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Ivy Reviews: SUD
Beirut’s been buzzing about two new hot spots conveniently situated on Mar Mikhael’s main road, BarTartine and SUD. They’re actually separate entities but share the same hidden gem of a terrace in an open court-style alley complete with small trees and beautiful stone walls. Sud also boasts a rooftop cocktail lounge.
Although it’s been open for a few months Sud’s reputation precedes it, hosting a full house during peak hours and an almost always packed guest list.
The menu is namely Mediterranean with a varied list of French, Italian and Catalan cuisine. We booked a table for four and headed down on a Saturday for lunch. I was drawn by the beautiful modern décor ,stainless steel lamps, open-style kitchen layout, bar and loved the entire look and feel of the place.
However, the staff still looked like they were adjusting to keep up with the constant traffic. An empty beer bottle seemed to have found its way right under my friend’s chair as we were seated on a table. We handed it to an apologetic waiter and then asked him to point us to the Catalan items on the menu. He sported a blank face and we knew we’d have to explore our own way.
We started things off with two Antipastos which I recommend, whole mushrooms marinated in a sweet balsamic sauce with toasted baguettes, and eggplant and black olive molasses also served on miniature toasted baguette.
We also had the Crevette Ter Mer tapa , shrimps and some fantastic little pieces of chorizo (sausage) with fresh herbs.
Next, the grilled calamari salad with artichoke hearts, porcini mushrooms, chick peas spring onions and cherry tomatoes and black olives drizzled with a lemon dressing. Although I’m a fan of grilled calamari I didn’t particularly enjoy the mix of ingredients in this dish nor did I like that the calamari tasted more boiled than grilled, as it was on the softer side of things and sported no grill marks or taste. It was missing a kick to it that just didn’t come.
My friend went for the burger that came in a fresh bun and medium-sized patty. The meat seemed freshly ground as the soft patty fell apart with every bite however I didn’t particularly enjoy the spice mix used and the very thin cheese that seemed processed as it sat unmoved and un-melted. It was good but didn’t move me the way a gourmet burger should.
My other friend went for the Risotto-style saffron paella which was absolutely delicious both visually and sensory with its scrumptious shrimp and fresh mussels. This dish is a definitive must-have for anyone who’s a fan of this traditional Valencian dish.
My man went for the Salt Baked Sea Bass, which came in its full fish form in a hard crust cover that exposed a soft white flesh when cracked. It came with a side of sautéed potatoes. It was good but bland and slightly over-cooked for my taste.
I had the Linguine Aux Crevette , a pasta dish of sautéed shrimps, shredded courgettes, green beans, cherry tomatoes, pepercino in a tomato sauce. And again it was good, it hit the spot, but it was missing something more, a flavor that would set this place apart from the rest and mark it’s gastronomic stamp on the scene, but again it failed to deliver.
However, whatever flavors Sud lacked in the savory department, it made up in its dessert menu. The delectable glazed Pain Perdu left me in a trance topped with a heavenly scoop of vanilla ice cream from the ice cream connoisseurs over at Oslo.
The soft Profiteroles drizzled with warm milk-chocolate sauce were mouth-watering and the ice cream really impressed.
We washed the meal down with some a foamy rich cappuccino.
I found that Sud’s prices are very reasonable compared to the other restaurants in town with appetizers ranging from $5 to $15 and main dishes ranging from $18-$30 so a meal for four with soft drinks without dessert would total to around $120.
I will definitely be back for to Sud’s rooftop soon for some of those promising cocktails. Have you been?
More Reviews:
Ask Ivy: Should Marriage Come Next?
This week on my Ask Ivy Column on Beirut.com I discuss an issue I know many ladies may be going through at some point in their lives.
Picture this, you’re in a steady relationship, things are going great, you love your man but that’s it. Suddenly you’re asking what’s next and he’s acting like you just betrayed the “agreement” you had, whatever that was. In fact he’s even disappointed you asked. So before you overreact click here to read my advice…
Many of us grow up believing we’re attracted to bad boys. But what happens when your girlfriend is dating one of the biggest jerks around. Do you stand back and watch it all go down or take matters into your own hands? Here’s what I think
You can email all your questions to tell.ivy@gmail.com
Murex D’Or 2013 The Best and Worst Dressed on the Red Carpet
Each year Lebanon hosts the Murex D’or an award ceremony to recognize the achievements of Lebanese and Arab artists and media personalities in the region. And, since I’ve appointed myself this city’s fashion crime scene reporter I thought it would only be fair I share with you the good, the bad and the hideous.
Cyrine Abdelnour may have gone home with the best actress Murex D’or for 2013 but it feels like she pulled that disaster of a gown right out of the 8o’s. I really don’t know where to begin. It seems whoever designed this dress couldn’t decide between using the embellishments, the organza, the polyester, the metallic prints and some more embellishments so he decided to throw in everything in there. I feel nauseous just describing it. Total red carpet fail.
Lara Scandar
LOVED her look, and I’m not sure who she’s wearing but that royal blue dress with nude undertones looks like something Elie Saab could have designed. She brings such a fresh young touch to the red carpet and makes it on my best dressed list for the night, especially with that simple messy hair and the ox-blood lips.
Pamela El Kik
She’s an actress and no she isn’t in costume auditioning for the role of Rainbow Brite, Pamela El Kik wanted get noticed on the red carpet and she sure got…noticed. Between the dramatically beaded bustier and the colour massacre on the bottom-half and that painstaking metallic purple clutch she may have committed one of the biggest crime scenes on that red carpet to date.
Nancy Ajram may strike the occasional faux-pas when it comes to casual wear but the superstar songstress can do no wrong when picking the right gown and effortlessly complementing her look from head-to toe. She wore this sexy Balmain royal blue dress with simple swept-up hair and accessorized it with a Valentino clutch. Perfection.
Aline Lahoud, singer
Oh dear, I feel like I’m about to insult a sweet 12 year old girl who wanted to be a princess but it’s a dirty job and someone’s gotta do it. Let’s start with the Rapunzel hair. I mean come on, what is the meaning of this? Is this supposed to be some sort of breakthrough in the world of hairdressing? And the wedding-dress-gone-bad, where do I begin: the cut, the fabric the ill-fitting waist. If that wasn’t bad enough how about those gold leaves were placed on the side to give it that “edgy” touch. Yeah, no that didn’t work. Good luck recovering from this one.
Elissa’s been having a ball with fashion lately and she didn’t fail to impress in this white Marchesa ethereal gown with intricate beading. I liked that she didn’t do the whole cliché chignon hair women just love in this part of the world but rather kept things wavy and effortless.
See-through fabric. Check
Figure Hugging dress. Check
Excessive cleavage. Check
Animal Print. Check
Bling Bling. Check.
If Maya Diab is anything she is consistent. She definitely brings the action. Does it make it right? It depends who you ask. But she’s growing on me.
Check out more Red Carpet moments here
Frosty Palace: Ivy’s Search For The Best Burger In Beirut Returns
Burgers make me happy. As many of you know I’ve been searching for Lebanon’s best burger since 2010 long before the burger craze swept Lebanon.
And yes, for a while I realized that this little pastime of mine wasn’t doing justice to my waistline. So I gave it a rest. But old habits die hard and now I’m back to my fiendish ways.
I’m not the first to discover or write a raving good review about Frosty Palace. It’s been rated as one of Lebanon’s best burgers. I’m here to confirm that truth. I was there and I saw it too. The rumors don’t lie. That is one brave burger. Its warm fresh buttered bun grabs the little beast inside it with all its gloriousness and almost voluntarily takes the plunge into your mouth.
But before we all climax together let me tell you about this little treasure nestled away in Mar Mikhael’s inner streets. It’s named after the malt shop in the hit musical Grease, except instead of running into Sandy and Danny, the place looks like Audrey Hepburn would be seated at the bar. The décor is delightfully chic and simple. The huge crystal chandelier brings that paradoxical touch of glamour to the setting. Brilliant.
The place is teeny tiny, in a very intimate way. The menu is minimal. My man and I didn’t think twice before ordering the burger on the menu, fine freshly ground Australian beef. Jackpot. Our waiter announced that the mayonnaise and tomato relish (ketchup) were homemade. That got our attention.
We both prefer our burgers the classic way nothing too complicated, so we added some cheddar cheese and ordered them with a side of fries.
As soon as the waiter brought the little beauty out we knew. It sat alone on the plate, but it commanded the table. The patty was at that perfect level of thickness, more on the chunky side of things, just the way I like it. It rest on a bed of lettuce, tomato and some pickles and topped with some of that golden cheddar.
And though I like a generous portion of cheese on my burger which didn’t seem evident, it didn’t matter at that point. Because there was something in the beef that put an end to all those doubts as soon as I locked my fangs into it. It was like finding a long lost love after years of abstinence. I looked over at my man, who had already fallen under its spell and into a coma. Nothing could take him out of it, not even my giant glare signaling him to take it down a notch. Everyone could hear his moans and I was worried they wouldn’t believe this was really about the burger. We wolfed them down in less than ten. We contemplated seconds, but quickly dismissed the urge.
At that point we had completely forgotten about the wide chunky fries. They had just the right amount of crisp in the bite and softness in the core. We dipped them in the homemade ketchup and mayo until we scrapped our plates clean.
For dessert I went for the brownie with pecan nuts and caramel topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The brownie was nothing special, but the ice cream was delectable. I plan on going especially for a shake next time I’m in the neighborhood.
So go ahead, treat yourself to a gourmet burger this weekend, but prepare to splurge, a meal for two (burger fries and a soft drink will cost you around 25-30$ per person. It may not be a filet but trust me, this is not your average burger.
What’s your favorite burger in Beirut?
Check out more Burger Reviews in Beirut below
Burger Nation (closed shop)
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The Roof, Four Season’s Über-Fabulous Lounge
There’s some magic brewing atop one of Beirut’s high-rises where the well-groomed and fabulously dressed go to mingle. But this is not your average open-air bar sprouting all over the city; this is The Roof, the Four Season’s luxury playground overlooking the heart of Beirut.
As you set foot on the deck the 360° spectacular view of the marina, city, and surrounding mountains impose themselves on you. And just when you’ve held your breath long enough to absorb it, you begin to take in the place’s lavishness. The design is brilliant in a dangerously meticulous way, the perfect balance between effortless chic and poised as you’d expect from this 5 star powerhouse.
The lounge-y laid back atmosphere and beats synchronized with the customized projector make it the ideal venue for professional after-work drinks (doors open at 7pm) ,the absolute predrink spot before hitting a club or my personal favorite, date night with the man, a chance to sport a sexy pair of stilettos and sip on some of the finest cocktails in the city.
On Saturday night we headed over to The Roof for some quality time, literally. Our waiter was more than happy to walk us through the signature cocktails prepared by the finest mixologist and we were even happier to oblige.
I started the things off with one of the best (if not the best) Lychee Martini I’ve had in a very long time, and for someone who truly appreciates this fruit I was beyond marveled by the harmonious collaboration between the vodka and juice. I drank it a little too fast and our super-attentive waiter was quick to notice my PDA with it, because he quickly recommended I try the Kiwi Cucumber Martini. It hit the spot.
My man being the eternal classic (though he denies it) ordered a traditional favorite Mojito which I was also eager to taste. They say you can really judge a bartender by the Mojito he makes and this one had a great balance of mint and brown sugar.
I’ve heard rave reviews about the place’s Asian Fusion Tapas menu and was eager to see what the fuss was about. We wanted to keep things light so we started things off with a succulent cold starter, marinated fresh shrimps in pineapple and jalapeños, an unlikely combo that totally seduced our taste buds.
Next we had the fried chicken wontons which also came in a traditional bamboo basket, they were as good as most wontons I’ve had.
But the highlight was the main dish we shared, the Kung Pao Chicken, stir fried chicken and peanuts in soy-sesame sauce with hot chili paste. Now let me warn you this is not for the faint of heart, this dish has a real kick to it so if you can’t handle spicy steer clear. I loved how authentically Chinese it tasted but there was a point where it felt like my mouth was on fire.
Finally, the waiter offered us hands down one of the best fat-free vanilla/chocolate ice creams I’ve had with a side of get this: fudge brownies, chocolate chip cookies and cranberries. My heart skipped a beat with every bite.
We couldn’t get ourselves to leave but we were headed to Stereo Club Nights and were running late. I will definitely be making this a regular on my list of Beirut’s hot spots this summer.
Price Range: Average $60 per person (drinks and tapas)
Verdict: The best quality cocktails/venue/view money can buy
Also Try the Four Season’s The Grill Room, read my review here
MET Gala 2013 Best and Worst Dressed
Christina Ricci looked perfect in plaid in this creation by quirky Vivienne Westwood, I loved the way the strapless gown flapped on her chest and the strappy heels. I also loved that she completed her look with orange lips rather than the typical red. She killed it last year in her bow tie dress and this year too!
My Grandma has been calling all morning demanding Kristen Stewart return her curtains. I kid. Dressed by Stella McCartney this burgundy satin pantsuit adorned in lace is actually very chic but I would have preferred it on someone slightly taller. Yes she is skinny, but pantsuits are for models. I LOVED the hair but didn’t appreciate the matchy-matchy smokey eye makeup.
Anne Hathway goes platinum this year and looks every bit the punk in this see-through vintage Valentino dress. A good comeback from the Oscar fail this year I loved seeing this usually goodie two–shoes in something more risqué and dramatic, but I’m not a big fan of mid- side-boob.
Another star that took the theme way too seriously was Miley Cyrus ( why was she even there?) in this long Marc Jacobs fishnet gown that looks like something she picked up from a stripper joint and the awful hair that is way too long for to spike up. To be fair though she looks like she’s rocking an amazing figure from that silhouette!
No she didn’t make a statement in Givenchy, Beyonce tried way too hard in this way-too-much-going-on dress. And I’m all for over-the-top couture and art but the thigh-high slit, matching boots and matching gloves made this one big mess to look at. Add that waist belt in to the mix and you got yourself something that looks like she took the title of the “Gala PUNK: Chaos to Couture’ way too literally. This looks like it was made by the House of Deron not Givenchy, just like last year when she looked like an ostrich. No matter how many people call her the Queen, even she can’t get away with this fashion crime.
Super Model Gisele Bundchen pulled a cheap shot on everyone at the gala. She wore an itsy bitsy little Anthony Vacarello mini-dress that only women with radically tall legs can pull off- and she looked stunning!
Holy Grandma! Madonna raided her teenage daughter’s closet. We get it punk means studs fishnets and plaid but all three of those together is nauseating and don’t get me started on that wig. And enough with the excessive show of butt, your over 50 and super fit. WE GET IT! She may be the queen of pop but she is definitely NOT the queen of style. And Givenchy? Come on!
Leave it to Gwyneth Paltrow to make a statement in the most effortless manner. While most stars were decked in 80’s memorabilia she threw on this satin long-sleeved bubblegum pink Valentino with a sheer panel cutting right across her upper chest. And although I the simplicity of the dress I don’t think it did much justice to her midsection. I would have preferred it to be slightly more form fitting on her.
Nicole Richie makes sure she gets noticed this year in a shocking grey frock and an amazing embroidered Topshop gown which I just loved! She pulls this off without looking too punkish and still keeping her poise and elegance. One of my best dressed looks of the night!
Finally Jennifer Lopes in a long-sleeve full length gown without the excessive cleavage or thighs! She must be reading my blog! Ok prolly not.But she wore a curve–hugging Michael Kors feline patterned dress with an amazing punk-inspired combed back hair do which I’m going to print out and show my hairdresser this weekend.
No to matching your shoes and dress. And how does a floral print gown from head-to-toe have anything to do with the punk theme? Pregnant Kim Kardashian managed to find yet another super unflattering look for herself in this form-fitting Givenchy gown by Riccardo Tisci. Besides the fact that she looks like wallpaper the worst part of the dress is that it comes with attached gloves in the same pattern. JUST AWFUL!
Rooney Mara was one my of best dressed of the night with this stunning crème laced Givenchy gown (finally something decent from the fashion house) she went super light on the foundation, minimal on the haired and finished her look with oxblood bold lips. Perfection
Sarah Jessica Parker revived her Sex and The City Character in this crazy head piece by Philip Treacy and Giles Deacon gown and paired them with Louis Vuitton plaid boots. Do not attempt to try this look unless you’re Carrie Bradshaw.
An unexpected and very pleasant fashion risk from Kirsten Dunst who wore this ravishing gown by Louis Vuitton, I love every bit of it from the plunging neck line to the patterned halter to the olive green feathered bottom. One of my best dressed of the night!
Always a winner, Kate Beckinsale looked beautiful in this Alberta Ferretti dress with an asymmetrical hem that she paired with the perfect earrings and the perfect heels. A little too safe perhaps?