Danderma's Blog, page 30

Al Maktoum Airport Inauguration Trip With Jazeera Airways

I was contacted by Ben Sirri PR on behalf of Jazeera Airways to be on board the very first flight to arrive at Dubai’s newest airport and to attend Al Maktoum Airport’s inauguration ceremony. The flight was scheduled for 7:15 A.M. on Sunday 27 October 2013 which meant we were supposed to be at Kuwait International Airport at 6 A.M. -and wake up at 5 A.M.!-. When we arrived at the airport we went through the speediest check in ever, given that the ladies of Ben Sirri PR had our boarding passes ready and all that had to be done is to hand them over to us at the departures entrance. 

It was fun waiting to board the plane while seeing the many friendly -and sleepy- faces of our fellow bloggers and social media figures waiting with bubbling happiness to board the plane and chatting away.

Almost all my travels to Dubai were on board Jazeera Airways. I’d order online in advance and get great prices and their flight schedule meant I could go to Dubai in the morning and come back to Kuwait at night on the same day. Now with Al Maktoum Airport Jazeera Airways will be offering two extra flights every Thursday and Saturday which means more seats and less prices for Dubai weekends.

We took our seats and were served drinks and handed meals menus. When Aljazeera first started passengers bought their meals or beverages on board and paid for them on the spot but now you can choose whatever you want from the menu for free. Coffee, tea, and chocolates were in very high demand through the flight.

Up up we go! Beautiful Kuwait in the early morning below.

The clouds over Kuwait were gorgeous! Like endless fields of cotton! I want a cloud of my own to take home and live on.

The flight was jolly, filled with excited chatter. Jazeera Airways CEO Mr. Marwan Boodai passed by each and every passenger for a chat and to ask if we’ve flown with Jazeera Airways before and what more do we wish Jazeera Airways had offered. It was a nice gesture to personally greet each and every passenger on board from by the CEO.

One hour twenty minutes of smooth sailing in the air later and we were in Dubai landing at Al Maktoum Airport. Dubai’s newest airport is located near Dubai World Center, 40 KM away from Dubai’s International Airport. If you are staying in Jumeira the new airport is much nearer to Jumeira and Jabal Ali areas of Dubai which means less airport commute time.

As the first passengers to arrive at the airport ever the jolly airport staff welcomed us with big smiles and roses while we went through the security checks. We felt happy in their pride and joy.

The Al Maktoum Airport wasn’t very big, something we were thankful for because it meant the trip from the security check to the arrivals gate took mere minutes and didn’t involve much walking which in turn means you get out of the airport quicker. Time is usually of essence when you are travelling for the weekend only.

The current Al Maktoum airport we landed in is actually the first phase of the airport. Like everything else in Dubai the current Al Maktoum Airport is meant to expand and become the biggest airport in world, with five runways and 160 million passengers per year capacity.

We made our way to the main entrance of the airport where a red carpet was laid out for the arrival of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE and the rules of Dubai. The media frenzy was quite organised around the red carpets and little school girls were all dressed up in the national dress and gold jewellery waiting to perform a song at the ceremony.

A pretty little girl was distributing Patchi chocolates, check our her traditional henna!

Before we boarded the plane we were handed a schedule of the ceremony and right to the schedule the ceremony had began with the arrival of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum escorted by government and airport officials. Sheikh Mohammed stopped for a moment to chat with the little girls who were lined up in front of us.

Sheikh Mohammed unveiled a ceremonial plaque and signed it to commemorating the inauguration of the Al Maktoum Airport.

The ceremony continued with a quick paced airport tour, which saw people and reporters going through security check and passport control in a haste with no checks whatsoever. Something that you don’t see everyday really.

Out to the runway a bright fuchsia airplane had landed and was being sprayed by water. I wonder why planes are sprayed with water once they arrive for the first time to an airport, where did the tradition stem from? I plan to Google it soon.

There was also a press conference where different media reporters had asked questions, lots of them. Once the press conference was over we got our boarding passes home and were quite literally the only passengers roaming the brand new departure lounge. It felt both nice and weird at the same time.

Of course we had to do a bit of shopping! It was a bit heart-wrenching to actually arrive at Dubai and not be able to visit Dubai, or have a drive down Jumeira road, or dine at Wafi Gourmet which I began craving badly. The Duty Free was basic but quite limited, I like the duty free of Dubai’s International Airport much better but I did manage to get myself a DVD and plenty of chocolates.

We were also starving and my fellow bloggers all got lunch from McDonalds while they waited to board the plane back home. I got me some Cadbury Flake and a Mcdonalds vanilla ice cream cone and voila a 99 was created in Al Maktoum Airport in Dubai, UAE!

We boarded the plane an hour later than scheduled, around 2 P.M. UAE time.

Then it was time to leave back home. The quickest trip ever!

My brand new passport with the new airport’s stamps being the first stamps to graze my passport pages! The date is 27 October 2013, a memorial day for sure!

As we began moving down the runway we did get our own water sprayed on the airplane! It was so much fun, like being in a car wash but on a bigger scale, more like a plane wash!

Bye bye lovely Dubai! Congratulations, we wish you all the best towards a prosperous future.

The plane ride back home was filled with friendly yet sleepy chatter and some more coffee, tea, and chocolates.

The next Jazeera Airways flight to arrive at Al Maktoum Airport is scheduled for 31 October which is next Thursday and if you are planning on spending most of your weekend in Jumeira I suggest you arrive at Al Maktoum Airport. For more information regarding Jazeera Airways flights or to book your next flight online you can check their website (link), give them a call on +(965)-177, follow them on Twitter (@JazeeraAirways) or on instagram (@JazeeraAirways).

I’d also like to thank Mr. Marwan Boodai, all the Jazeera Airways flight crew, and Jazeera Airways for the lovely flight and for choosing my blog for the trip. Thank you Ben Sirri PR for all the effort you’ve put into organising this trip, I’ve never been on such a smooth and punctual trip before.

Al Maktoom Airport Inauguration Trip With Jazeera Airways

I was contacted by Ben Sirri PR on behalf of Jazeera Airways to be on board the very first flight to arrive at Dubai’s newest airport and to attend Al Maktoom Airport’s inauguration ceremony. The flight was scheduled for 7:15 A.M. on Sunday 27 October 2013 which meant we were supposed to be at Kuwait International Airport at 6 A.M. -and wake up at 5 A.M.!-. When we arrived at the airport we went through the speediest check in ever, given that the ladies of Ben Sirri PR had our boarding passes ready and all that had to be done is to hand them over to us at the departures entrance. 

It was fun waiting to board the plane while seeing the many friendly -and sleepy- faces of our fellow bloggers and social media figures waiting with bubbling happiness to board the plane and chatting away.

Almost all my travels to Dubai were on board Jazeera Airways. I’d order online in advance and get great prices and their flight schedule meant I could go to Dubai in the morning and come back to Kuwait at night on the same day. Now with Al Maktoom Airport Jazeera Airways will be offering two extra flights every Thursday and Saturday which means more seats and less prices for Dubai weekends.

We took our seats and were served drinks and handed meals menus. When Aljazeera first started passengers bought their meals or beverages on board and paid for them on the spot but now you can choose whatever you want from the menu for free. Coffee, tea, and chocolates were in very high demand through the flight.

Up up we go! Beautiful Kuwait in the early morning below.

The clouds over Kuwait were gorgeous! Like endless fields of cotton! I want a cloud of my own to take home and live on.

The flight was jolly, filled with excited chatter. Jazeera Airways CEO Mr. Marwan Boodai passed by each and every passenger for a chat and to ask if we’ve flown with Jazeera Airways before and what more do we wish Jazeera Airways had offered. It was a nice gesture to personally greet each and every passenger on board from by the CEO.

One hour twenty minutes of smooth sailing in the air later and we were in Dubai landing at Al Maktoom Airport. Dubai’s newest airport is located near Dubai World Center, 40 KM away from Dubai’s International Airport. If you are staying in Jumeira the new airport is much nearer to Jumeira and Jabal Ali areas of Dubai which means less airport commute time.

As the first passengers to arrive at the airport ever the jolly airport staff welcomed us with big smiles and roses while we went through the security checks. We felt happy in their pride and joy.

The Al Maktoom Airport wasn’t very big, something we were thankful for because it meant the trip from the security check to the arrivals gate took mere minutes and didn’t involve much walking which in turn means you get out of the airport quicker. Time is usually of essence when you are travelling for the weekend only.

The current Al Maktoom airport we landed in is actually the first phase of the airport. Like everything else in Dubai the current Al Maktoom Airport is meant to expand and become the biggest airport in world, with five runways and 160 million passengers per year capacity.

We made our way to the main entrance of the airport where a red carpet was laid out for the arrival of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, the Prime Minister of the UAE and the rules of Dubai. The media frenzy was quite organised around the red carpets and little school girls were all dressed up in the national dress and gold jewellery waiting to perform a song at the ceremony.

A pretty little girl was distributing Patchi chocolates, check our her traditional henna!

Before we boarded the plane we were handed a schedule of the ceremony and right to the schedule the ceremony had began with the arrival of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashed Al Maktoum escorted by government and airport officials. Sheikh Mohammed stopped for a moment to chat with the little girls who were lined up in front of us.

Sheikh Mohammed unveiled a ceremonial plaque and signed it to commemorating the inauguration of the Al Maktoom Airport.

The ceremony continued with a quick paced airport tour, which saw people and reporters going through security check and passport control in a haste with no checks whatsoever. Something that you don’t see everyday really.

Out to the runway a bright fuchsia airplane had landed and was being sprayed by water. I wonder why planes are sprayed with water once they arrive for the first time to an airport, where did the tradition stem from? I plan to Google it soon.

There was also a press conference where different media reporters had asked questions, lots of them. Once the press conference was over we got our boarding passes home and were quite literally the only passengers roaming the brand new departure lounge. It felt both nice and weird at the same time.

Of course we had to do a bit of shopping! It was a bit heart-wrenching to actually arrive at Dubai and not be able to visit Dubai, or have a drive down Jumeira road, or dine at Wafi Gourmet which I began craving badly. The Duty Free was basic but quite limited, I like the duty free of Dubai’s International Airport much better but I did manage to get myself a DVD and plenty of chocolates.

We were also starving and my fellow bloggers all got lunch from McDonalds while they waited to board the plane back home. I got me some Cadbury Flake and a Mcdonalds vanilla ice cream cone and voila a 99 was created in Al Maktoom Airport in Dubai, UAE!

We boarded the plane an hour later than scheduled, around 2 P.M. UAE time.

Then it was time to leave back home. The quickest trip ever!

My brand new passport with the new airport’s stamps being the first stamps to graze my passport pages! The date is 27 October 2013, a memorial day for sure!

As we began moving down the runway we did get our own water sprayed on the airplane! It was so much fun, like being in a car wash but on a bigger scale, more like a plane wash!

Bye bye lovely Dubai! Congratulations, we wish you all the best towards a prosperous future.

The plane ride back home was filled with friendly yet sleepy chatter and some more coffee, tea, and chocolates.

The next Jazeera Airways flight to arrive at Al Maktoom Airport is scheduled for 31 October which is next Thursday and if you are planning on spending most of your weekend in Jumeira I suggest you arrive at Al Maktoom Airport. For more information regarding Jazeera Airways flights or to book your next flight online you can check their website (link), give them a call on +(965)-177, follow them on Twitter (@JazeeraAirways) or on instagram (@JazeeraAirways).

I’d also like to thank Mr. Marwan Boodai, all the Jazeera Airways flight crew, and Jazeera Airways for the lovely flight and for choosing my blog for the trip. Thank you Ben Sirri PR for all the effort you’ve put into organising this trip, I’ve never been on such a smooth and punctual trip before.

Imitating the 99 flake Ice Cream in Kuwait

For as long as I’ve been a blogger I’ve used a social media avatar of mine where I was holding a 99 flake ice cream cone, slightly melted, against a background of clear blue London sky and a double decker red bus. My blog name is Danderma which also means ice cream and if you’ve read my blog at all you’d know that I’m crazy, head over heels in love with ice cream in general and the 99 in particular.

I make sure that whenever I’m in London when it’s not winter to devour as many 99′s as I could. The best ones are the ones sold right out of ice cream trucks and are just the right balance between creamy and milky. There is nothing like a half-bitten flake bar snuggled in the fold of soft vanilla ice cream soaking in the goodness as you walk the busy streets of London.

This past Eid holiday practically everyone I know was indeed spending the 10 holiday days in London and there were plenty of 99 pictures dotting instagram. I began craving the 99 so badly I actually got myself a box of flake from The Sultan Center and headed to the nearest McDonalds. The box of flakes I got -made in London not Middle East- is already half the usual flake bar length and aren’t individually wrapped so after I paid my 100 fils for the ice cream cone all I had to do is stick a flake bar on the side et voila! I had this beauty!

Taking a good picture of the Kuwaiti 99 is a challenge, mainly because it will start dripping two seconds after you assemble it and by minute three all the lovely folds making the ice cream would have melted away, leaving your clothes with a few too many droplets of vanilla ice cream.

Never mind the melting status of the cone, how does it taste? Quite good actually! Better than a handful of 99′s I’ve had in the UK before but not as good as the best ones I’ve had of course. However, you can momentarily indulge in something that tastes as good as it looks and reminds you of lovely carefree vacation days while you are stuck in the horrible traffic or watching endless 99 pictures on instagram.

I like to make sure all the excess vanilla ice cream is off the edges of the cone before I take a bite of the flake itself. Afterwards, I’d keep the flake soaking in the vanilla ice cream as I continue eating the rest until almost all the ice cream is gone.

Then I’d eat the vanilla soaked and a tad frozen remaining piece of flake and close my eyes as I crunch away. There is nothing like a 99 flake

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had a few too many imitation 99′s. I chose the McDondal’s vanilla cone because I think it’s the best tasting soft serve ice cream in Kuwait and it is also available almost everywhere, all you need is some miniature flakes and you are set. The last time I had a 99 was yesterday in Dubai during the inauguration of the new Al Maktoom Airport which I’m going to post about next. There were flakes, and a brand new McDonalds, and I was hungry, et voila!

Now do tell me, how much do you like the 99 and how do you eat yours?

The BBM Mania is Back

The day I let go of my Blackberry for my iPhone I never looked back twice. Even the lure of the BBM messenger wasn’t enough to let me stay -or carry two devices at once-. We had Whatsapp and the internet and everyone did migrate from BBM so I didn’t miss it that much. Then there was this failed trial to make the BBM available for android and iPhones and that went bust, and still I stayed and looked on impassively.

Then the BBM was back again, once and for all, ready to be installed on iOS and androids and I saw people downloading it and complaining that they’ve been waiting forever in line to get their Pin. So I thought to myself why not? Perhaps if I get it I might feel some of that pull that made me want to have a Blackberry in the first place all these years ago.

I downloaded the app, I registered, I waited for 36 hours to get my precious BBM pin, and voila! Now we are back on BBM and I still don’t see what the fuss is all about. If anything the GUI of the BBM seems a bit outdated with rather lackluster fonts and lines. Therefore, I don’t think I would be giving up on Whatsapp chats anytime soon but I’d announced on instagram and now I’m announcing on the blog that I will be keeping my long-awaited for BB M Pin for my blog usage. If you want live updates of my blog topics or need to contact me with a blog related matter, you can add me on 75A95DDD.

I did notice that I got quite a few interested contacts, some have sweet words and mature conversation that is blogging related, some are silent, and some are quite noisy and keep sending endless silly broadcasts, and sadly some men have mistaken the BBM for a flirting tool! Disgusting really but the block option was used immediately for such specimen of humanity. It still remains to be seen if the BBM was worth all this wait and fuss but for the time being if you are interested in contacting me for blog related matters you can use this pin 75A95DDD.

Were you waiting badly for the BBM? If you where, why? And what difference would it make for your if you are already using whatsapp?

Book Review: One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis

What pulled me to this book is the notion of “running away” and leaving everything behind to start a new life on a whim. Emily wakes up one day and boards a train from Manchester to London without telling anyone, leaving her loving family behind because of something grave that happened a while back. The idea of the book is to accompany Emily through her days as a new unknown person in London while trying to figure out what went wrong exactly in her life.  Eventually you will know what her secret was and how having a twin sister doesn’t guarantee a friend for life and indeed you will be quite surprised at the twist in the story.

I have to say that the book, though it did get off to a brilliant and quite intriguing start, did suddenly pick up too much pace. You feel sorry, also quite desperate, for the runaway Emily’s sake. You can also feel anger and want to reach out inside the book to strangle her, get her to see right from wrong and stop destroying her new life.

However, there are parts that are quite vague. Like when she met someone in a bar for example. I had to read that part a few times before I actually understood what really happened. The same thing happened in the walking down the aisle chapter. The end of the book seemed to be written in haste for you are suddenly jumping from one even to another in mere pages with years apart. I also didn’t care for how the twin sister suddenly dropped off the pages of the novel and was given a paragraph or two of an ending after her big role in the beginning of the book. Its quite a good read at first and you wouldn’t want to put it down but then it ends up in a jumble of events leaving you a bit dazed. At least that makes for quite a quick read as well though I’d loved to continue reading a bit more chapters with extra details.

Breakfast at Karak Gholam

My friend and fellow blogger Ansam has been busy lately. A couple of weeks ago she  finally was going to share her love of food with the rest of us with the launch of “Karak Gholam”, Kuwait’s newest Karak cafe where Ansam is a co-owner. Karak is a drink that’s basically tea, milk, sugar, and Indian spices cooked together. Rather, its the equivalent of a spiced chai latte and I’m not sure if Karak is the official Indian name for it but its been forever popular in neighbouring GCC countries like Qatar and the UAE and is currently taking Kuwait by storm. 

The new Karak Gholam cafe is located in Dar Al-Awadi complex in Sharq area of Kuwait city and you could make your way there blindfolded for the tantalising smell of cardamom can be found wafting throughout the ground floor, leading shoppers to doors where the Karak is being brewed.

I have to say when I first walked through Karak Gholam’s doors I didn’t expect it to be this spacious or this ! The design of the place is modern indian meets industrial and it’s quite hip and lovely which exactly reflects the ambience of Karak Gholam’s: relaxed, traditional comfort food in a modern trendy surroundings.

Check out the sofa, it’s made of wooden crates! Very cool!

When you are at Karak Gholam you go to the counter and place your order directly. The menu is very straightforward is mostly of popular Indian street food that’s is well loved and quite familiar in Kuwait. Chapatis with different fillings, pakoras, samboosas (samosas) and of course the one and only Karak drink.

There are also different pots of desserts as well as chapatis stuffed with Nutella.

You can also see big pots of karak being brewed and the karak is prepared right then and there. The karak must be poured from one pot to another several times for some reason but the end result is a well balanced drink flavours wise. I suppose this method insures maximum spice and flavour infusion with the milk and tea.

If you are lucky then Gholam himself will come out of the kitchen and greet you. He is one funny character. Its all about charachter at Karak Gholam’s, even the battered tips box has character.

After you place and pay for your order you are handed a little metal number you could place on your table as you wait for your order to arrive.

Not that you will have long to wait, but you can spend your time checking out the merchandise display of different small businesses in Kuwait at Karak Gholam’s.

You could also read other diner’s funny comments or add your own to the wall.

Its not long before your order does arrive. The first time I’ve been at Karak Ghulam we chose to sit outside overlooking Ahmad Al-Jaber street. The weather was awesome and the food was excellent. The first time we were there for breakfast we ordered one small Karak, one iced Karak, one falafel chapati, one Nuttella chapati, and one order of baqsam which are little hard biscotti usually dunk in tea with milk for breakfast or a light dinner.

All chapatis are surprisingly light and not oily at all. The size of one chapati is perfect for one woman dining, not too big and not too small, and usually comes cut in two halves.

The falafel chapati is lick-your-fingers-good! You could tell there is a very light layer of Kraft cheese spread inside the chapati before being filled with the falafel mix and that gives it both a flavour kick and a bit of heaviness as well. Personally I’d order my falafel chapati without the Kraft spread since I like my chapati less heavy but do try it as it is the first time and decide for yourself. It’s not to be missed!

The Karak was good and well balanced, perfect for a rainy day where all you want to do is sip something warm and sweet while you watch the rain fall. However, the real heartbreaker was, surprisingly, the iced Karak! It’s out of this world and something else entirely! I literally finished my ice karak and ordered another one, that’s how good it is and now as I’m typing down this post I’m seriously craving it and wishing I could have it for breakfast. Would you start delivering already?

I was enjoying my time so much I didn’t want to leave but eventually when morning turned into noon and the place was getting busy we had to go. I’ve been back again, the taste of the iced karak wouldn’t leave my palettes alone, and when I did I found the place so crowded masha2 Allah I took my food to go. The next time around I tried two of Karak Ghulam’s desserts: the Oreo cheesecake and the berry & vanilla panacotta.

After a lunch of falafel chapatis and iced Karak it was time to try the desserts. I have to say I was quite disappointed with the Oreo cheesecake. It was quite dense and grainy and there was no Oreo taste what so ever. It was like the cheese layer was actually sweetened condensed milk cooked for too long. I wouldn’t recommend it at all but you might like it if you want to try it.

The berry & vanilla panacotta was another story! We literally fought over the panacotta pot -the cheesecake lay forgotten- and it was so good I almost licked the pot clean after it was done. It was cool, sweet, and chockfull of vanilla beans swimming around the berry particles. The panacotta was topped with toasted shredded chapati bread which added both flavour and texture to the dessert, awesome!

The panacotta was the 3rd lucky strike at Karak Gholam and now I’m officially smitten and it’s not because my friend is co-owner. You wouldn’t think something as simple as Karak and chapati would have you craving meals this badly and the best thing is, the food is not heavy at all and many items finish quickly so be there early. I’m yet to try their samboosas but they were always out of them. If you pass by Karak Gholam and you’re lucky enough to find a table you’ll find Ansam behind the counter smiling as she takes your order, way to go dear Ansam, I’m proud of you and I cannot wait to see what more you’ll have in store.

Karak Gholam is located in the ground floor of Dar Al-Awadi in Sharq, Ahmad Al-Jaber street, Kuwait City. For more information you can contact them by calling +(965)-22322286,  or following them on instagram (@KarakGholam).

Is it OK to Photograph Houses in Kuwait?

I have this hobby, rather fascination, with the design of the houses that were built in the 60′s after discovering oil in Kuwait. Now over 50 years old, many of those houses are unkempt or rundown but you can still see the beauty of their architecture. There is something about the details, the way a doorway is curved or a ceiling is slanted that is just irresistible and balconies are almost always present. A stark contrast to the soulless concrete cubes with boring facades and gabs for windows being built now a days to house rentals.

Sadly many of those gorgeous old 60′s houses are being torn down to make way for new houses. Some of the newer houses built are quite modern, most others are the horrible rental cubes, but whenever I pass by a site where an old futuristic designed house used to stand I feel a pang of sadness. That’s why I found myself one day taking pictures of any 60′s house I pass by before it was too late but whenever I lift my camera to snap a picture of a house, there is almost always an angry passerby who seems incredulous and confused with my action.

Why the confusion? I’m not sure but I never really cared or stopped to explain. I do have many pictures and yet I’m not sure what I’m going to do with them for the time being. I am however pondering the following question: is it OK to take a picture of a house? The house is sitting there in the open and you can pass by it all day long if you wish to. There are no people in the pictures and the house is empty with no one living inside and there are clear signs its going to be torn down soon “graffiti on the wall says so anyway”. Therefore I’m assuming no one should mind me taking a picture. How about new houses? Especially those ultra modern gorgeous creations popping up sporadically around Kuwait? Most likely its up to their owners but again they are out there available for all to see, what difference does a photograph make after all?

What do you think? Would you mind if you saw someone taking a photograph of your house or a neighbour’s house? Whether it was new and beautiful or old and gorgeous? And why?

Lunch at GIA Mediterranean Cafe

I think it was back during the holy month of Ramadan when I first started following the instagram account of GIA cafe. They were testing their dishes and I knew by looking at what they had to offer that I wanted to try them out, really wanted to, for they reminded me of Ottelenghi’s in London. After a long wait, they finally opened their doors yesterday afternoon and I wasted no time heading over to GIA’s for some lunch. 

Gia cafe is located in Al-Khalid complex in Salmiya in the exact spot where Al-Alamiya pastry shop used to be. I was devastated when it downed on me that Al-Alamiya was gone forever but at least it was turned into another food establishment where you in and dine while you remember the good old days.

I have to say the old dowdy pastry shop was totally transformed into a little bright nook with    white walls, checkered tiles, wicker chairs, and quirky items on display. Simple yet tasteful, traditional with a modern rustic touch.

Cookbooks, jars, and colourful vases decorate the walls.

Huge wooden bowls of colourful fruit decorate the counters displaying the cakes and slices on offer.

On every table you find a little colourful plant subtly adding a dash of colour to your upcoming experience. The big windows on the front of the shop provide a lovely view of the often-overlooked courtyard garden outside, promising a lovely quite meal in a relaxed and serene atmosphere.

The menu of GIA is displayed on a big chalkboard on the wall by the door and offers plenty of fresh and delicious mediterranean style salads, pastries, sandwiches, mains, and desserts. The food is on display and you get to choose whatever you fancy either to dine in or takeaway.

Since the weather was good yesterday I had already decided on a picnic lunch so I ordered my food to take away. I had a hard time choosing since everything looked so delicious but I promised myself I’d be back to try the salads I didn’t order. The first thing I wanted to try was the GIA frappe which I’ve seen on instagram. I enjoyed drinking it on the drive back home and it was good, cold, and refreshing.

As for the picnic lunch, we tried three different salads: The grilled eggplant salad, the quinoa salad, and the beetroot salad.

The first salad we tried was the beetroot salad. It was very fresh and crunchy but also quite average. It wasn’t bad at all but it lacked that oomph factor that would make you want to devour the pot and lick whatever dressing that remains.

The quinoa salad had the oomph factor going on and more, it was awesome! It was more like a quinoa taboola yet it was way better that boring old taboola! It was well dressed with a hint of sweetness and really wholesome. I loved the quinoa salad, I hail GIA’s quinoa salad as the best quinoa salad I’ve ever had till date. A must try for sure especially if you are a quinoa first timer.

The eggplant salad though it didn’t look like it was actually really good. The eggplants were well cooked but not oily at all, crunchy skin and soft flesh with garlic-y yoghurt dressing with pine nuts and pomegranates. I’m hungry now again!

We also tried two pastries: the pumpkin feta and the ratatouille. The pastries were crunchy and soft and melted away as you bit into them. The pastries are bite-sized therefore you can order more than a flavour and enjoy them without feeling too full.

Last but not least was the chocolate crack cake. The name crack comes from the fact that the surface of the cake was cracking in different places revealing a gooey chocolatey centre. It is also worth nothing that it posses a chocolate aroma that is maddening and quite irrisisteble.

The chocolate crack cake is simply addictive, pun intended. I simply couldn’t wait to eat it in a civil manner with a fork -it was a picnic after all- and decided it was too gorgeous for manners. I ate away at it, the way a hungry person might bite into a big slice of pizza, and I don’t regret it one bit. Needless to say it didn’t stay around for long.

When I saw GIA’s instagram account I predicted that their food would be good and my prediction came true. Their food is good indeed, their cafe is lovely, and the two ladies and a gentleman I met yesterday as I became their first customers were very sweet and welcoming. It was nice to meet the people behind GIA and I cannot wait to come back and dine there again. Would you guys please start delivering soon?

GIA Cafe is located in Al-Khalid Complex in Salmiya. For more information and directions you can give them a call on +(965)-25640257, email them on info@giakwt.com, or follow them on instagram (@GiaKwt).

On Hiatus…

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the red Kit Kat and I’ve taken a well deserved official break, funnily enough the last one took place mid-October of last year! I haven’t posted in about a week or so since I was down with a bad bout of the flu and now it’s time for the big holiday of the year. I wish you all a very happy long weekend and Eid holidays, eidkom mubarak o 3asakom min 3owadah, and insha2 Allah when all the dust have settled after everyones come back from travelling -most of Kuwait is going to London- we will start again, fresh and ready for another year of blogging.

Have a lovely holiday everyone and stay tuned, the best is yet to come

Sun Bread & Sticky Toffee Book Launch at Zeri Crafts

Years ago when I first got married I knew how to prepare a variety of dishes but no rice dishes for I didn’t know how to cook rice the proper way. I tried very hard to learn following many recipes from different books but to no avail. Then one day I was on Amazon and to my surprise I found an English book about Kuwaiti recipes written by a Kuwaiti woman, Sarah Al-Hamad and I knew I had to order it. Sarah’s first book, Cardamom & Lime, was the book that taught me the proper Kuwaiti method of cooking rice and ever since I’ve been able to make rice perfectly.

Sarah’s first book was beautiful, professionally put together with plenty of gorgeous pictures presenting the best of the Kuwaiti cuisine to the world. A few months ago I started following the author on instagram and I learned there is a second book dedicated to date desserts recipes titled “Sun Bread and Sticky Toffee: Date Desserts from Everywhere”. I knew I had to get my hands on that book and kept an eye out for the launch date which took place last Tuesday at Zeri Crafts, a unique stop in Kuwait for modernised traditional handicrafts.

I’ve never been inside Zeri Crafts before but I like what they have to offer from their instagram pictures and I loved the vibe of the place. I must go back again for a proper and more thorough visit.

The book launch event was lively, you get to meet with the sweet author and get her to sign both books which are on sale. A spread of the date nibbles and date shakes made from the new books recipes was also available.

Personally I don’t eat dates in any form but my husband adores them and would eat anything date-related. I knew the book would make him happy and the first thing I found when I opened the book was a recipe for Tabdoon or date bread which my husband absolutely adores especially with cream cheese.

There are many date desserts recipes presented in concise and easy to follow steps alongside gorgeous pictures that make you want to want to cook and devour the desserts at 2 A.M. in the morning.

It was a pleasure to finally meet the author Sarah Al-Hamad in person and thank her for teaching me to cook rice with her first book. It was also lovely to meet the her sister Laila Al-Hamad, the woman behind Zeri Crafts which is a gorgeous place to visit. It was nice to meet both of you and I wish you the best of luck.

Sarah Al-Hamad will be launching her book in Bahrain next on October 5, 2013 in Words Book Store Cafe. For more details you can follow her instagram account (@SarahAlHamad1) and for more details regarding the Zeri Crafts center you can check their website (link) or follow them on instagram (@ZeriCrafts).