Returning to Paper Moon by La Spiga is like visiting with an old friend you don’t see very often. The circumstances may have changed, but you can pick up where you left off effortlessly. While this is within spitting distance of my home, I confess I rarely visit this outpost of the W Doha. A recent weekday lunch time found us in the area and keen for some pasta, so we were reacquainted for old time’s sake. I have been critical of the W in recent months. I felt it had lost its way in terms of food and service. But it seems out here on Airport Road, they haven’t…
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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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Future State: New Qatar Restaurant Openings to Look Forward to in 2018
It was the best of times…it was the…not so best of times. It’s fair to say that in dining terms, 2017 didn’t have the extreme wow factor of previous Doha dining years but we still had a lot to like. But 2018 beckons and it’s time to peruse what it has in store for foodies in Qatar – and the line-up looks solid. Walima: Mondrian Doha was one of the shining lights of 2017 – thanks to some inventive restaurants and attitude to match. Walima is their greatly anticipated Qatari restaurant and if the interiors are anything to go by, this will be a high watermark. Add in the stunning…
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Living on the Wedge: My Top Dishes of 2017
And so here we are…What a year it was! We’ve seen the illegal blockade of Qatar continue to rattle us and have some rebound effects on the country’s dining scene – some ingredients are harder to find (others easier) and we haven’t seen as many new openings as in previous years. I’ve also found that while the market is more competitive (we are spending less and not going out as often) the dynamism of previous years is missing. But my annual list of best dishes must go on! It’s still been a creative and delicious year on the dining front in many ways. The Mondrian Doha was a late and glamorous…
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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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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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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…
