Against the backdrop of the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar – the fair’s first-ever Middle Eastern edition – Esquire Qatar gathered together a leading group of creatives to celebrate its latest cover with global cultural pioneer Swizz Beatz.
Hosted at La Mar Doha by Gastón Acurio at the 5-star InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa in the Qatari capital, guests including Fast & Furious’ Tyrese Gibson; former Esquire cover stars His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani, President, 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum; tastemaker JBR, and artist Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar; alongside leading creatives and public figures including Dana Alfardan, Abdulrahman AlMuftah, Maryam Al-Tajer, Hamad Al-Amari, and Jaber Al Malki.
bin Abdullah Al Thani
The alfresco dinner, set on La Mar’s serene terrace, offered stunning moonlit views over the Arabian Gulf and beach and featured a menu curated by Chef Frank Ponce that masterfully blended Peruvian flavours with creativity.
From Cebiche Clásico, Tiradito Tuna Dashi, King Crab Causa; Anticucho de Pulpo, and Conchitas La Mar, to Pescado Frito and Lomo Saltado, Chef Ponce celebrated the authentic and diverse flavours of Peruvian gastronomy, offering guests a tour through Peru’s incredible cultural diversity, including Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, and Andean influences. Desserts including Torta de Chocolate and a moreish Tres Leches capped things off, with the gastronomical journey proving a hit with guests.
Conversations ranged from the significant global impact of Art Basel Qatar to the success of Web Summit Qatar; a tech and business event happening concurrently. Throughout the evening, meaningful connections were made and collaborative cultural opportunities discussed.