Let’s face it – we all love to live large but for as little outlay as possible. With the current “situation” we find ourselves in, we all know that costs are rising in some quarters. As I noted around the same time last year, this comes after a fairly rugged period for many in Qatar where people tightened their belts and bunkered down. Where a couple might go out for dinner one night and then attend a brunch in the same week, it’s now one or the other. Having a family – school fees etc – ups the financial stakes further. Mix in increased fuel charges and the mugging we…
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Just Brew It – Three New Doha Cafes to Get Your Summer Caffeine Fix
There was a time, in the not so dark and distant past, where the only place you could get a semi-decent cup of coffee was in a hotel lobby or a one of those ubiquitous chain outlets. Don’t get me wrong, I am by no means a coffee snob. I don’t know my Chemex from my Colombian, but I do know what I like. And, being a writer by trade, I am always looking for new places to set up shop with my laptop and my attitude. We have come a long way from those lobby coffees and in recent months we have seen a raft of new places opening…
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Summer Loving – Nobu’s Seasonal Menu
You would have to be living under a rock to not know that all is not well in the GCC region right now. This isn’t a blog to discuss politics and the bullying antics of neighboring countries against a sovereign nation (oops…see what I did there?). But I can truly say it’s business as usual – supermarket shelves are full, ATMs are dispensing cash…expats and citizens are just getting on with life as best we can. Which brings me to this blog post – for me, this means continuing to eat my way around the city. Last night it was Nobu Doha to try their new Omakase (Chef’s choice) menu. This has become…
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Four Places Break Your Fast this Ramadan in Qatar That Are NOT in a Five Star Hotel
Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of luxury. Bling is kinda my thing. But sometimes, especially in Ramadan, I tire quickly of the lavish buffets, the decorations and the endless rounds of small talk. This Ramadan I have made a concerted effort to try to find off-beat places for iftar and suhoor. Here is my list of a few places to try this year (some of them may surprise you!). I will keep updating the blog with new and interesting finds over the next couple of weeks. 999 Cafe at the Doha Fire Station You should check out this place anyway, not just in Ramadan. This sleek cafe…
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Dine Around Doha – A Perfect Day as Told Though Food
Not every day is wine, roses and free snacks in the food blogging world. Some days it’s a long day at work, then collapsing on the sofa with Netflix and a steaming bowl of… Maggi noodles and cheese (seriously – don’t tell anyone). But some days, every so often, when the Gods shine, are just golden. Those days are few and far between, but when they are…I grab them. These rare days had me thinking, given the current state of Doha’s dining scene, what would be my “perfect’ day as told in food (and the occasional stiff drink)… Breakfast: In a perfect world, it would be breakfast in bed or…
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We Meat Again – Review of Fuego Steakhouse
On my first visit to this restaurant, waiting for our meals, our table stopped chatting mid sentence as we watched a very Qatar tableaux unfold outside the picture window. We sat in wonder as watched the hotel’s iconic and magnificent falcon, called Shang, I believe, exit the building with his handler. The falcon wasn’t ushered into a high end luxury car as we expected, rather a humble older model Toyota Camry and driven off into the night. It was a truly Doha moment. The falcon, which resides in hooded majesty in the hotel’s lobby, is one of the unique touches this hotel has created to set itself apart in a…
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Qatar International Food Festival – Your Five Must Eats
I’m going to be honest with you and tell you something that I only admit after a few drinks at a (small dinner) party…I’m mildly agoraphobic. I don’t do big crowds (and I don’t do stairs but that’s another story). A while back I had a meltdown during a street food trawl in Mumbai. Lost power of speech and had to sit down. It wasn’t pretty. Which is why, the Qatar International Food Festival is a challenge for me. That said, I have a tried and true strategy – head in mid-afternoon, do a covert swoop, check out the set up and choose my must-eat places. There is a lot to love…
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Steak Your Claim – Win a Saturday Brunch for Two at JW’s Steakhouse
I don’t know what it is about Saturdays, but I always manage to get a lot done. Last Saturday is a great example. I went to the gym, did the grocery shopping, shouted at my father over the phone for a while, lay around in my stretchy pants, marveled at the week of rain in Doha, went to the post office, negotiated the Spratly Islands dispute, nominated for a UN post, wrote a dissertation about Brexit and its effect on my online shopping habits*…and went to brunch at JW’s Steakhouse at the Doha Marriott. While Friday brunches are still a thing, Saturday is the new Friday in Doha and more places, like the venerable…
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Table for One – The 10 Best Places for Solo Dining in Doha
Let’s face it, there is something perversely indulgent about eating alone in a restaurant. I love eating out with AZ, but our schedules don’t always allow for it. And my Squad is also sometimes elusive for the same reason. Also, occasionally I just like a bit of alone time. So, armed with my iPad and some magazines, I regularly take myself out for a meal. It’s usually breakfast or lunch but sometimes I veer into dinner territory. I discovered the innate pleasure of dining alone many, many years ago. I have dined alone all round the world – in Michelin star restaurants in Florence and also in shacks by the…
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Nine Food Trends Set to Rock Doha in 2017
We may look to our friends in the seemingly ever changing Dubai for what’s currently hip and cool, but here in Qatar, our dining ecosystem has a life of its own. As we head into February (how did THAT happen?) I thought it would be a good time to take the pulse of the city and see what we can expect from restaurants, hotels and others in 2017: MORE CHAIN RESTAURANTS: The opening of the Cheesecake Factory at the mammoth Mall of Qatar was more anticipated in some circles than the much discussed ABBA reunion. It’s just another in a long list of chains that see Doha as a rich market for their…
