italian cuisine Saturdays, Far Eastern cuisine Mondays, Seafood Wednesdays and Arabian cuisine on Fridays. Breakfast from 6:30 a.m. till 10:30 a.m., lunch from 12:30 p.m. till 3:30 p.m. and dinner from 6:30 p.m. till 10:30 p.m. The special Friday family brunch is served between 11:30 a.m. till 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 4434-3203 or 4434-3333 or email sdesilva@wyndham.com

Latino Restaurant

Mondays - Saturdays: Sheraton Doha. Offering South American cuisine and live Latino duo band from Brazil. From 6:00 p.m. till 2:00 a.m. For more information, call 4485-4556.

Tapas Galore

Tuesdays: Oryx Rotana. For tapas lovers, this unlimited night is for you to indulge in. Enjoy a selection of tantalizing tapas with three glasses of vino for only QR 220 per person. For more information, call 4402-3333.

Steak Nights

Tuesdays: Oryx Rotana. Choose your meat cuts and size and enjoy all the meat you can! QR 195 per person with soft drinks and juices and QR 270 per person with selected house beverages. For more information, call 4402-3333.

Spiedo Chicken After Office Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Table Selection.

Tuesdays: Sheraton Doha. Enjoy an after-office hours chefs table at Latino. This special night includes a selection of food made by a chef, prepared a la minute. QR 99, with a 50 per cent discount off drinks. From 6:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. For more information, call 4485-4556.

Swiss Night

Tuesdays: Movenpick Hotel Doha. Traditional fondue and raclette made with authentic Swiss cheese blended with a variety of tastes and flavours complement a great dining experience. QR 195 per person. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4429-1111 or visit www.moevenpick-doha.com

La Dolce Vita! Chocolate Afternoon Tea

Tuesdays: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Luscious chocolate afternoon tea, which combines this truly British pastime with the Italian love of stopping mid-afternoon for a rich cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream and a homemade chocolate pastry or two. Includes a chocolate fountain with sweet condiments. QR 75 per person. From 3:00 p.m. till 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 4484-8000.

FOOD AND DINING LISTINGS continued Asian Night

Wednesdays: Movenpick Hotel Doha. Take a culinary tour of Asia and discover mouthwatering Peking duck, Mongolian barbeque, Japanese sushi and Indian curry for QR 140 per person. From 6:30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. For more information, call 4429-1111 or visit www.moevenpick-doha.com

Pasta Night at La Veranda

Wednesdays: Sheraton Doha. Enjoy the authentic Italian restaurant La Veranda, serving a pasta buffet, including live pasta stations, a main course buffet and a dessert buffet. QR 180. For more information, call 4485-4556.

Indian Flavours

Wednesdays: Oryx Rotana. Savour an aromatic feast and indulge your senses with authentic Indian flavours for QR 185 per person, including unlimited juices and soft drinks, or QR 260 person, including unlimited selected house beverages. From 7:00 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information, call 4402-3333.

Curry Night

Wednesdays: Movenpick Tower & Suites. With a tantalizing buffet featuring ten kinds of meat, seafood and vegetarian curries from green to red, mild to spicy, the selection will enliven your palate with all the flavours that true curry lovers really want. QR 115 per person. Reservations are essential. Take advantage of the MTS Membership card to receive 15% discount for the whole table. Free membership with every reservation (conditions apply). For more information, call 4496-6600 or visit www.moevenpick-doha-tower.com

Fernando's Churrasco Night

Wednesdays: Sheraton Doha. For the meat lovers, come try Chef Feranando’s Churrasco Night. Enjoy a variety of delicious items, including a golden and crunchy piece of chicken, a well-marinated and tasty short rib, and the best Picanha, brought especially from South America, juicy and tender, rubbed with butter, thyme and black pepper while the chefs grill it in a spiedo grill. QR 220. From 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For more information, call 4485-4556.

DAILY Italian Feast

Daily: Sheraton Doha. Enjoy authentic Italian food at La Veranda, including pasta and wood fire pizza. Relax, take in the sea view and listen to the beautiful music of the Italian guitar player. Open from 12:00 till 2:45 p.m. (last order) and 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. (last order). For more information, call 4485-4556.

Il Teatro Italian Fine Dining

Daily: Four Seasons Doha. Literally footsteps away from the water’s edge, with its own outdoor terrace overlooking the Arabian Gulf, the restaurant offers guests a gastronomic journey with sublime authentic Italian cuisine. For special occasions, guests can enjoy their privacy at Il Teatro’s elegant exclusive dining room. Dinner starts from 7:00 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information, call 4494-8888

Lunch & Dinner at Crossroads Kitchen

Daily: West End, Renaissance Doha City Center. The West End introduces Crossroads Kitchen, the new Pan Asian restaurant to meet high demands for lunch and dinner from 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com

Crossroads Kitchen Buffet Breakfast

Daily: West End, Renaissance Doha City Center. Indulge yourself with delightful dishes from Asia, Africa and the Middle East at the Crossroads Kitchen for QR 135. Open from 6:30 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. For more information, call 4419-6100 or visit www. westenddoha.com

Classic Afternoon Tea

Daily: Four Seasons Doha. The Seasons menu offers a superb selection to keep hunger at bay, as well as sensational desserts to lead the sweet tooth astray. The latest feature of the menu is their specialty tea, which is sourced from “T,” one of the finest luxury tea companies in the world. From 3:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. For more information, call 4494-8888

Gourmet House

Daily: Kempinski Doha. The aroma of freshly baked bread will lure you to the European fine foods boutique and cozy café, where you can shop for Kempinski’s artisanal line of homemade products. For more information, call 4405-3325 or email aroma.doha@kempinski.com or visit the website www.kempinski.com/doha

New Dinner Menu at Aroma

Daily: Kempinski Doha. Poached salmon mousse, Black Angus tenderloin, Valrhona chocolate fondant are only some of the delicious items on Aroma’s dinner menu. For more information, call 4405-3325 or email aroma.doha@kempinski.com or visit the website www.kempinski.com/doha

Market Tasting Menu

Daily: W Doha. Savour the chef’s favourite a five-course set menu featuring the most delightful and mouth-watering dishes! From 7:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. QR 280 per person. For more information, call 4453-5135.

Spice Market Tasting Menu

Daily: W Doha. Start off 2012 with the Spice Market tasting menu created by Spice Market Head Chef Darsin Joseph. Five courses with ten mouthwatering flavours and a bottle of your choice for QR 500 for two people (conditions apply). From 6:00 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. For more information, call 4453-5135.

Make-Your-Own Sandwich Daily: West End, Renaissance Doha City Center. Quick Bites lets you choose your bread, spreads, garnish and more healthy and mouth-watering choices of fillers. No need to get your hands dirty. QR 30 from 7:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com

Bread of the Day

Daily: West End, Renaissance Doha City Center. The Master Baker at Quick Bites ensures fresh and new breads at all times. Try his special creations: cinnamon bread, bread with raisins, walnuts. From 7:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com

Al Hubara Restaurant

Daily: Sheraton Doha. A mix of delights at the International lunch buffet QR 175. From 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. Theme Nights dinner buffet; Monday Thai Night, Tuesday European Night, Friday International Flair, Saturday Al Sham Night, Sunday Italian Pasta. QR 190 per person. Wednesdays and Thursdays Seafood Extravaganza QR 235. From 7:00 p.m. till 10:30 p.m. For more information, call 4485-4556.

Mykonos

Daily: InterContinental Doha. Reveal the “Greek” in you while enjoying the famous Bouzouki duo live and Chef Konstantinos Mediterranean specialties. Open from 12:00 p.m. till 11:30 p.m. Live entertainment from 7:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m., except Saturdays. For more information, call 4484-4444 or 4484-4747.

New Menu at Three Sixty

Daily: The Torch-Doha Hotel. Check out the new menu at the only revolving restaurant in Doha, situated on the 47th floor of Qatar’s new iconic hotel. From 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. till 10:30 p.m. For more information, call 4446- 6500 or visit www.thetorchdoha.com

High Tea at Kufic Lounge

Daily: The Torch-Doha Hotel. Take a break and enjoy home-made pastries with your choice of tea or coffee. QR 75. From 3:00 p.m. till 7:00 p.m. For more information, call: 444-6500 or visit www.thetorchdoha.com

For mo delicious lisre tin check out gs,

www.qatarha

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Our Taste Sens Dining Specia ations and ls se are updated w ctions eekly!

FOOD AND DINING LISTINGS continued Sushi Night at the Jazz Club Saturdays: Oryx Rotana. Savour an extensive “all you can eat” evening of authentic mouth-watering sushi, sashimi and Japanese cuisine freshly prepared by a master chef. QR 220 perperson. 7:00 p.m.

Lagoon Garden Big Day Out

Saturdays: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Along with the beverages and BBQ, live entertainment including MC, DJ, live guitar soloist as well as popular live local bands will be playing. (Above 21s only). From 12:00 p.m. till 6:30 p.m. A la carte prices. For more information, call 4484-8000.

WEEKENDS Seafood Delight

Thursdays: Oryx Rotana. Experience the bounty of the sea at Choices. From lobster, prawns and shrimps to freshly shucked oysters on the half-shell, enjoy unlimited seafood offerings for just QR 210 per person, including unlimited juices and soft drinks, or QR 285, including unlimited selected house beverages. Shisha is available on the pool terrace. For more information, call 4402-3333.

Seafood Night

Thursdays: Movenpick Hotel Doha. A sumptuous buffet with a spectacular spread of tasty seafood bites bringing together Asian and Mediterranean combinations for a colourful collection of delicious food. QR 195 per person, from 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4429-1111 or visit www.moevenpick-doha.com

Barbecue at the Admirals Terrace

Thursdays and Fridays: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Mixed grill platter for two people. From 6:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. QR 195 per person. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Steak Night

Fridays: Movenpick Hotel Doha. Choose your favourite steak cuts from the display of prime quality meats and fish and have them cooked to perfection for QR 230 per person. From 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4429-1111 or visit www.moevenpick- doha.com

Seafood Buffet

Fridays: InterContinental Doha. Enjoy grilled fish and seafood by the beachfront freshly prepared by expert chefs, including live cooking stations. From 7:00 p.m. till 12:00 a.m. For more information, call 4484-4444 or 4484-4747.

Burger Night

Saturdays: W Doha. Market is grilling up a good time. The tastiest burgers made just the way you like them. Choose your burger, side dish and a dessert for QR 110. From 6:00 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4453-5135.

Retail Night

Saturdays: Oryx Rotana. Enjoy the new Tapas menu and your favourite vino at retail price at the Cellar. For more information, call 4402-3333.

Oriental Family Buffet

Saturdays: Oryx Rotana. Treat yourself to an informal brunch at Choices, where you can savour the new Oriental Family buffet! From 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. QR 175 per person (price includes food only). For more information, call 4402-3333.

Sushi Fiesta

Saturdays: Wyndham Grand Regency Doha. Immerse yourself in an electrical range of original and sensational sushi platters from the sushi bar at Chopsticks, the award-winning best restaurant. Eat as much you can for QR 119 per person, including a glass of sparkling date juice. Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. till 11:00 p.m. For more information, call 4434-3203 or 44343333 or email sdesilva@wyndham.com

Admiral’s Saturday Roast

Saturdays: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Enjoy the perfect hand-carved Saturday roast, a selection of roast meats, with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings cooked to perfection! From 4:00 p.m. till 10:00 p.m. QR 120 per person. For more information, call 4484-8000.

International Buffet

Saturdays and Sundays: Movenpick Hotel Doha. Serving a lavish buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with an extensive a la carte menu. For more information call 4429-1111 or visit www.moevenpick-doha.com.

BRUNCH Tse Yang Brunch

Fridays: Tse Yang, The Pearl-Qatar. Savour brunch with live jazz band and kids’ entertainment. From 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. QR 370 per adult, kids aged six to twelve QR 185, kids under six are free. For more information, call 4495-3876 ext 2071.

The Cellar’s Brunch

Fridays: Oryx Rotana. Drop by The Cellar for a traditional Stammtisch with unlimited special beverages. Experience Swiss, German, Italian, French and Austrian dishes for your ultimate European journey. QR 220 per person. From 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 4402-3333.

Asian Brunch

Fridays: Holiday Villa Doha. All you can eat Dim Sum and sushi. Enjoy this splendid spread of Chinese and Japanese delicacies, including steamed or fried dumplings, spring rolls, steamed buns and sushi served with free flowing Chinese tea. From 11:30 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. QR 130 per adult and QR 65 per child. For more information, 4408-4230.

Hyde Park Brunch

Fridays: Ramada Plaza. Start the weekend right and enjoy a very special Friday brunch. Let the team of chefs tempt you with fresh seafood, sushi, Chinese, Indian and European specialties. For more information, call 4428-1555.

Breakfast Feast on Fridays

Fridays: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and there is no better way to enjoy it than at Admiralâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club. QR 150 per person, including coffee, tea and fresh juices. From 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Lagoon Friday Family Brunch

Fridays: Ritz-Carlton Doha. Unwind with friends and family at The Lagoon Restaurant and indulge in a luxurious buffet, live musical performances and a lively, yet relaxed, atmosphere. Complimentary Ritz-Kids Corner available for children aged four years to twelve years old. From 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. QR 220 per person, QR 295 with bubbly and QR 110 for children from six to twelve years old. For more information, call 4484-8000.

Market Brunch

Fridays: W Doha. Watch fresh, local products and ingredients come together splendidly in the Mediterranean inspired show kitchen. The brunch serves international and Mediterranean cuisine. QR 320 per person. From 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. QR 320 per person. For more information, call 4453-5135.

FOOD AND DINING LISTINGS continued Far Eastern Buffet

Fridays: Wyndham Grand Regency Doha. Chopsticks restaurant is serving a delightful lunch buffet of Chinese, Japanese and Thai food. QR 129 for adults and QR 65 for children ages six to twelve. For more information, call 4434-3203 or 4434-3333 or email sdesilva@wyndham.com

Thai Brunch at Isaan

Brunch at the Arabica Terrace Tent

Fridays: Four Seasons Doha. Book your favourite table in the inviting atmosphere of the Arabica tent and enjoy a feast of delectable dishes prepared to perfection. From 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 4494-8888

Jazzy Friday Brunch

Fridays: Oryx Rotana. The brunch offers wide variety of food and beverages with live jazz music. QR 210 per person, including unlimited juices and soft drinks, or QR 285 per person, including unlimited selected house beverages. From 12:30 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 4402-3333.

Street Food Brunch

Fridays: W Doha. Asian street food meets slick city chic at the new weekly Spice Market Brunch, with a backdrop of sophisticated lounge sounds courtesy of a rotating line of top class European DJs. QR 320 per person including drinks; QR 280 per person without adult beverages. From 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 4453-5135.

Family Friday Brunch

Fridays: Movenpick Hotel Doha. Experience the all-new brunch, showcasing an array of innovative culinary delights. In collaboration with Jarir Book store, the little ones have their own play kingdom with live entertainment, a bouncy castle, PlayStation, games and even a kiddy-sized buffet. For more information, call 4429-1111 or visit www.moevenpick-doha.com 70

Seafood Brunch at Fish Market

Fridays: InterContinental Doha. Indulge in the luxurious buffet and a market display featuring lobster, oyster, tiger prawns, and sea bass. Choose from the wide range of beverage options to complement your meal whilst enjoying the stunning views of the Arabian Sea and Doha’s skyline. From 12:30 p.m. till 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 4484-4484 or 4484-4954.

Family Brunch

Fridays: Sharq Village & Spa. Tuck into a magnificent buffet in Al Liwan, with cooking stations and a carvery. There’s live entertainment and lots to amuse the little ones. QR 250 per person, half price for kids under twelve and free for children under six. For reservations, call 4425-6666 or email rc.dohsq.reservations@ritzcarlton.com

Weekend Family Brunch

Fridays: and Saturdays: Mövenpick Tower and Suites. Enjoy the sumptuous array of international cuisine including fresh seafood, carved meats and Arabic delights. A special children’s area offers their favourite food, along with face painting, karaoke, Wii, and a whole lot more. Brunch is from 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. Complimentary access to the pool for children and moms from 12:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. QR 199 per person, inclusive of all beverages. Children from six to 12 years of age are half-price and those below six are free. For more information, call 4496-6600.

Fridays: Grand Hyatt Doha. The restaurant’s open show kitchens are set in a captivating scene with authentic steam, along with grill and wok preparations served at an “all-you-can-eat” lunch. Indulge in authentic Thai delights and complement your dining experience with a sparkling beverage bringing an elegant French touch to your palate. From 12:30 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. QR 250 per person, including soft drinks, QR 395 per person, including selected house beverages, QR 680 per person, including bubbly. For more information, call 4448-1250.

The Grill Brunch

Fridays: Grand Hyatt Doha. Perfect for families to enjoy a lavish buffet featuring the freshest ingredients prepared at live cooking stations. From 12:30 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. QR 250 per person, including soft drinks and QR 395, including unlimited selected house beverages. For more information, call 4448-1240.

Al Dana Brunch

Saturdays: Sharq Village & Spa. Enjoy this special bubbly brunch throughout January. QR 300 per person with free lowing sparkling vino or QR 250 with soft drinks. From 12:00 p.m. till 3:30 p.m. For reservations, call 4425-6666 or email rc.dohsq.reservations@ritzcarlton.com

Saturday BBQ Brunch

Saturdays: W Doha. Chill out poolside with BBQ favorites washed down with endless chilled beverages. QR 260 per person. From 1:00 p.m. till 5:00 p.m. For more information, call 4453-5135.

BUSINESS LUNCH Chopsticks Business Lunch

Tuesdays – Sundays: Wyndham Grand Regency Doha. Offers the ideal solution for busy professionals - an exceptional Asian three-course daily changing set menu served in 59 minutes for QR 59 … otherwise, you get it for free! 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. For more information, call 4434- 3203 or email: sdesilva@wyndham.com

Burj Al Hamam Business Lunch

Sundays – Thursdays: Burj Al Hamam, The PearlQatar. Enjoy a business lunch for only QR 95 per person. For more information, call 4495-3876.

Lunch Escape Set

Sundays – Thursdays: Holiday Villa Doha. Choose from more than 20 delicious Chinese and Japanese items. From 11:30 a.m. till 3:00 p.m. From QR 50 per person. For more information, call 4408-4230.

Business Lunch

Sundays - Thursdays: West End, Renaissance Doha City Center. Try the Business Lunch in Cucina, the Italian Kitchen. Enjoy a scrumptious three-course meal for QR 85, available from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. For reservations, call 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com

Thyme for Lunch

Sundays – Thursdays: Four Seasons Doha. At Il Teatro, diners can try the two or threecourse meal. From 12:00 p.m. till 3:00 p.m. For more information, call 4494-8888

Mykonos Business Lunch

Sundays - Thursdays: InterContinental Doha. Mykonos restaurant just got more delicious and quicker to enjoy. Greek Chef Kostas serves the express business lunch menu with a choice of a starter, main course and dessert. From 12:00 p.m. till 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 4484-4096 or 4484-4444.

Express Lunch at Market

Saturdays - Thursdays: W Doha. Choose your starter, main course and dessert and savour chef Vongerichten’s signature dishes in only 30 minutes! The finest dining express lunch ever! From 12:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. QR 89 per person for a three-course menu. For more information, call 4453-5373 or 4453-5135.

FOOD AND DINING LISTINGS continued The Cellar Business Lunch

Daily: Oryx Rotana. Grand a quick bite and enjoy The Cellar’s three-course set menu, including a large variety of starters, main dishes and desserts for only QR 85 per person, guaranteed to be served in 60 minutes. For more information, call 4402-3333.

Light Lunch Buffet at Flying Carpet

Daily: The Torch-Doha Hotel. The all-day dining restaurant combines modern design with live cooking stations and international cuisine. Light lunch QR 140 net per person (Children between ages six and 12 at QR 70 and below six for free). On Wednesdays, women get a 30 per cent discount on lunch and dinner buffet. For more information, call 4444-6500 or visit www.thetorchdoha.com

Business Lunch at Al Hubara Rushed for Time Business Daily: Sheraton Doha. Enjoy the new Lunch business lunch at Al Hubara. This delicious lunch includes a salad bar and dessert buffet for only QR 130 or main course and dessert buffet for only QR 145. For more information, call 4485-4556.

Express Lunch at Belgian Café

Daily: InterContinental Doha. Choose a twocourse set menu for QR 85 per person, or three course set menu for QR 95 per person. Add three tasting brews to your menu for QR 15. From 12:30 p.m. till 2:00 p.m. For more information, call 4484-4484 or 4484-4954.

Daily: Kempinski Doha. Spice up your meeting or simply season your office escape with a hearty Business Lunch at Aroma. Recharge with a three-course lunch including tea or coffee for QR 90. For more information, call 4405-3325 or email aroma. doha@kempinski.com or visit the website www.kempinski.com/doha

Wok Mee Business Lunch

Daily: Mövenpick Tower and Suites. For an Asian twist at lunch time, try the new business lunch menu. The three-course menu spoils you with choice and features favourites such as the traditional Thai Fish Cakes, Nasi Goreng, Green Mango Salad Lunch Box and Toffee Bananas with Vanilla Bean Ice Daily: West End, Renaissance Doha City Cream. QR 85 per person. Get a 15 per cent Center. Quick Bites Lunch Box consists of a healthy salad, a choice of sandwich, dessert, discount with the MTS membership card. chips and a soft drink for QR 60. From 11:00 Free membership with every reservation. For a.m. till 3:00 p.m. For more information, call more information, call 4496-6600. 4419-6100 or visit www.westenddoha.com 72

For more delicious listings, check out www.qatarhappening.com

Our Taste Sensations and Dining Specials sections are updated weekly!

bring out the

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For more information visit:

www.ramadaplazadoha.com or call (+974) 44281428 RAMADA PLAZA DOHA

P.O.Box 1768 - Doha State of Qatar

SPORTS

THIS MONTH'S

TOP PICKS Track Day for Bikes and Cars Sat 7th and Sat 21st: Losail International Circuit. Track day

for bikes and cars. National Rally R8. Registration times for bikes is 7:30 a.m. till 8:30 a.m. and for cars: 12:00 p.m. till 1:00 p.m. Price per bike is QR 200; price per car is QR 300. For more information, visit www.circuitlosail.com or call 4472-9151.

Qatar National Rally Round 8

Qatar International Road Racing Championship – Bikes Round 3 Qatar National Road Racing Championship – Cars Round 2 Fri 13th – Sat 14th: Losail International Circuit. Qatar International Road Racing. Losail International Circuit. Qatar International Road Racing Championship (bikes). Round 3 and Qatar National Road Racing Championship (cars). Round 2. Free entry. Starts 9:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.circuitlosail.com or call 4472-9151.

Sat 7th: QMMF. The National Rally is an event for cars. For more information, call 4437-9884 or email: info@qmmf.com.qa

QATAR STARS LEAGUE 2011-2012 FIRST LEG - SCHEDULE

NO.

DAY/DATE

TEAMS

TIME

VENUE

W AKRAH

WEEK 10 55 56

Qatar International Rally 2012 Thurs 26th – Sat 28th: QMMF. It is the first round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship 2012. The Qatar International Rally is an event for cars. For more information, call 4437-9884 or email: info@qmmf.com.qa

Sunday, January 01, 2012

57 58 59

Monday, January 02, 2012

W AKRAH

SADD