Thumbs up for Biella!

We accidentally did something spontaneous yesterday. We were in City Center heading to the food court area to decide between Chili's and Applebees when Biella caught my eye. I always notice it, but it never really called my name, until yesterday, that is. David was agreeable and up the escalator we went and were quickly greeted by an array of personnel ready to please our sense of appetite. We took a window seat and decided quickly that in a few years the view will be quite nice when (if ever) the construction is completed. The interior was very bright and airy and architecturally soothing. Wow, I may have to start writing for Restaurants Monthly after that sentence! We were off to a good start when David asked if they had iced tea. Not only did they have it, it was actually brewed and not the usual canned that the "non American" restaurants offer. I ordered the home made spinach ravioli while David ordered the chicken breast with linguini pasta and mushroom tomato sauce. The food was fresh and more than palatable. Although, it wasn't the best we've ever had (that would be at Willi's in Ediger-Elier Germany), it was definitely the best that we've had in Doha. Keep in mind that we haven't had the privilege to taste Chef Patrizi's authentic Italian fare. Bottom line: It was definitely a "do over". Click on the menu and you can check out the entrees yourself, along with the prices.


Location: City Center Mall & The Mall
Food: Very Good
Freshness: Very Good
Cleanliness: Very Good
Atmosphere: Excellent
Service: Warm & welcoming
Prices: Reasonable
Overall impression: Very good

Total for both entrees, tea, water, bread basket, 10% service charge incl* = 139QR ($38)

Please feel free obligated to tip according to your service. Translation: cough up a nice tip for your waiter!

Thanks, Regina :)

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Parking Doha Style

Did the sign say you had to parallel park?


A case of mistaken identity?
...it's a speed bump, Bozo, not a parking stripe!


City Center siting today

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Put Me in, Coach!

It was a hot summer night in July of 1989, championship game,bottom of the 9th, two outs, with the "Little Daddy's" winning by one run when the batter slams a ball to the outfield. It was cleanly caught by the eight year old to end the game for the claim to the championship when suddenly out of no where a woman jumps up from the stands and bellows, "THAT'S DAVID KNOX, THAT'S DAVID KNOX!!!!". Oh....my....gosh, oh no she didn't. Yes, my mother in law was clapping wildly and proudly for her little boy. Ok, it wasn't really the championship, there was nothing on the line, he wasn't eight years old he was thirty, and it was actually just a pop up to the shortstop. It was just a routine out in a routine game with an overzealous mom. It was one of those cringing moments in time that I'll never forget no matter how much I'd like, knowing that every one of David's co-workers heard it and would never let him forget.

Why am I reminiscing about this story now? David has signed up for co-ed softball, insisting on denying his aging status. Mid life crisis? Who knows. All I know is that I consulted my body and it suggested demanded the spectator side.

So, we've made a run for some type of turf shoe to avoid any embarrassing missteps on the field. Doha doesn't have a lot to offer in the size 13 range, so we had to hope for the best. You sort of just take what you can get. We were at the Adidas shop and ask the guy to just bring out anything that he had in a U.S. size 13 and we'll go from there. We crossed our fingers as we noted that the prices ran from QR120 to QR750. He reappeared with the only pair in the store that matched our size request. QR120 ($33). Sold.

First game, Saturday 4:30 PM. Put me in, Coach...I'm ready to play!

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Almost, Freda

Welcome to Doha, The Land of Almost. That's what my friend Freda calls it, anyway. My one assignment on tap yesterday was to score tickets to the women's Sony Ericsson tennis tournament that's going down in Doha in three weeks. It was no easy feat, I say. It all started when they were advertised to go on sale on September 24th. That didn't happen, not even almost. I called Khalifa stadium a while back and was told that they were going on sale on September 30th. Well, almost. I showed up on that day to purchase them and was told that they would go on sale on October 5th. Well, almost. The gentleman at Khalifa told me, "maybe tomorrow", but then laughed. Ok, that was up for interpretation? So, when I called the stadium on October 6th, I was informed that "yes" they were indeed on sale at Khalifa and Landmark. Well, almost. I showed up at Landmark with cash in hand and was told that Khalifa and City Center were selling them. So, I jumped in the hoe and drove to Khalifa. I stood in line for an hour outside in the heat while the line almost moved three feet with only forty more feet to go. My math calculations were telling me that this could take a while. So, while I was in line at Khalifa, I called Khalifa and asked if tickets were indeed, without a doubt, on sale at City Center. He confirmed and I took my chances and headed to the mall. After three hours in line, a tall cup of latte, and great conversation with complete strangers that I'll now call friends, I walked away with some pretty nice tickets for what's sure to be an awesome tournament. You were almost right, Freda!

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So Complicated

I have a proposition. Rather, I have received a proposition. Specifically to work outside my home. Horrors! I'm living the life of Riley over here. Why would I fall for such a thing? And who the heck is Riley, anyway. My mom always threw that phrase at me while growing up, as well as referring to me as Lady Astor, another mystery person. I don't think these terms were ever used to lovingly uplift my spirits, either. Something more to the effect of, get off your fat hiney and clean your room, little lady. So it seems, I'm being coaxed by someone years later to get off the aforementioned body part and do something! Part of me is saying, yeah baby, go for it, but the other part is saying, are you kidding me...give up all that bon bon eating? Settle down drama queen. The proposition is only for a chunk of time, not my life. Sort of like a part time, part time position. Could that be classified as same same, but different? Is anyone actually following me here. I think I've lost control of this post. Let me go. I have some thinking to do.


Picture shared by reader,Jack. Thanks,I hope you don't mind!

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