Restaurant in Focus: Saffron Lounge

Saffron is a spice, an indispensable ingredient, used widely in fine Indian cooking. The royal red of saffron and its wholesome and enticing aroma make it a desired and expensive spice. Regardless, it lives up to its well-deserved reputation.

Source: The Hindu

Same can be said about the Saffron Lounge in Katara village, Doha. One of the first restaurants to open in the beautiful cultural village of Katara, the Saffron Lounge has been running for over 4 years. The brainchild of Michelin award winning Chef, Vineet Bhatia, Saffron Lounge has won a solid reputation and has been winning hearts of gastronomes for years.

Decorated in warm, earthly tones with lots of chandeliers, Saffron Lounge is something out of an Indian dream. The beautiful, soft glow of the chandeliers is enhanced by the light coloured walls and the wooden wall panels. All of these combined; give the restaurant a warm, inviting feel.

The menu has dishes from India's north, south, east and west. All of these cuisines have different gravy bases, techniques and textures. A few food recommendations: Avadi Dum Parda Biryani (aromatic lamb biryani baked under a flaky pastry crust), the chickpea soup and the Saffron kebab platter.

 

When you are at this restaurant, indulging in your appetite, you absolutely cannot miss their wide selection of teas.

 
It is not for nothing that the Saffron Lounge is amongst the best Indian restaurants in Doha, a place with plenty of Indian restaurants. Do drop us a line next time you are there. Bon Appetit!

Reviews:

"Vineet's team knows how to balance the delicate flavors when experimenting with Indian spices."
An Ordinary Diner 

"They had me at the welcome drink only with shots of mint & lemon!!"
Priya Khanna

"I was lucky enough to test some new dishes, which were delicious and designed by Chef Vineet who has a Michelin star. The prices are incredibly cheap for food of this standard, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly."
Phil Blacklock

 

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Katara: The Amalgamation of the Past and the Future

Katara, the cultural beacon in the city of Doha is a lighthouse of art, radiating in the Middle East through theater, literature, music, visual art, conventions and exhibitions.

The Katara Cultural Village Foundation is an exceptional project made possible by HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.

Katara is Qatar’s ancient name that has been used for centuries in geographical and historical maps. With the name Katara, we want to signal to our rich historic culture and heritage.

"Katara was a truly unforgettable place! A lovely beach area, traditional tents, wide-ranging eateries, plenty of tea shops serving hot tea and parothas, an amphitheater and much more. This place has plenty on offer not just for tourists but also for Qatari residents."KanchM

Our vision for Katara is for it to be the Princess of all cities, the dream of the learned. We are very proud to present to the world, the futuristic designs and aspirations that Katara offers: the sprawling amphitheatre, the golf carts that transport you within the city, the beautiful art gallery.

The buildings in Katara play host to a range of cultural, literary and art societies throughout the year. Our objective is that every person that visits Katara experience culture and enlightenment. We want to facilitate and promote the potential of our visitors through the spirit of fair competition. For this, there are a number of societies in Katara that host exhibitions, seminars and competitions for both adults and children. These societies include: Qatar Photographic Society, Childhood Cultural Centre, Theaters & Dramatist, Sout Al Khaleej Broadcasting, Al-Gannas Society, etc.

You can learn more about these societies and their events here.

Katara is where the grace of the past meets the splendor of the future. Welcome to Katara.

It is the perfect get away for the weekends. The events that the organizers bring in every now and then has made this place a frequent weekend spot for our family. L’wzaar Seafood Market, the beach, and the Amphitheater and are just a few of the various attractions that await one there.  GimmyVadayattukunnel

Katara is a true cultural display as stated in its description everywhere. The restaurants, the display of art and culture is a true treat for your eyes. You get a feel of the Arab culture in its actual sense.

Biswadip G

More: TripAdvisor Review and Katara Images. 

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An Arabian Tale: One Thousand and One Nights

One Thousand and One Nights is an enchanting ballet written by the great Azerbaijani composer Fikrat Amirov.

It is set in the world of the magical world of ancient Arabia where carpets flew and birds talked.

Katara Village Foundation presented the “One Thousand and One Nights” ballet for the first time in the Arab world. The books Arabian nights with its stories are based on this story.

The ballet is the story of the King Shahrayar who when betrayed by his beloved queen, kills her and in a fit of rage decides to murder every girl in his kingdom.

He married a girl every night only to have her killed next morning. The pleas and wails of the girls go in vain until he meets the beautiful and wise Scheherazade. Scheherazade plots a plan to avoid her death. She tells the king a story every night, and reaches the narration of the climax at dawn. Her stories enchant the king who delays her execution to the next day.

The next night she finishes her story and begins another, stopping at a crucial point at dawn. She spends 1001 nights with the king, narrating a different story every night. At the end of the 1001 nights, the king falls in love with her and pardons her death.

This ballet which ran from 16 June-23 June, at the Katara Village opened to a full house every day. The show ran 8 days and was a resounding success.

Watch out this space and the Katara website for notifications on more such events.

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Qatar – A Future Global Hotspot

Have you been to Gulf? How is Dubai? Heard there are big malls, beaches, restaurants, nightlife, and of course how can one forget the Desert Safari? The questions and anxiety from the people we know are never ending. Since many years, the glamor of Gulf has been just restricted to one place –Dubai, and there are reasons for it. In the last two decades, Dubai has made a remarkable transformation from a sandy desert to a global hotspot. Now, if I go into the reasons for it, this blog will turn into a biography.

Today, with communication being made easy and new technology coming in, the world has come closer and so people are becoming more aware about the countries that are developing. One such country that has come out from scratch is Qatar. This country was once nothing but a sandy desert and one could see nothing but sand spreading miles away. However, today, the Qatar Government under the leadership of HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar is trying every possible thing to bring the country onto the World map.

The vision is simple and clear – To establish Qatar as a strong cultural heritage destination and at the same time making it a tourist hotspot. Katara is the first step towards that goal. The main aim behind promoting Katara as cultural village is to bring people from various cultural backgrounds under one roof, where they can trounce the backward belief and promote humanity in a new way. Gone are the days when Qatar and the other Gulf countries lived under the shadow of Dubai – a premier global hotspot in the last two decades. Today, with the influx of new ideas and the change in the mindset of the people, Qatar is certainly catching the attention of the world and the day is not far when it will become the Las Vegas of the Middle East!!

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4 Finest International Restaurants in Katara village

Katara is a global cultural center located in Qatar. Besides the regular events in opera and performing arts, there are a lot of international restaurantscatering to native gastronomy from countries around the world.

Each of the 12 restaurants available try and cater to a nation’s local cuisines by replicating the taste and being as authentic as possible. The chefs use authentic ingredients so as to reproduce the taste and enhance the taste buds of thousands of people who throng the place on a regular basis.

Let us take a look at some of the restaurants along with their specialties in Katara:

1) Saffron Lounge: 

An authentic Indian restaurant in qatar that caters to traditional Indian food full of spice and variety.  Tickle the taste buds with the tingling taste of chicken tikka, murgh gosht, and a variety of other traditional Indian dishes that will make your mouth water and ask you for more.

2) Mamig-Armenian: 

Enjoy a delightful combination of Armenian and Lebanese cuisines at Mamig-Armenian. The items on the menu are prepared by native Armenian and Lebanese chefs.  Along with this, you can enjoy the scenic location as you dine on traditional items of the Middle East and it is best Armenian lebanese restaurant in Qatar.

3) L’wzaar Seafood Market:

One of the finest Seafood restaurant in qatar, L’wzaar seafood market is a restaurant for people who like to tuck in on the most authentic and taste the best in seafood cuisine.  Classic Mediterranean and Japanese are some of the cuisines which are served here. With over 50 different varieties of seafood dishes being served here, why go anywhere else?

4)Sukar Pasha Ottoman Lounge:

Turkish: Blend in the Ottoman culture, literally! At Sukar Pasha Ottoman Lounge, you can bask in the glory of the past.  It gives you a chance to relive the rich Turkish culture in style. Enjoy delectable Turkish dishes with an extensive variety of flavored tobaccos. 

The above restaurants offer you the finest dining possibility in Katara. Be it with family, friends, or even an official dinner, you are sure to enjoy every moment spent in Katara.

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Tucking Into Global Cuisine At Katara

A foodie knows no fussiness. A foodie will enjoy any cuisine served to him with delight. At Katara, we bring to you the world cuisine on your platter, literally!

The restaurant area is a curtain raiser for countries who want to showcase their unique culinary skills to all those who are eager to delight their taste buds with original flavors and authentic cuisines.

So whenever you have a fetish for any cuisine, just come to Katara and we’ll make sure that you get to tuck in the choicest of cuisines from many restaurants that are located here.

Here are some of the cuisines that you can look forward to:

1) Indian cuisine: 

Like its culture, Indian cuisine too is diverse and varied. Whether it’s the spicy vegetable and chicken delicacies from the north or the famous fish rice from the east. We assure you of a great time here as you tuck in multiple taste of a diverse culture like India.

2) Lebanese cuisine:

Lebanese cuisine primarily consists of starch based products, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. It also has various forms of fish and seafood. Meat is less popular in the region and the cuisine has a lot of flavoring which is unique in taste. The place brings the Middle East and Mediterranean region into limelight.

3) Spanish cuisine:

Yet another Mediterranean dominated region, seafood is extremely popular here. The country is known to use most oil among all regions in Europe. A variety of vegetables and meat are also an integral part of their cuisine.

4) Chinese cuisine:

Chinese cuisine is famous all over the world. It is easy to make, it’s affordable and is tasty to eat as well.  There are various versions of it which are created keeping the local flavor in mind.

5) Mexican cuisine:

Mexican cuisine is a fusion of Spanish as well as Mesoamerican food. The staple diet consists of beans, corn and chili pepper. From the European culture, they received the legacy of meat which includes beef, chicken, pork, sheep and goat along with dairy products such as cheese and different spices and herbs.

There are various other cuisines such as Italian, Thai, French, etc. which are equally popular and famous all across the world. At Katara, get the choicest of cuisines without having to travel to that country under one roof.

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The Global Village Called Katara

Katara is a project initialized by HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the state of Qatar. The project was conceptualized on the basis of hope for human interaction through art and cultural exchange.

At Katara, the emphasis is laid on the importance of diversity in human culture. It is a place where people come together to experience different cultures from across the world.  It has beautiful theatres and concert halls where multi-cultural activities are conducted regularly.

The vision behind the idea of Katara was to make it a lighthouse of art, given the fact that Middle East was globalizing in every sense through theatre, literature, music, visual art, conventions as well as exhibitions.

The village is expected to give the world a glimpse of the future where people of different cultural backgrounds overcome their national boundaries and embrace various forms of art to promote global humanity.

Katara derived its name from ‘Catara’ an ancient name of the Qatar peninsula in geographical as well as historical maps.  A famous geographer, Claudius Ptolemaeus published this map first in 882 AD and later on the same map appeared in the historical atlas of Islam.

Qatari history has given the legacy of a rich cultural and educational wealth which is being used as a catalyst to promote global modernization by bringing people from across the world to connect on a common platform at a global level.

At Katara, our vision is to be a global leader for multi-cultural activities by contributing to the achievement of Qatar National Vision 2030. We are solely dedicated to nurture social development through art and cultural exchange.  Our aspiration is to bring a community of creative and innovative people together who are knowledgeable about the global cultures.    

Katara is an ever-evolving global village which believes in nurturing peace and understanding at a global level. We believe in engaging friendly and likeminded people at a global level for exchanging of different cultures across the world.
We are also proud of our national heritage and respect all cultures across the world. Let’s get together and make the world a harmonious place to live in.

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The First Turkish Festival On The Cards!!

 http://www.katara.net/english/event/the-first-turkish-festival/

Not many of us are aware, but Qatar and Turkey share a unique bond. To commemorate this special relationship between the two countries, Katara is organizing a three-day event from 9 April to 12 April. In order to promote Turkish culture, there’ll be exhibitions and performances to salute the spirit of people living in the country. The event will not just showcase Turkish history but also highlight the modern day aspects of Turkey. The event is sure to witness a huge amount of people right from the VIPs, to the expats, to the local crowd and everyone else. Even students, Qatari families and ambassadors from adjoining nations will be seen in the event. Delegates and government officials will also form an important part of the event.

One of the major attractions in this scenario is that such an event is being held for the first time in Qatar. This is apparently the first event that is being held as a tribute to the Turkish culture. This nation’s culture has experienced drastic alterations over the last few centuries. At present, Turkey may be regarded as the only nation to contain a blend of both eastern and western culture. This event will not just showcase the ancient days when the Ottoman Empire ruled, but even the modern day changes that have been witnessed in the nation. Turkey has had a wide range of rulers and nations invading it which gave it the distinctive and unique culture that the country cherishes in every way.

So, come and see the two cultures inspire and celebrate each other’s tradition and modern day features. Do you still need more reasons to attend this festival?

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Al Dabke Festival – A Salute To This Culture

http://www.katara.net/english/program-tickets/

Al Dabke is a form of dance performed by the Arab people and it has a huge cultural significance. Originated in the Eastern Mediterranean, this form of dance involves people forming up a line and dancing to the tunes of rhythmic beats. The line moves from right to the left and the head of the line faces the other dancers and audience periodically. This kind of dance is generally performed on happy occasions and marriages.

This event to be held at Katara is particularly a kind of commemoration and a salute to this ancient form of dance. More than 20,000 people will be coming all the way to witness the occasion. Katara aims to spread awareness about this ancient folk dance among all the expats and Arabs residing in Qatar. They are also aiming to get a place at the Guiness World Records as the highest Dabke gathering ever witnessed in any country. The idea is to showcase the art, its diversity and significance all across Qatar, through exhibitions, workshops and 3 shows at the Amphitheater and many more events as well.

The Al Dabke festival will be organized from 3 April to 5 April. After all, it’s time to pay tribute to one of the oldest forms of Arabic dance that have evolved drastically all through the years. By organizing this festival, Katara salutes the spirit and positivity that the performance tags along. This type of dance is also well known in areas such as Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, Lebanon and Syria.

Going down the memory lane, this kind of dance was performed as a means to keep the atmosphere at work happy and spirited. In ancient days, the roofs of houses were built using wood, dirt and straws. To bring about uniformity in the construction, this kind of rhythmic dance was performed.

So are you ready to witness this beautiful form of dance?

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Delicious Egyptian Foods – Appetizing And Rich

There are many delicious Egyptian meals that will tempt you to visit an Egyptian restaurant in Qatar or any other place. Mentioned below are such mouth-watering delicacies belonging to the expansive Egyptian culture.

1.Gibna Domiati – Gibna Domiati is nothing but cheese produced from buffalo milk. It is loaded in cans and every family has a can or two at its disposal. It is made in a city at the north of Egypt and is included in a number of dishes as well.

2.Konafah – This dish consists of thin noodles that are heated in a plate till they become firm. Once firm they are mixed with oil or butter and then garnished with whipped cream, nuts and fruit syrup. The origin of this dish is unknown.

3.Kushari- This dish is a mix of pasta, rice, lentils, tomato, garlic, onions and chick peas. It is one of the most popular lunch time foods for people in Egypt. Surprisingly, the dish came into existence through the British Army when they invaded the Egyptian province.

4.Feseekh – This is one of the most traditional dishes of the country and is eaten during festivals. It primarily consists of a dried and salted gray mullet. The fish should first be dried after which salt is added. The preparation process is very crucial as any wrong ingredient or flavor can make the dish poisonous.

5.Halawa – Halawa is a famous dish in the Mediterranean region. It is composed of sesame paste and is available in various forms such as blocks, energy bars, spreads and so on. Generally, pistachios and other kinds of nuts are used to garnish the item.
                                
These are the top 5 Egyptian food items. So have you tried them? Which one is your favorite?     

http://www.katara.net/english/the-village/restaurants/khan-farouk-tarab-cafe/

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Lebanese Cuisine – Unique And Tasty

Lebanese cuisine primarily consists of starch, whole grain, vegetables, seafood and fruits. If you’ve visited an Armenian Lebanese restaurant in Qatar, you will know that poultry is generally preferred over red meat. Animal fats are also consumed in smaller quantities. In case of red meat, people staying in the mountain regions usually consume goat meat, whereas those staying along the coast eat lamb. The diet also consists of olive oil and garlic, and food items are generally topped off with lemon juice.


Butter and oil are used in just a few desserts and are sparingly used otherwise. Generally, food items are baked, or grilled in olive oil. People generally eat the vegetables raw or use it in pickles and cook them as well. A major part of the Lebanese diet is influenced by the seasons of the year. Lebanese cuisine dates back to the time when Romans were dictators of the land. Most of the cuisine is influenced by the different rulers who have stayed in the place for a significant time. The Ottoman Turks ruled this country from 1516 to 1918 and introduced a wide variety of food items especially red meat such as lamb among others.


After the defeat of the Ottoman Turks in World War I, France took control of Lebanon till 1943 and that’s when the country finally got its independence. It was during this time that the French introduced desserts such as flan and caramel custard. The French rulers are also responsible for introducing the buttery croissants in the country.
The Lebanese cuisine is very ancient and this marks its essence in every way.

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Most Renowned Cuisines All Over The World – Satisfy Your Appetite

Everyone likes to enjoy different kinds of cuisines spread out across the world. Just read on to know some of the most renowned cuisines all over the world to start your trip just now.

1.Lebanese cuisine – Lebanese cuisine primarily comprises of starch based products, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and other forms of seafood. Meat is generally avoided in the region. The cuisine is full of flavors that have a unique taste. This place is also known for its Arabic sweets. The region brings forth the best from the Middle East and their food is generally Mediterranean.

2.Spanish cuisine – Spanish cuisine includes all forms of seafood and the people here follow a Mediterranean form of diet. This country is known to use the most oil among the central and western European nations. The cuisine consists of a variety of vegetables, seafood and meat as well.

3.Mexican cuisine – Mexican cuisine is mainly a blend of native Mesoamerican and Spanish food. Though the staple food comprises of beans, corn and chili pepper, there is a lot of it that’s inherited from the European culture. The Europeans brought with them meat including that from beef, chicken, pork, sheep and goat as well as dairy products such as cheese and different spices and herbs.

4.Thai Cuisine - Thai cuisine consists of light food garnished with deep aromatic flavors. It is characterized by the four main taste senses which are sweet, salty, bitter and sour. It’s not the simplicity but the complexity that defines Thai cuisine.

5.Chinese cuisine – Chinese cuisine is one of the most preferred cuisines all over the world. That is because it is easy to make, affordable and tasty to eat as well. China follows its 8 culinary traditions which are, Cantonese, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangsu, Szechuan, Zhejiang, Shandong and  Hunan cuisines.

6.Indian Cuisine – Given the diverse Indian culture, the food eaten here is extremely varied as well. The most famous type of cuisine served in most of the restaurants is north Indian food that’s called Punjabi  or Mughlai.

                        

Apart from the ones discussed above, others such as Italian and French cuisines are also famous all over the world.

For Best Restaurant In Qatar Visit :

http://www.katara.net/english/the-village/restaurants/

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Selecting the right sport for your kid – Activate their senses

Engaging in sports is good for kids and adults alike. You need to ensure that your kid participates in sports right from the beginning itself so that they feel energized and active at all times. Even if you can’t enroll your kids in any of the professional sports, you can at least allow your kids to overcome their laziness by giving them little work to do. Read on to know more.

1.Start with a few child-friendly activities at home – Start all kinds of kid-friendly activities at home. However, keep your child’s age, maturity and physical strength in mind. Activities such as running, jumping, throwing balls, playing football and catching can all be encouraged while your kids are very young itself. Ensure that your kids sleeping and eating habits are good while they engage in such physical activities at home.

2.Get them to play organized sports - As children keep growing, their physical energy, observational skills and their attention spans keep improving. Therefore, you can enroll them in organized sports such as swimming, surfing, gymnastics, running, soccer, baseball, football and martial arts. You can even enroll them in dance classes as this activity will keep your kid fit too. Generally children aged between 6 and 9 can enroll in these sports.

3.Enroll them in group sports – By the age of 10 to 14, kids are mature enough to enroll in group sports such as hockey, badminton, cricket, football and others. They also become very good at understanding instructions which is why they can function properly in a group. However, you need to understand that there will be many changes happening in your teen’s body as he or she might have just touched puberty. So be patient with them and do not let them get frustrated or irritated with something.

                  
It is important that you get your kids interested and involved in sports activities to keep them fit and active all through their growing years and for the eons to come. Simply follow the above mentioned tips to understand what kind of sports will suit your kid and enroll him or her in it accordingly.

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