Circles and Circles: A Toast to Bagels!

I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED of going to New York City. Stand in the middle of Times Square. Watch a Broadway musical. And take a stroll down by Madison Square Park in the morning, with a cup of joe and bagel in hand. Yes, that famous bagel that American movies and TV shows always depict to be the must-have for breakfast or lunch. I've always been intrigued by it until I had one in my travels to Asia, but never have I seen it here in Riyadh. Until I stepped inside Circles and Circles. 

It's a quaint yet homey shop located along Exit 9, near the Centrepoint that's across Granada Mall. It's not a fancy shmancy place but what it offers is truly a taste of American flair. Inside, you'll see murals of famous New York City landmarks, like a view of the Empire State building and the Statue of Liberty. You will also be welcomed by one of our kabayans, who mans the shop - along with it's owner who is there every night to attend to customers. It just opened a few months ago and it's been picking up steam. 

A feel of NYC

They have an extensive bagel menu, from breakfast bagels to classic bagels and veggie bagels. But wait! To most Riyadhizens who have never heard of a bagel...What is a bagel, exactly? Well, what makes a bagel different from other types of breads is that as it's prepared in dough form, it is first doused in boiling water for a good 3 to 5 minutes each side before baking it in the oven. This makes for a chewy inside and a crusty outside. They can also come in different doughs, like whole wheat or rye and the toppings can also be varied. 

A special, freshly baked bagel.

So let's begin the bagel journey, shall we? Here's what we had:

The NYC Bagel

Scrumptious!

The NYC Bagel I had was a plain bagel with smoked turkey, American cream cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and arugula. It turned out to be my favorite after having tasted the other bagels later on. I found the bread soft and really delicious while the turkey was light and guilt-free (I'm watching my diet lately). I wouldn't mind finishing off a whole bagel of this one. I thought this would make for a great breakfast serving. Definitely, a two-thumbs up from me!

Salami Bagel

Meaty!

I also tried the Salami Bagel on a special bagel that had garlic, sesame seeds and poppy seeds as toppings. Inside there was a slice of smoked cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, arugula, tomatoes and of course, the salami, which I learned was imported from Germany. This is one fierce bagel choice. It's packed with flavors from the garlic whiff on the bread, paired with the smoked cheese and savory salami - wow! I would say this is for someone with a big appetite. It's quite on the heavy end so if you're hungrier than usual, this will certainly fill you up.  

Bagel and Lox (and a pickle)

This is just begging for you to bite into it.

Next up we have here the Bagel and Lox (Lox is another term for smoked salmon). For this option, it was a cinnamon-raisin bagel, with Norwegian smoked salmon, cream cheese, onions, lettuce and mustard. Now y'all know I love me some salmon. And I can imagine myself living off of it for the rest of my life so what's not to like, right? Well, while I get the flavor logic of the cinnamon-raisin juxtaposed with the smoked salmon, I actually found the bread a little tougher than the rest of the other bagels I tried. I asked them why it was the case, and they said that since it's not the classic recipe of what a bagel is, the additions to make it a cinnamon-raisin bagel affect the chewiness of the dough. I also had to take the onions off because they came across as too strong for my palate. So if you're not a fan of onions too, then you can just ask them not to put it in. Nevertheless, I chowed down every bit of it. I for one would never waste good salmon. :)

All three side by side. 

All of their bagels are made fresh daily and prior to order (for big orders). You can also customize your bagel order, whether you just want a plain bagel or a mix and match of the different items on the menu. They will heed to your wishes and whims.

Pumpkin Latte

Peppermint Latte

As if we weren't full enough already, their coffee menu boasted of some really unique items like the Pumpkin Latte and Peppermint Latte, which we tried as well. We also ordered a Chocolate-Caramel muffin to complete the dessert round. 

I really enjoyed the peppermint latte for the aftertaste that was quite refreshing. The pumpkin latte was rich and savory...it's something I'd like to have on a bad day. I think it's the kind of coffee that's really comforting. Both lattes are accompanied by a little gingerbread, which goes perfectly with the drink. 

As for the muffin, well, it's huge and sweet. Can't say we were able to finish all of it because we were already so stuffed. But, for those with a sweet tooth, this one's for you. 

Overall, I thought everything I tried on the Circles and Circles menu had high quality ingredients, made fresh and were delicious and filling. They offer something new and unique for all us foodies to try out. The goodness of that NYC bagel is still on my mind as I write this and got me craving. It's interesting that bagels aren't that popular in Riyadh yet...this ought to start! Visit this hearty bagel shop that's "so nice, they named it twice!" and get a taste of what I just had. Here's a preview of their menu and a road map for you to locate it:

Click for a larger view

Roadmap

Until our next food trip!

xoxo

Eyecandy

Circles and Circles
Exit 9, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
T: +966-53-005-4113

Website: http://www.circlesncircles.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/circlesn.circles?fref=ts

Instagram: @circlesncircles

What's New in the Menu, Cafe Ceramique?

FOR THE CREATIVE and hungry alike, Cafe Ceramique could very well be your niche. But you have to answer the question, "Would you like to eat or paint first?"

The centerpiece of the table lets you determine the course of your stay. :)

In our case, we decided to eat first.

Cafe Ceramique is a one-of-a-kind restaurant in the sense that they offer ceramic-painting activities for all ages while you're dining in their restaurant. A very family-oriented place, it is nestled on the corner of the 3rd Floor of Sahara Mall, which caters an all-day breakfast menu, pizzas, pastas and sandwiches. We've featured them a couple of years back, but now they have a bigger and brighter menu for you to try out. 

The ladies and I (except Sundrenched, who was already vacationing in Manila at the time) went to taste their new items one December evening. Interestingly enough, S was also not with us in the first entry on this resto. :P 

We were treated to plates and plates of salads, sandwiches and pasta. We browsed through their new menu which they have recently launched and these piqued our interest.

One of their newest drinks, the "Catalina" for 22SR. 

Even though it was December, we tried out the summery drinks in the menu. The Catalina hits the spot if you're looking for the right combination of sweet and sour. It's a mix of orange juice, strawberries and honey. On the other hand, as you know, Mojitos are known for their refreshing taste, and this surely leaves a lasting, fresh impression (made up of lemon, mint and brown sugar). 

Mojito, 22SR

I am a big fan of rocket leaves (girgir) in salads so I immediately ordered the Casablanca Salad, which was made up of fresh rocket leaves in pomegranate dressing mixed with couscous and grilled halloumi cheese. R on the otherhand, ordered the Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad which had grilled chicken breast, romaine, tomatoes, corn, beans and BBQ ranch dressing topped with crispy onion rings. 

The Casablanca, 42SR.

Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad, 42SR

It may look like the price is too much for a single salad order but in fact, one order can actually feed two people. Interestingly enough, I enjoyed the Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad more than the Casablanca because I was hooked on the flavors of the latter. The Casablanca can be a good pair to a grilled dish or something, but the second salad can already qualify as a full meal (consider the chicken, beans, corn, greens and onion rings altogether!). And since they're both priced the same, I'd recommend the Southwest BBQ Chicken Salad for more value for your money and your tummy.

Trio CC Burgers, 36 SR

A pink bun! ;P

Now I don't know why someone invented teeny, tiny, burgers coz really, I don't get it. But the kids might find it amusing, especially since Cafe Ceramique is serving them in colorful, miniscule buns. In an order, you can find a cheeseburger (orange bun), a BBQ burger (pink bun) and a regular beef burger (yellow bun) plus some french fries. These lil' items can do a little mayo or something to moisten it up. But taste-wise, it was okay.

Now, if you're a sandwich person (I know several people who are, including my brother), hold on to your seats as the next couple of pictures will be an assault on your sandwich-loving taste buds. 

Beef Steak Sandwich, 45SR

This one is made of grilled beef fillet sauteed in onions, laid on top of a bed of arugula and topped with dried tomatoes which can easily be categorized a the hungry man's sandwich. You have to have an appetite (and belly) big enough to finish this as it can be fill you up easily (or you can share). The whole grain mayo in between ties up all the ingredients wonderfully in this tasty sandwich. 

Now the next three items are my personal recommendations as a must order. First up...

Chicken Quesadilla, 42SR

In third place is their Chicken Quesadilla. The chunky slices of chicken in melted cheese goes well with the salsa, cream and guacamole in this dish. But if I'm being honest, I'd say the guacamole is the piece de resistance in this one because while the chicken is smokey and the cheese...well, cheesy, the guacamole gives it a tangy twist that dipping the wrap in it makes me want to eat more and more of it (ergo, we ended up asking for another dollop).  

Mushroom Swiss Burger, 42SR

In second place is this flavorful piece of meat, with swiss brown mushrooms (which where this type of burgers get its name) and hot melted cheese. I particularly enjoyed having the Mushroom Swiss burger done medium-well as it left enough tenderness to every bite. I also liked the bun, which was fluffier than those of the mini-burger trio. If you like hot sauce, this is the perfect sandwich to douse it with.

Chicken Salad Bagel, 42SR

And as I save the best for last, I present to you the Champion of all the sandwiches we tasted that night...(drumroll please!) the Chicken Salad Bagel! It gets the top spot in my list because of all the sandwiches we tasted, I believe this one will sit very well on Filipino palates. Imagine our usual chicken salad na palaman, only 10x better! There must have been some magic mixed in to the dressing because man oh man, it was finger-lickin' good! A perfect 1-0. :)

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Fetuccine Alfredo, 42SR

You would  think that we would be SO FULL by now after having the salads and sandwiches, but no, we still indulged in tasting one of their pasta dishes (and dessert). For their Fetuccine Alfredo, it had aldente noodles, a creamy base and chunky chicken bits for texture...everything you expect in a basic white-sauce pasta is here. But I'm afraid at this point, we were too full to finish it. So we just packed it for take out. 

Why hello there Chocolate Fondant! 32SR

Now if you're just a recent reader of our blog, it would amuse you to know that I am a die-hard consumer of chocolate fondant. A spoonful of the best kind makes poems come of out of my mouth. Past readers have bore witness as to how I would describe an utterly delicious plate of chocolate fondant. Anyway, as for Cafe Ceramique's serving of this dessert, it still stands as one of my Top 5 chocolate fondants in town. It's cooked right, with enough gooey chocolate in the middle and it's one of those desserts that makes you hum 'm-m-m-m-m-m-m-M!' after a taste. Another must try if you haven't yet. :)

Their new menu is artsy and filled with many quotes about eating and painting (albeit there are some typo errors). And while I did say that we wanted to eat first then paint later, unfortunately, we didn't have time left to take some of the ceramics and exercise our creative prowess. I would suggest that if you'd like to undertake the painting activity, make sure that you have nothing else scheduled for the rest of the night (or day) so that you can spend some quality time painting and talking with your friends or family members after a hearty meal of course!



xoxo,
Eyecandy

#Foodie

Cafe Ceramique
3rd Flr, Sahara Mall
T: 01-452-0677