Burger King - Amsterdam Airport

Schiphol Plaza,

Renée asked for a "review" on burgers (actually the "golden arches") but since I hadn't tried the latest creation of BK (Burger King) we went out for tasting today. Always a good excuse ... So I took my lovely department to the BK and we went for a test. The Burger King Chili Cheese Weeks are now live at a BK near you!


Since we do have a BK in the neighborhood we don't need to go far... So in order to do a proper test we took everything and went back to the office for a full test. The order was wrong for starters. We asked for two menu's, loose burgers and the nuggets ... hold this hold that, after all their slogan says : have it your way!!! But where was the second menu? Not in the bag, so we went to the girl and she said you have to wait in line .... I mean there you are, everything is getting cold, have to wait again ... and immediately in the defense, we thought you could solve the problem as well ... you just helped us ... ???

Back at the office Chili Cheese Nuggets. This were the favourites before even tasted the nuggets. But unfortunately they were not. Yes there was some Chili flavour, but as well a lot of crust and not too many cheese .. so a thinner crust, more cheese, bit heavier on the taste and they would have been much better.

The burger .... the big one (on the right in the picture) is over 200 grams ... that's a lot. A big bun with two huge burger patties (pattie is the actual burger), cheese on it, chili sauce and the spicy Jalapenos ... well this was not that spicy. The nuggets had more flavour to it. So this was another "heart breaker".

Than the fries, we like the Mc Donalds better because they don't have this strange coating and taste like fries. And Mc Donalds got this sauce ... to die for. BK had that too ... they changed it to normal bags from Heinz ... that's not a good move, we want the special sauce like they had before.

So I'm not that lyrious as I sometimes am about the restaurants I visit. The next time I go there I definitely go for the Whopper. Keep it stupid plain and simple ... go for the best. I wouldn't recommend the Chili Cheese, go for the Whopper, much better !!! (but that's personal of course) fortunately we went for drinks and a new year speach early in the evening, got our personalised X-mas gift and had small apetizers to go with some nice drinks and so my evening finished well. In stead of a diner just small apetizers and when one was finished, the other one was there .... very nice, from Salmon to Duck and everything in between ...

Renée next time I'll go to Mc Donalds ....

Early morning photo

Old pictures from October this year, taken in France during my last stay at my parents. Time of fog in the morning. With the trees and the first sun light, and all the morning dew reflecting on almost everything.

Looking to the trees, seen from the house ...



Nice drops of dew in the spider's web ...

Bistro de Holterberg - Holten

Bistro de Holterberg
Forthaarsweg 1
7451 JS Holten
tel : +31 (0) 548 363849 - fax : (0) 548 365112
website : http://www.bistrodeholterberg.nl



John, you now the guy that still believes that Ferrari makes a change in the formula 1 championship in 2006 ... I know, I'll let him dream on as well ... anyway, John found that I needed to come with him to Holten because I needed to eat in this restaurant. Bistro de Holterberg. Well tonight I did. It's quite a drive from Amsterdam. Arriving at the "mountain" it looked pretty impressive, like time stood stil, nice lighting from candles outside, nice lighted bistro as well ... huge parking space. Entering the door you don't enter a restaurant but more like a living room, a big one. Very cosy, open fireplace, nice big wooden tables, comfortable chairs. Was John right ... this time ... The bread was good for starters and we ate :

Starters : Carpaccio with ginger cream - J Salted and smoked duck breast with a red onion chutney - P

Main dish : Runder Rib Eye with bearnaise - (a very very very good one) - J Beef fillet with olive & garlic sauce - P

Dessert : Vanilla ice cream - J Grand dessert - P

Wine :Grand Cuvee Prestige - Chateau la Coustarelle 2000 - AOC Cahors / 12,5% alcohol / 100% merlot Prayssac.

The duck was great, good taste, nice flavours and a perfect chutney. The beef fillet was very well too, nice and big piece of excellent meat. The sauce was a great combination. With some fresh vegtables and home made fries and home made mayonaise. Finished with a grand dessert what was very wel as well. So John was right.

The athmospere is fantastic, the food is very good, no stupid things on your plate just good quality. Nice people who were serving tables. They have a nice terrace as well, great for sitting outdoors in the summer overlooking the valley. Especially at night this place looks like a small fairy tale. So certainly something to go to. So if you're in the neighborhood... If you like wine very much, ask for the special wine list !!!

John, great choice and thanks for the book of the Holterberg. A nice book to remember this day by and signed by the owner. Great book to have for the collection. Tomorrow another day ... it will be simple but still outdoors ... can't help it ...

Japan Inn - Amsterdam

Leidsekruisstraat 4
1017 RH Amsterdam
tel +31 (0) 20 6204989
website : http://www.japaninn.nl

In the city center between all the small restaurants, near the Leidschestraat, there's one that stands out of the crowd. Been there for the first time but looking at all the restaurants in the neighbourhood this was the only one that was completely full! We had reservations fortunately. It's a small place, can hold not more than 38 seatings and that's not too much. It's probably not one of the most beautiful restaurants to be in but the service, the quality of the food, the speed ... it's all perfect and for a very good price.

We had two seperate combi menu's. There was so much in it, a nice salade with crab and avocado, of course the Miso soup, rice, sushi, sate, grilled salmon, grilled vegetables, chicken, "meat" balls, kind of bacon ... so much a very good price.

For only € 25 per person you have an entire menu. I'll definitely will go back here. A perfect way to start or end the evening with a bite to eat. Just order different kind of things let it be placed in the middle and just enjoy from each others choices. I'll be back !!!

The website is currently not available, more info on the iens website. And again it's like a web-log. Want to visit a place for the first time ... look at the reviews here for people who didn't know the site. Afterwards a small drink with "Tieltje", for the Amsterdam people, you know where I was. The small bar with no music and one of the best apple pies in Amsterdam ...

Dean thanks for diner.

Palladio - Amsterdam

Caffé ristorante Palladio - Amsterdam

Elandsgracht 64
1016 TX Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 6277442



Today due to work we went out eating in stead of cooking ourselves. The entire brady bunch was there again and we had a lot of fun. Started on the Johnnie Jordaan in this real old Amsterdam Café and than went to this restaurant. Palladio is run by real italians and just received a 9- from Johannes van Dam. He doesn't normally give high figures and in this case I totally disagree, the figure is way too high.

The starters - the antipasto was oke not very good, the salad with mozzarella was oke, nothing special though.

As main dish I had the Turbot fillets and they were oke too much "water" though. Garnish was rather simple.

The dessert though was great, a chocolate souffle (you know delicious cake with fluid chocolate inside) with vanilla ice cream, and the souffle was perfect with great taste. It's a good restaurant but not perfect though.

website : http://www.restaurantpalladio.nl

Envy delicacies - Amsterdam

Prinsengracht 381
1016 HL Amsterdam
tel +31 (0) 20 3446407
website : http://www.envy.nl

I know, I know ... for all of you who think that I don't do anything else ... Envy at the Prinsengracht almost in the heart of this lovely town. In a very narrow old canal house they build a restaurant. And quite unique I can tell you. They were able to make a restaurant in such a narrow place. I came in at 19.15 (about) and left at 00.15, just the two of us (Jackie from Cork was over). Time went by quickly and before you knew it it's after 00.00! They made something very special of the place. They placed all there fridges up against the wall and all with glass front doors. So everybody could see the products they were using. If I ever build a new kitchen, I'll do it like that for sure! For all you food lovers it's a great place. From everything a small piece enjoying so much more flavours. It's like tapas but much better .... The idea from the owner is to create the same ambiance as at the local butcher shops in Italia. So not only selling meat but also all the specialities of the region. You know this shops like you have in France as well from the small traiteurs ... I'll definitely go back ...

for starters 3 different kinds of deli meats
4 cold dishes Salmon Fillet marinated / Tartar of veal / Salad with dutch shrimps I'll get to the last one ....
4 warm dishesTomato basil soup / Fillet of duckbreast / Gently fried Turbot with chanterelles and a sauce of cepes / Cheeks of Seadevil (is there any better !!!)
4 cheeses Vacherin / Tete de Moine / Pave d'auge / Dutch clove cheese
2 desserts Crème Brulée and Chocolate Cake
coffee Segafredo Espresso



Entering the restaurant after the kitchen on your right there are high tables which you do not need to reserve, even can't reserve. It's for the customer who drops in - great idea! Look at the front door glass coolers .... And enetering the restaurant on your right there is the kitchen.



A look at the kitchen taken from the restaurant looking at the entrance. As well the tables on the right - shicj you can reserve, or the high tables on the left. Look at the narrow restaurant as well. It's very cosy that way !

Greenes - Cork / Ireland

Greenes Bar & Restaurant under the Cobblestone
Arch 48 MacCurtain Street
Cork / Ireland tel : +353 (0) 21 4552279 / fax : +353 (0) 21 4506355
Website : http://www.isaacs.ie/hotel_isaacs_cork/restaurant.htm

The Isaacs hotel also has a restaurant, called Greene's. Like they say themselves under the Cobblestone Arch. The restaurant is overlooking a waterfall, which is floodlit by night. So it's a beautiful sight almost in the middle of town. They serve an early bird menu, especially for the people who want to attend a performance in the opposite theater.

starter : Baked Crab claws with garlic butter, sweet chilli, lime, coriander, served on a bed of oriental egg noodle salad Tiger prawns & asian vegetable springroll on a paksoy timbale with laksa sauce

main : Panfried seabass fillet on pesto new potatoes timbale homemade pork & herb sausage with smoked salmon salsa

dessert : Chocolate mousse

Well what can we say ... perfect. The starters were great. Not only nice presented (we made pictures) but all the ingredients mentioned above were also something you could taste in the dishes. I missed the tiger prawns though a bit to small cut for my taste, although the entire starter was great in taste and again in appearance. The main dishes. The seabass was perfect and the combination with the homemade sausage might appear strange, in fact I think it was but it was very tastefull, great sausage! And a special main course of the day with smoked cod which was really nice. The mousse for dessert was oke, nothing to spectacular though.

We drank a Babich / Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2005 from New Sealand, 13,5% Great taste very nice wine. http://www.babichwines.co.nz

There are a lot of restaurants in Cork. The people over here do have their preference and this was one of them and I must admit a very good choice. We only have two perfect restaurants on the list so next time we're here (January 2006) we'll try them as well So ever in Cork searching for a good place to eat, go here, make a reservation though, the best restaurants are full all the time.

Cork - Journey III - Part II

Statio Bene Fide Carinis - A safe Harbour for ships is the motto on the coat of arms of our friendly and vibrant port city. Since the City was founded by St Finbarr over 1,000 years ago it has grown from a trading merchant city to a cosmopolitan vibrant 21st century city of today. The city, situated on the banks of the river Lee, is home to 123,000 people. It is located on the South West coast of Ireland and is the 2nd largest city in the Republic of Ireland. The area of the city is 3,731 hectares. Again to Cork. The 10.10 flight of Amsterdam Schiphol direct to Cork. In these days that means 1.5 hours before the flight be there. And alreay at 08.30 there were cues before check in ... The check in through those "e-machines" is great. One advise from me don't have all your numbers ((e-ticket) just use your passport that's much quicker. That went very smooth actually but then ... Indeed security check. And first of all how do you get there ... It's amazing that an airport like ours that carries about 43 million passangers a year is not able to put that in order. Please people look at the routing, see that it's not workin and instead of hiring all these people to lead everything in order spend that budget on some re-construction! And last but not least, my company is severely affected by the fact that people don't have much time to sit back and get something to drink or eat in stead of running to the gate! And still it's a beautiful airport but sometimes ... But I made the gate in time we're about to board the plane. (09.45 AM).

Guess what ... A little bit of sunshine in Cork, definitely better weather than in Amsterdam! Luggage came out quick as usuall here and cabs enough. Again a nice cabdriver and one I good easily understand they all seem to be happy that we're coming (later more about that) little early since I'm 1 hour behind so room not ready. Little chaos in the hotel but staff is very friendly. And of course the first thing to do is to "score" a Vanilla Caramela of Gloria Jean's. (http://www.gloriajeans.com) Price is a bit high but the perfect start of the afternoon. You'll find them in 84 Patricks street. After walking along the Marks & Spencers department - Food section (yes yes I hear somebody say again food ... love you too ). Drinking this latte adventure enjoying the perfect muffin with my face towards the sun!

Hmmmm although work starts it's a wonderfull life! Irish people tend to wear t-shirts in this weather, we're talking about less than 4- Celsius. Incredible and I thought that I could resist the cold! As well people still on terrasses, just put the heaters on. And in the main shopping street there is now a podium, so Live music tonight! That's it for now, go back te do some work and prepare for a Corkish diner and probably some music as well, from a nice, bit cold Cork, The hotel has WIFI ...

Cork - Journey III - Part I

Cork - Ireland,

Again Cork on the program, as of tomorrow morning I'll be away for an entire week of Cork. Going to people who adore beer, speak english with such a nice accent, friendly people, proud people as well. Will not have the time to make some pictures but who knows ...


Well what can we say, this will be my hotel for the next 6 days, The Isaacs hotel almost in the heart of the city. They also have a small market, with very nice products nfortunately closed on Sunday. And of course a typical pub. They have such nice pubs in that country ... I'll try a few and let you all know where to go to the next time ...


Of course they have shops as well, they have a lot of coffeeshops and not the ones we do have in Amsterdam ... and the Cappuccino's en Lattes are upcoming in Cork, they adore chocolates as well. And the first picture is at the beginning of the biggest shopping street in Cork. And of course the coloured houses ... this is across the corner of the hotel ! So no web-logging for me for a week probably, I'll try and do my best but it will be an awfull busy week with too many appointments, log soon, enjoy your weekends !

Bubbles & Wines - Amsterdam

Bubbles and Wines Amsterdam

Nes 37
1012 KC Amsterdam
+31 (0) 20 4223318

A new bar in town, down town. A 2 minute walk from Dam Square and you're in the Nes. Bubbles and Wines is a trendy with atmosphere kind of bar, long and narrow. They serve a long and nice list with a lot of different kind of wines. I met Robert (owner) during a barbecue this summer - somewhere in here I wrote a log about that BBQ - with his girlfriend. Since we didn't like the other people much we stayed for the most part together and enjoyed the great food.

Due to the enomatic system (http://www.enomatic.it) in his bar he's able to pour out wines by the glass, which you normally only can buy by the bottle. So this gives the opportunity to serve quite good wines at affordable prices. The last time I was there I tasted the Beringer Fume Blanc at € 6.20. If you love that wood and smoked kind of taste in your wine choose that one. I also had the Morey Chassagne Montrachet at € 13,50 and of course is that wine a treat !

So, in for some good wine? Especially before going to diner as an aperitive go to this Winebar but beware it will be busy as of Friday! And for those who want just a small bite, he has some nice small dishes to go with the wines too ....



http://www.bubblesandwines.com

Caulils - Amsterdam

Caulils - Amsterdam
Haarlemmerstraat 115
1013 EM Amsterdam
tel : +31 (0) 20 4120027 / fax : +31 (0) 20 4125347
website : http://www.caulils.com - email : info@caulils.com

Discovered another store for the food and beverage addict. Of course in the Haarlemmerstraat again. This is a kind of strange shop that has a wide variety of different food items and nice and expansive wines. For example he sells Lucious loafs (see picture on the left) it looks nice, I will taste it tomorrow! Of course I found other "stuff" as well and look only at these pictures ... the yellow bag is one without handles (@P* ) but with superb pasta. Family owned business. Martelli.
Website http://www.martelli.info/english/chisiamo.htm they put some effort in making pasta, look at their website, buy a bag and be convinced!!!
And what about this bag with chips ... like a grocery back from the american super markets. Very thin sliced and baked in real olive oil, a delicacy and a joy for the mouth, forget about the stupid parrot, forget about Lays buy this stuff. Yes it's a bit more expansive and yes the kcal are even more than normal chips (Patatas Fritas). Website : http://www.inesrosales.com/ but unlike some others ( ) don't hold me responsible ! Visit the place and take a nice bottle of wine too ... don't forget your credit card!

Milan - Journey I / part II

I'm not much in Italy but now that I am I need to try, really need to ... So I took a real espresso, no chairs in this "bar", paying with the cashier (she was behind a special counter) than to the bar and wait for your turn, drink it hot and done. That's the Italian way of drinking coffee. Quality is perfect like we never drink in Amsterdam and the price, € 0,90 ... 3 people waiting you for only 1 espresso ...

What do we Dutch don't understand? And all the small espresso bars operate the same, so nice to see that we are into the milk thing (latte and cappuccino) and they just go for caffe (= espresso) and all real espresso machine no full automatic misery like we're used to in Holland. (Mostly anyway).

Than it's still Sunday in this country what means that a lot of shops are closed. So Ralph Lauren was open but Valentino was closed, that's strange... The typical touristic shops are open the other ones are closed, that's a pity!!! But in this town you can spend you're money pretty easy, even on a Sunday. So many nice things with also a variety of prices. Watching people abroad is always a pleasure to do, the italians smoke a lot outside. Like everybody smokes, ladies with Cigars is not an exception here! And they are always busy with their cell phones, like they have invented it! It also looks normal to phone during diner, all the phones are on the table and they just seem to call as well. Also eating outside (the weather wasn't that great) just some heaters on and the terrace is full... And next to coffee so much pastry ... Mjammie! This city has also old buildings more than enough. Huge and tall buildings with high ceilings and in a Roma style kind of way, I love it. And the McDonalds isn't allowed to put the redd and yellow sign outside, just have to blend it in like the rest, well done Milan! It was a short business trip but I'll hope to be back some time. If you want to extend your wardrobe you need to visit this place, they have their own Rodeo Drive but this one is much more lively although the weather in LA is better. Much more atmosphere and a lot of people that are shopping look very sharp, saw a MacLaren Mercedes yesterday and for the none car lovers, I don't think there is another Mercedes more expensive ... Cabfares are oke, startup prices are high, during the night even up to 8 euro's but the trip in total is well below Amsterdam. The picture below doesn't only show you the model but as well the actual dress that's for sale in the shop ... And about the designers, there are much more designers than we know, I'll name a few to you ; Alviero Martini (nice colors and very stylish and you can spend your money for the kids too), Alessandra Zanaria (classical), Chevignon (fashion ????), FWS (Fiona Winter Studio, you need the perfect body ...), Gigli (simple but perfect fabrics), Oppiofashion (Classic as well but oh so nice), VDP (for the woman who's different), Selene (with a touch of fur - rabbits only), Taglia42 (love the models ...), later more,

I can go on and on .. it just doesn't stop in this town !!! Milano ... A place for the best "dressed" espresso around.


I Love this picture. Is it the face of the woman, all this hundreds of candles ... in the Duomo, I don't know just love it's simplicity ...

Ristorante - Cascina Antonietta

Ristorante Cascina Antonietta
Cucina casalinga Trezzano S/N
Milano / Vecchia
Vigevanese statale 494 / Usita Tangenziale Ovest - Milano P.ta Genova
Tel : +39 (0) 2 4453691

This typical italian restaurant is hard to find, it's a 15 minute drive from downtown and at the beginning of the motorway. We were there through people living in Milan and even they had trouble finding it ... Behind the trees very hard to find. When you drive there it doesn't going to look like a restaurant. The driveway is bumpy and looks terrible, than turning into the 'parking lot' et voila the Mercedes and BMW's are awaiting you. It's a lovely old house and you just enter through the front door.

You eat in the 'living room' with the old paintings on the wall. Typical Italian lighting, bright, too much (to our habbits).

We started with a selection of meat, like ham, coppa, salami together with fresh mushrooms with parmesan cheese and olive oil. With some artichock in olive oil.
The meat was a real treat and the mushrooms had a kind of sweet taste very nice.

Than we had a risotto al funghi.
Was a nice risotto As main dish we had a tender piece of meat cut into pieces (beef steak) and well prepared with some mushrooms. Indeed it's mushroom time. The truffels are almost over but the mushrooms are wide available.

As dessert we had a kind of Panatone, with cream inside drenched in Grand Marnier and put in the oven.
Not too sweet and something from the region perfect for a dessert.

Of course an espresso to finish, not as good as the ones I had in town but so much better than in Holland. When you want a typical region style kitchen in a real Italian environment not visited by tourists where they serve you well for a good meal ask the cab driver to take you there. Call for reservations and if they are open, they can be closed during the Sundays. Just ask for the specialties of this region.

http://www.milanodabere.it/provincia_di_milano/trezzano_sul_naviglio/ristoranti/cascina_antonietta.html

Milan - Journey I / part I

They say (among other things) : It's a real fashion city, have superb musea, a lot, a lot of shops, of course soccer, architecture and great italian food. The city with the most impressive Dom of the world and that from only 1,5 hours flying from good old Amsterdam... we'll see, in other words I'll be gone on Sunday

http://www.milanoinfotourist.com/home.htm

De Dirigent - 's Hertogenbosch

Eetcafé De Dirigent
Kerkstraat 38
5211 KG Den Bosch
Tel ; +31 (0) 73 6890095



Today to 's Hertogenbosch for diner. Nice all these road works on the A2 motorway ... but made it in time though. We had to wait long for this appointment with Suzan but it was worth it. De Dirigent is a narrow long restaurant were you can eat a la carte or just make your selection from the tapas menu. Reasonable prices and the food is good. The name of the restaurant compared to the menu they serve is rather strange though.

Bit quiet (Suzan they didn't understand your joke in the beginning ) but perfect for getting all the gossip up to date.

The aliolo and the calamaris were perfect. For the real spanish people :

Aceintuas Pan con alioli
Tortilla Champignon ajillo
Calamaris Emp. de carne Lomito
Tarta vanilla en chocolate

http://www.dedirigent.nl

Asian Glories - Rotterdam

Rotterdam November 2nd 2005 - I know I'm running behind ...

Asian Glories
Leeuwenstraat 15-17
3011 AL Rotterdam
Tel & Fax : +31 (0) 10 4117107

Since a long long time I haven't been eating in Rotterdam, can't hardly remember being in that town for diner ... Let's say it was a Rotterdam meets Amsterdam for diner she knows what I mean. As the name of the restauarants suggests 'Asian' food. Haven't looked very well to the menu because asking for a kind of Tapas diner is the way to go, althoug the Crispy Duck on the next table looked very very good (maybe next time). So we choose for the "tapas" kind of way to eat and we ate a lot ...

"Chinese" Carpaccio
Large Shrimps
Scallops
Oyster
Duck in pancake - my favourite
Filled Chinese bread
Dim Sum - steamed (3x)
Dim Sum - fried (2x)
Rice balls
Chinese sandwich

It is served in good timing, the atmosphere is pretty simple but perfect for the setting, and the food is much better than the place looks, don't let looks deceive you ...

There is more to me than you can see So close your eyes and get to know me Close your eyes and look real well And see what the outside cannot tell!

For everybody that loves good food and enjoy the "tapas" kind of diner this is a perfect place to have your diner, it's pretty in the center of Rotterdam but you can still park pretty easy in the neighborhoud.

Website IENS : http://www.iens.nl/restaurantsVan/Rotterdam/restaurant.htms?a=*Centrum&r=2478

Lambermon's - Haarlem

Spaarne 96
2011 CL Haarlem
tel : +31 (0) 23 - 5427804 / fax : +31 (0) 23 5427826
http://www.lambermons.nl

Just got back from Lambermon's. I know been there way too often. But the food and service are one of the best ... at least untill today. The food is still excellent the service however was below the standards of what we were used in this place. It started with the coates, they took them and let us stay there for 8 minutes ... doing nothing? First course, not even asked for drinks, we had the course sooner than the drinks, no explanation of the menu, only partial of the wine, no active care taking of the table, didn't seem to be there day. Getting the plates out while others were still eating. Paying cash as they would like but were is the salmon, after again waiting for 10 minutes to even pay. The service was below the standard and that was one of the points to go to this place. The food was still great and we all enjoyed that very much. It will take some time for me to go back there ... unfortunately and that for € 70 per person ...



The menu was great though, we ate :

A la minute marinated Tunafilet in combination with Coquille Saint Jacques
Sauted fasant and partridge with "sauerkraut"
Their famous beef fillet
Sauted Brill (griet in dutch) in his own sauce with wild spinach
Sauted Saddle of hare (hazenrg in dutch) with red cabbage and Gieser Wildeman
The famous cheeses of Betty
Chocolate mousse, chocolate cake, Jamaiquepeper ice cream and a vigue

Espresso and Tea

My favorite cat ... :-)

Café Paradiso - Cork / Ireland

16 Lancaster Quay
Cork - Ireland
Tel : + 353 (0) 21 4277939
open from Tuesday - Saturday - lunch and diner



Dennis Cotter is responsible for the kitchen of Café Paradiso. The first time I visited a vegetarian restaurant. It's a small restaurant pretty near the heart of the city of Cork - Ireland. It's very famous in the Cork area. The food is great and the atmosphere is cosy. Staff is very friendly, great bread and olive oil ... And working for hours and hours it's sometimes nice to eat outside the hotel and just relax. Reoewein thanx for the company.

Starter Mushroom raviolli's in Gubbeen mezzaluna with walnuts & tarragon butter

Main Course Eggroll pancake of leeks & globe artichoke with plum tomato, caper & avocado salsa, braised fennel and mustard-chive mash



website : http://www.cafeparadiso.ie

Hostellerie Clau del Loup - Anglars Juillac

Hostellerie Clau del Loup

Métairie Haute 46140
Anglars Juillac - Lot - France
Tel : +33 (0) 5 65367620 / Fax ; +33 (0) 5 65367629
website ; http://www.claudelloup.com

This log is especially for Mo, she loves good food and prefer a bit of health into it if possible, unfortunately this menu I ate was superb but healthy ... sorry Mo don't meet all the criteria ... still curious ... ???



So in the late October sun we ate the Degustation de Chef, and a degustation it was. 6 courses of the products of the region de Cahors. Started with a kirr and for all you food & beverage lovers out there, for once the one and only good recipe of a kirr. Bourgogne Aligoté and Crème de Cassis, not too sweet ... and than it's so nice to start your diner or lunch ...

Velouté de Chataigne Foie gras mit cuit de Canard avec compote apple curry et une gelee Granny Smith

Bisque de Langoustine Coquille de Saint Jacques avec risotto de citron avec une sauce bouillabaisse

Pigeon, foie de pigeon, poire cuit dans le vin de Cahors avec sauce des Cepes Fromage

Cantal doux et Sainte Nectaire

Moelleux de Chocolat

Café et friandises et un jus de nectarine

Avec deux vins de Cahors bien sur ...
Domaine de Fabre 2004 AOC Gaillac (Cahors region) 12% - vin blanc sec
Clos de Jean 2004 AOC Cahors 12,5% - vin rouge Recolté a main


The soup was an excellent starter, well balanced in the flavours and served old fashioned style. Of course Foie and not a small part I might add. Terrific home made piece of Foie, exceptional good taste of the apple curry and .... Granny Smith as well - perfect combination. The bisque was perfect with of course a langoustine and the different shrimps, perfect taste. The Coquilles were fresh and perfect sauted with this lemon flavoured Risotto with a bouillabaisse sauce, perfect harmony. As main dish the local pigeon, perfect with the cepes from the backyard and a pear cooked in Cahors wine a real treat. Than two "small" pieces of cheese and as dessert the Moelleux, perfect backed with the chocolat filling inside that was a real finish. Than coffee and even some friandises of the house ... yes it was quite a meal you can say but it was worth it. If you're in the neighbourhood or on vacation in this part of la douce France this one I'll recommend without hesitation. For lunch you're mostly fine, for diner give them a call to be sure of your table. They rent rooms as well and are part of Logis de France, the rooms are built in an old fashioned way but with all the modern needs of today, ask for their special arrangements, they offer nice prices for a room with gourmet lunch or diner. And yes they have a heated pool as well.

Cork - Journey I - Part II

Just a short note from Ireland.

The city Cork is a windy city as far as I can see it for now. Maybe just for today I don't know but the wind is doing it's best. The temperature is very nice and the weather is fine. Had a small rainshower for 2 minutes that's all. Most of the time the sun is winning it from the clouds.

It's a colourfull city, the houses are painted in the most brilliant colours and if it's yellow it's bird yellow (Hello Tweety). And preferrable different colours next to each other. Made a few pictures so will put them on the internet later. Although this is a very cheap and good Internet Cafe, no coffee though, but all facilities are there, burning cd/dvd you name it you can do it.

I said earlier a city needs water, Cork got plenty water too. Of course close to the sea and hugh rivers across the heart of the city. Cabs are not that expansive and I'm in a lovely old hotel, looks very glamerous from the outside, nice and old from the inside but with all facilities and even WIFI available, will test that later. Been walking through town for at least half a day and they have a lot of pubs, more than anything else I think ... but that's the good part of course. They have some nice coffee places as well. Also a lot of old buildings and narrow streets what makes the city lively and cosy. The city is situated much lower than the land surrounded by it and has some nice hills within the city limits. That creates some nice views and perfect for the river.

Irish must love beer, I haven't seen any industry between the cities bounderies except for the brewery of Beamish, Guiness and Heineken. (Murphy's) and they seem pretty big to me. The airport is close by but the traffic in town is a bit of a nightmare, a lot of traffic lights and an awfull lot of cars on narrow streets and that means waiting times. Like Amsterdam people walk when they can with a traffic light and don't wait for the green light ... Ladies in Stockholm tend to wear the high boots in Cork they like to use a lot of make up, and if I say a lot I mean a lot ... a lot of shops where you can do a make over with dito girls in it as well.

The city has a lot of different shops, from CD, electronic stores, pubs, clothes but not so many "grand cafe" kind of food & beverage outlets. The small coffeeshops are coming here as well. I just went to Gloria Jean's Coffee place and the lattes are coming up, I saw them the last three weeks in Amerika, Sweden and now here and back in Amsterdam they are there as well. Different kind of flavours are well presented and so are the prices but he ... it's nice. That's it for now, I'll post some photo's when I'll be back. Later, Paul.

P.s. An adapter here in the shop for electronic devices is about 500% cheaper than at the airport where I forgot to buy it ... and I need it for all the electronics ... camera, laptop, phone, BB ... and I'm one hour behind Amsterdam time.

That means that 08.00 is 07.00 for those who will SMS ...