I'm a Kitchenation Citizen

The Mira Hotel is a beautiful building in Tahlia Street. Its modern Andalusian architecture and design and warm, creamy yellow orange facade emit a welcoming vibe that speaks of comfort and luxury at the same time. You know when a hotel is a bit intimidating because of all the displays in there that you're afraid to touch? Well, we're not sure if Mira is the same because honestly, we only got to walk down their red carpet in front and enter their sliding doors and turn right to what is probably one of the best not-so-hidden gems in Riyadh... Kitchenation. 

Mira Hotel + Kitchenation

While the sign is right outside the wall of Mira Hotel, you wouldn't be able to see the interiors of the restaurant unless you enter. Kitchenation is unique in terms of its layout and design. For a hotel restaurant, it doesn't look obnoxious and snobbish. It looks inviting. It looks like a place where your creativity can flow all day long. I was tempted to bring out my Macbook, my notebooks, pencils, and Sharpies and invade one of the tables for the whole day, considering how I've been struggling with some sort of a writer's block over the past few months. 

I feel at home!

I like this set-up.

The restaurant is airy and the spaces are wisely-utilized. There's no uniformity but everything goes together so well; from the mix and matched chairs to the nooks filled with books, figurines, and trinkets to the juice bar filled with colorful fruits and beverages to my favorite dessert display where meringues and cheesecakes and candy apples and brownies are arranged in sweet abandon. I honestly felt like I already belonged in this place, even if it was just my first time to set foot on it. 

IKEA sofa and some trinkets

The tables have - get this - a canister of crayons and pens and also a placemat that has a game we used to play in the Philippines. I guess this game of listing famous personalities, countries, animals, plants, etc. that starts with the letter A, B, C, and so on... is a universal game after all. So while waiting for the food, we went back to our childhood and scribbled away. 

Child's play?

Basic colors and wood

Each table has its own knick-knacks which will help you tide the time away. I was also fascinated with this huge shelf filled with books, tin cans, photo frames, and clocks and the nearby roll of manila paper filled with scribbled quotes that stretches from the ceiling to the floor. Even the IKEA sofa sets and colorful chairs are interesting. They all held my attention because looking at the setup, I did not get what cuisine they were serving. If I had to take a guess, it would have taken me a few tries to get the answer (or maybe not at all) because... 

Kitchenation serves a fusion of Turkish and Italian cuisine. 

Weird huh? But I tell you, Kitchenation actually got their fusion right. I mean pizzas with yoghurt and kebabs? Pastas with seafood and Turkish flavors? Yum! There are some items in their menu that look American and Asian to me but oh well. Their slogan says "Turkish Kitchen and Italian Hospitality" and that's a legit thing as far as I'm concerned. 

Here are the food items we truly enjoyed: 

Fresh salad with a hint of sweetness and tartness

This salad is fresh and bountiful... what more can I say? Ask my friends who devoured this for further comments. Haha!

Starting the meal right.

You'll be surprised at how familiar this one tastes.

The Crispy Shrimps appetizer is so simple yet once you start eating one, you can't stop! The succulent shrimps are enveloped in a pillowy cover that is surprisingly crispy. One piece packs a lot of flavor. 

Uhmn, what is this? A solid presentation huh.

Unveiling the goodness beneath.

Tsaraaaaaaan! :)

And here I am again forgetting to take photos of the menu thus forgetting the names of the dishes (why do I do this to myself every.single.time?!?). Anyway, this seafood spaghetti is served in a clay pot and covered with khubz. There goes the fusion of Turkey and Italy. Our waiter took his time showing us how to release the steam of the pasta. He carefully cut the thin, flat bread on the sides and followed the circular pattern of the pot and voila! The wonderful seafood aroma seeped through and we finally saw the spaghetti doused in a pale orangey sauce that is savory and delicious. 

Grandmother's interesting Turk-Ital pizza!

Another successful creation that fuses both countries' bestselling dishes is this pizza that features a light tomato sauce, tender beef cuts, and creamy yoghurt sauce in the middle. I slathered my slice with the white sauce and ate with gusto. 

The famed mini burgers

The mini burgers garnered a lot of raves in Foursquare but I didn't find anything special to it apart from the kebab, almost sausage, they used as patty. And also the generous heaping of french fries on the side. 

There's always room for salmon.

We're ready for dinner!

The salmon didn't taste quite as fresh as we imagined it to be and the sweet chili sauce was a bit off-putting. We're not too sure they go well together. If you order this, have them put the chili sauce on the side instead of pouring it in the fish. 

Lemon + Melon = A bit too sour for my taste but that's what lemons do.

They also offer interesting beverage mixes. Try their mojitos. Or if you can't pick just one fruit, make your own kind of juice! We didn't have the chance to try their desserts but I'm leaving you with photos of some sweet treats that made my eyes full. Let me know if you tried any and I'll surely go back to try them out. 

Spell TEMPTATION.

Berry good!

Be still my heart. 

This looks yummerz!

Macarons with cute canisters

A tray of sweets

is there anything more chocolatey?! 

These are not your ordinary macarons. They're huge!

I really felt like Kitchenation is a home that just transformed into a bigger venue and welcomed more people in. I felt like I belong in one of their table sets because it's so whimsical and boho, almost like being outside Saudi Arabia for a moment. Their staff are friendly too. Kitchenation is open from 7:00AM to 11:00PM. Can I be a citizen on this nation? Haha. ~ Sundrenched

Kitchenation

Mira Hotel

Tahlia Street, 

Riyadh Saudi Arabia

Twitter: @kitchenationm

Instagram: @kitchenation

Directions: Mira Hotel is the same building where Elevation Burger and Zaatar Wa Zeit are located. If you're coming from Olaya, turn to Tahlia Street and make a U-turn when you reach the Chili's intersection. It will be on your right. If you're coming from Dabab Street, just go straight, pass the signal light and you'll see it in your right. (Map photo from Foursquare)

Sharing Passions at IgniteOruba

Imagine talking about something you really love in just 5 minutes? Sounds crazy right? But that is exactly what happened at IgniteOruba last April 26, 2014 at Al Oruba International School. More than 20 speakers and artists performed in front of an enthusiastic crowd to talk about their passions and endeavors and The Pink Tarha was proud to be a part of the speakers for that event!

If you’re familiar with the popular TedTalks, then you’ll have an idea of what Ignite events are like. However in Ignite events, speakers are tasked to dish out their stories in a series of twenty slides that automatically progresses every fifteen seconds. That's a total of five minutes for the entire speech. For the past two years, the school supported and organized TEDxOruba events. But this year the organizers wanted something new and fresh and decided to organize IgniteOruba, in hopes of sparking new passions and developing awareness of one’s talents and skills.

Sundrenched was in the Philippines when she asked me to give a talk about The Pink Tarha at IgniteOruba. I was excited, elated and terrified about the whole idea. How can I resist? So I prepared my slides and my speech the moment I got the confirmation from the event coordinator. I then realized how hard it was to sum up five amazing years into five minutes!

On the day of the event I was accompanied by my husband and our friend Jou. The event was held at the school auditorium with the men and women’s seats segregated. The school auditorium is just perfect for this kind of event. It’s a shame I wasn't able to take photos because our camera phones were collected at the reception. Oh well, you’ll just have to take my word for it! Kidding. Here are some photos from the event organizers.

Hosts Hussam Galal and Ahmed Salah

Seeing the stage and the red curtains gave me the jitters. But all that was forgotten when the show started. We watched a mix of young students and adults talk about their various interests and passions. And it wasn't limited to speeches, some presented their musical talents and another student rapped in Arabic. One of the speakers talked about overcoming stage fright and another urged her father to quit smoking.

While most of the speeches were in Arabic, we could tell by the way the students presented their talk that they truly prepared for this moment. Kudus to the school faculty and students who worked really hard on this endeavor!

Dr. Mohamed AL-Saadoun on Staying Positive

Moumen Afandy on Life Obstacles

Dr. Safaa Mahfouz talked about Self-Improvement

Abdullah Aqily talked about his journey as a Fat Fighter

Sampaguita Pride talked about The Pink Tarha

My takeaway from this experience? I think the jolt of excitement of being on stage boosted my morale and has inspired me to pursue and tick off a few items from my bucket list. I realized that the things we do can turn into something great if we pour love, dedication and patience into everything that we do. IgniteOruba has indeed ignited a new passion in me, a new lease on life as a writer and artist.

To the organizers of IgniteOruba thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to share our passion with everyone that night. More power!

Cheers!
Sampaguita Pride  

Top 5 Suggestions for the Janadriyah Festival (aka Janadriyah 2014)

It's the Janadriyah season once again! I have written that sentence five times now (or more if you count my announcements in Facebook). Can you believe it? I've been attending the Janadriyah festival for YEARS now and don't I get tired?! Haha! I won't beat around the bush to tell you how AWESOME it is. Actually compared to other festivals, especially the fiestas in the Philippines, the Janadriyah is pretty boring. However, since it's the only major festival in the Riyadh province, it's already a feat on its own. There are a lot of reasons why you should go especially if it's your first time. Yes to new experiences please! I won't tell you why you should go in this entry because we've pretty much spoilt that for you in this, this, this, and this entries. 

And here we go again! :)

What I'm going to tell you though are the suggestions that might make Janadriyah more interesting. I know the organizers won't probably read this and will probably laugh at my recommendations since what do I know about organising?! Except for my slight OCD when it comes to travel itineraries, I'm not much of an organised person myself so with?! And in the hierarchy of things in the Kingdom, I am nowhere near the... hierarchy itself. Haha! But I'm just airing my POVs out there. Universe, you are listening right? 

1. An English version of the Janadriyah website with a clear program and schedule please. I am one of those people who went to the official website and was a bit frustrated. Can someone lead me to the English version please? The website can be translated by your browsers sure but isn't it easier if there's a link somewhere that says "English"? A click will lead us to a website that has all the details we should know like schedules and programs. You know how many times I've been asked what time does it start and end? Countless! And I love you, dear Pink Tarha readers, but it gets tiring answering the same question over and over. Hehe. 

Also a schedule of the program would be nice. Like when you go to Disneyland, they publish in their maps the time a performance would start so you can go to the venue ahead of time. I'm not saying Janadriyah is Disneyland (*cough*) but if I want to watch the ardha (sword dance), I want to see it from start to finish and not just chance upon it in one of the pavilions. Also, I want to catch the parade and not just hear it from the other side of the street. Chances are, when you go Janadriyah once, you will not visit again on the following days (because it's faaaar from the city centre) so cramming all the interesting sights and sites in one visit is a must. 

The sights and sites of Janadriyah... sigh... :)

2. More activities in the pavilions. I've been to the Janadriyah five times so I'm pretty much a veteran already. (Or maybe not much considering that this year is the 29th edition.) As much as I love discovering the activities and items on exhibit in each pavilion, they were pretty much the same ever since. Maybe stirring up things a little bit would be nice. Like for the Taif area, maybe free bouquets of roses? Haha! I know there might be rules and regulations and all those things that hinder growth and development but I'm sure every one would appreciate fresh ideas and more fun activities every now and then. It's like going all out since it's the only huuuge festival in Riyadh (and Saudi Arabia). 

But here are the activities you shouldn't miss: 

a. Shoot me baby one more time! Or more like 'just for one time!' LOL. You can fire an air gun at the Ministry of Interior's pavilion but only once. Or more if it's not yet the prayer time and there's no long line behind you. 

Someone enjoyed her time in the shooting range! Haha!

b. Befriend dinosaurs and kick soccer balls to smash the television screen at the King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology. 

We found new friends! Haha!

c. Get a rose from the Riyadh pavilion (when you're expecting the rose from the Taif area) and be surprised that the Riyadh Municipality has a small pavilion considering it's the capital. 

Woot, finally had a rose! And it's pink!

d. Take dramatic photos of the festival from the bridge of the Ports Authority pavilion (one of the most unique pavilions in Janadriyah) and of course, ask yourself why you're standing in a bridge in the Janadriyah festival! 

Love this view!

e. Discover street food, Saudi Arabia style at the Makkah pavilion. The smoke coming from this pavilion enticed us to enter and we didn't regret it one bit because we found a delicious spicy meat snack that looks fried but tastes grilled (awesome yeah?), doughy balls that need to be dipped in a sweet sauce, and Vimto in large vats! 

Freshly-cooked food!

3. More organised entrances, parking, and signages. In the Janadriyah, it's like we're all given a huge piece of empty lot and you can park anywhere and taxi can wait any time. There are little signs at the entrance and parking area that our driver who just dropped us off a few minutes ago got lost on his way back to us (my friend left her phone on his car so he needed to go back). He needed to thread his way in and out cars and people until he just gave up, parked somewhere, and found us on foot. Haha! I suggest you get a map at the information booths first so you know where the restrooms, first aid area, food court, etc. are. This will also prevent you from wandering around aimlessly. Wait, I guess you have to find an information booth first! Haha! 

Here's a map: 

Map of the Janadriyah Village

Please disregard the fact that they spelled a lot of words incorrectly. Ironically, they spelt "Education" with a word that doesn't even exist. 

4. More food choices please. I don't think I have to explain this further. Haha! 

The Janadriyah 2014

5. The Philippines as the guest country. I don't know what their criteria is in choosing the guest country but I think it's about time they consider the Philippines. Am I right or am I right?! Haha! No seriously, it's a great way for the Saudis to get to know our culture and it's a great way for Filipinos to be at the heart of Saudi's culture too. Also, our cultural presentations are great. You should see tinikling and pandanggo sa ilaw. And since women will probably be not allowed to perform on stage, it would be entertaining to see guys dance these cultural dances. Haha! Like Saudi Arabia, the Philippines gives value to folklore and crafts. The Philippines is a third world country, yes, but our traditions, culture, nature, and people are first rate! ;) 

Who ever gets tired of camels?!

All in all, I've seen the development and improvements in the Janadriyah this year. And they're all for the better! Yey! For one, it is tidier! There are trash bins 10 steps away from each other. And if you can't see a yellow garbage can, then there's a cleaner holding a broom and rolling another trash bin. There are more religious police but not the shouting, "I will embarrass you for the sake of embarrassing you" kind. They man the gates so please, just don't be pasaway. When they say it's for ladies and families only, follow it. The food area is more organised and they have sponsors giving out free stuff (hello Maggi, Puck, and Lipton!). The pavilions of the ministries are getting better and better. The people are friendly and welcoming. So...

I looove the crowd because it's so different from anywhere else in the world!

Visit the Janadriyah festival!!! It's open for families and ladies until February 28 from 4:00pm to midnight. Map to the Jandriyah here. It's opposite Selwa compound, just before the King Abdulla Farms. ~ Sundrenched

Getting Fit @ NuYu

I HAVE BECOME quite the gym buff lately. Make no mistake, I am the larger one out of all The Pink Tarha ladies, but that's all the more reason I have started a lifestyle change more than six weeks ago. And while my personal weight loss journey won't be the highlight of what you'll be reading today, the reason I mentioned it is because my NuYu experience came at the perfect time.

First off, NuYu is a fun and dynamic new fitness studio led by impressively passionate individuals who are keen in making a difference in the lives of women in Saudi Arabia by encouraging them to be active and healthy in a fun environment at an amazingly affordable price. I was fortunate enough to meet the "mothership" of NuYu composed of its Owner, HRH Princess Sara Al Saud, Ms. Susan Cass, General Manager and Ms. Kate Fearon, Consulting Manager along with Ms. Yasmin and fitness trainers, Ellie, Dominique and Keriyah. In our conversations, I noticed how enthusiastic they were about their vision and they shared how fitness has changed their own lives. I was inspired.

And inspired is just one of the feelings you'd encounter as you walk through the halls of NuYu. You will be welcomed with a brief, security check in the entrance but with very accommodating receptionists (Shoutout to one of our loyal readers, Amantullah who was as ecstatic as I am to meet her!). Their lounge area is inviting and plain cozy, something you'd feel if you were coming home to your own, chic apartment. The hallway leading up to the studios has a "cinema" feel to them and rightly so, their changing rooms look like a prep-room for a theater production - complete with the big light bulbs, mirrors and all. (Pardon me, it was hard to take personal photos for The Pink Tarha since it was an area filled with abaya-less women, so I will be showing you official photos provided by NuYu instead.)

The cozy and chic lobby.

The Spin Room, fashioned after New York's Radio City Music Hall. 

This is where you get your sexy back! 

On my day at Nuyu, I had the opportunity to try out their latest training program called the Private Group Training.

It's the latest fitness trend that's treading the line between a one-on-one class and a group class. The difference being is that in a one-on-one class, it's pretty much self-motivation and you can easily fall off the wagon without a proper support group; meanwhile a group class usually runs the risk of being too generic and not necessarily addressing the specific needs of every student in the class. What PGT is trying to achieve in a class of 6 to 8 people (maximum) is to offer every participant the opportunity to benefit from effective and personal training whilst giving its participants  the feeling of teamwork and solidarity that can only come from a sense of belonging. 

PGT is essentially a six-week program that is result-focused and notably affordable since there are 6 to 8 of you sharing the services of a dedicated trainer. My one-day PGT experience began first with an InBody Assessment which will let me know what I am starting with. The InBody Assessment is done with a simple-looking machine that I can only later on describe to be magical. It's important to have the assessment done prior to starting your PGT so that you can be well aware of your current state and from there, plot the goal you need to reach in six weeks' time. 

Now nothing can be more scarier than the truth, but it can also set you free. After reading my InBody Assessment, I had a better sense of how hard I needed to work to lose all the "bad weight" I've put on through the years. The assessment will print your details on your body's composition (Skeletal Muscle Mass, Body Fat Mass, Total Body Water), an obesity diagnosis (Body Mass Index, Percent Body Fat, Waist-Hip Ratio), reading of your Segmental Fat and Segmental Lean Mass and an Exercise Planner that suggests several activities for you to work on. 

Dominique facilitated our InBody Assessment and explained to us what we needed to do and how PGT was going to help us achieve that. And so, off we went to get a taste of NuShape (one of the aspects of the PGT) with fitness trainer, Ellie. This is where the sweat starts. 

One of their workout studios.

NuShape was NoJoke. I had just started to learn planking a few days back and after my NuShape session, I have officially become a planking addict. The NuShape session was comprised of warm-ups,  a circuit training of weight lifting and core strengthening exercises. Think repetitions of weight-lifting machines, squats, planking and more planking! Hahaha! I was compelled to do more than six 30-second plankings after having just learned how to do 15-second ones days ago. But that's how workouts are I suppose, it's about pushing yourself to doing more than you think you can. 

Ellie was great. I started to see what they mean about the attention PGT can offer to its participants. She was equally watching and guiding each of us in our moves and positions. My fellow blogger Daniyah, who was also a participant in the event, was very encouraging to me all throughout the session and I started to get a glimpse of that team spirit that PGT takes pride in. Feels good, so far! 

After the 30-minute NuShape session, it was time for the NuVibe session which was headed by fitness trainer, Keriyah. NuVibe is conducted using the Power Plate -- a state-of-the-art exercise equipment with a vibrating platform initially developed by NASA. It may look intimidating at first, but the results that a Power Plate delivers are astounding. Think of doing 30 squats on a regular floor -- if you do the same number of squats while on the Power Plate, you double that amount while exerting the same effort. It maximizes your time in the gym with favorable outcomes. 

The Power Plate Studio.

The Power Plate, for me, had me a little disoriented. I suppose as a first timer on it, it was only natural to feel a bit dizzy while doing the exercises on a vibrating platform. But Keriyah was very accommodating and she always asked me if I could still manage. I did my best, but I was ready to give up at that point, truth be told. A NuVibe session can also go for 30 minutes and you'd definitely need an instructor to constantly guide you. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to finish the entire session as I had a driver waiting overtime for me already. I bid Keriyah and Daniyah goodbye and thanked them for an awesome, sweaty time. 

You would think that I was ready to collapse at this point, but after a couple of minutes recovering and hydrating, I actually felt really good. Yay for happy hormones thanks to exercising! I really thought all the planking and power plate-ing was enough to make me slash my wrists, but funny enough, it made me want it more! 

If this got you thinking about considering PGT or merely changing your lifestyle into a healthier one, please do go and check out NuYu personally or at their website here. All of your questions regarding price and schedules can be accommodated by their wonderful team of people. Right now, they only have that one branch in Exit 8 but by 2014, two more new branches are set to open in the city. I am excited! 

Cheers to all the gym gals out there! You all rock! xoxo

-Eyecandy

NuYu
King Abdulaziz Road,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
T: +966-11-810-4111

W: http://www.nuyu-ksa.com

Email: community@nuyu-ksa.com

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