Some of our favorite eats.....

One of the great delights of living abroad has been the exciting new foods and tastes! Susan and I enjoy the Arabic, Indian, Pakistani, and Turkish foods served throughout Qatar. The Turkish grill cusine is one of our favorites. They feature tasty grilled chicken, lamb, fish, shrimp, and also ground -meat kebabs.

A favorite fast food is Shawarma (Arabic: شاورما‎), which is thinly shaved chicken or other meat served over a bed of rice or in a flat bread wrap. The meat is skewered and flame-roasted on a vertical rotisserie spit, and may be grilled slowly for as long as a day. Chunks of fat within the meat ensure that the shawarma stays juicy. Mmmmmm! For my appetite, a regular sized shawarma won't do, and so I order a "Sarookh" (English: "Missle", Arabic: صاروخ ). That's kind'a like the equivalent of ordering a "Double-Double Animal Style" at your favorite In-and-Out Burger Drive-Thru back home in the States.  But instead of french fries and a milk shake, the side orders are more healthy choices including tabouli, fattoush, taboon bread, tomato and cucumber. Toppings include tahini, hummus, moutabel, and baba ghanouj.

Our favorite shawarma is at the  Marmara Istambul Restaurants scattered around town. Just as In-and-Out Burger offers drive-thru service, the Marmara shops feature similar drive-by service, but in a more chaotic middle eastern way! One must only drive by the store (in the middle of traffic) and honk ones car horn. Immediately a guy runs up to your window, takes your food order, and within minutes he's back to you with your freshly made food order.  Yumm!

As you can see in the photos, I have become a "regular customer" at the Marmara store in Al Sadd....now they let me into the kitchen! Susan and I feel that this would be a great entrepreneurial opportunity for fast food in the USA. It's definitely healthier and tastier than most. Enjoy!