Ramadan at Crowne Plaza
By Anand Holla
There’s a distinct sense of warmth inside Ru’a Ballroom, the venue for Suhoor at Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park. The way the tables are arranged and the large light installation sets the place aglow with suffused radiance make for an intimate atmosphere to celebrate the traditions of Ramadan.
Unlike a lot of fancy Ramadan tents that have sprung across the city’s top hotels, these venues are marked by minimalism. There’s enough room to accommodate a decent crowd at both the Ru’a Ballroom for Suhoor and Aramede restaurant for Iftar and yet every table manages to find a special family-friendly ambience.
At Aramede, a dining theatre that embodies the traditional dishes from both the Middle East and Continental Europe with modern reinterpretation, the Iftar buffet offers both Oriental and international cuisines including speciality beverages and Arabic sweets. The Iftar is priced at QR195 and open from sunset until 8pm.
The star of the fare is clearly the Ouzi. The traditional Lamb Ouzi – a whole roast, well-marinated lamb served on a bed of orientally spiced rice – holds special significance for Ramadan as it is a communal dish, meant to be shared by families and communities as it is usually placed in the middle and everybody tucks into the same plate.
Ouzi requires the whole lamb to be extensively marinated so as to give it a succulent, juicy flavour. It is then roasted for around three hours before it is placed on top of spiced rice and served.
Just to ensure that you get to wash down the delicious food with the choicest of refreshing drinks as you break your fast, a Juice Man will be at your service, as he goes around the restaurant with his juice kit.
For Suhoor at the Ru’a Ballroom, there’s an exclusive ala carte menu featuring Arabic favourites – cold mezzeh such as Muhammara, Moutabel, Baba Ghanouj, Hummus, and hot dishes such as a nice twist on Soujouk — that will be offered until midnight. An Oud player keeps company over the course of the evening with his lilting tunes. The ballroom can also be booked for exclusive Suhoor for large groups. The Suhoor menu starts at QR145 and is open from 8pm to midnight.
Alternatively, if guests choose to stay in their rooms, Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park offers special in-room Suhoor menu ideal for quiet, private dining. For those who would like to break their fast at the comforts of their home or in exclusive venues, the hotel also caters for outside catering or at its function spaces.
“To make your Ramadan experience at Crowne Plaza Doha The Business Park more exciting, each guest dining for Iftar or Suhoor will have a chance to win business class tickets to any destination in Europe. Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park has the following partners: TransOrient Establishment, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Red Crescent. The hotel is partnering with Qatar Red Crescent for in-kind donation of Iftar boxes to the organization for people in need,” the Hotel says.
For reservations and more information, you can contact 4408-7777 or 4408-7788.
Meanwhile, Argan Restaurant at Al Jasra greets guests with vivid colours and an exuberant menu of delectable, traditional Moroccan dishes prepared by the most renowned chefs from Morocco. The Iftar features soups, Tajines, appetisers, sweets and tea with the Suoor menu.
In addition, Al Shurfa Arabic Lounge offers Suhoor meals on its outdoor terrace with sweeping views of Doha skyline on top of Al Jomrok Boutique Hotel. The menu serves a wide variety of international dishes and appetisers for its guests.
JUICE BREAK: The Juice Man goes around the restaurant at Crowne Plaza with his juice kit.
