Remember Cher’s character in Mermaids? Where she only fed her kids cocktail snacks for dinner? That is my idea of heaven. I love a cocktail bite, at any time of the day. This could be because of simple maths, small bites don’t have as many calories right? Being of socialite tendencies, I am an expert in the field of food on a stick or in a napkin. And if it can incorporate cheese into that equation, heaven awaits. Ahem. The following morsels were served to me at a recent drinks function at Grand Hyatt Doha The creamy goats cheese tart was literally coin sized and the pastry on the right…
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A Pizza the (Italian) Action – Restaurant Review of La Spiga at W Doha
Given this review is based on a dinner with friends, I could start with a tired old reference to Sex and the City/Bridget Jones, perhaps some handbag innuendo and talk about frivolous gossip etc etc. But as a writer I’m not that lazy. Even if there was a “Mr Big” (or Mr. Very Small in this case), some quite attractive men and a sports celebrity at the next tables during this review. The fact is, this was a simple and fabulous dinner with friends. More Dorothy Parker than Wannabe Carrie. Anyone who has seen Sex and the City 2 in all its’ cliched and consumerist fancy will understand my aversion…
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South of the Border – A Taste of Chile
I have always had a fascination with South America. It could be the indomitable Latin spirit, its darkly handsome men, the mournful Tango or maybe the proximity to the end of the world – I’m not sure what holds me in a thrall, but it just does. When the W Doha asked me to attend their special Sommelier’s Dinner, themed around the wine and food of Chile, it was a no brainer. My dance card suddenly cleared. The dinner was centered around the food of Chile in honor of the outgoing Chef of Market, Rodrigo. He told me at the dinner he had been keen to showcase the food of…
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Sweet Cheeses – When Cheese Meets Dessert
The French have a phrase – savoire vivre – which basically means living a good life while staying elegant and smart. In my mind, the Lebanese are the embodiment of this. They manage to live a good life, look remarkable at the same time as dealing with the chaos that regularly breaks out around them. Their food is also an illustration of this – elegantly complex. While many words have been written about the wonders of Lebanese mezze and other savory dishes, this country has also given the world some pretty extraordinary desserts. I was given a fabulous surprise by the boys who run Al Balad Qatar on Monday. They…
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In Queso Wondering…
Before I write a book about cheese, I plan to write another tome. Conversations With My Cleaner will feature the wit and wisdom of Tess, my cleaner of two years. I know that my cleaner judges me. She does it openly. Aside from ironing my underpants, Tess has a number of well thought out theories about life, the universe and why I am not married. According to Tess, a woman of my style, savoire faire and general fabulousness should not be without a husband. She believes, the reason for this anomaly is the fact that I only have cheese (and the odd bottle of wine) in the fridge on any…
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Life on the Wedge Goes on the Road
It’s the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere and that means one thing for us in the Middle East – travel. I have my own travel plans brewing up until the end of September (interspersed with some work!). But need your help for places to find the best food in these destinations. My plans include: – India (Chennai) – Oman – Sweden (Stockholm) – Australia (Melbourne, Perth, Sydney) – Washington DC, New Orleans and Seattle Email me, message me or leave a comment here with your suggestions!
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In Queso Emergency…Send Cheese
How can you not like Spain? Its economic prospects are in the toilet, yet they still live, eat and love like nothing is wrong. The Four Seasons Doha recently held a Spanish and Portugese Wine and Food Fair, showcasing the best of the Iberian Peninsula. The evening was more of a fair and included samples from selected winemakers from the region, plus tapas as well as cheese offerings. The cheese on offer was more of a tour of Europe. Of course there was the Spanish national icon – Manchego. On a visit to Madrid last year, I believe I ate this at every meal. For five days. made in the…
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Getting My Goat…
I think my cleaner judges me. One day I came home to find my decorative papal rosary beads artfully arranged on my bedside table. Once she told me I was sick because I “didn’t have a husband”. Another time, I had reason to call her because I couldn’t find a suit jacket. “It’s in your jacket closet Madam,” she answered with a sigh. When quizzed about said closet, she told me the location was in the guest bedroom and had been the “Jacket Closet” for at least six months. It’s rare our paths cross. I usually come home to find she has been and gone, like a midget hurricane. But…
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Taleggio Tales But True – A Hunk of Italian Love
It had been a particularly brutal day of toil in the vineyard of truth, and all that would salve my wounded soul was the thought of the Italian hunk sitting at home. By hunk, I do not mean in the literal studly sense, rather a hunk of Italian Taleggio cheese, purloined from the good people at Jones the Grocer in Doha. And so my tour of European basket case countries continues. I am a latecomer to the cult of Taleggio, having aligned myself early on in my cheese loving career with the Francophiles…Francophones….or whatever the kids are calling it now. But, like a persistent Italian man, it won my appreciation.…