Sprüngli - Zurich

When I think about Switzerland, one of the first things that immediately comes to my mind is chocolate!!!! And OMG... if I love chocolate!!!.....

One place you can't miss, if you go to Zurich, is the Confiserie Sprüngli, a Swiss luxury confectionery.

Sprüngli, was founded in 1836, by Rudolf Sprüngli, and has played a important role in the history of Swiss Chocolate, their are internationally known for their famous Luxemburgerli, a signature "macarons", and their truffles and other chocolate specialities, all still made by hand with fresh ingredients.

Believe me you just want to eat and try everything in the store!!!!

One of the things you can't miss or at least try is the Luxemburgerli (also Luxembourger), the small macaron made by Sprüngli. The difference between the normal macaron, is that this one is lighter and only 2,5 cm ( inch) diameter. It was invented by the confectioner Camile Studer that brought the recipe to Zurich (after creating them in a Luxembourg confectionery shop), where it was refine for a confectionery contest.

They are definitely different from the famous Ladurée macaron's from Paris, but equally divine!!!!

In Zurich, you will find several Sprüngli confiseries around the city, but the famous one is at Bahnhofstrasse  number  21.

Art of Travel: presented by Orientalist Museum - Doha

Near MIA, in the ALRIWAQ DOHA Exhibition Space, you can find the Exhibition "Art of Travel", and it will take you into a very interesting journey of the story of a polish mayor called Bartholomäus Schachman, who travelled throughout the Ottoman Empire during the 16th century. 

The Ottoman Empire was quite popular as a travel destination among nobles, diplomats, merchants or travelers. The journey, in this exhibition will take you through Middle East, Europe and North of Africa, highlighting the people, places as customs that B. Schachman encountered.

Bartholomäus Schachman journey through the Ottoman Empire lasted two years (1588-89), he was a traveller, explorer, art patron and collector, benefactor and connoisseur ,and his album with the tale of his adventures, became one of the greatest travelogues of the 16th century. 

The collection contains a big number of full-page documentation of watercolor drawings with what he saw during his travels like the costumes, people, scenes of everyday life, ceremonies and much more of the Ottoman Empire.

It is definitely worth a visit, until 11 February.....

ALRIWAQ DOHA Exhibition Space

15 November – 11 February, 2013

Sunday - Monday: 10:30 am - 17:30 pm
Tuesday:             Closed
Wednesday:        10:30 am - 17:30 pm
Thursday:           12:00 pm - 20:00 pm
Friday:                14:00 pm - 20:00 pm
Saturday:            12:00 pm - 20:00 pm

Brasserie 19 - Houston

This time in Houston, Texas,  I went to the Brasserie 19, a restaurant recommended by a local....and its was not a disappointment at all! This french restaurant owned by Charles Clark and Grant Cooper, located in the trendy River Oaks has great environment, service and food.

With a smart and trendy décor, the white walls inside with brick- like texture together with the soft dimmed lights gives the place it a very warm and cosy environment.
And the cool bar, along the restaurant backed with smoked mirrors, gives a classy yet retro look.

The menu is quite simple yet solid with many old french classic dishes with a modern twist, and the wine choice is absolutely fantastic. The wine and cocktail list is interactive on iPads, witch I found extremely convenient and easy to choose due the huge available selection.

The food was really good and i just loved the appetizers...the Grilled Octopus, the Crispy Chicken Livers, the  Cheese Plate and the Salmon Gravlax were simply divine, specially the first two!!!

Well if you are in Houston and looking for a trendy restaurant to go, with a great environment, food, wine and service....I would recommend a visit to Brasserie 19. Definitely a place that I will return to try some other dishes.

Merry Christmas

This Doha of Mine #1

Blue Favorites #2 Rockin’ Body™ Luminous Perfecting Body Cream

There is one product that I found a year ago and really love!!!! Its Victoria Secret's Rockin Body Cream, and its brilliant! Now I Know the secret of the VS Super Models to look even more sexy and amazing before their fashion shows...its this cream!

Although it moisturizes, due to the Shea butter and vitamin E, I only use it in special occasions, when I want my legs and body to have that extra touch of shine, like a diamond dust!!!

Its smooth and creamy and illuminates, hydrates and perfects the skin for a healthy, vibrant glow, but not glittery, It also has a subtle and fine scent witch I like a lot. I am a big fan of this one....and if you are with a nice tan your skin will really glow...you will feel amazing!!!

MIA Park - Cafe

Located outside the MIA (Museum of Islamic Art) in Doha, Qatar, you can find a contemporary outdoor cafe, with most probably one of the best views to the West Bay and witch was also designed by PEI Partnership Architects of New York.

The MIA Park Cafe, is the place to go now in Doha, its not summer anymore, the weather is great, and is perfect to enjoy the day and sunset while viewing West Bay being illuminated when the sun starts to go down.

The Cafe is very pleasant with beautiful contemporary furniture, where you can enjoy a nice selection of salads, sandwiches, pastries and hot and cold drinks brought from Alain Ducasse's café inside MIA.

In one of the sides of the garden you can also find the first sculpture of Richard Serra in the Middle East. 

It is definitely a nice and cultural place to go specially this time of the year!!!!

Qatar National Day - 18 December

This year I will not be in Doha for Qatar's National Day celebrations, hopefully I will get some pictures to show the celebrations all around the city... 

Qatar Nacional Day (QND) is celebrated on the 18th December and commemorates the day in 1878 when Sheikh Jassim Mohammad Bin Thani succeeded his father as leader of the tribes of Qatar. 

Sheikh Jassim fight for the independence from the Ottomans, British and other Arabian Peninsula Tribes, therefore he is considered as the founder of Qatar, raising the country from a feudal, tribal state to one of unity and solidarity. Remembered as a pioneer and leader in the development of Qatar leading the nation to what it is today.

It is not exactly and independence day, its more a figurative date for the establishment of a Qatari people. Qatar only gain its independence from the British on the 3rd Sept. 1971, this day was a national holiday until 2007, when the Emiri Diwan changed the date to the Dec. 18.

And what's the meaning of the Qatari flag? The maroon color (a difficult pantone 222c) represents the bloodshed of the Emirati wars of the 19th century and the white symbolizes the united peace. The nine edges represents Qatar as the 9th member of the reconciled Emirates after the Qatar-British Treaty of 1916.

This day is a given day off as a public holiday, and lots of events take place in the city. A national parade of military and governmental personnel will go down the corniche early morning, also the Air Force will make a show with colored jet trails, the Cost Guard will perform a show with traditional dhows and speed boats.

This year from the Palm Tree Island that you can see in the Corniche, will give a special show of "powder"fireworks (being shot from the island) every hour between 11am and 4pm.

And as usual at night, around 8pm the fireworks will take place in the corniche with an accompanying Qatari heritage musical score.

As an ex-pat living in Doha, I was also curious about Qatar's National Anthem, and I found it here in Mr. Q, in I Iove Qatar website, hopefully the translation is correct. 

Swearing by God who erected the sky
Swearing by God who spread the light
Qatar will always be free Sublimed by the souls of the sinceres
Procede on the manners of the ascendants

And advance on Prophet’s guidance In my heart,

Qatar is an epic of glory and dignity
Qatar is land of the early men
Who protect us at time of distress,
Doves they can be at times of peace,
Warriors they are at times of sacrifice

More informations about Qatar National day, you can find it here.

Blue Favorites #1 Moroccanoil

I love a well treated hair, and I'm  crazy about mine! I have a long wavy hair that easily gets frizzy, dry and with split ends....and i hate it. It takes huge effort, lots of products and care to keep it healthy and well treated!!

So, I really need to talk about the Moroccanoil products, I am amazed by the quality and the results I have been seeing in my hair, and the difference is huge since I'm using them...the famous argan oil, plus the vitamins are the secret weapon of this brand! And I'm addicted to them!!!

I first tried the Intense Curl Cream, curly/ wavy hair means dry and frizzy....and since I'm using it, just a small amount in the palms throughout the hair still damp, the curls get not only more define but no more dryness, so it really moisturizes without a sticky residue and protects the hair from getting easily damaged. Its a UUAAUU felling!

Then i bought Moroccanoil treatment oil, that i use only in the ends of my hair still damp or even dry. Its an oil but doesn't leave the hair greassy or oily and really repairs and protects the hair from heat or environmental damage.

The last one i tried so far was the Restorative Hair Mask...one word...AMAZING!!! I only use it once a week, its not healthy to give to much protein to your hair. It says to leave it for 5 to 7 minutes, but sometimes i leave it for 30 minutes and you really feel the difference. The hair becomes stronger, smother and more beautiful.

I guess sooner or later i will try the rest of the products, by seeing the results with these ones i believe i will not be disappointed!!

Museum of Islamic Art

In Doha, it’s impossible not to notice the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) building…. This building stands out in the city’s Corniche, not only by its beauty but also by its amazing location…. in the water!!!

And when in Doha, it’s a mandatory visit!!!

The Museum of Islamic Arts was designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect the Chinese American Leoh Min Pei (that also created the Louvre Pyramid in Paris) and houses an impressive collection of international masterpieces stored along the 3 of the 5 stores atrium.

When you visit the museum the first thing you notice is this imposing white building with so many different geometric patterns, from cubic to triangular changing the way you see this structure, with a mix of modern and traditional Arabic architecture.

Because this building was built in the middle of the sea in an artificial island, Pei selected a special stone (Shamisen stone) able to resist not only the harsh sun but also the heat and salt of the seawater.

Inside you can also find a cafe with white and black decoration around a big window that gives an impressive view of the harbor and Doha’s city center view, a place where you can relax and enjoy the city view.

In the museum you will find artifacts from collections built up and given by the Qatari royal family (Al-Thani). It contains collections from science arts, calligraphy, also patterns and figures in Islamic Design, including many different Koran’s from huge sizes to miniatures, domestic items like carpets, jewelry, weapons and so on. Things from the 7^th to the 18^th century, covering all Islamic worlds, including Spain and central asia.

Also in the first floor you can find temporary exhibitions, and right now you can see one talking about the Arabick Roots.

Definitely a place to visit!!!

Opening Hours:

Sunday 10:30 – 17:30

Monday 10:30 – 17:30

Tuesday CLOSED

Wednesday 10:30 – 17:30

Thursday 12:00 – 20:00

Friday 14:00 – 20:00

Saturday 12:00 – 20:00