Amazing lightning shot!

Amazing picture taken a few weeks ago by Thomas 'EDGEPIECE' Edge. 

Please note that we did run inside like screaming girls 5 seconds later!

Hello again!

Its been a while since we have been actively working to find that recipe for living in Kuwait.  After a long summer in the States and the UK it was tough to get back into life in the Middle East.  A busy start to the school year and job hunting for next year has put the blog in the back seat.  

I found myself inspired today to get back to it.  A stroke of luck found us with a day off thanks to the Amir calling today a national holiday, not quite used to decisions like that being made hours before work is canceled.  But no matter the method we will take and enjoy a day off!!

This gave me a bit of extra time to think through my dinner plans.  I had some mince leftover from last nights Italian meatballs, tomato sauce and whole wheat pasta.  A quick google of meatballs and I decided to give BBC's Good Food Swedish meatballs a try.  I have enjoyed a meatball or two from Ikea but have never tried it on my own, and wasn't quite sure what to expect the result to be.

We have recently trying extra hard to eat well.  Mostly working to eliminate sugar.  As hard as it sounds we have really enjoyed it and been surprised how easily we can get by without it.  The best part of going sugar free is that you can count on our fridge being filled with loads of fruits and veggies.  Because of this I just happened to have fresh dill on hand, which I had no idea was an flavour in Swedish meatballs!  I had also picked up a big box of fresh green beans this weekend and decided to try them out with this yummy looking recipe.

As the cooking neared the finish I started getting quite excited.  It was actually looking and tasting delicious.  Some homemade sweet potato mash would round out this hearty and tasty meal.

The finished product was colourful, filling and tasty.  (Not the most photogenic of meals but I'm too excited to not share it!)

Maybe it is just my age but I feel like I have learned so much about cooking in the last few years, especially here in Kuwait.  One of the biggest lessons I have learned is to be creative.  Most things are available here in Kuwait but not everything, and sometimes a trip to the right store can be more daunting than rewarding for that one ingredient.  Today that occurred with the need for cranberry/lingonberry sauce.  Its not something we keep on hand nor were we up for venturing out for it.  We did however have some dried cranberries on had.  I soaked them for a few hours in water, heated them in a small saucepan and then added them to the gravy for a sweet accompaniment to the savoury meatballs.  A few years ago I would never have trusted myself to experiment so much with dishes, but today I love it!

Tonight we will go to bed relaxed with full bellies, just what we need to get through the 3-day week that lies ahead.

-Viv

Sunsets over the City

Summer Tunes

One issue with being in Kuwait is our inability to keep up with the music scene in the UK and the US. Obviously we get the privilege of listening to 'Linda's Corner' on the way to work in the morning. The benefit of this is that I can be constantly updated with what's happening in the world of Justin Bieber whilst also listening to every Nicki Minaj song at least 5 times an hour, what a treat!!! 


Over the past few months we have come across some artists and songs which are new to us, but have obviously been very popular at home. I thought I would share them on here so you can look into this great music.


Enjoy!

Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up 

The Ben Howard album is absolutely incredible!

The Temper Trap - Rabbit Hole

These next two songs are from the film 'Drive' with Ryan Gosling. The film is brilliant and the soundtrack even better.

College - A Real Hero

Desire - Under Your Spell

Steaks and Sweets

This weekend my vanity overcame my reluctance to spend excessive amounts money on beauty treatments, I called and booked into Toni and Guy for a much needed good quality haircut.  Overall it was a great experience, the salon was welcoming and the attention to detail from my stylist was more than I expected.

What I had not expected was the horrendous parking situation outside the Corniche Club and The Swimming Pool Complex.  Before my appointment we drove around for over 15 minutes trying to secure a space with no luck.  Andy decided to drop me off and head out, and after spending nearly two hours waiting for me in the car we decided we needed a little adventure.  We made quick detour and headed in the direction of the new shopping mall Al Hamra, in the heart of Kuwait City.  The detour was well worth it, we thoroughly enjoyed some Kuwait City exploration.

Our first impression of Al Hamra was clean, empty and not The Avenues.  There were few shops and restaurants open, we immediately recognized Le Relais de L'Entrecote, a French steak and chips bistro that we had frequented in Doha, Qatar.  We were pleasantly surprised to see it here and even more surprised to hear it is the third location for the restaurant here in Kuwait.   You can find their first location in Al Fanar and their second will reopen with phase 3 of The Avenues.

For a first time diner it may come as a surprise that there is no menu here, all that is served is a modest side salad, then steak and chips with a delectable 'secret' sauce.  They served New Zealand beef that was cooked perfectly to order, we both enjoyed it medium rare.  The chips were light and crisp accented beautifully by their sauce, imported directly from France.

While we dined, it felt as though we could have been in Paris, as glamourous individuals sauntered by in sky high heels.  Besides the beautiful people, we were in view of the stunning enormous video screen, probably more suited to Times Square but still hard to take your eyes away from it.

Our meal ended with an offering of many splendid deserts, but we gave them a miss this time and we were so glad we did, as our next stop in Al Hamra proved to be more fruitful.  Just a few steps away we found the new, unique boutique 21 Carrots.  We were greeted by chic male attendants dressed in pristine white suits, which were a perfect complement to the shops fantastic decor.

The concept is sweets meets fashion, while primarily a catering business 21 Carrots is aiming to offer an experience like none other found in Kuwait.  We were welcomed and showered with tastings of sweets, we enjoyed espresso and carrot cake while Tarek enlightened us with the ideas behind the company.  Besides offering delicious sweets their aim is to inject some additional flair into the fashion culture of Kuwait.  They are currently featuring the designs of Indonesian, Biyan Wanaatmadia.  His garments are distinct creations, sure to be snapped up by the fashionistas of Kuwait.  

We of course were drawn to the sweets, one of their signature candies was the Mount Rock.  We tasted Mont Blanc: white chocolate, almonds, pistachio and cardamon and Fuji: dark chocolate, almond, orange and cinnamon, both were stunning, a treat we will be sure to indulge in again.

As you can see we had a productive evening in Al Hamra mall, and we will be sure to continue to check in to see how it is growing.  We are anxiously waiting for the opening of the new 9 screen cinema, including a new IMAX theatre.  Be sure to check it out, we would love to hear your thoughts!

-Viv

TFK: The Fragrance Kitchen

A unique and intimate experience!

Location: Al Hamra Mall

As you walk into TFK you feel as if you could be anywhere in the world! Initially your eyes will be drawn to the spectacular wooden wall which really stands out in the dim lighting of the shop. This wall display is made of 200 pieces of laser cut wood designed to imitate the shape of smoke. It fits in with the ‘Theme of the Month’ which is currently Kuwait. Once you have adjusted to the calm beauty of the space the aroma of the fragrance will take over your senses!

The atmosphere is classy, but not pretentious and this is backed up by the assistance you will receive from one of the shop ‘Brand Ambassadors’. Our assistant was Marlon who was knowledgeable, personable and more than willing to answer any questions about this exciting new concept.

TFK, The Fragrance Kitchen, is the latest chapter in the ongoing retail legend that began in 2005 by Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah.  The Kuwaiti based fragrance house was borne of childhood memories and sensory memories that became associated with his beloved grandmother.  Fragrance can be a translation of  memories  and Sheikh Majed has skillfully  combined  both  via the use  of Oud, Taif Rose, and burning Agarwood which were used frequently by his cherished grandmother.  

TFK is the culmination of a dream to create the “perfect” or dream perfume for each individual.  Sheikh Majed has long been associated with the ultimate in luxury having been a member of the international fashion community for over 2 decades.  Today, he offers you the chance to become memorable in your own individualized way.  Long after you leave the room, your scent lingers. 

In terms of fragrance Marlon showed us the full complement of what the shop had to offer. We started with the ‘Exclusive range’ and were delighted with the clean, fresh and unique scents that we were introduced to. You should check out their website for the full range but I must say that I was immediately won over by “Son of a Rose”.  A day later and it still smells awesome! 

The fragrance of the month was “Kuwait” designed by Sheikh Majed Al-Sabah. It had a fantastic scent and was a great representation of the country.

Next we checked out the ‘Signature range’ and were equally pleased with what we found. Again you really must visit the store to experience these.

Whilst in the store many people entered and all were welcomed with warmth and enthusiasm without the pressure to buy. It was a great atmosphere and definitely somewhere where we will visit again.

TFK really is a hidden gem in the manic and all too familiar shopping culture of Kuwait.  You will be amazed by the hospitality in store and even more impressed by the spectacular fragrances.

Thank you TFK (Marlon in particular) for providing us with this experience!


- Andy

Bat Boy - One hell of a show!

This was our third visit to the 'Kuwait Little Theatre' and a trip that didn't disappoint! I had heard from a co-worker (and star) that this show was not to be missed so I booked tickets as soon as they were available. We headed down with some friends for whom it was their first visit and we all had no idea what to expect. Yes, we knew it was about a human bat but what should we expect? Bruce Wayne, the Joker and the Riddler? 

 

As always the programme gave us a great introduction to the theme of the show along with some cheesy pictures of the cast! To be honest we were a little disappointed that HHT was not in the programme this time. After seeing two other shows we had got used to the cast members but this programme appeared to be full of 'Newbies' with very impressive backgrounds. We were particularly looking forward to the performance from the Batty duo and they did not let us down! 

Luke Zaccaro played Bat Boy and was absolutely outstanding! He moved around the stage with ease and demonstrated the best performance we had seen at KLT, possibly the best performance we had seen anywhere in a long time. 

Picture: www.theklt.com

John Peaveler played Dr. Parker. His performance was also very convincing as the villain. However, I couldn't stop thinking at how much he looked and sounded like Stu from 'The Hangover'.

Julie Bowling played the stay at home mum and we loved her compassion for Bat Boy. Her relationship with Dr. Parker was also key to the show and provided a unforeseen twist at the end!

Laura Zaccaro played daughter Shelly and again was fantastic and cast perfectly. She had an amazing voice and her love for Bat Boy was also convincing.

As always the rest of the class provided a comic element to the show. We loved the Sheriff and as always Stephen Grimes, who moulded into his roles with great ease.

Still a few nights of the show left so head down to the KLT! You would be a fool to miss this outstanding show!

A special mention to Mr and Mrs Batty and Meaghan Devlin who as teachers by day and ensemble by night showed dedication, confidence and proved that a little theatre can give you so much happiness!


You won't be able to get this song out of your head!

Andy and Viv

Visit the KLT website to purchase tickets. Click here

Driving directions can be found here

Let me Entertain you...

One of the ways we keep our bellies full as well as our wallets (well, as much as you can in Kuwait) is the Entertainer Kuwait.  It is is the international equivalent to The Entertainment Book, which I am surprised to see is still around!

Just seeing that logo takes me back to my youth and the umpteen times I was forced to sell this book as a school or team fundraiser!  I am guessing it has gone out of fashion in the states, with all the mobile coupons taking storm.  Here in Kuwait we are unfortunate to not have any mobile coupons, but we do have the good old fashioned Entertainer!!

The Entertainer Kuwait is a collection of coupons, primarily 'buy one get one free' for local venues.  We first discovered it in Qatar and were faithful customers.  It was one of the first things we bought when we arrived here in Kuwait.  We love it because we are able to save a bit of cash on dining out, which we love to do, AND it encourages us to get out and try new places.

It does come at a bit of a cost, this years edition was 19 KWD, about $68, but it always pays it self back and much more.  On our latest book we earned our money back on our first outing.  Our family were in town and we took a drive down to the Al Manshar Rotana in Fahaheel.  We enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch, and saved 22kd!!

We have treated ourselves to a Brazillian grill at the Movenpick, sushi at Osaka and we regularly turn to it for a lovely little cup of coffee.  There are also coupons for beauty treatments and family activities such as bowling and child entertainment centers.

This time around we are excited to try out some of the newly featured travel coupons.  We have booked a short getaway in Oman utilizing a buy one night get one night free at Shangri-la's Barr Al Jissah in Muscat.  We're hoping it is as amazing as it looks online, we will be sure to let you know what we think.

We purchased ours from the Sultan Center, you may also buy directly from their website.

Happy saving!!

-Viv

MyTunes Vol. 2 - The Battle of Britpop

The Summer of 1995

2 bands...

Blur v Oasis

The battle of Britpop

If you are like me, you will remember the Summer of 95' like it was yesterday. 2 songs gunning for chart glory and the impossible decision of which one to buy.

I bought both on a rainy day from Asda in Taunton, back when CD singles were £1.99. I think I had spent all of my savings that day, but boy was it worth it!

Which was your favourite? Comment below...

Andy

Want to get fit? TeleSeen must be seen!

Most people that move to the Middle East will agree that there is a supernatural power that adds inches to your waist! I think it’s called Hardee’s, or is it PF Changs…no hold on, it’s Johnny Rockets! You get the idea!

Well when we arrived in Kuwait we joined the Holiday Inn Health Club. The price was great, the restaurants in the hotel tickled our fancy and the location seemed ideal. Initially we went quite often as we were training for a half marathon in Dubai, but since it has got hotter we have been finding it hard to build up the energy to head down after work. This has become a big problem in recent weeks as we have signed up for another half marathon in Portland, Oregon in July.

The solution? A treadmill!

Where could we get a treadmill? Go Sport – 375kd, Nasser Sports – 290kd, Intersport – 380kd…a little out of our price range!

One morning whilst driving to do our Saturday morning shop we saw a big billboard advertising treadmills and the price appeared to say 100 – 300kd. The next mission was to find out where this shop was. After searching on Google and asking Kuwait old timers I found out that this shop was called TeleSeen and was just down the road from us, located opposite Al-Sha’ab Park on Baghdad street. See green arrow below.

View Larger Map

So off we went to investigate what TeleSeen had to offer!

As you walk into the store you are faced with all those random objects that you see on television adverts. Things like a 21 piece vegetable chopper, wind up torches and the world famous 6 minute AB toner! Everywhere you look there are 'AS SEEN ON TV' stickers and posters. So where are the treadmills??

At the back of the showroom is a door that leads into another larger room which is an Aladdin's cave of fitness equipment! There are about 20 different types of treadmill, cross trainers, exercise bikes and many other contraptions. The great thing about TeleSeen is the selection and price range of treadmills. Treadmills are priced from 109 KD up to 375 KD and there really is something for everybody. 

We got straight home and after doing a bit of research and exchanging a few emails with the  helpful staff ordered a treadmill for 169KD. The service was fantastic.

• We could test the treadmills at the store.
• Every email that I sent was replied to within a few hours and answered my questions honestly and sufficiently (unusual for the Middle East).
• The treadmill was delivered the next day and we were able to select a time for delivery. The delivery guy also kept in constant contact to inform me of his arrival.
• The delivery guys set up and demonstrated the treadmill for no extra cost.
• The treadmill comes with a 1 year guarantee!

As mentioned above, the TeleSeen team were great and we explained what we were trying to achieve with this blog and they loved the idea!

They have agreed to give anybody who places order via email a 5% discount if you quote this

blog.

So we recommend you should:

1. Have a look at their website  http://www.808808.com/
2. Go to the shop and check out the fitness equipment. Feel free to try it out!
3. Go home and send an email to info@808808.com saying what you would like to order. 
4. REMEMBER: Quote "A Recipe for Kuwait" in your order.
5. Use your machine, don't just put it in your living room and stare at it!

Feel free to contact TeleSeen or us if you would like any more information!

Andy

Souper Easy Recipie

Now as much as we love to go out, I still find one of the most important 'ingredients' to a happy life is some good home cooking.  This week I was brave enough to try out a recipe from Soup Bible, a lovely little just because treat from Andy.  I went for the Roasted Tomato and Red Pepper soup, and I am so glad I did.  It was souper easy and very delicious!

To start roast tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic and basil in olive oil for about an hour.

Before

                                                                            After

Then add the roasted veg to some chicken broth and give a little whiz with a hand blender.  I used my new Bosch MSM6B, a gift from my lovely in-laws who were just here visiting.

Then just simmer and serve!  We added a few croutons for flavor and crunch, it was one of the most delicious soups I have ever made or tasted.

-Viv

Me vs The Cinema

To me going to the cinema has always been an exciting experience regardless of the movie. I love the atmosphere when you arrive, the ridiculously expensive confectionary which we all moan about but still spend our hard earned pennies on, the trailers before the film, the movie itself and finally the moment once we leave the screen and automatically turn into film critics.

I have some fond memories of various cinemas and can remember experiences like they were yesterday.  I remember when I was 7 going to watch ‘Ghostbusters 2’ for Arnold’s birthday. I even think he had a Ghostbusters jumper (so jealous)! I remember leaving that film and all of us pretending we were not scared. I’ll be honest, that guy in the painting still gives me nightmares!

I remember going to Wincanton Cinema to watch ‘Back to the Future 2’ with Dad. This was a smaller cinema and only ever had 10-15 people viewing each film. It was useful to have it in the town but the sound was about the same quality as playing music through a mobile phone. However, despite this it was great to walk out of that cinema with Dad having both witnessed a phenomenal film which showed us a glimpse of the future (still no hoverboards).

So as I’ve got older I have been to the Cinema on numerous occasions all over the world but nothing could prepare me for the Middle East experience. Ok, so I knew films would be censored and some films would not even be shown at all, but my negative experiences have come from something completely different.

I first went to the Cinema in Qatar to see Avatar with some good friends. Obviously it was busy as the film was new and as the lights went down the room was illuminated with the screens of Blackberry’s and iPhones. The room then became a chorus of various ringtones at which point I thought these people would panic and quickly turn their phones off in embarrassment. Did this happen? Of course not! These people answered their phones and just sat there talking as if they were watching a film in their living room. We all looked at each other in disbelief and decided to stare directly at these people and give the odd sshhhhh. That would surely work! BUT NO!!!!! People were chatting walking around in the screen, leaving after 5 minutes, leaving mid film and even new people arriving 5 minutes from the end. This became the norm at every film we went to however some films had different problems. My favourite was seeing 5 and 6 year old children arriving to watch ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ at 10.30pm which is obviously an unsuitable time for children to be up, let alone the film being extremely graphic and violent.

When we arrived in Kuwait I knew that there would be a few films being released that needed a cinema visit. The first we saw was ‘Captain America’ and I was incredibly excited. We went to Muhallab Mall as it is only 5 minutes away and it was Friday lunchtime so in theory there would be hardly anybody there. In the screen were Viv and myself, another couple and one family with three kids. 30 minutes into the film and the Kuwait experience was good, in fact great! But then a sign must have appeared saying that if you run and play in front of the screen you will win a prize. These pesky (word stolen from Scooby-Doo) kids were a nightmare!! I did my usual, mumble bad words under my breath and said that I was going to complain if it didn’t stop (I never do!). We sat there for about another 30 minutes watching these children become part of the film. To be honest it was actually funny seeing a child stood in front of Captain America’s special place. They then must have got tired as they left the cinema and allowed us to enjoy the phenomenal finale!

On Thursday we went to see ‘The Avengers’ which if you haven’t seen, is probably the best superhero movie ever made or at least equal to ‘The Dark Knight’. We saw it in IMAX 3D at 360 Mall. It was packed there and many people arrived late but for the first time in 3 years I felt as if I could have been in any cinema in the world. People were cheering, clapping and gasping at the action. Mobile phone rings were limited and no children were let loose to wreak havoc! It was a near perfect movie experience to the point that I am trying to convince Viv to go and watch it again. She will, I always win when it comes to the cinema.

The moral to this post is:

1. Be prepared to get annoyed at the cinema in the Middle East

2. Be prepared for key parts of the film to be cut out (kissing, girls boobies etc)

3. Buy a Ghostbusters jumper (or knit your own)

4. Hoverboards aren’t real

Andy

Rice Up Your Life

Today we were lucky to enjoy the tasty delights of the Rice Pudding Factory, right here in Hawally.

Last week Andy read about this new food venture on another blog.  He discovered that it was just down the road, he couldn't contain his excitement and headed down immediately.  What he found was a lovely little shop adjacent to one of the cleanest Co-ops in Kuwait, a drive through Starbucks and a lovely florist.  The rice pudding was so great we decided to take our friends the very next day.  However, we arrived to find the doors locked and all the counters covered in blue tarps!!  Our disappointment filled the air as we went home empty handed.  A little research and a few days later we found there were some technical difficulties that needed repairing and they would re-open shortly.

We gave it another go this afternoon and couldn't have been happier to see the doors open and The Rice Girls behind the counter ready to serve!

 

There are five flavors of cold rice pudding and two hot varieties.  Toppings include fruit, crumbles and sweet sauces.  As there were four of us, we decided to get a Happy Box to sample several of the flavor combinations.

The six pack of puddings cost 7 kd and was well worth it.  A box like this would be perfect to take to a party or in our case just the right amount to share between four.  Take a look at the flyer below to get your taste buds tingling.

If you want to experience a 'carnival of flavors' (Andy Turner TM) be sure to go over and check it out for yourself.  No doubt you will probably see us there with a Happy Box for two!!

-Viv

Here is a map for their location:

WICKed

Normally when I get home after a stressful day at work the eight meters from the lift to the front door seems like eight miles.  However, today I walked out of the lift and the lovely aromas of our scented candles had infiltrated the corridor. I have never been much of a candle person, despite the fact that my lovely sister would (and still does) pressure me into attending PartyLite parties on a regular basis back in the states, but recently I have nothing but love for some wax and a wick.

It all started when we moved into our new apartment and wanted to make it super cosy.  A little shopping trip to Safat Home and The One led us to their sale sections and some massive three wick candles for less than 5kd.  We stocked up, and went back several times, and now candles are always on our shopping list.  Not only do we buy them but we light them every single day.

Our most recent find is Bath and Body Works (our location of choice, Marina Mall).  Now first let me say I have not given Bath and Body Works a fair chance in recent years.  After receiving far too many gifts of matching lotion and shower gel it hasn't been at the top of my shopping list.  But low and behold they do more than just lotion and shower gels.  They have an incredible selection of home scents, the candles burn well and smell lovely.  Currently you can find last seasons scents, think fall and Christmasy, on sale for 3kd.  Our favorites so far are Marshmallow, and Creamy Nutmeg.

  There is also a deal on mini candles, 3 for 2kd and you get the glass holders for free!!

The moral of my post is go buy a candle and light it today.

As Andy always says "Live life to the wax!"

-Viv

MyTunes

Today I am going back to the late 90's when Gomez arrived on the scene. I must admit that I was not a huge fan at first, but I certainly got swept up in the hysteria after they won the Mercury Music Prize in 1998. The album 'Bring it On' was a permanent fixture in my Sony Minidisc player (yes I was one of probably 10 people in the world to own one) and to me this album has become a glorious memory from my teenage years!

I often arrive at school in the morning and pop on a couple of Gomez tracks to get the day started, much to the delight of my partner in crime Mr. B!

So here is my first blast from the past: Gomez - Free to Run

Andy

The Journey to Tassimo

After arriving in Kuwait we were on a mission to find the perfect coffee brewing system.  Over the summer we were lucky enough to enjoy great tea and coffee from a Keurig home brewing machine, and we assumed we would be able to find one here in Kuwait.  This proved to be a bit of a challenge as we were looking for a single cup system that not only made coffee but other tasty drinks like hot cocoa and tea.  The only thing we could find in Kuwait was the Nespresso machine (check out their shop at 360 mall), which looked and tasted amazing, but was espresso and coffee only.  


We finally hatched a plan to get a Keurig machine to Kuwait.  We were visiting New York last November so my family sent us the machine from Oregon and we carefully packed in our carry on, along with tons of K-cups, it passed customs and arrived safely in our little home.  We were so excited we set it up, plugged it in, pressed power and were ready to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee when, nothing happened.  There were no lights working, no buttons, nothing!!  Had we got a dud? It took a few minutes before it dawned on us, it was the voltage!  How could we have made this mistake?  Especially after making the same mistake mere months ago by plugging our American Wii into a UK power outlet.  The Wii was ok, just a new power cable solved that problem, I wish I could say the same for our Keurig.  


We took the machine to an electrician who said "no problem, come back tomorrow."  A few visits and many phone calls and tomorrow turned into a week and when we went to collect it the machine was in a hundred pieces on his desk.  "No fix" was the answer we got from the 'highly qualified technician'.  Meanwhile we had been in contact with the Keurig customer service team and they were phenomenal!  We shared the dilemma and they offered to issue a new machine to my address in  the states, all we had to do was send them the K-cup holder from our machine (a small piece easily removed).  It was nearing Christmas then so the little K-cup holder (and all the K-cups we could no longer use) went to Texas with my dear friend Meaghan, she shipped it to Keurig and they shipped a new machine to my family.  The new machine was returned to the store for cash and cash deposited in our bank account for coffee brewing system plan B.  


Many hours of research, online and in all of the shopping malls in Kuwait we discovered Tassimo, we were careful this time to premise our search with a machine whose voltage would work here in Kuwait.  Plan B included more shipping and plane travel for the precious coffee machine.  We were expecting a visit from Andy's family in April so we ordered the machine, had it shipped to the Turners in Wincanton, along with many many T-discs.  Again it was carried on a flight, this time by Andy's dutiful dad, and safely made it through customs.  While the family had a self-guided tour of our apartment Andy and I were in the kitchen to test our purchase.  I have to admit we were a little nervous to plug it in and turn it on, but we did and it worked perfectly!  Finally a happy ending to our eight month journey.

We love our Tassimo!!  Every drink is delicious, from a simple cup of English Breakfast tea, to a multi-layered macchiato, prepared with one touch of a button in under a minute.  

Now all we need is for Tassimo to start to sell T-discs here, until then we will have to leave some room in our luggage each time we go home, which is definitely worth it.

Please let us know if you see these T-discs being sold anywhere in Kuwait, our summer luggage would greatly appreciate it!!


-Viv

Top 3 food choices

We love to eat out (and order in!) so for the first post we would like to try and bring you up to date with what we have come across so far in our 8 months in Kuwait.  Easiest way to do this is with our 'Top 3 in Kuwait' charts.


Top 3 Breakfasts
3. Zaatar W Zeit - Marina Crescent
2. Early Bird - Salmiya
1. Le Pain Quotidien - Marina Crescent


Top 3 Restaurants
3. P.F. Changs - Gulf Road
2. The One - Marina Mall
1. Sakura - Various locations


Top 3 Restaurant 'Hidden Gems'
3. Organica Fish and Chips - Salem Al Mubarak Street
2. Kareem Arabic Restaurant - Tunisia Street
1. Oriental Cuisine - Opp Dasman Model School


Top 3 Takeaways
3. Baking Tray - Fresh bread, breakfast and salads.
2. V Garden - Salads
1. Dragon Express - Chinese


Top 3 Coffee Shops
3. Columbus Cafe
2. The One - Great Iced Coffee!
1. Caribou - Hawalli offers teacher discount!