Travel Gourmande

Weekend Brunch at the Coffeeshop Company

4:44 PM

Friday morning tradition in our household is synonymous to movies and a lazy English breakfast in bed. The idea roots from recuperating from the busyness of the week. Today, we did it differently. A walk on the beach under an increasing April heat along The Walk @ JBR, also known as Jumeirah Beach Residence was a treat. There were 45 minutes to an hour queue outside restaurants offering Friday brunches while some spots were closed with traces of late-night service on a Thursday night. We were initially planning to fill our tummies at Ihop but decided to try the closest coffee shop that we spotted.

The Coffeeshop Company with a tagline "A Home in Vienna" proved to be a cozy spot right at the corner across Reel Cinema. Child friendly with al fresco seating, there were mostly two-seater tables that could be put together when arriving in a group. The servers were polite and efficient. It has a warm interior decor that makes you want to snuggle in and spend hours chatting with friends there.

Coffeeshop Company Interior

Top 12 Road Trip Playlist

3:07 PM

Spring and sunny days are upon us, as I see beautiful photos on blogs and Facebook updates. For us desert people, it's sunny all year round. We, however, miss the natural greens. Wherever we are, whatever the landscape is, it's great to drive with friends or with loved ones. Cruising together and bask in the beauty of nature.

If I were to create a Road trip playlist, this would be it. Plug your mp3s, pump up the volume and hit the road!

1. Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts

2. Safe and Sound by Capital Cities

3. Best Day of My Life by American Authors

4. Roam by B-52

5. Free Fallin by John Mayer

6. Brave by Sara Bareilles

7. Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf

8. Love You Always Forever by Donna Lewis

9. Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

10. Radioactive by Imagine Dragons

11. All of Me by John Legend

12. On Top of the World by Imagine Dragons

What's your road trip playlist?

C'est tout.

Have a safe drive and a lovely weekend!
Love & light,
Arni

Guess What: This photo was taken during a road trip in the Mahogany tree lined forests of Bohol, Philippines.

On a personal note: I'll travel vicariously through you all as I am in my 37 weeks and unable to move around anymore. Tomorrow's my last day in the office and I'll probably be at home waiting it out during my maternity leave.

Baby Shower

9:02 PM

This week had been an avalanche of deadlines. One after the other, as though foreseen, I'm pleased that the baby shower took place a few weeks ago when I was more up and able. Dear friends, Shela and Joy whose baby showers were featured here, threw me a heartwarming party. Here are the photos..

One Friday afternoon at 3PM, after all the decorations are set, I was excited and happy to witness the combined efforts of all of our friends and my creative uncle pulled together. With Shela's event planning creativity and expertise, Joy's handiwork, Lito's photography skills, Wrap and May's culinary prowess, we were able to pull off a DIY party.

E-vite created by Shela / Party Favors : Custom Teddy Bear Cookie and TWG Tea

To Dubaians, there are limited services for baby shower gift registry in the UAE. Good news, major branches of Mothercare offer them and we chose the huge store inside Debenhams at Mall of the Emirates.

Bubblies and Pink Lemonade / Fruit platter fondue / Prizes for the games

{Photos by Lito Flestado}

Dol-de-Bretagne

1:49 AM

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

French brittany is located on the north-west of France. It is famous for its gray weather, rich history, distinct architecture with lots of medieval forts.

Not to mention, their cuisine! Their very own special drink- the Cider, a clear or cloudy beverage with fine foamy head in yellowish mahogany color made from fresh cider apples. Brittany also known as Breton is the second largest Cider producing region in France. Cider or Cidre is usually served in tea cups along with their famous Galette , very thin wide unsweetened pancakes made from buckwheat flour wrapped around ham, eggs and cheese. Yum!

This is where I had a taste of the famous Galette Complete with Cidre.
Moules-frites are very cheap here too.

Due to its close proximity to the sea, fresh sea food and fish are very popular and cheaper here. Most especially during the summer season where you have delectable oysters and overflowing bowls of mussels, the Moules-frites. Mussels cooked in butter, garlic, shallots and dry white wine served with french fries. This and a glass of Chardonnay ? Ah super!

Travel Recap: Mont Saint-Michel

12:00 PM

We drove for hours in the summer of 2010, from the region of Pays de la Loire for a week long road trip around Northern France and its neighboring countries up north. As we explored the Celtic region of French Brittany, it'll be a sin to pass up an opportunity to visit Mont Saint-Michel .

A popular medieval abbey and monastery. 4 hours away from Paris. It is nestled on a fortified island bordering Brittany and Normandy. A UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the first monuments to obtain one.