Brunch in Doha (usually Friday but now increasingly also Saturday) is a deadly serious business, especially in these leaner times. But, with seemingly every restaurant offering some kind of brunch offer, how far will your dining riyal stretch? Being the intrepid food blogger, half baked economist and general busybody that I am, I devised and extremely dubious scientific ranking system for Doha’s burgeoning brunch scene. Behold – the inaugural Doha Brunch Index© This is the result a complicated matrix of reviews, personal experience, overeating and general hysteria levels. It’s not definitive. It’s not exhaustive (but boy was it exhausting), but it should give you a solid snapshot at what’s out there and…
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Your December Hit List – Where to Eat and Drink in Doha this Month
To use a well worn sports analogy – we’re on the home stretch people! December is upon us and 2018 is almost a reality. It’s that time of year – for overindulging and panic buying. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find some time to dine well in and around Doha. Here’s my December Hit List of where I will be eating and drinking this month (be warned – there is a distinct lack of festive fare here. For a full rundown of where, when and how for Christmas and New Year, head over to my friends at Marhaba. Now…to my list: Megu Many, many moons ago, when I was…
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Doha’s Hidden Restaurant Gems – Stockburger Co
So Stockburger Co at the Holiday Inn Doha may not be so much as a hidden gem, rather, it’s a new entrant on the dining scene that deserves little more exposure. To be upfront – this place is essentially a sports bar, showing hundreds of games and different sports daily. There is even a private area to watch “big games” and devour your wings and shout out the screen in seclusion (although, they are yet to embrace my suggestion this would also be a good venue for Netflix). It’s true there is a bar area a very attractive happy hour from 12pm, but this is also a good place for…
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Happy Sashimi? Does Morimoto at Mondrian Doha Live Up to its Celebrity Chef Pedigree?
It’s a brave move to open a hotel like the Mondrian Doha in the kind of environment Qatar is currently experiencing. But the Mondrian is a rare breed of a hotel for Qatar – lavish and design driven, even a little eccentric, it boasts TWO celebrity chef helmed operations and a lot of confidence. The Japanese restaurant Morimoto is one of those restaurants – the latest outpost in the empire of the mercurial Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Well known to foodies for his star turns on the cheesy yet addictive original cooking game show Iron Chef and later Iron Chef America (The Chairman’s hair and quotes deserved their own TV series), his empire stretches from…
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Missing a Beet – Review of the Chef’s Garden Restaurant at Al Shaqab
You know when you are wishing so hard for something to be awesome, or even just pretty good? When you know the ingredients are all there, it just needs that final touch to bring everything together? Well that was me about The Chef’s Garden at the Marwan Club at Al Shaqab. On paper it has it all – interesting location, family friendly grounds and a brilliant concept. That concept, or more like a philosophy is compelling. It sources its ingredients from Qatar’s growing community of organic farms a well as its own vegetable garden and locally raised lamb and chicken. The menu features low fat and gluten free options. See?…
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Your November Hit List – Where to Eat and Drink in Doha This Month
Don’t be alarmed but the end of the year is scarily close. And by close I mean it’s next month. In Doha, November means a few things – Thanksgiving, outdoor dining and some new concepts. Here is my monthly look at where you should be eating and drinking this month in Doha. Heads up – it’s a big list! Friday Brunch at NY Steakhouse at Marriott Marquis Doha Friday brunch is a rare event for me nowadays. I’m usually tucked up at home or hiding in plain sight on a Friday. But I recently put on pants and ventured out to try this brunch. And wow, am I glad I…
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How to Make the Most of a 48 Hour Stopover in Doha
I love a good stopover – it’s a chance to regroup at the end of a trip or fire up the start of a vacation – get in the mood so to speak. Or just slip in and sample a new destination with minimal fuss. Whatever the reason, a stopover can end up being one of the highlights of your trip. With Qatar now offering visa free travel to Qatar for 80 nationalities and Qatar Airways offering free stopovers, it’s never been easier to visit Doha on a stopover. And why not? The city makes the perfect halfway point between Asia, Africa and Europe and has some great connections to…
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Al Fresco – Six Restaurants Where You Can Enjoy the Cooler Weather in Doha
Weather is a preoccupation in Doha. Whether it’s the heat, the humidity or the alleged “rainy season” (on now apparently), it’s the number one topic for discussion at dinner tables, office kitchens and cafes across the city. I also love it how it’s a COMPLETE surprise that come October, things start to cool down. Well, it has actually. Evening temperatures are now hovering in the high 20s. Time to turn down the AC, put the Netflix subscription on hold for a few months and head outside – this is the time of year we live for in Qatar. I mean, I even come out of my summer hibernation for this…
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When a Chef and a Food Blogger Face Off – in Conversation with the Mondrian’s Simon Winchester
With its fanciful and space age design and celebrity chef styled restaurants, the Mondrian Doha is already shaking up the food scene in Qatar. These include international brands such as CUT and Morimoto as well as Qatari restaurant Walima, casual Hudson Tavern, and bars Black Orchid and Rise. In addition, the much loved Magnolia Bakery has also found a home in the hotel’s sci fi movie set lobby. You can check my blog Facebook page for my first takes on two of these outlets. This is the first foray into the Middle East by edgy hotel brand SBE – complete with its gold plated elevator, Swarovski crystal chandeliers and I Dream of…
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Your October Hit List – Where to Eat and Drink in Doha This Month
It’s true – the weather is cooling (however marginally) and the social scene is back in full swing. So much so that I almost forgot my Netflix password (just kidding, it’s embedded in my psyche) But it’s a very Doha thing not to know about something until after it happens or when the bandwagon has well and truly moved on. So consider this your your monthly guide to what’s new and interesting on the foodie scene in Doha – where you should be eating, drinking and playing right now: The Pier at Four Seasons Doha: The much anticipated new concept at the Four Seasons is an outdoor shisha terrace and…
