Thursday, January 24, 2013

Ahmed's B-Day Breakfast @Cocoaroom

Yesterday was Ahmed's Birthday and we will be celebrating it until mid next week I think.
Anywho, the boy wanted breakfast at the Cocoa Room. He wants their cheese and mushroom omelet and their chocolate pancake.
So we went. While placing our order he told the waiter that it was his birthday and that he was turning six. The waiter congratulated him shaking his hand. Oh Ahmed was very pleased.
I was planning to order their chocolate pancake after the boys finished their breakfast and I even brought candles with me. But the staff surprised us with a plate of pancake with peanut butter and caramel sauce and chocolate sauce on top, and they sang happy birthday to Ahmed. The rest of the diners also clapped and cheered wishing him a happy birthday.
Ahmed was really taken by surprise and overwhelmed.
"Mama how do everybody knows its my birthday!" He exclaimed.
He made his wish (he wants to be the invisible man so he can go choke people. Just don't ask) and enjoyed his pancake very much!
So thank you Cocoa Room <3 br="">

Blowing his candle

I really liked these pancakes loved the chocolate,
 peanut butter and caramel combo.

And here is birthday boy so happy!
 
 

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Baked Hammour (Grouper)





I like to replicate dishes which I have enjoyed at restaurants and few weeks back I had a baked Hammour (Grouper) at Bice which I have posted about. It was such a delicious dish and very simple in flavor.
I was inspired to do my own version and add some of the flavors I like to add when I'm having fish.





First I chopped the Hammour fillet into chunks, washed in cool water then added about a half tsp of Turmeric mixing it well with the fish chunks and let it sit for half hour.
Mean while I grated 1 carrot 1 small potato mixed them together in a bowel and added 1 tsp olive oil, 1 Tbs grated Parmesan cheese, Mackomric Italian blend herbs, pinch of salt and pepper.







Then I prepped my second marinade, grated rinds of 1 lemon, 1/2 lemon juice, 1 garlic clove crushed, 1 Tbs of chopped parsley and coriander, pinch of salt and pepper.
Wash the fish again from the Turmeric very well. make sure there isn't much water left then add it to the marinade, mixing it well.
Transfer the mixture to an oven dish and topped with the grated potatoes mix. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 180*



Enjoy!!!
My portion is enough for two people. Double the ingredients if you want a bigger serving.






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Bice Restorante



Last weekend Fahad and I decided to try the newly opend Italian restaurant Bice, in AlHamra Tower. The atmosphere is elegant! Very classy! A place where you'll enjoy looking and feeling good. Pure European elegance.
The staff were very welcoming and friendly. I loved how the hostess who took us to our table asked what kind of menu do we want, Arabic or English. It surprised and pleased us very much, because I read English menus and Fahad prefers his in Arabic.
The waiter was very informative. He suggested dishes for us to try. We were very hungry and I would have loved to try most of them, unfortunately we couldn't order everything on the menu, which means we have to visit the place again to try other platters. :)




The lighting in the restaurant was soft, with beautiful framed pictures hanging on the walls.



The Chef sent us a complenmentary starter.
It is either calimari or sea urchin...
I can't remember. Help! But it was good!



I loved the green pesto and red pesto and the olive paste.

Usually I don't touch the bread basket at restaurant.
But this basket was different. As soon as they put it on the table the aroma of the freshly baked bread filled the atomsphere and awakened my hunger! It was so delicious!





That is Fahad's piece of bread with the trio pestos.
They were all so delicious and full of flavor!



Fahad being a tradionalist went for a Caesar Salad.
He liked it very much.





I being more adventurous than my hubby, went for a salad with a long name that has some mysticism in it. It is salty and sweet and fruity! I loved it very much, and very different from some of the boring salads I have everyday ;p




The decore in the restaurant is simple and elegant.




Main dish we shared a mushroom risotto.
It was perfectly cooked and full of flavor.



Fahad ordered a veal.
I had a bite from it. Very tender and delicious.
 
 
I on the other hand went for the baked Hamour. It wasn't on the menu but the waiter suggested I should try it and it was a winner in my book!
I am inspired! I want to replicate this dish but with my own touch.
And will post about it when I do ;)  



Desserts!!! Fahad had the Tiramisu.
He liked it.




I had the chocolate souffle. OMG!!! OMG!!!
The best souffle I have ever had! Loved the chocolate, not the cheap kind. The souffle was cakey on the outside and sooo gooey on the inside, and the cream around it enhanced the flavor.


Chocolate ooozing from inside the souffle.
So gooooood! I didn't want it to finish.



And after such a meal....
a cup of Espresso to keep my eyes open for the drive back home.
Before the end of the meal, the restaurant manager Mr. Valerio Ienco. He was making sure that everything was good with us and happy with the food. He was very kind and explained about the top quality they insist on serving the customers, and honestly if you're a foodie you will know how fresh the food is without anyone explaining it to you.
 
I highly recommend you try Bice. 
The atmosphere and the food will transport you to
Italy and their elegant delicious food.
Give it a try and tell me what you think.