Kai’s Songbird, a distinguished Nanyang Chinese dining experience, by Kai Mayfair, London’s coveted Michelin starred restaurant, has opened at the exclusive Corinthia Yacht Club in Porto Arabia at The Pearl-Island. Kai’s signature ‘liberated Nanyang’ cooking style has gained global reputation by combining authenticity with culinary ingenuity to create the gastronomical mark that defines the restaurant. Nanyang refers to China’s Southern Seas, a tropical region blessed with an incredible diversity of spices, cultures, and cooking techniques. The 'Liberated Chinese Cooking' experience represents the founders’ vision of being true to their heritage while simultaneously exploring innovative and artistic cooking expressions. Commenting on the occasion, Founder of Kai Mayfair and Kai’s Songbird, Bernard Yeoh, said: “Since its establishment, Kai Mayfair’s mission was to deliver an unparalleled culinary experience, which is influenced by my fondest childhood memories of cooking back home, and of the delicacies of the Nanyang region.” “Diversity is what forms the basis of the flavors that we grew up with” Yeoh added, “and essentially what we strive to maintain, but with the creative freedom and knowledge that we are not bound to follow tradition.” Bernard adds “What’s amazing about the Middle East, particularly Qatar, are the people — from every corner of the globe— that have gathered in Doha, each with their own story to tell, adventure to share, and ‘song’ to sing. Kai’s Songbird is a place where those stories are told – its interior creates an atmosphere and environment reminiscent of a beautiful, ever-evolving piece of music, where each element has its own intrinsic beauty that combines into a glorious symphony of light, color, sound, texture, scent, and flavor”. Kai’s Songbird menu highlights the heritage of Nanyang’s Chinese flavors and textures, providing a full-sensory experience of the restaurant’s majestic aura. Star items on the menu include the Salmon ‘Heritage Yee Sang’ – salmon with zucchini, deep fried carrots, crispy spring-roll pastry, pomelo, lemon leaf, peanuts, sesame, onion oil plum and peach dressing. To warm the soul, hot starters include a wide range such as the Wasabi Prawns mixed with mango and basil seeds, the Wagyu Wan-Tan Dumpling – a classic wan-tan dumpling filled with wagyu beef and foie gras served with an intense jus reduction, as well as the Nest of Imperial Jewels - a classic cos lettuce wrap with chopped chicken with oyster sauce as well as the iconic London’s Aromatic Crispy Duck. Guests can further indulge in the flavors from the South Asian communities of the Asian tropical islands, such as a delicate infusion of turmeric and coconut, or the Japanese Wagyu ‘Grade A-5’ coupled with three types of garlic. The meats section ranges from roast lamb chops marinated with a wet rub of ginger and coriander paste, to a succulent ‘Slow Cooked Short Rib with Bao Buns’ with rich, intense beef jus, ribbons of leek, pickles of cucumber, radish, and carrots, and even the classic Nanyang Chicken and Cashew mixed with dried chilies and ginger. Fish and shellfish dishes include Whole ‘Cumi Cumi’ Calamari Roasted in Banana Leaf - topped with finely chopped roasted garlic and glazed with a thick, smoky, sweet soy and finished with grated lime zest. If you’re still convinced that fairy tales don’t exist, you may change your mind when you discover that ‘Chocolate Does Grow on Trees’, especially when they’re made out of a Valrhona chocolate fondant, sesame macaroon ‘caps’, hazelnuts, praline ice-cream, and chestnut paste. Creative freedom extends beyond the flavorful menu of Kai. It is embedded within the interior design of the restaurant itself, creating an unimaginable visual, audio, and sensory experience that will leave guests charmed, fascinated, and in pure awe. From the moment they walk in, guests are greeted with a rich yet delicate symphony of a songbird’s tune, mingling with the lingering smell of green apples stacked from floor to ceiling. Every step moving through a corridor demands one to be nothing but mesmerized, escorted by an open, soul-enriching view of Porto Arabia through the floor-to-ceiling expansive windows. The end of the corridor breaks into a realm where the glittering Arabian sea meets a mystical and timeless setting inspired by Mayfair’s lush gardens and charming glass conservatories of London, imbued with crystal birds and raindrops hanging from the ceiling, diffracting sunlight into sparkles of color, glistening off the walls. Every glance will have guests enchanted. With a climate controlled outdoor terrace accompanied by a breathtaking view of the coastal marina and smell of fresh flowers, guests can enjoy the magical offering of Kai’s Songbird independent of seasons or weather. Matthew Dixon, Managing Director of Corinthia Hotels and Corinthia Yacht Club also said: “We are proud to be home for one of London’s flagships fine-dining restaurants, which is a favorite amongst Qatar’s community.” “To host KAI’s first international restaurant reflects our commitment in unlocking new horizons of luxury in Qatar and the region. We are bringing only the best of hospitality, service, and dining, and we look forward to welcoming diners to Corinthia Yacht Club to experience the magnificence of Kai’s Songbird”, concluded Mathew Dixon. Luis Santos, General Manager of KAI’s Songbird commented, “Qatar is known to host some of the most spectacular fine-dining experiences. With the opening of Kai’s Songbird, we are committed to delivering an exceptional level of service that will not only shake Qatar’s gastronomical scene but also provide guests with an astounding experience at one of the most exclusive private clubs in Qatar”. Doha’s Kai’s Songbird is located on the ground floor of Qatar’s most exclusive address, the Corinthia Yacht Club, providing an exceptionally elevated space to experience innovative and artistic gastronomical expressions in a magical setting located on the beautiful waters of The Pearl-Qatar. For more information: Claire Wilson Director of Marketing & Communications, Corinthia Doha Tel: +974-4040-3951 | +974-3160-5094 Email: claire.wilson@corinthia.com About Kai: Kai Mayfair first opened its door in 1993 by founders Bernard and Eileen Yeoh. Hosted in Qatar’s first and ultimate luxury yacht club, Kai’s Songbird will be the first international restaurant of Kai Mayfair. The purpose of the partnership reflects UDC’s commitment and Corinthia’s mission of “unlocking new horizons of luxury” in Qatar and the region – bringing only the best of hospitality, service, and dining. Kai Mayfair’s culinary ingenuity has led the restaurant to retain a Michelin Star ever since it was awarded in 2009. It was also rated as the Highest Ranked Chinese Restaurant by The Sunday Times under Britain’s Top 100 Restaurants, twice, and was awarded the Best Chinese Restaurant in London by Harden’s Restaurant Guide. Featuring a menu curated just for Qatar, Kai’s Songbird will maintain the brand’s opulent Chinese “Liberated Nanyang” cooking style, while delivering a new take on Chinese Cuisine that is unique to both Mayfair and Doha alike. Complementing the curated menu, Kai’s Songbird is nestled within a secret-garden like environment that is inspired by the lush parks and gardens of Mayfair, and the greenery of glass-conservatories that is enjoyed by Londoners all year round, independent of seasons and weather. The stunning glass-fronted restaurant is embedded with aesthetics which evoke the natural beauty of a conservatory. Here, light lunches and relaxed, yet sophisticated, dinners are enjoyed against the soft chatter of conversation and the scent of herbs, creating a balance of sensory joy and moments to savor. Additionally, the interior design is balanced with beautiful art installations that reflect Chinese culture through an opulent lens. ABOUT CORINTHIA HOTELS About Corinthia Hotels Corinthia is a growing family of luxury hotels, founded in Malta in 1962 by the Pisani family. The company has grown over the years into a multinational investor, developer and operator of hotels and real estate. Corinthia Hotels is a member of Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) which brings together a unique collection of independent hospitality brands with GHA DISCOVERY, a multi-brand loyalty program leveraging a shared technology platform. Through membership in GHA, brands expand their global reach, drive incremental revenue, and reduce dependence on third-party channels, all while maintaining management independence and individual positioning. Corinthia Hotels portfolio includes award-winning hotels in cities such as London, Budapest, Lisbon, St. Petersburg, and the Island of Malta. Current developments underway in various stages of design and construction include landmark, trophy hotels in Rome, New York, Brussels, Bucharest, Doha, and a new resort in Malta. For more information visit www.corinthia.com ABOUT UNITED DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (UDC) United Development Company (UDC) is a leading Qatari public shareholding company with a strategy designed around identifying and investing in long-term projects contributing to Qatar’s growth and providing shareholder value. Established in 1999, the Company was first listed on the Qatar Exchange in June 2003. It has an authorized share capital of QR 3.5 billion and total assets of QR 20.4 billion as of 30 September 2022. UDC activities cover a multitude of vital investment sectors including real estate development, property management, infrastructure and utilities, district cooling, maritime and hospitality related businesses. UDC’s flagship project is The Pearl Island, an urban mixed-use, man-made island and one of the largest real estate developments in the Gulf. UDC is also in the process of developing Gewan Island located adjacent to The Pearl Island, into the Company’s latest world class residential, commercial and entertainment project. This development has the potential of becoming a magnificent destination that will maintain UDC’s future growth.