Author: Mark

Just got back from New York earlier tonight. Nearly got a heart attack at the airport when picking up my luggage. I realized all my bags locks were missing and that my laptop which I had shoved between two pockets in one of my bags was gone. Turns out JFK security must have broken all the locks and searched through the bags because I found my laptop but it was placed in a different location. So far doesn’t look like anything is missing but that was pretty scary though.

I spotted another street fair today in New York and this time I told myself if I found fried Oreo cookies I would try it. After a bit of a walk I found a kiosk that was making them, 1$ per cookie. I decided to order two.

The things I do for this blog. The fried Oreo cookies looked gross and very greasy. I told Nat these will probably be the most disgusting thing I’ve ever eaten. Guess what? They weren’t. In fact, they were really good and I actually ate both cookies. They tasted like the Lebanese awamat (fried doughnut balls) except with Oreo as their filling.

I leave New York tomorrow and get back to Kuwait so everything should go back to normal then. Basically a lot less food posts.

This is the last of the 3 part series. In this video we travel from Fahaheel to Abu Halifa and then take a tour of a grocery store from the inside. What’s cool is you get to see some old packaging like the old Aero chocolate packs that used to be brown, some old KDD packs, and a brief glimpse at my favorite corn flakes, Country Corn Flakes. Good stuff. [YouTube]

In case you missed them here are the first two parts
Fahaheel 1988
Abu Halifa 1988

Thanks Simon

And no I didn’t try it.

This has to be the best name for an Indian restaurant ever. Period.

This photo is dedicated to Man from the moon since he recommended this place. I took it today while having one of my burgers. This one was taken at Soho Park. The burger looked good but taste wise was just ok. Here is a larger version of the [Picture]

Spotted this on the subway today and thought it was funny.

I don’t know why we don’t have this at McDonalds in Kuwait. We were running late this morning so I passed by McDonalds for a quick breakfast and found something called the McGriddle which I decided to try out. Turns out the buns are made with something that tastes like pancakes with maple syrup. So with one sandwich you’re getting pancakes, eggs, cheese and sausage. It was delicious! [Link]

I’m a big fan of WaterField products. I got my first Apple iBook sleeve and bag back in 2001 from them and it still looks brand new today, the product quality is outstanding. That’s why when I got my iPad first thing I did was check out WaterField to see what they had to offer. Turns out they had a few different sleeves on offer but I decided to go with the iPad Ultimate SleeveCase which I am reviewing here. The reason I went for the ultimate case is because I could use it in two ways.

The first is like a messenger bag. I ordered the sleeve with d-rings on the side which would allow me to attach a shoulder strap and carry the ipad sleeve over my shoulder. I also got it with a small pouch that also attaches to the d-rings which I could use to carry more stuff like my phone and camera and when traveling I could put my passport and other items in the pouch. That way I travel very light, just the iPad in the sleeve and a few important items in the pouch.

Now the second way I can use this is just like a regular sleeve. I disconnect the strap and pouch from the d-rings and I end up with an iPad sleeve which I could insert into a larger bag.

The build quality as usual is incredible. The bag is made in San Fransisco and the material they use is very durable. The sleeve is padded very well and the inside is covered with screen cleaning Ultrasuede® lining so you basically clean your iPad every time you take it in and out of the case. The cost of my sleeve was $89 without shipping. Depending on your configuration it can either increase or decrease. The sleeve alone without the d-rings, pouch and shoulder strap is $55 for example. Here is a link to their website [Link]

After a million people recommended I try Burger Joint I decided to pass by Le Parker Meridien hotel and try it out. I got there around 11:10PM, 20 minutes before closing and stood in line (of course) waiting to order. The place was packed mostly with business men in suites who looked like they were staying at the lux hotel, some group of friends and a family or two. While waiting in line a table cleared up and Nat quickly took it over while I waited to order.

They had simple instructions up on the wall which were:

Step 1: Hamburger or Cheeseburger

Step 2: How d’ya want it cooked?
(rare, med-rare, medium, med-well, well)

Step 3: What d’ya want on it?
(Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mayo, mustard)
With everything, call it “The works”

Be ready to order or else you go to the end of the line.

I decided to have a cheese burger, medium with just ketchup and mustard, plus fries, a beer and a diet coke. Total came out to $20 and I sat down and waited for my name to be called out. The hotel is very posh but Burger Joint is designed to look like some small dodgy burger place. It’s very small and I can imagine that must frustrate a lot of people who come in for a quick bite and not find anywhere to sit.

I got my burger and took my first bite, and then second and then third until there was no burger left. Honestly I wasn’t impressed. The burger was good of course, but it was missing an oomph. I know many people will shoot me down for this but I prefer Shake Shack over Burger Joint and as you know I prefer Five Guys over Shake Shack. Cute little place though.

Update: Comments now open, not sure why they were closed

Only go to East Harlem if you want to relive an episode of The Wire.

A collection of vintage metal lunchboxes. I used to have a few when I was a kid but couldn’t find any of them in this collection. [Link]

I updated my post of Five Guys with pictures I took at another branch. You can check it [Here]

I ended up finding a Magnolia Bakery branch that didn’t have a long line outside and so decided to try it. I have no idea what all the fuss is about since everything I tried turned out to be average. I ordered some chocolate chip cookies, a chocolate cake and some cupcakes and they turned out to be extremely sweet and very average tasting. We’ve got better dessert in Kuwait.

Some people like going to museums when they travel or visiting monuments and stuff but I prefer doing random non touristy things instead. Yesterday I passed by Costco on the way back from Coney Island. I love the place, I swear I would move to the US (or Canada) just for Costco. For those of you who don’t know what it is, Costco is a giant warehouse style store where they sell a variety of stuff from food, to electronics, to clothes, books, dvds and medicine all in bulk sizes or great deals. Sultan Center tries to do the same with their Sultan Center wholesale branch but fail miserably.

I love walking around Costco and checking out the absurdly large over-sized boxes of food and snacking on the sampling stations. Next on my to do list is a Wal-mart in New Jersey and the large Best Buy at the East River Plaza.