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.
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
wow enjoy........
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