Food Review: Which Wich

Now that everyone is fascinated by American Franchises opening in U.A.E., it was about time that Which Wich showed up. While Which Wich is pretty similar in concept to the likes of Pot Belly, Charley's Grilled Subs and Subway, it has a lot more to offer. Another added benefit of Which Wich is that it is more organized than its competitors.

Located at the side of City Tower 1 (Near Crowne Plaza Hotel) on Sheikh Zayed Road, Which Wich has to offer a range of sandwiches or as some would say Subs, along with some smooth Milk Shakes and freshly baked cookies.

As you enter Which Wich, you can see an area on the left hand side with a huge list of sandwich options and numbers from 1 to 10 on it. Each number indicates a category of sandwich. For example: 1 is for Turkey, 4 is for Chicken while 6 is for Vegetarian. Under each category, a number of sandwich options are listed. There are 5 sandwich options under each category, which gives you a choice of about 50 sandwiches. This means that one cannot complain about the number of sandwiches Which Wich has to offer.

The first step is to pick a brown bag from the number you choose and start ticking off the options one by one. You have to start by choosing from 1 of the 5 sandwich options. After selecting the Chicken Category, I chose Buffalo Chicken from the list which also included Chicken Tikka Salad, Chicken Pesto, Teriyaki Chicken and Chicken.

A few interesting drawings

Once done with this, one has the option to also choose whether they want double cheese or double meat. I didn't choose either. The next step is an important one and it is totally dependent on your choice and appetite at the same time. There are 3 different sizes of wiches to choose from - A small wich is 7 inches in size, a medium wich is 10.5 inches in size and a large wich is 14 inches in size. If you are not interested in having a sandwich, there is also a choice of Bowlwich or Lettucewich (A lettuce wrap).

Since I wasn't too hungry, I opted for a small wich. The next thing I had to make up my mind was on deciding whether to go for a coldwich or a hotwich (a toasted sandwich). I love toasted sandwiches and went for the hotwich.

Choose what you like

After completing these easy steps, it is then time for a difficult step. Why I consider this particular step difficult is because of the number of choices one has. There are more than 10 varieties of cheeses, 10 varieties of spreads and sauces, 3 types of mustards, 3 types of mayos, 6 different dressings, 3 types of onions, more than 10 types of veggies and about 7 Oils and spices to choose from. Which wich offers so much that one would be spoilt for choice.

After ticking off the options, me and my friend handed over the brown packet at the cash counter and paid for my sandwich. Since I wanted something sweet as well, I ordered a brownie. We were asked to take a seat and the staff would bring it to us.

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Our order arrived in about 5-7 minutes. The sandwich was warm and tasted delicious. I loved the chicken and the fresh veggies used in the sandwich. However the best part about the sandwich was the Marinara sauce. The Crisps in the sandwiches added that extra awesomeness to the sandwich.

The staff was generous enough to give us a complementary Double Chocolate Cookie and a Cranberry & White Chocolate Cookie. I loved the freshly baked Double Chocolate Cookie, while the Cranberry & White Chocolate Cookie was good too. The Brownie however was just brilliant. Overall, justice was done to my sweet tooth.

Brownie, Double Chocolate Cookie and Cranberry & White Chocolate Cookie

I must add that I have also tried the Milkshakes at Which Wich on different visits. I loved the Oreo Milkshake and my friend speaks highly of the Vanilla Milkshake. The Milkshakes are thick and filling since it is only available in large size. During other visits and home delivery, I have tried Teriyaki Chicken, Chicken Tikka Salad, Chicken Italiano, Chipotle Chicken and Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwiches. I must say that I was impressed by each of these sandwiches.

On the whole, Which Wich is the perfect place for sandwich and sub lovers. It has a variety to offer like no other and with the Brownie, Cookies and Milkshakes it has to offer, Which Wich deserves a lot more loyal customers than it presently has. Dine in at Which Wich and you will understand why I speak so highly of this place.

Location: City Tower 1, Near Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai.
Contact No.: 00971 4 4409300 ext. 440
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whichwichuae
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhichWichUAE
For further details and menu visit: http://www.zomato.com/dubai/which-wich-world-trade-center-area

Movie Review: White House Down

Anyone who has watched Roland Emmerich's previous movies will surely know that he loves blowing up stuff all around USA, with Washington being his favourite. Right from Independence Day, followed by The Day After Tomorrow and 2012, Roland has shown us multiple ways of how the world would go down. In this movie however it is just the White House.

(Source: Rope of Silicon)

The movie stars Channing Tatum as Cale, and Jamie Foxx as the President of the USA. Cale portrays the character of a bodyguard. He ends up at the White House for an interview to be part of the secret services. However his past haunts him and he does not make it through. His career isn't the only thing that Cale has been unsuccessful at. Cale's daughter Emily (played by Joey King) isn't fond of her dad either and calls her dad with his first name. 

Cale brings his daughter along to the White House to fix up things with her, given that she is a big fan of the President. As the interview gets over, Cale and Emily hang around for a tour of the White House. Little do they know that things would get ugly in sometime. As Cale and Emily are still on the tour, a group of individuals with a not so common motive attack the White House. 

Tatum and Foxx in action (Source: Washington Times)

The terrorists might not have a common motive but they are ready to kill and do have a well sought out plan. As things start getting difficult and the terrorists take control of the White House, Cale steps up to protect the President. With this huge responsibility at hand, Cale has to also ensure that he gets his daughter out of the place safely. What follows is a series of action scenes from shooting and killing to helicopter crashes and blowing up parts of the White House. Yes, we have all seen this type of action before. However, the chemistry between Tatum and Foxx is interesting to watch. The scenes with both of them together lift up the movie.

Jamie Foxx pulls of his role with ease and adds some humor to the character. I haven't watched a President be part of the action and be humorous at the same time ever before. Channing Tatum is impressive, while Joey King manages to handle her parts pretty well. Tatum steals most of the screen space in the movie. Maggie Gyllenhall as Finnerty is passable and does not have a lot of say in the movie. Lance Reddick as General Caulfield has not been given enough screen space but impresses whenever he is on screen. Other supporting cast including Richard Jenkins and Jason Clarke do a decent job.

Tatum and Foxx prepare to shoot down some terrorists (Source: Collider)

The story of the movie is good but there is nothing special about it. Most of the action scenes in the movie are well done, especially with the part with the Limo and the Air Force One. However, there are a few over the top ones that are hard to believe even with amazing graphics. Overall, the movie has a lot of action and pretty less space for anything else. Go for it if you are looking for a good action movie and if you are a fan of Foxx or Tatum.

Rating:    6.5/10

Runtime: 131 mins.

Trailer:    http://youtu.be/Kkoor7Z6aeE 

Coffee please !!

That amazing feeling of stepping out of your bed and having a cup of coffee sitting pretty in the breakfast tray with some egg and croissants to savor. What about that post lunch cappuccino that relaxes your senses during a tiring day at work? Yes, we all love that, don’t we?

Coffee for many of us is not only a beverage but also a friend that comes to our relief when we need it most. Over the years, we have a number of brands who have come up with their coffee stores or as some say coffeehouses. We often argue about which coffeehouse is the best? The question being is there a coffeehouse that is actually the best or it just comes down to personal preferences.

In this post we talk about 7 different coffeehouses that I recently visited and what I think about each one of them. Which one of them will be crowned as the best? Let’s find out!

     1.  Caribou Coffee (USA)

Whenever one enters Caribou, you get the feeling of an old cottage. It feels like a cozy place, which you can call home. It’s a place where you sit all day long sipping from your cup. The coffee is decent and the smoothies are good. Answer the Trivia question for the day and get a buck off. Yes, they do have some delicious sandwiches that you might want to dig into.

My picks: Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Chocolate Cooler

Favourite outlet: DIFC

     2. Costa (UK)

Costa gives a different feel altogether. It looks like one of those more sophisticated coffeehouses where working men or women would drop by to have a quick cup of coffee. It could also be a good place for short one-on-one business meetings. I would prefer to grab my breakfast along with some coffee from Costa while hitting the office.

My picks: Iced Caramel Latte, Mocha

Favourite outlet: City Tower 2 (Sheikh Zayed Road)

3.  Dome (Australia)
Dome is nothing but an Australian version of Costa. It might not be as big as Costa but the feel is the same. The ambience is as sophisticated as in Costa. However the menu options available apart from coffee are vast. It wouldn’t be wrong to state that Dome actually has the widest range of options available as compared to other coffee houses. It is a place where you would like to spend a couple of hours munching something, while having a coffee by the side.

My picks: Café Vienna, Latte

Favourite outlet: Burjuman (Next to Burjuman Metro Station)

4. Gloria Jeans (USA/Australia)

Some would argue Gloria Jeans is from USA, while the others would say Australia. It did originate in USA but is an Australian owned coffeehouse.  The ambience at Gloria Jeans café is a mix; a mix of the homely feel and the sophisticated one. Personally I prefer the feel since it allows me to visit the place with friends or with an office colleague for a meeting. Additionally I like the sandwiches at GJC. In short, out of the lot, GJC is my favourite.

My picks: GJC’s Original Iced chocolate, Mixed Berry Chiller

Favourite outlet: Burjuman

     5.  Starbucks (USA)

Who doesn’t know about Starbucks? The biggest coffeehouse chain in the world, Starbucks operates like no other. Visit a neighbourhood and you shall find plenty of stores. It’s more like “we are there for you”. Once you walk into a Starbucks, you tend to get a friendly feel. The coffee is good and the ambience friendly and comforting.

My picks: White Chocolate Mocha, Java Chip Frappucino

Favourite outlet: Near Financial Center Metro Station, 21^st  Century Tower (Sheikh Zayed Road)

     6.    Tim Hortons (Canada)

    Referrred to as 'Timmies' by fans, Tim Hortons is a recent addition to the coffeehouses in the country. Timmies offers more food options to its customers as compared to other coffeehouses. Bagels, Timbits, Panini, Sandwiches etc. are some of the items Timmies has to offer. The ambience of Tim is more relaxed and the coffee a few bucks cheaper.

     

     My picks: French Vanilla, English Toffee

     Favourite outlet: Jumeirah (Jumeirah Beach Road) 

    

    7.    Seattle’s Best Coffee (USA)

   Ever felt like you are at Starbucks, when you are actually at SBC? The reason is quite clear; SBC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Starbucks. The feel is the same, the coffee might taste a bit different but the difference isn’t a huge one. However, I would prefer to grab a bite from SBC. It is one of those places where you would like to spend a good time with friends.

My picks: SBC Mocha, Cookies & Cream Java Kula

Favourite outlet: Al Ghurair Centre 

What this coffee spree of mine taught me is that there is no one coffeehouse that stands out from the rest. One does have this inclination to a certain brand of coffee, for me it has always been Gloria Jeans. However the reason is not coffee, the reason is the ambience and the settings in which I feel more comfortable.

If someone else were to write the same post, their choice would be maybe Costa or say Starbucks, and I would not say that their choice is incorrect. All these coffeehouses have brilliant coffee and good snacks to dig into. At the end of the day, it comes down to every individual or group and their preferences. So which coffee would you like to have?