You know you are back when... and French cooking in Amman

I simply cannot believe that I have neglected my blog like this! But for my defence we have been quite busy: and no don't worry I have been sitting in Dubai airport all this time... A week after we came back from the Emirates, we suddenly had to leave for the UK and that was that month on March. Pouf, gone! While in the UK, I could have found time to write, but we did not have internet. It's amazing how addicted you get to that stuff, but having said that an internet break is not a bad thing.

To celebrate my return to blogging, I thought I would make a little post about the small things that I rediscover!

So I know I am back in Amman when...

- you loose 15 degrees temperature wise, going from huge sunshine and 26 degrees to 11 and rain in 2 days! Spring time in Amman;
- I can get a couple of huge bunch of lilies at the traffic lights for a tenner;
- I get into Cozmo supermarket where they are renovating and I can walk on the newly laid floor tiles;
- or drive on a brand new layer of asphalt still warm (no wonder the streets are in a poor state);
- I can get tasty strawberries for 250 fils (or a little more) all year around;
- have to get used, yet again, to the non existence of traffic rules in the circles, are so-called roundabouts;
- The kilo of imported papaya reach 20JD or avocados cost 10JD per kilo - that's called extortion, in my opinion;
- when I watch Masterchef Australia and the word "pork" is censured;
- the internet connection is rubbish - one moment fine, the next soooo slow;
- I suddenly discover a German bakery on the parking level of Baraka Mall - where has that come from?? Yummy brown bread.

Then I wanted to share the initiative taken by the French Cultural Centre: 5 French chefs are in Amman this week at the following participating venues: The Grand Hyatt, The Intercontinental, The Sheraton and at Le Notre in Abdoun. We had the chance to try the diner at EVOO @ the Sheraton already, and let me tell you: best food I had in a very long time. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me so pics available, but as entree we had an asparagus broth with scallops, followed by lamb saddle. That was only 2 dishes of the  menu degustation - which is 5 dishes served at the competitive price of 37JD (+ tax & service charge) - the menu also comes with a choice of wines to accompany each dish, the price is then 55JD, still not bad in my opinion. They also offer a few a la carte items. The chef cooking at the Sheraton this week is Bruno Doucet. Tonight we have decided to go and try the Southern kitchen at the Hyatt with chef Lionel Levy and this time I take my camera! If you have some extra cash for a good meal out I think it's the week to use it.

Packed, ready to go and the fishmonger!

Once again, it seems I have succeeded: the suitcases are nearly closed, we are checked in on our flight and the passport are in my handbag. So my next post will be from Mauritius and am so excited about it. There are so many things that I am looking forward to sharing about this lovely island.

Just wanted to tell you quickly about a great fishmonger I have been recommended. Just off the 7th circle in the direction of Mecca Street. Lots of fresh fish, got mine very nicely clean and the prices are very reasonable as well: a had 2 beautiful sea-breams (about 1.3kg) for 10JD.

Sorry this is a short one, but am tired and off to bed before a long day tomorrow!

Attention! Rant! This is a supermarket rant!

Since Saturday I was the most happy juice drinker in Amman, no Jordan. I don't drink a lot of juice, but once in a while a like a glass of juice - and when I say juice, I mean NOT FROM CONCENTRATE juice.

Cozmo

This is a very quick shot of Cozmo's juice stand - well no this is maybe not even half of the juice stand they have. And all these - except one maybe - are all juice made from concentrate. And not only that but they are so sweet it is unbelievable. I could go to Miles in Mecca Mall and buy fresh squeezed orange juice, but I make that everyday at home so no need... No, I long for M&S fresh juices or from Waitrose...

And then last Saturday I found this:

The reason for my rant. Seriously, they spoiled everything. I was so excited and said to Bobs, look Apple Juice, Not From Concentrate - and he went "am sure it's the same as the others" - but I persevered I bought 1 carton. And guess what? The best apple juice I have had since we moved. 4 days later I go back to Cozmo, and guess what? No more apple juice.

That's the really annoying thing here: it's the same with yogurts, for a couple of months they have had Activia yogurts: mango, peach and apricots... and now we are back to square one with only strawberry and nature. why? They used to have another type of yogurts that Bibs loved, suddenly you can't get them anymore. why? Looking for creme fraiche: you can get it once in a while. and i could go on and on. sigh!

and sigh! so next time (if there is a next time) that they have my apple juice, i'll buy all of them!!

My Ramadan discoveries 1: Carrefour & qatayef

Finally, I have access to my blog; For the past few days, I haven't been able to log onto my blog or any other blogs hosted by blogger... Quite an annoying experience actually! I hope this won't happen again in a too near future.

We are well into the second week of Ramadan now, so I thought I'd write a little about my discoveries, not an awful many, but then there isn't an awful lot happening either!

If before it wasn't a good idea to go to Carrefour after 5pm on Fridays, well during Ramadan, it's not a good idea to go at all on Fridays. I think the whole of Amman is in Carrefour on Friday afternoon! Never in my life have I seen so many people, some with not 1 but 2 trolleys, and these are just so full.

Then we have the biggest displays of dried fruits: dates, apricots or figs…

And the all time favourite Ramadan sweet is qatayef – a less sweet version of the American pancake. All bakeries sell them and they even have special stands. I have bought them a couple of times before Ramadan, but during the Holly Month, this is really a big hit - some say they taste special!

Cozmo

The Mill, a good bakery at 5th Circle

This is what they look like when bought. The qatayef is only cooked on one side and then put together. That’s how I eat them, with Nutella – Bibs likes that too! Traditionally, a half is filled with cheese or nuts and spices like cinnamon, folded in 2 and then they are deep fried. These sweets even had an article about them in the Jordan Times of last week!

Earth Day 2010

Yes, yes after earth hour last month, we now have earth day. I think it's not bad that our dear and old planet gets a bit more attention than an hour. As they say in the UK "every little helps"! And our planet needs it. Desperately. One can only wonder if all the natural catastrophes and variations this year have something to do with it all?  Earthquakes which have costs too many lifes, storms, floods, snow in abundance and lastly of course the volcano eruption in Iceland which is still paralysing half of Western Europe. Is our planet rebelling? Is Earth telling us that it has had enough?

Tomorrow, 22nd April is the day. The 40th celebration of what is the largest civic event worldwide. You can go on their website to get ideas of easy things you can do every day to lessen your impact and help our planet! Here in Jordan, I must say that the thing that is choking me he most is the use of plastic bags. I mean I could open a whole shop with all those I have at home. I think that supermarkets should change their habits a bit and tell their packing guys to be a bit more careful with the use of these bags. I tell them to put more things in the bags, they listen for one bag and then they'll continue as they usually do. One of the supermarkets, Cozmo, has done a little bit for the awareness. This week you get one of these when you shop with them.

Of course, you can't really reuse them, but the idea is there, and small ideas like this can do wonder. The problem is here there is nothing done recycling wise, I mean not really. Yes you can take your bottles with you to an embassy - but then with a baby in a stroller etc. it is not easy to organise! I have seen a lorry drive around and pick up cardboard - but I have seen it once - and it didn't look like it was organised by Amman Municipality. Every day I see people throw cans, paper and plastic out of their car window. Every time we drive out of Amman, I see plastic bags lying around, because people are too lazy, or don't care, to take it with them home after picnicking.

We don't really buy small plastic bottles anymore; if I am I make sure I reuse it for some time. And then I have decided that I am going to bring the plastic bags back to the shops and use them when doing my groceries.

So, what will you be doing to celebrate Earth Day 2010?

Our friday afternoon...

Apart from Supermarkets, no shops are opening before 2pm - and that are the malls only, the rest remain completely shut on Fridays. So in the beginning of the afternoon we took the car. We needed to do some grocery shopping. That consists of at least 2 different supermarkets. But before that we had to leave our street and we got stuck; not because of road works or kids playing on the middle of the road, but more some kind of traffic jam. The only thing being that the cars were not moving - like nobody at the wheel not moving! We hit the midday Friday prayer. Cars were parked, and double parked, leaving only just enough space for one car to slalom in between. Well until the car in front of us stopped. The driver waited, so we waited. The driver got fed up waiting, so did the obvious thing: he got out, closed the car and joined the rest of the men praying. We had 2 choices: either wait and get caught in a massive mess with all the cars wanting to leave at the same time or reverse. We chose the obvious: reversing.

The Mosque in our street

On each side of the cars, men rised after their prayer

One stop at City Mall and Carrefour to buy fish and one stop at Cozmo to buy fruits, vegetables and yogurts for Bibs. And then a new discovery... we stopped at Korean Gardens. No, no, unfortunately I haven't suddenly discovered a new garden where I can walk with Bibs. It is a Korean Supermarket and a paradise for noodle eaters, like Bobs.

There is a restaurant over the supermarket - they do not do take-aways (must be the only restaurant in Amman!)

Noodles...

As usual I update the map at the bottom of the main page.