TipnTag Blog

The Weekender – Muqabalat & Mashawi

khalid — Tue, 15 May 2012 22:05:35 +0000

Craving some hearty arabic cuisine to get your weekend off to a ferocious bang? TipnTag brings you the best of Amman’s Muqabalat and Mashawi with this edition of the Weekender. We’ve also got a special feature on one of our oldest and most popular topics – Kibbeh Nayyeh. Whether you’re in the mood for something in downtown Amman “el balad” or want to drive off to another town to enjoy your Arabic Cuisine, you’ll find it all here.

Mashawi - Where Can I eat the best Mashawi?

The elusive Mashawi Shahrazad in the balad (downtown) makes the top of the list with 5 Agrees from our Tipsters followed by the more mainstream Kababji and finally Amman Al-Kubra Restaurant.

Muqabalat - Where can I find a restaurant with the best arabic mezzeh (muqabalat)?

The newcomer to the Arabic Cuisine scene brought to you by the Romero Group, Sufra, has won acclaim for having the best Muqabalat followed by the ever-dependable Fakhr El-Din and the colorfully eccentric Azkadenya respectfully.

Kibbeh Nayyeh - Where can I eat the best Kibbeh Nayyeh?

A dish served cold and best served to the brave of heart. Kibbeh Nayyeh or Kubeh Niyyeh depending on your pronunciation is a main attraction of the Middle Eastern Mezzeh. The debate for the best roared on for some time but once the dust settled the three places that rose to the top were Fakhr El-Din, Levant and Burj Al Hammam.

Latest Questions

Where Can I buy delicious muffins?

Where Can I find macadamia cookies and peanut butter cookies?

Where can I find a café where I can rent a laptop while I’m there?

The Weekender – Sweet Tooth Much?

khalid — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:49:49 +0000

Warm weather is not all about getting fit and eating healthy, sometimes you need to satisfy that sweet tooth you’ve fostered since childhood. TipnTag’s got you covered with Cupcakes, Ice Cream and Smoothies in this edition of the Weekender.

Cupcakes - Where can I find the tastiest cupcakes?

The saying goes…”like a fat kid loves cake”. Little did they know about the love affair between “Ammanis” and cupcakes. Ever since Sugar Daddy’s burst onto the scene a few years ago the craze has been magnified to a whole new stratosphere. Newcomers may try to steal the spotlight though…tell us who you think is best at peddling Amman’s dessert of choice.

Smoothies – Where can I have the best smoothies?

Some come healthy, some come sweet, few come better to beat a hot day’s heat. When you’re stuck in your car and your AC just aint doing it for ya – swing by one of Juicebangbang, Lebnani Snack or Kiwi Juices & Snacks. Lebnani Snack is more well known for being the classic choice whereas Juicebangbang is the more contemporary spot that also features the love it or hate it bubble tea.

Ice Cream – Where can I eat the best ice cream?

The ultimate summer dessert of choice has been molded into chocolatey fusions and fruity concoctions these days. Gerards is well known for there Oreo Blizzards (milkshakes) and large selection of famous flavors. Pinkberry is the fruity and light alternative to ice cream that seems to be gathering lots of attention recently. Frosti is the classic ice cream house that remains a cornerstone of the classic ice cream in Jordan. Freeze Creamery is Amman’s answer to Coldstone – where they mash up your ice cream with nuts, brownies, m&m’s or whatever else your creative appetite can come up with.

Enjoy these warm weather delights…if you’re gonna be indoors be a tipster and answer some of these new questions!

Where can I find evening cooking classes?

Where can I buy delicious muffins?

Where can I find authentic football jerseys?

Lemur Love,

The TipnTag Team

The Weekender – Dance, Spin, Swim…Work Out!

khalid — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:06:06 +0000

The days of hiding your belly underneath your sweater are all but over and its time we here at TipnTag help you uncover a few ways to shed the butter on your “rudder”. This issue of the Weekender will focus on ways you can dance, spin, swim and old school-style burn that fat right off your flabby bum.

Zumba - Where Can I take Zumba classes?

The dance infused work out has become very popular with both men and women that find getting a work out shouldn’t be all about the work. Several gyms in Amman host Zumba instructors but only one currently hosts mixed (men & women) classes and thats instructor Rasha Ashram’s class at Fitness First Gym. If you’re a lady you’re in luck because one of the best Zumba instructors in town, Huda al Bahri, holds classes at the Orthodox Club 4 times a week and twice a week at the Royal Automobile Club.

Spinning – Where can I find a gym to take Spinning classes?

Probably the most fashionable and arguably the most effective at shedding weight, Spinning has been taking Jordan by storm. Still a new Two gyms that Tipsters mentioned host Spinning classes include GX Gym and Powerhut. After an intense work out like spinning its always great to treat yourself to a welcoming spa and the Nirvana Spa at Powerhut does just that.

Swimming – Where can I find an indoor or heated swimming pool?

The weather hasn’t gotten to be swimmable just yet and sometimes you need a lap pool to bust out the laps and get your body toned in all the right places. If you’re in the mood to tone up in the water look no further than Fitness First Gym. They’ve got an indoor heated pool that is rarely ever used by many of the attendants at the gym. Other options include the gym at the Royal Automobile Club, the Orthodox Club and the Sheraton Al Nabil Towers.

Ladies Only Swimming – Where can I find a suitable swimming pool?

Lets face it boys, sometimes the ladies need their privacy. Serenity Spa, Al Ahli Club and the Royal Automobile Club all host swimming pool ladies only days. The Royal Automobile Club hosts ladies day on Monday, Al Ahli Club have theirs twice a week on both Mondays & Wednesdays but Serenity Spa is a female only spa that has an indoor swimming pool thats available for use 7 Days a Week!

Gyms for Macho Men - Where can I find the best gym for men?

Ok if you’ve been reading and you’re a man’s man you’ve been patient enough. You don’t want the machines or the classes. You wanna pump iron and punch holes in walls without flinching. You don’t want the posh and fancy shmancy places. You want to get down to building that good ol’ muscle the no frills way. If so hit up Dynamic Gym, according to tipsters they’re the best gym for men in Amman. The other two recommended gyms for guys include Powerhut and Flex.

No matter what your fix, get tight before the weather gets ripe. Thinking also helps burn calories so here are some questions to test your local know-how:

Where can I find a place that offers free Wifi and has a smoke free environment?

Where can I buy army pants?

Where can I buy 3D movies?

Lemur Love,

The TipnTag Team

The Weekender – Shisha & Booze? Bring on the Nightlife

khalid — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 08:41:00 +0000

Lets face it. No one ever uses the terms “nightlife” and “partying” when they are describing Amman but if you’ve got a taste for the laid back groove, the “sleepy city” may just cut it in one way or another. This edition of the Weekender focuses on the places you’d frequent when the sun goes down and you wanna drown away the work week’s worries with a drink. Fancy an English style pub? How bout a lounge? Or a place where you can enjoy a beer, a shisha and grab a bite to eat? Lets get you liquored up right…

Rovers Return

“Where can I find the best pub?” is an essential for those who want to grab a pint or even watch some footie on the telly. Of the 9 tips, Rovers Return was the hands down winner for its truly English feel as well as its tucked away outdoor area that is more than inviting when the weather is right. They play Premier League matches on match days, be sure to go ahead of time though to make sure no one has another match on. Heads up the TV’s there are linked to one dish so its 1 game at a time folks. The runner’s up to Rover’s throne include Murphy’s Pub, Queen Vic and La Calle.

O Six Gastrolounge

When it’s not all about the game on the tube, turn your attention to “Where can I find the best bar / lounge to enjoy a good meal at and grab some drinks?” It sounds like a tall order but Bonita came out on top of the 17 other tips followed by Sage, Amigo and O Six. Bonita is a humble little dive located near the 3rd circle. If you’re gonna order anything to eat make sure you ask for the mushrooms; infused in a lemon garlic sauce you’ll have trouble not ordering another round. As for the drinks there don’t expect to order any cocktails or fruity concoctions, the regulars stick to their whiskey on the rocks, vodka sodas and others straight to the point drinks. Though someone did order a pretty good White Russian there the other day…

Shisha, Argeeleh, Nargeeleh call it what you wanna call it. Jordanians have a passion for it. Not only do they want it during an arabic meal or when they’re at some random cafe but they crave it even when they’re out drinking. Here’s the proof, “Where can I have argeeleh, great food & beer at the same place?” The top spots tied for the most Agrees were Shaman, Flow/Mimosa and Books@Cafe. Since the weather is great in Amman this time of year, Shaman Garden as well as Book@Cafe are where you’ll get the most out of the beautiful weather without clouding up the lungs of those sitting with you. According to StreetSavvy, the Asian Fusion at Mimosa is top notch. If your insides are in an adventurous mood to take your them for a worldly tour in Mimosa with a mix Asian food, Middle Eastern argeeleh and European beer. Hey…at least it’s cheaper than a plane ticket.

Questions You’d be Hard Pressed to Answer

Where can I go to socialize with people and meet new friends?

Where can I find the tastiest pastries?

Where can I find live reptile food, for my reptiles?

Lemur Love,

The TipnTag Team

The Weekender – Rise n’ Shine its Breakfast Time

khalid — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 07:40:28 +0000

Weekend Suggestion – Don’t Skip Breakfast, No Matter How Late

There’s no shame in it, we’ve all done it. You wake up blurry eyed as you stumble out of bed as if you’d been a mummy for the past 3,000 years and your neglected stomach grumbles like a jet plane scorching through the sky of a hollow canyon…”FEED ME!” To start your Friday off with a bang and chase away the hangover blues nothing beats the almighty breakfast. On to the question on your mind then… “Where can I have the best breakfast on a friday?” Mea Tat-Yurt’s suggestion of Books@Cafe was the most popular of the 9 tips. Followed in second and third by Nadia Saudi’s suggested Ajeenet Zamaan and Paul for Arabic and European style pastries respectively.

Insider Tip: Books@Cafe, located steps away from Rainbow Street has a Friday Breakfast for 7.5 JOD’s that is sure to leave you satisfied and lets just say… feeling fuller than a bear on the cusp of hibernation season. They start you off with a coffee or tea, eggs any style, followed up with your choice of a zatar or cheese Man2ousheh (manaeesh), after that you get to pick between a pancake or french toast and then just so you don’t run home with too many calories they top it off with a wonderful fruit salad. Whew… I got full just typing that. Speaking of calories – Books@Cafe in Abdoun – which does not serve the same breakfast or feature the same menu, is all about cutting out the fried foods and focusing on a healthier, lighter side to your palette. Great place to frequent if you’re looking to get into shape for the summer time but still wanna enjoy the yummies of life.

Waffles: Yes they’re a delicacy and finding the right one is even tougher for the misinformed in Amman. The top three tips to “Where can I eat the best Waffles?“ were The Bakehouse, Pancake & Waffle House (both allegedly of the same ownership) and surprisingly enough Juicebangbang. Watch out though, Juicebangbang’s notorious waffles are only available on Saturdays, so you can only truly enjoy them if your lucky enough to have two day weekends.

English Breakfast: Ah the old country. Fancy some tea, fried eggs, bacon, beans and sausages? Hotels in Jordan seem to be the popular destination to have an English style heart attack. The top tip to “Where can I eat a really good English breakfast?” was the Foyer Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel followed by the Sheraton Al Nabil Hotel and Towers and the Pancake & Waffle House.

Some New Questions For You:

Where can I find warag diwali malfouf and stuff koosa?
Where can I find ready-to-eat Hamleh?
Where can find a good place to go on dates?

Lemur Love,

The TipnTag Team

The Weekender – Where’s the Meat?

khalid — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 06:54:23 +0000

There are few things better in life than digging into a warm and juicy chunk of meat. Vegetarians you better start running now – this version of the weekender is a Carnivorous delight to say the least! Now that Easter’s on its way and everyone can take part in the joy of eating meat, we’re paying a special tribute to the Steak lovers, Burger hunters and Pork connoisseurs of Amman.

Which brings us to the question on everyone’s minds, “Where can I eat the best steak in Amman?“ Mais Odeh’s suggestion of

Evoo (Sheraton Al Nabil Towers) beat the other 14 Tips with The Library Lounge (Marriott Hotel) and the Ivy rounding up the top three. Every Thursday Evoo has steak nights bound to suit anyone’s favorite cut whether they’re craving a Filet Mignon, Strip Loin or Rib Eye.

Insider Tip: If you’re trying to stray away from having dinner at a hotel, then the Ivy is a great place to go enjoy a hearty Filet – tipster recommendation: butterfly it, because they come thick but boy do they taste great.

Your probably really hungry and craving some meat but may not have the budget to go dish out the cash on a steak just yet. Save your cash for the weekend partying and grab yourself a burger why don’t you? The most popular question on TipnTag in Amman… “Where can I find the best burger in Amman?“ Biggie’s suggestion of Amigo beat over 40 other tips to this

question! Amigo was followed by Wingers and Oobe respectively. Since Oobe and Amigo are part of the same Attico Group – this time and this time only we’re gonna allow a fourth patron of Burgers to enter the fray…drum roll….Fatty Dabs Burger Shack. Will the newly opened Burger Joint just down the road tip the scales? Only time will tell…

Not too many restaurants serve it but more and more stores are starting to carry it. Pork is not the town’s most fashionable meat but the demand for it is high. On “Where can I find pork in Amman?“ our tipsters mentioned a handful of places most of which were supermarkets or specialty stores that would sell pork. The one restaurant that did come up however was Milano – where you can get a true Italian Sub, Ham & Cheese sandwiches, a Club Sandwich with “real” bacon for a change and a few other goodies.

If you’re not out the door yet to your new meaty destination, here are a list of some of the latest questions:

Where can I find nice fake plants?

Where can I eat the best Fettuccine?

Where can I print great quality wedding cards?

The Weekender – Arts & the Outdoors

khalid — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:22:03 +0000

Weekend Suggestion – Go Sightseeing and take a camera this time…

Spring is in the air and while the animals may be getting frisky this is a good time for us humans to enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors once more. Lets face it, Amman doesn’t stay green for too long. One of the hottest questions recently asked was all about finding the best area in Amman to take photographs of nice views. With a total of 12 tips since, Streetsavvy’s suggestion of Jabal al Weibdeh was selected as the most prominent. You can take great photos of the old Amman cityscape as well as some funky street shots while enjoying a walk in one of the most pedestrian friendly areas in Amman. And for the most part, that means you too ladies. Wild Jordan Cafe and Amman Citadel were also mentioned more than once as good spots to take some scenic photos of the outdoors and the contrasting urban sprawl.

Top 3 Places to go in Jabal al Weibdeh when you’re done taking your scenic photographs and enjoying the outdoors:

Canvas - A laid back, cozy and artsy place often with live musical acts – i.e. Light n’ Jazzy.
Beit Sitti - Like home cooked Middle Eastern cuisine? Wanna learn how to make some Middle Eastern dishes? Leave full and pick up a new skill while you’re at it. Super fun experience and the food is even better.
Cafe Graffiti - If you’re in the mood for a coffee and want to wind down after your walk you’ll find Cafe Graffiti a charming destination for both your palette and your eyes. You can even add your graffiti on their walls if you’re feeling artistically inclined. Speaking of which…

Insider Tip: ART. If you admire or simply appreciate it – Jabal al Weibdeh is drowning in art galleries – need I say it, the good kind of drowning. From the ever-present Darat al Funun to the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts to the artistically vast Dar al-Anda Art Gallery, don’t step foot in Jabal al Weibdeh expecting to leave without having experienced art at one of these city gems. Here’s a little break down of what to expect from each of these stalwarts of the art scene in Jordan.

Darat al Funun - Paintings, prints, sculptures, drawings, photography & book illustrations by 69 Arab artists from Jordan, Palestine,
Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt,Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Saudi Arabia.
Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts - Over 2000 works including paintings, sculptures, prints, sculptures, photographs, installations, weavings and ceramics by more than 800 artists from 59 countries primarily from Asia and Africa.
Dar al-Anda Art Gallery - Encompassing much more than just the visual arts, Dar al Anda promotes Art in the form of musical concerts, informative literary and cultural activities that take place in tandem with the many exhibitions of fine art they house.

Fun Fact: Jabal Al Weibdeh or Al Weibdeh as many locals tend to call is actually Luweibdeh. Yes, Weibdeh is not it’s name! Its hard to notice the difference for most because people usually say “Al Weibdeh” when in reality its “Al Luweibdeh”. In Arabic usually people throw around terms like “ana raye7 3al weibdeh” or “ana bil weibdeh” each of which ends with an “L” before the “Weibdeh” mistake thus concealing our ears from the truth of the matter. Well…at least now you know for the next time you type it!

Some New & Some Hard to Answer Questions For You:

Where can I buy cute socks for women?
Where can I rent Furniture and TV’s?
Where can I find a Flamenco dance school?
Where can I find the best chicken sandwiches?
Where can I find cool Wallpaper?

Enjoy the weekend & don’t forget to stop by TipnTag for more interesting questions revolving around Amman and beyond!

Lemur Love,

The TipnTag Team

The Weekender – Chinese Restaurants

khalid — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 15:29:59 +0000

iPod Nano Giveaway

How’d you like to win an iPod Nano for sharing your favorite places with a few people? Get your summer tunes playing early as you roam the streets and side walks of Amman for only 1750 Lemur Points. If you wanna learn about how to win & redeem click here.

Weekend Suggestion – If it’s Raining Order In…

One of the hottest questions recently involved finding the best place to eat Chinese Food in Amman. There have been a total of 17 tips since with Supernova’s suggestion of Shanghai Restaurant selected as the best. Abu Khalil and Peking round up the top 3 for the question.

Top 3 Menu Items to order from Shanghai Restaurant:

Szechuan Chicken
Chicken Balls
Manchurian Beef

Insider Tip: If you decide to order delivery from Shanghai Restaurant don’t forget to order the Spring Rolls. They come in unique aluminum foil packaging that keeps them crunchy and tasty. No soggy Spring Rolls for me!

Fun Fact: Abu Khalil is a weird name for a Chinese Restaurant, isn’t it? People on TipnTag initially voiced their concerns that there would be no way they’d eat from a Chinese Restaurant called Abu Khalil! Funny enough, it turns out Abu Khalil is actually a Chinese man that moved to Jordan long ago and opened up a Chinese Restaurant. When his son was born he named him Khalil, thus being handed the title of Abu Khalil! Go figure…

Some New & Some Hard to Answer Questions For You:

Where can I get the best car wash?
Where can I rent Furniture and TV’s?
Where can I eat good tacos?
Where can I find an Arabic Caligraphy Artist?
Where can I find cool Wallpaper?

Lemur Love,

The TipnTag Team

Top 3 Tuesdays: Catch Me In Your Plans

Reema Attyeh — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:26:42 +0000

This week we look at swimming while it’s snowing; meeting new friends on the go; tennis in a bubble; comfort food during the cold weather; and our favorite Winter brews.

The winter season allows us to break out and break in those rusty ice skates and ski boots but for those who have no interest in the traditional winter sports, you have not been forgotten. Boston is filled with indoor sports centers where you can keep practicing those tennis strokes on the court as well as those backstrokes in the pool. Check out the Boston Athletic Club for indoor tennis courts and enjoy a free 1-Day Pass with access to all the indoor sports offered. For swimming, try Commonwealth Sports Club and get a 7-day free trial pass.

For those who enjoy the cool brisk feeling while running outside, this winter Boston is offering a number of races, but my ultimate favorite is the Freedom Trail Run which incorporates historical sightseeing and goes on every Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy a great workout with occasional stops around the beautiful city of Boston this winter – you might even meet some pretty cool people. Check out the Freedom Trail Run Video Clip

Every winter our friend, Sam Adams, likes to shower us with a variety of flavor brews but this winter he has gone above and beyond. With a wonderful mix of fruit and chocolate savors, you are guaranteed to find your beer of choice this season. Going to a holiday party? Pick up a Winter Classics Variety pack that is sure to delight your friends. Some flavors include the
Black & Brew which is a chocolate stout; the Chocolate Bock which has a rich and creamy taste; the Winter Lager which includes a touch of holiday spice; the Old Fezziwig Ale which is spicy and bold and considered a “big Christmas cookie” of a beer; and much more. It also doesn’t hurt that the alcohol content in this winter’s brews is higher than the average beer, well maybe just a little.

Although there have been a few days of warm weather, who are we kidding? Boston is known to have one of the longest winters so it’s important to find those comfort foods that will keep you warm this season. For all things Boston, there is always Faneuil Hall Marketplace in the North End where a whole day can technically be spent taking in all three meals of the day. Make sure to look deep between the touristy food stands for MMMac & Cheese which will prepare your order while you wait so you can be sure to get that fresh taste. Across the bridge in Cambridge you will find another hearty, homey meal at Henrietta’s Table. Ask for the Yankee Pot Roast, which includes braised beef alongside mashed potatoes and gravy. To put the cold weather to rest, finish up with a rich but sweet cup of hot chocolate. Boston offers many beautifully placed cafes all over so my suggestion is to post a question on www.tipntag.com and wait for the tips to roll in from your fellow lemurs.

Happy Holidays!

Reema Attyeh

Top 3 Tuesday: The Holidays in Boston

Beth Mahoney — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:43:38 +0000

We’re really getting into the holiday spirit here at TipnTag! And, with the recent tree lighting and opening of the ice rink on Frog Pond, Boston is decked out for the holidays.

One of our favorite parts of the holidays are all of the fun parties we get to go to, including maybe the best theme party of all, the Ugly Sweater parties! If you have one coming up and need a tacky holiday sweater in Boston, check out your local Goodwill store. Be ready to hunt for the perfect tacky sweater, but you can get one really cheap at Goodwill. Some other great and popular options include The Garment District, Urban Outfitters (if you don’t mind spending more money) and Buffalo Exchange! If you have an Ugly Sweater party planned soon, Boston’s got plenty of options to find the best holiday sweaters.

So, after you host the year’s most awesome Ugly Sweater Party, you’ll need some Christmas cards to thank your guest and wish them a happy holiday. Our Tipsters love Urban Outfitters and Barnes and Noble for their holiday cards. Urban is great for those funky, unique cards that will make your friends chuckle. B&N carries more classic holiday cards, including the UNICEF pack, so some of your purchase goes to a great cause!

And to top it all of, get your perfect holiday dessert at Cupcakory, Boston’s bakery in a truck! Cupcakory features a salted caramel cupcake that is to die for. Your holiday guests will flip for these cupcakes, so head to their website and place an order!

So now that you know some of our favorite holiday activities, tell us yours! What’s your favorite holiday tradition? Leave a comment here, on Facebook, Tweet us, or ask a question!