READY FOR RAMADAN

RAMADAN DECORATIONS IN SUPERMARKET

DATES ARE OFTEN EATEN TO BREAK THE FAST DURING RAMADAN

SPECIAL RAMADAN PACKAGING FOR CHOCOLATES

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WEEKEND ROUNDUP - "D"

STARTS WITH "D" - DANGEROUS - THE CHILD STICKING UP OUT OF THE SUNROOF OF THIS MOVING CAR IS ABOUT 6 OR 7 YRS OLD

A FAVORITE - DOOR

DELIGHTFUL - DESSERT!

LINKING TO - THE WEEKEND ROUNDUP

 

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. 

 

Ramadan Store Displays

For the monthlong Ramadan period here in Saudi Arabia, grocery stores will usually carve out an area for special Ramadan treats and sweets.  It is a time when families generally get together to break the day's fast at sunset. 

The day's fast is often broken with dates and buttermilk, followed by prayer, and then a full on feast of Ramadan favorites.  This year's Ramadan was different for most families due to the strict Covid-19 curfews in place, prohibiting people from being out and about hours before sunset.

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 Just Desserts

Yummy looking desserts at a new shop in a mall here in Jeddah

Jeddah Snacks and Sweets Shop

A very well stocked snacks and sweets shop in Al Balad in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Our World - Sloan's Sweets Shop in Jeddah

Sloan's Ice Cream is fairly new to Jeddah and already has several locations.  The atmosphere is fun and cheerful and sports a party room for special events.

From the black and white patterned floor to the playful pink lighted ceilings, this place is just beckoning families to come in and have some fun.

Sloan's offers more than just fabulous ice cream - they tempt young and old with all kinds of sweets, toys, and other goodies.  The Sloan's chain actually originated in South Florida, where my family lived prior to moving to Jeddah.

I adore the colorful chandeliers and the smiling Mona Lisa with her big ice cream cone.  This place just oozes happiness.  Don't you agree?

In addition to its many locations in the US, Sloan's has shops in Jeddah at Mall of Arabia, Red Sea Mall, and Aziz Mall, with a location opening soon in Riyadh.




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.

Scrumptious Sweets

Pastry chefs in Jeddah create amazing looking desserts.  This gorgeous fruit delicacy is from Le Connoisseur.  

Jeddah Mall Candy Kiosk

BonBon Staff

The last two days I featured photos taken at Bon Bon Pastry and Chocolate Shop at the Stars Avenue Mall in Jeddah.  Here is a pic of the helpful and accommodating staff.

Our World: Edible Accessories

Saudis like their sweets and I am constantly amazed by the sheer number of sweets retailers here in Saudi Arabia.  The pretty blue purse above is actually completely edible ...

... and so are these charming high heels!  These are some of the amazing offerings at Bon Bon Pastry and Chocolate, located in the Stars Avenue Mall in Jeddah. 

 


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.

Yummy Looking Treats at BonBon

There are tons of confection businesses in Jeddah.  Many higher end sweets shops carry signature pieces that are works of art.

Bon Bon Pastry and Chocolate is located in the Stars Avenue Mall in Jeddah. 

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.  

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.  

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?

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. 

Our World: Strung Dates

These are dates that have been pitted, strung, and dried.  Dates have long been a very popular staple in Middle Eastern diets and are usually offered in Saudi homes to guests who come visiting.  There are many varieties of dates, which are produced by the date palm tree.  They can range in color from a very light brown, to reddish or golden brown, to almost black, and their level of sweetness can vary as well.  Saudi Arabia is the world's 2nd largest producer of dates, as dates thrive in desert climates and conditions. 

Different kinds of dates are eaten at different stages of ripeness depending on when they are harvested.  In Arabic, dates are known by their state of ripeness.  Unripe is known as kimri.  The 2nd stage is called khalal, where the date is crunchy and large.  The 3rd stage of ripeness is known as rutab, which describes dates that are soft and ripe.  And finally, ripe and sun-dried dates are called tamr.



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.

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.  

Souq for Dates

The selection of dates here in the Kingdom is absolutely amazing. They range from soft and mushy to hard as a rock, from a golden yellow color to reddish to all shades of brown and even black. Some varieties are grown in Saudi Arabia's fertile regions. Dates are a popular staple in the Arab diet and play a prominent role during Ramadan, when many Muslims break their daily fast with dates and buttermilk. Dates are often given as gifts and are also an ingredient in many popular recipes for sweets and desserts.