Tag Archives | food

Adana – Shopping In Turkey Now Made Easier

By Rami on December 24, 2018 in Travel

Wings of Lebanon airline has always been known for operating seasonal flights to neighboring countries and European destinations, and one of destinations they have been heavily promoting lately is Adana is Turkey. I was invited to take part in one of their media tours in the city last week and I believe the trip is totally worth it for one reason: SHOPPING.

Although Adana is a nice city with a good feel, it actually has little to offer as a touristic place since it doesn’t have much attractions like Istanbul does for example. However, its proximity to Beirut and the cheaper prices you find there for clothing products simply qualifies it as a shopping heaven.

Adana Vs. Istanbul

I’m comparing the two cities because most people who visited Turkey landed in Istanbul and are used to the shopping experience there.

First of all the fight to Adana takes around 45 minutes, and it has a quite similar climate to Beirut as opposed to the freezing temperatures you experience during this time of year in Istanbul. Moreover the airport is only ~10Km away from the city center so you can basically start your journey there almost the minute you touch down. On the other hand, the airports in Istanbul are 1 hour away from the center.

With regards to product prices, all those who visited Istanbul know about the good deals they there get when shopping, but Adana is even cheaper simply because it isn’t much touristic. I felt like clothing items are cheaper by at least 25% than Istanbul, and the price difference from Beirut absolutely makes up for what you pay for the ticket price and even much more.

The main two malls for shopping in Adana are Optimum and M1, aside from the street shops that you can of course find everywhere.

Pharmaceuticals

In case you don’t know it yet, pharmaceuticals cost 50% less than what you pay here in Lebanon, and some people I know have totally given up on buying their chronic medications from the local pharmacies and are instead relying on people going to Turkey to get them their supplies.

This is of course one more reason that makes your trip very cost effective.

Food

Just like almost everywhere else in Turkey, Kebab is quite popular in Adana and the city is famous for its Adana Kebab which is a wider version of the regular Kebab with unique flavors. Bottom line, meat lovers will definitely not going to be disappointed.

Accommodation

Hotels are also quite cheap compared to other cities, and you can get a booking at a five star hotel with excellent facilities for no more $80-90 / night.

Do more than shopping!

Even though I mentioned that Adana has little to offer in terms of touristic attractions. You can still definitely do more than shopping there by taking a train to a nearby coastal city called Mersin.The trips costs $2-3 and takes 1 hour.

So you can basically book 3 nights for example, spend 1 in Adana to do all your shopping, and then head to Mersin to chill by its waterfront and enjoy the nightlife there.

Budget

Nakhal is currently offering 3 night packages for New Year starting $285 and of course less after that period. The flight schedule on specific days makes it also possible to simply go in the morning do all the shopping and then come back in the afternoon during the same day.

For more information about the packages and flights schedule you can check www.nakhal.com or call their experts on 01 389 389.

Vegan Lebanon – The Ultimate Directory For Vegans in Lebanon

By Rami on December 10, 2018 in Food

Being vegan is hard enough, but I think it becomes harder in a country like Lebanon where meat is an essential part on our table everyday, and it gets boring to get stuck with potatoes and salads everytime you decide to eat out.

So for those of you who avoid any animal-derived food, Vegan Lebanon is a directory for Lebanese restaurants and shops that cater to your needs, with the options to search for food and products both by category and location.

The website has so many listings and I personally never thought we have that much vegan offerings here in the country. So if you follow a vegetarian diet, do check out the directory on www.veganlebanon.com because I’m sure it will definitely bring something new to your table.

McDonald’s Is Releasing MacCoins for The Big Mac 50th Anniversary

By Rami on August 3, 2018 in Food, Uncategorized

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Big Mac, McDonald’s is releasing their own currency called “Mac Coins” in more than 50 countries around the world including Lebanon.

As of August 2nd, people around the world started getting a MacCoin with every purchase of a Big Mac burger, and that coin can then be used to get another Big Mac for free at any participating McDonald’s outlet in the world until the end of 2018. I’ve read online that more than 6 million MacCoins will be given away and you can start getting them in Lebanon as of August 9th.

According to USA Today, the commemorative coins will come in 5 different designs, each one representing one of the decades since the Big Mac has been sold.

The ‘70s: Showcasing the decade’s flower power

The ‘80s: Alluding to pop art

The ‘90s: Defined by bold, abstract shapes

The early ‘00s: Specifically focusing on the technology that was at the forefront of the turn of the century

The ‘10s: MacCoin calling attention to the evolution of communication

I usually like to try McDonald’s when I’m abroad to see if they serve any special edition burgers at the country I’m visiting, but the Big Mac remains one of my favorite items on their menu along with the Big Tasty, and I’ll personally make sure to collect all the 5 coins as soon as they’re available in Lebanon not to exchange them for free meals but to keep them as a souvenirs for the future!

Geography Now – Lebanon’s Episode is Out!

By Rami on March 1, 2018 in Culture

Geography Now is a pretty well known channel on Youtube by vlogger Paul Barbato and it discusses the world’s geography, politics, and culture one country at a time. Paul simply goes through the world countries in alphabetical order and his channel is quite popular because he delivers good information in a fun way within reasonable time (usually 10-15 minutes).

Yesterday was finally the turn for Lebanon to be the subject of his latest episode and I think he did a nice job portraying our country. He even mentioned some stuff that I’ve never heard about before such as the Striped Hyena being our national animal. (Who knew?!)

You can watch the episode below.

Giveaway Day 9 – Two $50 Vouchers from Chili’s

By Rami on February 27, 2018 in Giveaways

Today’s giveaway is provided by Chili’s Achrafieh. This place is dear to my heart for two reasons, first because my friends and I had awesome gatherings during our teenage years there, and second because I also go there during major sports events to root for my favorite teams.

Like a typical American diner, Chili’s is known for serving dishes with huge portions and that’s why you can best enjoy the place if you go in group and share several platters.

My personal favorite item on their menu has to be the sizzling fajita which I consider as one of the best in town. Every time I crave its juiciness and unique seasoning I usually go there and share it with my wife along with a salad, and the combination never disappoints… Add to that a Cherry Coke and the whole thing is guaranteed to make your day!

Anyway, on to the giveaway! The people at Chili’s are offering 2 vouchers worth $50 each, and as usual all you have to do is go to +961’s page on Facebook and interact with this giveaway’s. Two lucky winners will be chosen tomorrow morning and I will contact them for more details on how to claim their vouchers.

Giveaway Day 8 – Tomatomatic Pizza Vouchers

By Rami on February 26, 2018 in Giveaways

We’re at giveaway #8, and Tomatomatic is will be presenting two vouchers for two lucky winners (each voucher is valid for 2 pizzas). As you all know, Tomatomatic serves American style pizza and I personally have always been a fan of their mushroom and swiss specialty! The dough is thick and fluffy with a generous toppings, and their portions are usually fair at good prices.

To qualify for the draw, go to +961’s page on Facebook, look for the giveaway post and tag a friend you think would enjoy this giveaway with you. Two winners will be randomly chosen and announced tomorrow morning, and I will message them for instructions on how to claim the vouchers.

Giveaway Day 1: Dinner For 2 At Pier 78 Kempinski Summerland

By Rami on February 18, 2018 in Giveaways

For the first day of the giveaway series, Kempinski Summerland Hotel & Resort was kind enough to provide a voucher for 2 persons for a dinner at their Mediterranean restaurant Pier 78 ($150 value).

I personally have experienced Kempinski Summmerland’s service on several occasions and they impressed everytime. Aside from the programs they present on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays evenings at Pier 78, I specifically love the family brunch they also offer on Sundays. The open buffet has a lot of variety and is nothing less than what you would expect from a 5-star venue, but what really makes them stand out from other hotels offering similar formulas is that they also provide free kids entertainment so that parents can enjoy their meal at ease.

So, to qualify for the draw, go to +961’s page on Facebook, like the giveaway post and tag your friends in a comment. A winner will be randomly chosen and announced tomorrow morning, and I will message him/her for instructions on how to claim the voucher.

Review – Munchease Khaldeh

By Rami on May 18, 2017 in Food, Restaurants, Reviews

On the highway from Beirut to Saida there probably not a single restaurant or sandwich joint worth seeking for good food except for this burger place called Munchease.

Until last summer I never thoigh of checking it out even though a couple of friends kept talking about how good it is, but it wasn’t until they once dragged there me that I knew what I was missing!

I know there are several good burger places in Beirut but Munchease is probably the most underrated one among them. Passing on the highway you can’t miss it after COOP as it stands out with the wooden design and cool ambiance.

The menu is straight forward and is divided into 4 sections, starters, subs, burgers, and hot dogs. By now I can claim I tried almost everything they have and was never left disappointed except for when it gets too crowded inside (especially on weekends) even though the friendly waiters try their best to cope with everybody.

The portions are in general quite generous, and you can sometimes get enough with appetizers alone whenever you do not intend to go on an eating spree! My personal favorites are the mozzarella sticks, onion rings and chicken wings, and although they’re all fried items but they always served crispy and taste “clean” (or non-oily). I highly recommend you try the chicken wings by the way because they’re as good if not better than those served at popular american diners in town.

On to the burgers. They’re good, trust me, and I won’t go on to describe the bun and the patty because they’re just good! However, one thing you have to know about the people at Munchease is that they like their items to be overloaded with sauces and cheese. So the burgers they serve will always be messy (good luck avoiding to drip) and quite heavy with all the cheese inside. I personally always feel full with their decadent combo meals and never managed to finish the fries at the end.

For starters, I recommend you go with my all time favorite “Munchease Special” since it has the least amount of cheese, and make sure to try their different dips since they all taste good especially the honey mustard.

Price wise, value for money is quite fair compared to other places, a fulfilling meal for two with drinks will set you back around $20-25 which is far less that what you’d pay at other popular diners or burger joints.

Long story short, Munchease is worth the 10 minutes drive from Beirut to change from the usual places you’re used to, and with the summer season ahead, it’s also one of the ideal places to hit on your way back from the southern beach resorts.

Lebanese Hairdresser Uses Nutella to Color Women’s Hair

By Rami on April 4, 2017 in Creative, Food

I just stumbled upon this Instagram account by a Lebanese hairdresser named Abedallah Itani who uses Nutella, conensed milk, and cotton candy among other products to color women’s hair!

The idea sounds crazy indeed but judging from the videos he posts it seems that it somehow works! I’m not sure though how long does the resultant color last or how bad does the hair smells afterwards… I mean I enjoy the smell of Nutella but I doubt anybody would want to have it on them all day long!

Coloring using Nutella

A post shared by Abed🇱🇧 (@abedallahitani) on Dec 13, 2016 at 9:46am PST

…using cotton candy

A post shared by Abed🇱🇧 (@abedallahitani) on Dec 26, 2016 at 9:11am PST

… and even caramel!

A post shared by Abed🇱🇧 (@abedallahitani) on Jan 31, 2017 at 5:06am PST

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