ARABIC DELIGHTS

A favourite when it comes to a quick escape from the city, Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara drew FACT’s Anushay Taimur Khan back for a lunch at Al Nahham. Considering how she loved visiting the island for a stay not so long ago, she was ready to have her expectations exceeded…

I t’s true. If you’ve been keeping up with my editorial journey, you’d know that the Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara has been my ideal getaway since the day I landed in the country, four years ago. This luxurious destination is my first choice whenever it comes to taking a quick break from the hustle of the city. The luxury starts from the moment you enter the port on the Corniche, and the people of the resort have certainly set standards really high.

Naturally, as I got the opportunity to try their lunch, I honestly couldn’t think of how the chef would surprise me. Al Nahham is a favourite in my household, given our true love for Arabic cuisine, and I was almost sure about what I was going to order when I went. Thankfully, I met the chef on the way and requested him to make me something that came highly recommended from his end. This was most likely the smartest move on my behalf that day. I was welcomed with their special Al Jallap drink, which cooled the summer heat right off and chose to sit indoors, with mesmerising views of the Doha skyline for afar. Since the restaurant comes with the option of dining outdoors as well, I was not ready to face the Doha summer on this particular day. I got the best of both worlds as I took the table right next to the windows and found myself captivated by the beauty of this resort.

My starters came in shortly and hence began one of the most pleasing surprise of my culinary expedition. Where I always stick to my trusted hummus and mutabbal, I kept coming back to my fried calamari with the lemon sauce and the salad this time around. It was so refreshing to eat the salad and set the right tone for this lunch, especially with the scorching heat, you just want to start light. I must add that the hummus did have a very nice, creamy flair, and I would still recommend you try it.

I ordered a pina colada, complementing the sunny views, and waited for my main course. When I was presented by a beautifully decorated trolley with lamb chops on it, served with several other side dishes. The presentation gets full points with this dish because I really do believe that this adds to the excitement of the meal. Given the excellent service of this restaurant, I was served the lamb chops, and with absolutely zero expectations, I dug in. Personally, I always prefer chicken dishes, I wasn’t expecting the chops to be this good. My knife smoothly sliced into the meat, I took the first bite and experienced the juicy, tender lamb, bathed with the most delicious spices that harmonise with your taste buds. I ‘Oh-My-God’ with every single bite and couldn’t help going for another helping – no way was I going to regret not trying another piece of this! Even though I was offered rice and vegetables to go with this, I didn’t even consider mixing my palate with anything else; the chops deserved some one-on-one time.

As for dessert, I was hoping to get some delicious Umm Ali that I love but, I was served with their Konafa Osmalieh and Ashta Bel Asal. This experience was all about the chef’s recommendations and that’s exactly what I went for. The konafa was a bit different than the one I usually have; it had a good balance of syrup which made all the difference. I was trying the Ashta Bel Asal for the first time and savoured the distinctive taste of the fresh Lebanese cream used in it.

Any eatery that can surprise me even after five visits comes highly recommended from my end. This fine dining restaurant is already famous for the luxury and views that it offers but the food will always steal the show here. Whether you’re dining under the stars, by the sea on their outdoor patio or if you choose to be in the comfort of the beautiful interiors, Al Nahham will always offer more than just exemplary food – and I’ll definitely be back. ✤