• Cheese,  Italy,  Restaurant Reviews,  Travel,  Weightloss,  wine

    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…

  • Cheese,  Restaurant Reviews,  South America,  Travel

    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…

  • Cheese,  Travel,  White Cheese

    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…

  • Cheese,  Travel

    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!

  • Cheese,  Italy,  Travel,  Washed Rind

    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.…