When I read rave reviews about Helen's Kitchen on Jeddah Food I was curious to find out if it was worth all the hype. The bakery is open from Maghrib prayer until later hours only and is a small outlet which can easily be overlooked at the intersection of Kayyal Street and Prince Sultan Street if one does not look out for it.When we stepped inside, the atmosphere was immediately homely and cosy. The bakery items on display did indeed look delicious but we wondered if they would taste just as good. We ordered the chocolate cake, a muffin and a tropical cake to take away, and while settling the bill took a look at the seating area inside. It really was unique. Whereas most food courts at malls are noisy and impersonal, here was a place to sit down where one might believe he or she was eating at Helen's own home. Every detail had been paid attention to down to the decorations on the wall and the magazines on display.
Once we were home, we unpacked the goodies and I'm pleased to announce that they were some of the best cakes I'd tasted in Jeddah. They were sweet without being overpowering with a truly homemade feel. We will definitely be stopping by Helen's Kitchen for more.
Hi all,
I'm getting lots of queries about summer activities for kids in Jeddah. If you know of any, then please do post the details in the comments section and I'll add them here in this post.
Thank you !
Sabaa
SUMMER CAMP 2009
After years of searching for a good hairdresser who could give me a haircut to be proud of, I went to a great salon yesterday courtesy of ever-helpful SIL. The name of the salon is Manna and is on Aba Al-Khail Street in the Al-Khaldiah district. As it was morning, the atmosphere was pretty calm and peaceful although I was told that the evenings there are very busy and rushed. The saloon itself is spacious and spotless and I was immediately taken for a wash and a cut. Rawal, the lady who cut my hair was amazing. She understood immediately what I wanted and gave me the fastest and cleanest cut ever. After a quick blowdry I was ready to go. It's not too pricey and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to trim those split ends.
The Saudi-French Centre in Jeddah is offering classes throughout the year for both men and women. Details are as under:
FRENCH CLASSES FOR ADULTS
AT THE SAUDI-FRENCH CENTER OF JEDDAH
· 1 session = 40 hours
· 1650 SR + 250 SR for the books
· 1320 SR + 250 for students
· 4 days a week during holidays
· 3 days a week the rest of the year
Schedule:
· During the year: 6-8 PM or 8-10PM
· Ramadan: 9-10.45 PM
Modern learning method, using:
· Dialogues
· Oral exercises (speaking and listening)
· Written exercises
We can propose tailor-made courses (business, medical, etc.) for groups of minimum 5 people
Contact Mr Eric Navé
· French Consulate: 668 15 50
· Mobile: 0592105250
· Contact the Saudi-French Centre between 5.30pm and 10pm: 692 13 54
Hi all,I'll be leaving for our summer holiday later today, so will be unable to post regularly on the blog during that time. I hope other writers who are still here in Jeddah will continue to post and our readers will write lots of interesting comments for me to read when I get back in August.
For those of you who are going on holiday, I wish you all the best on your vacations. And for those who will remain in Jeddah during the summer, enjoy all those lovely summer sales!!
Ma salaama,
Jeddahmom
Basic Words
[ Merhaba ] Mere ha ba [ Hello ]
[ Nasilsiniz? ] Na sill siniz [ How are you? ]
[ Hos geldiniz ] hosh gel-dee-neez [ Welcome ]
[ Iyim ] Ee yee im [ I'm fine ]
[ Evet ] Ee vet [ Yes ]
[ Hayir ] Ha year [ No ]
[ Tesekur Ederim ] Tesh e kur edereem [ Thank You ]
[ Cok iyi ] Chock eyee [ Very Good ]
[ Cok fena ] Chock fenar [ Very Bad ]
[ Guzel ] Guzelle [ Beautiful ]
[ Lutfen ] Lootfen [ Please ]
[ Gule Gule ] Goolay Goolay [ Goodbye ]
[ Gunaydin ] Goonay dun [ Good morning ]
[ Iyi aksamler ] Eee yak sham lar [ Good Evening ]
[ Iyi geceler ] Eee geje ler [ Good Night ]
Common Sentences
[ Ben Ingilizim ] Ben Ingileezim [ I am English ]
[ Memnun Oldum ] Mem noon Oldumb [ Pleased to meet you ]
[ Bu ne kadar? ] Boo ne kadar [ How much is this? ]
[ Istiyorum ] Ist eeyoroom [ I'll take it ]
[ Bir sey degil ] Beer shay deal [ You are welcome ]
[ Afiyet Olsun ] Our Fiat all Soon [ Good Appetite - Bon Appetite ]
[ kac yasundasin? ] Catch ya shinda sin [ How old are you? ]
[ Isminiz nedir? ] eez mee knees neydir [ What is your name?
[ Benim adim ... ] Benim adam [ My name is ... ]
[ Saat Kac? ] Sart catch [ What time is it? ]
] [ Turkiye cok seviyorum ] Tur kee yeah chok seveeyorum [ I love Turkey ]
[ Ingilizce biliyormusunuz? ] Eengel leez je bilee yor moo soo nooz [ Do you speak English? ]
I would like ( I want )
[ Su istiyorum lutfen ] Soo east iyor um lootfen [ I would like water please ]
[ Ekmek istiyorum lutfen ] ekmek east iyor um lootfen [ I would like bread please ]
[ .... istiyorum lutfen ] east iyor um lootfen [ I would like ]
[ cay ] chai [ tea ]
[ kahve ] car ve [ coffee ]
[ sut ] suit [ milk ]
[ buz ] booz [ ice ]
Where is?
[ Restoran nerede? ] restor on ne re de [ Where is the restaurant? ]
[ Tuvalet nerede? ] too valet ne re de [ Where is the toilet? ]
I'm practicing with my kids. Most needed phrases, I imagine, will be 'too valet ne re de' and 'Soo east iyor um lootfen' :)
Posted by: Jeddahmom
Mangoes, also known as the King of Fruits, are in season. Ripe mangoes are succulent and sweet, with a yellow skin. They are ready to eat when they are soft to touch and have a full fruity aroma at the stem end.
Mangoes are rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene and Vitamin C, which play an important role in the prevention of cancer and heart disease. They also provide potassium and fibre, and contrary to my expectations, are low in calories.
This fruit is also very versatile. It can be used in a variety of ways from salads to cooked meals to refreshing beverages, or simply peeled, chopped and eaten as they come.
Here are some easy mango recipes you may want to try out:
Mango Lassi
Mango Chicken
Mango Delight
Spicy Mango Salad
Write in and tell us how you like to eat your mangoes.
Posted by: Jeddahmom
Jeddah is hosting the Saudi Oil Price Summit today. I'm not quite sure what the summit hopes to achieve as everyone seems to have their own view on why oil prices (currently reaching nearly $140 a barrel) are rising and it doesn't look like that's going to change. The west says that rising oil prices are due to increased demand a short supply and they seem to think that prices will come down if supply is increased. The Saudi government (and other OPEC countries) say that rising oil prices are due to other factors such as market speculation.Write in and let us know your thoughts on the issue.
Posted by: Jeddahmom
Freerice.com is a website which promotes learning with a vocabulary game where you choose the meaning of a word from four different options. For every correct answer, the site donates 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program.
According to the site, "FreeRice automatically adjusts to your level of vocabulary. It starts by giving you words at different levels of difficulty and then, based on how you do, assigns you an approximate starting level. You then determine a more exact level for yourself as you play. When you get a word wrong, you go to an easier level. When you get three words in a row right, you go to a harder level."
There are a total of 60 levels. I'm currently on 41. The site says that it's rare for anyone to go beyond level 50.
Happy playing!
Posted by: Jeddahmom
Now that the summer is in full swing and vacations from school have officially begun, one of my kids' favourite past-times is swimming. Afternoons can be too hot, so the ideal time is either early mornings or late in the evening. The refreshing water gives some welcome respite from the hot and humid weather
A friend of mine who reads this blog gave the following valuable feedback today: "It's a good initiative but what's really missing is real, hands-on information like for example what to do with kids during summer break, numbers of karate instructors, swimming coaches etc."
I've never used a swimming instructor, but have been looking for one in the past. So, if you've tried an instructor and have found the experience to be a positive one, then do send us their names and contact numbers so that others can also benefit.
Posted by: Jeddahmom
Hello Jeddahites!
I know I know, sometimes Jeddah is just about food ! but we all know that Shopping and Eating out is one the best sports for women in jeddah! don't you agree ?
There are some new (food) places that keep popping up, just check out the jeddahfood.com website which i find interesting! But there are some older and not so flashy places that have been there for a while and you are probably not sure if they should be "sampled".
One of those places is MONTA ROSA. it is right next to Fantasy Stationary. The name is not too obvious and it is written in red with wood background. The first few times I visited the waiter will hand out a red rose to each lady while the men payed the bill! How cool is that ? Lately my family and I went there but no more roses! out of season maybe ? : ( . Regardless! the atmosphere is great , no partitions but some places give some sort of privacy. their way of celebrating birthday is quiet original. volcano like fireworks on cake and sometimes a few waiters will wear sombreros and one will play the guitar, Food is good, shisha is a bit pricey for those who seek out this 3rd pass-time! I like it because it is open space layout and small enough not to get TOO crowded! P.S. Parking is a problem!!
Nada.
God help us with the emergency available in Jeddah. I donno if you all agree but the very famous one I went to last week end was a total disaster.Here is what happened and you be the judge!
I had some problem with my eye ( it was puffy and red and watering- just the one eye and no irritation). I did the crucial mistake in delaying my visit to the hospital and maybe catch the ophtomologist before he/she went home on thursday night. I went thru emergency to see if anyone can check my eye but it seems doctors there don't want to bother. One was sitting typing on the computer another one disappeared as soon as i walked in and the nurse just totally ignored me. Reception told me that emergency docs might send me back because they don't know much about eye problems. " I better ASK them if they are WILLING to check my eye!". When I did ASK the doc at the emergency ( while he still sat), he told me he would rather NOT check into the eye because they had a case of misdiagnoses and the patient got the wrong drops and ended up with a burst nerve in the eye! I was stumped! My husband was about to strangle him for all the peace of mind he was giving us. When asked if there is any other place we can go to he gave us 2 option : go to Kilo 2 at a hospital there if we felt like a drive or try the government hospital but they only accept saudis! GREAT HELP! Finally we decided to try another hospital and we got a great service. That hospital is one of the biggest and most beautiful building ( inside and out) you can't miss it! (Just to be on safe side I won't mention names). Nada
I came across a very useful website today for us Jeddah-ites called Jeddah Food.com. It is very well laid out and easy to navigate. The menus are easy to go through and hone in specifically on what type of food one is interested in. On the other hand, the visually appealing layout draws the reader in to browse through the different sections in the site.
There seems to be a whole wealth of information pertaining to eating out in Jeddah, and from a quick glance at the reviews, restaurants in other Saudi cities seem to be covered also. I've bookmarked this site and will definitely be going back to read more.
Posted by: Jeddahmom
TGI Friday's has to be one of our favourite places to eat in Jeddah. The atmosphere is always buzzing, it's very child friendly, service is prompt, polite and cooperative and the food is always excellent. We went quite early on Friday for lunch. If you want to be sure of getting a place then avoid the 3-4pm rush. They have a varied menu for adults and a separate little menu for the kids with lots to choose from. The cajun chicken salad with honey mustard sauce is a must, and seafood lovers must try their shrimps and fish - cooked to perfection! There 's a nice outdoor play area for children and the waiters will even provide colouring books and crayons to keep the kids busy.
Verdict: A good value and highly enjoyable meal for the whole family.
Posted by: Jeddahmom
Hello!
A Sail Island trip was planned as a group on Thursday morning. Wow what a beautiful place! Trip have been organized before to go there but I assumed it was for older kids being that it is a water park with slides and so on. But then I was told it is great fun for young kids!And it was. My 3 yr old daughter had lots of fun with her friends. I would have loved to go there again but Sail Island only opens in the PM to the public and it gets crowded!
The pools are not deep lots of sprinkling and splashing and there is someone to monitor the different sections of the water slides so young ones don't end up in the big boys/girls slices. Restaurant is available and there is even a sand area. Lots of shade; lots of seating with a good view to the pool so adults can stay dry! I am definitely going again when a private trip is organized.
Nada
We will also be welcoming a new member of the Jeddah Blog team very soon to our site. Continue to drop by for more updates!
Posted by: Jeddahmom
There is a wide range of activities and sports for children to indulge in in Jeddah, and one of the more popular of them in this region is the Martial Arts. Two of my children have been involved with Judo since the start of this year and have been making steady progress and have now reached yellow belt status. The classes are bi-weekly, for children aged six and upwards, carried out within the Arabian Homes compound and their instructor is a patient and encouraging teacher. For a country with a high level of obesity and weight-related medical conditions, Judo seems to me, to be one of the many ways to keep children fit and active.
I'll be exploring other activities during the summer for my children and will keep you all updated as to what I find.
Posted by: Jeddahmom
- Mood:
energetic
I discovered a lady last year who designs exquisite abaayas using the lightest material and delicate embroidery. She gives a very personalised service at her home and I went back to her yesterday to choose a new abaaya for myself. I tried on all available samples, and they were all beautiful, which made the job at hand that much harder. I finally short-listed the abaayas and then made a final decision. After a couple of length adjustments, it will be ready for me to collect next week. I'm looking foward to it.
We'd like to hear from our readers - where is your favourite place to buy your abaaya and why? Drop us a comment.
Posted by: Jeddahmom
Lots and nothing happening in Jeddah these days as the summer draws closer and people prepare for a summer OUTSIDE Jeddah. There are of ourse the likes of moi who will be working the month of July but if nothing else, I shall be able to enjoy the onslaught of the summer sales while you all rummage through the dredges in August!
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