Qatar’s Food Bloggers Get the Royal Treatment
By Dawn Gibson
Qatar Living invited some of Doha’s most in-the-know food bloggers to a very special event at The Pearl’s Royal Tandoor this November.
Taking advantage of the cool weather, the most recent Qatar Living Food Bloggers’ Dinner was held al fresco in front of the popular Northern Indian restaurant.
Guests were treated to a tour of the Royal Tandoor kitchen with Chef Feroz Khan and his team before sitting down for a sumptuous feast based on recipes that date back 200 years to the cooking pots of the Nawabs of Awadh.
The dinner began with zesty soups and fat samosas, followed by the specialty tandoor dishes, which did not disappoint. The Fish Tikka Sholay (hammour chunks marinated with yoghurt and spice then charcoal grilled) and the Zaitooni Malai Kabab (chicken breast marinated in cashew flavored yoghurt and herbs before grilling) were especially popular.
The main courses were so rich and satisfying, it was difficult to do justice to the generous portions. The Tawa Chaap Biryani, lamb chops and mince resting on biryani rice, and Lal Maas, a warming chili lamb curry, are good sharing choices, but the Kadai se Jhinga Masala, fresh prawns with onion, tomato and peppers in thick masala, was a particular stand-out.
A trio of sugary, milky desserts rounded out the decadent meal, before staff, including a traditional singer who had been entertaining the table all evening, presented guests with individually decorated bangles and boxes of delicious Indian sweets to take home.
While Royal Tandoor has a number of restaurants in Doha, the marina-front location of this one makes it particularly worth a visit. Book ahead for an outside table.
INFO: Royal Tandoor: Tower 22, Parcel 12, The Pearl. Call 4002 0777.
