No stranger to Doha’s dining scene, Jean-Georges Vongerichten this week opens Curiosa at the Four Seasons Doha. I had the chance to meet the legendary chef and get a little sneak peek at his new restaurant. Just weeks after opening the multi cuisine concept of Tin Building in New York, Curiosa is the acclaimed chef’s latest foray in Qatar. A laid back Latin cuisine concept, located in the space that used to house the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Curiosa opens just in time for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The hacienda-style venue being helmed by Edgar Hurtado formerly of IKA and Toro Toro – a chef with his own fan base…
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October 2020 Dining Hit List – Where to Drink and Eat in Doha this Month
It’s been a long and hard minute folks but here it is – your October dining hit list – where to drink and eat in Doha this month. From a luxe afternoon tea to fish and chips and also to a place where you can devour dumplings for breakfast – it’s all here! If you are looking for a happy hour to take the edge off the New Normal, check my list of top Doha happy hours here. 1. Afternoon tea at IDAM With arguably one of the most glorious locations for any restaurants in Qatar, IDAM’s afternoon tea is equally a thing of beauty. they have added savory items…
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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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Raising the Stakes – A Review of Toro Toro One Year on
When I wrote this review of Toro Toro a year ago, the response from readers was incredible. Yet, there was almost complete radio silence from the restaurant itself. Not that I expected it from a blogger point of view – That would be arrogant. But from a customer service point of view, as someone who spent a lot of money and had a genuinely disappointing evening and had told people about it. A call would have been nice. It was genuinely disappointing for me. I have been a fan of its founder Richard Sandoval for many years. I loved the dearly departed Mexican venue Pampano at The Pearl (now replaced by Tex…
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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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Peru-sing the Menu
I had a brief flirtation with South America back in the 1990s (you can do the math) but haven’t visited again since. It’s always been on my list but time, location and cost have always intervened. I can now confirm it’s well and truly back on my list for 2015. Recently in Doha, our dining scene has seen South American food have a bit of a moment with no less than five restaurants opening across the city. The newest, Camanito at the newly opened Zubarah Hotel serves up some tasty fare in sleek and glam surroundings. Last week I was invited by the Peruvian Ambassador and the hotel to sample the menu…
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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…
