Italian alfresco dining by the sea

La Veranda at Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel ‘matches Italy’s finest restaurants.’ By Anand HollaIn Doha, one might think, you can’t have your slice of Italy and eat it, too. At the La Veranda restaurant though, gorgeously set on the brink of the Corniche, you can have your slice of quintessential Italian alfresco dining ambience by the sea – so what if it’s Arabian and not Mediterranean – and eat a slice of delicious pizzas off wood-fired ovens, too.The recently revamped Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel houses top-of-the-line restaurants that are specialists in the cuisines they deal with such as Al Maskar, Al Hubara, Al Shaheen, Latino Steakhouse, and La Veranda. Authentic Italian cuisine inspired by everything from traditional home-cooked goodness to the gastronomic rewards of focusing on fresh produce, La Veranda packs in the kitchen favourites with flair and offers a fantastic sea view to boot.As an appetiser, the Melanzane alla parmigiana with its mix of eggplant, basil, tomato sauce, parmesan and mozzarella, for instance, works on many levels. With tender-to-the-bite gnocchi slathered in a rich white cheesy ensemble, Gnocchi ai quattro formaggi is a heaven-sent hug to the taste buds. Deep saffron notes and fresh burrata cheese stand out all through in the creamy Risotto allo zafferano that satisfies in terms of both quantity and substance. The star of the desserts section, Tiramisu tradizionale crumbles and melts in mouth to such gratifying sweetness that you might want to pen a poem in its praise.Among the other highlights in the menu are Tagliata di manzo (grilled rib eye served with rocket salad and cherry tomato), Galleto arrosto (roasted baby chicken served with grilled vegetables and potatoes), Grigliata di mare (seafood mixed grill of lobster, cuttlefish, king prawns and scallops, served with grilled vegetables and salmoriglio dressing), Porcini e tartufo pizza (mozzarella, porcini mushrooms and black truffle), and Ravioli di burrata (filled with burrata and served with lobster ragu).Italian cuisine in Doha is on a tremendous high – only last week, Ospitalita’ Italiana Diplomas, which follows procedures similar to those of being awarded a Michelin Star, were awarded to 11 Italian restaurants of Qatar for meeting the highest standards of food and service. In the face of such intense competition and Italian cuisine alternatives, how does La Veranda stand out from the rest?Head Chef Alessandro told Community, “The location of our restaurant, with the unique sea view and the beautiful ambience, the authentic wood oven pizzas, the use of fresh seasonal ingredients; these are some of the distinguishing factors.”One would have to agree. The terrific location is complemented by a menu that revels in sophisticated simplicity and authentic flavours, which is made only better by how light the food at La Veranda is on the stomach. “We want our guests to experience Italy in the heart of Doha, be it through the combination of authentic Italian flavours we offer or the warm ambience of our restaurant. We see to it that our guests leave the restaurant satisfied, peaceful and happy,” the Chef says.Understandably, great care is taken to ensure that the ingredients are of Italian origin and of high quality. “We focus on procuring Italian-origin ingredients and that the food is cooked by Italian chefs,” Alessandro says, “Also, we ensure that the preparation method of dishes follow the traditional way of Italian cooking.”Over time, La Veranda has enjoyed good word of mouth and it has become as much a favourite with many locals and expats as a dining place as it has for its business lunches and weekend brunches. Alessandro says, “For us, the best compliment has come from the guests who have travelled to Italy. They have congratulated us at La Veranda for exceeding their expectations and matching Italy’s finest restaurants.”