كل شىء كويتي at 52 Degrees, #Kuwait

An explosion of color and creativity is what you should expect to see when you visit 52 degrees in Kuwait.

Set against an industrial looking space, 52 Degrees houses rack after rack of creations by Kuwaiti designers and entrepreneurs, including clothing, furniture,  accessories, perfume and a Kuwaiti-born cafe, Chooey Gooey, featuring an indulgent menu of desserts and dishes. 

Conceptualised to provide a platform for Kuwaiti talent, the shop's products, spread over an entire floor, are unmistakably Kuwaiti. At the time I visited, most of the clothes on display were jalabiyas and formal wear, with prices that were equally as Kuwaiti!

While the goods on sale may not be to everyone's taste, the shop's vibe is one of youthfulness and inspiration. As a showcase that truly shows how proud they are to be Kuwaiti, there is even a books section of books written by Kuwaitis. 

In addition to the main shop floor, there is a corridor which houses a radio station, and other stores, many of which are yet to open.  Kuwaiti brand Deer and Dear, a homegrown clothing line, has a shop here - and the best way to describe it is the Kuwaiti equivalent of the Gap. 

52 degrees is located quite out of the way, in the Shwaikh Industrial area next to Tilal Complex.  But as a first time visitor, if you are interested in shopping for something truly unique and intrinsically Kuwaiti, you are encouraged to go!

Mohammed bin Faris Music Hall, #Muharraq, #Bahrain

Every Bahraini knows that if you want culture, go to the heart of Muharraq. Full of old restored houses, neighborhoods in the way that neighborhoods have always existed in Bahrain, helpful people and a feeling of community, this is the very best of what Bahrain has to offer. 

 And it just got better, with the opening of the new Mohammed Bin Faris Music Hall opposite Saffron 1 in Suq Al Qaisriyya.

One of the projects by the Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Center for Culture and Research, headed by our Minister of Culture, this latest initiative honors one of Bahrain's most popular singers in the 1930-40s. Built next to Mohammed bin Faris' house which has been turned into a museum, the hall has an auditorium for concerts and some old music artifacts.  Best of all perhaps, is the basement which has the original building foundations walled in such that visitors can see them.  The signature trademark of Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed, whose approach to restoration focuses on maintaining the features of the original architecture, this is a nice surprise when you are walking around the hall.  

The Mohammed bin Faris band today pays tribute to its namesake, and plays for free to the public every Thursday night at 8:30pm since the hall opened a month or so ago. Playing old Bahraini and Gulf songs, this 6-man band uses minimal instruments (oud, violin, tambourine and drums) to make beautiful, nostalgic music. 

Old musical artifacts displayed in the basement

The auditorium for concerts

I recently attended one of the concerts which lasted around an hour and a half and served as a lovely calming escape after a hectic week. The audience was mainly middle-aged  who come to listen to songs they probably remember from their childhood- and it was quite nice to see that people are taking advantage of this free cultural entertainment.  I would love to see more younger people go- to know the songs, to appreciate the band, but above all, to experience a Thursday night that is different from what they would expect to do on weekends.

The original part of the building is fenced off for visitors to view

#Restaurant review: Cocoa Room, Kuwait

OH MY GOD.

I was tempted not to write anything other than that for this review, because it says it all. 

I don't think I've seen a single bad review about Cocoa Room, and if there is one, they are lying. 

Midnight pancakes

We went for a Friday breakfast and the minute I saw the ipad menu I wished that there was 10 of us there so we could order everything I wanted. But alas, with just the two of us we had limited capacity and settled for the halloumi bruschetta and the eggs menemen. 

LACTOSE FREE OPTIONS AVAILABLE!! Of French toast, waffles and crepes!

The bruschetta was out of this world- crunchy bread, perfectly grilled juicy halloumi, lovely sauteed cherry tomatoes and mint.  The eggs, served with flatbread, were the Turkish version of eggs and tomato, and tasted really good.

But this was all just to pretend that we were there for breakfast. Because actually, we were only waiting for dessert....

Not able to choose between what seemed like millions of options of pancakes and waffles, we asked the waiter what he recommended and he told us the nutella french toast. We would have loved that, and the midnight pancakes, and the red velvet pancakes and and and... but we decided on the banoffee pancakes which someone had recommended to us.

I don't care if you don't like bananas. If you go, order this. A huge heap of thin pancakes piled high and stuck together with what seemed like a river of caramel, with soft pieces of baked banana. This is like music to your mouth- the only negative thing about it was that we couldn't finish it!

Do yourself a favor. Visit the Cocoa Room. 

Price: Our meal, including one large water and 2 hot drinks, cost KD 12.

Contact: Cocoa Room is on Arabian Gulf St opposite Seif Palace. (tel +965 22 46 507).

If you're going for breakfast on a weekend, try to go a bit early - we were lucky because we got the last table when we arrived. And go hungry. Very hungry. 

#Market Review: Spice Bazaar, Istanbul

Don't be fooled by the name-- there is much more than spices at the Spice Bazaar...

Favored by many over the Grand Bazaar due to its more reasonable prices and manageable size, the Spice Bazaar sells spices, foodstuff and Turkish souvenirs.  Spice mixtures are available for chicken, meat, seafood, salads... you name it, they can spice it.

But that's not all... nuts, dried fruits, teas, honey, incense and fine oils, loads of types of saffron, this is really a  flavor-lover's one-stop shop. Considerably smaller than the Grand Bazaar, if you want to do some souvenir shopping you are just as well-served coming here as you would be there, and the prices here are cheaper too. 

Souvenirs sold here are considerably cheaper than the Grand Bazaar 

The products are mainly sold by weight, and it is easy to get carried away. You can also find places that sell Turkish coffee, and if you're a coffee addict then the you could very well get your fix just by walking by and smelling it!

Dried fruits stuffed with nuts

Honey packs

Different types of chilies 

Having been to the Grand Bazaar the previous day, I wasn't that eager to go to the Spice Bazaar, but after I went I wished I had come here first to get my souvenir shopping out of the way. If you want small teacups and teaware, definitely buy them from here- both the selection and the prices are better.

And if you are in the restaurant business, it's definitely worth your while to visit the Spice Bazaar for your spice requirements. 

Tips: The Spice Bazaar isn't that big so you will be done with the shops within a couple of hours.  It is located in the old town though, where traffic is very heavy so you will need to plan it into your day. 

Try to buy everything you need from one store as you will be able to negotiate better prices with the shop keeper. 

Check opening timings with your hotel concierge- morning visits are recommended instead of later in the day. 

#Shop Review: Bait AlCedra, Kuwait

Tucked away in a small alcove down a street next to Ameeri Hospital, is an absolute delight of a shop called Bait AlCedra. If you are not looking for it, you probably won't find it, but when you do, you will be enchanted by what you see.

Dessert dishes topped with knobs and coffee cups

Outdoor enclosed garden with birds

A square garden with a huge tree in the center, and complete with seating, a bird menagerie and an Arabic dessert trolley awaits you as you enter this villa /shop.  It is situated off the street, so is a complete oasis of calm.

Trolley with light Arabic desserts served in the garden

The villa is designed railroad style, so you walk through one room into the other, and each room has different household items for sale.  One narrow room has two racks of jalabiyas (well-priced- unlike most other jalabiya places in Kuwait) and kaftans, another has dishware, and a 3rd room has mirrors, picture frames and other home accessories. 

Bathrooms with signs depicting traditional dress for men and women 

While the goods on sale may not be to everyone's taste, Bait AlCedra feels like a treasure cove with its outdoor space and eclectic collection of products. Not restricted by theme or identity, it could almost serve as a universal souvenir shop.

Contact: Bait AlCedra can be reached on +965 2246 3246 and is located in Sharq, opposite Amiri Hospital.  Call in advance for opening times.

#Beauty review: Tangle Teezer Aqua Splash

What's the big deal? It's just a brush. Well no, it's not just any brush.  Its teeth are patented, and it doesn't pull your hair out like other brushes tend to do. 

The Tangle Teezer, with specifically spaced and designed teeth, was invented by Shaun P, who trained as a color technician in London and then tried to get financing for his invention through the UK entrepreneurship show, the Dragon's Den.  The judges/ investors didn't think his product would fly, and so they turned down the opportunity.  So he funded it himself...

The rest, as they say, is history.  Currently sold in around 50 countries, the Tangle Teezer comes in two versions- the original one, and the newer version, Aqua Splash, intended for wet hair.  I've always been told that the worst time to brush your hair is when it's wet, as this causes the most damage and breakage, so I was a bit skeptical when I bought the Aqua Splash.

The Aqua Splash with hollow design makes it easy to handle and lightweight

I have curly hair that tends to fall out a lot, and the only time I can brush it properly before styling is when it's wet.  So the Aqua Splash -- in an ideal world-- seemed like the perfect solution.

I was extremely impressed with it the first time I tried it as I didn't see a handful of hair falling out, and the tangles smoothened out with 2-3 rounds of brushing. 

But I thought maybe my hair was just having a good day... the next time I tried it, same result! Could it be??? The thing works?? YES! Apparently the spacing and design of the teeth doesn't pull or snag tangles - the teeth flex over the tangles and detangle them gently.  And yes, my hair still falls out, but in not more than half the amount that it does with a normal comb.

I am totally won over by this product- a statement I very rarely make... I don't know how it works for straight hair, but if you have curly hair, I highly recommend this.

Price: The price for the Aqua Splash is £12.99 online (original is £10.20).  The authorized dealer in Bahrain is Lovely Lolita, where the Tangle Teezer is sold at BD 7.5-9, depending on the type.

Contact:+973 17540101 or whatsapp 333 88 596.

#Restaurant Review: Figs, Grand Avenue, Kuwait

Figs by Todd English recently opened at the Grand Avenue in Kuwait, and it is a nice 'finer dining' option for those looking for a change from the usual food court suspects.  We went relatively early for lunch (1pm), so were able to find a table easily, but be warned that if you are going later, there could be a wait.

 

The Figs bistro-style menu is quite extensive, including pizzas, pastas, and main dishes.  We ordered the shrimp fritti to start (shrimps fried in a corn batter in an avocado sauce), and then had the sweet pea ravioli (very fresh ingredients, but is a bit on the sweet side) and the crispy eggplant pizza. 

The thin crust pizza had tomato slices and fresh mozzarella as toppings, in addition to the nicely crisp eggplant.  Again, you could taste the freshness of the ingredients- the cooking here is clearly done for a discerning palate.

The shrimp fritti wasn't my favorite- and I don't think I would order this again.  Although we didn't order salads, the ones being brought out looked quite good so I would like to try these next time.

The presentation of everything we ordered was immaculate, and again, a very welcome change from your usual mall fare.

 

The only thing about Figs which I think was just a teething problem was somewhat confused and late service.  Although there were plenty of waitstaff around, our mains were very late and other diners who had arrived after us got their food considerably earlier than us.  We had to call the waiter several times before he remembered to bring our food.

I would have liked to try their dessert, but we had a packed schedule of other places we wanted to try, so decided to skip dessert at Figs.

 

I do look forward to visiting again and trying different things on the menu- and I hope that the service will have improved as the staff have more time to be trained.

 

Price: Our meal, for one appetizer, 2 mains and a large bottle of water cost just over KD 15.

 

Contact: Figs Avenues can be reached on +965 222 00 698.  There is a branch in 360 Mall too.  Follow on twitter @FigsKuwait.