Opera star and celeb chef open restaurant in Qatar

Placido Domingo [CR: Sean Gallup/Getty Images] and Richard Sandoval.

Legendary opera star Placido Domingo has partnered with celebrity chef Richard Sandoval to launch a modern Mexican seafood restaurant at The Pearl — Qatar.

Pampano, which opens today, is the sister restaurant of Pampano New York, which was established in 2003.

Commenting on the launch, Sandoval — who is patron chef of Dubai restaurant Maya, at Le Royal Meridien — explained: “Pampano is unlike any other restaurant to open in Doha.

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‘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.”

Khalil Sholy, managing director and president of The Pearl’s master developer UDC, added: “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.”

The Doha menu is similar to its New York namesake, offering a selection of ceviches and Mexican appetisers, alongside an extensive range of entrées, including snapper with red and green salsa, red chilli marinated salmon and shrimp with pineapple and bell pepper salsa.

Placido Domingo will be in Doha to perform an anthology of the Zarzuela at The Pearl — Qatar on May 13.

The performance will be supported by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO), with an audience of around 3500 expected.