There comes a time, in every girl’s life, when she must go to places that polite people don’t talk about at dinner parties. In Doha, one of those places is Paloma. The blurb says “where Texas meets Mexico”. It’s more like “Where Drunk People Meet More Drunk People”. Before 8pm, it’s a somewhat decent Tex Mex Restaurant. After then, when the hotpants-wearing Columbian band takes the stage, it becomes something different. I was there to celebrate a friend’s birthday and perversely because I had never been. And because we also had a coupon. The menu stretches the full gamut of tacos, enchiladas and some good looking fajitas. Spotting the opportunity…
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Business as Usual – Express Lunch at The Market by Jean Georges Restaurant Review
The thing about great ideas is that usually, you aren’t the only person to have that idea. And so it was on Tuesday, when, inspired, I called my occasional Partner in Cheese and Culinary Crime, Rachel B (more of her later) and suggested lunch. You see, Tuesday was a last minute public holiday in Qatar, declared at 530pm the previous day for the succession of our new ruler. Without the structure of our work day, Rachel B and I (yes, we are both called Rachel. We are considering starting a girl band called The Rachels) thought an afternoon of gossip and people watching at Market by Jean Georges at the…
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Milking It
I may have been burning the candle at both ends this week. It seems to have been an endless stream of show tunes and martinis. So this morning I was feeling a little bit precious. Given I had no monkey butlers and explaining the location of my house to delivery men, I was forced to create my own hangover cure/breakfast. Thankfully I am a resourceful woman. I did some hunter gathering and found small rounds of single serve goat cheese – from Carrefour – seriously something only the French could invent. Couple this with some flat bread, sliced tomato, a slug of olive oil and salt and pepper, and I…
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Living in the Bubble – Restaurant Review
In Australia, brunch is a relatively new concept. We are fairly black and white – it’s breakfast or it’s lunch. The only exception being yum cha (dim sum) which kinda starts at 11am mainly because we all want to bag a table. Although there was a time in the 2000s when “Girl’s Brunches” were all the rage. I blame Sex and the City (for that and the whole cupcake phenomenon). Plus, did Samantha ever finish her fruit platter? Seems she was eating it for six seasons. In the Gulf however, more explicitly the “Expat Gulf”, brunch is taken very, very seriously. It is, in fact, an art form to be…
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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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Hadju Go – When You Are Hungary for Some European Cheese
I love Hungary, well Budapest. It’s like all of the really good things about Europe – food, wine, history, good looking people – all combined into one easily accessible and reasonably priced place. I like it so much I am vaguely considering buying an apartment there, as my European bolthole (well, more like a money spinner). Hungary makes great wine and also some great cheese. I found this variety of Kashkaval in my Doha supermarket and was immediately smitten. This is a kashkaval-type cheese with the characteristic full, tasty and slighly salty flavour that reminds us of nuts. It can easily be cut, it is stiff but when bent it…
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When is a Cheese Not a Cheese? When it’s a “Cheese Food”
My lack of pretension about food and in particular, cheese is well known. I have always been in the “if it tastes good…don’t ask questions” school. But while researching something food-related for my real day job (which is in PR by the way), I came across this interesting piece about the facts and the science behind processed cheese. 10 Things to Know About Processed Cheese When I say “processed cheese”, apparently what I really mean is “cheese food”. As it can’t actually be classified as “cheese”. “Cheese food” is a food product made from normal cheese and sometimes other unfermented dairy ingredients, plus emulsifiers, extra salt, food colorings, or whey.…
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Cream of the Crop
In Qatar, the two months of May and June are often the busiest and most frustrating you can encounter. See, the country shuts down for a bit of June, all of July and August. When I say shut down, I mean grind to a halt. People flee the 50 degree temperatures and head to their homelands or Europe. As a result, clients want projects wrapped up in record time. Events, launches and other openings of envelopes are crammed into a single week. Yes this is a white girl problem, but I have had a bit of a week both and work and socially. Deadlines loomed. Announcements had to be made.…
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Talking About Cheeses
Someone asked me recently what a good cheese was to start off a “non cheese lover” on their journey of appreciation. Firstly, I was incredulous of the phrase “non cheese lover”, but I am not one to judge (often). I suggested starting with what is familiar – a cheddar maybe with a twist or perhaps a Brie. I will be compiling a post soon on Cheese Appreciation 101, but I came across this helpful piece in the Foodie haven of the Sydney Morning Herald. How to Store Cheese My fridge is usually a complete mess – last night I found a very dubious avocado in there and a jar of…