Cheesecake Factory Seaside

After Chili's was closed we all wondered what would replace it, with talks of a huge Starbucks coming or would it be something else? Well, Chili's has been replaced with Cheesecake Factory. The name is up and it looks like it will be opening soon.

Applebee's was split into two restaurants, Texas Roadhouse and 400 Gradi, Le Notre is being replaced with Aisha's Indian restaurant and KFC was replaced with Raising Cane's and Blaze Pizza.

Gary Rhodes has passed Away

I was really sad to hear Gary Rhodes has passed away in Dubai recently. We met him last September during the opening of Vox Cinemas, he was hands on in the kitchen and presented a fantastic array of foods for us. 

He was really sweet and answered our questions, posed for pictures and served his cuisine like a true professional, rest in peace Mr. Rhodes. Here's a link to my post on the the opening of VOX theater in The Avenues.

Life In Kuwait vs Life In Dubai: Which Is Better? British Expat Experience

I think Dubai has more to offer but Kuwait has no humidity, that's what keeps me from moving to Qatar. 

New Friday Market

During my last visit to Friday Market, pet side I noticed some new buildings behind the old nasty one that currently sells animals and pet supplies. From what I can tell it looks to be a new place for the animals? It's a really nice set up with air conditioned buildings that has individual stalls for sellers.

The stalls look much smaller than the set ups sellers have right now so I don't know how that will turn out but it seems like a step ahead for the sad market. However, I didn't see any kind of drainage areas, I watched one of the guys from the dog shop take the tray of pea and poop from the cage and just poor it right into the drain that runs in the middle of the area. It was already full and overflowing but the guy didn't care and poured it in anyways, the stench made me want to throw up. It used to be clean and the drains were empty but now it has gone back to the old days which is disgusting and hazardous.

Yalla Biryani from Zafran Indian Bistro

My favorite Indian restaurant has added new biryani dishes from different regions in India to their menu and they are delicious! We ordered the prawn and lamb biryani dishes which come with a side of yogurt and gravy. The prawns were cooked just right with a little spice while the lamb was melt in your mouth goodness.

 Appetizers included Rocca salad and fried yoghurt balls with a spicy dip

 Lamb Biryani

 Prawn Biryani

 Followed by chai masala and a variety of desserts

There are two additional chicken biryani dishes, one spicy and one normal to choose from as well. Zafran is located in the Light Complex, Mahboula and you can find them @zafranindianbistro.

Texas Roadhouse, Raising Cane's and more seaside Restaurants

The time has come for Al Shaya's chain of restaurants to start opening on the seaside after he won the contract and closed down all of the old restaurants that gave us so many memories. Texas Roadhouse and 400 Gradi will replace what was Applebee's, Raising Cane's, IHOP and Blaze Pizza replaces what was KFC seaside. Raising Cane's will have a drive thru at this new location, I think they are set to open mid to lat November.

 This Texas Roadhouse will be smaller as they split the restaurant into to two different ones with 400 Gradi which is an Italian restaurant. There is also a new Starbucks off to the right side connected to the Arabic restaurant while the Le Notre building remains empty.

What remains to be seen is what will replace Chili's and Ruby Tuesday? The Cheesecake Factory will also be a new addition, maybe in one of those locations? I stopped by the old Chili's which is under construction but couldn't make out what it will be.

Masquerade Costume Shop

Every time we visit Boulevard we have to make a stop at Masquerade costume shop to check out their items. I love this shop, with all their crazy and kooky outfits and accessories. What caught my eye was the similar outfits to the ones they have on PUBG. If anyone needs some role playing outfits this is the place to see!

Of course the prices are much more expensive than in the states but you have to fit in the shipping costs as well as rent they pay so it evens out. You can find their IG @masquerade_kwt

Kuwait Bowling Club in Salmiya

My friend and I took the kids for a round of bowling at the new Kuwait bowling alley in Salmiya. At this time there are two sections, one for families and the other for single males. We got there around 8 pm and had to wait in line for about 30 minutes. When it was our turn there weren't any shoes in our sizes available so we were told to bowl in our shoes. 

The lanes were neon and when it was time for the younger kids to bowl the rails came up and wet down once they finished their turn which was good for all of us. I was worried about having to get an additional lane for the smaller ones so they could use the rails but we all shared one game. 

There's ample seating surrounding the lanes, a small snack stand and one table to sit at. They don't allow metal water bottles so you will have to leave them at the desk if you bring them in. In the future there will be some more attractions there from what I've heard.

 

Each game was 2.500 KD, we had eight people so it took a while to complete one game and it was late but over all we had a good time. You can find their IG @kuwaitbowling_

Sirhan Restaurant - Mahboula

If you wan a nicely decorated place with a cozy feel check out Sirhan Restaurant in Mahboula where they serve a variety of grilled items from brisket and ribs to an awesome tenderloin with Greek salad. It's definitely a meat eaters dream place!

I had the kale and quinoa salad, there's also a grilled romaine for those non meat eaters

Pulled beef cheek tacos

 Melt in your mouth tenderloin with Greek salad, a must have

 Brisket with all the fixings

 Menu prices

Kale and Quinoa Salad- 2.900 KD
Marinated tenderloin with Greek salad- 9.500 KD
Brisket- 225 grams 6.00 KD

You can find them on Carriage and @sirhankw on IG

Kuwait School Fees 2019

From what I've heard the Ministry of Education put a stop to rising school fees, only one of the schools from the 2018 LIST has increased their fees:

The English Playgroup

Last year 2018 fees

Here are the links to the schools from last year:

Kuwait American School
American School of Ahmadi
American United School
International British School
Cambridge English School

Some new ones:
American German School
Canadian Bilingual School
American International School
Kuwait National English School
The English Academy
Al Bayan Bilingual
AlGhanim Bilingual School
American Academy for Girls
American Creativity Academy

Not all of the schools make it easy and list their school fees.
The British School of Kuwait
Future Bilingual School

I hope the MoE keeps the fee increase on hold, if not those schools would raise their fees every single year until parents are unable to keep their family with them and have to send them back home. I paid for 3 kids to graduate here so I know how difficult it is to make ends meet when rent and school are 75% of your salary and the education they get does not account for the price. To me most of the schools are just baby sitting kids for 3000 KD a year.

Here's a link to school fees in 2013-2014 if you're curious.

Kuwait ranks last in Top Expat Destinations 2019

'Taiwan was ranked best, and Kuwait the worst.  

More than 20,000 respondents representing 182 nationalities were polled about what life abroad was like for them.  

The respondents said they had come from 187 countries or territories before moving to the destination countries in the report. To make the cut, nations ranked required at least 75 expats. 

Respondents were asked to rate up to 48 factors, from quality of life, to education options to personal finance. 

The US ranked favorably with the quality of medical care and educational options, but not the costs. 

The report found 71 percent of expats think medical care in the US was not affordable, compared with 65 percent globally. '

In 2018 Kuwait was last (#68) while in 2017 Kuwait was next to last (#64, Greece #65), for the last two years Bahrain was #1 and this year #7.

'Kuwait ranks last once again, a position it also held in 2018 and from 2014 to 2016. It still places last and second to last for the ease of settling in and quality of life, respectively, though it has improved for personal finance (from 50th to 38th in 2019). Results for working abroad remain bleak, though: Kuwait places 60th. While expats are mostly satisfied with the state of the economy (63% positive ratings vs. 63% globally) — the majority (59%) moved there for work-related reasons — 36% are unhappy with their work-life balance. All in all, Kuwait is the country expats would recommend the least. 

Qatar in 2017 was  in the bottom 10 at #58, rose to #38 in 2018 and #18 for this year, way to go Qatar!

Check out the story link for more details.