As my bathroom scales will confirm 2016 has overwhelmingly been a year of eating well. So without further ado, as this year draws to a close, here in no particular order are my (our) most memorable eats of the year…..
Lobster cocktail, Bentley’s Grill, Radisson Blu.
Chunks of fresh lobster with sweet mango and creamy avocado bound together in a light citrus mayonnaise. This recent addition to the menu is an absolute winner.
Pan fried foie gras, Prime, Intercontinental Doha the City.
Love it or loathe it this was melt in your mouth perfection. Rich, buttery and salty with toasted brioche and the sharpness of berries. Love, love, love.
Bouillabaisse with rouille and croutons, Prime, Intercontinental Doha the City
Another winning dish from Prime. This rich, deep seafood soup with beautifully delicate rock fish was just one course from the Monday Prime Club menu.
Salmon miso, Zengo at Kempinski West Bay
A late addition to the list as I only had this a couple of days ago at Friday brunch (full post to follow). This salmon was a perfect balance of sweet, salty deep flavours from the miso and yuzu – it was my favourite dish from everything we tried at this outstanding brunch.
Mango salad, MRA Bakery, Markhiya
A side dish of fresh firm, sweet mango with the heat of red onion and lots of chili. It was so zingy and refreshing though I did have to pick out quite a lot of the chili as I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to spicy food!
Chocolate crepe, Mokarabia, Ezdan Tower.
Had a craving for something sweet and this fit the bill. Chocolate shavings, sauce and fresh cream on a crepe. Just don’t count the calories! Loved the interior and service too.
Cheesecake, Iftar, St Regis
I’m always on the hunt for a great cheesecake, this is the best one I’ve had in Doha. A crunchy biscuit base, thick, creamy cheese with a hint of fruit to cut through the richness.
And, because this list started as a conversation with Greg, here’s his list!
Rib of beef, Big Fat Late Brunch, Irish Harp, Sheraton
Served medium rare this beef was cooked and seasoned to perfection. Loved the Saturday brunch here.
Chicken platter, MRA Bakery, Markhiya
A variety of marinades made this chicken platter stand out. All the meat was tender and packed with flavour.
A brunch consisting of dumplings and buns was always going to be a winner but my favourite were these melt in the mouth wagyu beef buns. I’d happily go back and eat these all day!
Triple burger, Fat Burger, Gulf Mall
Juicy, tasty patty with salad, cheese and pickles. Just wish I’d ordered the quad!
Okonomiyaki, Street Food, Doha Marriott
I couldn’t get enough of these tasty Japanese pancakes. Crepe filled with veg, meat and sauce with herbs on top. Delicious.
Ba – mee menu, Isaan, Grand Hyatt
Served as part of the Ba-mee menu where you select 4 dishes for 100QR this soup was deep with sweet and sour flavours and had won-tons and pak choi to create a fantastic range of textures with just a hint of chili.
Zengo, Kempinski West Bay
Like Kathryn said we have only recently visited Zengo but the food was incredible. I loved these crunchy shrimp tempura rolls especially with the spicy mayo on the side.
So, this is our year in food – overall 2016 has been fantastic. Thank you to everyone who has read my reviews, liked, shared and commented it means a lot. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2017………
Kathryn x
Eat. Sleep. Repeat 