Brunch at Buffalo's

Probably, there are only a handful of people on earth who'll consider themselves as "morning persons." No, I'm not one of them. Almost everyone though is forced to become a morning person for either work or school. I love mornings only for breakfasts and brunches. Or okay, for the early rays of sunshine in my room and the silence of Riyadh on a Thursday and Friday morning too.

The other Pink Tarha ladies are fond of long breakfasts but I'm sure they don't want waking up early on a weekend. Who does?! But there's one thing we like better to ignore the inconvenience of waking up early... a new experience. Remember when we said one of the mantras of The Pink Tarha is "do something new every day"? Well, we want to experience having brunch on a Thursday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Well, I want to. I just had to drag Eyecandy and our friend J to come with me. :) It's easy to look for a brunch place in Manila but in Riyadh, it's a little bit difficult. But nothing the Pink Tarha ladies can't handle. With a little click in my search button, I found the perfect brunch place... BUFFALO's!

Yes, yes, Buffalo's Southwest Cafe and Restaurant is not at all unfamiliar. It's like Steaky or Steakhouse or Outback or TGIF. Just a little bit dimmer and warm on the lighting but pretty much the same in overall appearance and substance. So anyway, I found out through My Saudi Guides (Riyadh) Yummy Yummy (a very wonderful resource site, if only they can better their website's aesthetics) that Buffalo's is now serving breakfast from 6am to 11am during Saturday to Thursday. I, being the ambassadress of brunches, forced invited the ladies to have brunch with me. Of course, I heard groans when I mentioned a 9am meet-up on a Thursday but the lure of food and coffee is undeniably appealing. So, we woke up early on a Thursday to have brunch at Buffalo's.

We thought we're the only ones who thinks this is such a nice idea. Apparently, a few Arabs enjoy it too. The place is not that packed but they're welcoming a few early risers like us. Speaking of welcome, the welcoming committee for Buffalo's is a waiter who opens the door for you and this large buffalo head hanging in the wall. Ack!

Why hello there, Mr. Buffalo! Please don't swallow us whole.

We had the gall to pose below it (silently praying and hoping the buffalo head won't fall in our heads!) and admire the semi-open kitchen across. As usual, every thing in the restaurantsspells West - cowboys, herds, wood, etc. We rode a narrow elevator to the second floor. Yes, we had to take the elevator. Lol. But there's always the stairs for a little bit of ugh, exercise.

So, let's have some breakfast at Tiffany's brunch at Buffalo's now shall we?

A very welcoming atmosphere

It's a good thing when all the drapes are up and sunshine is pouring in the room. Everything is bright and fresh! What a way to welcome our day! (Rhyming wasn't intended, lol!)

Big Bacon Omelet, SR25

A generous omelet loaded with six strips of beef bacon, onions, tomatoes, and topped with cheese (served with hash browns and a choice if three buttermilk pancakes or toast).

Our friend J enjoyed this. It's also such a huge serving that she had half of the portion to-go.

Fruit Pancakes, SR23

Three buttermilk pancakes smothered with a choice of flavors and whipped topping (strawberries | cinnamon-apple | blueberries | cherries).

Our choice topping is warm cherries but the cherries weren't warm enough. Still, the pancakes are good. Not that exceptional but really good. It's soft, fluffy, and creamy. Lather on a rich layer of their whipped cream and syrup and this is probably the best commercial pancake you'll have in Riyadh (if our tastes are the same).

International Crepe, SR22

Three crepes filled and smothered with any crepe flavor, dusted with powdered sugar and whipped topping (strawberries | cinnamon-apple | blueberries | bananas | cherries).

We tried their crepe because we thought it'll serve as our dessert. Turns out, our banana crepe is not that sweet. A drizzle of condensed milk would have made this a perfect sweet ending. With just a few slices of bananas and ground nuts, the crepe doesn't have a taste at all.

Chicken Skillet, SR33

Seasoned skin potatoes, green peppers, mushrooms, onions, melted cheese topped with tender country friend chicken.

E enjoyed this dish. The generous serving is a winner. The melted cheese added a very unique layer to the dish. Yummy!

Buffalo Passport, SR19

Two beef bacon strips, two beef sausages, served with hash browns (with two egg and a choice between three little buttermilk pancakes and toast).

The picture looks bland and the food there looks dry but don't be fooled with my photography skills. Lol. This is probably the pinaka-sulit dish in their menu. And this is what a hefty breakfast is all about! Greasy, meaty, and protein-filled! Lol. That's a lot of food pieces in one plate and I can't breathe after eating halfway. I had my eggs scrambled and I chose the pancakes over the toast. Get a little bit of every thing and a forkful is definitely a smorgasbord of flavors! And all these for SR19! Highly recommended!

Cutie little pancakes with butter and syrup (an option if you don't like toast)

Mocha and Cappuccino, SR8 each

Refillable Coffee, SR7

Orange Juice, SR10

We ♥ these cute honey and strawberry jam jars.

Delicious, filling, and affordable food! Everything was amazing! Buffalo's breakfast menu is good reason enough to wake me up early on a Thursday morning. Actually, it's also a good reason to forgo lunch. Click here for their breakfast menu to avoid staring at it for an hour and changing your mind countless times in the resto. Pick tables with nice views of Tahlia St. You'll never see Tahlia this empty if you go out at usual hours.

A view of nearby Hediard, a coffee shop in Tahlia St.

Wait, of course you didn't think Buffalo's is for breakfast only, right? Buffalo's is perfect for dinner also. We're just not saying this. We ate there for dinner too. Thank goodness, not on the same day we had our big brunch. But we can do that. :P Dinner at Buffalo's saved us from an epic fail in Fatburgers. We'll tell you all about it in our next entry on Buffalo's.

So, who's with us in doing something new every day?

§undrenched

Q&A Portion 10

Whew, it's been a long time since the last Question and Answer Portion. We have a handful of questions from our very lovely readers today which we'll try our best to answer. If you're going to ask us what's going on in Saudi Arabia right now, we can just say that it's pretty much normal. And we hope it stays this way. Anyway, let's all keep calm and move on...

1. Where is the biggest New Look in Riyadh?

The biggest branches are in Hayat Mall and Olaya Street. They have two floors and lots of selections! You can also visit other smaller branches in Granada Center and Riyadh Gallery. The Rollasoles we featured in our Facebook page came from New Look and they're located in the Accessories section, together with the wallets and tights, so go before designs and sizes are gone.

2. Which mall in Riyadh has both Centrepoint and City Max?

Riyadh Gallery! It even has Debenhams so that's three department stores in one mall. Have fun shopping! There are Citymax and Centrepoint branches near Sahara Mall too but you need to cross busy streets and intersections to get there.

3. I so LOVE the blog. You guys keep it up! Kudos to all of you! I was wondering if you guys know where to buy/find marzipan icing for fondant cakes? I'd like to practice making fondant cakes but don't have an idea where to get the marzipan icing. Thanks!

Thank you very much for the kind words. We hope you continue reading our blog. As for your icing needs, there's Baker's Rendezvous in Dabab St., just beside Mama Noura. For more baking tips in Riyadh, the beautiful and creative Ms. Nadia of Bake Fresh is probably the best resource person. She'll be offering classes soon so check her Facebook site as well. If you want to ask other bakers in Riyadh and learn more information, here's a link of home bakers in the city from Riyadh Yummy Yummy Guide.

4. Hi, do you know the name of the mobile store somewhere in Sulaiman street?

Unfortunately, we don't even know where Sulaiman St. is. What we do know is mobile stores are scattered all over Riyadh. You can start your search for gadgets in Batha (Electron Center) and Mursalat. For a more convenient shopping experience, Jarir Bookstore and HyperPanda have their own gadget corners and displays.

5. Do you know any Bed&Bath branches in Riyadh? The one in Sahara Mall has already closed.

We haven't seen another branch except the one in Sahara which you mentioned. There are other bed and bath essentials stores. Try Home Centre and IKEA.

6. Hi! I would just like to know if you have any infos regarding King Khalid University Hospital? Also about Taif Military Hospital? I would like to know which one is the best. Thank you.

Hi there! We don't usually give advice in which hospital is the best for you to work in because we don't have a lot of information about hospitals here and it's a huge decision for your career life so we don't want to meddle with that. However, we can just give you an overall view of the places where both hospitals are. The King Khaled University Hospital is the King Saud University's hospital, one of the biggest here in Riyadh. Taif Military Hospital... well, are you talking about the Al Hada Armed Forces Hospital? If yes, then the only difference we can tell you is that the hospital is in the agricultural province of Taif, about 7 hours away from Riyadh. Since both are hospitals under the Ministry of Health (MOH), they're probably one of the best hospitals (as compared to private ones). It's just a matter of the location where you will thrive best: the urban area where it's bustling and hot (Riyadh), or the rural area where it's laid back and somewhat cold (Taif)? No matter what hospital you choose, we're sure there are a lot of Filipinos there to help and guide you. (Of course we're partial to Riyadh because we're here. LOL!)

7. Hi! I love reading your blog. I would just like to know if you have any information about Al Hammadi Hospital in Riyadh? I have a job offer as a nurse there. Do you know any one who works there?

Again, we don't really want to play a big role in a life-changing decision such as your question. We can only give you what we know from our friends who have information about these hospitals. The Al Hammadi Hospital is one of the biggest and best private hospitals in Riyadh. We're not sure how they treat their employees though but there are many Filipinos working in Al Hammadi. Of course, the entry-level salary is not as competitive as the military hospitals.

8. Hi Pink Tarha! Very excellent blog, ladies. I literally spent my whole day yesterday reading through all of your entries. Really informative in a very COOL way! Btw, I just need to ask if you have any idea how much does it cost to have a kitten vaccinated? How much does it cost to get the kitty documented (travel docs, etc.). We are buying an 8 week-old cat with no vaccinations and papers yet. Thanks a bunch!

Wee, another cat lover like Eyecandy! A cat vaccine usually costs 80-100 riyals ($25) in pet shops. As for the documents, when your cat is vaccinated for the first time, the pet shop vet usually just gives you a card that serves as your cat's document. That's what we know so far. Eyecandy goes to the Pet Village in the old airport road but we heard that it closed recently. You can try Life and Nature Pet Center in King Abdul Aziz Road (0505444905) and Riyadh Veterinary Clinic near exit 7 (+966-1-456 - 8736). We don't have personal experiences on these shops though. Thank you very much for reading our blog and loving the entries. :)

So there you go. We apologize if it took us a few weeks to answer your questions. We'll be faster next time. Ask and you shall be answered! :)

How to Pay Your SSS and Pag-IBIG

Hi Filipinos in Riyadh, are you an SSS and PAG-IBIG member? Do you even know what these are?

I'd like to elaborate but I'm not an expert in these things. I just recently found myself sorting out my SSS and Pag-IBIG membership plans because I know I need to.

When I was working in Makati two years before I went to Riyadh, my employer was in-charge of my SSS and Pag-IBIG contributions. They get automatically deducted from my salary each month and I didn't have to do a thing... except obtain the SSS and Pag-IBIG numbers online, which is a one-time thing. When I went abroad, I completely forgot, okay ignored, my contributions because it's such an effort to pay it and I wasn't really thinking clearly that time (tantamount to saying I don't want to have an idea how). Now, I realize they're important for all the right reasons. Maybe I need a loan? Maybe I'll retire soon (like 30 years soon, hehe)? Maybe I just need a back-up plan? It's been almost three years since I ignored them and I didn't know where to start because one, I did not have any document with me that states what my SSS number or Pag-IBIG number and two, I'm abroad. I decided to act on it.

I started with the SSS. I spent an entire day browsing the SSS website looking for answers to my "case." Okay, maybe it was just an hour but not finding a concrete answer in the site frustrated me to the point of giving up. But I'm not easily swayed by frustrations. Rightttt. So I did what I should have really done first: check their international branches. And hallelujah, I found email addresses for their Riyadh branch. I emailed sss_riyadh@digi.net.sa and sss_riyadh@yahoo.com (dalawa para sigurado) to ask how to pick up from where I left in my contribution and how to go from there. Being a government agency, I did not expect a prompt reply (because I'm biased like that and I've suffered countless waiting hours in some government agencies just to process papers and clearances). Surprisingly, I got a reply asap and the help that was provided to me was beyond my expectation. I didn't know it was that easy. If only I had known, I should have continued paying since I got here. So since I don't want you to suffer the same late realization I had, here's what you have to do to pay your SSS. (These tips are for OFWs and their dependents in Saudi Arabia.)

1. Your SSS number is your lifetime number. It can't be changed and it can't be doubled. You should only have one SSS number. If you already have one but have forgotten it or doesn't have any documents that has it, then you can email . (I apologize to Mr. Danny Calape, SSS representative to Riyadh, KSA, if his email address gets clogged because of this advice, hehe) to ask for an update on your record of contribution.
2. If you don't have an SSS number yet, you can get it directly from the SSS website.
3. SSS are paid by schedules. It doesn't have to be monthly though. You can pool your money to pay two or three or more months per visit to payment centers. You can also pay in advance.
4. The amount of contribution depends on your choice. Here's the schedule:


5. To pay, visit any branch of Skyfreight, Telemoney Center, or Tahweel Al Rajhi. In short, visit Batha. You'll find all three there. Hehe. Although of course, to avoid the crowd there, here are other branches: Skyfreight (not mentioned in the website is their new branch at Abu Bakr Ar Razi St., Suleimania, near the Military Hospital [RKH]), Telemoney, and Tahweel Al Rajhi.

Those are just some tips and guides. And since I'm probably just babbling, the first step is actually all you need regardless of what your question is. Email Mr. Danny Calape. I'm sure he'll be happy to help.

As for Pag-IBIG, there's also just one step needed. Email Mr. Philip Raymund Salem at balian_boy@yahoo.com for your questions. I know you;re curious but please don't ask him why he's email address is like that. Hehe. Jk. To answer your basic questions, though here's a simple step-by-step on how to enter the Pag-IBIG Online Membership Registration (Pag-IBIG 1 Program):

1. Visit the official website of Pag-IBIG Fund at www.pagibigfund.gov.ph.
2. Click "Member Services."
3. Click "Online Membership Registration."
4. Click "Register as a New Member."
5. Click "Continue."
6. Enter the code shown.
7. Click "Proceed."
8. Fill out the needed information. (Answer all blanks marked with *)
9. Click "Submit."
10. Click "Print MDF."
11. Submit the printed MDF to the Pag-IBIG representative at the Philippine embassy through a. submitting personally or via an authorized representative or b. send a soft copy of the MDF to balian_boy@yahoo.com.

Easy, yes? Wait, you need an Internet Explorer to proceed with the registration so I suggest you use IE. And a printer should be at hand to avoid any inconvenience. And please, be patient. Payments can be made through the Pag-IBIG representative at the Philippine embassy and at Skyfreight branches. There are more information available like payments and loans which we can email you if you need it. Otherwise, email Mr. Salem for all queries and concerns.

Visit the SSS website and the Pag-IBIG website for more information. Read especially on the section where they discuss the benefits of paying these. You might need the inspiration and the force to make this a monthly habit of yours. :D

Lusin: An Armenian Deluxe

IMAGINE ARABIAN SUNSETS meeting the European flair. Think of the aroma of a bustling grill amidst a palatial rendezvous. Discover and have a taste of a culture that has long been subdued. That is how I experienced the newly opened restaurant in town called, Lusin.

The Opening Soon sign beside The Noodle House was up for quite some time and it was to my delight to find that it was finally open for business! Lucky for me I had the chance to peek in before the actual opening which I featured previously here. This time around, I was able to check out more of the fantastic view that this restaurant had to offer:

The maroon-like colors showered by the bright yellow lighting reminds me of an Arabian sunset and yet the sparkle of gold accents and brass interiors brings about a certain "bling" of the 21st century.

The veranda is still hoping for some touch-ups during the time I visited, but at this point, I could honestly say that standing from this view, it looked simply marvelous.

Sitting in the restaurant during the soft opening, I was not sure what to expect. Outside, the sign read, "Lusin: Armenian Cuisine" - but I wasn't anywhere near familiar to what Armenian food really is. The good thing is that the manager and crew were hospitable and kind enough to introduce us to what Armenian food is all about. Starting off with our drinks, we were offered the Pomegranate juice - which we were told, was the national fruit of Armenia. It's color is also

the binding theme of the restaurant, and you will notice that the crew's uniform is also adorned with this symbol. Too bad I wasn't able to take a photo of both the juice and the men in uniform but I can assure you that both were delicious and a delight to look at.

:)

Let's move on to the starters shall we?

We were paraded with an exquisite line-up of all the kinds of dips one could imagine. Now, I am a Filipina and I naturally did not grow up to homegrown Middle-Eastern cooking despite growing up in Riyadh, therefore from here on end, do take into consideration that I have more of an Asian-tempered palette. Nevertheless, I am a hummus lover and being exposed to at least four different kinds of hummus (or at least I thought they were hummus) was indeed, beyond my imagination (and consumption):

Some Khubz bread to wipe off the hummus with. Note: Bread is "refillable."

A parade of starters. From Top to Bottom: Itch - Traditional Armenian burgul red salad with parsley. Yalanji Grape Leaves - Stuffed grape leaves served with Armenian matzone yogurt. (Four sets of dips to be identified in next photo) Mohammarah (The red one) - Traditional Armenian red pepper paste with grated walnuts. Taboulah - Traditional Lebanese Taboulah from parsley, burgul and tomato and lastly, Beetroot Salad with sesame cream.

Clockwise from Top: Mutabal - Traditional Lebanese grilled eggplant mashed with sesame paste, (Forgot the name) but it's practically hummus but with bits of meat in them; Hummus - Traditional Lebanese style; and Tajin Samak - Cold slices of fish fillet with sesame paste and onions.

Now from this set of cold starters, I must say that in general, they all tasted delicious. But what stood out for me was the Mohammarah and the Tajin Samak. The texture of the pepper paste coupled with the right amount of sour and a kick of the spice worked wonders with the Khubz bread. Also, it was my first time to try the Tajin Samak and it tasted like an Armenian counterpart to our version of a tuna salad, if I may say so.

As for the rest, the Taboulah was freshly made and the Mutabal and Hummus were richer than the usual ones I'd have on a regular basis (i.e. a weekend snack from our local diner). Like all fine restaurants such as these, it was obvious that the choice and quality of ingredients does make the difference.

Although, I wish I could say the same for the hot starters (featured below), for me, they were okay. But it isn't something to rave about. I would rather order another round of Mohammarah and Tajin Samak.

Cheese Bourak - Fried pastries stuffed with cheese.

Beef Bourak - Fried pastries stuffed with minced beef.

As we were enjoying the starters, I could already catch a faint smell of the grill coming from the kitchen as the crew were preparing to serve the main dishes. It's a good thing that I was preoccupied with the good conversation I was having with my family that it was just a matter of time that another parade of plates invaded our table.

The main course:

Mixed Platter of Shish Taouk and Meat Kebab garnished with grilled pepper and tomato.

Grilled Lamb Chops

Kebab in Cherry Sauce

If I am not mistaken, I believe this dish is called "Manti".

It has meat-stuffed pillows of ravioli, blanketed by rich yogurt cream.

I don't know how I was still able to down any of the main courses seeing that I was already stuffed with all the appetizers we had. Nevertheless, the scenery of grilled meat was too enticing to ignore. Out of all the main courses we had, I just have to give a standing ovation to the Grilled Lamb Chops. (clap, clap, clap) It was tasty, soft and such a simple dish that was made elegant in my mouth. Second place would have to go to the Kebab in cherry sauce as I have never tasted such fine pureed cherry so far in my life. The fine-ness of the sauce meshed well with the coarse, ground meat. I can't say that there was anything special with the mixed platter of shish taouk and kebabs, although it would be a safe choice for those with a less adventurous inclination when it comes to food. The Manti, for me, was a bit on the sour side - as it should be. However, sour taste is not particularly my soft side.

I didn't think we had enough space for a desert round, so my family and I settled for a shot of what they call "White Coffee."

It is actually a herbal tea made from orange blossom water. We were told by our waiter that it aims to help one's digestion, particularly after a heavy meal. It may look like a shot of vodka to you, but it's not. :P The scent is calming and holding the warm glass with your fingertips is actually relaxing.

As we were getting ready to leave, the restaurant was already packed and most of the guests were Saudis and/or Middle-Eastern. I can tell that the restaurant was off to a promising start. In general, the ambiance of Lusin is nothing short of luxurious and I believe that it is best to put in your reservation before heading there. It may be easy for most people to assume that the food they offer is similar to other Turkish or Lebanese restaurants, but as the name suggests, they have dubbed it as "Armenian Cuisine" and thus it is the Armenian experience that awaits you at Lusin -- a culture that is as ancient as Rome and Arabia and yet, not as known to the world.

No Lusin, Thank You!

For reservations and inquiries:

LUSIN

2nd Floor, Centria Mall,

Olaya St., Riyadh

T: 01-293-9800

E: info@lusinrestaurant.com

Their website is currently under construction but can be primarily viewed at: http://www.lusinrestaurant.com