Away From Politics

Thank You Alfa!

That’s probably the only good news that ever came out of an internet outage in Lebanon. I don’t know if the increase is permanent or just for a month.

Red Bull King Of The Rock 2013

Picture from Last Year’s Final

I’ve been playing Basketball for more than 10 years now and I remember going to the Streetball challenges that used to be held long time ago at the Forum De Beirut back in the late 1990s. It’s a lot of fun and Streetball (3 on 3, 1 on 1 ) for me is more fun than a 5 on 5 game.

Black + Blum’s Thermo Pot

You want to take a fancy lunch box to work… Here’s a new idea… This Black + Blum’s Thermo Pot is an amazingly nice stainless steel flask/container.  They say “hot food warms the soul” and this is the perfect way to take your hot food with you. This BPA-free container sits within a stainless thermos »more...

Abou Salim Jump on Splash

[YouTube]
I didn’t watch Splash’s first episode but I was told Abou Salim, Aka Salah Tizani the Comedy legend from Tripoli, made a 3 meter jump which is quite impressive for an 85 year old! He eventually qualified to the second round.
I thought it was pretty cool move from him but a lot of people are asking whether it’s safe to let the old man jump.

Life is a Beach

On the beach, you swim    Sometimes it is just that. I was with some friends at a beach down south. Apparently not many people are in beach mode right now, because it was pretty empty. We had all the waiters to ourselves, the kids owned the pool and the beach.
The few people that were there all left early, but we stayed on. The kitchen closed, the staff left, but it was lovely on the beach.

Ivy Reviews: The Body Shop Leona Lewis Collection

Last week I got my hands on The Body Shop’s new limited edition collection by gorgeous songstress Leona Lewis. The cruelty-free range recently hit stores in Lebanon and also includes a very playful musk-fragrance.

The story of one Ukrainian prostitute in Lebanon

Picture taken from GlobalPost
I laughed when I read that Abou Bilal the young man who approached her first is studying medicine at the Kyiv Medical University. I wonder what he will specialize in later on? Gynecology maybe?

Updated: General Security granted access to all data

Update: The General Security denied the allegations stated in Annahar’s article and said it didn’t have access to any data (Source: VOL).

How Much Food Can You Buy For $5 in Lebanon?

[YouTube]
I was watching this video and thought I’d dig out the prices of the foods they looked at in Lebanon. I asked few friends and got an estimate:
Banana: 5$ = 5-6 Kilos (Local), or 2-3 Kilos (Imported).
Coffee: 5$ = 0.5 Kilos
Rice: 5$ = 6-7 Kilos
Potato: 5$ = 6-7 Kilos (Local).
Beef: 5$ = 0.5 Kilos
Eggs: 5$ = 12-24 eggs (Price is varying a lot lately)
Beer: 5$ = 5-6 Almaza beers.
You can buy a lot of beer with 5$ in Lebanon, but not as much as China.

How Many Cheese Burgers Can You Eat in 5 Minutes?

This year, during the Beirut Corporate Games, which took place at Jamhour on the 18th and 19th of May a new kind of competition took place. For me to mention it here, it obviously involves food. Classic Burger Joint held a competition, where by who eats the most burgers in 5 minutes, wins a $100 »more...

The Telegraph: EU to Ban Olive Oil Jugs from Restaurants

Interesting article I read today in the The Telegraph:  The European Union is to ban olive oil jugs and dipping bowls from restaurant tables in a move described by one of Britain’s top cooks as authoritarian and damaging to artisanal food makers. In Lebanon, we use olive oil in abundance, its on most dinning tables »more...

Two Lebanese dead in Malta boat accident

Last picture of the group on the small boat taken by the yacht’s skipper – via DailyStar

That’s quite an unfortunate incident. According to TimesOfMalta, the sea was calm when the group left but there was a sudden change in weather later on with winds reaching up to force six.

Nadim Nasr iPads me

Image credit: Nadim Nasr

Finally School Life is Over!

Teens celebrating the end of school Life, reminds me of my own teen life and how much I hated school!

Every single day, I was cursing at school, forcing myself to go, just trying to survive.

Lebanon’s ISF: Tough on Private Parties, Nowhere to be Seen During Clashes


Ahmad Ajam, better known as DJ maDJam, is an extremely good friend of mine. His birthday party has become a time-honored tradition year after year where lotsa awesome people get together for good drinks, great food and even better music on the rooftop of his house in Beirut.

Lebanon’s oldest church found?

I hope they don’t end up destroying it just to replace it with a hotel. I am not counting on Gaby Layoun for that though.
In addition to the possible Roman gate and road revealed in a previous post, the Landmark site dig (which could be replaced by a 5 star Jean Nouvel hotel) seems to be full of treasures.
Among them are what some archeologists believe could be the remnants of a 4th-5th century Byzantine Basilica.
In these wide shots we can see a number of large white-ish mosaic floors, thought to have belonged to the Basilica:

FASHAL – Ladies Only Bus?


Not sure if this is sharia-style sexism, or this is the party bus that transports “performers” from one strip club to the other at night…
Thank you Elie Issa!

The Voice Tour 2013 At The Jounieh Festival 2013

Update: Lana Del Rey will also be performing at the Byblos Festival on July 10th even though it wasn’t officially declared yet. [Source]

4G service not yet working on mobile phones

The 4G network will only support data at the moment to be followed by calls and SMS by end of June
I tried the 4G SIM on both the Nokia Lumia 920 and Samsung Note2 and I couldn’t get a 4G sign even though I put the right configuration. I don’t know if I misunderstood Alfa’s official statement but they did specify a list of devices that work on the Alfa 4G network during the launch:

Khezou2

If you happen to be going towards Beirut and stop on the right side of the Jounieh Highway (Between EDL Zouk Power Plant and Nahr el Kalb), watch out for these randomly open holes as they could seriously screw up your car.

ISF Bus going the wrong way

Just when I started having hope when I saw a policeman wearing a helmet (see below), I spotted an ISF bus not only going the wrong way yesterday but driving recklessly (and stupidly by creating more traffic). Of course other cars followed him instead of staying in line.
I’m wondering if the Interior Minister and concerned parties are allocating enough time to teach these officers the law because they obviously don’t have a clue or just don’t give a damn, and I am not sure which is worse.

Another One’s of Zaitunay Bay Restaurants Closed: Amarres – Who’s Opening Instead?

After Zabad and Salmontini Riva, another one of Zaitunay Bay’s restaurants is closing down, Amarres… Some questions are to be asked here! What is happening to what is supposed to be the meeting point of Lebanon’s food aficionados? Places close while others open in their places… Amarres, is Couqley at the Bay, “The” French address for »more...

Was I Having Breakfast at a Five Star Hotel or Exchanging Money?

I am sure you’re wondering about the title… You’ll get your answer towards the end of this review. I am still in shock…trust me… On my mission to find the best breakfast at a five star hotel in Lebanon, The Hilton Habtoor Grand Hotel was next on the list. After Le Vendome, Le Gray and Le »more...

Let’s Make Some Fresh Drinks?

The sun is out in full blast – time for summer outdoor parties, barbeques and more… this means it’s time for some fun cocktails… For a change we bring you this fun info-graphic that shows you how to make some of the most popular drinks out there… Cheers and lets enjoy…  

Momo’s Unacceptable Behaviour: Arrogance and Unprofessionalism

I am aware that NoGarlicNoOnions is a blog covering all restaurants in Lebanon and wished to share my experience with a bunch of colleagues last week at Momo’s Lounge. I posted my complaint on Momo’s FB page and was responded to the next day by their management asking me to send my contact information to »more...

Carcheology in Lebanon (on Flickr)


Did you know that a page existed about "Classic cars in Lebanon" on Flickr?

Bar Tartine: Majestic Food in a Charming Atmosphere

A couple of weeks ago, visiting La Cour Saint Michel, I discovered Bar Tartine by pure coincidence. A new place which was still closed at that time. I couldn’t but stand in awe in front of this unique concept that has quickly become a point for many in just a little time. Tartine Bakery gave »more...

Sorry I lied… I Don’t Recommend Cappuccino Anymore

A couple of weeks ago, I published two reviews about Cappuccino Grand Cafe Antelias, describing it as one of my favorite spots in the region for its professionalism, high end food, premium service and most importantly their wise choice of not proposing Shisha to their clients like the other places around them.But of course I »more...

Babel Restaurant

I was at G-Star Raw‘s launching party last week and I was having a little chat with their Business Developer Patrick Reytenbagh who asked me which Lebanese restaurant I would recommend for a lunch or dinner for a tourist coming to Lebanon. I had a lot of places in mind but he just wanted that one-place that would leave a great impression and a one of a kind experience and the only restaurant I could think of is Babel in Dbayyeh.

And The Winner of The Fast & Furious 6 competition is …

Comment#9 !
Michelle, You’ve got mail!
Thank you all for participating.

East Meets West: Limited Edition Fusion Knives

East and West. Industrial design and craftsmanship. Two cultures and two design languages usually far apart from one another blend in the common language of design and tell the story of a project that spans from research to the creation of innovative products for markets around the world. This design and cultural blend produced “Fusion”: »more...

Lana Del Rey in Beirut End of May


GOD DAYYUM! My greatest fear used to be Islamist extremists, but after tonite, my new phobia is Lana Del Rey’s Lebanese fans. In a move that, in retrospect, caused way too much trouble, I teased that Lana Del Rey will be in Beirut this May after leaking that she will be one of the headliners in the Byblos Festival.