Of Love and Café Lenôtre

French pastry is known to be exquisite and divine, and one of the most successful ventures of bringing this message worldwide is Café Lenôtre (pronounced as /lenot/). When I was younger, my family and I happened to live right behind the Boutique Lenôtre down by Thalateen St. (It wasn't known as Café Lenôtre before, just "Lenôtre") and my father was good friends with one of the "boulangers" and he would always give me a free Lenotre cake on my birthday. His name was Jesus (not kidding) and I believe he was of Indian descent. If you're reading this Jesus, Hi! And I never forgot you. :) 

As a kid, I always remember eating the shaved black and white chocolate sprinkled on top of my cakes, and as I grew older, it was their eclairs that got me smitten and drooling. Fast forward to my twenties, I now know Lenôtre as a posh cafe with a prime location in the middle of the city where my girlfriends and I can sit and have dinner and dessert atop a balcony that has a beautiful view of the city. 

One night, over a recent heartbreak of one of my friends (ahermmm), it called for a get together of epic proportions. When your support system comes to the rescue, so does an above-average-amount of food, in our case, it was some fine dining for us. So just a tip dear readers, magastos din ang ma-heartbroken. :P 

Anyway, since we're already a regular of Café Lenôtre for simple coffee dates and dessert treats, we realized that we have never tried their dinner menu just yet. And so, as the occasion calls for it, we decided to splurge and give it a try. 

One thing you should know upon entering Café Lenôtre is that it has quite dim lighting. Even the indoors section is very low lit and once you decide to sit out in the balcony section, even dimmer. I suppose this gave the cafe a sense of cozy-mystery-feel if I may say so. Their tables are adorned with flowers and place mats and they have a booth section also for those who want to seat in cushioned chairs. Of course, the ladies and I wanted the fresh air and decided to be seated out in the balcony. Good thing we came in early that evening so it wasn't full yet. But come after the last prayer time, you'd be luck if you can even get in (true story). 

Anyway, given the circumstances, I conjured some creative powers and asked my friend to light her phone's flashlight for me so that I can take decent pictures, despite the near-darkness of the place.

Here's what we had: 

Bread selection, complimentary

Truth be told, I usually don't mind complimentary bread that much (even in other restos), but this is a restaurant rooted in pastry goodness. So I was a bit surprised that the bread we got was a bit stale. Hmmm, but anyway, they redeemed themselves later....read on. :D 

Tuna Maki, 65SR

Their tuna maki would be a good order. Very rich topping of caviar and I'd say this is a good entree for two.

Avocado and Salmon Salad, 70SR

For those who like their greens, here's a zesty choice. All things considered, it was well-balanced in texture, with the crunch of the lettuce to the softness of the avocado. The smoked salmon gave it a proper kick in the salty department...but for me, the dressing was a but too sour for my palette. To be fair, I am not fond of anything sour to begin with. But if you're anything like me, perhaps you can ask the dressing to be on the side next time. 

Who's thirsty?

From left to right: it's the Cranberry Cutie (27SR), Yakiki Beach (27SR) and Berries Mojito (33SR). All recommended by our waiter and from these three, I liked the Yakiki Beach the best. It's sweet and everything summer should be -- all in a glass.

Prime Rib Beef, 330SR

And for the main course, and the ULTIMATE splurge of the night...Ze Prime Rib which you can cook to your liking in a heated marble tray. Now, don't get fazed by the price because I pledge to the food-writing gods that this is well worth your cash! It tasted like pork and with every bite in my mouth it got me all goo-goo-gah-gah reminding me that moaning over food was my first language.

Add to that sublime goodness of a meat was the rock salt condiment, a little squeeze of lemon and that dark-purple thing marinated in cider vinegar (I forgot what that was called)...I was in food heaven. Srsly. Hands down, one of the best Prime Ribs I have ever tasted in the city. I would easily give it a two thumbs up, with mouth-licking goodness and a happy dance in my seat for a most delicious satisfaction. And I'm not just saying that because it was freaggin' expensive. I am saying that because it's really, really, really good.

Accompanied by three sauces and some chips.

There was the honey-mustard mayo, peppercorn gravy and mushroom gravy to go with the prime rib, but I really didn't give it much notice because I found the beef sooo good on its own that I didn't even want gravy with it. But that's just me. You might be a gravy person, so go on right ahead. :) 

As much as we wanted to take our time with the beef, it would be good for you to know that you shouldn't let it stay on the marble tray for so long because it's going to overcook and you'll end up with a garter-y piece of meat. Make sure you have a hefty appetite before ordering it so you can attack it at once as it arrives. I'd say that would have been good enough for four-average-eating persons. We were just three ladies and we had some leftovers pa. Not by choice. But by force. (Coz we were so full already!)

Having said that, what complimentary bread??? Haha. Totally forgot about it.

After some more chit-chat and a little character assassination of the recently anointed ex-boyfriend, we it was time to move on to some dessert and coffee. As most regular readers know, I am a chocolate fondant addict, that was our one order and the rest of us got coffee. 

Cappuccino, 20SR

Iced Moka, 27SR

Chocolate Fondant, 50SR

Their coffee is good and fitting after a big meal. I personally had tea but didn't take a photo of it. As for their Chocolate Fondant, which I already had numerous times before whenever I'd go there, I'd say that it would be on my Top 5 Chocolate Fondants in Riyadh, but not quite the No. 1 spot. I did love the raspberries though. I felt that the mix of the raspberries and choco twists married well with the fondant and the ice cream. 

The view from the left side of Lenotre's balcony.

We ended up staying there til midnight, talking our hearts away while enjoying the view of our bustling city. Café Lenôtre is one of those places where you don't feel that you are actually in Saudi Arabia because of the ambience and the people. Open, posh, elegantly urban. I think other guests recognize this so no one is disturbing the current dynamics of the place. As for their service, we're very proud that we have our fellow kabayans as the waiters, who were very decent, courteous and friendly. 

Noted that it ended up to be an expensive night for all of us (spending almost 800SR for a dinner is not really something we do on a regular basis, right?), but I'd say that every riyal spent was worth it. And maybe, it's good to indulge ourselves from time to time, whether you're out with your loved one on a special date night, or in our case, if you're nursing a broken heart. :P

Visit Café Lenôtre soon, the balcony is perfect for the near-winter season. For reservations, contact nos. are provided below.

Cheers!

Eyecandy

Riyadh Locations of Lenôtre are the following:

Restaurant Café Lenôtre

La Centria Mall, Tahlia St. Riyadh, KSA

T: +966 (1) 2791108

The Coffee shop by Lenôtre

Panorama mall,Tahlia St. Riyadh, KSA

T: +966 (1) 2815054

The Coffee shop by Lenôtre

Luthan Hotel, Riyadh, KSA

T: +966 (1) 4832416

Boutique Lenôtre

Olaya, 30 St. Riyadh, KSAT: + 966 (1) 4651465

Riyadh Fashion Days

Hello, ladies! Let's talk about fashion! 

Early this year, we mentioned Riyadh Fashion Days in our Facebook status. There was a small bazaar featuring a few designers of the Middle East. We went to Maison Bo-M in Nujoud Mall beside the Intercontinental Hotel. Admittedly, it was the first time we heard of Maison Bo-M and the Gulf designers. During the first Riyadh Fashion Days, we were introduced to the wonderful world of the Gulf designers. We saw the bags of Fyunka, the dresses of Razan Alazzouni, the organic products of Green Bar Inc., and a few more brands.

Now, Riyadh Fashion Days is back for more! This second edition is bigger and better! Riyadh Fashion Days will showcase brand new autumn and winter collection exclusive to fashion house, Maison Bo-M (house of bohemian lifestyle). The event will take place on November 4-8, 2012. There will be 5 days of fashion shows featuring 25 designers from the region. Riyadh Fashion Days' second edition focuses on giving designers from the Gulf (Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, and KSA) public recognition.

The merchandise which you'll see in the catwalk will be for sale.There will also be artistic installations. If you haven't seen Maison Bo-M, it's a treasure trove of all wonderful items from clothes to accessories to home furnishing and #RFP12 will be a good opportunity to visit the place. 

So here's how it works. Tickets for Riyadh Fashion Days is SR150 per person. This will give you access to one night of fashion show where designers and their creations are accessible. If you're interested in all of the 5 days, you can get a discounted ticket worth SR 450. Store opening hours is 5pm until 10:30pm. Fashion shows start from 8:30pm until 10:30pm while fashion exhibitions are every evening by invitation only from 5pm to 11pm. This event is of course, FOR LADIES ONLY. Tickets can be bought in Maison Bo-M. For booking, please call 01-2021205.

The Pink Tarha is so upbeat with this development in the fashion scene here in Riyadh (it's one of those really rare events we really look forward to) that we'd want to attend every night. However, time wouldn't permit us for sure so we just look forward to attending the opening ceremony led by HRH Princess Reema Bandar Al Saud and the closing ceremony presentation by a special guest. A special guest! Hmnnn, exciting!

So what are you waiting for? Visit Riyadh Fashion Days in their website, Facebook page, and Twitter for more information. Fashionistas of Riyadh, see you there! ;) ~ Sundrenched

What's in Whites {1/2}

Every person has a place they consider their "candy store." These are places which, if given a chance or brought about by some luck, you'll choose to be stuck in for a long period of time because you enjoy yourself like a "kid in a candy store store." That would be hypermarkets and book stores for me. Leave me in those places for a few hours and you won't hear me complain. 

Eyecandy and I found another place which we can put under that category... Whites Pharmacy. Yes, a pharmacy and more! We were toured by Ms. Haifa Alhumaid, Whites' marketing executive, in one of their biggest branches and boy are we lucky! We get to check out the products they offer and you're also lucky because we're sharing the information to you! At least now you'll have an idea where to get the stuff you'd been asking us about! We found really interesting brands and products that we'd like to buy for ourselves. We tell you, Whites Pharmacy is one of those places you'd choose to get stuck in.

Welcome to Whites!

WHITES is a group of retail shops and pharmacy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia that brings you health and beauty products. Most of these products you won't find anywhere in Riyadh. They offer exclusive brands that are of high quality and guaranteed to bring results.

You may now begin your shopping spree.

I have to make two entries because Whites Pharmacy has so much wonderful products I might cause your computer to freeze due to the many photos I'll be uploading. So this is part 1 and I'm doubtful I can categorize it into beauty first and then health next. But let's just think of it as such. :)

What's the most problem-prone area of one's body? The skin, of course. That's why it's necessary to have the right skin care products before even using makeup and cosmetics that can cover the problem areas. Prevention is better than cure, yes?

Let's start with one of White's most popular brand, Avene, the leading skincare line in European pharmacies. Avene carries everything from facial wash, lotion, and creams to toners, scrub, and serum. Whatever your skin needs, Avene has it. Lines include Hydrance (for regular use), Cleanance (for acne-prone skin), Eluage (anti-aging), and a lot more. Although a little bit more expensive than what most of us are paying for our daily skincare regimen, Avene promises to be worth every single riyal.

Have you tried Avene?

More Avene.

Up next is a brand whose packaging caught my attention first. Greenland uses very minimal designs on their packaging yet it's one of my most favorite ever. Greenland is a line of bath and body care products that are based on natural and organic ingredients. They have ranges from Pure and White, Balm&Butter, Milky, Fruit Emotions (uses essential oils), and Fruit Extracts. Our favorite scents are coconut and tangerine and papaya.

From singles to packs, Greenland has it!

LOVE Greenland!

Whites exclusive!

Greenland packs perfect for gifts.

It's the fragrance of Cottage Body Care line that piqued our interest the most. Trying the caramel scented lotion and scrub is like literally rubbing real caramel on your skin, minus the stickiness. Eyecandy was happy to find a peach-scented body care line too as she's been on the lookout for quite a while. Cottage takes pride in its scent as they work with the best perfumers in the world to find original and natural tones and strive to make the scents last in the skin as long as possible.

Lots of choices!

Smells so sweeeeet!

Both Greenland and Cottage have organic lines. If you're new to "organic" products, you might be wondering what "organic" means to body care and skin care brands. Basically, these products indicates of being animal or vegetable origin. For the products we're specifically discussing here, they're of vegetable and fruit origins and are not only skin-friendly but also environment-friendly. Other organic brands in Whites are Marilou Bio and Miessence.

Every thing organic right here!

An entire shelf is dedicated to organic products.

Organic lip balm anyone?

Miessence and its minimalist packaging.

Next we go to one of the most important product range for people living and working in Saudi Arabia... sun protection! It's one of the most neglected part of our daily routine, thinking that we should only use them products with SPF when we're on the beach. Wear sunscreen everyday and we mean that advice. Whites carry Vichy, Coppertone, and Malibu. Take your pick! For those who are looking for tanning lotion, Whites has it! ;)

Protect your skin from the sun.

Good for the out of town trips, and everyday use.

Tanning lotion and oil spray

Now, after taking good care of your skin, there are products that can further enhance your beauty. Whites has an extensive beauty section which carries our favorite makeup brands like Revlon, Maybelline, Max Factor, L'Oreal, Bourjois, and Rimmel.

The beauty bar

Familiar brands

One of the best finds in Whites Pharmacy is Essie Nail Polish. It's a line of multi-awarded nail lacquers that started in 1981. Through the years, Essie has been known as one of the world's best nail polish for its vibrant color and consistent finish. Whites does not only have Essie nail polish (SR 30 each), they also carry its nail care products.

Vibrant Essie, SR30 each

Essie nail care

Have you heard of Shellac? The long lasting nail polish that lasts for weeks? Well, Whites doesn't carry it because you'll be needing a UV lamp to use it... but Whites carry the regular polish created by CND, maker of Shellac. They have the usual colored nail polish and the ones that you put on top the regular ones to provide an effect (ex. pearl, shimmer, sparkle). CND nail treatments and essentials are also available.

CND's regular nail polish line

Additional nail and hand care products from CND

Whites is also introducing a new beauty brand in the Riyadh market, Polish cosmetics brand Bell, which produces high quality cosmetics using modern technologies and techniques. They have a lot of products for the face and among their bestsellers are Diamond Eyes (diamond mousse eyeshadow), Milky Shake (yogurt lip glosses), and Push Up mascara. Their range of lipstick are also nice and comes in various classic, timeless shades.

Try something new!

The bestsellers!

Eyebrows are one of the most important parts of our face which we tend to ignore most of the time. If you've been reading The Pink Tarha for a long time, you'll know how obsessive Eyecandy and Sampaguita Pride can get on their eyebrows. I, for one, can't be bothered by it (seriously, I have no skills in drawing an eyebrow) so I'm delighted to find this eyebrow makeup kit by Christian in Whites. It contains 3 stencils that help design a thick, thin, or natural-shaped eyebrows, a two-way ended brush, and a water-resistant powder which comes in various colors. This kit makes putting on well-defined eyebrows effortless and guess what, no touch-ups needed!

Eyebrow saver.

After wearing makeup the whole day, it's time to take them off. Seriously ladies, you shouldn't go to bed with a gunk of makeup on. These makeup removers exclusive to Whites are easy to use and won't take an hour wiping off that grime and dirt caused by cosmetics.

Wipe that makeup off!

Let's talk about tattoo. A few readers have been asking us where they can get one. Well, permanent tattoo makers are hard to come by in this side of the world but you can always opt for something temporary, just in case you change your mind. Would you believe Whites carry Tattoo Yourself, a line of temporary art tattoos that you can put yourself? They have the stencils and the ink.

Get inked! For a few days.

And that's not all. How about some body jewelry? They have a case full of jewelries for your piercings. Cool eh?

Belly? Ear lobes? Eyebrows? 

Have you tried any of the products we've listed above? We'd like to know your feedback! The comment section is very much open for your mini reviews. ;)

Whites Pharmacy has more products but we don't have space on this entry anymore. Fret not though. We have a second entry on Whites and its products up in a few days! :) In the meantime, visit Whites Facebook page and follow them on Twitter for faster updates. ~ Sundrenched

Whites Pharmacy
Mecca Road, Takhasussi (near Panda)
For more branches, click here.
E: customercare@whites.net
T: +966 1 288-6877 / 489-5994/ 489-7750/ 489-7751 

The Ladies For Networking Breakfast

The Pink Tarha attended another Ladies 4 Networking Breakfast in Outback Steakhouse Restaurant last week. This time, we signed up for a speech slot to share The Pink Tarha blog and our other social media sites to other ladies in Riyadh. Eyecandy gave a brief talk about The Pink Tarha. We were not selling anything, just telling the attendees that they can have "friends" in Riyadh if they want to and that would be us, The Pink Tarha ladies. ;)

Eyecandy explaining what The Pink Tarha is about.

Saudi Arabia and The Pink Tarha

Like the first Ladies 4 Networking event, there was a breakfast section in the Outback Restaurant which served mini cheesecakes, cupcakes, donuts, and croissants from Golden Brown Bakery and Munch Bakery. There was also a vendor section at the family area where we get to see and know more about products that are available here in Riyadh from local home bakers, crafters, and a few companies. Here's a photo list of those who were present:

Yummy cupcakes! 

Cake pops and chocolate lollipops

Cecile Perez of Dolce Cecilia came with trays of cupcakes, cake pops, and chocolates. We love her cupcakes because they're not too sweet and the icing is rightly-proportioned for the cake base (SR 3.50 per piece; 24 pieces minimum order). The chocolates were simple and not the usual chocolates you'll taste in commercial brands. This is the ones you can give out as souvenirs and gifts without burning a hole in your pocket. I have yet to try the cake pops which were decorated by various cute candy toppings. Contact Cecile at dolce_cecilia@yahoo.com or +966-50-871-6437.

Mini cheesecakes and cream cheese brownies

Chocolate overload!

Cielo Algaeed of Cielo's Sweet Treats is now branching out her mini business. She brought a few mini cheesecakes, cream cheese brownies, and her new cream puffs; this time more puffed out and covered with hardened caramel. She also displayed her very chocolatey cake adorned with M&Ms and Kitkat. Contact Cielo at cielo.p.algaeed@gmail.com or +966-55-5491229.

There's also Forever Living, which brought their aloe products. Remember the aloe vera gel that Sampaguita Pride featured before? Well, they have a lot more aloe products being offered. They even has a set of toners, washes, and moisturizers to combat acne. A friend swears by the shampoo and conditioner. If you're interested to try their products, you can contact Ms. Melva Lisondra at lm_lisondra@yahoo.com and +966-50-7286220.

Organic skincare and mineral makeup

Natural patches and Alternatif products

Alternatifs was present again and they brought Miessence products, a line of certified organic skincare, haircare, and cosmetic products. There's also their line of Natural Patches of Vermont, body patches which you can use for specific concerns like stress, PMS, sleep deprivation, cough and colds. 

Cute frocks for babies

Bracelets and bangles

We've been a liker of The What Nots Shop in Facebook. I'm just amazed at the crocheting skills of the owner/s. So much patience and creativity! Apart from the frocks and ponchos they make for babies, their table in the event was filled with cute accessories and bracelets. They even have cute rings and crocheted earrings which are good for dressing up a plain outfit. Contact them at the.whatnots.shop@live.com and +966-55-992-4109.

There's also an Egyptian lady selling well-crafted jewelries and accessories. Her sister in Egypt designs them and she's the one who's selling them for her. They use various stones and materials. They also have pins and charm bracelets. You can message Abeer Abdel Khalek in her Facebook page for inquiries.

Cake and cake toppers!

Are you a baker but not that good in decorating your baked goods? The Royal Cakes has all the solutions for you. If you just want to spice up your cupcakes, it has cupcake toppers which you can just put depending on the occasion. If you want an in-depth decoration class, they also offer them at various schedules. If you want them to decorate a cake for you, then that's also their expertise. Email The Royal Cakes at theroyalcakes@gmail.com or text/call at +966-50-687-8851. 

Gorgeous packaging!

Sweets, and more sweets!

Looking for the perfect giveaways in a party? Try these nuts covered in gold powder, chocolates in iconic wrappers, and colorful candies from Zucceroo and Excelencia. They have a store in Panorama Mall and you can email them at excelenciashop@hotmail.com or call them at +966-1-2814907.

Leaf jewelry

Stones and butterflies

Are you looking for jewelries that are out of the ordinary? Eden Natural Jewelry has very interesting pieces which will awe you. The most interesting are the pendants made of leaves dipped in 18k gold. Also the ones which contains butterfly wings. They also have various stones set in gold. Visit their website for more information.

Dental care services

There's Noble Smile Cental Care Center also offering a Teeth Whitening Pen with a plumping gloss. You can check out their clinic and their services in their website. 

Other present entrepreneurs were Mayada Katamish who was selling a few of her beautifully-designed abayas and dresses. You can check out her items here. There's also Aisha Al Hajjar, a childbirth educator, doula, and midwifery apprentice who assists mothers for active, natural, instinctive birth. Contact Amani Birth at aisha@amanibirth.com or +966-56-908-7044. And if you need help on the Arabic language, Majida Wright is the person to turn to. Contact her at majida.asalim@gmail.com or +966-56-875-2795.

For The Pink Tarha, the Ladies 4 Networking Breakfast is not only a chance to get to know vendors and entrepreneurs. We also met a few readers in person! Woot! Imagine our surprise when some of them came up to us and asked if we're The Pink Tarha. Haha! It's an honor for us to meet you, ladies! Thank you for reading The Pink Tarha! ;)

The Ladies 4 Networking Breakfast is one event you shouldn't miss. You'll discover a lot of interesting entrepreneurs and business whose products and services you might need now or in the future. Like the Facebook page of The Pink Tarha so you get updated when the next Ladies 4 Networking will be. Ladies 4 Networking Breakfast is brought to you by Sabina Metta, Outback Steakhouse Restaurant, Golden Brown Bakery, Munch Bakery, Make Up Forever, and Lush. Don't miss the next one! ;) ~ Sundrenched