Four Seasons Hotel Wednesday evenings Churassco

The churassco is basically a meat feast with a buffet at the Pool Grill at the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha. This is on Wednesday evenings between 7pm and 10.30pm.

A churassco is from the Portuguese word for skewer and waiters will come to your table and have skewers of meat with sharp knives and you get some tongs to take the meat that you would like. You are also given a sort of coaster that is red one side and green the other. If you want the meat to keep coming then it is green side up, if you have had your fill or need a rest then it is red side up.

The churassco is not all year round so you need to contact the hotel to check this and to make your booking. The phone number is 4494 8888.

The English Premier League Football from Qtel

If you want to watch the English Premier League football at home in Qatar then you will need to do this through Qtel. We have their Mosaic TV package and have the English Premier League football (or soccer!) as an add on at an additional 35 Riyals per month.

 

The matches can be found on channels 651 to 659. When matches are not on live, three or four of the channels generally show repeats of recent matches with maybe one older Premier League match. Unfortunately when there are six matches on live on a Saturday (for example) only two of the channels will be showing matches with English commentary and the other four will be in Arabic. There is a language button on the remote control but this does not work!

The Pearl in Doha

The Pearl is an artificial island that is similar to the Palms that have been constructed in Dubai. At the time of writing the Pearl is still under construction although there are some residents and shops there, together with some nice restaurants. These include Carluccio's and the Mango Tree, often these restaurants are licensed to sell alcohol. The Pearl is beyond West Bay and near the Ritz Carlton and Grand Hyatt Hotels.

 

In addition to visiting the shops and restaurants, it is nice to walk around the Pearl to get some exercise and look at the boats moored next to the promenade. If the weather is too hot then you can walk inside the shopping malls/walkways that have AC. The shops tend to be upmarket but you can always window shop!

Talking Matters Toastmasters Club Meeting on Monday, 09 May 2011

The next meeting of the Talking Matters Toastmasters Club is on Monday 09 May 2011 at the Oryx Rotana Hotel (that is near the Keo building at the Toyota crossroads near the Airport) at 6.45pm.

 

Please come along as a guest (you will not be charged) and hear some interesting and funny speeches as well as witnessing people overcome their fears of public speaking. Free refreshments at the break.

 

You will have an entertaining evening, meet some lovely new people and you too can enrol to become a Toastmaster and enjoy making speeches to a very appreciative audience.

Carluccio’s Restaurant on the Pearl Doha

Carluccio's is a chain of Italian restaurants and this one is situated out on the Pearl development that is a man made island beyond West Bay in Doha. It is in Area 10. It serves Italian style food and is licensed to serve alcohol too!

 

The food is mainly pasta based but you can get steak etc. I always opt for the risotto but you can asked to have this well cooked (like me) rather than al dente that appears to be the standard. The desserts are also Italian including of course tiramisu. The staff are attentive and friendly and the facilities are new. There are tables outside with umbrellas where patrons are allowed to smoke.

 

In addition to the restaurant there is a shop too. Here they sell pasta etc and we like to go there at Christmas to buy the fantastic pantone to feast on. This is worth the journey out to the Pearl.

 

Review here at Dining In Doha website

Talking Matters Toastmasters Meeting 25 April 2011

Please come along to the next meeting of Talking Matters Toastmasters Club which will be held at:

The Gulf Paradise Hotel in Doha

At 7pm on Monday 25 April 2011

You will be made very welcome and you will hear speeches that people have prepared and these will be kindly evaluated. Snacks and beverages at the break.

As a guest you can come along for free too!!!

Please come and join us.

La Cigale Hotel for Shopping

On the ground floor of La Cigale Hotel there are many counters where you can browse or shop for gifts and treats for yourself or loved ones. In the cafe area is a big sweets counter that is very tempting and does some fantastic boxes of sweets and chocolates.

 

My favourite place is the bread and cakes counter that is very long and has many tempting delicacies there. You can either eat these in the cafe or take them away to eat later.

Next there is a cheese counter that has many cheeses from around the world on display and of course you are able to sample these before purchasing. Next to this is a delicatessen where meats and other selected foods are on offer.

Further round there is a counter that sells ice creams and ground coffee etc. In addition to this there are souvenirs (knick knacks) that you are able to buy too.

Near the door to the cafe there is a wonderful flower shop, this is worth a trip into just for the wonderful aroma and to pick up some flowers for a loved one.

It is worth popping in to La Cigale just for a wander around and then you can flop down in the big sofas in reception while waiting for the valet to collect your car.

La Cigale Website

Buying postage stamps in the Hyatt Shopping Centre

The Hyatt Shopping Centre is the one next to the Villaggio Mall, and it has a huge shopping trolley outside of it, you cannot miss it!

In the middle of the mall there is a reception desk and here you are able to buy postage stamps for your letters for people who still insist on snail mail. The staff are very friendly and helpful and stick the stamps on for you! The stamps are always of small denomination so therefore there are loads to stick on every envelope. There is a small post box outside to post your letters.

For me this is infinitely better than going to the main Post Office where there are often long queues and also difficult to park. I avoid this if I can and generally enjoy the experience of popping in to buy stamps at the Hyatt.

Concert Tickets in Doha at Virgin Villaggio

Generally if you want tickets for an event in Doha then it is worth looking in the local papers for details on the bigger events. We went to see Brazil v Argentina and we got the tickets from the Landmark Mall.

However, for more low key events Virgin in Villaggio Mall has a tickets counter for concerts, plays etc. This is where you pay for your goods and is pretty much in the middle of the store. One of the counters on this island sells the tickets.

If you want something specific then it is an idea to ask there but if you are just looking for some entertainment then go there and ask what tickets they have?

Hallmark Cards in Villaggio

We found it quite difficult to find greetings cards in Dubai when we lived there and the trend continued when we came to live in Doha. However we found (quite easily!) Hallmark Cards that is opposite Carrefour in Villaggio.

Hallmark as you probably know is a chain of greetings cards stores but I have found it to have an excellent selection and I have not needed to go anywhere else. I have always been able to find the right card for the right occasion.

Unfortunately they do not sell postage stamps to go with the cards but you can always pop to the shopping centre next door, the Hyatt Plaza and they sell stamps in the reception desk there.

The Butcher Shop and Grill Restaurant in Villaggio

We are big fans of the Butcher Shop from our time in Dubai where there were a couple to visit. For a treat (although it is not that expensive) we pop into the Butcher Shop in Villaggio for our steak and chips fix. The food is good, the service is always warm and friendly and if you like some meat then this is the place to head to. No pork of course but the steaks are well worth the trip.

You can people watch from the tables as people walk past and you can also see the ice rink in the background too.

For me too they do lovely vanilla ice cream (I have simple tastes) but they do more fancy desserts too. They also do starters as well but as they give you bread with butter with little sausages I have never felt I needed these.

Need to eat some meat? Then head along to the Butcher Shop.

Reviews on Qatar Living

Review in Time Out Doha

Renting a car in Doha - SAAB

The Saab garage is on the Ramada crossroads and they have a key man there called Mohamad who makes everything run very smoothly at Saab. We had a good look around at cars to rent in Doha and I found just what I was looking for at Saab.

Their car models at the moment are a little old (my Saab 93 is about 20 years old) but the prices to rent for 2 years are very reasonable. The Saab is a comfortable and pokey car too.

Saab have looked after me since I have had the car and the place is friendly and fun to go in to see Mohamad or up to their garage in the industrial area.

If you need to hire a car for a couple of years then you could do no better than to check out Saab.

Saab Phone Number (00974) 4432 5717

Intercontinental Hotel Cafe Restaurant on Wednesday Evenings

The Intercontinental Hotel is in West Bay (or just beyond it on the way to the Pearl) and the Cafe Restaurant is downstairs from the lobby. It does buffets most nights but the best one for me is on a Wednesday evening when it is Indian Theme night. This is wonderful and a great selection of Indian food. Help yourself to as much as you want.

You can get a nice drink here too and the only let down for me is that there is a smoking area and this is rather off putting.

Other nights they do other themes and also there is a brunch on Friday lunchtimes too, but for me the Wednesday night visit is the one to go for.

Intercontinental Hotel Website

Giant Supermarket in the Hyatt Shopping Centre

The Hyatt Shopping Centre is right next door to Villaggio and is much quieter. However, for me it does have the best supermarket in Doha. Giant is big and fairly quiet most of the time, this means that you do not have to queue so much that is a big plus factor for me!

It stocks all the usual foods for Doha (no pork or alcohol though of course), has a nice fish counter as well as breads and meats too. The fruit is generally of a high quality and we usually find everything in there that we want.

 

Giant also sells lots of other things such as electrical goods and stationery (upstairs) and if you are setting up home in Doha then it has crockery, garden furniture too.

See you in Giant then, every week for your weekly shopping?

Debate on Supermarkets on Qatar Living website

Romano's Macaroni Grill in Villaggio

This restaurant is near the ice rink in the Villaggio Mall. This is on the "posh" side of the Food Court. It has a yellow front with tables spilling out into the walkway.


The decor is like a Spanish farm house with big seats that are ideal for the bigger family.

 

The food is splendid with wonderful pasta dishes, I particularly like the prawn dish there. My friend from Spain always insists on being taken there for this dish.

The Macaroni Grill is an ideal place to pop in to while you are shopping for a more substantial meal and you can also people watch while you eat with pleasure.

Good food and a reasonable price too.

Chingari Indian Restaurant in the Ramada Hotel

Have been to the Chingari a couple of times and we quite like the food. However the smoking can be a bind sometimes and it is a bit expensive for what you get. However the food is good and they serve beer as well. The decor for me is 1970's but is comfortable and cosy too.

They have an Indian band sitting on a raised stage in the middle of the room that is nice. They were asked to play Happy Birthday one time that we were in there and it seemed to go on forever. Maybe it is still going on.

 

We ordered a takeaway from the Chingari one evening and it seemed to take a long time to prepare, I would suggest that if you are going to order a takeaway it is better to order ahead. Also, the restaurant is pretty popular and it would be best to book a table at popular times.

Ramada Hotel Website

La Cigale Hotel Orangery Cafe Trottoir

We have been to this cafe many times and it is a nice atmosphere there, bright and sunny cafe. The service is exemplary and the food and drinks fantastic. You can also sit outside if the weather is right but it is on a main road. We prefer to sit inside.

Within the cafe area there are TV's to watch and a counter that sells sweets, chocolates etc that is great for gifts. There is also a long counter that sells cakes and pastries. You can browse these and have your cake and eat it there and then in the cafe or get some to take away.

 

The latte is fantastic, as is the peppermint tea. I always seem to eat the cafe éclair but they also sell many other lovely snacks and temptations for you.

 

A nice cafe for a little treat when you want a little down time to relax, have good food and drinks, talk and read the newspapers.

La Cigale Website

Inter Nations Group

Inter Nations is for expats like us that arranges a website and get togethers in cities. It is worth signing up for (basic membership is free) so that you know when there are meetings in local bars and you can get along and make some new friends. Make sure that you take plenty of business cards along!

My wife is very gregarious and we have met loads of people through this organisation in Doha, meeting up at hotels. You pay for your own drinks, but the venues have all been really good.

One meeting was unfortunately at the Lava Lounge where everyone was expected to pay 100 Riyals to get in. Most people refused and went home. We went in and it was the worst get together.

I think that the local organisers have learned their lesson and if it is anything like the meeting at the Kempinski Hotel a few months ago then it would be great.

Well worth signing up for Inter Nations whether you are in Doha or anywhere really so that you get a foot in the door to a new city and get to make new friends too.

Mango Tree Restaurant on the Pearl (Thai)

We went there for lunch on a Friday and were the first to arrive. No one was sitting outside as they had nicely laid out tables but no umbrellas to shield you from the sun. Carluccio's across the way had quite a few people as they had umbrellas over most tables.

The service was very good, the Evian was splendid as was the omlette that I had too.

However, we found the prices very steep and some of the food we had (Chicken Satay and the roast chicken) not very nice. We have had much better Thai food in other restaurants around Doha.

It was noticeable that this restaurant was not as full as Carluccios and it is a bit out of the way on the Pearl too. There are no shops or anything around there and I am sorry to say we will not be going back. Much too expensive for what you get.

Spinney's Supermarket in Old Airport Area

The supermarket is situated in the Mall, Doha which is in the Old Airport area. We have been there a couple of times as it is a bit of a trek from the other side of town for us.

The fruit and vegetable and fish/meat sections are superb. Wonderful displays that also includes a delicatessen and wonderful flowers. It is like being in a Waitrose back home in England.

The rest of the store where the groceries are is OK too but the aisles feel a little cramped but you can get lots of British type goods there so it is worth popping in to stock up with any comfort foods that you may be craving.

We have found parking outside to be easy but getting in and out of the supermarket car park is a bit difficult and we have at times had to go on big detours to find our way in. However, it is worth the detour and we have practiced a little more now.

An upmarket supermarket to get the luxury touches for your life.

Spinneys Website

La Cigale Hotel La Cigalon Restaurant

This is the main restaurant on the ground floor. It is open plan and has a big fish tank at the end. It is open all day for dining, and has both a buffet style as well as a la carte.

We have been there a few times for brunch on a Friday and on Christmas Day as well. The food tends to be Lebanese that is fine for us, with the splendid umm ali for dessert. There is always plenty of selection and you will find something that you will like and be able to put this on plate as much as you want.

We have also been there for a treat breakfast that was good too, the place is light and airy and a good place to wake up in!

In front of the fish tank there is usually a carvery of some description serving the meat. The buffets usually have some sort of carvings of food as decoration and these are always imaginative and well done.

I would suggest that you book on a Friday if you want to go for brunch. The restaurant is unfortunately a mixed smoking/non smoking one and if you don't smoke you need to insist on being as far away from the smokers as you can get. It is also a non alcoholic restaurant as well but they do serve fantastic fresh fruit juices.

La Cigale Website

Paul Cafe in Villaggio Mall

We have been to Paul cafe in Villaggio Mall many times. It is a French rustic theme and they do very nice coffee and cakes. I particularly like the cafe eclair and the coconut cake.

You can also read the local papers and watch people going by as it on a main junction in the Mall.

The service can sometimes be a bit hit and miss, either brilliant or you struggle to catch the eye fo a waiter. The seats are a bit uncomfortable for a longer stay.

However, does the best snack food in Villaggio as far as we are concerned and a good refreshing break place.

Islamic Arts Museum

This is a nice building, calm and light and well designed. We went here in 2010 and had a look at a pearl exhibition that has now finished. We found the exhbition informative and entertaining. We did not get the chance to look round the rest of the building but friends have told me that it is well worth spending a hald day looking round.

Beware of the toilets, the doors are so badly labelled you might go in the wrong one!!!

This is the Islamic Arts Museum website

DHL in Doha

I had the misfortune to have my passport damaged while it was getting the visa put in it. This needed replacing therefore and UK passports now need to be sent to Dusseldorf in Germany. Someone suggested that DHL did a service for this.

I went to the branch in Salwa Road and booked my passport in, called Passport Express. The staff in the office filled the forms in for me and it was a pretty painless process.

I was given a tracking number and it was fascinating to watch the DHL website to see how my passport got to Dusseldorf.

My new passport took 11 days to turnaround and DHL delivered it back to my door. I thought that the process was excellent and helped to heal the wounds of the damage caused to my old passport that got damaged.

DHL has a number of other offices in Doha, including one in Villaggio Mall rear entrance.

1882 Cafe in Villaggio

This cafe is in Villaggio next to the canal and has really nice comfy sofas to sit in and magazines and newspapers to read as well. You can sit and people watch as well.

The coffee is very strong, so we tend to go there for a peppermint tea. The service is pretty good and they do a particularly good vanilla ice cream.

It is worth popping in to put your feet up for a short while inbetween shops.

The seats outside unfortunately have people sitting in smoking although the signs are very clear about this, it is off putting in a smoke free mall.

Sheraton Hotel Al Shaheen Restaurant

This restaurant is on the top floor of the Sheraton that is the hotel that looks like a piece of cheese at the far end of the Corniche. To get to the Al Shaheen you go up in a private elevator and then it is like you have stepped back in time. The decor and general ambience is like 1973 never ended.

We have been there for brunch on a Friday that was excellent food and drink, the staff very helpful and friendly too. We had a lovely time.

 

To complete the 1970's theme (that I don't think is deliberate) there was a man playing an electronic organ and singing songs. To entertain the children there is someone dressed as Big Bird off of Sesame Street.

We thoroughly enjoyed our restaurant visit and the buffet food and drink. And if you like a slightly dated decor to your restaurant, then get along there. Lovely views too from the top floor as well.