Categories
50s to 90s Food & Drinks

Throwback Thursday: Lorenzo 1993 – 2019

Not sure how many people remember this, but the Italian restaurant Lorenzo was originally located on the corner opposite Sheraton Hotel in a now-demolished building in Kuwait City. I didn’t know much about the place back then, but I always noticed the cool cars parked outside—red and yellow Ferrari 355s, or a purple Lamborghini Diablo. It definitely intrigued me.

Eventually, in the mid-2000s, a friend invited me to lunch there, and it was my first time seeing the place from the inside. I remember it felt very fancy, and I felt out of place. It was also my first time trying their famous chocolate cheesecake. That location closed when the building was set to be demolished, so they relocated across the street from Salhiya.

Lorenzo originally opened in 1993 under a different name—’Salumaio di Montenapoleone.’ In 1997, the name was changed to Lorenzo. Both the first and second locations were designed by American architect Richard Davidson from Alamosa Design. However, my favorite Lorenzo was in Al Khalid Complex, designed by Atelier Aziz Alqatami.

In 2019, Lorenzo finally closed after 23 years in business.

I had a tough time finding photos of the original Lorenzo, but eventually, I reached out to the family that owned it, and they graciously searched for and shared what they had. The photo of the Salhiya location is from the Almosa Design website, while the Al Khalid Complex location photos are from Aziz Alqatami’s website. To check out all the photos, click here.




Categories
Food & Drinks Promoted

WK’s New 649 Fils Cheeseburger!

WK is a popular local burger concept, known for their viral ads as much as for their delicious burgers.

They’re always trying to up their game which is why they just launched their new cheeseburger priced at just 649 fils while still managing to retain their high-quality ingredients. If you love the cheeseburgers of the other brand which can’t be mentioned, then you’re going to love these because they taste pretty much the same, cost 1 fils less, and have the advantage of being local.

WK is available for delivery on all the popular platforms, but the cheeseburger is only available for pick-up. However, WK has multiple locations across Kuwait, including:

Ardiya
Fahaheel
Jahra
Khiran
Sabah Alsalem

So check them out at @wkwk.965




Categories
Food & Drinks Promoted

Beak – From the Farm to your Table

Beak is a local fried chicken concept that launched in 2017, and one of the things they pride themselves with is the fact that their chicken is locally sourced, organically fed and never frozen.

Before opening, the partners made a decision to prioritize quality which is why they chose to source fresh chicken rather than using frozen ones. Essentially, as a customer, you’re getting chicken straight from the farm directly to your table, always fresh and never frozen.

Another thing that makes Beak special is their love for limited-time-only items. They’re constantly innovating and releasing new items, with the Mini Fillet being their current LTO sandwich.

Beak currently have two locations, a dine-in location in Al-Masayel, as well as a pick-up location in Hawally. They’re also available on all the popular delivery platforms including Talabat, Deliveroo, Cari and Jahez. So if you’re craving some fried chicken, check them out @beak.kw




Categories
Fashion Food & Drinks Shopping

New Marks & Spencer at The Avenues

Marks & Spencer recently opened their new location in The Avenues. It’s located in Phase II in place of where Baroue used to be located. The new store also has their food range and an M&S Cafe.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marks & Spencer Middle East (@marksandspencerme)




Categories
Food & Drinks

Nando’s Kuwait Now Delivers

I just found Nando’s on Talabat. Not sure when they started since they don’t seem to have mentioned it on their instagram account but that’s pretty cool.

I have a Nando’s near me in Salmiya so I usually just pop over, but now I can just order to my place when I’m feeling lazy.




Categories
Food & Drinks

Chipotle Opening at The WalK Mall

Chipotle is opening up their second location in Kuwait next week at The Walk Mall in Ardiya. I’ve never been to that mall and so had to google it now to figure out where it is.

Not sure why you’d want to go there unless you live near it, but if you really dislike The Avenues and want to have Chipotle somewhere else, you’re in luck.




Categories
Food & Drinks Travel

Everything that is closed in Kuwait Airways Terminal 4 (August 2024)

So many places have closed down in T4, in fact, once you pass security the only places with food still left open are Raising Cane’s, Shake Shack, Starbucks, McDonalds and Al Rifai nuts. So if you’re boycotting brands, your only option for food and coffee is basically Al Rifai.




Categories
Food & Drinks

HACHI – A New Japanese Restaurant Opens Tomorrow

If you’re looking for a new place to try this weekend, HACHI is a new Japanese restaurant that is opening in Shuwaikh tomorrow (Friday, August 9th).

Their menu revolves around the concept of fusion, blending different culinary traditions together. This approach allows them to create innovative dishes that are uniquely their own.

Initially, they will be open evenings only, from 5 PM to 11 PM. They’re located on the same street as Mayar Complex, and you can find them on Google Maps. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are recommended. To book, you can call them on 50050133.

If you want to check out their menu, they have photos up on their account @hachi.kwt




Categories
Food & Drinks Reviews

Trying Out KDD’s New Zero-Calorie Drinks

Last week, KDD launched a new line of drinks that contain 0% sugar and zero calories. These beverages aren’t technically juices since they’re not made with real fruits. Instead, they’re more like flavored water. Currently, they come in three flavors:

Apple & Raspberry
Mango & Peach
Mojito (Lemon & Mint)

The fruits are added as natural flavors to the water, along with vitamins A, D, C, and B6. None of the three flavors contain any sugar; instead, like the ‘Good For You’ line of ice cream, they use natural sweeteners.

I only managed to get the Apple & Raspberry and Mango & Peach flavored drinks since the Mojito was out of stock. The Mojito flavor was the one I was actually interested in because I’m hoping it tastes like lemonade. I tried the other two flavors and didn’t like them, but that’s because I really dislike both raspberry and peaches. So, don’t take my word for it.

KDD sells them in a carton of 18 for 1.980 KD or a pack of 6 for 660 fils. However, I picked up 8 individual pieces from my neighborhood KDD store for 800 fils, which comes to 100 fils per pack.

If you’ve tried the Mojito flavor, let me know how it tastes.




Categories
Food & Drinks Videos

The 20 Calorie Brioche Bun

A friend of mine sent me the video below on Tiktok a couple of weeks back where supposedly a guy in Kuwait (@moneir_almousawi) found a 20 calorie brioche roll at the supermarket. That video was shared with Blake from @thenutritionnarc who ended up posting the video below.

@thenutritionnarc Are these 20 cal brioche buns legit? @RIENOM | منير الموسوي #greenscreenvideo #greenscreen ♬ Paris – Else

Obviously something was up, but I figured maybe the guy had misread the label. But it turns out he hadn’t misread the label since someone else went and checked on the label and sent Blake a message with a breakdown of the ingredients who ended up posting the updated video below.

@thenutritionnarc Update on the 20 cal brioche buns, we got to the bottom of it @RIENOM | منير الموسوي #greenscreenvideo #greenscreen ♬ original sound – Blake | NARC

Makes you wonder how big of an issue this is in Kuwait with restaurants and brands not being accurate with their calorie count.

Update: According to Wooden Bakery, there was a misprint on the brioche packaging, and this batch of products has already been recalled from the market.




Categories
Food & Drinks

Sinjeon Topokki – New Korean Restaurant Opening Today

Sinjeon Topokki, a popular restaurant chain in Seoul known for its Korean street food is opening in Kuwait today (August 1st).

Sinjeon Topokki began in 1999 as a small, humble food stand in South Korea. Since then, it has grown into a global phenomenon with over 700 branches worldwide, and the Kuwait location will be their first in the Middle East.

Although we have quite a few Korean restaurants in Kuwait already, what will set Sinjeon apart is the topokki. If you’ve never had it before, they’re small cylinder-shaped rice noodles which I like to describe as the Korean version of gnocchi (Don’t unfollow me for this!). They’ll have 4 different bases (sauces) for you to pick from, and you can also choose to add different veggies and proteins to it. In addition to topokki they do have traditional Korean dishes on the menu including bibimbap, noodles, and curries.

Sinjeon is located in the industrial part of Shuwaikh, right next to Eat Softie, and in the same complex as Haraka Center (Google Maps). Their opening hours are from 2PM to 10PM and to book WhatsApp them on +965 41040604 or through the WhatsApp button on their Instagram account @sinjeon_kw




Categories
Design Food & Drinks

Design Highlight: Title at The Warehouse

I’m a fan of minimal design, but I also appreciate spaces rich with complexity and decoration. Title’s third location at The Warehouse Mall was crafted by local design studio Lines, the same creative team behind the restaurants OFK and Piatti.

The mix of patterns, textures, and bold colors gives the space a surreal feel. The photos make the restaurant look like a set from a stop-motion film. According to Lines, their aim was to showcase a timeless design by combining elements from various cultures around the world, creating a unique and creative style. I think it worked.

If you want to see more photos of this Title location, or more of Lines work, head over to @lineskw




Categories
Food & Drinks Reviews

Have you tried Broskis Deli yet?

Broskis Deli has been open for just over a month now, and I think I’ve been there five or six times already. It has quickly become my go-to place when I’m in the mood for comfort food, in my case, a good filling sandwich.

I’ve tried most of the sandwiches on their menu, and here is a list of my favorites, ranked from best to least favorite so far:

Meatball Hero
Chopped Cheese
Broski Burger
Chicken Parm
Club Sandwich
Pastrami Reuben

The Meatball sandwich caught me by surprise since it’s not something I had considered ordering, but I was with a friend who suggested we share it, and it’s now my favorite sandwich there. The Chopped Cheese is what you get if you merge a burger with a Philly Cheesesteak and it’s their most popular sandwich. The burger is also really good, but the main reason I go to Broskis is for the sandwiches. So, although it’s tempting, I try to avoid ordering the burger. If I’m with friends, I might order the burger to share as a side, but that’s also a difficult choice because if I want a side, I’d prefer their Truffle Mac & Cheese, which is the best in Kuwait.

Their portions are really huge, which is why I always prefer going there with a friend so we can share sandwiches and sides. For two people, the optimal amount of food is probably one sandwich to share (they come cut in half), a burger to share, one side, and a cookie each for dessert. That actually might still be too much food, but you can’t go to Broski and not overeat when there are too many good options to pick from.

Their prices are a bit on the high side, but that most likely has to do with the fact that they use a wagyu blend for their sandwiches and because the portions are large. For example, their burger is KD5.750, while their Chopped Cheese sandwich is KD5.250. Truffle Mac & Cheese is KD3.250, and the cookies are KD1.250 each.

Broskis is located in Sharq, near the British Embassy (Google Maps). It has a casual, come as you are vibe and there is plenty of seating. They’re on instagram @delibybroskis




Categories
Design Food & Drinks

Jimmy’s vs Supernova


Is it me or does the interior of the newly reopened Jimmy’s smashed burger in Kuwait City look pretty similar to the popular London burger spot Supernova?




Categories
Food & Drinks People

Kuwait’s Visionary Banana Farmer

Eid Sari Al Azemi has a farm in Wafra and proudly calls himself the first banana farmer in Kuwait. While others have grown bananas in Kuwait before, Al Azemi stands out with over 2,000 trees supplying the local market daily with his Kuwait-grown bananas.

Al Azemi initially started with just eight banana trees as an experiment to see how they would turn out. After growing and tasting them, he decided to expand and grow more. Despite his friends and fellow farmers advising him to stick to tomatoes and cucumbers, Al Azemi was determined to innovate. He chose not to follow the crowd and instead pursued his vision of bringing something new to the table. So, he started growing bananas, and not just one kind, he grew bananas from Ecuador, Oman, Philippines, and Turkey.

He considers himself the first banana farmer in Kuwait since he was the first to grow over 1,000 banana trees with plans to expand to 30,000. While bananas are his primary focus, he also cultivates papayas, figs, and mangos. I thought mangos would be the hardest to grow in Kuwait, but interestingly, bananas were the most challenging in his experience.

Right now his bananas aren’t widely available yet due to the limited number he produces. He currently sells to a wholesaler in Sulaibiya but he recommend you pass by his farm and buy directly from him. He says he sells them cheaper than the imported bananas in the market, and you’ll also be getting them straight from the farm.

If you want to pass by his farm, here is a link to it on Google Maps. You can also follow Eid on instagram @kes.1971, and on TikTok @eid_alsari and Twitter @h_asdasd where he is more active