It’s the restaurant with the Russian name and pan-Asian menu. Beloved of celebrities and the brainchild of a main who is mates with Vladimir Putin, I did want to not like Novikov Doha. But I was also curious – the first “big name” to open alongside Galleries Lafayette in Katara’s faux European boulevard 21 High Street (admit it, you also want to say 21 Jump Street).Also the final restaurant in the much anticipated quartet of openings in Doha over the last six months and the reviews had ranged from rapturous to tepid. This is also a market crowded with pan-Asian and Japanese restaurant, many of them excellent. Did we need…
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Doha’s Hidden Restaurant Gems – Inginuity at Radisson Blu
Back in the old days, when my hair was as red as my wine, THE place to go for a quiet and romantic night out was Maxims at Radisson Blu. It was old school fun, a secret elevator whisked you its hushed and plush interior and the menu included classics like Dover sole, crepes suzette and foie gras. It was a different time, before Instagram and Alas folks, Maxim’s is no more and something very 2018 has replaced it – a gin bar. Now more Parisian bistro than bolthole, the new incarnation, Inginuity, sits comfortably inside the revamped Maxims interior and with more than 20 gins on the drinks menu,…
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Your August Hit List – Where You Should Be Eating and Drinking in Doha This Month
August is a tricky month – it’s neither here nor there. Some people are still away. Some restaurants are closed or reducing operations. And of course, there is Eid in the middle. But it warms my foodie heart to say the restaurants and cafes in Doha are still slapping on the lipstick and putting themselves out there for our judgement. Last month I talked up Claw BBQ Doha and the good news is that they are finally opening (August 2), so do yourself a favor and head down to the Corniche area for this fun restaurant. And a heads up, it looks like the 10 day dry period is back…
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Qatar International Food Festival 2018 – Seven Stalls You Need to Visit
It’s March that means not only “March Madness”, but also the Qatar International Food Festival. I headed down there on the opening day to scope out the tastiest stalls and have my hit list for where you should be spending your hard earned cash. A quick couple of thoughts before I head into the “meat and potatoes” of this post. Although this is the biggest year in terms of stalls, I found the variety a little lacking. and uninspired. Maybe this will change as the week progresses, as the energy builds and more offerings pop up, but I felt it needed a little more oomph. I loved the “Farm to…
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Your March Hit List – Where You Should be Eating and Drinking in Doha this Month
March is here and thank God. Wasn’t February the longest short month ever? But March, it holds so much promise. Winter is over, we are well and truly in the midst of the actual year. And restaurants in Doha are finally hitting their straps – serving up new and interesting menus, dishes and even a new opening or two (finally). So here is where I am putting my dining riyal in Doha this month. And let me just say, it’s probably the most interesting line-up (old and new) for a few months: The Melting Pot You had me at cheese. All of the cheese. So much cheese. This is proof…
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Five Important Things I learned About Travel in 2017
I’ve been traveling for pleasure solidly for more than 25 years and lost track of the countries and cities I’ve been to (that’s not to brag – really I have a terrible memory). But one of the best things about travel and being…ahem…slightly mature…is that you always learn something new from each adventure. This year, with the illegal blockade of Qatar throwing in a bit of color and movement, was especially instructive and I wanted to share with you some truths I learned in 2017 from cities far and near: The best trips don’t have to be meticulously planned Nearly every trip I have taken this year has been half…
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The Doha Brunch Index – How Far Your Riyal Will Stretch
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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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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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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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…
