Tokyo in Riyadh

I'm sure your eyes haven't travelled far from our entry on the five scrumptious dishes served by restaurants in Riyadh. Well, let's take photo number 4 first:

Bento set!

If you can recall, the first food post that we ever did in the blog is about this Japanese kiosk in the food court of Faisaliah Mall. Samurai it is! If you guessed Samurai then, you're wrong! It is a bento box from one of the oldest restaurants in the city center... Tokyo Restaurant!

Tokyo in Riyadh

Ramen and salmon sashimi were our objectives when we entered Tokyo Restaurant along Oruba Road. That night, those are the only things my brother and I wanted to eat. We're craving like mad for Japanese cuisine that's why the family heeded my suggestion and we all trooped to Tokyo Restaurant... Turned out, they were not serving ramen that night and they didn't have a delivery of salmon because their salmon comes from Norway (hindi galing Japan?) and this was the time of the volcano eruption in Iceland which canceled and delayed flights from Europe... Bottomline was, no ramen and salmon!!!

Mirrors and unused teppanyaki grills.

To prevent my brothers and I from raising hell, the 'rents suggested we order something else. Trying not to show my uber disappointment, I flipped their extensive menu of sushi, maki, sashimi, udon, and bento. I gravitated towards the familiar and ordered chicken teriyaki. The brothers got bento boxes and platters of sushis and makis. The 'rents settled on soba (cold noodles) and yakisoba (dry noodles). I was excited to see the chef cook the meals (well, mine) in front of us but the teppanyaki cooking method was phased out two years ago due to complaints from neighbors. Guess they didn't want smelling all that goodness and hanker for Japanese cuisine every single day!

A starter of fresh salad

We got free miso soup and little bowls of green salad. The soup was okay, just enough to prepare our stomachs for the feast ahead. The salad was light and refreshing. (That's what the bros said, I rarely eat uncooked veggies, hehe!) The sushi platter are pleasing to the palate but taste like not of the best quality. I'm not a fan of tuna and mackerel and yellow fin (whiever was served that night, I wasn't taking notes) so I'm biased. I'm really all for salmon.

A platter of sushi = cooked vinegared rice topped a slice of fish (tuna, mackerel, yellowfin or salmon) or other seafood (octopus, eel) or put into rolls

Upper row is called Makimono, a roll of vinegared rice and cucumber (or any ingredient) wrapped with nori (seaweed). The five pieces that you see on the second and third row are called Nigirizushi oblong mounds of vinegared Japanese rice with a bit of wasabi and toppings draped over.

Another platter of makimono.

Shrimp (ebi) and tuna (maguro)

For the main course:

Chicken teriyaki

Juicy chicken pieces in sweet soy marinade

The Makunouchi Bento
Pickles, sashimi, chicken teriyaki, egg omelette, vegetables and shrimp tempura, and fried potato

I forgot to take photos of the soba dishes! I was too preoccupied eating my chicken teriyaki which I found too sweet but yummy! Naparami tuloy ako ng kain sa rice! Their yakisoba was also sweet, the nakakasuya kind of sweetness. The brothers looked like they enjoyed their bento. They were so happy with the ebi tempura. It has the right crunch and right amount of breading. The sashimi (raw fish slices) of tuna didn't sit well on their stomachs. I finished all! The pieces of succulent ocean meat complemented the soy and wasabi dip I made. Hay, if that could have been salmon though, I'm sure they won't even think of sharing. The father didn't like his soba. The broth was, to our taste, the miso soup on a bigger bowl... just blander. Prices are a little over average for Japanese food.

Overall, we enjoyed our dinner in Tokyo Restaurant. Still we were disappointed the reasons we went there were not there! Lol. Well, that just means one thing: we have to come back! But first, we'll make sure they have ramen and salmon.

§undrenched

ENDNOTE: When I told my father that I've been posting the food and restaurant that we've been eating and visiting in Riyadh, he asked me what makes me such an expert in doing resto reviews. Well, I told him "I'm not." Which is true, I am not a food expert and neither are the other Pink Tarha ladies. We didn't claim we are. What we are are ordinary persons who like to EAT. So, we're eaters. Like you.

What we tell in every food and restaurant entry that we write is simply our experience as consumers who walked in at a certain dining place, savored the ambiance, ordered from the menu, ate what we ordered, and enjoyed the moments in between. Don't we all diners do that? The difference is, we're writing our observation, impressions, and emotions in this blog. It's like saying, if we, mere customers didn't like the food in the place, what more for keen and discerning customers or food experts or gourmands? We're just living, loving, and eating! Nomnomnom...

How To Be More Than Just "Desert Housewives"

IT'S A KNOWN fact that the professional environment in Saudi Arabia is dominated by men - Saudis and non-Saudis alike. Men who have families usually have wives sitting at home, most of the time doing nothing but housework and attending to their husbands or children. It is a particularly common scenario with OFWs, who are able to bring their wives and families with them to the Kingdom courtesy of a dependent visa. However, despite the "luxurious" idea of coming to a different country and expecting to be adorned by their husbands with gold jewelry (and of course, the quality time they've missed after being apart), wives often find themselves stuck at home while their husbands go to work, often feeling like a desert-ed housewife! (Minus the actual "Desperate Housewives" drama I hope!)

Once they arrive here, their usual comments would be: "Ang boring boring naman dito! Walang magawa!" (It's so boring here, there's nothing to do!). I remember almost twenty years ago when my mother and I first arrived here, my mom would always say that the streets were so "lonely" and that you could barely see one or two persons out in the residential area...unlike in the Philippines where the hustle and bustle of the city can easily seep through the subdivisions.

As an OFW's wife living in the Philippines, you at least had the liberty of riding your own car, traveling alone, going to a cinema or museum to amuse yourself -- amidst the responsibility of keeping your home and caring for your children. However, as an OFW's wife living in SAUDI ARABIA, your choices of having a productive and fulfilling time can be very, VERY limited. Most of the time, husbands are reluctant to allow their wives to go ride taxis on their own, and/or they might go home too tired from work to even drive their wives around the city at night. And it certainly doesn't help the men when The Pink Tarha announces the sale alerts, 'eh? :P

So ladies, what can you do to spare yourself from seeing TV Patrol World and Wowowee twice on the same day? Could your days as a housewife in Riyadh be more interesting at the very least?

In my growing up here, I've seen several housewives take their idle time as an opportunity to come up with ways to, dare I say, "re-invent" themselves. Here are the most common ventures that bored OFW housewives can do to pass the time (and maybe even make some extra moolah!):

1. Round up some babies (and kids!): It's probably the most common occupation for Pinay housewives here. Families who both have working parents usually need a place for their children to stay at during the day. And since not all families can afford hiring a "yaya" in their own homes or enrolling them to daycare right away, there are hundreds of parents looking for a reliable and trustworthy babysitter for their children. There are those housewives who only take one or two kids while other homes can accommodate up to almost 20 children!

While initially, the goal is to just have something to do and not feel "too alone" in the house, once they realize that they can handle more children and that they are good at it (or some just want to earn a lot of money), then they decide to expand their services. If you already have your own children with you here to deal with, but would like to pursue babysitting, I suggest taking one child at a time. You know, one alone can be a handful. If you are here all by yourself, by all means, hoard as many as you can. Just make sure that you would take care of them as you would your own children. Babysitting can definitely occupy your time at home and maybe even harness those momma skills you got!

2. Get cooking. You know how they say that once you're married, you should know how to feed your husband? Well, we're going under the assumption that most of you out there CAN cook...SOMETHING (I know, some may have a more talented cook for a husband). Whether its Filipino meals and delicacies or pastry products, if you have a passion for cooking, you have all the time to practice at home. Once you master a particular dish, you can try selling it to your friends and neighbors and see what they think of it. A lot of catering and made-to-order meals have become popular within the Filipino community here in Riyadh, and most of them started with housewives who were just sitting at home and had a bright idea come their way. What first was one, two orders of "pancit" or "chocolate cake," slowly and steadily grew and had more regular customers. Some had even grown to the point where it has become a catering business or become a restaurant itself. If this is your cup of tea, one suggestion is to pace yourself. You never know how fast word can spread about your cooking and you might feel overwhelmed when a lot of orders come your way. Try setting some terms within what you can and will be able to deliver. Remember, you still have your husband/family to cook for first above anyone else.

I suggest visiting TitaMariyah's website at: www.titamariyah.bravehost.com and Nadia's Bake Fresh blog: http://bakefresh.blogspot.com for inspirational women who took their talent, honed it and are now more than just housewives living in Saudi Arabia!

3. Tune up your music, arts, and teaching skills. Another popular venture for housewives here is teaching piano, guitar, and music to children. Some even teach arts and crafts, like painting or sketching. Years ago, I had a close friend whose mom put up a music school right in their own home. They taught kids how to play the piano, guitar, violin, offered voice lessons and even had recitals by the end of each term. Again, your number of students can depend on your own capacity and availability. If you are musically gifted and would like to share this gift, you can advertise yourself and encourage young ones to pursue their potentials in music and arts.


Another option would be to tutor a particular subject. Say you were an engineering graduate back home but you are unable to find work here in that field, you can offer services as a tutor in math or any related subject. This gives you the opportunity to share your knowledge within the comforts of your own home. Otherwise, you can always apply for a teaching position in the Philippine schools in the Kingdom.

4. Networking prowess. Some housewives who have children studying in the schools here spend a lot of time in the school's premises just waiting for their children to finish class. It's there where they meet fellow moms and are able to socialize. You can use this opportunity to stretch your inner-saleswoman. There are several wives/moms who engage themselves in selling AVON, Oriflame, Natasha products and other networking businesses. If you used to be in marketing in the Philippines and have an interest in sales, this would be a simple place to start.

This photo was taken from this website.

5. Look for actual professional employment. It's going to be much more of a challenge since there aren't a lot of job opportunities for women here unless you are a nurse or a secretary by profession. But it is not impossible. Applying as secretaries or teachers is the most common occupation for OFW wives here, and often the most probable. Working with a company/school will be more demanding than the home businesses I suggested, but hey, if your husband supports you in it, why not? At least your career won''t experience a full stop just because you came to KSA.

Waiting around for husbands to get home and have them adorn you with gold jewels and fancy gifts is nothing to complain about really. That's what most Arab women do. But we're Filipinos and we're industrious and we like being active, so if you are one of those women who feel bored at home and is reading our blog, I hope you find my suggestions helpful. Just promise me that even though you'd start venturing out now, you'd still come by and visit The Pink Tarha blog! Oh, and remember, family should still come first!

Cheers!
-ec-

Q&A Portion 1

Hi dear readers! Some of you asked us questions via our formspring account and we're happy to answer them here in our blog. Here's the first batch:

1.Totoo ba (na) sa Saudi eh wala kang outlet bukod sa malling at sports sa dami ng (mga) bawal? [Is it true that in Saudi Arabia there are no outlets aside from malling and sports because of so many prohibitions?]

I guess we all know who asked this. But since it's a pretty much a decent question, here's our answer: Malling for women and sports (basketball) for men on weekends are the biggest leisure activities in the Kingdom but there are others depending on your interest. There are clubs that cater to photography, public speaking, etc. There are events that happen once in a while like family gatherings, swimming, and parties in isterahas (private compounds). There are trips and travels that expats can go to like desert camping in Red Sand or weekend getaways to Al-Khobar and Dammam. There are a lot of things to do in Saudi Arabia but let us not forget that most Filipinos came here to work and at the end of the day, we're all too tired to go out and play. So yes... the flats, villas, and housing where the laptops and Internet are are where most activities take place.

2. If you were given the choice of staying in Saudi Arabia or working in another country (USA, UK, etc...), would you leave? Or are there aspects of living in KSA that you couldn't/wouldn't want to give up?

The Pink Tarha ladies love our lives here in Saudi Arabia but we're not hypocrites to say that we won't leave if given better opportunities outside of the Kingdom. But right now, we are fine living and working in Saudi Arabia. Our families tie us to this place and we're not complaining.

3. When is the grand EB of Saudi Bloggers?

We cannot volunteer to organize this because of our schedule but tell us where and when it will be and the Pink Tarha ladies will be there! We can't wait to meet fellow Filipino bloggers in Saudi Arabia personally!

4. What do you love most about living in Saudi Arabia?

Our families.

5. Are there any particular sites/events/etc. that Saudi Arabia offers that you're convinced people need to see/experience?

Truth be told, we do not want to convince people to go to Saudi Arabia just to visit any sites here because they are not as awe-inspiring or jaw-dropping as the other tourist places in the world. (Also, tourist visas are hard to get.) All you'll see here are pretty much sand and rock mountains. It's a huge desert after all. But if you're already here in Saudi Arabia, then check our Travel category (see sidebar) for places that might pique your interest. We'll also be posting an entry on the Janadriyah Festival. It's the largest fiesta of Saudi Arabia. It's a fun, colorful, and very unique event.

5. How can i check for new sales in Riyadh?

There are no official sites that announce sales in Riyadh. The Pink Tarha ladies rely on what we read from the Arab News and our 'connections.' Lol. We pretty much know the sales schedules already. We save up for the mid-year sale (happening this June-August) and end-of-the-year sale (on December-February). There are few sales that happen in between the changes of season collections too. A tip is to befriend (not flirt with, haha!) your fave stores' salesmen so that they'll text you once their store hangs the red sign (some can even reserve items for you). Visit the Pink Tarha blog or become our fan in Facebook and we'll give you sale updates.

6. Hello ladies! If it's not too much to ask, do you know if Thalia street (where Localizer Mall is located) is somewhere near Olaya street? Many thanks... =) jeel

Hi Jeel! Thalia St. is perpendicular to Olaya St. If you're in a car and Localizer Mall is to your right, make a U-turn at the stop light (since Localizer is in a corner spot) and drive straight until you reach Centria Mall, which is located at the corner of Thalia and Olaya streets.

We're thrilled to read and answer your questions. If you have a question on anything under the sun, click here! (You can also click the ? Ask the Pink Tarha button on our sidebar for future Qs.)

Taste Bud Tease

Here's what to expect on our next entries:

Restaurant 1 | Looks can be deceiving when it comes to this Italian restaurant. This 3-pasta dish looks boring but the taste doesn't disappoint.

Restaurant 2 | If you think this is Chili's, then you're just wrong.

Restaurant 3 | If you think this is Chili's again, continue thinking.

Restaurant 4 | Bento!, nuff said.

Restaurant 5 | Their almost black bread and un-nutty carrot cake are S' favorites.

5 different dining places... Yes, yes, that's a lot to stomach right now. Lol. Can you guess these restaurants we are featuring next? (Riyadh citizens might be of advantage here. They're all in Riyadh (of course!): 4 of them are in Tahalia St. while one is in Oruba Road. :)

TGIW! Happy weekend desert dwellers! :)

The Pink Tarha Mother's Day Special

They are the life of our homes and the source of our strength. They are the firm hand that holds and the open arms that welcome. Each and everyone of them is our own heroine. They are our MOTHERS. There is no profession as challenging and as rewarding as that of a mother -- and yet it is the one job that there's no school or diploma for. The only measure of a mother's success is how much her children love her. And in this light, The Pink Tarha ladies proclaim the remarkable love we have for our mothers in this special entry attributed to them. We feature a speech written by our very own Eyecandy, which she recently delivered in a public speaking engagement (E is an active Toastmasters member, but more on that on a later post). Here is her speech lovingly dedicated to her mother:

"Mad Moms"

Who among you here are mothers?

I’m sure all of us here tonight are all either sons or daughters. So let me ask you...

When was the last time your mother drove you crazy? Does her actions usually lead you to believe that she’s out of her mind? When was the last time you brought her to the hospital to have her checked “up there”?

Let me tell you something about mothers. Something that I don't get to say as much, but most often than not rings true: Mothers are slightly insane. I should know. I have a mother. I suppose this condition started during their first trimester, when all of their hormones started acting up, affecting their brain. And while they watched their children grow, this only made them go insane even more. Saying that my mother is insane can be an overstatement. But it's true! Oh, let me recount the ways.

You should know that my mom is a huge fan of gadgets – computers, celfones, the works. But there is one thing my mom does not trust technology with -- Money. My mom prefers human tellers over automated teller machines. Even though ATMs are there to make our lives easier, she would rather take a number and line up behind a queue to the human tellers. Why? She says that when something goes wrong with an ATM, you can't blame it as much as you can a human teller. She also likes managers. A lot. She always wants to look for them when we're in a store or a mall. One time, our family was at the grocery store while I was looking through some items, when I hear an argument erupting from the other side of the aisle. There she was, holding a pack of meat, squabbling with the grocery's butcher and saying "I want to see the manager!". Apparently, the butcher was reprimanding her to not poke the packed meat, when in fact, she was just trying to read the price - which she couldn't read without her glasses. Because of her “fondness for managers”, my brother and I have dubbed her a “warfreak” since she keeps getting into arguments in public over the littlest things. Like getting bubble gum/candy as change instead of actual money. Or cashiers who complain they can’t break her hundreds. Or a taxi driver who doesn’t want to turn the A/C on. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

In restaurants, my mom likes to “bond” with waiters too. A lot. Not because she thinks they’re good looking and certainly not because she wants a discount or free starters. (okay maybe, just sometimes). She would call them back to our table almost a dozen times. First to take our orders. Second, to repeat our orders. Third, to follow up our order after 5 minutes. Fourth, she’d ask where the bathroom is. Fifth, she’d come back to say that the bathroom wasn't clean enough and that she wants to see the manager about it. Sixth, she'd ask for the menu again to gauge how much we'd be spending. Seventh, she'd ask for condiments or extra ice. Eighth, she wouldn't remember why anymore, she just does it out of habit now. If you were to be our server for the evening, welcome to my world. Yes. My mom is the master and I am the slave, which I don't mind really. It's just that she is painstakingly repetitive with everything. She would call me, "(yelling my name), turn off the lights on the porch!" and I'd say, "Okay." A little while later she'd yell again, "(yelling my name again)…did you turn off the lights already?" I'd yell back, "Already done mom!" Three minutes later, she'd be popping in my room asking me personally, "Hey, are the lights off now?" and I would just respond with a ridiculously blank stare. She'd retort, "Don't look at me like that. All you need to do is say YES. Even if I have to ask you a thousand times."

See? What did I tell you? Mothers ARE insane!

I have reason to believe that this insanity is also chipping away some of her memory skills. I don't know if the painstaking repetitiveness is a symptom it, but I can't help but think about the numerous times my mother seems to be forgetting a lot. One day, she lost her glasses. She looked everywhere to no avail. And so, she went out to buy a new one. Only to come home later and accidentally crushing her old pair which she set foot on our living room floor. Let that be a lesson to you, don’t look for something when you don’t have your glasses on!

My mother also tends to forget my name. Can you imagine? Her own flesh and blood! She tends to forget it especially when she's angry. I can tell how angry she is when she starts forgetting who I am. She'd refer to me as "You, young lady, my daughter…" and then end up calling me by my brother's name. Instead of being miserable of a scolding, I manage a smirk at this instance.

At the dinner table one evening, we were eating together as a family and my mother told my brother, "Jethro, eat some vegetables." So my brother, who is also a slave like myself, follows orders and ate some vegetables. Later on, she commanded him again, "Jethro, eat some more vegetables." "But I already ate some." replies my brother. "I am telling you eat some more". And so, left with no choice, he ate some more vegetables. As dinner was coming to an end and we were in the middle of a delicious dessert, my mom suddenly quips in, "Jethro, eat some more vegetables." We all paused for a second for my mom to realize that we were now eating flan and not steamed broccoli anymore. And then we burst into laughter.

Oh my mother, she can be a "war-freak", a slave driver and have memory lapses for all the world to see. But she is still my mother and I her daughter. Saying that mothers are insane, couldn’t be more true. Mothers would go insane for their children. Think about it. Who else in the whole world would defend you in front of others, even if she knew you were wrong? Who else in the whole world would forgive you of even the gravest mistakes? Who else in the whole world would carry the heaviest of burdens just so you wouldn’t have to carry them yourself? Only an insane person would do such things. Only a mother can do that.

And I should know, I have a mother.

And she is right here with us in the audience today, please welcome my insane mother, Ms. --------. Thank you for being such a great sport mom. I love you!

-0-0-0-0-

Here are The Pink Tarha ladies with a message to the most beautiful women in their lives:

Eyecandy: "I could only hope that someday, I will be half the woman my mother is. Her life is an amazement to me and leaves me wondrous of how and where I would ever accumulate the same amount of love, courage and faith to overcome life's challenges. I am the quivalent of all her hard work, patience and sacrifice. Words will never be enough to declare my love for you mamita but I'll keep trying. Happy Mother's Day!"

Maryhadalittlehump: "Happy Mother's Day mommy! I love you so much even though I'm not vocal in saying those three words to you, I know you feel it too. Even sometimes, we have petty quarrels, still, you love me too. Thank you for all your advices and kind words. I thank God for giving you to us for you are the best mommy in the whole world kasi even if you are laging pagod from the school, you still have time to cook food for us and thank you for your tender loving care. Again, Happy Mother's Day....muah!"

Sundrenched: "My mother would be horrified if she found out her photo is posted in the intrawebs. She's shy like that (like me, lol!). She's simple, understanding, and patient (except to my father's playful hirits). My mom has always been in the backseat when it comes to us, her children. She chose instead to become the wind beneath our wings. She gives us her full trust, lets us do whatever we want but never leaves our side when the going gets tough. I thank her for loving me unconditionally, for inspiring me and for not giving up on me. How I wish I can be like her someday. But in my case it would have to be in some other way. I love you mama! Happy Mother's Day!"

Shoegarfreeruby: My mom and I in one of her last photos before she passed. My encourager and best support, I will forever miss her. To my mom: "I am very blessed to have spent my first 25 years having you around. They were just the best. It was never the same after that. I will forever love you because you are the first who taught me how to love. Thank you for giving up everything to raise us with the best care and love you can ever give. I love you."


Are you teary-eyed yet? We sure are welling up. But hey, it is a day of celebration and let us all smile at the thought that in our lives, there is always that one person who will love us unconditionally against all odds. A big cheers to all of our Mommy readers and with that, The Pink Tarha greets...

A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL MOTHERS!

It's a Dip in Ketchup

I've never been to a restaurant in this city that gave me a feeling that I'll never return to it again. Most of the time, even if the food is not that great, I still give it a chance because a. the staff is nice and b. the ambiance is good for long conversations, which I really, really like having when I'm out with my family and friends (esp. the co-Pink Tarha ladies). Newly-opened Ketchup in Tahalia Street is a different story.

When I first saw Ketchup, I was smitten. The red ambiance inside, glowing into the night and into the street where I was standing waiting for my father to pick me up was like a beckoning lighthouse. I was so intrigued I suggested the other ladies to try it out as soon as possible. I guess that suggestion was the biggest mistake I ever made as a PT lady. Blah.

Entering the restaurant was like entering a posh bar in Los Angeles. After all, Ketchup originated there and it's one of the hippest places after being seen in the series, The Hills. Imagine, celebrity sighting, woot! But that is in Los Angeles. This is Riyadh.


Anyway, when we got upstairs (family section), the receptionist asked if we have a reservation. We told him none (sorry, we didn't know it was a must). He asked us, quite rudely, to go downstairs again. Er, excuse me? Why go downstairs again when we're already upstairs? It's not as if we'll gonna be kicked out because the place that time was quiet and empty. Then he probably realized what a waste of time it'll be and he asked us instead to sit in the "bar" area. He went down, not before he gave us a haughty look. Ooohkay... When he returned, he beckoned us to this small table for four near the stairs in the middle of the area. We were disappointed because the sofa and chairs (ergo, the more beautiful setup) near the glass walls overlooking the street are all empty. We wanted to sit there! But of course, we understood because those seats were already reserved. We didn't reserve after all. What we didn't understand was that almost all those tables and chairs remained empty the entire time we were there! More on this later.

The interiors and lighting, which attracted me to the restaurant proved to be more beautiful, almost dramatic, inside. I particularly love the Heinz bottles lights dangling from the ceiling.


The white furniture are modern and elegant. The vibe is sophisticated and cool. The red lighting is amazing at first because it is indeed unique in this setting but it got boring and tiring to the eyes after a while. I couldn't even see the true color of my food. I can seriously feel a migraine coming (even if I haven't suffered from one, ever).

The restrooms hidden in large tomato structures are cool though, even the bar which is the first to greet us upstairs is inviting. Of course, no liquor available (how many times do I have to tell you that in our resto reviews?! Lol!) On to the food...

Free bread sticks

Fries tossed in parmesan and white truffle oil and Calamari

We started our meal with some fries and squid rings which were both tasty. They were served with some Ketchup on the side. We had high expectations of the glorified condiment. After all, the restaurant is named after it. Hmn, we didn't find anything extraordinary with the ketchup variants served. That, or maybe our taste buds aren't so gourmet.

I ordered a chicken dish. Two girl friends followed suit.

Shake N' Bake, one of their bestsellers
Pistachio-crusted chicken breast, mushroom gravy, garlic mash, sauteed baby vegetables
BBQ Chicken
Ketchup's original BBQ sauced chicken breast, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, grilled corn
Hawaiian Chicken
With fancy rice, pineapple bits, and baby veggies
Chicken dishes are SR50-SR65 each.

I personally enjoyed my Hawaiian chicken. The white meat was soft and the flavor of the pineapple bits sweetened the viand nicely. It complemented the rice too. Our friends enjoyed their dishes too. The Shake n' Bake was really unusual. It's crisp on the outside but the chicken meat inside was very delectable. Eyecandy ordered this:

The Burger, SR52

Eyecandy loved her burger that she's been cutting the tender Angus beef patty delicately. She still remembers the savory taste up to now.

We also had some refreshing fruity shakes and mocktails.

Strawberry Shake
Mango Orange Shake
Peach Soda
Shakes and special drinks are at SR20+

We were soon liking the place because of our main courses. Ketchup really took the American cuisine (even plain comfort food) to a whole new level. Hmn, except that we're eating in tables which is way too small for four. Not too comfortable. Our immaculate square plates (very one-of-a-kind I must say) didn't fit.

Now, time for dessert... the sweetest part of the meal... not in Ketchup! We ordered the banana bread pudding and New York cheesecake. We were so excited to try them when our waiter informed us that he canceled our orders because the chef is giving us a complimentary chocolate cake. We didn't know what to feel; happy because there's free dessert or irritated because our waiter suddenly canceled our orders without even asking us. Don't you think it's more polite to inform us about the free cake and then first ask us if we want to continue with our order of other desserts than canceling them right away?! Granted that we cannot finish everything in our table, what if we're doing a review like this and wanted to try other items? And our friend who hosted this dinner (thank you!) wanted to taste the cheesecake badly. We're so disappointed that even the free fudgy chocolate cake could not salvage this experience.

Add that to the fact that the elegant, beautiful sofa and chair setups remained vacant until we finished our meal. That's roughly more than two hours, and no one arrived to take their 'reserved' seats. We asked for the bill hurriedly and left the place without looking back. We decided to go to Sahara Mall to liven up our spirits.

Don't get me wrong, Ketchup's food is delicious but if we only want good food, then we could have gone to other restaurants that offer them at more affordable prices. Sure, this is one posh American franchise but the uptight and sort of discriminatory ambiance ruined the experience for us. Their soft opening stage should not be a reason for this kind of service. It's all the more reason to put their best foot forward!

The Pink Tarha ladies are simple ladies who just enjoy good food and hearty laughter. We're not some social climbers who are maarte (different from being kikay ;) and high-maintenance, and we rarely complain of the restos we've featured. After all, we look at the brighter, lighter side of things. If Ketchup is for the higher class, it sure did rub it in (ouch!). Ketchup did re-create the LA social scene vibe, congratulations! Thank you for making us realize that we are not comfortable with that vibe, nor with that kind of crowd. Sigh, I do apologize to my friends for even suggesting we dine in Ketchup. (It's very important to have friends who are very much fun to be with so you can just ignore the bad experience and still enjoy dinner and the moments in between.)

§undrenched

PS. This dining experience happened a month ago. We hope the resto improved (a lot) since then. Give us your feedback if you've eaten here. For those who want to eat in Ketchup, reserve! Maybe they'll be nicer.

TPT in TKJ

The Pink Tarha is featured on The Kablogs Journal! Please visit the May issue of the journal and tell us what you think. There are trivia in there that we haven't written in our blog. Visit the first issue too.

The Kablogs Journal Issue 2, May 2010

We'd like to thank Isla de Nebz for writing this article. His questionnaire was rather long and we were racking our brains for answers. We were late in replying, sorry! Hope we answered intelligently (cough, cough). :P Kikay-ness and intelligence can go together, y'know! Lol.

OAV 2010 (Riyadh, KSA Edition)

For the first time, I voted as an overseas Filipino. And really, I feel like I matter and that I am a responsible Filipino citizen. :P

I voted! Yeee!
(Sorry, I have an ugly thumb, hehe.)

It was last Thursday when my father and I went to the Philippine embassy in Riyadh to have our thumbs inked, and of course to have a say on who's going to be the next president, vice-president, and senators of our beloved Philippines. It was an easy thing to do. We registered last July (remember how ecstatic I was when I finally managed to drag my father to register and now, to vote!). For his entire career as an OFW (that's 18 years and counting!), he didn't really participate in any of the elections. Elections come and go like countless days and nights in the desert and he couldn't care less about what's happening in the Philippine government as long as he's providing for his family. That's actually understandable. I'm sure most of the pillars of our homes think that way. So, imagine my surprise when he listened to my plea to vote. Kasi naman, we at home gets an earful of his (and sometimes, my brothers') rants about the government of GMA and how she runs the country. I told them to magreklamo kayo sa mga balota n'yo! And so all roads lead to the Philippine embassy in Riyadh...

Check point at the Diplomatic Quarters where the Philippine embassy is located.

The Overseas Absentee Voting started last April 10, 2010 and is on going for a month. Polls will close on 1:00pm (Riyadh time), May 10, 2010. I didn't want to get caught in the lines of people on May 10 or anywhere near the date so we went "early." Maybe a bit late in some other people's standard but there were less than 10 people voting when we went there, hehe. Mary and her family went a day after.

The process is a breeze. For Filipinos in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, here are the very simple steps. After you enter the gates of the embassy, go to the Liwasang Bonifacio where these boards are:

To the left...

To the right...

You have to find your name there to find your precinct. Hep, don't wail now. Even if it looks like a sea of names (it is), it's very easy to find your names. If you know your surname (of course you do!), go to the board that contains your surname's first few letters. Make sure your name is there and take note of the precinct number. Our surname starts with a Va so it's situated somewhere between surnames starting with Ta and Vi. We're in Precinct #13. Wee, lucky 13! There are 14 precincts in Riyadh. Once you find your name and know your precinct number, go to the basement parking of the embassy. There are many signs like this:

Follow the arrow...

Find your precinct number. The precincts are merely tables but their numbers are largely written. It's not a very wide, open space for you to not find your way immediately, unless there's a huge crowd when you go. If you're lost, ask! Once you find your table, give the officers your valid ID (iqama, passport, company ID, etc.) and they'll look for your name in their record. They'll give you a ballot and will ask you to sign. After that, you go in the table behind the officers and write your candidates! Yes, I said WRITE. The process here is still manual. No automated ballots and PCOS machines here.

It's wise to bring your kodigo so you don't waste time and forget anyone on your list. But if you're not as prepared, there's a list of candidates available at the table. Write the names as they appear on the list or your vote might become invalid. Pick 1 candidate for president, 1 for vice-president, 12 names for senators and 1 for party list. I'm sure you know this by now but I'm just saying. (Click the links to see the list of certified candidates for national elections.) You don't need to complete all. Just whoever you like to vote for, really. To tell you honestly, I got stumped in the party list. Imagine 3 pages of parties to choose from... I don't even know that such parties exist. Maybe I'm just ignorant but if you're voting for a party list, make sure you have one ready. Going over each one in the list is time-consuming. But if you want to take your time, no one's preventing you either. Voting for local positions is not available for OAV.

VOTE WISELY!!!

Let's not discuss who I voted for and why. I'm sure you have your choices too. After you vote, fold your ballot and give it to the officer-in-charge of your precinct. He/she will then ask you to put a thumbmark on your ballot and beside your name and photo on their record. You will put your ballot on the ballot box. The ballot box here is literally a box. Like the balikbayan box, only smaller. Lol. Where are the metal ones with a lock? Is this true to the elections protocol? I feel weirded out by this. Also, they didn't put any indelible marks in our thumbs after we voted. Seriously, is this the protocol for the OAV? I wouldn't know for sure because the officers merely said that the box was the one provided by the Comelec. Hmn...

Ooookay. Whatever happens, I am making darn sure that my vote gets counted correctly. My eyes are on you people!!!

For your info...

So you guys, OFWs and expats alike, go now and vote! Here's the voting schedule in Riyadh and Al-Khobar. Don't waste this opportunity to exercise your right.

§undrenched

PS. I visited the Comelec website to check their online precinct finder. I did find my precinct... precincts! I found my precinct in the Philippines (I'm registered in La Union) and in Riyadh, KSA. Does this mean I have two active records or was my Philippine record inactive now that I have already voted in Saudi Arabia? I inquired via email but no response until now. Can someone please enlighten me? I do not want to be tagged as a flying voter (anlayo ng nilipad ko in fairness) nor do I want my Philippine record to be used for cheating! :)