Bond Over Qatari Cuisine: 3 Ideas for Memorable Family Meals in Doha
For families, one of the easiest and most leisurely ways to spend quality time is to gather around a table to share a meal.
It's the most natural thing in the world to sit down, fill your plate with food, and talk about your day while you eat. Mealtimes provide an opportunity for everyone to swap stories, crack a joke or two, and savor the heady aromas and delicious flavors of dishes prepared with love.
Of course, such a bonding experience over great food doesn't happen only inside the home.
Spend a day at one of Qatar's premier lifestyle destinations, Doha Festival City, and your shared dining experience can have an extra special twist: the tables at these restaurants in Doha will be laden with yummy Qatari specialties.
First Things First: What Is Qatari Cuisine?
The best way to describe Qatari cuisine is that it’s a continually evolving blend of influences from other countries such as Iran, North Africa, Lebanon and India. You may find Qatari curries, stews and grilled meat dishes similar to ones that are popular in the aforementioned countries, except different spices or vegetables may be used. Spices are key ingredients in Qatari dishes, with cardamom, saffron, cloves, loomi or dried lime, and cumin being the most widely used. When it comes to proteins, locally produced lamb, goat, sheep and camel are typically used, and the Arabian Gulf provides an abundance of seafood such as kan'ad (Spanish mackerel), safi fish (rabbitfish), hammour (grouper), rubiyan (tiger shrimp), shark and blue swimmer crab. And in addition to vegetables, fruits and herbs that are well-known worldwide, Qatari dishes also contain plenty of rice, dates and honey, and even truffles. Ready to dig in? Here are three ideas for spending quality bonding time with your family over fun activities and delectable Qatari meals at Doha Festival City. Shop and Refuel The best shopping malls are sure to have something that each family member may need or want, and Doha Festival City is no exception, so get ready for some store-hopping action. Mom may be eager to find some new decor for the living room, or a new dress (and matching shoes, of course) to wear to an upcoming party. Dad, on the other hand, may need to pick up a new briefcase for work, or perhaps a new watch. The kids, meanwhile, are likely to pull Mom and Dad towards toy stores and electronics shops for new video games, devices and other fun stuff. But not before being herded toward the department store to get new clothes (a significant amount of protesting and escape attempts may be expected). It may take all morning, but the shopping gets done, and now the family’s worked up an appetite. Head over to Diwaniyat Al Boukhari in the South Food Court at Doha Festival City for a filling family lunch. There’s a variety of cold appetizers to choose from, like hummus (mashed chickpeas with tahini), mutabal (grilled eggplant with tahini and yogurt), stuffed vine leaves, and all kinds of salads. Choose from rice dishes cooked with aromatic spices (bukhari, biryani or kabseh) and paired with grilled chicken, lamb, beef or shrimp. Enjoy the freshest seafood like hammour or kana'ad, fried or grilled and served with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and lemon. Shish tawook and shish kebab (chicken skewers) and kofta (meatballs) with garlic sauce and Turkish bread are wonderful options, too. Flicks and Feasts Catching the latest blockbusters is another excellent way for your family to bond during weekends. At Doha Festival City, VOX Cinemas offers a whopping 18 screens, plus you can take your pick from four different movie experiences: KIDS: A special kid-friendly cinema with brightly themed interiors, comfy and colorful seats, and only the top film picks for children MAX: A larger-than-life mega-screen movie viewing experience with two options: MAX Laser (with spacious seats, crisp 100% digital imagery thanks to laser projection on an 18.6 meter-wide screen, and Dolby Atmos surround sound) and MAX VIP (similar to MAX Laser, but with more luxurious leather seats and a 20 meter-wide screen) 4DX: An unforgettable movie experience with motion chairs, wind and water effects, and even a variety of scents THEATRE by Rhodes: An intimate cinema setting featuring an exclusive lounge, reclining leather seats, and call button-controlled in-cinema waiter service After the movie, the family can discuss the highlights of the film over a meal at Shater Abbas in the North Food Court. Top lunch picks here include fried shary or channet fish, mutton with machboos rice, okra curry, and an extensive list of barbecued meats like beef fillet, chicken fillet, kofta and kabab. Kids’ Playtime, Snacks and Desserts If you're planning a day of fun for the kids at Doha Festival City, these are some of the exciting options that will get the young ones raring to go: Angry Birds World: Toddlers, teens and parents alike will have the time of their life in this Angry Birds-themed park. There are flying, twisting and spinning rides to get your adrenaline pumping (Blast Bomb, Red Alert, Raft Battle and Super Slingshot are favorites) as well as 70+ exciting arcade games for every age, skill level and preference. Virtuocity: If high-tech gaming is more your family’s speed, check out Virtuocity. Choose from challenging escape rooms, VIP gaming rooms with top of the line PCs and consoles plus the latest releases, and V Cube, a highly advanced virtual reality gaming platform. Snow Dunes: Seeking relief from the heat? Snow Dunes Park gives the whole family a chance to frolic in the snow and enjoy the coolest rides and attractions. Try the Dune Dash slide, indoor wall climbing at Castle Climbing, or ice skating at Snow Ring, or take it easy at Snow Motion, a wintery version of the classic merry-go-round. After all the excitement, snacking is definitely in order. Karak Mqanes offers an assortment of sandwiches like falafel (chickpea or bean fritters) and keema (ground lamb or beef). You can also try desserts such as the luqaimat (deep-fried sweet dumpling made with yeast-leavened dough, date syrup and sesame seeds), saffron cake, honey cake, or baklava cheesecake. Don't miss ordering a cup of karak, a traditional Qatari tea made with black tea, milk, sugar and cardamom (much like the Indian chai, but without the ginger). And to round out your Qatari foodie experience, bring home a box or two of Qinwan dates — gourmet dates that are plain or chocolate-covered, and filled with nuts, dried fruits, or spices. Food and Family: A Perfect Combination There's nothing like a great meal to bring people together. Have a memorable, delightful and awesome family bonding experience at Doha Festival City’s restaurants, shops and entertainment venues today.