IMAGES: QATAR TOURISM


STUDY IN QATAR


PART 3: FOOD AND DRINK


Whether you’re in the market for street food or craving Michelin-starred extravagance, gastronomes will be spoilt for choice, particularly in Doha where the myriad high-end eateries in its luxury hotels have lured a slew of international chefs from around the globe. From Greek, French and Latin cuisine to


Middle Eastern, African and Asian flavours, it’s all here, feeding the creativity of local chefs while elevating the offering of outlets such as Katara’s farmers’ market and reuniting homesick international students with authentic tastes of home.


Coffee Doha’s vibrant coffeehouse scene was driven by trailblazers such as Café 42 and Flat White Speciality Coffee. Growing chains include Espresso Lab while gourmet standouts include Nomad, in Msheireb Downtown, with its excellent Yemeni beans. Other caffeinated highlights include Al Arrab Coffee & Roastery, with its 21 varieties. And, of course, authentic Arabic coffee experiences can be found throughout the country.


Food festivals The Qatar International Food Festival (QIFF) is the biggest event in the foodie calendar. Typically held in late March, the event features everything from food stalls and farmers’ markets to street entertainment, plus live demos featuring big name local and international chefs. Smaller iterations of the QIFF are held through the year too, including coffee, street food and ice cream festivals.


Traditional Qatari street food Doha’s Souq Waqif is the ‘go to’ place for an informal food tour and you’ll want to return time and again to sample regional Arabian and Levantine staples at its wallet-friendly food stalls, or restaurants such as Shujaa Restaurant, Damasca One, El Dokan and Bulbul. Female merchants crowd the central courtyard, clustered around pots laden with traditional stews such as saloona, or serving up regag, similar to French crepes. Other staples to try include stuffed vine leaves (warak enab) and stuffed courgettes (kousa mahshi). Or for something a little more high-end, try Parisa, for its beautiful interior and


30 Study in Qatar | 2022


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