The Next Time You Are in Qatar, Try Mexican Food From a Well-known Italian

Opera star Placido Domingo will officially open his modern Mexican cuisine restaurant Pampano at The Pearl-Qatar on 11 May 2010.

Domingo is a partner with celebrity chef Richard Sandoval in the Pampano restaurant which was first established in New York in 2003.

UDC, the master developers of The Pearl-Qatar, are delighted that the unique island location has been selected as the venue for the first Pampano restaurant in the Middle East. Hospitality Development Company (HDC), a wholly owned subsidiary of UDC, was instrumental in including Pampano in the exciting line up of first–class hospitality brands hand-picked for the island.

UDC Managing Director and President Mr. Khalil P Sholy said “Pampano’s presence on The Pearl-Qatar is further confirmation of the luxury destination’s growing profile internationally.

“We are of course honoured that Placido Domingo and Richard Sandoval have chosen The Pearl-Qatar for their first Middle Eastern restaurant. It’s a tribute not only to the way The Pearl-Qatar is realising the dream but also to Qatar as a progressive forward-thinking nation, that people of this calibre want to be part of the national vision,” said Mr. Sholy.

Sandoval and Domingo created Pampano, inspired by Mexico’s coastal recipes, translating classic dishes but giving them a modern, artistic flare. The restaurant offers exclusively modern Mexican seafood fare.

“Pampano is unlike any other restaurant to open in Doha. It has been a pleasure working with HDC in bringing it to The Pearl-Qatar and we are thrilled this is the home of our flagship restaurant in the Middle East,” said Mr. Sandoval.

The Pampano restaurant received a stellar review by the New York Times and was voted by Esquire Magazine as one of “The Best New Restaurants in America”.

The Doha menu is similar to the New York one in that it offers a selection of ceviches and Mexican appetizers, alongside an extensive range of entrees, including snapper with red and green salsa, red chilli marinated salmon and shrimp with pineapple and bell pepper salsa.

Operatic tenor Placido Domingo will be in Doha to perform an anthology of the Zarzuela at The Pearl-Qatar on 13 May. An audience of 3500 will see more than 120 performers and musicians involved in the production. The performance will be supported by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO), a member organization of Qatar Foundation.

About United Development Company (UDC):

Founded in 1999, United Development Company (UDC) has been listed on the Qatar Exchange since June 2003 and is one of Qatar’s leading private sector shareholding companies.

The United Development Company was established with the vision to identify and invest in long-term projects contributing to Qatar’s growth and providing lasting shareholder value.

UDC’s target areas of interest include: infrastructure and utilities, energy-intensive industries, hydrocarbon downstream manufacturing, real estate, urban development, maritime and environment-related businesses, hospitality, retail and fashion, information technology, media and communications, insurance and other services.

UDC has shown an ability to attract and partner with the highest quality of international talent, bringing outside expertise to bear on significant developments in Qatar and beyond. It has also demonstrated a successful model for synergistic growth, creating and operating a diverse portfolio of substantial businesses that leverage off one another and generate additional revenue streams in new markets.

UDC’s founders and current Board Members are among Qatar’s most successful investors and developers. Thousands of Qatari shareholders hold 75 percent of the total shares and the remaining 25 percent are held by other GCC and international investors.
About HDC:

Hospitality Development Company (HDC) is dedicated to establishing partnerships with first-class hospitality brands around the world and bringing them to The Pearl-Qatar. HDC is also developing high- end food and beverage, and resort outlets throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

HDC’s dedication to quality underlines UDC’s commitment to targeting projects that effectuate value-added investments, thus contributing to Qatar’s growth and ensuring continuous shareholder benefit. Through HDC’s ingenuity and resolve, The Pearl-Qatar will be home to a number of world-class restaurants and resorts in the coming years, accentuating the island as the Middle East’s most glamorous location.

The company carries the important strategic role of reinforcing UDC’s vision, establishing a benchmark in the creation and operation of a diverse portfolio of businesses.

In 2009, HDC opened Chocolate Bar and Burj Al Hamam at The Pearl-Qatar and Bistro 61 at Al Fardan Towers in Doha’s West Bay. A refined chocolate and confectionary for all age ranges in New York City, Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar was established in partnership with HDC in October 2009. Similarly, the upscale Lebanese restaurant, Burj Al Hamam,opened on the island in November 2009.

In 2010, HDC will bring to The Pearl-Qatar New York-based establishments, Pampano, a Latin American inspired restaurant created by Chef Richard Sandoval and Maestro Placido Domingo, and MEGU, which offers a refined approach to quality Japanese cuisine. Paris-based restaurant, Liza - which combines Levantine gastronomy with a French touch - and Tse Yang, a high-end, elegant Chinese restaurant will also open in 2010. La Tabkha, established in Beirut in 2003, will bring French-bistro Lebanese cuisine to The Island.

HDC has also facilitated a management agreement with Nikki Beach Hotels and Resorts EMEA, one of the world’s renowned names in lifestyle and entertainment, to bring the brand to The Pearl-Qatar.

Future HDC plans for the coming years include agreements to develop and operate a number of first-class boutique hotels on the island, alongside trendy beachside entertainment venues and a yacht club. Through HDC’s enterprise, UDC’s diverse portfolio and delivery of top-notch projects and partnerships will continue to progress with ambitious momentum.