Catering kitchens, popular restaurants step up preparations to meet demand

Many catering kitchens and popular restaurants have intensified their preparations to meet the increased demand during Eid al-Adha holidays, local Arabic daily Arrayah, reported.A number of managers of such establishments stressed that many customers booked their services ahead of the Eid holidays for their gatherings including the breakfast on the first day of Eid. Some also booked full board meals to receive their friends and relatives coming back from Haj while philanthropists booked large number of meals made from rice, chicken, meat, vegetables and other desserts to be distributed to needy persons during Eid holidays.They also stressed that the rates for the service have remained stable for many years. A full board dinner ranges from QR400 to QR500. They noted that most customers prefer to buy the sheep and give it to the catering kitchen after slaughtering, but some old customers still opt to assign the whole process to the kitchen.Besides catering for family and friends' parties, the food outlets also provide their customers with single meals made mainly of rice, chicken, meat or fish that range in prices from QR25 and up to QR35.Salim Bilal said his catering kitchen received an excellent number of orders for the first two days of Eid. Most of these orders came from old customers and those preparing for reception parties for their relatives and friends coming from Haj. Regarding the type of sheep, the materials and ingredients used for the food, he stressed that these are often determined by the customers according to their preferences, while some customers leave everything to the kitchen management out of trust.Mohamed Ali pointed out that his restaurant and its kitchens have been exerting huge efforts and working extra hours ahead of the Eid holidays and will continue do so until the Haj season is over, as many customers have placed special orders in preparation for celebrating the return of their loved ones from the pilgrimage.Ahmed Babekr stressed that his restaurant is working hard to deliver the orders of its customers while maintaining the health standard and quality of the food.