Sweets for the Sweet Tooth

I adore looking in the bakery at the beautiful displays of cakes and other sweets.  Saudis in general have a real sweet tooth. 

Saudi hospitality dictates that sweets and tea or juice are automatically offered to guests.  So it's no surprise that diabetes and obesity contribute to health issues of the citizenry. 

My husband does not have a sweet tooth, but I do - but he's very good about not caving in to my cravings all the time.  Honestly I have found that these scrumptious looking treats oftentimes don't exactly taste as good as they look.  So I manage to find joy and satisfaction in just looking and taking photos!

This post is linked to My Corner of the World. Do check out the other posts from bloggers from all over the world. 

 

Jeddah Character Cakes

Birthday celebrations have become more commonplace over the years since my arrival in the Land of Sand.  Jeddah even has several branches of  Chuck E Cheese restaurants that offer children's parties.  Sponge Bob Squarepants and Hello Kitty. Spiderman and Superman.  Take your pick of any theme! I just love seeing all the pretty cakes in the bakery department.

Jeddah Caffe Concerto Restaurant

The beautiful British chain restaurant called Caffe Concerto opened in November 2017 at the Mall of Arabia.  The decor is elegant and classy, with an old rich European ambience. 

Besides being a restaurant, it is also a magnificent bakery with delectable sweets that will make your mouth water.  Eclairs, tarts, macaroons, and so many other goodies are offered that make the perfect treat to bring to any gathering. 

Adding to the establishment's old world charm is a gorgeous shiny black grand piano that is the centerpiece of the restaurant.  I was told that customers are allowed to play the piano if they know how. 

The teal blue and gold decor and rich dark wood seem to accentuate the crystal chandeliers and the beautiful landscape artwork adorning the walls.  When the restaurant first opened, the artwork was very art deco and featured shapely and scantily clad women (see below).  A few short months later I noticed that the artwork had been exchanged for the pretty landscapes, causing me to wonder if possibly the restaurant was asked to remove the risque paintings.  

I actually can't decide which artwork I prefer.  They both go with the restaurant decor extremely well, but I guess the landscapes go along with the classic European theme better.

There is also another branch in Riyadh at the Al Nakheel Mall and there are locations in Qatar and the UAE in addition to many locations in the UK. 

The menu of Caffe Concerto offers a nice variety of dishes.  On a recent outing we ordered the gourmet pizzas which were very good. 

This is me and my favorite guy enjoying a relaxing time at the beautiful setting of Caffe Concerto. 

On another visit below...

Sweets in Saudi

There seems to be a lot more sweets shops and bakeries here in Saudi Arabia than I've noticed back home in the US.  Saudis definitely like their sweets!  From cookies to cakes, from macaroons to donuts, from baklava to fruit tarts - you can find it all here.  

Our World: Jeddah Bakery Ovens

The bakeries here in Jeddah have huge fire ovens!  Saudis love their bread and there are so many types available.  All kinds of flat breads, loaves, cakes - you name it.  There are even gluten free items available here now. 

  


Be sure to visit OUR WORLD TUESDAY, where family-friendly bloggers share a unique glimpse into what life is like all around our ever-amazing planet.

Jeddah: Lovely Bakery Treats

Saudis definitely have a sweet tooth.  There are chocolate shops and bakeries everywhere.  Many items are so beautiful you don't want to eat them.  Here are some beautiful cakes and bite size morsels.

Or if you prefer, here is a selection of mostly black and white cookies and treats.  

Mini Desserts at Le Connoissseur

Yummy! The desserts available at Le Connoisseur are almost too pretty to eat. Their creations are works of art.  Le Connoisseur is housed in the Bellevue building, along with three other wonderful restaurants: Amara, Ajji, and Lumiere. 

Super Hero Cake

Superheroes are alive and well in Saudi Arabia.  This birthday cake in a store shop window features The Hulk, Spiderman, Superman, and Batman.  What kid wouldn't love a cake like this at his party?

Dessert Time at Le Connoisseur

Yummy!  Le Connoisseur in Jeddah offers scrumptious baked goods and desserts presented so beautifully, they look too pretty to eat. 

Samadi Sweets

Saudis definitely have a sweet tooth.  In Jeddah, there are chocolate shops galore, along with many other confectioneries, ice cream shops, and bakeries.  Baklava is a very popular treat in the Middle East.  In the back of this photo you can see a tree made of bite size pieces of baklava.  In the front is a colorful fondant cake.  These were on display at one of my husband's favorite places for sweets in Jeddah called Samadi. 

CDP Theme Day: "Cafe Chairs" Amara Restaurant

 Amara Restaurant has a real 60s retro feel to it.  I've been there twice now - once for breakfast and once for lunch.  The service is outstanding and the menu selections are quite varied.  I had a yummy frittata for breakfast and a thick burger for lunch.  It is located on Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Street, which has all those funky sculptures I've been featuring on this blog lately.  Amara is housed in a large building complex with 3 other lovely restaurants - The Connoisseur Bakery, Ajji Asian Restaurant, and the soon to be open Lumiere Restaurant for fine dining.  For more information, call  055-535-4139. 

City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers from around the world, sharing the wonders of their area of the world pictorially with others.  Each month there are different themes that CDP members can participate in.  This month's theme is "Cafe Chairs."  

Please visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day of "Cafe Chairs." 

The Connoisseur Bakery of Jeddah

The Connoisseur Bakery in Jeddah offers delectable selections that are works of art.  It is located in a restaurant complex on Prince Faisal Bin Fahd Street which houses a total of four upscale eateries. Aside from their artistic desserts and sweets, The Connoisseur also offers breads, croissants, and gift items.  

Jeddah's Paul Restaurant

"Paul" is a lovely French restaurant in the heart of Jeddah and part of the worldwide chain of Paul Restaurants.  The interior oozes Old World elegance and charm and makes one feel about as far away from Saudi Arabia as one can imagine.  Paul offers freshly baked goods, such as delectable croissants, breads, and desserts.  The popular cafe is located off of Tahliya Street next to the Sands Hotel and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8am-12 midnite.  Phone 02-667-1633.

City Daily Photo & Our World: Bakeries

Saudis love their sweets. There are many more bakeries and sweets shops here in Jeddah than I am used to seeing in the states. Whenever Saudis receive guests in their homes, the guests are always offered drinks and sweets.

Today is the first of the month and that means it's City Daily Photo's Theme Day. This month's theme is "Bakeries." City Daily Photo features photo blogs of cities all around the world. If you like to do armchair traveling, please check out the City Daily Photo blogs – you will see some amazing sights.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

Be sure to visit OUR WORLD TUESDAY, where family-friendly bloggers share a unique glimpse into what life is like all around our ever-amazing planet.