Dining in Doha- Alain Ducasse’s Idam at Museum of Islamic Art

Idam, Alain Ducasse restaurant in DohaImport the world’s top design talents and top chef and what do you get? A destination restaurant inside a landmark museum that’s worth hopping on a plane to check out. At the end of 2012, Alain Ducasse opened Idam inside Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art, a waterfront landmark designed by architect IM Pei.

The restaurant—the first in the Middle East for the uber chef—is located on the museum’s top floor, and boasts an eye-catching design by Philippe Starck. Idam is also getting lots of buzz for its cuisine, prepared by chef Romain Meder, which reflects a fusion of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Think octopus with saffron-infused potatoes; Marinated bonito from the Arabian Gulf served with lemon and Gold caviar; the local catch with crunchy-creamy Egyptian rice cooked in La Chamba; and roasted blue lobster with “zaalouk” squash with stuffed squash blossom.

The best part of all? Following local tradition, there’s even camel meat on the menu, but the recipe’s been adapted with Ducasse’s sophisticated touch. (The braised meat is served with duck foie gras and black truffle sauce.) For more information, visit www.alain-ducasse.com/en/restaurant/idam.