An Exclusive Invitation to Rawche Lounge
@City Centre Rotana Doha
𝐑𝐚𝐰𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞, which debuted with considerable fanfare the previous week, is unrecognisable from its predecessor, Sama Lounge. A spacious area opens to the picturesque leisure pool, providing a relaxed environment to enjoy sips and bites. Glass-fronted cabanas offer seclusion for the misanthropic. A newly created upper deck is adorned with open plan cabanas that provide luxurious views of the coiffured arena below, with sail canopies covering the pool's Baywatch curves. Live entertainment emerges at 7.30 p.m. to spin tunes and enhance the vacation feel. Hookahs are also available for individuals who wish to smoke shisha.
Kitchen demonstrations revealed numerous trade secrets, which I can't share here because I had to sign an NDA (j), but it's amazing what you can do with a QAR10000 blender, lemon salt, and fresh chickpeas. My cupboards will never again contain canned legumes! The time was highly educational, as we were guided through many commercial culinary nuances in preparing humble ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑠, 𝑠𝑜𝑓𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑛 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑠 and 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑡-𝑡𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑠ℎ, all of which meant preserving quality while producing quantity. 𝐑𝐚𝐰𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 has introduced for the first time a Lebanese culinary workshop that offers exclusive behind the scenes insights into the signature dishes, followed by an unforgettable lavish dinner with drinks.
Back on the forecourt, a procession of classic Lebanese dishes with a Rawche twist were presented: 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒ℎ (38r), 𝑓𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑜𝑢𝑠ℎ (38r), ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑠 𝑚𝑢ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑎 (28r), 𝑚𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑏𝑎𝑙 (28r), 𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑛𝑒ℎ 𝑏𝑒𝑙 𝑗𝑜𝑧 (27r), 𝑟𝑎𝑘𝑎𝑘𝑎𝑡 (28r), 𝑠𝑢𝑗𝑜𝑘 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑠 (34r), 𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢ℎ𝑎 𝑙𝑎ℎ𝑚𝑒 (28r), 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑎 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑛𝑒ℎ 𝑝𝑖𝑒 (28r), 𝑅𝑎𝑤𝑐ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑥𝑒𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙 (115r), 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑘𝑙𝑎𝑣𝑎, and 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ 𝑓𝑟𝑢𝑖𝑡. There was a lot for my meticulously selected tasting team to digest, but we did.
I could eulogise about the tangy gum tingling muhammara, the succulent chunks of shish taouk, or the crunchy curls of khubz resident in the crisp fattoush but don't take my word for it; take the guests.
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐿𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
"Kitchen demonstration was fascinating & unique"...." Really enjoyed the chefs time with us in the kitchen. That was a bonus."... "The kitchen tour was so fun and informative".
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑓𝑓
"Ambience was grand"... "The environment and ambience is very relaxing, elegantly decorated and inviting"... "We loved the new layout and decor! The atmosphere was amazing!"
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑜𝑑
"Freshly baked bread was fabulous"... "Walnut & red pepper muhammer was fab"... "The roll with spicy middle was great too."... "enjoyed the red wine and Arak"... "The food was divine. Varied, healthy in my opinion, which is a real plus."... "The mezza (hummus, tabbouleh, muttabel, etc.) was delicious, and the manakish and the creamy spinach-filled bread was delicious."
And a magnificent account from a respected writer and Middle Eastern food specialist of the group:
"So ... although I consider myself well seasoned in Lebanese cooking, the chef's insights and tricks were eye-opening. That chicken liver was a delicacy especially that am not usually a fan. The lahme beajin was out of this world. As per the dinner, while nothing disappointed, the on-point seasoning of the tabbouleh made it for me. That labne awarma manouche was a nice little surprise. The overall experience was delightful, from the great food down to the smiles of the waiters and the generosity of the place. Not to mention the great dessert bites that we got on the way out. It's the best incarnation of the Lebanese hospitality spirit. We'll definitely recommend Al Raouche restaurant to our entourage and come back with friends."
If you haven't tried 𝐑𝐚𝐰𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞 yet and are looking for high-quality Lebanese food in a beautiful environment, I recommend paying a visit and also trying the Lebanese wine!
It's worth noting that this is Doha's only outdoor Lebanese lounge, serving traditional Lebanese cuisine, enhanced beverages, and shisha while overlooking a pool, with private cabanas and an upper terrace for more private events.
Rawche Lounge is located on the seventh floor of City Centre Rotana.
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*The prices indicated are the a la carte price of each dish we tried.
** Video and images courtesy of City Centre Rotana Doha