Like Chocolate? Patchi? Try Ghraoui!

did you know that ‘patchi’ is originally from lebanon?

this expensive chocolate ‘patchi’ is now very popular among malaysians, especially those planning a wedding – it’s the perfect ‘sweet’ addition to a hantaran kawen. however, many have not heard of its equally exclusive ‘cousin’, ghraoui – another mid-east born chocolate, from syria!

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ferrero rocher is a MUST-get souvenir from mr. khairul whenever he travels abroad. calling him at the airport, i will always remind him, “don’t forget my ferrero rocher!” hihi.

however, this time around, he came back from syria with a different brand of chocolate - ‘ghraoui’. pronounced as ‘grawi’, it’s introduced in syria as far back as the 1930’s! i was very intrigued, especially when told that it’s as exclusive as patchi, if not more so!

 

 

wrapped in a gold-colored box, it’s accompanied by a little orange pamphlet that detailed each 120 varieties of chocolates they make for ghraoui.

i’m a VERY picky eater, so this list really helped me pick and choose the ones that i like, and would actually enjoy eating!

• i absolutely do not like dark chocolate
• preferably not white chocolate
• no choc with too much nuts – peanuts, pistachio, almond, hazelnut – ANY nuts

 

 

there’s dark chocolate with crushed pistachio, and many more – but strictly milk chocolate for me, with just a little bit of nuts!

 

 

the first time i was introduced to patchi brand? it was given away as complimentary door gifts at an event in dubai two years back. personally, i don’t see (or rather taste) any difference. patchi or ghraoui, they’re both deliciously creamy with rich chocolate taste.

i am taking the same stand as when i wrote about the laduree’s macarons – just because something is expensive, doesn’t mean that it’s better tasting than any other chocolate in the world!

my chocolate soul still faithfully yearns for ferrero rocher!

 

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most of the work to make the chocolates were done manually by the staff. i read that there’s even a 3rd generation of staff working there, following the footsteps of his father and his grandfather who had served for mr. ghraoui senior before.

 

 

source : here

 

there’s a ghraoui outlet in dubai mall. check it out if you’re interested! there are a few patchi outlet in malaysia, but i don’t know about ghraoui…

 

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man, i love chocolate.

my favorite? ferrero rocher of course would be on top of the list. followed closely by kinder bueno, and then kit kat. see the pattern in the type of chocolate that i like? i’ve always preferred chocolate with a little bit of crunch in them – wafer, or biscuits, rice crispy or crushed nuts.

mr. khairul loves white chocolate, and his favorite would be the white chocolate toblerone.

what’s your favorite?

 

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oh, and have you seen the movie ‘chocolat’ starring the grungy johnny depp? better watch that if you’re a chocoholic! and even if you’re so-so, you’d see chocolate in a whole new light!

want to read instead? try roald dahl’s ‘charlie and the chocolate factory!’ delightful tale of an innocent boy and the eccentric owner of a chocolate factory!

 

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“..when he sees one of his chocolates melt rapidly in your hand, he is pleased in spite of the mess. “a low melting point is a sign of true quality chocolate,” he smiles. “i don’t substitute vegetable oils to make the chocolates last longer. that’s what they do in America, and now, sadly, some companies in europe are beginning to find that acceptable as well. i don’t. i won’t.”

~ bassam ghraoui, son of founder of ghraoui.

Who Likes to Read in The Dark?

lights out by 9.30pm! that’s the rule on school days when i was younger. but i love to read, so i’d take a torchlight and a good book, and read under my blanket. this was especially exciting when it’s a horror story! sometimes i’d fall asleep while reading, and the torchlight was on till morning!

busted!

alhamdulillah i still don’t need glasses to read – yet! but it was one of the most adventurous time i had when reading books. i just enjoy reading myself to sleep! it was just me and the world in the book, in the dark, with just the little torchlight.

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with my 3 boys, the lights must be switched off way before bedtime, to sort off sedate them! they’d still be jumping on their bapak, oh yes – but the atmosphere is already set for sleepy time. and no, we don’t have personal side table lamps like a hotel room!

so my reading adventure had to wait!

 

 

my first ever terry pratchett, my favorite author after stephen king. if you had never read him, this is one of the good places to start!

 

until one day…

…my sis-in-law teh gave me this awesome present! a ‘tiny book light’! it’s the coolest invention ever! haha. thanks teh! i love it very much!

• it’s so sleek, light and white!
• it’s rubber-coated
• it’s got a little hook to be clipped between the pages for it to stand!
• it can be rotated for the light to fill your pages, or the part you’re reading! 

now i can read in the dark! (okay, from all the exclamation marks, you know how excited i am over this!)

 

 

*click* tada ~ seronoknya!

 

 

this ‘tiny book light’ had actually won an award for the ‘gift of the year 2008’! see how it can rotate. eh, this is not a paid advertorial ye. i’m just really really excited!

if you want one, teh got it at borders, mall of emirates but i’m sure it’s available at any borders. tengah sale, so you better hurry up!

 

it’s available in 5 colors! teh punya kaler pink. mine is white.

 

i love to read in the lrt. i love to read while eating maggi. i love to read with ice-cream. i love to read on the plane. and now-

now i can also indulge in my favorite childhood pastime; late-night reading, snuggling between the comforter, without illuminating the rest of the room and disturbing my sleeping little terrorists!

What’s Your Favorite Perfume?

some are crazy about perfumes – knowing the latest brand names, the most popular scent, and even collect the bottles. these people probably have 5 or so perfumes that they use interchangeably, daily.

some probably has two – one for day use, and another heavier scent for night use. some prefer a day-to-day wear, and buy a new one only when the previous bottle is empty. that’s me. haha.

these are my favorites through the years – estee lauder’s ‘pleasures’, clinique’s ‘happy heart’, and salvatore ferragamo. ugh, i’m not at all good with describing their scent specifically – but i totally LOVE the scents. suka sangat sangat!

sweet and sexy at the same time, elegant yet light and fun. tak pening!

my mr. khairul – i’m always in love with his paco rabanne’s ‘ultraviolet’ scent because it reminds me of the first time we met! other than that, whatever he uses is fine by me! grrr.

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what started me writing about perfumes was getting these locally-made perfumes from mr. khairul. yeap, made in the united arab emirates!

it really emits the traditional arabic fragrance – and bak kata mr. khairul, you spray this perfume while wearing abaya, and it’s perfect! hihi.

ajmal perfumes is a brand that means "most beautiful" in arabic. it’s a brand with a rich heritage and over 56 years of experience and know-how in the intricate art of perfumery. it was founded by ajmal ali in the early 1950's.

i’m normally not into this classic arabic scent – it’s too musky for me, bau kuat sangat. however, the scent of ‘sacrifice’ is really nice. softer, and light.

to describe the scent better, i wish i have the ability to identify what exactly the scent is like, and compare it to an existing brand – whether it smells more like channel, or jean paul, or christian dior.

but i’m really a buta-perfume! what smells nice, smells nice! asalkan tak bau pening, regardless the brand, or whether it’s an old collection!

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incidentally, mr. khairul just came back from cairo, egypt and bought me another ‘arabic scent’! however, in spite of its less appealing appearance and cheaper-looking box, this small bottle of perfume has a much more interesting story behind it.

mr. khairul went to the a dark-lookin store just beside the pyramids, looking for souvenirs, when a man approached him, and asked him to buy this ‘special’ perfume. he said its scent is inspired by cleopatra’s scent – a seductive scent that she used, to lure some of the most powerful men in the world!

“you ask your wife to wear the perfume…” and the rest is history…the perfume dude also said many other things – involving something about crazy horses – don’t ask!

anyone wants to try a dab of this perfume? *wink wink*

Bohemia Crystal From Him!

mr. khairul can't keep a surprise. especially from his wife.

since in libya he was excited to tell me about his anniversary present to me, and yet wanting it to be a surprise. (that's why he sucks at keeping a surprise. nak surprise orang tapi tak sabar pulak nak bagitau hihi!) when he told me it's 'something he wouldn't buy in a million years', my guesses range from kinky lingerie to persian carpets to pearls on a ring!

and then i think it's probably one of those fancy english tea-cups with little roses on them.

he said i was getting warmer.


when he came back, i saw this. bohemia crystal. happy anniversary. open it!


dengan rakusnya membukak packaging. hihi.


well hello!

it's a set of heavy, 'carved-on' crystal glasses, from bohemia, czech. just like how batik is now synonymous to indonesia, and the best jade from hong kong; bohemia crystal is the pride of the czech republic.

bohemia was a part of the former czechoslovakia, now known as the czech republic, and was famous for its beautiful and colorful glass, with its excellent cut and engraving.

bohemia crystal is a decorative glass made in bohemia since the 13th century. oldest archaeology excavations of glass-making sites date to around 1250 and are located in the lusatian mountains of northern bohemia...the history of bohemian glass started with the abundant natural resources found in the countryside.

~ wikipedia

oh, but this was really a surprise - another box of bohemia crystal!

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...and another!


honey, i'm not like most women who collects victorian porcelain tea-cups or fancy crystal or shining silverwares - but this is a really special treat for an ordinary girl like me, who collects tisu papers and still keeps her 1999 x-files comic book in a plastic casing!

thank you for making me feel super-special! a really wonderful anniversary surprise!

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did we have a fancy anniversary meal?

since i haven't had mandi rice since i started pantang - which is waaaaaay too long for a mandi-freak like me - i suggested simply going for a mandi lunch at - where else - our favorite mandi restaurant, al-tawasol.

i feel at ease here because since we're eating in an arabian 'tent', it's very easy for us to put kazim down on the sofa cushions, and for me to breastfeed him anytime. it's also comfy for khaleef and kahfi to roll around and provide just the perfect privacy for us as a family with young kids.

then mr. khairul thought about a fancy anniversary dinner - okay.

however, by 8pm all the THREE kay boys were out. K.O. zzz. kapoot. since it's easier to just let the boys sleep instead of going out for dinner, i cooked one of mr. khairul's favorite - mee goreng mamak, syigim style!


...and that was our anniversary celebration.

all our three babies khaleef, kahfi and kazim dozed off - sprawling on the comforter spread in front of the tv. mr. khairul in nothing but his bermudas. me in my pajamas. sitting opposite each other, enjoying a home-cooked meal. mee goreng mamak, with iced ribena. at home.

we both laughed at the simplicity of it all, and agreed it was just as good.

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5 years, huh? happy anniversary, honey.

New Article, New Blog, New Clothes

i'm not that great of a cook, so when i google recipes, i love the ones with big huge clear pictures of the dishes, with simple ingredients, and tips for it not to turn bad.

i know what i want to see in a blog recipe, so i compiled a list, and before i knew it, a blog post was created. i sent it to mombloggersplanet for my second entry of the month as an MBP contributor.

click on the picture to find out what i want to read in a recipe blog!

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i always believe that it's such a waste living in a whole other country, and not document your adventure there. be it pictorial or textual, you must try and make an effort to capture your day-to-day life overseas, for it is a priceless priviledge that not all can experience!


mr. khairul's sister teh is currently studying dentistry in cairo, and has just started to blog. she claimed to 'hate' writing, but from the looks of it, she has a certain flair and i hope she continues to blog.

she has already put up very interesting pictures of cairo scenes in her facebook, and i suggested for her to just transfer those pictures and write more detailed description of each. she has a good eye on taking one-of-a-kind shots so it's only a matter of expressing those shots into good writing!

you know how young girls like her, on a new place - they'd probably end up taking a lot of shots with their cute little faces against a nice background. but teh took more than that - pictures of the souk scenes of cairo, camels being slaughtered right in the middle of the street, a man selling nan bread on bicycle and many more unique shots that can illustrate the raw life in cairo.

have fun blogging teh, and for my readers, click on picture to visit the 'green monkey'!

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khaleef got a surprise very-belated birthday present yesterday, and kahfi got one too! their aunty tina had a walk to the dubai marina mall which is just walking distance from our place, and got them some new clothes from mothercare (my favorite brand for my kiddos!).


tina got khaleef a pair of blue corduroy pants, and he's really in need of one! the gap jeans that he's been wearing dah singkat! this one that tina bought is slightly gedoboh for khaleef but i like it - boleh pakai lama, and boleh pass-pass kat adik!

kahfi got a chequered sweater that made him look like a harvard graduate! super-cute! thanks to aunty tina for their brand new clothes!


and oh, she also got one mighty-adorable black and white 'cat-suit' for khaleef's and kahfi's baby bro/sis. yeap. what? you didn't know? really? about what?

what?

Kahfi, Khaleef, Thomas & Friends

yes, kahfi is one of the many, many million kids around the world who is charmed by the honest, down-to-earth and determined little train name thomas. and his friends.

for his first birthday, my wombat sisters gave him a thomas train set!


at first we let him take charge in opening his present. we tore up a little piece on the side, and let him try and tear the rest. kobek sana, kobek sini. finally he gave up and sat on the box!


well, well - who came to the rescue if not big bro khaleef! poor dude had been eye-ing the present ever since we came back from the mall! so khaleef ended up tearing the wrapping paper, while kahfi looked on, while occasionally made attempts to eat some pieces. eww, kahfi!

kahfi and his first birthday present - 'thomas & friends' train set!

...and then he saw him - thomas! he wasn't particularly excited - instead, he was more surprised, intrigued and curious while looking at the box. he kept pointing, making curious looks at the pictures to show he recognized the little train and his friends!


he was more intrigued and was rooted to the carpet, frozed up in amazement while watching me open the box to reveal thomas, james and percy! the first thing he did was put thomas in his mouth! aiyo!

he kept looking, and staring and admiring, and wondering. and he bite thomas again. hihi.

notice the final picture - kahfi already sitting in the middle of the train track!

finally, big bro khaleef took over to assemble the train tracks. his mak su and aunty da helped along the way - a little of this, a little of that. when the tracks are ready, even khaleef was super-excited to start playing. he obviously had a great time showing kahfi how to move the train on the tracks. at one point, even kahfi enjoyed the 'show' put up by big bro khaleef, sitting ever so quietly and attentively.

soon, the birthday boy grew tired of just watching the train moves. he was eye-ing thomas - like a giant waiting to grab a train to be devoured for his supper! at the end, the 'giant' ended up sitting in the middle of the train track - munching trains for his evening snack. nyum. nyum.

burp!

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thanks to syida (aunty da) and azi (mak su) for this cute birthday present! something that both the brothers can enjoy! miss you both so much!