It was not only scrumptious but exceptionally-big also. The signature dish from Turkey - Meter Kebab - has come to Doha after long-wait. Though it is served with full course starting from cold and hot mezes following Turkish traditions, it still compels the food-lovers to never hold their hands.
The rich culinary flavour from Turkey is here for the first time and that too from the world-renowned chain Adanali Hasan Kolcuoglu, established some 106 years ago. It represents (cent per cent) culinary culture of Turkey as they have hired a team of professional chefs from Turkey who can really make it.
The one metre-long meter kebab further bears the topping of barbecued lamb ribs, chicken and many more that enhances eating experience. If cooking is an art then meter kebab is not less than a piece of fine art. And John Ruskin once wrote: Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together. In this case, hands, heads and hearts of chefs.
The kebab has passed two tasting-trials. Before the official launch of Hasan Kolcuoglu, its scrupulous managers decided to pass the chefs through tasting exams set with strict standards. In the first such test, around 35 Qatari families passed the taste while Atilla, a Turkish expat, who was present in the second tasting dinner on Monday night, termed the food a “market changer”.
Atilla, a banker by profession, was excited over the imminent opening of the eatery. “This restaurant will bring real Turkish cuisine to Qatar. I will say it will be a “game changer” in Qatar’s restaurants’ market.” Atilla’s praise of food was not less than a verification-stamp but his fiancée Dominique, a German girl, also termed the experience as “AMAZING”.
Dominique further said: “I must say that it is a must-visit restaurant.” Apart from pleasures of food presentation and tastes, the restaurant offers a visual feast to eaters with its interior decor that reflects Turkish art and traditions. “Everything from wall-tiles to table-marble has been imported from Turkey,” told Waqas Hussain, General Manager, Golden Dragon Group of Restaurants, to The Peninsula.
The man behind the meter: Waqas Hussain says he had to go through hectic efforts to convince the Turkish brand to come to Doha. “We are expecting official launch within next 10 days. Before formal mega inauguration, we will opt for a soft launch to make quality and services impeccable.”
Apart from The Pearl-Qatar, Hasan Kolcuoglu’s second outlet with same signature dish - meter kebab - is being opened at Mall of Qatar next month. Both the eateries are being run by Golden Dragon Group of Restaurants. “Our distinction over other Turkish restaurants is our belief and practice in genuineness. It will offer the real Turkish culinary experience as all the cooks are from Turkey having decades-old experience,” Waqas claimed.
Meter kebab is definitely the first attraction but not last at the restaurant. From mevisim salad to sarma beyti; kuru cacik to pancarli; kopeoglu to incir tatlisi and lahmacun to etli pide; every dish representing Turkish cuisine is there. If you can measure the kebab in inches, feet and meters then its taste can be measured only in kilometers.
