Perfect Pairings (They're Hot!)

Now that the weather is quite cold, it's lovely to head outdoors and have some coffee noh? Unfortunately for us ladies, coffee shops don't have an outdoor section for us unless you consider Lenotre and La Vela in Centria Mall. They have a terrace open for families but even that can get claustrophobic since walls separate us from the street scene below. All we ever see are the rooftops and the skyscrapers. Oh well, it's still good to drink something hot and warm to comfort us during this winter nights. And here are some cool, er warm, pairings you can try.

Versus Caffe is newly opened in Panorama Mall. You've probably seen the Versus by Versace Boutique there. This is their coffee shop. No idea they're meant to have one but this red cafe just suddenly opened in front of Longchamp, Furla, Coach, etc. Must be a great idea to be surrounded by luxury brands while sipping your overpriced coffee. Haha! Anyway, you'll actually feel like a celebrity while entering it because there's a rope and a red carpet... and a bouncer. Yes, a bouncer-like person in black. We found it hilarious but whatever works with the theme, yannow? What's more hilarious than that? The spelling in their menu. For a luxurious cafe, they scrimped on copywriting. We won't show how misspelled the names of the food in their menu are so we won't spoil the fun for you.

Cafe Melange + Red Velvet Cake

The coffee I ordered is laced with honey and cinnamon. It's subtle and sweet. The red velvet is just the right kind of moist but overly sweet. I was looking for the familiar cheese cream icing on red velvet but this one is sporting a white sugar icing.

Versus Caffe 
Panorama Mall, Takhasussi Street
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
T: +966-11-205-7401

*****

Leil Nhar, a Lebanese restaurant in Tahlia Street, is not exactly a coffee shop but the friends and I find it quaint and quiet so we really enjoyed our dinner and desserts there. Their menu is simple; pretty much just wraps, sandwiches, and pizzas. They're fresh and healthy. Naturally, it would scare me to eat something healthy (hehe) so I insist on something sweet (read: unhealthy) to counter the healthy food I just ingested. Hehe. So, that's when I discovered this pair:

Black Coffee + Chocolate Cake

Please disregard the Chocolate Biscuit on the side. Concentrate on the moist and fudge-y slice of cake in the center. I love this cake! It's a bit heavy but once paired with black coffee, it's the bomb! It also doesn't hurt that the coffee came in a mug with a cute design. My friend can't help but arbor one from the flustered waiter. Haha!

Leil Nhar
Al Salam Building, Tahlia Street
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
T: +966-11-288-3366
FB: http://www.facebook.com/LeilNharRestaurant
Twitter: @LeilNharLeb

*****

Maya La Chocolaterie is one of the popular after-dinner spots for ladies. This is where you can enjoy a good dessert and hot drink with just the right ambiance. While we frequented the branch at the end of Tahlia Street, we're also liking the branch at the Home Offices building in Oruba Street. It's more airy and bright and we got scored free chocolates.

Cappuccino + Chocolate Fondue

What better way to enjoy coffee but with chocolate... the kind that melts even before reaching your mouth. Fruit slices, mini cakes, and marshmallows are dipped in this heavenly fondue. You can choose if you'll go for dark, milk, or white chocolate. All good! But if it's down to one choice, then go for milk. It solves everything!

Maya Le Chocolaterie

a. Tahlia Street (T: +966-11-211-3311)

b. Hayat Mall, King Abdulaziz Road (+966-11-2015-7942)

c. Home Office Center, Oruba Road
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MayaLaChocolaterie
E: info@maya-la-chocolaterie.com

*****

Dr. Cafe is a favorite for those craving for a quick caffeine high; you can find it every where, or mostly every where. The branch in Khurais Road across King Fahd Medical City is probably the most popular. It's the closest to Starbucks in terms of popularity. Dr. Cafe has branches in Singapore and Malaysia.

White Chocolate Mocha + Chocolate Chip Muffin

My go-to drink in Dr. Cafe is their cafe mocha. It's sweet and creamy and just makes a dull day lovely. Even if there's probably more milk and sugar than espresso shots in my tall cup (coffee drinker? pffft please!), I still order it more than the other available variants. I usually pair it with a muffin, any flavor! It's just that chocolate chip is the one here in the photo. I love Dr. Cafe' muffins because they're soft easy on the pocket (I'm looking at your pastries and sandwiches, S*bucks!). Oh, I love their cheesecakes too.

Dr. Cafe
Check their branches here.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drcafeksa
Twitter: @drcafecoffee

*****

Yeah, yeah, I'm pretty much biased with coffee but I do not disregard tea. I mean, having been to Sri Lanka and having visited wonderful tea plantations (yes, I just have to insert that here), I got enamored with tea. It doesn't surprise me to find delicious, fresh-tasting tea in a Japanese restaurant, specifically Shogun Japanese Restaurant in Radisson Blu Hotel along King Abdulaziz Road.

Green Tea + Ice Cream

Now that is one weird pairing huh? Not sure if the staff are just hurrying us to finish our dessert and drink our tea that's why they decided to serve both at the same time or maybe it's just how they do it there but then, we're not complaining. The combination works! The slightly bitter taste of the tea is countered by the sweet ice cream. No, you don't have to mix them together like what you do in Coke Float. Eat and drink separately; alternately if you must.

Shogun Restaurant
Radisson Blu Hotel,
Al Mubarakiah Plaza, King Abdulaziz Road,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
T: +966-11-479-1234

*****

You can enjoy all these pairings in all-year round but it's time to take advantage of the pleasant cool weather. Yes, you will be indoors but if you really must, then walk outside for a bit before settling for the warmth comfort of these drinks and their partner. Then chat along, ladies! ;) ~ Sundrenched

Ramadan Tents and Iftar Buffets {Riyadh Hotels // Part 1}

Ramadan is upon us once again. We wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a blessed and fulfilling month. May your sacrifices and offerings be acceptable

As you all know by now, at least for expats living in Saudi Arabia, the country changes overnight. (If you're new to Ramadan, check our guide here.) During the day, Riyadh becomes a ghost city with the Muslims fasting and the expats working on shortened hours (unfortunately for me and other The Pink Tarha ladies, our schedule is unchanged). In the afternoon, rush hour becomes literally a rush hour as people scramble to get home to break fast. 

Iftar, the evening meal when Muslims break their fast, is meant to be shared with families, friends and the community. Nowadays, with the contemporary changes to the Ramadan culture, hotels and restaurants have ushered in Ramadan tents and Iftar buffets. Whatever your belief is on the presence of these luxurious and extravagant culinary indulgences during Ramadan, we at The Pink Tarha are just here to share the information as they come. We rounded up hotels offering Ramadan tents and Iftar buffets...

The grandeur of The Ritz

For a majestic, grand Iftar, visit The Ritz Carlton in Makkah Road. SR 295 per person in their events hall and SR 275 per person for their buffet dining in Al Orjouan Restaurant, which serves Lebanese cuisine. Call 011-802-8020 for reservations.

Delicious spread at the Four Seasons.

Four Seasons Hotel at the Kingdom Centre has a Ramadan Tent.  SR 325 per person in their Ramadan Tent and SR 325 at Elements Restaurant. For reservations, call 011-211-5544.

Rosewood Hotel in Faisaliah

Al Fawanees Ramadan Tent in Al Faisaliah Rosewood Hotel offers Arabic, Asian, and international cuisines at SR320 per person. To reserve, call 011-273-2222.

Sheraton Riyadh Hotel and Towers along King Fahd Road has an Iftar buffet at a more affordable price: SR 180 per person. To reserve, call 011-4543300.

The Mosaic Restaurant in Marriott-Riyadh

Riyadh Marriott Hotel in Al Ma'ather Street offers an Iftar buffet at SR 230 per person from 6:30 to 8:30PM and SR 160 for Sohur buffet from 11:30PM to 3:00PM in their Mosaic Restaurant. For reservations and inquiries, call 011-4779300.

The Courtyard Marriott

Marriott's sister company, Courtyard Riyadh Diplomatic Quarter, in Al-Hada District in Al-Sahmi Street has more affordable Iftar buffet at SR 169 per person. Their sohour buffet which starts at 3:30am is at SR 119. Call 011-283-7300.

The Al Yasmeen Restaurant inside the Crowne Plaza Minhal in the Old Airport Road is popular for its variety and selections. Their Iftar buffet is at SR 195 per person. For inquiries and reservations, call 011-874-9200.

The Intercontinental Riyadh has an Iftar Buffet for SR 245 per person and a Sohur Buffet that starts 12:00 midnight in their Al Bustan Restaurant which costs SR 185. For inquiries, call 011-465-5000. 

The Radisson Blu Hotel

Radisson Blu Hotel in Al Mubakariah Plaza along King Abdulaziz Street has an Iftar Buffet for SR 215. It opens around 7:00PM and a Suhor Buffet for SR 115. For inquiries, call 011-479-1234.

Iftar is done during or after the maghreb prayer which is around 6:45PM this month. Hotel dining rooms and restaurants usually open around 6:30 onwards. More hotel and restaurant lists in our next entries so stay tuned for those. The Pink Tarha ladies usually enjoy 1-2 Iftar deals in restaurants so we're pretty excited to see what the new Iftar offers are in restos in and around Riyadh.  

Of course, by publishing these kinds of lists, it doesn't mean that we patronize the extravagant consumerism that sometimes goes with this season. After all, even if The Pink Tarha ladies are not Muslims, we know that Ramadan should not be about gluttony, too much entertainment, and shopping. It still is about spiritual growth, togetherness, and generosity. Again, the list above (and succeeding ones) is just here for mere information for those who are interested. ;) ~ Sundrenched

Check out part 2 here.