Where We Are Going Today: ‘Tell A Tale’ in Alkhobar

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Updated 15 November 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: ‘Tell A Tale’ in Alkhobar

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  • Tell a Tale serves a range of items, including croissants, Danish pastries, babka, carrot cake, cinnamon rolls, raspberry cream cheese croissants and lemon meringue croissants

Tell a Tale is a cafe converted from a house in Al-Shamaliya, one of Alkhobar’s oldest neighborhoods.
One of the newest and most popular cafes in the heart of the city, Tell a Tale boasts a large two-story space with an Instagram-worthy atmosphere and a garden filled with pink Bougainvillea shrubs.
It is one of the few cafes in the area that opens from 8 a.m. until midnight.
Tell a Tale serves a range of items, including croissants, Danish pastries, babka, carrot cake, cinnamon rolls, raspberry cream cheese croissants and lemon meringue croissants.
One of the most popular treats is a waffle croissant topped with crushed vermicelli and pistachio, served with caramel sauce.
For savory items, Tell A Tale offers a pizza Danish, pesto cheese Danish, mushroom Danish, and zaatar and cheese babka.
The dishes are priced between SR19 ($5.07) for a plain croissant and SR36 for a tiramisu.
The beverage menu includes hot and cold options. The hot drinks selection includes espresso, V60 coffee, cortado, hazelnut latte and vanilla Spanish latte.
Tell A Tale’s cold beverages include refreshing options such as an ice drink shaken with vanilla and salted caramel, iced V60, iced americano, raspberry ice tea and peach ice tea.
The cafe supports local products with a display of goods from around Alkhobar, including candles, tote bags, stationery and homemade granola.
For updates and more information, visit @tellatalecafe. on Instagram.

 


Where We Are Going Today: ‘Kholasa’ coffee in AlUla

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Updated 10 December 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: ‘Kholasa’ coffee in AlUla

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  • The cafe offers coffee envelopes to make your coffee at home and a to-go box that holds up to seven cups — an ideal option for the workplace or a picnic in the desert

Nothing compares to enjoying a cup of coffee at Kholasa against a dramatic mountain backdrop in AlUla’s UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra.

After opening in Riyadh, Saudi brand Kholasa has expanded to AlUla. Both outlets are known for their hibiscus iced tea, cold brew, and coffee of the day. The specialized coffee shop is also a favorite for its pastries and bakery.

The traditional Saudi pattern known as “sadu” is the inspiration for the cafe design, which combines a simple, modern style with historical and traditional elements in the furnishings and interiors.

AlUla has one of the largest concentrations of carved inscriptions and rock art in the Middle East, and Kholasa is adorned with illustrations showing a wide range of examples.

The cafe also offers coffee envelopes to make your coffee at home and a to-go box that holds up to seven cups — an ideal option for the workplace or a picnic in the desert.

Branches are open from 6 a.m. to midnight from Saturday to Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to midnight on Friday.  

For updates and more information check their Instagram @kholasacoffee.

 

 


Where We Are Going Today: ‘It Caffe’ at Riyadh park Mall

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Updated 10 December 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: ‘It Caffe’ at Riyadh park Mall

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  • ‘It Caffe’ offers a range of breakfast and lunch options

It Caffe is a renowned coffee roaster and independent cafe that stands out for its wide array of delicious desserts.

Known for its baked goods, It Caffe has gained popularity on social media for its signature crolls, or rolled croissants. These heavenly treats, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, are crafted from waffle dough and feature a delectable filling of pistachio, Nutella or mixed berries.

Chocolate lovers can indulge in the decadent chocolate ganache croll, while those seeking a milder option can go for the pastry cream crolls, their velvety and sweet custard filling providing the perfect comforting bite.

It Caffe also offers a range of breakfast and lunch options. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty English breakfast, French toast, or chicken Caesar salad, the brunch menu will have you covered.

Despite its many strong points, there is a downside to It Caffe — the inconsistency in the quality of its baked treats. There have been times when the crolls have failed to meet expectations, particularly when they are not freshly baked. With the price of each croll coming in at SR18 ($5), you would expect consistent quality.

Located in Huna, a curated space for dining and socializing, It Caffe offers a calm and welcoming atmosphere. The two other locations in the Kingdom are at Riyadh’s Panorama Mall and Jeddah’s Spectrums Sari.

For updates, check out the cafe’s Instagram account @itcaffe.sa.

 

 


Where We Are Going Today: Lunch Room in Riyadh

Where We Are Going Today: Lunch Room in Riyadh
Updated 08 December 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: Lunch Room in Riyadh

Where We Are Going Today: Lunch Room in Riyadh

Lunch Room opened its doors in Riyadh last winter and is so busy that a week’s advanced reservation is required.

It is one of the few spots in Riyadh with a true appreciation for brunch — a midday meal with a delightful combination of breakfast and dinner — a preferred option for many locals these days.

Everyone can find something they like on a single sweet and savory menu, though it might take you a very long time to decide on what to order.

The menu is divided into six sections: the “Market” section, which includes a variety of salads; the “Clay Oven” section with 48-hour sourdough flatbread; the “Panouzzi” section; the “Ode to Egg” section; the “Sweet Instinct” section; and the “Coffee Commune” section, which offers delicious baked goods.

There are also options for sharing. The double-cooked sweet potato with miso-caramel aioli is a great one, and the pide bread with honeycomb and gaymar, which is a thickened cream traditionally made using water buffalo milk, is a dish that you will most likely see at every table there, as it is the most ordered item at Lunch Room.

Some of the sweet options include the buckwheat Dutch pancakes with salted honey butter topped with whipped mascarpone and honeycomb, sourdough pancakes priced at SR46 ($12.26), salted dark chocolate babka priced at SR52, and the famous Lunch Room French toast with yuzu sabayon and poached shiso berries.

For savory lovers, Lunch Room offers a range of options too, including the baked halloumi ragu, zaatar chimmichuri with panouzzo priced at SR44, house lasagna, organic fried eggs and pastrami, sous vide poached egg with hollandaise pulled ribs on potato buckwheat blini (priced at SR88), and the Rolex-inspired Ugandan street bite.

The beverage menu comprises both hot and cold options, with some unique choices that cannot be found anywhere else.

The hot drinks selection includes double expresso, cortado, karpatti kappi, golden milk, and Lunch Room hot chocolate, perfect for this time of the year.

The cold options include frenzy mojito, ruby, samosa latte, sticky date pudding latte, cubano, dalgona, chocini, and dulce iced shake.

The drinks menu also offers cold-pressed juices in a transparent bag, including the Mexican mango, the beet blend, the turmeric tonic juice, and more.

Lunch Room is founded by Kuwaiti chef Ahmad Al-Bader, who also founded other restaurants and bakeries in Riyadh, including Habra, Gun Bun, and the Chestnut bakery. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Branch Road in Al-Takhassousi.

For more information, visit @lunchroomksa on Instagram.

 


Where We Are Going Today: Flamingo Room by Tashas restaurant

Where We Are Going Today: Flamingo Room by Tashas restaurant
Updated 07 December 2023
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Where We Are Going Today: Flamingo Room by Tashas restaurant

Where We Are Going Today: Flamingo Room by Tashas restaurant
  • Favorite mocktails include sorbetto al limone, a clean twist on the classic Italian drink sgroppino, and paloma verde, a refreshing and unique interpretation of the timeless Mexican paloma with a citrusy tang and a traditional salt rim

Flamingo Room by Tashas is a fine dining experience at the heart of the Kingdom’s old capital, Diriyah. It offers time-honored recipes with an emphasis on seafood and homemade pasta, and includes the venue’s special mushroom open lasagna, and lobster linguine.

The venue opened in Bujairi Terrace in August and follows in the wake of the success of Flamingo Room by Tashas in Dubai.

The restaurant elevates iconic dishes and invigorates them with a contemporary twist, offering a variety of options to suit all tastes.

Favorites are beef carpaccio, prawn arancini, caesar salad, and bouillabaisse with red snapper, king crab, and lobster, with bread and a special saffron sauce on the side.

Recommended is Mozambique-style calamari which boasts contemporary flair and peri-peri sauce, a signature dish that is perfect for sharing.

The interior of the restaurant is 1970s glam and South African chic with a bright pink and teal color palette, zebra accents, velvet chairs, and hand-embroidered cushions.

For drinks, the Flamingo Room has an exquisite mocktail menu, with a variety of creative and unique recipes.

Favorite mocktails include sorbetto al limone, a clean twist on the classic Italian drink sgroppino, and paloma verde, a refreshing and unique interpretation of the timeless Mexican paloma with a citrusy tang and a traditional salt rim.

For dessert, it is recommended that one ends their dining experience with baked Alaska, which is a dark chocolate ganache with choco-sponge, vanilla semifreddo, caramel, chocolate crisp, and meringue.

The dessert menu offers a range of other options too, including panna cotta, cream puffs, and lemon meringue tart.

The restaurant is on the expensive side, a goat’s cheese salad is priced at SR84 ($22.40) and scallop pasta SR280, but it is worth it, especially if you are booking for a special occasion.

The venue opens from 6 p.m. to midnight from Sunday to Wednesday, and from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Thursday to Saturday.

For more information, visit @flamingoroomksa on Instagram.

 


Emirati restaurant Erth nabs Michelin star in Abu Dhabi  

Emirati restaurant Erth nabs Michelin star in Abu Dhabi  
Updated 07 December 2023
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Emirati restaurant Erth nabs Michelin star in Abu Dhabi  

Emirati restaurant Erth nabs Michelin star in Abu Dhabi  

DUBAI: The second edition of Abu Dhabi’s Michelin Guide was released on Thursday, with one restaurant being awarded a new star.  

Abu Dhabi’s Erth eatery was awarded one Michelin star, making it the first Emirati restaurant to earn a star. The restaurants that retained stars are 99 Sushi Bar, Hakkasan and Talea by Antonio Guida, bringing the city’s total star-holding eateries to four.  

Two new eateries made it to the Bib Gourmand category: Al-Mrzab and Oii. The eateries that retained their Bib Gourmand status are are Otoro, Almayass, Beirut Sur Mer and T’azal. 

The Service Award went to Chandran Thanggaraja at Kopitiam by Chandy’s, the Young Chef Award was awarded to Rigers Cuka at Oii and the Opening of the Year Award was given to James Soo Yong Kim at Les Dangereux.  

There were once again no two or three Michelin Star restaurants, and no restaurants lost stars.