There’s the ever proverbial saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” I prefer Maya Angelou’s quip of “You may be given a load of sour lemons, why not try to make a dozen meringue pies?”
In the case of Yellow Lemon Breakfast & Bakery, this brightly colored eatery would be suited to the latter, as not only does this place have pies, cakes, parfaits, truffles and nut slices, but they also serve up yummy healthy dine-in dishes too!
When my fellow bazaarite first told me about Yellow Lemon, my initial thought was that this would be a typical Ktown breakfast/brunch setup that serves the usual suspects – something rich, something sickeningly sweet and something red-velvety. I was however, pleasantly and refreshingly surprised!
Owners Nour Al-Fulaij and Latifa Al-Mulaifi said, “Initially the concept was to do just a bakery, selling yummy baked goods. And then we thought, why not add in the dine-in factor? For that particular menu, we wanted something that was out of the norm, fresh and nutritious.”
I have to commend team Al-Fulaij/Al-Mulaifi on a job well done! This dynamic duo have certainly churned out a number of healthy dishes that will definitely please athletes and weekend-warriors alike in our current local health-conscious community.
Among their dazzling array of healthy posh noshes, my personal favorites were:
The Protein Omelet
Want to build some lean muscle tissue? This 3 egg white masterpiece is loaded with protein goodness as it’s stuffed with ricotta cheese (awesome with its high calcium, phosphorous and vitamin A), along with mushrooms, bell peppers, spinach and served with a side of steamed French beans. If you’re wary about the fat content in the cheese, you can tell them to half the portion or switch it to avocados for a healthier fat option.
Pumpkin Pancakes
When this mouthwatering fluffy warm pile landed on our table, I was trying my damnedest not to attack it with such gusto. Pumpkin is rich in fiber (hence if you want to lose weight, load up on pumpkin, as it can fill you up for longer and at fewer calories – 49kcals to be exact per 245g serve), vitamin A and potassium and I was informed that these pancakes are made with the real deal. It comes served with a cream cheese dressing, however if you are being health-conscious, I would ask for that on the side. Bear in mind that the pumpkin in these pancakes makes them sweet enough to eat on their own.
Watermelon and Feta Salad
In this heat, I welcomed this lush little number! Chockful of antioxidants, the watermelon salad was served in crisp cool cubes along with a generous sprinkling of pine nuts, pieces of feta cheese and mint leaves playing peek-a-boo amongst the fruit. Did you know that this low maintenance fruit has a host of health benefits including asthma prevention, reducing blood pressure and stopping the formation of free radicals known to cause cancer?
I was also looking forward to trying their Turkey Muffin (baked eggs wrapped in smoked turkey filled with tomatoes and feta) and Carrot Pancakes, but alas, as luck would have had it, they were sold out by the time we got there. Got to get in quick!
All in all I enjoyed my brunch experience at Yellow Lemon, probably because it was one of the few occasions where I didn’t really have to modify my meals very much. Their seating parlor is homey and cozy, what with its splashes of beehive yellow contrasting nicely with shades of charcoal gray, and yet it’s spacious enough to not rub elbows. Then again, if you did rub elbows I personally think no one would mind as their dishes, salads, desserts and other tasty nibbles are worth it and take center-stage.
Yellow Lemon Breakfast & Bakery is located in Salmiya, Block 11, Street 1, Rawasea Building (same block as Shaab Park). Opening hours are 7:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., closed on Mondays. For more information phone 2565 0502 or follow them on Instagram @yellowlemonkwt.
Reshmi Revi is the Deputy General Manager for MultiWorks Personal Training. She is also an IFBB Bikini Competitor and an avid foodie! Follow her on Instagram @Q8MissFit.
