Tavola, A Home Baker's Haven

Now that Valentine's is near, you might be wondering what's a good gift for your sweethearts and how you can celebrate the red-letter day. Most of us, Riyadhizens, already know the culture (or the lack thereof) of "Valentines" in this city. If you're clueless, check our How To Celebrate Valentine's Day In Riyadh entry written a few years ago but still proves handy today.

Now that we've cleared the topic of Valentine's in the desert (don't worry, we're publishing an entry that's related to it tomorrow), let's get to this entry meant for our baker readers. Or their loved ones who are thinking of buying them gifts. Or for those who are thinking of getting into baking. If these photos of cute baking utensils and decors won't entice you, I don't know what will. Let's 'go' to Tavola, one of the havens of bakers in the city.

Tavola is a one-stop store for your baking and kitchen needs. Tavola, the Italian word for food table, lends its name to the premier kitchen and table ware chain of retail stores in the GCC. I visited their branch in Hayat Mall before I went for vacation and took pictures. So, like in the Korean/Japanese Grocery entry, I'd leave the photos to do the 'talking.' Hope you find what you're looking for in this store. Again, prices are not indicated in this entry because they're either not available on the product itself or tags are too small to be taken a photo of. Prices are quite expensive because these are branded stuff.

Pans of different sizes and shapes

Kaiser Bakeware is respected as Europe's largest manufacturer of quality bakeware for the home baker. While its expensive price was deemed as too high for the "home baker" at first, it eventually created its niche and is now considered one of the "state-of-the-art" bakeware brands. The Kaiser's items on Tavola's shelves looked sturdy and durable. (I have no idea how they work per se because unfortunately, I am not a baker. I just wish! Lol!)

If you're into matchy-matchy kitchen items

Or if you have theme going on

So sleek and elegant

Guzzini is known for their household items made of plexiglass. I like how innovative and modern their items look. I also like how the colors are so bright that who wouldn't want to wake up to breakfast being served in such colorful wares?

Cuteness galore!

And to more awesome, pretty stuff:

I looove looking at these stuff. 

Be creative!

Cutters for your cookies

Choices, choices

Wilton, on the other hand, is a brand that focuses on cake decorating and candy making products. Just look at all those molders and cutters! I bet you can let your imagination run wild in your cakes and cupcakes ideas and you'll be able to create something fantastic out of those! Here are more Wilson items that made me gush... too bad, I don't bake! Waaaah!

Super love the cupcake holder prints

Toppers and decorations

Oh my gawd, soooo cute! What will be your party's next theme?

Unleash your creativity!

Whoopie pie maker!

Because I'm a cupcake lover, here's a special spotlight on some cupcake stuff... decorative wrappers which are so lovely and elegant from PME Arts and Crafts.

Lacey! Perfect for tea time!

Close up. Because I'm a sucker for dainty stuff.

And what better way to deliver and share those beautifully-wrapped yummy cupcakes? Here:

Ready for delivery!

And what about silicone products which are fun and practical?

Silicone products

Lekue is known for its design and practicality. Their products would be fun to use in the kitchen. Another brand of 100% food-safe silicone products in SilikoMart:

More silicone stuff for your chocolates!

How to present your cakes.

More stuff!

Let's not forget the kitchen ware stuff:

The kitchen ware

Admittedly, I did not take a lot of photos of the cooking ware because they're mostly available in other stores. But if you really want high quality ones for your kitchens, Tavola does have a lot of brands that will surely make your cooking time more pleasurable than it already is. ;) Also, my attention got caught in one of my all-time favorite mugs. Uh yeah, a mug.

So classy!

What's so important with a mug? Well, if it's Bodum, it's important to me. My fixation with owning a Bodum mug started in the Philippine when I featured it for a magazine I was writing for. It's too expensive for a mug. A few years ago, price thumped design so I let the idea of Bodum go... until I found it in Tavola. I'm kind of obsessed with the Bodum Bistro, a bestselling transparent double-walled mug. (My coffee looks suspended/floating inside the mug... amazeballs!) This is a mug you use. This is not one of those mugs you display even if admittedly, it's a little bit too fragile to use every day. It keeps ice cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot because of how its made and designed. Bodum products are known for their great insulating properties. And it doesn't hurt that they also have a range of coffee maker, tea sets, and kitchen wares. 

So that's it. Tavola is truly a baker's haven. Even the newbies to baking and cooking can find inspiration in this place. Whether you're a baker or a loved one of a baker or just passing by (and not even interested in baking or cooking), you'll eventually find something that you'll like in this store. 

Tavola has a bigger branch in Thalateen Street, Olaya. Happy shopping! 

Now that we're done with the baking tools and utensils and decorations, next entry would be about stores where you can get the ingredients needed for your baked goodies! I'll be happy to taste test your creations by the way. ;)  ~ Sundrenched

Tavola

- Thalateen Street, Olaya

T: +966-1-4163877

- Hayat Mall

T: +966-1-2057475

FB: www.facebook.com/TavolaKSA

W: www.tavolashop.com

Wrapping Feelings With Papermoon

When Eyecandy and I were shopping for a gift to our very dependable driver, Mr. Joy, we wanted to present it in such a way that he'll know how much we appreciate him and what he's doing for us. As many of you know by now, Mr. Joy is our constant driver who takes us around Riyadh. We were kidding that he's the official service of The Pink Tarha. Without him, half of the entries in this blog wouldn't be possible because we couldn't have set foot on those places without him ferrying us to and fro. E and I agreed that we'd give him something special and it will also come in a special box. Enter Papermoon...

As one of the premier gift-wrapping shops in Saudi Arabia, Papermoon believes that the way you present a gift is more important than the gift itself. While some of you might balk at the idea, you cannot deny that receiving a gift wrapped fabulously and meticulously sets your heart aflutter; the element of surprise thrown in such a beautiful manner takes you aback that sometimes, you wouldn't want to open the gift anymore! Papermoon believes that gift wrapping is not a mere act of covering up a gift, but an elegant for of art and self-expression. 

While the attendant in the Kingdom Centre branch was busy wrapping the gift, I went around the store and took some photos of their boxes and wrappers just in case you'll be needing any gift wrapping service soon.

Simple boxes should have stuff toys to go!

Choose your colors. Loving these bright ones.

For the baby girls: great for baptism and dedications

Fabulous birthday boxes: no wrapper needed!

Serves as a gift box... boxes for your trinkets at home

It doesn't have to end with a box. Mix and match!

Decorative gift bags. Just add gift!

So many choices! The gift-wrapping process adds value to your gift.

These hand-crafted flowers can be given as is!

Comes in many colors!

Lovely fabrics as gift wrappers... unique and chic!

Papermoon products are of high quality and their gift wrapping is very artistic and decorative that I would have a hard time unwrapping a gift Papermoon wrapped. The store's collections and products can be mixed and matched to match your style, or the personality of the one you're gifting. They also have a lot of items for any occasion. 

Papermoon, aside from giving you selections of boxes, gift wrappers, and gift bags to wrap your gift, can also do the gift-wrapping for you! It's simple: bring your gift to their store and control how it looks and how much it should cost you. Tell the attendant what the occasion is, what your budget is, what colors and style you like... and voila! Your gift is ready in no time! 

We tried the second option and had our gift wrapped according to what we were envisioning: elegant and manly with a bit of frill thrown in (after all, it's the Pink Tarha who's giving it eh?)... and here's the finished product:

Hello, Mr. Joy's gift!

We loooove it! Even with the delicate ribbon atop, the gift doesn't look girly. It was quite expensive for more than SR35 but it was worth it! The final verdict, of course, comes from the person receiving the gift... Mr. Joy liked it! He was so overwhelmed and we were happy with how our little surprise turned out.

So if you want to wrap your feelings, you know where to go! ;) ~ Sundrenched

Papermoon
The GiftWrap Company

Riyadh Branches:
Faisaliah Mall : 01-2734151
Kingdom Centre: 01-2112493
Sahara Mall: 01-4520379
More branches here.
W: www.papermoonworld.com
FB: Papermoon