For Qatar’s foodies, 2019 has started with a bang – new restaurants, new menus, new dishes and a renewed energy. A lot of love about 2019 on the food scene so let’s get into it! STK at Ritz Carlton Doha It’s here people – and it was worth the wait. Located on the top floor of the Ritz Carlton, the space has been transformed from your Grandma’s “good” sitting room, into something beyond impossibly cool. Tables have been replaced with banquettes, the bar area is among the most elaborate in the city and the entire place is geared towards THAT view. With an in-house DJ, engaged staff and creative cocktails…
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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…
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The Best Room in a Hotel – Why Booking a Club Room Ensures a Great Stay
Here’s a tip – in my view the best room in a hotel isn’t the suite with sweeping views or the one with the stand alone bath tub. It’s the Club Lounge. Travel is about the experience and there’s nothing that will de-stress the experience—or make it feel more memorable—than a little extra pampering. Whether it be a glass of champagne, a breakfast cooked to order, or a comfy couch and a bite to eat after a loooong day, we all want to feel a little special. And when you are staying in a five star hotel, all you need is that special key – to the club floor. When…
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Cheese, Truffles and Dumplings – A Round-Up of Foodie Events in Doha
Today I felt the faintest hint of a chill in the air in Doha. Which means it was 27 degrees instead of 35. Still, winter is coming and this is the most active time in Doha for foodie events and happenings. So for my Qatar-based readers, here are three foodie events you should try and make happen in the coming days and weeks. My love of dumplings is well documented and I have even traveled to China and Hong Kong on dumpling expeditions. W Doha’s Spice Market is running a Dim Sum promotion with renowned Chinese chef Allan Huang. For QR250 you get a soup, two starters and six baskets of dumplings…
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Fine Dining Doha Style
I know I sound like a broken record/tired old expat when I say that Doha’s dining scene has really skyrocketed since I arrived eight years ago. But it has. When I arrived we had a handful of five star hotels and few independent dining options for those who like something more challenging that a drive-thru burger. That said, there has always been excellent Arabic and South Asian choices at all price points. In recent years, we have seen Alain Ducasse’s Idam open as well as a branch of Guy Savoy’s empire open (then close). We have also seen other dining options like French bistro La Varenne and its sister steak restaurant The Anvil Rooms open their doors…
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Fine Dining With a View – Review of La Mer’s Blind Tasting Menu
I’m about to clock up eight years in Doha. I’m not going to bore you with the expat habit of saying how fast it’s gone, how things have changed etc. What I will talk about are the things that have become a constant. The irritating being the sandstorms, the whingeing expats and the bad driving. The good constants being friends, special people in my life, my job, this blog and the opportunities. There are also the physical constants – those places you have been going to for years, that are a part of your life. One of those places is the Ritz Carlton Doha. Always elegant and welcoming, I have always…
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A Touch of (Cooking) Class
I consider myself a decent home cook. By this I mean I can joint a chicken, cook pasta to al dente and I also do a line in a good jus. But I can’t temper chocolate and frankly I wouldn’t even make the audition phase on Masterchef without threatening to cut someone. But like most home cooks, I like to expand my repertoire even if it is just in theory. What seems like a lifetime ago when I was a pre-teen, I was sent on some holiday cooking classes run by the local natural gas company (it makes sense if you are Australian). We learned how to make tuna casserole…
