On The Verandah at Pauls

Enjoying a turkey and Brie sandwich at Pauls on the outdoor verandah.
Awaiting my coffee and planning to order sweets.

As per my first visit to Pauls on Tahalia soon after they opened, the only truly disappointing aspect of my meal this day was the salad. Old brown lettuce leaves make you frown and go 'mmnnnooooo' and the offending leaves are picked up gingerly and flicked aside while a careful search is undertaken of all food on the plate for any other faults. There weren't any. Sandwich was munched while Arabic was studied.

It was interesting to note that, come salah, we diners were not left to our own devices as all staff made a mass exit to sit around outside, a practice we have come to expect at dining places. Instead, a skeleton crew was left behind to clear dishes from our tables and cater to some of our whims.  Its little things like this that indicate the little ways that Saudi is changing.  Having wait staff on hand today made me realize how abandoned we had been in previous years.

Although I'd intended to order sweets the sandwich was filling enough so I decided to do my waistline a favor and go without.  The tasty treats lined up in the display case near the door would have to wait for some other day, and I made do with coffee while contemplating what a good job Pauls had done creating their outdoor area.

The  verandah at Pauls is quite pretty lined with various plants and, though the large white umbrellas hide diners of the tender gender from view, they are still rattled by an occasional breeze to remind us we are enjoying an outdoor experience.


Sent from my iPhone because my computer is refusing to compute today!



Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Pear 'n Date Temptation at Bateel

Last night I enjoyed a delicious main meal of lamb loin on fava beans and artichoke in jus followed by a sweet pear 'n date temptation dessert.  The lamb was so tender and cooked to perfect medium rare - exactly as I'd asked.

Hubster ordered a seafood risotto he described as lovely, and the small sampling I snuck from his plate did make me go mmmmmm (yes I'm one of those terrible people who likes to try what everyone else has ordered) and then he devoured his dessert without having a clue what it was called, but it looked big and creamy which explains why it was the dessert that caught his eye from all those in the sweets cabinet.  He has a weakness for creamy things.  And big things.

With meals like these, and scrumptious desserts to follow, Bateel continues to be our dining experience of choice in Riyadh.


Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Praline Pattiserie

Yummy delights at Praline Patisserie on Sulamaniyah-Talateen. French decor, funky muted trumpet music from the 50's currently playing in the background and delicious pastries and slices.

This is where I am enjoying my coffee this afternoon.

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Sent via Kiwi iPhone wishing you a fabulous day.

Vapiano

Vapiano is on Tahalia, right next to Localiser Mall, is an Italian Restaurant.

The wooden staircase curving its way to the Vapiano dining area is an indication of the setting you'll meet once at the top - casual, relaxed, open, stylish

The blackboard above the kitchen with its chalkboard art and food related sayings and proverbs provides a bit of a talking point.  "Never eat more than you can lift" or 'The belly rules the mind".  I especially liked 'Don't let love interfere with your appetite".  All very relevant to how we approach food and this night, with Mr Finland paying, we were hungry.

Being a person who loves wood, I quite liked the whole set up with the wooden floor and, around the corner from the open eating area, little wooden dining corners with various plant settings - from fresh flowers to young saplings - adorning the center of the tables.

Being Italian, Vapiano serves up, among other things, pizza and pasta.  On a shelf in the kitchen are a selection of pasta's available.  We decided to try a pizza and a few other delectable nibbles on bread.

It was all quite scrumptious and fresh and tasty and, as I said to Hubster, 'Why do we not come in here more often.

Mr Finland, after eating his fill, lay back on the roomy bench style seats and contemplated the bill.  He needn't have worried.  At Vaipano, along with quick and friendly service and fabulous food, came reasonable prices.

Directions to Vapiano

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Ka Kite,
Kiwi