Doha, Qatar In-Flight Catering and Travel Tips

Doha Qatar

Doha, Qatar has many unique sites to explore. Since the culture may be different from any you have experienced if it is your first time in the Middle East, here are some helpful tips to get you started to a successful visit to this wonderful city.

Whenever traveling to a new location for the first time, I always suggest buying a Time Out magazine. You will find that it is packed full of useful information, things to do, places to go shopping, best restaurants to visit, sports and outdoor activities, local events and more.

As I have been living as an expat in many different countries for over 16 years, I would also suggest a worthwhile site to join when you’re new to a country is InterNations.org. This is an international community for all expats living and working abroad. It’s a great way to integrate yourself, make friends and to enjoy what a country has to offer! It’s free to join, and as soon as you do, you will receive an email from the InterNations representative of the particular country you’re in. They often host mixers for new expats, ladies coffee mornings, salsa nights, water sport activities and mystery dinners. This is a great way to familiarise yourself with local cuisines, so you personally know the best dishes and specialties in the area.

A couple of my favorite restaurants in Doha are Al-Sayyad and Hakkasan. Al-Sayyad is located in The Diplomatic Club in the West Bay Lagoon area. I always cater my aircraft from here. They have many restaurants, but this one serves traditional Middle Eastern food. Their hot and cold mezze platters always go down well on short trips. There are so many great items to choose from, such as hommous bil tahina, grilled eggplant, tabouleh, fatouch, shanklish, waraq enab, spinach fatayer, meat sambousek, kebbeh, cheese roll and grilled halloumi cheese. My personal favourite is the pan-fried chicken liver served with grenade molasses. Yummy!  In addition to the great food, the Diplomatic Club also has a fantastic views over Doha and the Pearl.

Hakkasan at the St. Regis Hotel is located in the West Bay area of Doha. Inside the Hakkasan is the Ling Ling Lounge, which offers a modern mix of Chinese and Cantonese cuisines. It is quite pricey but brunch on a Friday is really reasonable. Try the crispy duck salad and you won’t be disappointed! The service is impeccable and the bar area makes you feel like you are in a hip New York City spot. It also has an outdoor garden area which is great in the winter.

There are many options for in-flight catering in Doha. Qatar Airways has a very good reputation for their food quality and they can deliver at short notice. If you wish to cater from restaurants in Doha, I have many suggestions. My first choice is the Diplomatic Club, as they have a good selection of restaurants. They are used to catering private aircrafts, they package the food well and transport it to the aircraft in refrigerated vans. I would also recommend The W Hotel’s W Café. Their cupcakes are to die for! Other choices are Ladurée Macaroons in the Villagio Mall and Magnolia Bakery in Dar Al Salam Mall .

For getting around in town, taxis are safe and they have meters, so they are not too pricey. If you are having a special occasion, limousines can also be taken from hotels, but will cost considerably more. Regarding culture and dress code, Qatar is more relaxed than some Islamic countries, but it is also worth remembering that as it is an Islamic country. So when out and about in town shopping, do try and dress conservatively. This means no short skirts and make sure to cover your shoulders in public places. Although, this does not apply whilst working on your tan at the hotel pools!

Questions?

If you have any questions about this article, contact Emma Woolley at vipfarecruit@gmail.com.

This is an article by guest author Emma Woolley of VIP FA Recruit. Emma is based in Doha, Qatar and is an industry expert in corporate aviation and recruiting corporate flight attendants for VIP clientele in the Middle east, Africa and United Kingdom. Any thoughts expressed in this article are entirely Emma’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Air Culinaire Worldwide.

 

If you would like to be considered for becoming a guest author, please contact socialmedia@airculinaire.com.

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