Food

Jan 19, 2012

You know what they call a footlong subway in Saudi Arabia?

Qusay Food 1 Comment

Scene

- You know what they call a footlong subway in Saudi Arabia?

- They don’t call it a footlong?

- No they use the metric system

- Ok, what do they call a footlong subway in Saudi Arabia?

- They call it a 30cm subway

- What about a six inch?

- They call it a 15 centimeter subway, oh and they don’t call the thousand islands dressing, thousand islands

- What do they call it then?

- They call it cocktail sauce

(inspired from a scene in pulp fiction with John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson.

P.S. A quarter pounder with cheese is still a quarter pounder with cheese at a McDonald’s in Saudi Arabia.

Nov 2, 2011

Review: Jeddah Gourmet Burger Kitchen

Qusay Food 0 Comment

The search for the perfect burger in Jeddah continues, I few months ago I went to the Grilled Burger Kitchen, a London based burger chain, and it was alright, they say it is not like the one in London, but since I have never been to the one in London, I cannot compare.

If you prefer, they give you your burger in three little burgers, it doesn’t get messy, and with the large protions you can easily take it home, or share it.

The burgers were not bad, the search continues… I did like the Indian infused flavors in the sauces, that was a good twist, but I have not craved their burgers, and that is why the search continues.

More Food posts (click here)

Aug 31, 2011

Eid in Jeddah

Qusay Culture, Food, Personal 3 Comments

We are eid-ing in Jeddah, it has been a while since we did this.

This would be our son’s first eid in Saudi among his extended family.

As customs dictate, buying new clothes is mandatory, we bought our little one his first thobe, light blue as he wished, seeing him wearing it made him seem so big, much older that what we see him as in his little jeans and shirts.

His grand parents gave him eidiyahs, money grandparents, parents, and older siblings give to the younger generation… It has been so long since I received any money like that, I don’t even remember what was the last amount I got. Of course he wants to buy toys, more cars is all he can think about… Oh, and an iPad 2… He even wants his own email and a facebook account, at five years old… We had to say no, but then again I said no to a mobile phone number only to see my dad buying him a prepaid sim card, now he has his own number which he uses in my old iPhone, I have a feeling my dad might set him up with an email account.

The joys of eid, or the eid spirit, are mostly felt by kids, with sweets, chocolates and candy of every kind everywhere they go, I am sure it has to do with the happiness they feel.

These are the days we are happy to be home again, but not when we have to drive from one home to the other to visit and give our respect to family members, that part, is nerve wrecking.

I almost got into a fight yesterday, the streets were crowded like never before, and some guy got pissed off because I would let him cut me off at a traffic light, they tried to get me to stop, one of them even threw his slipper at me while driving, all because I wouldn’t let them cut in line at a traffic light I’ve been waiting at for more than 15 minutes, at the next red light, three of them got out of the car and tried to open the door to the car I was driving, this, while my family was with me, and this at a crowded traffic light where there is always a police car parked there… EXCEPT for when I needed them, I didn’t open the door of course, they seemed like the Saudi version of My Name is Earl, and kept making obscene hand gestures and calling me names, all for not letting them break traffic laws, because when you obey traffic laws in Saudi, you piss people like these off. I don’t take things like that personally, it’s like water off a duck’s back to me, and lowering my self to their level… well, I was raised better than that.

But hey, what are holidays without a little road rage from some ignorant imbecile? The balance of the universe would be upset

Mar 3, 2011

Review: Fuddruckers Jeddah

Qusay Food 13 Comments

There was a time, when IMHO Fuddruckers made the best burgers in Jeddah, and they could’ve stayed that way by not fixing what is not broken, the last two visits were disappointing, and this comes from a customer who has always enjoyed the burgers they made.

The burgers seem to have a different recipe, because they don’t taste the same. The wedges taste like bread, not like potatoes, and the toppings have been reduced that you almost can’t taste them.

I used to get cravings every now and then to go there… But after those two visits, I think I’ve been weaned off fudd-burgers… And
so the search will continue until I find another one.

Oh and they do not have the 1lb burgers anymore

Feb 25, 2011

The cost of high Oil prices on the average resident of Saudi Arabia

Qusay Food, Personal, Saudi 2 Comments

While the cost of a barrel of oil has increased to high levels, benefitting no doubt the economies of countries that produce it, and the people who live in those countries in somewhat direct and indirect ways, it has a negative effect in a more direct way.

In a country like Saudi where everything is imported, high oil prices mean higher energy prices in countries we import from, it also means higher transport prices, two things which drive the price of goods and everything else with it, up up and away.

The depreciating US dollar which most gulf countries are pegged at a fixed exchange rate also helped increase prices of anything imported from a country which has not pegged its exchange rate against the green back.

So now, after I came back, almost everything (if not everything) has become expensive, from the prices of cars to rental properties to food, which even in American restaurants like Chilli’s also increased.

I guess you can’t have your cake and eat it too.

P.S I am not complaining, I am just actively observing my surroundings.

Checkout the embedded video from BBC

Dec 30, 2010

Review: Lenôtre – Jeddah

Qusay Food 2 Comments

I was invited to a french restaurant in Jeddah called Lenôtre by a very good friend last year for dinner, this year we were invited for breakfast at Lenotre by my wonderful brother in-law and his wife (my wife’s sister).

The menu was simple, I thought they would have a bit more selections

The menu also has an oriental breakfast for those who don’t want the French experience I guess.

We ordered the eggs and the assorted croissants basket. The eggs were two omelets, one with cheese, one without, for my son who does not like cheese, both came with cheese, which was not a problem, since he changed his mind and said he didn’t want to eat eggs anymore.

The turkish coffee was a little disappointing and lacking the punch turkish coffee usually packs

There was one thing which I thought took away from the class of the place, and that was this buzzer to call the waiter, or the manager. There were no other customers there except for us, but I heard it was packed at dinner time, so maybe it is used then, nevertheless, I didn’t like it.

As I said, it was only us that morning, so I cannot comment on the service, but the waiters were cheerful and smiling, and the restaurant has a relaxing atmosphere.

Our table was separated by glass from the sweets section

and of course we had to have the macaroons

I would recommend this restaurant for dinner. Breakfast on the other hand is not bad, yet not something I think we would crave, it was a nice experience overall, someplace where you can go and have a nice long relaxing breakfast, when you want to entertain people, but not to actually go there for the breakfast it self.

A couple of more pictures are available here.

Jul 3, 2010

Saudi Cake

Qusay Food, Women 12 Comments

You know, I have never seen a cake with a picture on it like this, neither had my wife. I’ve seen Saudi bride and groom figures on top of cakes, but not pictures. I will not read too much into it, i.e. first thing they do is cut her legs off… sorry, but that is what came to mind…

I saw it on this photoblog, which started around the same time as my 365 photoblog project (I still take pictures, but I have not uploaded any in a month), they had a simpler idea, they pass on the blog and posting to another lady after 30 days, all of them are ladies by the way, I am not sure if they are all Saudi or not.

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