Danderma's Blog, page 120

Why don't you say Please?

We were having dinner at a burger place a while back, me and Bu Tootee, when near the end of our meal the friendly Philipina waitress comes to our table asking us if everything was all right and if we needed anything else. We said we are fine, thank you, when she replied "We were just talking about you!"

Confused, we asked her what did she mean? She said that she and the other staff members were talking about us, how we were very kind and nice because we kept smiling and saying please and thank you. She also said that, sadly, not many people are as polite and not many are saying thank you. Some were even downright rude to them, barking orders at them.

We felt so sad. There are two words: Please and Thank You -technically 3 words- than can be used to show your appreciation to people who are providing you with a service. Why is it that you find no problem saying please and thank you when you are in London or America while in Kuwait you act like the emperors of the universe? Is it because they talk back to you? Will give you an earful abroad if you don't say it?

Come to think about it when I was flying back home there was a family with an 8 year old boy who kept screaming at the air steward to "You bring me water BRING ME WATER". Needless to say he didn't get that water. He thought himself to be back at home screaming for Mary to get him water and poor Mary obeying him.

Be humane, be curtios, and try saying please and thank you for those who are not as fortunate as you to be born with money. I have no respect for people who, when out in restaurants or even talking to their help on the phone, bark orders like they own these people. Like they are so beneath them they don't deserve to be acknowledged for their services. Who the hell do you think you are? Zero respect. Zilch.

If you are of the latter type of people, please reconsider saying please and thank you. It will not kill you. Throw in a "have a nice day/evening/night" too and see how will they treat you the next time you are around.

Have a nice day. Thank you.

Review: Munch, The Village

Last week I got a message from Dana Al-Salem, one of the owners of Munch Kuwait informing me that Munch's second branch located in The Village is now opened. I went there on the first or the second day of its soft opening and the place was packed masha2 Allah even though it wasn't a weekend night.

We had such a great time last week on our first visit that we decided to visit again yesterday after we realized that there is no storm coming. This time however The Village, which is the IT place to see and be seen in Kuwait now adays, was almost deserted!  We were guessing its the cold weather and the storm warning in the exam season. We took a table outside right away.

It was very cold outside, almost freezing, yet the lovely pyramid heater provided warmth. It also provided an acceptable source of lighting for picture taking. The first time I was at Munch I tried to take some pictures but the lighting conditions weren't so great.

Even thought we were given a soft opening menu there were plenty to choose from. We ordered the mozzarella sticks for appetizers. I liked those a lot.

For drinks I ordered the Cirtus Refresher while Bu Tootee ordered the detox one. We both enjoyed our drinks very much. They are also so big they seem bottomless! You drink and drink and it just won't finish!

Last time Bu Tootee tried the slider burgers for main dish and loved them. This time we both ordered pastas: mine a Penne Arabiatta and his a Farfalle with Bolognais sauce.

Then it was time for desserts. First we ordered the Nuttella Crepe with strawberries and bananas. 

We also ordered the Chocolate Bread Pudding which is to-die-for! We came back because of this bread pudding

The bread pudding comes in an individual portion with a side of chocolate sauce to pour over the gooey baked chocolate soaked bread and make it even gooeyer! It is really REALLY good!

I also ordered a cappucino which was really good. All frothy and yummy!

Bu Tootee ordered the hot chocolate with marshmallows which was a surprise on its own! It comes in 3 cups.

One cup of frothy hot milk, one cup of chocolate flakes, and one cup of mini marshmallows. You mix and match to get your cup of hot chocolate which is so much fun.

How does it taste? Perfect! You don't even need to add sugar!

I have to say that even though we were freezing cold we enjoyed every bite of our naughty dinner. Munch have really come a long way since their opening in Dar Al-Awadhi. I remember not liking their food but things are definitely different and much better now.

Where is Munch 2? The Village, Abu Al-Hasani.

What to order? Vegetable root chips, Mozzarella Sticks, and The Nachos n Corn Salad for appetizers. Sliders or Penne Arabiatta for Main Course. Chocolate Bread Pudding for dessert. Hot Chocolate, Iced Coffee, or Cappucino for a caffeine fix.

More information? Check out Munch's blog (link) or facebook page (link) or check their website (link).

Good Saturday Morning…

Its freezing! Even though the arrival of the storm prediction wasn't very accurate we still ended up with almost freezing weather! Shino hatha!

Today is a day for the following: Besht (check), Chai o 7aleeb emhayyal (check), something to keep us warm and we huddle beside (dafaya, check), and Qaymar (Alban dairy's, check). I am planning on having a good and warming Kuwaiti style breakfast of bread, qaymar (clotted cream), and 3asal (honey) with chai o 7leeb emhayyal (cardamom infused milk). As a matter of fact I cannot wait for the morning to arrive so I can taste the famous Alban Dairy's qaymar that everyone has been talking about!

Sounds like a plan to me. What about you? What are your plans for this chilly morning?

Waiting out the storm with a BBQ

They said that there is a very big storm coming to Kuwait on Friday. That meant we were stuck at home during a weekend day! Instead of being bored out of our minds we decided to light up a few coals, get our BBQ gear, and make some lunch

While cooking I thought to myself why not and make an entire post out of this using my iPhone camera only? So I whipped my iPhone and started taking pictures and instagramming Lets see what we had on the menu. Grilled veggies.

Frozen Corn.

Sweet Potato and good old potatos.

We also had mini sliders and hot dogs. The hot dogs didn't survive until being photographed for they have been consumed while Bu Tootee was standing on the grill.

Surprise of all surprises, its 4:18 PM now and there is NO STORM! I'd say we've used the weekend time well though. If until 6 there is still no storm and we doubt there will be, then it would be time to go out and enjoy the gorgeous weather!

Please Welcome My New Sponsors: Event Mania

Please join me in welcoming Event Mania as my newest blog sponsors.

Event Mania is an event management company specializing in bringing live events to the region. They are going to bring the amazing "Sesame Street Live: Elmo Makes Music" show to Kuwait on January 26th till January 28th where monsters will be seen playing music! The fun & furry musicians from Sesame Street will arrive in Kuwait City to entertain children of all ages!

Tickets for the event go on sale on the 10th of January and are available at select VIVA outlets. For more information about the pricing, ticking, and availability please click (here).

Event Mania, welcome to my blog

Shino '3adakom Elyoom?

Thursday is here and the weekend is about to start! Surprisingly it is still cold outside, almost too cold to sit outdoors! What are your plans for lunch? Eating in the office? Bel zwara? At home? Skipping lunch? Plaza el9all7iya?

Well for once I am writing this post after I've had my lunch. It was kinda lonely: a falafel sandwich alone in my cubicle at work. But then it was a falafel sandwich, my most favorite sandwich of all times!

Have we had this discussion before? That I adore falafel sandwiches especially if they are in a cloud soft round pita bread? Drenched with tangy Tahina sauce that drips on your face while you bite into the pita? The crunch of cucumbers as you chew against the softness of the bread and the smoothness of the tahina is one experience that makes my veins throb with happiness. Mmmm.

So shino '3adakom elyoom?

Announcement: Gloria Jeans Coffee Making Course and Competition

Remember my Coffee post yesterday when I said I was setting the mood for an announcement (post)?

As part of my new year's resolutions since 2011 was attending a coffee course that I've learned about in Dubai. It was a course held on Saturday for a few hours where you learn about proper coffee making. More of a crash course.

At the beginning of this year I was contacted by Gloria Jean's Coffee Company offering me a proper coffee making course! Five days long, one hour per session where I learn all about coffee from the beginning. How awesome is that? Needless to say I lunged at the opportunity and I, Danderma the coffee-holic, am going to be learning all about coffee starting next Sunday

Now this is going to be fun for both me and you, my dear readers! First, every day after my course I will post about it PLUS post about a question for a grand quiz. Interested readers will answer that question. Five days and five questions later I will be having a "graduation" day where I will be able to invite people to and prepare them their drinks myself!!! Of course then I will be a trained coffee maker! Plus, the winner of the quiz will be announced then

Thank you Gloria Jeans coffee for such a unique opportunity! We need to have more similar courses and activities here in Kuwait! Can't wait for Sunday to arrive now.

Stay tuned my dear readers. Coffee-holics, you are in for a coffee filled ride! Keep an eye on my blog or on Gloria Jean's Facebook page (link) and see

What is going on?

I was trying to read something in Wikipedia when all of a sudden this black page comes on and won't budge! What legislation? What happened? I thought the politic turmoil was concentrated in the Middle East? Has it reached the USA and effecting the internet?!

I am already imagining life with limited internet and I am panicking! What is going on? I don't want to read on and on of political rubbish. If you can explain it simply to me please do. Should we do something? If it is a US legislation thing can our voices be heard? If not then it is totally unfair for our voices to be cast away when when a decision like that is going to effect every single human being using the internet on the planet!

Bel Q8y elfa9e7: Shel Salfa? Tra mo nag9een!

I won in the Blog@ Alderwaza Competition!

I WON! I Won I won I won!

I came #11 out of 15 in the best logo/icon design! Not bad considering I am the designer of my own logo (3eshtaw)! Maybe I should pursue my hidden talent of design?  I think the number 11 is growing on me… after all who doesn't want to be number 11 twice :p

Congratulations to all the winners (see them here)! And congratulations to me :p I will be getting my very own tab in the next Blog@ app update, kashkha! Thank you Al Derwaza for that in advance! And thank you to everyone who voted for me, much obliged

Thing 2 Do in London: One New Change

There is a brand new mall in London called One New Change! It is more of a small shopping arcade than a mall and not as big as Westfield. But it is worth visiting for three things…

The first reason is that its not yet well known and therefore not very crowded. I went there on the boxing day and I shopped the discounted two story Top Shop and discounted All Saints huge shop very comfortably. I think I bought two shoes from Office and Kurt Geieger as well.

The second reason is that it has two new restaurants of Britian's Most famous Chef's: Gordon Ramsey's Bread St. Kitchen and Jamie Oliver's Barbecoa. My heart was set on having lunch in The Kitchen that day but it was closed Next time insha2 Allah.

Also Bea's of Bloomsbury Tea House is there! I posted about their English Tea last year (post). I went by to have some tea but also it was closed because of boxing day So I explored my third reason. Other restaurant include Zizzi and Byron, Kuwaiti's latest habba hamburger place.

The third reason is the view. You see One New Change is right across London's St. Paul Cathedral. It was built with a terrace on the 6th floor from which you can watch a spectacular view of London.

We went up to the roof terrace. The cafe had it been open would have been a great place to have a light lunch or an afternoon tea because of the amazing view. Again it was closed but the terrace wasn't and it was very busy!

I reckon the night time view would be even more beautiful.

I liked the open very modern shopping center very much indeed. I must go back on normal non holiday days! If you want to escape the routine London locations and our fellow travellers, One New Change is the place for you.

For more information on One New Change and its location you can check their website (link) their facebook page (link) or follow them on twitter (@One_New_Change).