For iftar last night, my brother made his famous Thai curry dish, followed by his delicious banana pudding! Layers and layers of goodness in a cup…
So much for losing weight this Ramadan season đ¤Ł
Tag: foodies
Quick Beef Ramen Noodle Bowl
Whipped up a quick homemade ramen bowl and loved it. Simple: sliced up leftover steak, chopped fresh garlic, tomatoes and some chilli flakes. Tossed them with some ramen noodles after they cooked like pasta for about 5-7 minutes and boom, dinner!
These noodles I got dry, easy to make and tastes amazing with almost anything I come up with. đđ¤¤
Foodie Farewell – a Snapchat Story
Flashback to two weeks ago when Kamal and myself (aka foodie royalty) got a magnificent send off! Can’t thank the team at Nisantasi Baskose and my foodie friends enough for this lovely, unforgettable afternoon.
Happy Eating peeps!
Top 10 Healthy Eats in Doha
Top 10 Healthy Eats in Doha
By: Ms. Hala Abdoun for BQ Plus via Zomato
Originally Published: February 2017
Publication Source:Â BQ-Magazine.com
A new year, a new beginning, a new you! Self-improvement is the top resolution many of us make when we flip a page to the new year. This includes staying positive, being active and eating right.
If you love the food scene in Doha but want to start a healthy eating habit, that kale leaf wonât cut it. The latest collection on Zomato, Healthy Eating, has the top go to spots with delicious, healthy eats. Hereâs the top ten rated healthy eats from the collection.
10. Crepeaway
Where: Al Muthanna Complex, Al Hilal
Rating: 3.5 / 5
Lowdown: If you have friends who arenât really attempting to eat healthy this year, this spot will have you all breaking bread in peace. With a healthy section in the menu listing calories, protein, fiber and carb count, you can chow down at Crepeaway guilt free.
9. Al Jazeera Cafe
Where: Building 4, Katara Cultural Village
Rating: 3.6 / 5
Lowdown: Conceptualized by the Al Jazeera network, you can start your day on the right track. Enjoy your meal with the latest news, interactive setting and beautiful ambiance. Try one of the fruit smoothies, herbal infused teas or grab a bite knowing youâre doing good by your body and global farms.
8. Dine Smart Restaurant
Where: Lulu Hypermarket, Barwa City
Rating: 3.6 / 5
Lowdown: We all love to eat while we shop! And Dine Smart wants you to eat smart while you shop. Whether youâre craving Italian, Chinese, a sandwich or a simple salad, you can eat knowing you didnât ruin your New Yearâs resolution to keep it healthy and within budget.
7. Salad Boutique
Where: Aspire Park, Al Waab
Rating: 3.7 / 5
Lowdown: They arenât just famous for those large bowls of salads anymore. This will be good news for your anti-salad eating friends of yours craving risotto, pasta or even a burger. You can dine within the bright ambience, lounging in the oversized chairs indoors or dine under the stars in this cool winter weather.
6. Which Wich
Where: Medina Centrale, The Pearl-Qatar
Rating: 3.8 / 5
Lowdown: Where the self-proclaimed âsuperior sandwichesâ are made in the heart of The Pearl-Qatar. Grab a sandwich paper bag and like Aladdin, make wishes for the sandwich genies to grant on the spot. Feeling adventurous? Drop the bread and wish for a lettucewich.
5. Chefâs Garden
Where: Marwan Club, Education City
Rating: 3.9 / 5
Lowdown: The horses in close distance, the greenery all around, the healthy dishes on the table. Where else can you get all three but the Chefâs Garden? Next to the Equestrian Club, you canât go wrong with the food or view as many of the foodies have raved about in their reviews.
4. Evergreen Organics
Where: Qanat Quartier, Pearl Qatar
Rating: 4.0 / 5
Lowdown: Co-founded by renowned Qatari foodie, Ghanim AlSulaiti, this vegan haven is all about eating and surrounding yourself with wholesome goodness. The very popular fresh pressed juices are now bottled up, so you can take a few on the go until your next visit.
3. Jones The Grocer
Where: The Gate, Dafna
Rating: 4.1 / 5
Lowdown: With a new healthy menu added to the original, itâs no wonder JTG has climbed up the ranks. Already a popular breakfast spot, this JTG branch is still a top favorite with a die-hard Doha foodie following.
2. Zaatar we Zeit
Where: Opposite Souq Waqif Art Center, Souq Waqif
Rating: 4.2 / 5
Lowdown: With many locations around Doha, the Souq branch tops the list for this popular Lebanese chain. This breakfast hot spot makes you feel all the good feels as you feast on a budget before shopping in the historic bazaar.
1. Meesh Me-Time Cafe
Where: Crowne Plaza Business Park, Najma
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Lowdown: The highest rated healthy eat in the collection is a spot with âme timeâ in its name. Itâs that kind of attitude thatâs captured the hearts of Dohaâs inhabitants. Canât go wrong with a cafe serving up all kinds of healthy goodness, from its fresh brewed coffee to its latest quick bites menu.
What are you waiting for? Download the Zomato app today and bookmark these restaurants to keep that healthy New Yearâs resolution going strong!
All images courtesy of BQ Plus Magazine unless otherwise noted.
International Comfort Food
International Comfort Food
By: Ms. Hala Abdoun for BQ Plus via Zomato
Originally Published for the January 2017 Issue
Publication Source: BQ-Magazine.com
Winter is here! A relatively warm winter but, this is the season we crave something to make us feel all warm and fuzzy. Itâs why they call it comfort food!
Letâs discover some of the worldâs favorite comfort foods and where to get a taste of it.
Spaghetti Carbonara â Italy
Canât start this list without the worldâs favorite dish, pasta! And the one Italians call to for comfort is spaghetti carbonara. Originating from Rome in the 20th century, this dish has comforted the masses as it has evolved in different parts of Italy and in different forms of pasta.
Sticking with the classics, the spaghetti dish is made with eggs, cheese, bacon and seasoned with black pepper to taste. You canât go wrong with a classic!
Slurp on some spaghetti carbonara at Lo Spaghetto in Al Saad.
Pho â Vietnam
Not only is pho the star of Vietnamese food, but itâs one of the most popular soup dishes in the world. Pho dates back to the 20th century and was introduced to the world through migration and tourism.
Pho consists of rice noodles, either chicken or beef, cooked in broth with a few herbs and seasonings. Itâs all the basics in one pot!
Try a bowl of pho at The Rice Room in The Gulf Mall.
Poutine â Canada
Ask any Canadian and theyâll tell you that poutine is what warms their soul. Originating in Quebec in the 1950s, the word âpoutineâ is French for âmessâ. Who knew messy can be so good? Canada did!
This messy street food quickly took over the nation with just three ingredients. Fried potatoes topped with cheese curds and gravy. Thatâs it!
Get messy with platter of poutine at Lord of the Wings at The Pearl-Qatar.
Pav Bhaji â India
Some say dosas, others say choles, we say, âcan we have them all?â Indian cuisine is so beautifully diverse, we canât pick just one. However, pav bhaji was the dish that stood out from almost every corner of India.
Potato based vegetable stew, all mashed together with fragrant spices and served with light, fluffy buns.
Get yourself some finger licking pav bhaji at Saravanaa Bhavan in Al Ghanim.
Koshary â Egypt
Talk about making something out of nothing! In the 19th century, whatever was leftover in the pantry at the end of the month, got all mixed together to make room for the new. And from there, koshary was born.
Today, itâs the ultimate comfort food in Egypt, sold from street carts to five-star restaurants. It started with rice, lentils and pasta topped with spicy sauce, vinegar and crispy onions. It has since evolved to include chick peas, garlic and oil.
Grab a bowl of koshary at Layali Al Qahira in Souq Waqif.
Macaroni and Cheese â USA
Whoever came up with this baked dish, thank you! Of course, this isnât a historically American dish but it has become one over the last couple of centuries with the flood of immigrants altering their own favorite comfort foods.
With small pasta and a whole lot of cheddar cheese topped off with some bread crumbs and baked in the oven for about 15 minutes. The end result is crispiness on the outside and gooey goodness on the inside. This is why America is great!
Try a fishy take on the classic at Red Lobster in Fereej bin Mahmoud.
Kare Kare â Philippines
The thick stew of kare kare is another rendition of putting everything in one pot. Originating from Pampanga and spreading across the islands, kare kare is a stew like no other.
It starts with a base of stewed oxtail and can have anything from calf feet to leftover meat, and seafood to all kinds of vegetables. Thickened with rice and topped with peanut sauce, this stew brings the essence of comfort in a bowl.
Try a bowl of kare kare at Maxâs Restaurant in Al Saad.
Harees â Qatar
Coming back to Qatar, many donât realize harees has history. This simple wheat dish dates back to the 10th century as documented in âThe Cooking Bookâ by Ibn Sayyar Al Warraq. Many even say thereâs evidence of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) eating harees.
Harees is not soup, it can fall between a stew and porridge. After simmering pre-soaked wheat in water, it can be made savory by adding meat before itâs strained and beaten to a thick consistency then seasoned to taste. Make it sweet by excluding the meat and season with cinnamon and sugar.
Discover the flavors of harees at Muglat Harees Al Waldah on Salwa Road.
All images courtesy of BQ Plus Magazine unless otherwise noted.
Ms. Hala 
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