Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for supporting Smallworld Beauty and joining me on this fitness journey.

Just to recap, two years and some ago, I weighed in at 160lbs and wore a curvy size 16. Even though I still felt feminine and beautiful, I definitely felt unhealthy.

After seeing a horrific photo of myself, I decided to take control of my body and mind and pursue a healthier, more fit lifestyle.

Keyword: Lifestyle.

I vowed to design a program for myself that was simple, realistic and could be followed and maintained for LIFE. I refused to punish my body and mind by following a quick fix diet fad, that would eventually lead me to failure.

I came up with the LOVE YOUR LIFE program and it worked! I now weigh in at 125 lbs and wear a healthy Size 6. Honestly, I don’t care about my actual weight because it’s deceiving. I care about the sexy muscles that I have sculpted and the shape that I have built. Let’s not disregard the boost of confidence that I now have.

I love myself more than ever, allowing me to love everyone around me even more. I have the strength and courage to achieve anything I put my mind to. This feeling is priceless…

I started Smallworld Beauty in hopes that my story would inspire one or two individuals to switch to a healthier lifestyle and feel better overall. Instead, the site has inspired thousands around the world!

I love receiving your comments, stories and testimonies on how Smallworld Beauty has inspired you to get in shape, love better and even put that apron on and get cooking for your loved ones.

As you can see from my picture, I am NOT a fitness model nor do I intend to look like one. My goal continues to be achieving optimum health and happiness. I am a simple Jane who enjoys fitness, nutrition (lots of food) and life.

I truly appreciate all the support and will do my best to continue keeping you motivated and inspired.

You deserve to Love Your Life.

Love, Ghada.

 

I‘m an Indian food fanatic! I love everything about it from the spicy curries to the rich sauces, delicious meats and fiber filled veggies that are used in most dishes. Everyone who knows me, understands my love for Indian cuisine. 

One of my favorite skin care clients (Ruth, a well-known skin care expert in the Santa Monica Area YKorn@aol.com) was also attending the dermatology meeting in San Fran and invited me to have dinner with her Saturday night at her favorite Indian spot. “Ghada! You’re going to love it! It’s soo good! I’ll make reservations for 5:45 pm!”

Yay!

I usually check out the online menu before heading to a restaurant, but this time I set myself up for a surprise And an amazing surprise it was. I was blown away.

 

We caught a cab and arrived at Dosa on Fillmore street in San Fran. Apparently, Dosa was very popular among the locals and was rated top 10 for the best food/ restaurants in the area.

The restaurant immediately gave off the vibe of hip and modern. The wait staff was very trendy and Dosa featured a sleek bar that was lit with lamps that hung from the ceiling. Oooo… very hip and sexy! This would be a perfect hang out with friends or even great for a romantic date.

I have to admit, that I have never had South Indian cuisine before, so the menu was unfamiliar to me. Before I go into what we ordered for dinner, I’ll brief you on the food origin and its preparation.

 

DOSA serves cuisine that is primarily from the Southern states of India, which include Karnataka, Tamil Nadu (where most of our chefs are from), Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. South Indian dishes are seasoned with toasted mustard seeds, red chiles, curry leaves and oil, a process known as “tempering”. Coconut oil is most commonly used for cooking and frying. Other vegetable oils like sunflower and canola are also used and ghee (clarified butter) is often used in daily meals or on special-occasion dishes.

Back to the menu! I was so torn and confused because everything sounded so good on paper. As usual, I asked the wait staff in assisting with my choices and preferably order something that I never had before.

For starters, our waiter suggested a Dosa: Crepe-like pancake filled with different ingredients served with fresh coconut & tomato chutney, and sambar, a lentil soup that can be poured over the dosa or simply sipped like any soup. Sounds good to me!

 

Let’s go with the Spring Dosa! The South Indian Crepe was filled with veggies like cabbage, carrots, peas and potatoes. It was simple, but the condiments that were served with it gave it the perfect punch.  

 

Another suggested appetizer was the Uttapam, a slightly thicker pancake like dough filled with different ingredients and also served with similar chutneys and sides. Yay!

 

Ok.. so let’s try the South Indian Moons! This selection offered 5 different chef selected Uttapams. This was great because we got to taste a bunch without ordering a lot. The mini pancakes were filled with ingredients like onions, tomatoes, spices and hot peppers. Delicious!

 

For the Main Course, we went with three selections:

 

 Bagara Balingan (Baby eggplant, Andhara peanut sauce, sesame seeds, tamarind).

 

 

Spinach & Paneer Jumbo Prawn (Cilantro, paneer, shallots, cumin & green chiles) and flavorful Coconut rice. Oh my! That rice was ridiculous!

 

FISH SPECIAL OF THE DAY: Mustard spiced Tilapia with Mustard seed rice. Out of this world!

 

 

I really felt like I was in Ghada Land again as my taste buds enjoyed every bite. After our Shakra triggering meal, I turned to Ruth and congratulated her for picking such an amazing restaurant. “You win Ruth! You win for best restaurant pick!”

Dosa has two locations in San Fran!

You can dine on Valencia or Fillmore Street. Check out their online menu and information on www.dosasf.com

 

Yay to another amazing dining experience!

Love, Ghada

As I mentioned in Friday’s article, I was hanging out in San Francisco last week for a Dermatology convention. Just because I’m on a business trip, does not mean that my diet has to suffer so I’m always well-prepared when dining out whether it’s for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

During my San Fran trip, I dined at some of the best eateries that were both figure and budget friendly. Throughout the week, I’ll showcase the different restaurants I ate at, and the foods that left a lasting tasting impression on my tongue!

I was scheduled to work Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10am – 5pm at the convention center and my job was to greet and educate visitors about our skin care company. Proper nutrition is a must when working long hours, so I made sure to feed on the best foods that would boost my energy and sustain me for the duration of work.

On the first day of work, I decided to venture out of the building to find a quick healthy eat, preferably a salad. As I crossed the street, I noticed a bright green street sign that read “Green Papaya: Vietnamese Cuisine“. From my knowledge of the preparation of Vietnamese food, I knew that it was quite healthy and fresh so I followed the sign and decided to give it a shot.

 

Green Papaya was a casual eatery that looked fairly new and furnished with eccentric modern furniture with an Asian twist. The place captured today’s fast pace eating style yet maintaining a healthy Vietnamese vibe.

The menu looked so appetizing, simple and healthy! Yay!

Going with familiarity, I ordered a Papaya salad with grilled chicken. As I skimmed through the rest of the menu, I noticed that they offered a variety of fresh smoothies. A fresh coconut smoothie kept calling me to order it, so after finding out how it was prepared (just coconut & ice) I ordered that too!

My meal was absolutely delicious and satisfying. It was full of fiber and left me feeling light and energetic. Heavy meals in the middle of the day tend to make me feel sluggish, so I try to avoid them.

After my munching session, I decided to both compliment and harass the management on their great menu and cuisine.  I noticed that they had a “Banana Blossom” salad. I had never heard of this! Apparently, it’s the heart of an unopened banana flower that contain so much fiber and nutritional benefits. The manager offered to make me a “special” one with rare beef if I came back the next day.

So I did! I came back for lunch again and tried the tempting Banana Blossom salad. Yumm! It was dressed with fish sauce, soy sauce and lime juice topped with peanuts. Hmm.. I think I liked it more than the papaya salad. I ordered the coconut smoothie to counteract the flame in my mouth caused by the excess spicy sauce. I was on fire! But it was sooo good!

On the third and final day, I returned again for my banana blossom salad and coconut smoothie and promised to return with my co-workers later that night for dinner.

After the show was over, I guided my team to Green Papaya as I raved about the food. I always have such a fun time dining with the people I work with. We usually order a few different items to share so we can experience as many dishes without overeating.  My boss had visited Vietnam before so he shared his food and vacation experience while we waited to order. He illustrated Vietnam as a beautiful country full of culture and food! Apparently, “Pho” is a popular food item (noodle soup served on the side of the streets). Foods are served with fish sauce, soy sauce, fresh herbs like lemongrass, mint, coriander and basil, fruits and vegetables. Vietnamese cuisine offers vegetarian dishes that are influenced by Buddhist beliefs, but also offers many meat dishes from beef to various kinds of seafood.  I would love to experience it for myself someday.

Anyway, here is what we ordered! 

  

For starters, I decided to order fresh vegetarian spring rolls that included fresh raw veggies and vermicelli noodles wrapped in a clear wonton-like wrapper.

  

 

Since I wanted my crew to share my experience of the banana blossom salad topped with rare beef, I ordered that too. 2 out of 3 workers approved! My boss’ complaint was that the texture didn’t do anything for him, but he did enjoy the spring rolls.

 

Main Course:

Lemon grass beef with vermicelli noodles. Yummm… the beef was marinated in lemon grass and other tangy sweet ingredients and then grilled to perfection. It was medium rare and melted in my mouth. The vermicelli noodles were served cold and plain. Somehow it worked because it balanced the intense flavors surrounding it.

 

 

       Vietnamese Chicken Curry with a side of com (rice: a staple in SE Asia) How can anyone hate curry! This Vietnamese Yellow curry blended with veggies, coconut milk and spices triggered so many taste buds from spicy to comforting. Drizzling it over the steamed rice was just too good!

 

 

Grilled Sea bass with a side of Garlic Pho (noodles)

The fish was prepared with such simplicity. I could taste hints of coconut, ginger, soy sauce, basil and pepper. The garlic Pho was so comforting and lightly seasoned with bits of garlic that complimented the fish. 

Oh my! Everything was just too yummy! There was just too many tasty options, but since we were getting full, we decided to stop at three. The owner suggested we try the Tamarind Prawns since they were rated the best on the menu, but I figured that I’ll save that for my next visit  

You can definitely catch me eating at Green Papaya again!

So if you’re in San Francisco and looking for budget friendly eating with quality taste, then stop by Green Papaya 825 Mission St., San Francisco, CA, 94103

Mention that you read a review on Smallworld Beauty, smile and enjoy a discount!

Love,

Ghada

 Being spiritual.

What does it really mean? Is there scientific data to back it? You’ll be surprised…

There is a huge difference between being religious which involves an organized practice and designated God to worship, and being spiritual.

Even though I was raised as a Muslim in the Arab world, I’ve always felt more spiritual throughout my life whether I was experiencing hardships or great times. A feeling inside of me that is very hard to put in to words, but I guess you can say a felt and still feel a connection. I feel connected to the world, mother nature and every person that I come in contact with. It almost feels magical and that I’m in a constant state of peace and happiness (90% of the time).

I usually keep these spiritual feelings to myself and experience them alone, in Ghada Land.

Ghada Land is a place in my head where everything is peaceful, positive and beautiful no matter what devastation is occurring around me. I always push to shift the negative scenes in to a garden of flowers. Yes… I may sound crazy right now, but I’m truly always happy.

I recently expressed my spiritual feelings to an important person in my life hoping that he felt the same. WRONG.. His wall of defense went up soon after the words came out of my mouth. He could not understand the logic behind my thoughts and negated my feelings making them seem ridiculous. Of course, I was no longer in Ghada Land after his harsh words hurt my feelings. No matter how he tried to convince me that I was wrong, my deep instincts were telling me that I was in the right. So, instead of giving in.. I stood behind my spirituality and made it clear that I LOVE Ghada Land and that it was here to stay!

Calmly, I humored the assaulter with kind words and ended the no-winner conversation, since it was based on feelings not facts. Who am I to tell someone that their feelings are wrong too, so he had the right to feel that way and I embraced that.

The next day, as I browsed through science and nutrition research I came across the craziest article that explained what I went through the night before. 

According to a study conducted by Neuropsychologists at the University of Missouri , spiritual experiences take place in the right parietal lobe of the brain.

Spirituality was linked to selflessness, a core trait in most religions including Buddhism, Christianity and Islam. Professor Brick Johnstone noticed that spiritual individuals had less activity in the right parietal lobe. Religious practices such as prayer and meditation produce this feeling of unity, spirituality and selflessness. Johnstone found that people who were more spiritual/selfless and believed in a God that loved them were much healthier psychologically.

“It’s important to note that individuals experience their God or higher power in many different ways, but that all religions and beliefs appear to experience these connections in a similar way. Selflessness is a neuropsychological foundation of spiritual experience”. Johnstone found this information very important because he felt that selflessness could be achieved by conscious efforts, meditation and prayer.

How does this study pertain to me? I feel a sense of closure with the release of this study. I did grow up in a conservative Islamic community that encouraged the core values of giving, loving, sharing, praying and selflessness. I credit Islam, my culture and environment to my sense of selflessness. I feel that being humble is very important in my life. Whenever I sense a feeling of an ego creeping up, I quickly talk myself down. Yes I was blessed with many beautiful traits and talents, but so was the majority of the world. In the larges scheme of things, I am merely a spec. I love hard and hope that life loves me back.

I truly love all religions and the people of the world. There is beauty in us all. Unfortunately, there are extremists in every religion that ruin it for the rest. All religions promote love, meditation and peace. Yes, I know you’re going to say it also promotes war.. but I think as self-consumed humans, we tend to twist the “holy” books to justify our actions of hate and prejudice. Why not ignore the hate, and embrace and accept one another, our differences, our foods, our music, our beautiful skin tones.

Life is short. You live and then you die. At the end of the day, we all just want to be happy. Let’s make a difference even if it’s one person at a time.

This is my favorite quote that was said by one of my favorite mentors, the selfless Mahatma Gandhi “My life is my message“. Make your life and actions your message to the world.

I love you!

Ghada

 

 Last weekend, I had to take a work trip to Los Angeles California to attend a Skin care & Spa show.I usually plan my restaurants ahead of time, looking for healthy and tasty options. It was a beautiful sunny day in LA, so my friend Joe and I decided to just start walking downtown and see what  we could find.

I could tell that the area I was strolling through was the Jewelry District filled with stores selling lots and lots of diamonds! I kept it moving and came across the cutest alley that was laid with rustic brick. A big sign at the entrance read “St. Vincent’s Court”. As I walked through, it felt as if I was in another country because of the colorful store fronts, cafes and mini eateries that featured Turkish coffee, gyros, pizza. The crowd was small and I noticed that many were of Persian or Israeli descent.

As we approached the end of the alley, a bright red canopy stood out that read “Farid’s Restaurant: Persian Cuisine“. Hmmm… you know what? I don’t think I’ve ever tasted Persian food before and surprisingly, Joe never did either. So we checked out the menu pasted on the window and decided to give it ago.

Since it was 70 degrees and sunny with no chance of rain, we sat outside to get a dose of Vitamin D. I opened the menu again to take a better look at the menu incase I missed anything. I noticed that Persian food incorporated grilled meat and fish dishes, healthy stews, rice and bread, fresh salads and dips, spices and herbs like saffron, dried limes, cinnamon and parsley, and lots of vegetables.

Sounds good to me!

Being our first time dining Persian, we wanted our first experience to be memorable, so we asked the waiter to recommend his favorite items.

 

For starters, we ordered a Shirazi, a Persian salad that consists of chopped grape tomatoes and cucumbers, topped with olive oil, onions, fresh lemon juice and parsley.

I loved the tangy fresh taste of the cold salad mix. I ate a few bites and saved the rest to eat with my main meal.

Oooooo! What next!

 

 

Flat Persian oven brick bread was complimentary and served soon after. It looked very fresh and filled with whole grains, so I just took a bite then put it a side. Very good!

 

 

This next appetizer was out of this world! It’s called a “Kashk-O-Badmjan”. It’s prepared by sauteing eggplants and spiced with saffron, dried mint then topped with plain yogurt. The proper way of eating this, is to dip your flat bread into it and enjoy bite sizes until your meal arrives. Instead of using the bread, I just scooped it with my spoon and ate it straight! It was still delicious!

 

Oh my! Is that our meal? The aroma of the “Chicken and Beef Koobideh” dish was so appetizing.

As you can see from the image, the Koobideh is similar to a Kebab but it differs in shape (wider), length (much longer) and in spices (saffron is the main ingredient).

The dish was served with “Chello” which is the Persian name for rice. 

It was sooo good, but it was way too much food for my belly. Plus, I filled up on salad and a few bites of the eggplant dip. I asked for a box to pack up the rest for later.   

I always like to end a meal with a warm beverage to soothe my stomach and have an excuse to relax and chit chat some more, so Joe and I ordered some “Chai” (black tea) and sipped away as we discussed life.

Joe and I were so pleased with our experience and thanked the manager for the delightful cuisine and great service. We will definitely eat there again!

 

So if you some how find yourself in LA, I would highly recommend Farid’s Restaurant: Persian Cuisine. St. Vincent’s Court. 635 S Broadway Los Angeles, CA 90014 (213) 622-0808

 

I had a few days left in Kuwait and I suggested to my mom that we have a girl’s day and go get pampered at the local beauty salon. I feel that its very important to treat yourself once in a while for all the hard work that you put in. Not only do I like to maintain my figure, but I always make it a point to take care of my appearance whether it’s through a facial, manicure & pedicure or a sharp hair do.

My mom agreed to join and my dad offered to drop us off at a hole-in-the wall  beauty shop that was well known for their low prices and professional treatments. 

Beauty is a billion dollar industry in the Middle East. Kuwait alone has thousands of beauty salons, spas, makeup boutiques and plastic surgery centers. It’s a walking fashion show here!

Beauty Salons in Kuwait are segregated because of the Islamic law discouraging the grouping of men and women to decrease the urges of temptation.

The businesses open up shop in high rise apartment buildings and signs are posted outside their window to advertise to the public.

As you can see from the image, the salon is located on the 2nd floor and the sign reads SARA LAND in both Arabic and English since there are many foreigners that currently reside in Kuwait.

No appointment needed. We walked in to a little space of a salon that had the simplest setup: two chairs, a sofa and one other room that they did facials and waxing in. The salon was run by a Philippina (woman from the Philippines) named Madame Sara. From what my dad said, she has been one of the most talented in Kuwait for over 20 years. She takes pride in her business and only hires the best Phillippina girls to assist her.

  I came in thinking I just wanted to add a little shine to my hair, but then I noticed a beautiful hair color displayed on a manikin. The base color was a rich auburn chocolate with warm colored highlights.  I fell in love!

 

My mom wanted the same, so the ladies started to prepare for our process. Madame Sara (lady with silver hair) consulted us both and showed us a swatch book filled with hair color examples. After we chose our colors, she instructed her assistants to get to work on mixing and applying the base color.

My mom and I began to engage in a conversation with the 2 Philippina assistants as we discussed topics from family life to Celine Dion. They loved Celine! And even more, they LOVED to sing. My mom agreed with the girls saying that Celine’s “Power of Love” was one of her favorite ballads but she apologized because she couldn’t remember how to start the song. Out of no where… Dali (the one assistant) belted out the song in the most beautiful sultry voice. It was so good, I got tears in my eyes.

                            

“Walik! Bekafeh!”.. (Enough YOU!) My mom was not into me snapping pictures of her, so I’ll just sneak these two in for now. 

My mom had heard from my dad that Madame Sara was married to an Lebanese Man, that was a bit taboo issue in the Middle East. Arabs are encouraged to stick to their own people and religion, and avoid any other cultures especially ones from the far East.

Most Philippinos come to Kuwait to work as nannies, servants and  other occupations that involve long hours and very little money.

Curiosity kicked in, and we asked Madame Sara how she landed herself a successful Arab man. After hearing her story, I was in awe and hopeful that true love still exists.

Without hesitation, Madame Sara smiled at me and began her love story as she continued to do my hair. Long story short, this amazing woman left the Philippines in her 30′s with her two daughters and headed to Kuwait to pursue a job in cosmetology. When arriving, she kept to herself and concentrated on feeding her kids. She was invited to a child birthday party where she caught the eye of a Muslim Lebanese who was 10 years younger.

Everyone pointed out that he was interested but she stayed to herself. This man chased her for 3 years, made his brother and 2 sisters befriend her to get closer and his ultra conservative Muslim Mother adore her. After truly feeling his true love for her, she agreed to marry. But there was one problem.. even though Madame Sara converted to Islam, Kuwait law would not permit the couple to marry. The love birds drove to Iraq and found a place that would. Soon after, she gave birth to his son and another daughter making a total of four children.

Yes, the love story was very romantic and inspirational, but that’s not what touched me. I was impressed by Madame Sara’s Buddhist -like mentality as she radiated with peace and love. She was strong, independent and did not NEED her husband.. she wanted him as her partner. “His heart and mine are one”. She respected Islam and other religions and felt that she did not need to prove her connection with God to anyone but herself. She wasn’t against wearing a Burka, but she felt that it would not make her a better because she already was. She was secure with her heart and her spiritual connection and did not judge others for their way of life.

Life is beautiful to me even though it contains so much sadness as well. I am continuously being shaped and molded by every situation and person that I face whether they are positive or negative. Women like Madame Sara inspire and motivate me to do more and love more of life, like anyone should. Unless you believe in reincarnation, a person should LIVE life, make mistakes, take risks and LOVE hard (without harming others of course).  Stop regretting the past and live for the now.

Don’t let life pass you by. You deserve to love your life.

Love, Ghada

I had the craziest shopping experience a few days ago at a Kuwaiti Flea market known as the Friday Market. My brother had mentioned it earlier this week, boasting about how cool it was so I planned a day with my parents for a nice lunch followed by a fun stroll in the market.

Kuwait is known for its glitzy shopping malls, gold markets, Persian rug dealers and bargain shops. The most popular ones seem to be Souk Sharq, a beautiful structure of a mall that was built by the beach for an amazing view, and The HUGE Avenues shopping mall which includes an Ikea store, 10 movie theatres, 35 restaurants and cafes. Craziness!

For lunch, my dad suggested we take it back to the old days and dine at an Indian restaurant that he used to get take out from. Aww, I thought that was the cutest idea and I couldn’t wait to re-taste that chicken he used to bring home. I wondered if it would still taste as good? 

 

The drive was mind blowing! This is Gulf Road, a scenic drive that displays thousands of palm trees and over looks the Persian Gulf. Kuwait takes pride in making the country more beautiful through vegetation and amazing new buildings.

 

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As we approached Kuwait City, the beauty began to lessen. It was mostly a business district filled with older offices and not so appealing shopping centers. (Top right) I also noticed that there was a Church! Kuwait if filled with non-Muslims and over the years, the government has become more accepting and lenient towards other religions, but Islam still dominates.

Even though the air was dusty and city-like, I still enjoyed it because it brought back memories of my childhood and old Kuwait.

 Here we are at my favorite childhood spot KHYBER.  

(left). This is my Khalo (uncle) Adel and I outside the place. He is one of my favorites in the world! He always seems to know how to say the right words and advise any situation. He’s always had a VIP reservation in my heart

(below) Baba (dad) and I sat in a cozy booth side by side directly across my mom and uncle.

 

Khyber has been around for 50 years and ran by Indians. This restaurant serves a fusion of Indian and Chinese, but rarely, do people order Chinese. This hole in the wall spot serves the BEST Indian Chicken Tikka. The chicken is marinated in spices for days and then smoked in the oven. It’s usually served with cucumber/yogurt salad with fried Naan bread.

I was still full from my 2 eggs that morning, so I could only down a chicken breast, a little salad and ended it at that. As far as the taste, it was similar but it wasn’t as good as I had remembered. I guess I enjoyed the other parts of the kid experience, like the anticipation of my parents coming home after work with an aroma filled package, gathering impatiently around the dining room table until it was all set, and best of all.. getting ourselves crazy messy as we dug in to the chicken. Ha ha .. we were little savages!

After our cozy meal, we headed to the FRIDAY MARKET. Yay!!! I was already picturing the fun-filled event. I thought about the artsy hip people attending, the middle eastern crafts, organic veggies and plenty of fun.

Oh boy! I wasn’t even close!

It was as if a world disaster occurred and everyone’s junk was piled up under one tent. Most of the he people attending were not trendy and hip.. they were sloppy, messy and wore traditional garments. Oh well, that wasn’t going to stop me from having a good time, so I made the best of the situation and had a fun time roaming around and digging through mountains of stuff.

 

Need a snack before entering? Maybe some chips, snickers or Pepsi? Then stop by this lady at the entrance. As you can see, she is dressed in a Burka, an Islamic traditional garment that covers from head to toe.

 

 

I followed my family through the crowd and we stopped at a few vendors to check out what they had.

 

 

Here is a pile of cooking pots! The prices range from 50 cents and up depending on the seller and quality of the junk.

 

 

This pile had a coffee shop theme offering hookahs, serving trays and coffee canisters. Like I mentioned in a previous post, coffee is a big deal among the Arabs.

 

This vendor had the prettiest silver and copper tea pots and incense burners. Incense or Bakhour in Arabic, is very popular in most households. Depending on the oil and wood from where the scent was extracted, the actual incense can be quite pricey. My parents usually pull out the Bakhour when we’re expecting guests for lunch. It gives a welcoming, cozy feel to the house and sets the mood for a good time.

Arabs adore wearing the most intricate and beautifully designed jewelry. Gold and diamonds are better friends to the Kuwaiti females, but these Afghani designs seem to capture more of the foreign taste including myself. I prefer to wear a rustic, colorful beaded necklace than sport a gaudy gold chain.

I was surprised to see that this vendor sold the oldest of currencies. He was busy discussing prices with a few men, so I didn’t get the chance to stay for too long.

 

This frame is too good! I love how this cute Grandpa was staring at this antique grandfather clock. Aww, he was so cute with his traditional wardrobe.

 

 

We call his dress a Dishdasheh, a garment that is made with the lightest of cotton and fabrics to help keep the locals cool during the hot dry summers. Temperatures can exceed 100 degrees, so you’ll see many Kuwaitis sporting this look soon. Personally, I think it looks very sharp and clean. I love a good beard too. It gives an older man some character.

 

 

 

 

 

My dad spotted this table full of colorful pebbles. For some reason, he found them very interesting spending a little too much time there. Â

Here’s my mom entertaining herself with this puffer thing that helps with building and maintaining a fire.

 

Wow, check out this turntable! Now that’s Old School.

And how can you have a flea market without clothes!

After an hour of walking around, we headed back to the car and noticed another tent that was selling all sorts of animals from goats to bold eagles.

Check out this guy that sold farm-raised chickens. He was not too happy with me after snapping a photo, so I apologized and ran away.

 

 

 

I love bunnies!! A Pakistani guy had a cage full of baby bunnies and I asked if I could pick one up. This little white ball of fluff was too cute! I wanted to take him home, but realistically I wouldn’t be a good keeper so I let him stay with his rabbit family.

 

 

Overall, the Friday Market was quite a busy mess. I got a good laugh with my family so it wasn’t all a waste. I think I would rather just go chill on the beach and watch the waves come in. But, if you’re in Kuwait and you have plenty of time then why not check it out.

If you’re familiar with Kuwait and can suggest any places for me to visit before heading home, I will LOVE you forever!

Love,

Ghada

You can find all types of cuisine showcased in Kuwait from Johnny Rocket Burgers to Authentic Thai.

Since alcohol and dance clubs are a NO NO in Kuwait, most channels of fun revolve around hookah lounges, coffee shops, and restaurants.

People love to eat here!

Since my arrival in Kuwait, my mom and dad have been more than great in showing me around and treating me to great dining experiences (while still considering my new eating habits).

My dad always starts the morning with “What are you in the mood to eat tonight?” He then follows his question with a few suggestions. “We can get Chinese, Indian or maybe some Lebanese.”

Oooo… Lebanese Cuisine sounds perfect!!

 

I planned a day with my hilarious older brother Mo that morning so he could show me around Kuwait some more and introduce me to more of his friends.

The plan was to be back by 6 PM to join my parents for a nice evening at a Lebanese Restaurant.

As you know from previous posts, I’m Palestinian/Turkish in origin so I am quite familiar with all Middle Eastern cuisine. Non-Arabs may assume that all Arab cuisine is similar around the Middle East, but that assumption is not quite correct. Different Arab countries may have the same names for certain dishes, but they may be flavored, seasoned and prepared differently giving the food its own unique twist.

The reason I chose to dine Lebanese that night was due to it’s light fare, hearty soups and salads and nutritional benefits. Not to mention, the dining experience is always entertaining and enjoyable, especially among family and friends.

Lebanese food can be categorized under Mediterranean cuisine. It was highly influenced by both Europeans and Arabs, filled with fruits, vegetables, lean meats and plenty of garlic and healthy fats. Most foods are grilled, baked, sauteed and drizzled with olive oil. Raw and pickled vegetables are always accompanied with the meal to add color, flavor and nutrition. You won’t find cream or butter on the table unless it’s in your dessert. 

So where are we going?

 

Al Bardawny Lebanese Palace

 

 

 

 

 

As you drive up to the Palace-like building, the first thing you notice are the beautiful palm trees alongside the walls of the gates. The atmosphere is dim, yet delicately lit with romantic white lights. A serene rock waterfall draws you in and leads you to the main dining area. We were waited on by the classiest of servers who welcomed us to our table.

The interior decor was designed beautifully to capture the traditional Lebanese culture. I absolutely fell in love with the woven wood ceilings that matched the chairs and tables that were also similarly woven to match. The lights were orange hued giving the place a warm cozy feel.

We were seated in a quiet corner of the restaurant which was great considering that Mo tends to be extra loud and I end up laughing even louder. 

I grabbed the menu and browsed through their appetizers and soup section. I was torn on what to order because everything looked so tasty, so I put the menu down and handed over the decision to my parents.

 

                                                      Surprise me!

 The waiter brought over some water and began to take down our order. My dad’s food choices were perfect! I didn’t express it out loud to avoid looking like a dork, but deep down inside I was so excited that our meal contained all my essentials! Protein, healthy fats and complex carbs!

 

                                                                   Yay!

I started with a hearty delicious cup of lentil soup topped with squeezed lemon. (check out the recipe this Sunday). Olives, olive oil and pickled vegetables are always complimentary and pre-set on the table.

 

Soon after we started, the waiter brought out a basket of freshly baked pita bread for dipping. Of course I had to pass even though it smelled sooo good!

 

 

 

 Our appetizers began to fill the table. We ordered the Kibbeh (top left), the national dish of Lebanon that is made from ground lamb, bulgur wheat and sometimes pine nuts. The ingredients are balled up and deep fried for a crispy outside and perfect moist inside.

Kibbeh can come in different forms: fried, baked and raw. Fatayer Jibneh or Cheese Pastries (right) are usually filled with feta-like and mild cheeses creating a perfect blend. Hummus (bottom left) is a must have, and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Most foreigners are now familiar with this chickpea and tahini concoction as it serves as a great protein packed, low fat snack.

Baba Ghanouj is another staple dip that goes hand in hand with Hummus. A blend of spices and eggplants mashed up to create a dip. Arabs usually never order the one without the other. Here’s a perfect example of how things are prepared differently. Palestinians prepare Baba Ghanouj with tahini, while the lebanese do not. The prefer to use more spices and olive oil for theirs.

Like I mentioned earlier, Kibbeh can come in raw form and we ordered that too. Kibbeh Neyeh (raw Kibbeh) is similar to steak tartar. It is made with bits of raw bulgur and spices and tastes unbelievable! All the dips and appetizers are served similar to tapas in that they are small portions meant to be shared with the table making it hard to overeat unless you order a few of each.

 Here it comes! The main course: the Mixed Grill Perfectly seasoned with Middle Eastern spices, this grill contained various lean meats including chicken cutlets, chicken kebabs, lamb cubes, beef kebabs and lamb chops. As you can see by the image, this restaurant has topped the dish off with parsley, sliced onions and fries. Mixed grills are usually served with a side of this AMAZING garlic sauce.

 

I was really full after my soup, few bites of dips and pickled veggies that I could only stuff a few pieces of meat in my mouth. The wait staff began to clear our table and we gathered our stuff to go.

 

As we exited, we notice a traditional Lebanese tent outside and a man in costume invited us in for a cup of coffee.

 Coffee is a big deal in the Middle East

 especially among the Lebanese. It seems like we’re not affected by caffeine like the rest of the world because we can drink coffee all day long. The coffee is thick, strong and sometimes flavored with cardamom.

The man poured his special brew into little saucer cups and passed them to me and my family to enjoy. We sipped on our flavorful coffee while he began to entertain us with music using drums and flutes. After his great performance, my dad tipped him and we headed home.

I had such a great time!

If you happen to visit Kuwait, you should definitely check out this place. But if you don’t, then you should seek out a Lebanese spot near you and try some of the items mentioned above.

Love,

Ghada

 

 

Hi Everyone! I miss you already!

I just wanted to let you know that I safely made it to Kuwait and having the best time with family and friends. I arrived on Monday February 1st and have been running around ever since.

Please be patient with me if I slack on my posts during my vacation. Since I don’t have constant online access, I’ll try my best to post as much as I can until my return (Feb 12th).

Check out a few snap shots from DAY 2 of my trip!

10:00 am. “Yallah get up! We’re going to get some fish for lunch from the Fish Market”. My dad is not a very affectionate guy, but I know he tries to show it through his outings and cooking.

Yay! I love the fish market! I LOVE everything about it from the dirty fishermen that bring in the fresh tubs of fish, the stinky aroma, to the obnoxiously loud noise projected from all the bargaining shoppers.

Let’s go!

My mom took shotgun while I sat in the back enjoying the cool Kuwaiti breeze as my dad took the wheel. Notice that I’m wearing a jacket.

 

 

 

 

My dad explained that people are crazy here and that a person should be extra careful when driving. Kuwait is well-known for their fast and furious drivers and averages 5 accidents a day.     

 

 

 

 

My dad loves to talk! He continued to educate me on the current economic situation in Kuwait and pointed out the amazing architecture along the way.

 

 

 

Yay!  We’re at the Fish Market! As you can see the structure of the building is beautiful and modern. You can’t see it in the picture, but the market is directly across from the  beach.     

 

 

 

As you enter the main doors, you can’t help but be blinded by the bright white room, marble floors and ice counters filled with lots and lots of fish! Unlike the typical fish markets that I’ve been to, this one was so beautifully laid out and looked so neat and presentable.

My dad lead the way as he approached his favorite fish vendors. He was very knowledgeable on all the fish and made it a point to fill me in on how to pick a good fish. I’m never not in the mood to learn new things.

 

 

His first pick was a bass-like fish that he called “hamour” in Arabic.

 

 

 

 

“Should we get some crab too? It’s a little messy, but you’ll like it”

  

How can you say no to crab? I LOVE eating fresh crab! It’s such a fun time trying to crack open the legs while spraying yourself and everyone else. You definitely need a good scrubbing after a meal like that.

 

 

 

There was an unbelievable variety of fish, and these yellow finned ones called out to me. They were all labeled in Arabic so I’m sorry that I can’t provide the English names.

 

 

 

 

This flat fish used to be my favorite! We call it “Zubeidi”. My mom used to dip it in seasoned batter and deep fry it. She would then squeeze a little lemon on top and it was absolutely delicious!

 

 

 

 

After my dad picked out his seafood selection, he handed over his basket to the fish cleaner guy who properly chopped, trimmed and removed any parts that weren’t edible.

 

 

 

Since we went so early, the majority of the shoppers were men who liked to stare. I felt a little uncomfortable and stayed close to my mom and dad. The more pictures I took, the more attention I was getting. But I figured that they would never see me again, so I continued to snap away. I asked my mom to quickly take a picture of me along side the fish… But as you can see in the picture, there is not ONE fish in sight. She had trouble pointing the camera at her subject even though my digital camera had a huge screen showcasing the image.

OK.. let’s try again.. Oh boy! Now I  look high! Lol.. Oh well.. as long as she got the fish in there. Sarcastically I patted her on the back and congratulated her on her amazing photography skills. OMG.. It’s like teaching a monkey how to take pictures. Awww… I love her!

 

 

Not only could you buy fish, but there was a also a section of fresh beef, live chicken and fresh eggs. So here’s how it works..  You pick your chicken and then they put it into a washing machine-like equipment that de-feathers it and voila! Free-range, organic chicken! My dad used to send me out when I was young to pick up a chicken or two, so I’m quite familiar with the process and the stinky smell of those shops.

 \

 

Before leaving the house, I noticed that we were low on fresh greens so I asked my dad if we could pick up a few items on the way out.

 

 

 

  

My dad is quite the bargainer and never pays full price for his goods. Here he is with the grocery vendor picking the best lettuce and greens for me. My dad has worked in the  restaurant business for over 30 years and knows his stuff when it comes food.

 

 

 

 

The layout of the fresh foods was astonishing and so colorful. I wanted to buy it all. They had everything from sugar apples, okra, purple cabbage to tasty chestnuts.

 

Dates are quite the delicacy in Kuwait. They are very nutritious and come in many different forms. Depending where they’re from, they can be quite expensive. People usually serve a few with tea after dinner. Another thing I forgot to mention is that you are free to taste whatever is out on display. For example, my dad grabbed a few dates passing by and gave my mom one to taste. The more you taste, the more likely you will buy so the vendors are quite generous. People are polite and stick to the 1-2 piece taste limit. However, my dad is embarrassing and out of control! He’ll grab a dozen dates and walk around munching away.

 

Arabs are known for their use of spices and flavorful food. This vendor showcased the most colorful spices including cumin, cinnamon, turmeric and more. He also sold a variety of raisins that are usually incorporated in rice and lamb dishes.

 

After an hour of shopping around in the Fish Market, we headed to the car to load it up. Since we were right across from the water, I asked my mom to take a few minutes and join me in admiring the crystal blue Sea. It was gorgeous! Once again, I walked my mom through snapping a picture of me by the water.

Here’s a close up of my face. “Mom! Pretend you’re a terrorist and point the gun at me. Now… Shoot! OMG.. I’ll just photoshop my body into the picture. Give me the camera!”

It was almost Noon and my dad headed home. Instead of bothering my mom with cooking all the fish, he informed us that he was making a stop to drop off the seafood to a local grilling shop that would hook it all up for us AND deliver it to our house. My dad has been friends with the cook for years and personally trained him on how to season and cook fish.

The cook weighed in the bags at 20 lbs and quoted my dad a price. You’ll never guess what that price was… $30!!! Wow.. Impressive.

The food would be ready and delivered to the house by 2:30 pm which is typical Arabic Lunch time. My dad’s brother was also in town, so we decided to extend the invite to him too since we had plenty of food to go around.

 

My beautiful mom started preparing side dishes for the fish that included sauteed eggplant, tahini salad, olives and lots of greens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I picked the chair next to my Uncle Ramadan who I haven’t seen in a few years.  My uncle was quite impressed with my weight loss and wasn’t shy with his words.

“Very nice Ghada. You look slim! You look much better than before. I remember the last time I saw you, YOU were BIG (while demonstrating with his hands how big I was). This look suits you better”.

Of course that lead to a nutrition talk and he began asking me questions on how to better his diet. I was more than happy to share my findings while enjoying the messy meal. The food was out of this world!

It looks like I’m praying in the picture (which I should be doing), but I was actually very messy from digging into the crab and jumbo shrimp. My uncle noticed that I was eating lots of greens and avoided the bread, a weakness that he can’t break. He then tried to convince me that bread was important and the body “needs” it.  I thought it was a cute attempt to keep bread around in his life, but I told him that he could survive on other things.

I really enjoy family events because I’m usually surrounded by good food and great people that mean the world to me. I’m really lucky to have the funds and opportunity to travel across sees to see them, even if it’s once every few years.

Anyway, that was just half of Day 2 and I look forward to sharing more of the rest of my trip with you soon.

Feel free to leave comments or ask any questions regarding my posts.

Love,

Ghada.

As you have all read in Saturday’s post, my meathead BFF is selfishly leaving me to take a trip gallivanting across Kuwait and Dubai to visit family and friends in a few short weeks!..

Sob, sob! Leaving me here all alone each a.m in the gym with no one to keep me motivated no one to discuss my meals with and no locker room buddy. I will be missing out on all our online meathead chat we have throughout the day! I will be lost! Lost I tell ya! And all because she wants to spend some quality time with her family!

Now of course I am exaggerating a bit….ok I might be exaggerating a lot! I am of course happy for Ghada and I do hope she has a blast on her trip. We will of course still chat on line and it is only 10 days but I will miss her terribly! She has traveled away from me before on trips for   business but never as long as 10 days so this will be a real test of our friendship for me .Not to say that I will disown her and find my a new meathead BFF and forget all about her but I tend to get over people really fast when they are out of site they tend to be off my mind as well too!

I hope that when she FINALLY does return I remember her(Ghada who?….kidding)and we can pick up where we left off and share many cool stories of her home visit over a nice cold protein shake! 

Yes those few days will be very, very hard for Miss Murder and so sad indeed and I may even need to find myself a temporary meathead BBF just to keep myself motivated while she is away……do you think you can fit the bill? Ghada has some pretty big shoes to fill for such a petite amigo!

So if you think you can help Miss Murder get through the rough times during the 10 day period by offering a few words encouragement or just a simple dropping me a line! I would love to hear from ya!

Shaneek AKA Miss Murder