Food Trip: Jollibee in Kuwait

Finally, I took a bite of the Bee.

Three days after it opened, Jollibee Kuwait is still overflowing with enthusiastic Pinoys waiting in line for hours, wanting to have a taste of home away from home.

Last night, I became part of that mob.

As soon as I arrived home from work yesterday, I asked my wife if she wants to try our luck tonight, she said okay. My daughter must have overheard us and said "Daddy, teacher asked us if we've been to Jollibee already and everybody said Yes, I am the only one No." Okay, so it only means we have to go..lol.

As expected, when we reached the store there's still a queue outside. So we decided to go and do other matters then just come back later.

And come back we did. It was already past 9 by then, about an hour and a half since we first passed by. There were still people in line outside, but at least fewer than the previous days so I thought this should not take long.

I joined the line. When I was standing there, I felt a sort of embarrassment to myself... like I was telling how these people could stand hours of waiting just to have a burger and chicken...like I told before I would wait for the madness to settle down maybe in a months time before  I bring my family here...and yet, here I am, standing outside, waiting patiently for my burger and chicken..LOL!

Inch by inch the line moved until I found myself already inside the store..weee! I am just a few minutes away from the counter. But those minutes quickly turned to hour and yet I felt we are not moving any closer. Darn, this waiting is taking forever and the smell of freshly cooked chicken is killing me. I watched as one by one, customers make their order and as they happily collect their bags of goodness and turned away from the counter with a sigh of relief and desperation. I heard one said, " Sa wakas (At last), after 3 hours!"..I also watched in amazement how one lady ordered just one burger meal for take out..She was there from 7 pm and she ordered just that? Oh well..

Closing time is coming and I can sense an increased feeling of anxiety with my fellow customers. Add to this,  some items are already being sold out! Like what the..**!, you waited long enough only to be told "Sorry, Sir..Sorry Ma'am, sold out na po." 

Anyway, my turn came so I made my order.. and I made sure I have all I wanted..I mean, if you waited that long, better make it sure it's worth the wait..hah!

We drove back home, tired and hungry and cold.. By close to midnight, we had our dinner...on bed!..just so tired to have a meal on the dining table...I finished my burger within minutes and Mommy finished half of hers before we turned our attention to the chicken meal..my girls are also delighted with their spaghetti meal, and in fact, even alternately taking a bite from our burgers!..in less than 10 minutes, we're done...

So was it worth all that?.Definitely!...seeing the smiles..and the spaghetti sauce...on my girl's face..It's definitely yes.

Will I do it again? No..not that soon..I will come back there again after a month's time, after all these madness has settled down...

Or until I crave for another burger..

Jollibee opens in Kuwait

The bee is in Kuwait. Again.

There were some rumors already swirling around a few months ago that a store will open here soon. That rumor turned out to be a fact. And everyone- at least the Filipino community- becomes excited about it. 

Today, February 25, it becomes a reality.

Labor Attache David Des Dicang and franchise owner Yacqoub Al Hajery cuts the ribbon to formally open the store in Kuwait City, February 25.

Fr. Ben Barrameda officiates the blessing of the store with selected guests.

The large crowd that turns out for the event waits outside the store despite the rain and cold wind.

Philippine fast food giant, Jollibee, "re-opened" its doors to its loyal customers here in Kuwait. Yes, I wrote "re-opened" because there used to be one store here when I first arrived "few" years ago. They closed down for still unknown reasons but anyway, it's not my story.

What is important is it's here. The "langhap-sarap" goodness every Filipino-young or old- comes to love and made this brand one of the most recognizable name in the Philippines, is here. 

My kids are already too excited  about our first visit but that's not gonna happen anytime soon. We'll just have to wait until all these excitement dies down a bit. I'd prefer to have a good seat while enjoying a bite of the Champ with my wife :)

Argh. I can't wait.

The store is located in downtown Kuwait, behind the Main Post Office, the same building as Caesar's Restaurant and Kodak.

Credits:
Jollibee Kuwait Facebook page
Photos by Jobz Torres and Tin de los Santos.

Been There..Ate That (A look back to the month that was July)

In stark contrast with this Holy Month of Ramadan or my diet-with-exercise attempts of the previous months, last month was the most stomach-filling, weight-gaining, calorie-adding month for me and well, for some of my colleagues..and my wife perhaps.

Picture this---lunch and/or dinner feast at least every other day each week for the whole month of July...at the office..at home..everywhere.

From the more popular American fastfood chains like KFC, Popeye's, Hardees, McDo and Domino's Pizza, and the more traditional Arabic food such as lamb Ouzi, kebabs,shish tawook and fatayer to Indian food like Chicken biryani, vegetable samosa and Chicken tikka, to Filipino staple food like Kare-kare, tapsilog, Halo-halo, Pansit Guisado and lomi to the more expensive but real good Chinese food in P.F. Chang's, or the Steak, Fajitas and buffalo wings at Chili's or even some Gourmet food in IKEA...

Been there..ate that!

Not to mention the sweets and desserts..like the oh-so-good ice cream cake from Coldstone, doughnuts and cakes and yes, the latest craze in town, frozen yougurts...but from IKEA (that's why we called it IKEAberry)..believe me, the same FROYO goodness but at a lesser price :)

Been there..ate that!

and I am surprised (or disappointed) to know that I only gained just a little more than 1 kg. from all of these..lols..

Now the new challenge due to the fasting month Ramadan begins.

Food Trip: OK (Open Kitchen)

Description: Specializes in Filipino and Chinese dishes. Their tapsilog and lomi are my all-time fave. I've known the place for 8 years now and the taste remains the same even though I think the original Pinoy cook is no longer working there, I am not sure. The Pinoy food section used to occupy the smaller store on the left and the bigger place for American and Arabic foods and sandwiches to cater to the taste of local families and other nationalities. But even they are ordering soup and noodles from the Pinoy section.

Location: The place is located at the food court of the amusement center behind McDonalds' at Salem Mubarak street, Salmiya . It's usually packed with families on weekends so the best time to visit is during weekdays and late nights unless you are capable of waiting until a table becomes available.

Recommendation: Tapsilog definitely!

posted from Bloggeroid

Food Trip: Pinkberry

Origin: Franchise from Los Angeles, California

Description: Original (Plain) or Green Tea, Pomegranate, Mango, Coconut, Passion Fruit and Chocolate Flavored Frozen Yogurt topped with your own choice of fresh fruits like  strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, mangoes, kiwi and pineapple and even dry toppings such as chocolate shavings, white chocolate, granola and nuts.

Locations: More stores coming up all over Kuwait

Recommendation: Absolutely

Note: A little pricey but it's definitely worth it

Food Trip: PF Chang's China Bistro

Origin: Scottsdale, Arizona
Location:  The Avenues Mall, Shuwaikh and the Arabian Gulf Road across Sha'ab Park

Descriptions:  Authentic Chinese American cuisine. Generous serving sizes at very affordable prices. Friendly and fast service. Beautiful ambiance. Perfect dining experience.

Recommendation: Highly Recommended.

One small warning: It is highly addictive.

Food trip: Tabab Restaurant

Passed by Tabab Restaurant in Bneid Al Gar to try their kebab sandwich, which according to popular belief, is the best tasting kebab sandwich in town..turns out it is indeed a FACT!



The place is located in between Al Salam Hospital and the jamiya.

posted from Bloggeroid

SEEN: Would you like FRINCH FRISE with your normal BORGER?

I got hold of this menu from a neighborhood restaurant..Not counting the transliterated Arabic, see how many spelling mistakes can you find :)..

Don't you feel hungry ?? Would you like to have some CHICKEN STIK (chicken steak)? or some SUSEGE (sausage)? Me, I think I'd have a CLOP SANDWICH (club sandwich) and a serving of COLOSLO (coleslaw) on the side.. :)

Feeling Guilty Over A Cup of Coleslaw..

Nung isang araw pa ako naglalaway sa KFC..para bang di nakakatikim ng chicken 8 days a week sus. So kagabi, finally natupad nga (yey!). We had KFC for dinner. 2 piece meal ang kay misis, 3 piece naman sa akin...may kasama ng bread, fries at drinks pero yun sa akin lang me coleslaw. Siempre Take-out as usual, mas masarap kumain sa bahay e.

So ayun nga, habang nilalantakan namin ang mga kawawang breasts, legs at thighs ay sige naman kami panonood ng TV..(sarap-buhay noh). Nauna kong naubos ang akin (ay 3 piece ba? hehehe)..Kaya binalingan ko na ang aking coleslaw..Usap..kain..nood..di ko namamalayan, naubos ko na ang coleslaw...

Dun na nagreact ang aking asawa.." Ay, ubos na, di mo man lang ako inalok? nakaisang subo pa lang ako dun a" sabay maktol kunyari....

Awwww..

Abot-abot ang sorry ko..nalibang talaga ako sa pagkain at panonood..

Sabi pa nya, " Hmph, samantalang ako, ultimo isusubo ko na, hinahati ko pa para ibigay sa yo "..ayan na, kahit tatawa-tawa yan, alam ko tinototoo na nya..

Then narealize ko, oo nga tama sya..ganun nga sya, maski ano kinakain nyan, magtitira at magtitira para sa akin..o kaya hinahatian ako parati..maski yung ulam na kasya lang sa kanya, ititira pa nun for me kasi alam nya maghahanap ako ng makakain pagkagaling sa work...na-guilty na talaga ako...

Sabi ko na lang, sige bukas pasalubungan kita ng large coleslaw ha...oo daw..

"Gusto ko sa Popeye's ha? mas masarap coleslaw dun...."  

Kaya mamaya, chicken ulit kami..pero kanya na yung coleslaw..:D