Danderma's Blog, page 60

Sprinkles Bakery in the Grand Avenues

Sprinkles Bakery, The Sprinkles Bakery of Beverly Hills, USA, opened its first branch in Kuwait earlier today! I know it was supposed to open a while ago and I was invited with other bloggers to the pre-opening but then the opening was delayed until today. When I read on The Avenues instagram page that they are indeed open, I grabbed my camera and headed over there at once.

I was skeptical at first, maybe they are open but not for the public? But I decided to try my luck. It wasn’t very crowded when I got there but I was greeted enthusiastically by the cheerful staff.

Sprinkles Avenues isn’t very big but its all glass and wood with plenty of light streaming in from the glass windows.

Now lets look at the cupcakes… they don’t have mini ones so I took half a dozen of the big sized ones in different flavours: Salted Caramel, Red Velvet, Raspberry Chocolate, Black & White, and Orange. I’m typing this post now as I’m eating the Salted Caramel instead of lunch and its lip-smacking good!

This is Mary Rose with my order, hello Mary Rose and thank you!

I took my box outside, I couldn’t wait I had to bite into something.

The Salted Caramel was the cupcake of choice. I took it out to photograph it before eating it and  smack it falls face down on the ground Not one minute later a nice American lady comes out with another salted caramel cupcake on a paper plate and hands it to me, telling me she saw what happened and she will take the fallen cupcake from me. Thank you very much nice lady! That was quick and excellent customer service!

By the time I packed away my camera Sprinkles bakery was full with customers and all outside tables were taken! By the way, Sprinkles already have the following cupcakes offer celebrating the National & Liberation days.

Sprinkles cupcakes is located in the Grand Avenues, The Avenues Mall, right opposite Harvey Nichols. Different flavours are available throughout the week, for example the Chai Latte cupcake is available on Fridays only. For more information you can check Sprinkles Cupcakes website (link). Now excuse me, I have a raspberry chocolate cupcake waiting to be devoured!

More Festive February Lights in Kuwait City

The other day I was going on Gulf road heading to Industrial Shuwaikh when I noticed more lights were lit around Kuwait City and that my camera was in my bag sitting there doing nothing. Then I saw the picture below and I just had to stop and take a few photographs!

My first stop was at Shuwaikh beach right beside the KPC building, the lights display was moving and playing and casting different colour combinations on its facade.

Going closer…

Then moving on towards Shuwaikh Sea Port…

When you see the Shuwaikh Port from a far it looks like a blazing cube of lights! Like a big giant lit up Rubik’s cube changing colours. Its so beautiful and yet this is the only semi-decent photograph I could come up with. I wonder if they allow people to park on a bridge and get out to take photos?

I love February. Kuwait becomes even more beautiful. I can’t stop driving around looking at the festive lights at night. Here are my two previous posts on the February Lights of 2013 (post) (post).

The Select Photography Book

I like it when new interesting books are released into the world. I like it even more if I can get my hands on a copy as soon as I know if its release. The “Select” book is a big black album-like book with dazzling photographs printed on its glossy pages. The photographs are all taken by talented photographers from Kuwait in different photography categories: landscape, food, portrait, fashion, street, and more.

I loved the book. I enjoyed flipping through its pages while sipping a big fat cup of Arabian coffee yesterday evening. With each flip of a page, my eyes would fall on yet another stunning shot and I’d be lost in the beauty of its details. I hope one day I’d be able to take impressive shots like these.

The Select photography book will make a great addition to my collection of coffee table books. If you are interested in photography and want to check how the talents in Kuwait view the world around them, then this book is defienetly for you. Thank you Select book team for sending me the book, I love it when I return home to find a book, and a gorgeous one, waiting for me.

The book retails at KD 9 and can be purchased from That Al-Salasil bookshop, Dar Al Funoon, FA Gallery, Tilal Gallery, CAP, The M Gallery, Style Boutique in Qurtoba, Baking Tray Cafe, Someday Cafe, and Brush Cafe. For more information you can contact the team behind Select book by emailing them on info@select-kw.com, follow them on Twitter (@SelectKW) or on instagram (@SelectKW).

Juices from Ahla Aseer

The owner of a local juice shop, Ahla Aseer, kindly sent me a collection of his juices to try and to photograph for him. I took many shots and I’m sharing my favourites in this post.

Thank you Ahla Aseer for the juices. Ahla Aseer can provide home delivery and full drinks service for parties, gatherings, and receptions. For more information you can give them a call on 24888774, check their website (link), follow them on instagram (@Ahla_Aseer).

Fareed Abdal’s Arabian Calligraphy Exhibition

Yesterday me and Ansam attended an amazing Arabian calligraphy exhibition by Fareed Abdal in Gallery Tilal. I’m a big fan of Arabian calligraphy and even a bigger fan of modernised Arabian calligraphy and yesterday’s exhibition did not disappoint at all!

We walked in to the sounds of live Arabian music played by a “takht”. We looked at the gorgeous artistic pieces while listening to classics like Um Kalthoum’s “ent 3omry” and Abdulhalim’s “Awel marra t7eb”.

 

What I loved most about this exhibition is the Japanese and Arabian calligraphy fusion pieces. Rather, Arabian calligraphy disguised as Japanese writings. From a far you think you are watching something written in Japanese right?

When you get closer, its actually Arabian calligraphy twisted in a way to look Japanese! Very unusal yet gorgeous!

Another beautiful piece.

And on closer inspection.

And another gorgeous piece…

While waiting for Ansam to take a few shots of the exhibit I took my time flipping through the books provided by Gallery Tilal! I’d happily spend a day alone sipping coffee and going through all these gorogeous books. I think I have a serious books addiction.

Yesterday’s exhibition was a great way to spend a night with art in culture in Kuwait. The Fareed Abdal Exhibition is on until 21 February so if you are interested, grab a friend and go enjoy a night out surrounded with art.

Fareed Abdal’s exhibition is on until 21 February in Gallery Tilal. Gallery Tilal is located in Tilal Mall, Shuwaikh. For more information you can check their website (link), follow them on Twitter (@GalleryTilal) or on instagram (@GalleryTilal)

What Makes a Good Blogger?

This question have been circulating in my mind for quite sometime now. What makes a good blogger? Owning a good blog of course. But what is the exact defenition of a good blog exactly?

Is it a well designed blog? With an immaculate timplate and flashy header? Is it the frequency of posting? Going on like an international news website feed with a post every half an hour? Is it how fast they post? Being the first to blog about something happening before everyone else? Is it the importance of the posts, the weight and quality and work done behind each and every one? Is it by the lengths they would take to put together something special and different as a post?

Are good bloggers always popular? Is a popular blogger a necessarily good blogger? How can you tell that this blogger is more popular from another? Alexa? That can easily be manipulated. The number of comments received on each posts, or by the number of people reading per post? Who should those readers be? Kuwaitis? Expats? A mix? Or perhaps people abroad? They count as readers, don’t they?

Is the number of events the blogger attends -or crashes- a factor in their importance or popularity? The number of goodies they get to try first hand? What if the blogger is screening their events and being picky, are they sending out the wrong message? How about the number of ads on the blog? The more occupied ads, the more popular? What if most of those ads are from wealthy friends and family members with businesses?

What about the blogger himself? Must he look exactly like the image they portray on the blog? Must they look hip, young, well dressed, and be friendly too? Would meeting the blogger change the way people view the blog? Does the blogger have to be friendly and enthusiastic in real life, or a snob, or just be whatever they are? Do you care who the blogger is and what’s his character is like before reading or inviting them?

How can you tell that this is a good blogger and this is not so good? What makes this blog an important and influential blog that must’nt be ignored? What makes this blogger your favorite, a must check first thing in the morning to see what they’ve posted blog? I am still wondering, and I think I am truly at loss regarding finding an answer to that question.

Ahmadi’s Festive Lights 2013

Every year during the February festivities of National and Liberation days of Kuwait Ahmadi City dresses up in all sorts of lights and colorful displays and this year is no exception. Yesterday was the night when all the festive lights of Ahmadi were lit up so I decided to join the celebrating crowds and take my camera for a few shots.

The cars were honking and people were singing along to loud patriotic music. Then there were hordes of kids and teenagers armed with water guns and hosing down whomever crosses their path. Its a mini preview of what will happen on the National day and a very good reminder on why we should stay at home but I managed to get a few decent night time shots.

On the right handside of the road were lit up structures representing the monuments of Kuwait like Kuwait Tower, The Parlimant, Mubarkiya School, Liberation Tower, and Seif Palace. People were walking beside them, taking pictures with them, or leaning out of their car windows to photograph them.

You have to park near Ahmadi’s walkway to appreciate the lights closely even though it means you have to duck whenever a watergun is sprayed your way.

This lit up star reminded me of Japanese anime of our childhood for some reason and I took many many pictures of it!

     Three of Ahmadi’s houses were dressed up completely in lights, each in a color represing the Kuwaiti flag: red, white, and green. The black color in the flag is the night time surrounding the lit up houses.

When I parked my car, I felt like I was bathed in cryptonite light for some reason. Everything was very green!

One of the popular spots where people were posing was on a roundabout with a lit up oyster and a sray -traditional lantern-. They were really nice but people just wouldn’t leave them alone!

More lights!

The Mushrooms city looked like the smurf’s land and it was very popular! I could barely snap this shot of an empty corner of the city. Everyone was posing besides the lit up shrooms!

And while heading back home we couldn’t help notice the huge movie like display on KNPC’s facade. Couldn’t take a more decent picture though. Strikingly beautiful.

The festive lights in Ahmadi city are a spectacular affair. A bit on the extravagant side but they still beautifiul and I personally wait impatiently for them to be lit up every year. I urge you all to go and pass by, feel the magic of colorful lights yourself if  you haven’t done so already. Don’t forget your camera!

You can also check Ahmadi City’s lights of 2011 here (post).

Movie Review: Mama

I’ve been waiting to see the horror movie “Mama” every since I saw its trailer. Basically, its a horror movie about a couple who take care of their two little orphan neices after being lost and found living on their own for five years. But they weren’t really entirely alone, their “Mama” was with them all long, and then the horror is unleashed. 

Finally I watched it even though its been in the theatres -and on the US box office top ten list- since the end of January! Was it scary? Frightening! So frightining I couldn’t look directly at the screen in some scenes. However, it also had its funny moments where I laughed out loud and a moment where I cried my eyes out. It is a good movie and the trailer barely gave anything away especially regarding the presence of “Mama”. There are scenes where somethings don’t make sense in the story but I suspect its because of the censorship, I’d have to watch it again on DVD to make sure.

The ending was unexpected if not a bit cheesy, the only thing I didn’t like much about the movie. All in all it is a movie worth watching and will defienetely make it to my DVD’s shelf. But please, for the love of god, keep the children at home. Just because there are children in the movie and the title says Mama DOES NOT MEAN its suitable for your own children. Its a horror movie, people watching it are suppose to scream, not a sing-a-long!

Breakfast at IHOP Kuwait

When I learned from The Avenues’s instagram page that IHOP’s branch in Kuwait was opening today, Saturday, at 8 A.M. I knew exactly where I was going to have breakfast. We made it there at around 10 A.M. and even though The Avenues was quiet, IHOP was very crowded and buzzing with diners having breakfast.

IHOP is HUGE! With inside and outside seating in the back.

We asked for a table in the sunny courtyard covered with the white ceiling and within five minutes we were seated with the menus placed in our hands.

Only I was having breakfast so I chose coffee which comes in a refillable flask -excellent!- and the Pick a pancake combo with chocolate chip pancakes, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, and no sausage or bacon for me.

The first thing to arrive was the coffee… bottomless coffee, how satisfying? I could have had three of those flasks on my own. I only had one though.

It didn’t take long for my order to arrive. Sadly it arrived without the hashbrowns but it looked so very good and absolutely mouthwatering.

The eggs were perfectly scrambled and vividly yellow, just the way I like them. With plenty of salt and pepper, I enjoyed every bite. Next time I’m going to try the Mexican style omelette that looks like a giant wrapped burrito!

Pouring the old fashioned syrup on top, slowly soaking the chocolatey pancakes.

The pancakes were excellent. Fluffy and full of flavour. I could have eating another plate but I didn’t want to hog the table for too long.

Now one weird thing happened, as I was eating my pancakes I realised I forgot to order myself orange juice and everyone around me was having a tall of glass of OJ but the waitress said they had ran out of orange juice and if I wanted she can bring me some apple juice. I said OK though my heart was set on OJ, sipped the apple juice happily, yet the tall glasses of OJ kept coming out of the kitchen to the diners around me non stop, even to diners who came after I asked for the OJ!

We paid for the check when I was happy and full and my takeaway for lunch arrived too, a kid’s meal of macaroni and cheese with a side of fruit salad. I saw it on the menu and knew I wanted to have it for lunch.

Our total came to KD 7.700. Not bad at all. When we left, we saw a couple of tall glasses of OJ being brought out to diners about 45 minutes after I’ve been told its out! What’s up with that?

My breakfast was delicious, the service was very fast, friendly, and efficient. I’d say it was perfect if it wasn’t for the missing hashbrowns and running out of orange juice but then its only their first day and they did an excellent job for a first day. I can’t wait to go back for another delicious breakfast.

IHOP Kuwait is located in the first floor new Mall section in the Avenues mall right above H&M. To get there you need you take the escalators up but once you do you the path should be very clear especially if you take the escalator between Sprinkles Cupcakes and H&M.

Anya Hindmarch’s Boutique Launch in Harvey Nichols

Last Tuesday I attended the official launch of Anya Hindmarch’s boutique in Harvey Nichols Kuwait. I love Anya’s designs especially the metallic wicker-like bags from a few seasons back but its been a while since I’ve done some serious shopping and I liked what I saw in Kuwait’s Anya branch!

The green limited edition crocodile bag is gorgeous!

I loved the shiny metallic tassels on the bag. A subtle yet glamorous detail.

More bling!

The eye on this bag’s clasp is very cute!

By the way you can have your initials engraved on the bags therefore if you are looking for a special gift to give to someone, you know where to find it.

We left with a nice pink iPad bag from Anya Hindmarch.

Thank you Rawan Farhat and Almanae group for extending the invitation and the thoughtful giveaway.

Anya Hindmarch’s boutique is located inside Harvey Nichols in the Grand Avenues, the Avenues Mall.