Hwang restaurant at InterContinental Doha

The City is offering cuisines from eight

pan-Asian countries. By Umer Nangiana

Looking for authentic East Asian flavours or seafood delicacies? You can now have them all under one roof, coming straight from the hands of experts in the business. The town’s newest addition to its diverse five-star dining options, the recently-opened Hwang restaurant at InterContinental Doha The City, is now offering cuisine from eight different pan-Asian countries.

In an Oriental setting, the restaurant serves a diverse menu of cuisines from Thailand, Korea, Japan, China, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. Hwang’s signature dish, however, is shabu-shabu which blends fresh ingredients with a variety of East Asian and Middle Eastern flavours.

“We are thrilled to bring a truly eclectic dining experience to Asian food lovers,” said Chris Jung, General Manager, InterContinental Doha The City.

“We are proud to be the first five-star hotel restaurant in Doha not only to serve the best of eight Asian country cuisines, but also to offer the unique shabu-shabu concept. It is perfect for sharing among table guests whether they be family, friends or business colleagues,” he added.

Originally designed by McNally Design International (MDI), Hwang is done in bright yet warm colours, ideally reflecting the Pan Asian theme. The main colours used are yellow and red, in addition to earthy tones of brown. The colours and lighting are used to create a sophisticated, yet casual Asian atmosphere.

At places, yellow is paired with red in place of gold. The ceilings of the restaurant, for instance, are partially gold plated. Semi-private dining rooms allow discrete and relaxed dinners and business meetings over an extraordinary meal. Chinese fences separate private dining areas.

Hwang means yellow, the colour of ‘nourishment’, which is also the theme of the entire setting. It follows an interesting philosophy in ancient Chinese culture. It is said that yellow generates Yin and Yang, meaning that yellow is the centre of everything, much in the same way that family is the centre of society. Following that philosophy, Hwang’s shabu-shabu is served family-style.

Shabu-shabu, or the Chinese hot pot, which is often referred to as the Asian version of fondue, is presented at Hwang with a variety of broths and dipping sauces, as well as meats, seafood, vegetables, rice and noodles.

Diners are guided through the experience with the expert advice of the chef as they prepare their meals in a hot pot at their table. First, a bowl of soup is placed before you on a stylish and compact stove. Then, you are served with fresh sea-food, all half-cooked, to prepare your own meal, with a chef ready at hand to guide you.

Now, using your chopsticks, pick up a shrimp or a slice of fish or even an edible octopus and dip it in the soup for less than a minute. It turns nicely crispy and juicy. For an added taste, dip it in sweet and sour sauces and you are about to have some of the best Asian food experiences.

Seated in one of the tables, you first, however, get to starters and there is a lot on offer in the menu. The must-haves, however, include an assorted satay platter, Thai-style shrimp salad and traditional spicy Korean jjamppong soup.

The Hwang a la carte menu features sushi and sashimi platters, as well as chilli crab Singaporean-style, gaeng phed yang (red curry with roast duck), nasigoreng and Osaka-style kake udon.

Created to perfectly pair with the food menu, Hwang features an array of signature cocktails and mocktails, as well as traditional Asian drinks. Diners will also enjoy uniquely blended teas to complement the cuisine from Hwang’s exclusive and Doha’s first tea sommelier.

All this and much more are prepared under the supervision of hotel’s head of food and beverages, Chef Randy Joung. “I am excited to present our authentic Asian cuisine to the people of Doha. I am sure you will love it,” a visibly excited Randy told a select gathering of journalists at the soft opening of the restaurant recently.

A native of South Korea, Chef Randy has carefully selected the menu, making sure that the best from each of the eight countries’ cuisine is included, with his own special touches to the dishes.

Chef Randy has assembled an all-Asian kitchen team at Hwang who share his passion for the culture and the cuisine. Located on the first floor of InterContinental Doha The City, Hwang is open for dinner from 6pm to 11pm, Sunday through Friday.