Malling 'Til 2AM

Ok, has the Ramadan schedule cramped out your weekend night outs?

We've sure been feeling the pinch.

Most stores are open during the day at 1PM to 4PM...but expect food chains to be closed. Last Thursday, S and I, along with our friend, A, had to get our repressed shopping souls free after restraining ourselves after the SALE Season. S called the phone nos. of malls like Granada Mall, Sahara and Hayat just to know what time they'd be open (Yes, we're addicts like that. But wait, there's more). For some reason, S got hold of the info that Hayat is open by 6pm. So, we scooted off as soon as we could arriving to the vicinity at around quarter to seven. This is what we found.

Abandoned.

An empty parking lot in both Sahara and Hayat Mall engulfed us. I have NEVER seen this place so empty as this is always jam-packed with cars and heavy traffic. But lo and behold, you could drop a penny in this place and hear it hit the ground a hundred yards off. We couldn't do anything but laugh at ourselves really. Half-funny, half-scary. Half-funny 'coz of the absurdity of it all, and half-scary because the whole place was like a scene from Dawn of the Dead horror flicks. I mean, look at that trolley! lolz.

But hey, we're hardcore Pinays right? So what do we do? Kodakan na! Hahaha.

E-M-P-T-Y!

Mas empty pa sa Empty Quarter.

S and E.

Jump shot!

Feeling nasa EK?

We were able to have dinner at Tony Roma's in Hayat, [By the way, if you're ever there, don't bother ordering the ribs (they've been out of ribs for 2 months!) and they also don't have corn (which S and A were craving for but na-dah!)]. Srsly, TR at Hayat, if you're reading this, your service has gone waaaaay down, bordering on underground since I first ate at your branch there. Better close your branch if you don't carry your supposed MAIN course items. DOH!

Anyhoo, we had to endure the place until stores opened at 9 PM. And by then, we were like a bunch of rats scrambling for the shops! Oh yeah, and we were scrambling and strolling til half past 1:00 AM! AND, naisipan pa namin pumunta ng Kingdom! Gawsh, the last time I was out THIS late was during my party days in college...in the Philippines! We mainly bought make-up and beauty products from MAC and The Body Shop. But take note, the main goal of our trip was supposedly help our friend find a dress! Haha. That is what you call diversion.

There you have it folks. We opened Hayat Mall and closed Kingdom Mall (at 2:00 AM). We plan to make this past-midnight rendezvous a weekly habit this entire Ramadan schedule. Next week, we hope to hit IKEA. All night long baby, all. night. long.

How's that for shopaholics?

Cheers!

-ec-

Again, The Name's Tony Roma('s)

Eyecandy, in one of the early entries in this blog, has given you a slice of steaks and other good food from Tony Roma's, one of the casual dining chain restaurants in the world. Let me give you another round of their delicious (eherm, stroke-inducing) offerings.

The Hayat Mall branch

This restaurant, along with Applebee's, Chili's, and TGIF, is made for special occassions and once or twice a month gathering with family and friends only. Wag naman masyadong karirin ang pagkain dito. :P

Here are some of Tony Roma's signature offerings:

Bread and herbed butter, free

Bahama Mama and Pina Mango Swirl, SR15 each

You might want to order a bottle of water with these. They're too sweet. I stirred in half a glass of water before I liked what I was drinking.

Ribeye steak cooked well-done, SR74
(with mashed potato and corn on the cob)

Sirloin steak cooked well-done, SR62
(with shredded corn and baked potato)

A bit too tough, but manageable. The corn with lots of butter is always good. Steak here is drizzled with TR's signature peppered gravy and Worcestershire sauce.

Shrimp Scampi Pasta, SR45

This lacks seasoning. The juicy shrimp is the only saving grace of this dish.

Apple Crisp Ala Mode, SR28
I love the vanilla ice cream on top, period.

Of course, don't forget to try their ribs which Tony Roma's is best known for. Careful though, the bones of it are so huge it can be used as a weapon of mass destruction. :P We also love the spinach artichoke dip served with warm tortilla chips, sour cream, and salsa, and their onion loaf.

Tony Roma's has earned a spot in our best restos in Riyadh so far. It doesn't also look too intimidating, compared to Tony Roma's in the Philippines which you can find in Glorietta 4, Makati City. I haven't eaten in that place like ever, while I've eaten in TR Hayat Mall (near the Danube Supermarket and Krispy Kreme) several times already. I'm sure you've also had your fair share of TR moments.

Another branch is located along Olaya Street near Pizza Company and Pans. It's a walking distance from Jarir Bookstore and Zara.

Confessions...

I didn’t want to go to work today. I’ve been feeling lonely with this thing going on at work lately that I just wanted to experience that “ignorance-is-bliss” feeling. Just as well, I’ve been bugging my aunt to go shopping with me since last week and when she called last Tuesday eagerly asking me to join her this Wednesday (which is a workday) for an all-out shopping bonanza, I jumped right on. I still had a free day from our Eid vacation last year so I decided to make use of that one day today.

This post is titled so because I didn’t tell my girls what my real reasons were for not going to work today. I’m afraid this whole situation at work is eating me up and I just wanted to be with someone that wasn’t involved in all of it. Don’t get me wrong, I love my girls…but being away for a day I guess was something I just felt I wanted to do. I'm sorry guys, I hope you understand. =s

^^
Moving on....

A short backstory on my aunt: She’s a hardworking nurse married to an equally hardworking nurse. The only difference is, my uncle is SUPERDUPER thrifty. It’s admirable to a tee, but sometimes, I just want my aunt to have a little fun with her hard-earned moolah. Being a nurse in Riyadh is hardcore. RESPECT and REPRESENT to all the nurses out here. The off-days are as precious as diamonds, and to think that my aunt has a one-year boy to take care of at home as well…go figure.

So, just imagine our excitement to be running wild in the mall as early as 9am! Yes! You read it right..9 A-M. We practically opened the shops. My aunt is really the one who’s gonna do all the shopping. I’m there only as a guide, enabler, gossip girl and for my own escapist indulgence. We roamed most of Sahara Mall with dropping jaws at the massive sale. All stores with big RED signs, (like the one you see here from ALDO) declaring their intentions for us to practice our incapacities as consumers and minions of the capitalist movement.


My aunt got loads of stuff! Mostly for her baby boy and the rest for herself. We had lunch at one of my favorite places to dine: Tony Roma's. We ordered the Tony Sampler (half serving) and my favorite Kickin Shrimp* for appetizers. Roma Rack Ribs for me and Rib Eye Steak for my aunt. I also tried their Bahama Mama cooler drink.

The Roma Rack-Bountiful Beef Ribs with sauteed string beans with garlic. I tried their signature sauce of Tony Roma's Red Hots. Spicy..just how I like it. 65SR. Good for the hungry.

Rib eye steak..Medium rare for my aunt. 12 oz. of pure American BEEF. I think this was around 72SR. Good for three petite ladies.

My favorite, Kickin Shrimp. It's tempura-like prawns served on a large margarita glass with chopsticks for you to eat them with by poking the shrimp and putting it in your mouth…what’s not to love? 30SR. Good for two.

The Tony Sampler consists of Buffalo Wings, Spinach Dip (heavenly) and TR's signature Onion Loaf (basically a onion rings' cake if you will). With fresh celery and carrots to boot. At 45SR, it's a good price. ;)

Meet the Bahama Mama..really a pink drink. Made out of various fruit juices. I found it too sweet for my liking but I bet the teeny boppers will love it! 15SR. Can act as dessert later on.

^^

We thought we were as full as a pregnant cow but all the shopping left to be done was enough to burn all the calories we ingested. We finished around 5:30 PM and just waited for the limo to pick us up.

Oh, and I did a teeny weeny bit of shopping myself. I’m disappointed at myself because I already got two new shoes since the year began, and its more than what I need, really. But—BUT—you know what I’m gonna say ladies. A girl can never have enough shoes! Aaargh! I first saw these red court heels and decided that the other pair in black may need an adoptive parent too. So I got them as well. Oh, and I also got a good find for my brother.

The red and black court heels are from Peacocks. Price before: 120SR Now: 40SR (each). The jeans are from Next which I got for 65SR from its original price of 200SR.

I was huge fan of Super Mario and now I'm regaining all that mania back with my brother's Nintendo DS which he lets me play with from time to time. he enjoys Mario too, so I got him this vintage-y Super Mario shirt from Next also...Before 120SR, then 80SR, then when I was gonna pay for it at the counter, the guy said it was now for 40SR!!

Retail therapy much?

Actually, tinipid ko ang sarili ko kasi may lakad kami nila Mama sa Mamlaka tomorrow. We’re gonna go to the Skybridge! Finally! (Coincidentally, Shoegarfreeruby blogged about it just now). We'll see if there will be more shopping madness tomorrow. But for now, I'm feeling relieved. And that was my goal.

Goodnight reader.
:)