Arabic Sweets(2)

Arabic Sweets is made with semolina, butter ghee, milk, sugar syrup, pistachios, dates, choclates or dry fruits. I just love them.

Arabic Sweets

Arabic Sweets.......Very tasty and toothsome, they are mainly made from chocolates, coconut, dry fruits and dates.

Weekends in Q8(4)

Just like any normal weekend, we started our weekend exploring. We have explored many areas of Kuwait for the last three years but every weekend we feel there is lot to know about the various areas of Kuwait.

We are enjoying doing our weekly marketing at the various co-operatives in Kuwait and since I am inviting few friends for lunch on Saturday, we decided to go to Salwa co-operative. A Kuwaiti area, with lot of lovely villas. But one thing I have noticed about the villas is that they are quite big, two-three storied like a small apartment. No doubt they are just too attractive. As I did not get much of the things I wanted in the co-operative, we decided to go to a different area. The Salwa co-operative is not that big nor is their vegetable and frozen section that strong. But there are lot of eateries, play area, book shops, pastery shop, watch shop, perfume shop and mothercare in the building and Salwa Mall is next to the co-operative.

We wanted to go to Shamieh- Shuwaikh co-operative as we have till now found it the best place to purchase vegetables, fruits, grocery items, chicken etc. Jeet loves to try out new roads and he took a different road to this co-operative. We felt we have taken a wrong road, but we enjoyed driving through the area. The villas of the areas are too big, beautiful, lovely to describe in words. They appeared to me like a Hindi-movie set where we have v. big houses with lot of statues and fountains. The balcony area of most of the houses has beautiful designer lights. I just wanted to stop and take few pictures but Jeet didn’t allow as people might misunderstand us. We at last came to the co-operative of the area and it is Dahiat Abdullah Al Salem and Al Mansourieh Co-operative society. A not so big co-operative but the frozen and fresh “chicken” section of the co-operative is quite strong. We purchased few fresh chickens and moved to Shamieh-Shuwaikh co-opeartive.

Both these two co-operatives are not very far from each other and are near Kuwait city. In Shamieh –Shuwaikh co-operative we did our marketing and returned home.

New Lulu Hypermarket @ Qurain

We have visited the new Lulu Hypermarket few times which was opened on 28July 2010 at Al Qurain commercial city and have liked it. The hypermarket’s expansive 20,000 sq m of retail space offers an ultra-modern retail atmosphere that includes every conceivable need of shoppers under one roof. In addition to displaying a panoply of international and regional brands, the hypermarket provides a dedicated play area for children, a food court, a money exchange and bank counters, as well as a huge parking lot that can accommodate in excess of 3,000 vehicles. With its well-stocked shelves, beautifully laid-out counters, wide aisles and banks of checkouts on each floor, the new hypermarket provides customers with the largest assortment of high quality products at the most affordable prices and a unique shopping experience.

On the ground floor, you will find roastry bakery, sea food, fresh meat, dairy products, vegetables and fruits. On the basement you will find electronics, home appliances, crystal, kitchen appliances and grocery. And on the mezzanine floor you will find mens wear, ladies wear, kids wear, luggage, shoes, lingerie, stationary, watch's, jewellery, sports items,toys, shoes, silks and churidars.

The new Lulu Hypermarket, which will cover the residential areas of Jaber Al Ali, Mubarak Al-Kabeer, Qurain, Qusoor, Ahmadi, Fahaheel, South Surra, Adan and Sabah Al-Salem, will attract huge interest among not only the local populace but also from shoppers from neighboring suburbs.

 

The brand, which has a distinct competitive advantage when it comes to understanding customers’ retail needs, uses this unique knowledge to operate under the successful corporate philosophy of providing customers with the “right products in the right place at the right time.

To get to Lulu you take the 40th and then exit on the 208 heading towards the Wataniya Airways airport. It’s located on the main road so you won’t miss it.

Catering to over 320,000 customers every day, the Lulu brand has grown to become the shopping center of choice for hundreds of citizens and expats today who look for quality retailing.

The National Fish of Q8

The other day we went to Sharq Fish Market and had a chance to take few pictures. Few pictures were of the national fish of Kuwait call Zubaidi (Pomfret in English).

The Zubaidi / Promfret

The national fish of Q8

It taste just tooooo good, when prepared the true Kuwaiti way, grilled with all the amazing spices that are so popular in the Kuwaiti culture.

The fish markets here in Kuwait are just too clean , something which is unimaginable in India / Assam. Air conditioned, neat, spotlessly clean is something unbelievable back home. So when people from home visits us Jeet takes them to show the fish markets here. They too enjoyed buying fish here.

Here are some more pictures I took in the Sharq Fish market.......

Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy, Q8

After our visit to Tareq Rajab Museum, we hurriedly drove to the Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy as they too close at 7pm and we did not have much time at hand. The visiting hours of the Calligraphy Museum is same as that the Tareq Rajab Museum and is on the same street as the Dar al Cid, where many art exhibits are held, also under the patronage of the Tareq Rajab family.

The Museum of Calligraphy is down the street in front of the museum, turn right at the end of the street, turn right again when the street ends and you will see a huge parking lot – the beautiful building is the Museum of Calligraphy, and you can park in the parking area there. Just in front of the museum is the New English School, which was also founded by Tareq S. Rajab in 1969. It is a co-educational school that has British curriculum.

The museum is impressive and well organized. It has a beautiful collection of calligraphic art and artifacts. But we found that most of the exhibits had no explanations so we didn’t know the significance of what we were seeing that were so impressive. The calligraphy is manifest in hangings, ancient Qurans, quilting, posters and carved wood. Each item is a work of art. The Islamic Arabic Chinese calligraphy is probably one of the most interesting collection at the museum. Chinese calligraphy on its own is fabulous and stunning but seeing it done in Arabic lettering was totally new.  

But hope to find explanation on all the exhibits when I visit it next time.

I think if you are in Kuwait you must visit BOTH the museums.

Visit to Mishref Exhibition Ground, Q8

When my brother visited us there was exhibition of Arabic food  items and IT n Communications exhibition going on at Kuwait International Fair Ground in Mishref. We decided to take him to Mishref as it is the best way to have a feel and experience of Arabic food , culture and people. He was very happy to see so many Arabic people, taste their food ( sweets and Shawarma) and to have seen the latest technology gadgets.

 In the IT & Communications exhibition that was held at Hall no 8 , there was arts and crafts going on for kids. They were given all the necessary things and they had to draw or make a fish with the colour papers. Mehr is too young to be part of such activities but as they insisted I helped her in making a fish. Also a quiz competion and a football match was held.

I had already written about Mishref International Fair ground in details. So won’t go into those details again. But for those who are reading about it for the first time you can check my earlier post regarding it and check the website http://www.kif.net/

Shawarma

SHAWARMA is a Middle Eastern sandwich-like wrap of shaved lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or a mixture thereof. The meat is placed on a spit, and may be grilled for as long as a day. Chunks of fat within the meat ensure that the shawarma stays juicy. Shawarma is a fast-food staple across the Middle East. The place of origin of shawarma is Turkey, and in Turkish it is called döner kebab.


It is eaten with pita bread, tabouli, fattoush, taboon bread, tomato and cucumber. Toppings include tahini, hummus, pickled turnips and amba.

Shawarma is made by placing strips of beef, lamb or marinated chicken on a stick; an onion or tomato is placed at the top of the stack for flavoring. The meat is roasted slowly on all sides as the spit rotates in front of, or over, a flame for hours (see rotisserie). Traditionally a wood fire was used, now a gas flame is common. While specialty restaurants might offer two or more meat selections, some establishments have just one skewer.

After cooking, the meat is shaved off the stack with a large knife, an electric knife or a small circular saw, dropping to a circular tray below to be retrieved. Shawarma is eaten as a fast food, made up into a sandwich wrap with pita bread or rolled up in an Armenian Lavash flatbread together with vegetables and dressing. Vegetables found in shawarma include cucumber, onion, tomato, lettuce, eggplant, parsley, pickled turnips, pickled gherkins, cabbage, and in some countries, such as Romania, Bulgaria, Jordan, Israel, or the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, french fries.

Dressings include tahini (or tahina), Amba sauce (pickled mango with Chilbeh) and hummus, flavored with vinegar and spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Chicken shawarma is served with garlic mayonnaise, toum (garlic sauce), pomegranate concentrate, or skhug (a hot chili sauce). Once the shawarma is made, it might be dipped in the fat dripping from the skewer and then briefly seared against the flame. In Israel, Syria and Lebanon, chicken shawarma are toasted after being made up, whereas those made of lamb or beef are immediately eaten.
Beef can be used for shawarma instead of just lamb, and turkey is used instead of chicken. In Saudi Arabia, goat is as common as beef or lamb. Less common alternatives include fish and sausage. Some shawarma stores use hot dog buns or baguettes, but most have pita and lafa. Sometimes, beef shawarma—despite its name—contains some lamb in addition to the beef, to ensure juiciness.
( Information taken from Wikipedia)

There are many shops in Kuwait selling "Shawarma" but till now I ate the best shawarma in the shop near Mangaf Sultan Center. When you will stand in front of the entrance, in the car parking area , you will get to see the shop.

Do try it out.....you will enjoy it !