When a certain degree of hype surrounds an event, an opening or similar, my natural born cynicism ratchets up a couple of notches. There are some great examples of highly anticipated events just not living up to the forward hype. Notably: The second season of True Detective The iPhone 7 The Whopperito Both of the Sex & the City movies So when bloggers, “influencers”, the media and the general expat population recently lapsed into a rhapsodic trance about the opening of Evergreen Organics, the country’s first vegan restaurant, I was underwhelmed. But…I was also kind of interested. So when my ertswhile collaborator and lighting expert Brooke messaged me yesterday about trying…
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Six Places You Should Be Eating at in Doha Right Now (Summer Edition)
It was a long, hot Ramadan and while it’s a time I really enjoy, I’m happy to be getting back into the swing of Qatar’s dining scene. I wrote this blog post in April and because of its success, I thought an updated version was due. Call it the “Summer Edition” as all the venues around the city start to unveil new menus, concepts and ideas. Luxury and budget, date night and family style, here is where I think you should be eating at right now: Mainland China I will admit, I was dubious – a Chinese restaurant chain hailing from India in an office block in Doha. But one look inside…
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There’s Dumpling You Should Know – Hakkasan’s New Menu
In the rest of the world, the change of seasons are marked and obvious. Leaves fall in autumn. Flowers bloom in spring. In Qatar, things are more prosaic. One day: “My, we are having a mild winter! It’s a cool 27 degrees!” A week later: “WTF! It’s 45 degrees! OUCH! The steering wheel!” For foodies, the change of season signals new menus in the restaurants. When chefs go wild with new produce from afar and experiment. When the invite came to try the new Spring menu at Hakkasan Doha I knew the seasons were changing. Consistently one of the top restaurants in the city, this place rarely puts a food wrong and…
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Nine Places in Qatar You Should be Eating at Right Now
As we are on a collision course for the summer months in Qatar, I’m loving a few things right now: The extended “Indian Summer” we are experiencing in Qatar right now – rain and cooler temperatures. Make it last forever please The new crime channel on OSN – Momsters, Beauty Queen Killers and Southern Fried Homicide makes it even harder for me to leave the house Here is a sentence I never thought I never thought I would write – you can now follow me at Snapchat @rachelannmorris. Yes I succumbed and frankly I love it. Of course I am hate-following a bunch of people but I relish the instantaneous nature…
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Elementary Dining – Elements at Four Seasons Doha
Sometimes you need to work on the basics first before you add all the bells and whistles. Elements replaced a personal favorite of mine – Nusantao. Four Seasons has struggled with this location for as long as I have been dining there. It was previously a nondescript all day dining restaurant before being transformed into Nusantao. Which despite a long and confusing menu, still managed to deliver flavor and the only version of Hainan Chicken I was able to find in Doha. What it lacked, was atmosphere. Elements, as seems to be the trend in Doha now, has an elaborate backstory. It’s name is based on the elements – fire, earth,…
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Milking It – A Guide to Dairy Free Cheeses
It may stun you to know that I have friends who don’t eat cheese. My friend Beth is one of those people. She loves cheese, it just didn’t love her. Beth’s problem is cow’s milk in particular disagreed with her. She told me once she really missed pizza and other goodies because of her cow’s milk cheese intolerance. Standby because I’m about to get sciency and stuff. It is commonly believed that milk proteins, not the sugars, found in milk are the cause for a dairy allergy. Although symptoms associated with lactose intolerance are similar to that of a dairy allergy, the body’s reaction is different. A true food allergy…
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Future State – A Round-up of New Restaurant Openings in Qatar
The great thing about being a foodie in Doha is that you can always be assured of a new restaurant opening being just around the corner. I often get asked about rumors relating to restaurant openings and other goings on around this growing scene. So, this is a little round up of some places opening very soon or in the near future so you can pencil them into your dining schedule. Warning! When I say pencil, you should just pencil. This is Qatar…remember the airport we waited eight years for (then it leaked)? The most imminent opening is actually tomorrow (Sunday 13 December) – Elements at Four Seasons Doha. Located in…
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Bull Market – Review of Toro Toro
My friend Rachel B and I (aka Les Rachelles) have a new game we play….”Things That Cost Less Than/Same As Our Meal at Toro Toro”. Believe me, it’s a robust list: A flight to Dubai on Qatar Airways A flight to Dubai on FlyDubai plus a night in a four star hotel These Jimmy Choos A night in a Grand Deluxe Room at the Marsa Malasz Kempinski where the restaurant in located in Dinner for one (set tasting menu with matching wines) at Noma in Denmark which has been voted the best restaurant in the world. Now I have been sitting on this review for some time. My fellow bloggers and media have gushed about…
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Get Your Gourmet on at the Qatar International Food Festival 2015
It started very small a few years ago, but the Qatar international Food Festival has grown in stature each year.It’s now one of the best organized and most anticipated events in Doha. It’s back again for 2015 from 24 to 28 March at the Museum of Islamic Art Park again and looks set to be equally as good as last year. you can find out information about the various activities on offer here. But I’m pretty excited about the Dinner in the Sky concept this year which is offering a “Taste of Business Class” from Qatar Airways premium menu. I will be posting updates as they come, but you can keep…
- brie, British, Cafes, Cheddar, Cheese, Cheese in Cooking, Doha, Food, Food Trends, Middle East, Qatar
Hello, is it Brie You’re Looking For…in Doha
When I tell people about this blog, I usually get asked two questions. Why cheese? That answer is simple – why not? Usually delivered with an exaggerated eyeroll. The second is: where can I get good cheese? In Doha we are spoiled for choice. Recently I did a roundup in my monthly column for BBC Good Food Middle East. Now you have it – a handy cut out and keep guide. Now I can be close to your heart…or wallet…always.
