QATAR Bite by Bite: A Lighthearted Look into Qatar’s Food Scene

To the uninitiated, Qatar might seem a strange place to write a culinary book about. Yet Doha has become a melting pot of culturally diverse people from around the globe. Many who have come here have brought their cuisines with them and have established restaurants that offer a dizzying array of cooking styles and cater to all manner of tastes and fulfil resident’s nostalgia for home. Qatar truly is a nation where restaurateurs seeking to leave their mark can try their hand at what may only be dreamt of elsewhere. The rest of us, meanwhile, reap the rewards by enjoying the fruits of their endeavours. This book is the culmination of years of eating and drinking and reviewing — harder work that it might sound! What began as an irreverent food blog expanded to become one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on Qatar’s culinary delights. Yet blogs, like restaurants, come and go, and so I decided to create a more lasting contribution to the country’s food scene. The result is a selection of reviews and epistles highlighting my favourite dining establishments in Qatar. In addition, it offers a glimpse into the lives and cultures of those working behind the scenes, who make the country's rich culinary landscape a reality. Extensively researched, it provides an entertaining guide for both visitors and long-term residents alike. In these pages, I provide a veritable smorgasbord of places to lunch and brunch or to wine and dine, from cheap eats to the ultimate five-star feastings. For the adventurous amongst you, I describe a variety of culinary walking tours to enjoy; for the hard-working, I propose business lunches and Friday brunches that will be sure to create lasting gastronomic memories. There are a healthy portion of historical facts thrown in for good measure along with plenty of maps to help you find your way to food heaven. Furthermore, you can feast your eyes on a wonderful selection of food photography that will tempt even the choosiest of dining companions. Yet be warned: this is not your run-of-the-mill, stiff-collared, star distributing restaurant guide. My reviews and descriptions may at times lean towards the fanciful and are sure to be laced with a good dose of humour. But above all, they are accurate and honest, and based on my own personal experience—that I promise you. The book contains reviews of more than one hundred dining establishments, including hotels, bars, hole-in-the-walls, and cafes, representing over forty types of international cuisine. The reviews are organised by geographical area. Each chapter recounts my experiences, whether alone or with friends, family or as part of a group, and captures a specific moment in time. They include some of my favourite spots around the country, with every palate catered for. In addition, I have gone to great effort to highlight the best deals at some of the finest eateries Qatar has to offer. This covers the country's famous weekend brunches and mid-week business lunches but also includes the Buy-One-Get-One-Free discount apps, which make living in Qatar so distinctive. For a small fee, apps such as the Entertainer, MyBook and Urban Points unlock a whole host of crazy deals from a simple coffee to some of the most expensive eating experiences in town. Provided you are not dining alone and are willing to be a little flexible, they provide fantastic value, and I can’t recommend them highly enough. Whether you have the cash to splash or are on a frugal trip, the food scene here has plenty to offer. So come with me on this culinary tour and experience Qatar, bite by bite.