Where can you buy tahini paste?

I have bought tahini paste from Mercado Verde in Carrasco and also from El Naranjo downtown.  Today I spotted the El Naranjo brand tahini paste in the big Tienda Inglesa supermarket on Av. Italia!

How can you save money on your electricity bill in Uruguay?

We all know how expensive electricity is in Uruguay but did you know...you can go to any UTE office and change your electricity meter to a split tarrif which means you pay around 2.375 per kWh during off peak (i.e during the day) and 6.244 per kWh during peak hours (5-11pm in winter and 6-12pm in summer).  This can save you money if you are home during the day and/or use most of your power then.  Also you can set timers on hot water tanks, washing machines, dishwashers to operate after the peak ends at 11pm or midnight.  The normal rates for electricity (not on split tarrif) are: 3.476 for 1-100kWh, 4.700 for 101-600kWh and 5.390 for
601kWh onwards. So it doesn't take long before you are paying 5.390 for a lot of your power whereas on split tarrif you would only be paying 2.375 for most hours and overall may end up paying a lot less.

How can you save money on craft supplies?

I spotted these glue sticks on special at the Devoto supermarket in Portones today and thought I would share the deal with all my crafty followers:

How long does the IVA discount apply for use with foreign cards?

Some of you will know that if you pay for services such as hotels, car rentals, restaurants etc with an international issued credit/debit card you will be exempted from paying IVA (22 % tax) in Uruguay.   Well, this law/rule has been extended until 31 July 2015 and may be extended even further.

See full details here:
http://www.turismo.gub.uy/index.php/es/beneficios-al-turista

Where can you get a great steak in Montevideo?

This question has endless answers because there are multitude of restaurants serving great steaks.  I visited one of my favourite restaurants last night and thought I would tell you all about it.  

La Diecisiete is located on the Rambla Costanera (heading east out of the city) where it meets Parada 17.  It is the only restaurant on that strip of the Rambla so easy to find (look for the big white sign with the black cow in the middle).  Parking is easy and I sometimes enjoy not having to head into the city to a busy area.  La Diecisiete is a family friendly restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.  The baby beef (430 pesos) is amazing!  always cooked to perfection and delicious.  The salads are also good, as is the pasta, kids meals, provolone...the list goes on.  I go to this restaurant for lunch on weekends with the kids, for dinner in the evening without the kids, sit outside in the summer, sit inside in the winter and I have never had a bad experience.

You can find La Diecisiete on Facebook and on their website.

Can you buy sour cream in Uruguay?

Yes you can! You can find it in the refrigerator section near the spreadable cheeses and this is what it looks like:

Have you seen the new cycle lane on Maximo Tajes?

If you haven't seen it yet, there is a new bike lane running along Maximo Tajes (the street that runs parallel to the Northern side of Avenida Italia).  This also means that on the same side of Maximo Tajes it is now a non-parking zone.  I think it is a great safety initiative for Uruguay and I really hope that cyclists use it.  I think it will be much safer than cycling along Avenida Italia.  I also hope that cars obey it and stay out of the cycle lane.  So for all those people cycling around this area and to all the kids cycling to school at The New Zealand School, British School, Anglo and UAS - enjoy your new safe cycling zone!

Where can you get crepes in Montevideo?

Crepas opened in Punta Del Este around 3 years ago and then last year opened in Punta Carretas.  I am pleased to say they are now open in Carrasco too.  I visited at a quiet time so ordering and receiving my crepe was quick but I have heard that if it is a busy time it can take up to 45minutes to get a crepe.  There is nice outdoor seating which is great when the weather is nice - I imagine that this place will be busy in summer, being so close to the beach.  There are no prices on any of the food or drink which I find odd, for your information the crepes are all 220 pesos.  I enjoyed my caramelised apple crepe, as did my kids and my friends (who also ordered savory flavours such as oriental chicken and ham/cheese).  Although the crepes were crispier than I would like (I like softer crepes like I have had in France, New Zealand, Brazil...) I would go back to try another flavour.

Check out Crepas on Facebook or on their website.

Which is the best hotel in Colonia del Sacramento?

I just got back from a long weekend in Colonia del Sacramento where I stayed at my favourite hotel - The Radisson.  As a family of 4 this hotel is perfect because the rooms are very large with 2 queen beds. With indoor and outdoor pools, 2 jacuzzis and a gym to offer, there is always something to do when you aren't away exploring beautiful Colonia.  Breakfast and lunch at The Radisson are both good, as is the service.  I love returning to The Radisson every time I go to Colonia.  If you look on www.booking.com you can find great deals at The Radisson :)

http://www.radissoncolonia.com/

Where can you get baking equipment and decorations in Montevideo?

Although you can pick up baking ingredients and some sprinkles/candles at supermarkets in Uruguay the best shop to go to get all your baking needs is Zanetti.  Not only can you find imported products (like the Wilton brand) but you can also buy bulk ingredients for cheaper than in the supermarket.  It is worth a trip down there to see what they have.  This is my go to store for Birthday party baking and cake decorating supplies!

www.zanetti.com.uy

Where can you find a computer repair store in Montevideo?

At Arocena 1568 you can find Informatica Carrasco where you can get any kind of computer repaired.  You can also buy computer parts and accessories.

http://www.informaticacarrasco.com.uy/

Where can you get Indian food in Uruguay?

I finally got around to ordering Indian food from El Spice Club.  El Spice Club offers a different menu every couple of weeks.  You can order via their website and there are 3 pick up locations to choose from or home delivery for $180 pesos.

I ordered a chicken butter masala for $430, vegetable jalfrezi for $350 and two naan bread for $70 each.  I didn't order rice because it was $90 pesos and I figured it was way cheaper (and just as easy) to make my own.  The food was enough for dinner for two adults.  I enjoyed the chicken butter masala more than the vegetable jalfrezi (it was more of a drier curry without a lot of sauce).  The naan bread was not like a naan from an Indian restaurant but it was ok.  Overall I enjoyed the food.

I would recommend El Spice Club if you are craving some Indian food.  Their next order is for Tuesday 19 May (you have to place the order by midday Saturday 16th).

You can find El Spice Club on facebook or at http://elspiceclub.com/

Where can you buy bulk goods for cheap?

I visited the Mayorista store today to buy candy/sweets for some upcoming Birthday parties.  The store is a very basic warehouse style store of bulk buy goods.  The pictured lollipops were only $38 pesos for a bag of 50!  the pictured hard sweets were $145 pesos for a bag of 135.  I was pretty happy with the prices.  Worth checking out if you like buying in bulk :)

Mayorista:  Km 20.800 Avenida Giannatasio, Canelones  - 2682 8304

How good is the new Sodimac Homecenter store in Montevideo?

I went to check out the new Sodimac Homecenter store on Giannattasio. Sodimac is a Chilian company and this is their first store in Uruguay.  A homecenter is not a foreign concept for me, in New Zealand we have stores like Mitre 10 and Bunnings Warehouse which are similar to Home Depot stores in the USA.  The convenience of having everything in the one store is certainly a plus - in Sodimac there is; a garden centre, construction, lighting, plumbing, paints, tiles, furniture, home decor, hardware/tools, kitchenware...you name it they have it. The quality at Sodimac is about the same as any other hardware store that I have been to in MVD.  I found a lot of the prices to be the same if not a little bit cheaper at Sodimac but still expensive for the level of quality.  I made a purchase and would go back, mainly for the convenience (I do get frustrated having to go to a hardware store for something, then to a garden centre for something else, then to another store for something else, etc etc), at least at Sodimac I can get it all in one place.

www.sodimac.com.uy

Can you get gelatine without flavour in Uruguay?

For those of you that love cheesecake (like I do!) you will know that a lot of non-bake cheesecake recipes need some gelatine to help hold the mix together.  I was asked the other day where I found gelatine without flavour (sin sabor) and my answer was....in most supermarkets, it is in the jelly section and comes in small sachets.  I took this photo in Devoto Portones:

Where can you find a great dog groomer in Montevideo?

Although I do not own a dog, my friend highly recommends this mobile dog groomer in Montevideo. When you phone to book the guy speaks English - great!   They come to your house too, how convenient and easy is that!  Please note that the dog groomers themselves do not speak English though.

Happy grooming :)

What are 6 things you never say to an expat?

I read this on Atlas and Boots blog and thought some of the Expats in Uruguay might like it.

Here’s a list of recurring themes in words directly from the mouths of expats. If you have an expat friend or family member, you may want to refrain…

“You’re so lucky”

Yes, we understand that we’re in a sunnier country with friendlier people and better job opportunities, but reiterating how ‘lucky’ we are implies that courage, hard work and tenacity played no part. If you want to live where we live, you can but you choose not to. That’s not because you’re unlucky; it’s a choice you have made, just like my new country is a choice I’ve made.

“Are you fluent yet?”

Seriously, do you know how long it takes to master a language to fluency? So many of us spend hours every day on our new language and it’s frustrating enough when, after a year, we’re not even at Kindergarten level. Asking if we’re fluent yet makes us feel embarrassed and inferior so please don’t do it!

“Please, it can’t be that bad”

If I’m complaining about how frustrating it is to open a new bank account when I don’t yet have a permanent address, please don’t say “It can’t be that bad! You live by the beach!” or “You have year-round sunshine! Try queuing up for Natwest in the pouring rain!”

Just because I’ve moved, it doesn’t mean all my problems have melted away. My new country might have better weather, but that doesn’t automatically negate all my problems.

“Not that it matters to you”

I’m in a new country which I call home, yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m not interested or concerned about the state of affairs in my old home. In the run up to the UK General Election 2015, I’ve been told more than once that it doesn’t concern me because I’ve been in Australia for two years. I still care about the NHS, our education system and all the things that make Britain, Britain. It matters to me. Don’t tell me it doesn’t.

“You should try making friends with more locals”

Okay, I know that I have more English speaking friends than not, but they’re easier to connect with – for now. Until I learn the local language to an advanced level, there’s only so much conversation I can have with locals. English is the language I think in, cry in, get high in, and sometimes I just need people that are effortless to be with. Local friends will come with time, I promise.

“When are you moving back home?”

You think I packed up 20 tonnes of luggage and hauled it across the Atlantic for fun? No. My new country is my new home. Maybe I’ll ‘move back home’ one day but I don’t know that for sure. For now, I’m making a go of things in my new country. Please support me instead of acting like it’s a phase.

Are you an expat? What are you tired of hearing? Tell us in the comments below.

Who can cater a party with pizzas?

I attended a Birthday Party last weekend which was catered by Capresse a la Parrilla.  The pizzas were made fresh on site and cooked on a regular Uruguayan asado.  There was around 10 different flavours of pizza and they were delicious! You pay person for as many as you like (it is around $140 pesos per person).  I thought it was a great way to cater a party (for adults and children).

Where can you get a great coffee in Montevideo?

I am happy to say that you can finally get great coffee in Uruguay!  it is at La Madriguera Cafe in Carrasco (Cambara 1614, just next to Freddo).  Anyone that has travelled and drank coffee in Australia or New Zealand should know what great coffee is and you can see this at La Madriguera Cafe!  The food is good too (croissants, cakes, muffins, slices, biscuits, brownies), plus free wifi and a nice setting - what more could a girl ask for?  I will be a regular at this cafe for sure :)  And don't forget to pick up a coffee card, get it stamped each time you buy a coffee and your 10th is free.  Also, one tip...they do not take payment via card of any kind so take cash (and make sure it is small denomination because when I went they didn't have change for 1,000 pesos).

You can find La Madriguera Cafe on Facebook.

Where can you pick apples and tour a farm?

We spent Sunday at Al Final del Humedal and had a great day.  There are many different tours you can do:

We did the basic apple picking and then stayed for lunch (soup, bread, asado, desert, coke & water all for only $450 pesos per adult).  The food was delicious:

You can find Al Final del Humedal on Facebook or at www.alfinaldelhumedal.com.  Please feel free to tell them that you heard about them from Ask Annette!

Is there such a thing as a good handyman in Uruguay?

I have to say that after having many different tradesmen at our house, some 'professional' and some 'amateur' I had very little faith in ever finding a good handyman in Uruguay.  I found the tradesmen to be unprofessional, slow, pricey and the work was shoddy (most of it had to be re-done).  Then my Uruguayan friend recommended Mario to me and I am very happy.  Mario is friendly, turns up when he says he will, completes a job properly (and if he can't he doesn't charge! even if he has spent hours on it), his prices are very reasonable and he speaks some English which was a great help.  I will continue to use him and recommend his services.  He has a small office/shop on the corner of Boston and Bolivia in Carrasco, his phone number is 095 418 549, 2600 0265.

If you too know of a good handyman in Uruguay then feel free to let me know. Or you can let everyone know on my Facebook.