SOME contrast

Posted By Yousef

When I first discovered foret noir, or black forest, the cake (duh), I was not so fond of it. What is there to like anyway? it is supposed to be some kind of a chocolate cake that doesn’t taste quite like chocolate, it has this sour syrup that everybody on this earth hates with a vengeance, and its covered with this thin layer of cheap whipping cream (the ones I tried are cheap) then covered again with something that is supposed to look and taste like chocolate flakes. It is hatable. Almuhaissin, I think, is one of the main reasons why I’ve always hated the black forest, the other reason being the egyptian movies and the way they pronounce it’s name; belack foorest.

Anyway. I discovered this AMAZING cafe (actually, I didn’t discover anything. Mom took me to this cafe 2 years ago and made me try their foret noir) their foret noir is nothing like almuhaissin’s! its nothing like any other black forest i have ever tasted. First of all they got it right and won major points for cutting that sour syrup out of the recipe, then they scored even more points for including a chocolate paste (is it called paste? its a layer of melted chocolate) that works perfectly with the cake, very subtly sweet, it adds this whole other dimension to the otherwise boring cake and it kind of redefines the cake. Then there is the award winning whipped cream layer which takes it to a new level.

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Posted By Yousef

Actifed Duo is one of the best allergy medicines I have ever tried, even better than the mighty Zyrtec. It has double effect, acting as both an allergy drug and a running nose’s. I also love it coz I don’t feel drowsy/sleepy after taking a pill.

Highly recommended.

Posted By Yousef

There is this tiny little restaurant in Movenpick Hotel called Al Dente. It can easily be overlooked by everybody who hasn’t been in and ate one of its various dishes. Its little, the decoration is so so, and its in Movenpick. As you can see the odds that can come between you and one of the better italian restaurants in Kuwait.

I’ve been to this restaurant countless times. I like it because its not crowded, its consistent and I can have the pasta my way, which is a thing I really appreciate in an italian restaurant. I always order their pasta (whatever kind I feel like when I visit) with the cream sauce, I love heir cream sauce, its heavy so I always make sure that I stay away from any kind of appetizers just to make enough space for the main course. Recently my friend introduced me to a new kind of creamy sauce, it’s pink, a mixture of white and red sauce (I think they call it rosa?). Anyway, I usually ask the chef to be generous when using olive oil and garlic while making the pasta. (I just ate a pizza, I’m really not happy describing food).

The service is excellent and friendly. The atmosphere is nice, not great. The place is small and chances are everybodys gonna hear your conversations (but that happens everywhere in Kuwait coz Kuwaitis have it in their blood to eavesdrop, so it’s ok).

Score: 4 Out of 5.

Al Dente is located in Movenpick Hotel in Shuwaikh’s Free trade zone, near Villa Moda. Phone # 4610033.

Posted By Yousef

I just finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns by the awfully talented Khaled Hosseini. I should first say that the writer didn’t drift away from what made him famous; his first novel. The story is set in Kabul, afghanistan and it sees much of what we already have read in The Kite Runner, and it adds some more.

I enjoyed the novel, I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the war-zone atmosphere and above all I very much enjoyed and marveled at the way he writes. Its a story of a young harami (bastard), her name is Maryam, who lives with her mother in a hut away from her father, who came to visit once a week. She awaits his arrival every week with patience, every single week, and loves him dearly and relentlessly, inspite of her mother’s constant bashing and warning that one day he won’t come to her anymore and will forget about her exactly like how he forgot to publicly own his mistake and let her, Maryam, live legitimately with her other sisters from his other wives.

The writer then starts another story with another girl who lives down the street from Maryam, her name is Layla, who is in love with Tariq. Fate plays the cruelest games with these 2 girls. They learn much about life and how, at times, it means nothing and everything at the same time. You learn much about how life was not so nice to Afghan girls during the 70’s, 80’s and ofcourse their worst days in the 90’s during the Talibans stage.

I recommend this very well written novel to everyone. Its like what you’re probably going read if you ever (not possible) read one of Amir’s* novels.

* Amir is the boy in Hosseini’s first novel.

Posted By Yousef

We went to an italian restaurant the other day, it was recommended by Hamad’s boss. When we first saw the street it’s located in and the neighborhood we had our little doubts. We know that restaurants in europe and especially in switzerland aren’t flashy and the best restaurants always look kinda cheap, but still, the place looked weird for some reason, maybe being behind the train station and all.. I don’t know. We wanted to sit outside but the waiter told us that we only have this cramped table to sit at coz the other section is not being served for the night. We didn’t sit outside and went in. The restaurant is small and not so cozy, there was a football game being played on TV and italian waiters arguing loudly. My brother couldn’t have been any happier, being an AC Milan fan and all, he couldn’t have wished for a more italian restaurant to be in.

We sat and the Pizza oven was right next to us, the smell was killing us, it smelled so good inside! we skimmed through the menu. We knew we’re going to order pizzas for starters, it was only a matter of quantity and we all ordered the same maindish (by accident, I’d like to believe), a home made tagliatelle with creme and mushrooms.

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Posted By Mishary.

Today we decided to have our lunch at Al-mayas restaurant. I went there with my wife, 9K2HN and Labeba. This time we decided to take my family there.

So we went ahead and ordered our appetizers (mazaat). We ordered 3arayes (basically its a round bread, cut in quarters with meat mixed in with some spices)

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Posted By Yousef

This place is relatively new to the scene, I think its been only 2 years since its opening. I go there every time I need a haircut coz my favorite barber works there, he used to work somewhere else and when he told me he’s changing his work place I went along with him to this new place.

They offer massages, facials, manicure & pedicure and a lot of other things. I haven’t tried their massages yet, But I intend to have one.

The place is very well designed and have nicely set rooms for the facials and massages, I’ve taken a look inside and it looks great! soothing music, dimmed lights.. the whole nine yards.

I think this is the first place to have a real menu to select your kind of hair cut and shave and view their other services

It costs 6 kd for a hair cut and 3 kd for a beard shave. I know its cost more than the regular barbershops but hey I go there once a month, so its okay.

Its located in Adaylia, near Kabab-ji restaurant. Tel. 2542807

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Posted By Yousef

When I was looking for a gift for my nephew I really had to go everywhere! There is nothing much you can buy for 1 year old boy if you don’t want to buy him clothes.

I tried many places, I went to Khalid bin ilwaleed street, I remember I enjoyed going there when I was young, but I found nothing! I also went to Waleed (ma7al waleed) shop and I think that shop needs some serious revamp.

I went everywhere, including this Fantasy world shop but couldn’t really find a toy that made me go “THIS IS THE TOY!” they all looked ehh and so so.

One thing caught my eye and stayed with me was this little train, and although it is not made for a one year old to play with it alone, but atleast He could enjoy it with a parent’s help until he’s a bit older.

If you’re looking for toys, I think this place is one of the best in Kuwait. They have many things for different age groups. There are even things fro grownups, like the pool and board games. auto freaks may also enjoy Fantasy World’s collection of miniature cars. I personally liked how they had some thing for everyone. Ofcourse you’re always better off buying online, but if you’re buying a heavy gift, like the one i bought, then you wouldn’t want to pay the gift’s worth on shipping.

The one I went to, which I think is the biggest branch, is located in Shuwaikh, on Alghazali street, across the street from Electrozan and near the fourth ring road. They have other branches in Soug Sharg & AlBustan Mall.

This whole thing made me realize how fortunate we were to grow up in a time when we could always find the prefect toy in Kids ‘r’ Us in Salmiya. *1..2..3.. group sigh*

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Posted By Mishary.

Yesterday after ANM’s birthday we went to the Avenues and wanted to taste Häagen-Dazs Fondue, so we went there and placed an order. BTW its in the Avenues phase II.

Its says that it serves 4 persons in the menu, but actually it serves only 2 (Kuwaiti person) you know what i mean by Kuwaiti .. ya3ni etha 7ag 4 beseer bas e7alfoon 3alaih

It comes with 2 large plates

First plate contains:

• Strawberry.
• Kiwi.
• Banana.
• Brownie.
• Cookies.

Second Plate contains:

4 choices of their ice cream flavor.

The ice cream melt so quickly if you dip it in the chocolate sauce, so beware. I think it deserves 2/5 due to the cheap tasting chocolate sauce.

FYI: they are accepting cash only at the moment.

Posted By Yousef

The elections period is finally over and I just want to say Congrats to those who lost and hard luck for those who won in this parliamentary election, and With that being said, and everything going back to normal (hopefully) in Kuwait, what is there to talk or write about other than a good old restaurant review

Shabestan In Crown Plaza hotel is the restaurant for me whenever I’m in a mood for a nice iranian meal.

The restaurant is never too busy and you can always go there without prior reservation. The atmosphere is very warm, real and authentic (if you can overlook the multinational staff), I like that the place has many little seating areas, giving it a cozy feel. One of the things that first caught my attention was their attention to details in everything from the furniture, the paintings on the wall, the carpets.. down to their chinaware.

The food. Now the food obviously is whats keeping me loyal and coming back this restaurant. Surprisingly I’m not a big fan of traditional iranian food. Kebabs, Humus and iranian bread are not among the things I like to eat when I’m in a restaurant, But I go there for their Halim Bathenjan (a puree of aubergine, lamb, fried onion strips and traditional kashk) for starters & my favorite Baghalah Polo-Ba-Mahicheh (leg of lamb cooked in its own juices over a slow fire for hours and seasoned with spices and broad beans with my choice of rice) for the main course. The only thing I wish they’d work on is there stews. I love me some Ghormeh Sabzi, but theirs are not really special. Other than that, there food is to die for.

The staff is friendly and very efficient. when you first sit there, they offer complimentary Iranian greens with salty white cheese and freshly baked iranian bread (baked infront of you).

The restaurant, in my opinion, is one of the most consistent restaurants I’ve been to, which is a great quality in a restaurant if you ask me. I never go there more than once a month, and when I’m there, I expect a perfect meal, and they never fail to meet my expectations.

They get a 4.5 out of 5 from me.

Kuwait Branch’s Link & Dubai’s Link