JOHNNY ROCKETS - Burgers done right !

Growing up in Australia we learnt of the heyday of Americana through comics, magazines and television, but living in a bastion of all things British we never experienced it. 

Arriving in the USA in the 90’s and not travelling Route 66 or the famed ‘old guard’ areas, sticking mainly to the major cities, I still never experienced it. Washington DC and Chicago, New York, San Francisco and LA where all grown up when I arrived.

Flash forward to Bahrain twenty years later and I find Johnny Rockets a Burger restaurant which is truly iconic of all things Americana during the hey dey era.

First and foremost Johnny Rockets is a Burger restaurant. And you know what, they do it really well. At first, there is something kind of ‘kitsch’ about the smiley face in ketchup placed before you. But after a while you realize that you’re in a burger joint and troubles of life really should stay outside. This is Johnny Rockets, relax and enjoy your burger and let the troubles of the world permeate your soul after you’ve dined.

Bahrain now sports two Johnny Rocket stores, one in Al Ali Mall, in Seef area and the other at the Lagoon Park at Amwaj.

The menu at Johnny Rockets is lengthy and has every conceivable form of burger you could imagine. Fries come plain or loaded, with cheese and chilli and you can even have truffle fries, which are part of the new Wagyu experience.

Johnny Rockets is not just about the food though, it truly is a place to go and relax and chill, not momentarily, like say a café, but for an afternoon. Dining slow here is better than rushing, simply you can eat more if you go slow, and then you truly get the JR experience. It’s the décor, the white hats on their staff, the silver topped straw holders, the tabletop juke box selectors and the whole vibe and atmosphere which makes Johnny Rockets the amazing place that it is.

Don’t get me wrong, the food here is sensational. 

While I can never understand why a place that serves burgers and fries and wants you to drop as much money as possible has their booths so tight and seating so close to the tables, making it tough for a big guy like me to sit at them, I did find at the Amwaj outlet the staff where kind enough to advise me to push the booth seating back a little for space, without scoffing at my requirement to need to do so. I appreciate that.

Seating otherwise is booth, tables or bar side. I’d love to sit at the bar sometime, but the concept requires that when the restaurant is busy that the staff do a quick song and dance routine (literally not figuratively) and for that reason I find the bar counter area too close to the action and too focal a position to be siting in. I hate being center of attention anywhere. I am not a fan of the whole show and song routine, I feel sorry for the staff in having to do that. It is embarrassing for me and must be for them, to one minute be your waiter trying to get your attention and respect and the next being reduced to show ponies for the management and concept sake. But it does make the kids smile and I guess that’s truly the demographic for the franchise, so I just prefer to sit further back within the restaurant for my own sake.

So if your in need of some cheering up and require a smiley face in ketchup to get your frown to turn upsidedown, or if your just in need of a great burger and fries, or  for a drink that is a meal in itself (ask for the apple pie shake-it is exactly what it sounds like, a slice of perfect apple pie buzzed into a milkshake- Dear God I thought I’d gone to heaven), then Johnny Rockets is your place.

I may have grown up without experiencing Americana, but I did grow up watching Dallas, and any restaurant who’s initials are JR, is about as American as they get. And Johnny Rockets, fills my needs on multiple levels. It could only be more American if the servers where on roller skates, but I think that was a later era.

Fries done right !! Well Done Johnny Rockets !! Load those bad boys full of tasty ingredients.

They even do salads....just so that the burger and apple pie shake don't feel so guilt ridden I think !!

GO Wagyu for the ultimate burger experience....Heaven!!

SOIE..a Chinese delight

I long for good Chinese food some times, actually often, yet I also find it difficult at times to think of where offers such cuisine especially in Bahrain. I am not in the habit of frequenting hotels, although you would think after nearly ten years in the Middle East I would realize that some of the best restaurants are in fact associated with hotels and not stand alone like other parts of the world.

A friend suggested I try SOIE CHINESE RESTAURANT at the Sheraton Hotel, Bahrain in early 2013. Despite that experience which I shall elude to in a moment, I tried again for a special birthday for a special someone and this time came away with the desire to return many times again.

SOIE is situated in the Sheraton Hotel Bahrain, hotel lobby, just to the left upon entry and it’s darkened ambience warms to a rich Chinese, Asian feel for restaurant décor. Few hotels make restaurants that can transport you out of the fact that you are stuck within the walls of a hotel, Soie, does the job well and time spent here is time well spent enjoying the company of others, with great food.

The first time I ate here, and a good warning to anyone within Bahrain with allergies for all restaurants, my guest had a severe intolerance to GLUTEN and we requested this fact to be made known to the chefs. Having ordered what we thought was a safe dish in Lobster cooked two ways, we had an early exit from the restaurant in order to rush my friend to the emergency room of the local hospital as the lobster indeed had been cooked in a flour thickened sauce. We of the natural English speaking world and those of us with intolerances based on Western Society need to truly ensure that our words are understood by those who do not speak English as a first language and secondly ensure that words such as GLUTEN INTOLERANT are understood also. I guess Peanut allergy is easier to understand than Gluten persae.

 While I was saddened to cut the first dinner short, it saddened me more why anyone would cook lobster two ways and both those ways included cooking such a delicious and delicate meat with thickened sauces. Steamed and grilled would have been my more natural choice for cooking lobster two ways to ensure its flavor and freshness where exemplified, but then again perhaps that was the reason also.

My most recent dining experience at SOIE was without food drama. It included a delicious starter of prawn crackers and refreshing beverages of the fruity variety. Although we ate too much, SOIE and it’s chefs truly exceled on the second trip to dine here. Salt and pepper Calamari, duck and lobster where cooked perfectly, (if even still in sauces I would not cook myself.) The evening was about fine dining, enjoyment and relaxing with a friend who was enjoying a birthday.  Soie and its staff ensured we enjoyed the evening and as such I highly recommend the experience to all.

Bahrain can be a difficult place to recommend restaurants as one good night does not always guarantee every trip will be the same. But the chefs at Soie, perfected the art of cooking the lobster the exact two ways twice, the staff were pleasant both trips and could not do enough to assist us and ensure the evening was pleasant. In this I feel assured that every trip by ever guests is the same.

There are cheaper establishments, but then there are lesser places also for ambience, quality and comfort. On all levels Soie met my aged and demanding needs and for a good Chinese Restaurant, and as such it rates highest in my books.

SOIE CHINESE RESTAURANT at the SHERATON HOTEL can be contacted on  (+973) 17533533 · Email: soie.bahrain@sheraton.com open dinners Sunday - Friday 7:00 PM - 11:30 PM. Closed Saturday.

 I was this week informed of an up and coming promotion at SOIE for the month of NOVEMBER 2013…so give it a try..

Seafood Promotion at Soie

Seafood lovers are invited during November, come along and enjoy special dishes of the month at Soie

Items include Daxia Wok - fried fillet of dory fish Manchurian at BD 3.900++; Kuye Sautéed Cuttle Fish with bamboo shoots, straw mushroom in spicy Szechwan sauce at BD 4.500++; Jiujiang Udong Noodles with hammour, shrimps, calamari & vegetables at BD 4.900++; Quingshui’s Spicy Minced Hammour Dumplings with chili garlic sauce at BD 5.900++; Pan Fried Dashi Scallops with snow peas in yellow beans sauce at BD 7.900++

Visit www.soiebahrain.com for more information or call +973 17533533

One Small Step For Mankind....

Time may heal all wounds, but let me tell you that ‘Time’ does not repair a shattered heart.

23 years ago I lost my best friend to suicide and yet I cry more now for the guilt imparted in not having called him the day before he passed, than I think I have cried in any year over the past two decades. Of course having a father attempt the same and having lost near and dear ones of an intimate nature over the past few years has not helped my situation at all either.

In fact in recent years, this Humpty Dumpty has felt more like a jigsaw puzzle without many of it’s edge pieces. Barely holding things together.

Anyway, after a recent failed attempt toward happiness I decided and was informed by a few that I should seek professional help, in the form of Therapy.

I went to a “shrink” 20 years ago and we just did not see eye to eye.. He was an idiot and I was not, that simple!

Over the years my attitude toward professional help has declined along with my mental health. In my eyes, you just don’t grow a new heart, you need a transplant and I’m pretty sure Psychologists and Psychiatrists don’t do those in their office on the sofa.

I come form the old school of thinking also. JUST GET OVER IT! In fact I can hear my father saying those words all the time. PULL YOUR SELF TOGETHER SON he would say if any of us where ever depressed.

But after well over 106 relationships since the age of 21 and more than 30 of those in the past 5 years, I have to finally state that it’s not just me getting hurt by my dilemma now, but a lot of others as well. And that means that my problem has become others problem and thats just not fair.

In a relationship you have to have a heart to be able to give a heart and mine has been so long shattered that the rock that sits in it’s place is no place from which to begin any new relationship right now.

A relationship needs commitment of heart and mind and I realize now that I have been missing 50% of that equation for quite some time, two decades or more in fact.

Little wonder I’m 43 and single.

So will therapy change things?

Can it help to grow a new muscle where my heart once sat and will it make that muscle beat and feel again?

I doubt it personally. 23 years is a very long time to suffer anything and you come to live with it, be accustomed to it and deal with things in your own way. Hiding the truth mainly from everyone.

In a way my relationship all these years has been with “LOSS” and to lose “Loss” now after all this time might be hard to take.

Anyway, today is Sunday February 17^th 2013  and today was the first day with my new psychologist, Day one of therapy.

Lets just give it a try and see where this takes us shall we !

I’m off to buy a pack of tissues to give to the Dr., because I used a lot of hers this afternoon.

Wish me well folks!

Discovering Indonesia

I love word association to test the capacity of thoughts of most people.

Ask them a word such as ‘Indonesia’ and see the results.

Indonesia – Bali

Indonesia – Earth-quake

Indonesia – Tsunami.

Most people THINK that they know Indonesia, but try the same word recognition test on a recently found group of friends of mine and this is what you’ll get

Indonesia – Jakarta

Indonesia - Waterfalls

Indonesia – Miss Padang 2012

Indonesia - Trip of a lifetime

The latter proves to me that not only have my new friends seen a different side to Indonesia the country but that they have experienced the country, not merely heard about it, not merely visiting it, and not just done the normal well trodden tourist destinations.

Indeed the “trip of a lifetime” as expressed by one of my friends, was an unplanned and unexpected event for us all. A request by the Indonesian Embassy in Bahrain and fully sponsored by The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, to join them on a Familiarisation Trip to experience Indonesia and report on what we found, was out of the blue, a nice surprise but one that had expectations of seeing the usual government sponsored sites and events.

Ten people joined the tour. Ten unknown, unrelated strangers who just ‘clicked’ from the outset, made this trip easy from the start.  Travel can be laborious at times, but accompanied by like minds, friends and enjoyable companions the journey is made easier.

Indonesia 1.01 is this;

-population 240 million people,

-currency Rupiah,

-capital Jakarta with 12 million people and traffic which can congest quickly.

Indeed as per the original word association Indonesia has seen its share of trouble, earthquakes, tsunamis and yes Bali is a popular destination. But to relegate this country to just these issues is not knowing anything about Indonesia at all.

After a week in Indonesia I can tell you honestly and from experience the following ;

Indonesia is amazing, fun and diverse in more ways than I think I have experienced in many countries.

I have now visited 82 countries on this rock we call Earth and Indonesia amazed me like few others. It has everything; ancient temples dating back millennia, provincial traditions retained and honored, modern metropolises and sensational rarely explored wilderness. Whether you are looking for a fast paced stop off, quiet vacation, shopping trip, business trip or eco friendly exploration, you will find it in this country of 17,000 islands.

Our tour visited Jakarta, West Java and Western Sumatra, and given more time we could have spent a week in each and still not seen enough. From the emerald green of rice paddy’s in the low lying sea level belts to the rich lushness of tea and coffee plantations 2000 feet above sea level, craters of still active volcanoes, warm lakes where fish nibble at your feet and walks through the native village areas where villagers allow you to pick cocoa pods from their front yard and share tea with you in their home …this is a country of diversity and unbelievable friendliness.

Like any country it has its areas of improvement but also remember that it does indeed have a hard past from which it is working hard to overcome. Few of us could face earthquakes, tsunamis and everything else mother nature can throw at us, and still be so accommodating, friendly and filled with wonderlust as Indonesia.

If you think you know Indonesia, then think again!

Give this amazing country an opportunity to prove itself to each and everyone of you and in return our tourism dollars will help propel this land of amazing natural and traditional cultural amazements into a new stratosphere of recognition.

Bali may be fun, but the rest of Indonesia is truly magnificent.

Garuda Airlines is set to begin direct services from  Abu Dhabi to Jakarta in December 2012 with flights already being available from Jeddah to Jakarta, other countries and for connectors from Bahrain, consult your local travel agents.

A traditional fisherman on lake Singkarak...From the hectic world of jakarta Indonesia still allows the opportunity to be by yourself, even in a country of 242 million, you can still be the sole person on the lake...Amazing !

Peace and Serenity in the Rice fields of Indonesias Harau valley

With vast beauty the islands of Indonesia also have awe with 150 Volcanoes to visit 75 of which are still active.

Harau Valley will amaze those seeking Eco-Tourism and the chance to get lost in the wilderness and serenity of nature.

Pagaruyun Palace with its traditional shape and design is dedication to the traditions of old. Despite the massive population and the need to push forward Indonesians are proud of their heritage. And rightfully so.

James Claire - The Scribe: MID LIFE - Is no Crisis !!!

James Claire - The Scribe: MID LIFE - Is no Crisis !!!: It’s astonishing sometimes that the clearest things in life elude you for so long. I mean I have heard the famed saying...

MID LIFE - Is no Crisis !!!

It’s astonishing sometimes that the clearest things in life elude you for so long. I mean I have heard the famed sayings, such as “the only thing to fear is fear itself”, spoken by Franklin Roosevelt…But what did that really mean and what have I had to fear ? Seems plenty, as do us all. But that’s changing.

That thing that sends the hair on the back of your neck standing upright.

The cause for the butterflies in your stomach, anticipation and anxiety both cousins of fear.

Fear , the cause of adrenalin which makes us do remarkable feats we otherwise  could never achieve and which boosts us into almost super human potential.

But what if we had no fear.

Well I think I just solved a life long question for many.

I think fear is what life is suppose to be all about, to keep us all in line.

It’s what keeps us going.

Fear of tomorrow, fear of being left behind, fear of conformity, fear of non-conformity, fear of acceptance, fear of not living up to our potential. Fear of debt, of banks,  death, fear of not providing enough or our families, and fear , well, you name it, fear of almost everything.

I’m heading at supersonic speed to a little thing called mid life crisis, but on the cusp of my arrival I believe I may have cracked this nut wide open.

There’s no crisis at all.

And there is nothing to fear.

In fact I believe that’s been the crisis for so many for so long.…

Mid life is when everything starts to spiral, seemingly out of control and we start to question things. Question our purpose, question our role in life, question our choices?

But what if we turned all this on it’s head and looked at it in reverse.

Instead of fearing mid-life, what if mid-life is simply the time of absolute freedom.

A center point in life where you can see the winning post and see the starting line and make your life choice to either go forward and run the normal race, or take another route and get off the rat race.

What if it’s not us, the mid lifers, who question all around us, but that all around us becomes clearer and that others begin to see us differently, question us because we have suddenly differed from the norm. What if what they see is just pure envy and jealousy!

You see it came to me over something quite simple, a car’s travel log that I was supposed to fill out on a daily basis.

You see I’m a stickler for the rules. I’m also pragmatic about doing the right thing.

To cut a long story short, someone else drove my car, moved the log book and both they and I forgot to fill it out.

I saw the log book today after a week. And I looked at it thinking , whateva!!

And that’s when it struck me, this feeling of being unsettled lately.

I agree it is borderline mid-life crisis. But not for the reasons one might imagine.

You see I think mid-life crisis is the period of time when you realize that you fear nothing.

It makes you see the world differently, so differently that you start to act and be different to the norm and thus others call you egotistical, arrogant, strange, weird, rude even or eccentric. But I am really none of these.

I simply have a lack of fear.

What if this is our freedom,

What if this is a higher power setting us free.

You see I’ve seen much, I’ve travelled often, I’ve worked hard and yes along with it there have been financial gains and rewards , as well as pain, loss and tragedy.

I’ve done so much. I’ve written books, been published in dozens of countries, I’ve starred on TV, I’ve done radio, I’ve made incredible sums of money and I’ve spent like there’s no tomorrow, I’ve also felt the phenomenon called love, and known  callous stinging pain caused by loss.

I’ve rewarded for my skills and awarded for my contributions and have been questioned by specialists on my sanity.

And today, looking at that log book, I realized, this unsettled feeling I have is the freedom which comes from having lived a full life and coming out the others side intact.

There is nothing left for me to fear.

I have enough money now, why do I want to fight for more.

On the other hand if I lost everything tomorrow I know that I enough knowledge , skills and common sense to get it again.

I don’t fear aging, for I have lead an amazing youth and look forward to the lessons of age.

I don’t fear love or lack of it. I have loved and been loved and I know there are those who love me too.

Death the ultimate fear is nothing but a portal to the future. So many have died, so many will and at this age one has finally conquered the ultimate fear by realizing that inevitability is exactly that, inevitable!

There is literally nothing left to fear but to accept and embrace.

Mid life crisis, lay not with the person going through it, but with the others looking on in envy and who have not yet conquered all that they must .

People looking on are disgusted at those with mid-life crisis because we are the anarchists. We just don’t care what others think of our actions because we don’t fear being judged, we don’t fear your callous tongues and we don’t fear gossip any longer.

Do what you want, do what you will and say what ever, the fact is I don’t care if you fire me, incarcerate me, kick me out of a country, take my money, take my home, I don’t mind.

I am comfortable with who and where I am and I have no fear. ‘Whateva’ happens will always happen and I have 189 other countries in which to live, choices of thousands of types of jobs, and a brain which makes me both sexy and smart enough to continue on life’s path uninhibited.

In the words of Jim Morrison,” Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free”.

Mid life is not a crisis, it is a freedom from the norm.

I’ve reached the point in my life where life can truly begin. I don’t have to listen to petty threats for I have enough to fall back on, personally, professionally and emotionally to go through just about anything without fear of the results.

Of course this cant be the norm for all of us, or the world would turn to anarchy. Mid life crisis will come and go.

Eventually you hit and older age I guess and fear the future once more, the longevity of it all and the solo existence as others depart before you.

Right here , right now. I’m just happy to be center stage on the act of life.

Throw at me what you will.

Today starts a new and so does the way in which I live it.