Category Archives for "Activities"
Reem International and Karting Circuit
An international circuit near Riyadh
From October to April, the air is filled with the sound of supercharged engines racing round Reem International Circuit.
Porsche and McLaren ready torace at Reem International Circuit
Weekend Racing at Reem International Circuit
The main series see Formula Saudi (cars resembling those used in Formula 1), GT Series (Porsche and McLaren), Lotus and Renaults compete in the annual Saudi Racing Festival, held over several rounds.
Formula Saudi cars at Reem International Circuit
There is also the opportunity to take your own vehicle and put it through its paces on their Open Track days.
And of course there are the drifting competitions, where the art of the sport can be admired without the added danger of having your car involved in a collision on the road.
There is a grandstand, open to both men and women, so the racing can be enjoyed in comfort, and where visitors can see the Saudia sponsored Williams Formula 1 car that was world champion in the early 1980s.
World Champion Saudia sponsored Williams Formula 1 car at Reem International Circuit
Reem Karting Circuit - Open to Everyone
Even if you don’t have your own supercar, there is still the opportunity to get some racing in, on the karting track.
Friends race each other at Reem Karting Circuit
Open to the public during weekend afternoons and evenings, this is a fun outing for a group of friends. Men and women are welcome, and get to race 39hp karts at speeds up to 65kph.
Reem Karting Circuit
Grandstand at Reem Karting Circuit
Whilst both of the facilities have grandstands, currently there are no refreshment outlets, so make sure to bring your own picnics if you intend staying for a few hours.
Let us know what you think about Reem International and Karting Circuit in the comments section below
How to get to Reem International Circuit
The location of the Reem International Circuit is available on Google Maps under the name 'Reem Racetrack'.
For bookings and information you can call this number: 00966 (0) 5561000703.
The Pancake House restaurant, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh (review)
When visiting the USA, it quickly becomes obvious that there is something of an obsession with pancakes for breakfast. Is it nostalgia for those rural days when people needed as many carbohydrates as possible to see them through a day’s farming or ranching? Pancakes, after all, are made of ingredients that are readily available on most farms, as are the extras that can be added to make them truly scrumptious.
The Pancake House, Diplomatic Quarter, is a recent addition to its ever-growing stable of American franchises. It seems to offer better food that many of them, and has a range and variety that appeals to young and old alike, at any time of day.
Despite American pancakes being closely linked to breakfast, they are available all day long. There are seven types available – all sweet – most of which are served with either fruit of chocolate toppings. But despite it’s name, The Pancake House in Riyadh is not limited to that fare.
Banana pancakes at the Pancake House (image by thefoodtechie.com)
More than pancakes at The Pancake House
Sizzlin' Skillet at The Pancake House, Diplomatic Quarter
For breakfast there are also omelettes (both meat and vegetarian), egg/bacon/sausage plates, and classic European inspired dishes of French toast and waffles. The Western Sizzlin’ Skillet (a mix of potatoes, peppers, bacon bits, cheese and eggs) combines many of the ingredients to make sure a person is well prepared for the day ahead.
Beef Stew Salad at The Pancake House, Diplomatic Quarter
For lunch the variety is impressive: The sandwiches, burgers, salads and soups on offer ensure that it is possible to have quickly prepared food that is not too bad for the waistline, and is tasty too.
Good option for lunch and dinner
Most of the appetizers available are fried, but there are some more health-conscious options too.
Spicy shrimp cocktail at The Pancake House, Diplomatic Quarter
Tenderloin Fillet at The Pancake House, Diplomatic Quarter
The dinner menu specializes in a range of pastas, along with meat entrées, and some offerings from the sea, although the freshness of fish in Riyadh is questionable.
There is also a range specially for children, incorporating favourites such as fish fingers and mac and cheese.
Chocolate lava cake photo
Chocolate lava cake at The Pancake House, Diplomatic Quarter
There are a couple of desserts that stand out (the Chocolate Lava Cake and the Apple Pie, when available) but apart from that the offerings are those ubiquitous in Riyadh restaurants (ice-cream and cheesecake).
Snickers Cheesecake at The Pancake House, Diplomatic Quarter
Despite the nominal boundaries of meals, pretty much everything is available all day long, from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Seating available inside and outside
Outside seating at The Pancake House, Diplomatic Quarter
The Pancake House is not a large restaurant, and is often busy. It has a family section as well as a singles section, although being on the DQ, where attitudes to social interaction are not as strict as they are outside its perimeter, there are no screens for guaranteed privacy. There is also an outside section where diners can enjoy the temperatures that Riyadh has to offer.
It would be good to see a policy imposed whereby people who were just going for a coffee or a drink could not occupy the outside tables for hours on end. Despite the social nature of Saudi Arabia, The Pancake House in Riyadh is not a dedicated coffee shop; there are several other establishments within easy walking distance which are, but seeing as The Pancake House in Riyadh is a popular destination, it is inevitable that people want to hang out there.
Being a small venue it is easy for the staff to keep an eye on the tables inside, and a waiter is never far away, although once seated outside the staff seem to leave people to their own devices, which may necessitate a trip inside in order to ask for something.
A welcome addition to the dining options on the Diplomatic Quarter, The Pancake House is worth a visit any time of day. It is an informal, friendly venue with very cheerful staff, and tasty food that is prepared quickly and priced reasonably, and will also deliver to your home – as long as you live on the DQ.
How does our experience of The Pancake House compare to yours? Add your opinion to the comments below.
Bab Al Yemen restaurant, Riyadh (review)
Of the countries on the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is the one that is most often overlooked, which is a sad state of affairs seeing as it is arguably the country with the most character and history. Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh, provides an insight into some of the finer points of Yemeni culture.
Regional Favourites
On studying the menu, there are several options that are available in other restaurants in KSA. This does not mean, however, that the Yemenis adopted Saudi dishes. Quite the reverse is true, in fact.
Hot and cold appetisers are available at Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh
There are certain dishes that are ubiquitous through the Arab countries, especially those that normally start off a meal. The cold salads and appetizers appear from the countries with Mediterranean coastlines all the way through the peninsula, with subtle variations of taste in each country. Add to these individual styles of bread, and it is quite easy to fill up on these bowls of deliciousness before embarking on the main courses.
Hot and cold appetisers are available at Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh
The Riyadh newspaper Arab News was impressed with Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh. Read their article here.
Local Specialities
Speciality stone pot dishes at Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh
It’s the meat dishes where these countries excel, as if more importance is given to meat than to any other ingredient available. The speciality of Bab Al Yemen is their ‘stone pot’ creations, with chicken, beef and lamb being available. Either served as whole pieces or shredded, then marinated and cooked in several different choices of sauce, with herbs, spices and chillis to differentiate them, these creations are not to be missed.
Speciality stone pot dishes at Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh
If in the mood for kabse, it is also available, but will excite taste buds much more than the bland offerings available in the majority of other restaurants and take-aways in Riyadh.
Yemeni Architecture and Design
Traditional Yemeni architecture at the entrance to Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh
The look of the restaurant is also worth paying attention to. From outside, guests see a stone tower, adorned with a symbol of Yemeni architecture, coloured glass, although in a more contemporary design than the usual panes of a single colour that alternates around the top of the older buildings.
This stone build theme is continued inside the restaurant too, with designs in the stonework that reflect patterns found throughout Yemen, and the tops of the walls adorned with white plaster work.
Traditional Yemeni design themes inside Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh
Our Opinion
In Riyadh, Arabic food seems to have become synonymous with Lebanese and Syrian cuisine. In modern times, Gulf countries have adopted a taste for international fare, especially Indian and American offerings. Given this environment, it is good to see that there are outlets for Yemeni specialities.
Our friends at Ya Salam Cooking also enjoyed their experience at Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh. Read their description here.
Perhaps their food is often overlooked due to the Yemenis being the poor cousins of the Gulf Arabs, but in it lies tastes and traditions which those Gulf Arabs either forgot or never had in the first place.
Feel free to tell us about your experience f Bab Al Yemen, Riyadh, in the Comments section, below