I know, it’s hot, it’s humid and the dust permeates everything. But for foodies, there is a lot to love about being here in Doha in July. Restaurants and hotels are working overtime to get you to spend your cash and there are even some new concepts popping up. Here’s where I think you should be eating and drinking this month: Walima It’s been a rocky road for this restaurant at the Mondrian Doha, but I’m pleased to say it seems to have hit its mark finally. It always was a bit of a hard sell – a high end restaurant serving Qatari inspired food. But they have found the…
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#RachelxMeesh – a Match Made in Cheese Heaven
Let’s be honest – a good sandwich is hard to find in Doha. So many places get it wrong – bad bread, average fillings, no love. We’ve all had those dodgy white bread sandwiches with unidentified meat fillings. and of course – the cheese and mayonnaise abomination. When the team Meesh Cafe at Crown Plaza Doha (one of my favorite cafes and a regular haunt of mine), offered me the chance to create an awesome sandwich involving cheese – I couldn’t say no. The brief was simple – I had free reign to design this sandwich (provided the ingredients were available) and they would help me make it a reality. The design…
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Table for One – The 10 Best Places for Solo Dining in Doha
Let’s face it, there is something perversely indulgent about eating alone in a restaurant. I love eating out with AZ, but our schedules don’t always allow for it. And my Squad is also sometimes elusive for the same reason. Also, occasionally I just like a bit of alone time. So, armed with my iPad and some magazines, I regularly take myself out for a meal. It’s usually breakfast or lunch but sometimes I veer into dinner territory. I discovered the innate pleasure of dining alone many, many years ago. I have dined alone all round the world – in Michelin star restaurants in Florence and also in shacks by the…
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Nine Food Trends Set to Rock Doha in 2017
We may look to our friends in the seemingly ever changing Dubai for what’s currently hip and cool, but here in Qatar, our dining ecosystem has a life of its own. As we head into February (how did THAT happen?) I thought it would be a good time to take the pulse of the city and see what we can expect from restaurants, hotels and others in 2017: MORE CHAIN RESTAURANTS: The opening of the Cheesecake Factory at the mammoth Mall of Qatar was more anticipated in some circles than the much discussed ABBA reunion. It’s just another in a long list of chains that see Doha as a rich market for their…
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Keeping up With the Jones (es)
When we sat down at our table at Jones the Grocer, Brooke turned to me and said “It’s 4.30pm, that can only be a Morris time to eat”. She speaks the truth. I get to the office around 615am, so I tend to be an early eater. Lunchtime for me is 11am. A “Blue Plate Special” as they say. She 430pm it is! This cafe will always have a special place in my heart – it’s an Australian brand, serves the elusive Flat White and it has a brilliant cheese cave. What more could a girl from Parramatta ask for? Today’s early dinner/late lunch was to check out how they were…
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Much Ado About Shakespeare and Co
I don’t want to sound like a curmudgeonly old woman, but when I first arrived in Doha seven plus ago, there were very few breakfast/cafe destinations outside of five star hotels. I know, this is one of the most Middle Class statements I have ever typed. but it’s true. Today, as the population exploded and the dining populace became more demanding, we are spoiled for choice. One of the newest is Shakespeare and Co which has just opened its second location at The Pearl Qatar. For newcomers, this cafe is a Middle East brand with stores around the GCC and Lebanon. It’s also known for its rather distinctive interiors – like Alice…
