Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil
Amsterdam
16th of December 2010 - 20.00

Il Delfino Blu

Il Delfino Blu

Pieter Calandlaan 228

1069 LA  Amsterdam

+31 20 6104460

 Il Delfino Blu,

A Turkisch family, and he's behind the stove. Learned it after years working under an italian chef this restaurant serves a lot of italian food. All the items can be brought to your doorstep as well. It's such good quality for the price. Their meat is absolute perfect. Their pasta (choose the oven baked versions) are delicious - especially the spinach, ricotta and gorgonzola one :-).

Order it, get it yourself and they even give you a 10% discount.

It's not just another ordinairy italian on the corner. I love the food. And they are currently rebuilding the restaurant (red. from January 2012 till about half of February 2012). The new concrete for the floor is already done ...

The calamari are good to start with - it quite a lot though

Vitello Tonato is also nice

The pasta's - especially the baked from the oven ones

Makes a lovely chicken, and the tournedos is very, very good

The fries are always fresh - Salad is standard - and the turkish bread with garlic butter as well

Tiramisu as dessert ....

Even makes a very nice sparerib

http://www.delfinoblu.nl

Bistrot Gambetta - Cahors

Bistrot Gambetta
19, Allée Fénelon (corner Bd Léon Gambetta)
46000 Cahors

Cold day in the south of France.


Tartare de boeuf traditionnel (viande Limousin).


Simple, perfect meat accompanied with good garnisch. French style :-)

De Kroon - Amsterdam

De Kroon Café Restaurant

Rembrandtplein 17-1

1017 CT  Amsterdam

+31 20 6252011

De Kroon ... for years my favourite. The place, the location, the bar, the entrance, the serre. It changed a lot over the years. But the atmosphere is still there. Not for an entire evening, but to start or to end your evening in the city. The staff is ..... let's say it can take some time before your drink is served.

The place is amazing ... look at the virtual tour of the place at http://www.dekroon.nl/?p=info&s=info_vr

http://www.dekroon.nl

Incanto - Amsterdam

Italian restaurant Incanto
Amstel 2
1017 AA Amsterdam
+31 (0) 20 4233681
http://www.restaurantincanto.nl

Risotto del Giorno
Risotto van Eekhoorntjesbrood

Animelle di vitello con crema di fagioli corona
Kalfszwezerik met creme van Corona bonen

Superb location with great view. Real italian kitchen, simple presentation but superb food (and that's what counts). Reservations are necessary, the number of tables is not a lot and almost always fully booked !

Bar Lempicka - Amsterdam

14 Oktober 2010

Bar Lempicka

Sarphatistraat 23

1018 EV  Amsterdam

+31 20 622 0209

What's a better way to end a night of entertainment at Carré. Bar Lempicka on the corner. Nice people, good music and they have lovely shrimp croquettes :-) all at reasonable prices. A good way to end the night. Look for all the details of Art Deco in this place !

Old school / Roaring 20's :-)

Nice 'Glass in Lead'

Hans Klok - Hurricane - Carre Amsterdam

Hans Klok
Show : Hurricane
Thursday, October 14 - 2010


Nice show, little bit too Dutch and Hurricane ... why this title ... ?

Chateau de Mercuès - Mercuès (France)

Chateau de Mercuès
46090 Mercuès
France

mercues@relaischateaux.com
http://chateaudemercues.id-alizes.net/index.php

Le 24 septembre 2010,

Le Chef - Philippe Combet

Menu Chateau à € 85,00

Chateau Mercuès 2004

This Chateau is on route to Cahors. Way up the hill you can only see a small part of this Chateau that's there for almost a thousand years now. Once driven up the hill you can see how big it is. It's a beautiful Chateau with a vineyard and also the wine is made on the premises. The Chateau also has a huge and beautiful wine cellar, showing to the public. But all is fair, we came for the food & beverage ... :-)

Kir

Amuse - Bouche du moment

Foie Gras de Canard
gelee aux agrumes, espuma noix de coco

Daurade Royale
en risotto de palourdes, creme thym-citron

Quasi de veau roti en cocotte
<<>> artichauts fondants et morilles

Le Plateau de fromages

Fondant de chocolat Mangard
emulsion au the Earl Grey et streusel

et

Figues roties au miel
brioche caramelisee, sorbet agrumes

Cafe et friandises

It's worth it ... location perfect, food superb, wine lovely ...

Inception

Inception,

Amsterdam - Pathe Arena

In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job to date: Inception.

For all you movie informationWhat to say .... you need to see it at least twice, bought the blu-ray :-)

For all the information go to the IMDB site !!! 

Nippon - Amsterdam

Restaurant Nippon Amsterdam
Reguliersdwarsstraat 18-20
1017 BM Amsterdam

Amsterdam, 24th of August 2010.


Zeewier salade

Sushi Maki, Sushi Nigiri

Zalm moot en courgette

Homemade nasi

Ossenhaas en sugarsnaps

Vanille ijs aardbeien met slagroom



Good restaurant, pity that during the 'restaurantweek' they will keep the same menu as the years before it. Good and simple food. Nothing too special, but as fresh as you can get it. Perfect location as well!

The Sorceror's Apprentice

The Sorceror's Apprentice

Pathe Arena - Amsterdam

Master sorcerer Balthazar Blake recruits a seemingly everyday guy in his mission to defend New York City from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath.

Nice effects, but not a very good movie

See the IMDB website for all the information.

Les Bacchanales - Vence / France

Le Vendredi le 23 Juillet 2010

Les Bacchanales
247 av. de Provence
06140 Vence.
Tel ; + 33 4 93 24 19 19

www.lesbacchanales.com

A beautiful setting in the Provence. An old colonial building transformed into a restaurant on the first floor with a big terrace and a lovely 'patio' on the front.

Entering the restaurant there's a 'boombox' with Ipod and pretty good music. You automatically are guided to take the stairs up. A lot of comtemporary art on the way up.

Staff, young, a lot and a lot part time to develop their Franch, their restaurant (waiting or cooking) skills. But above all knowledgeable, know what they do and speak all french and englisch and another language aside. We made a reservation in advance and we know why. We were 'early' about 20 and about 21 it was full.

The chef / owner himself explained the menu (in french, English as option), even noted down what you wanted and went to the next table. Very relaxed, short pants, leather necklace and most of all passionate about food ...

Cooking at high level with a most relaxing atmosphere. C'est geniale :-)



Amuse

Breadsticks - presentation and taste 10 out of 10

Crab, strawberry, capers, menthe
Basil sorbet, menthe, orange flower, croutons, gazpacho (with strawberry) la fleur de soucis (orange leave)


The Menu 


Vitello tonato noisette et capre

On 'facon Christophe' :-) a very good way to start



Saint Pierre et lisette de Mediterranee marinade de tomate et melon estranvinee

Perfect combination with well selected different tastes ...



Loup de mediterranee de Jean Louis fenouilette de Tony et amandes fraiches

formidable !



Boeuf du Piemont cuisine a le feuille de cassis gateau croustillant de pomme de terre

The 'boeuf' is from the region, tender, very well of taste and even the potatoes are perfectly done.



Fromage frais de chevre de Bruno des courmettes enfume et condiments de pasteque

local farmer brings in the cheese on daily base ! It's lightly smoked as they serve it while still smoking ... wonderfull ! And a taste so smooth.



Tous les fruits rouges du moment de Seraphon et Lydia a la verveine



the menu is so detailed in writing that it doesn't need anymore explanation.


65 euro

Minardises
foam of Sesame seeds, sesame seads en strawberry compote
Ganache with lollipop

only day three ... :-)

and we had a perfect hotel, let say a room with a view ... :-)

Bistrot 7 par Anne Sophie Pic - Valence / France

Bistrot “7 par Anne Sophie Pic"

Restaurant *** - Hotel *****
Place SEPT, 285 avenue Victor Hugo, 26000 Valence - Drome
Tel. +33 4 75 44 15 32 - Fax +33 4 75 40 96 03 -

We confirm the following reservation

- Party size 2
- date Thursday 22/7/2010
- Time 8:30 pm
- Note: pas de special demandes, merci.

Madame Anne Sophie Pic,

(Third generation, 3 stars michelin) but it didn't stay with the restaurant. There is a brasserie (where we ate since the restaurant was completely full with a menu set at 200 - 320 euro ....) And also a very luxurious hotel (5 star). And even a cookery shop near by and she teaches kids how to cook.



The brasserie is called 7. The A7 and N7 roads are just next to the restaurants. But the details of a road were shown at the details of the brasserie. A black floor with light in it like you see what separates two lanes where you may overtake. But also (especially in France) the roads have darker pieces it's not an even black color. Very nice detail. The menu is a roadmap from starter to dessert, very nice idea, little bit complicated at first. The tables are all for 2, smart !!! the setup is so well done that a 16 person table is made without any problem. The kitchen is completely open and what an equipment, state of the art. Even with table for 1 to look into the kitchen, looks almost a chefs table. And the bill is presented in a kind of ash tray made from the rubber of a car tire. Talking about details ...

The Menu ...

Terrine de foie gras maison au naturel compotee de rhubarbe - 26 euro

I know second time. Although now in terrine and not sauted. Presentation perfect. 2 slices cut in sandwich style, put straight on the plate. A small glass with the compote and 4 long (like a wooden beam shape) pieces of bread (looked like normal bread but with a taste of 'wentelteefjes') accompanied by three colors of sweet 'bread' crumbs on a black thin roof tile a more than welcome start of this dinner.


Le cabillaud en cuisson douce, cereales liees au beurre sauce emulsionnee aux coquillages - 20 euro

Writing this I see twice foie and twice cabillaud, how's that for coincidence. This cuisson was perfect and the cereales looked like couscous with fresh herbs, an excellent taste. And a sauce to die for. And also quite a piece of fish.


Le macaron violette framboise, sorbet the fruite - 7 euro

What can I say, i'm the macaron man  ;-)  not often i'm surprised by the taste of a macaron. No taste, too dry, it's so difficult. But the color of this one, the filling and the taste, to die for, as well ...

accompanied by ;

Sancerre 2008 chateau de sancerre


we stayed at

Hotel de France .... Perfect as well - price compared to location, service and room is absolutely incredible. Looking for a hotel in Valance, take this one. And you can walk to Madame Pic her restaurant - 10 minutes max ! :-)

Hôtel de France | 16 bd Général de Gaulle | 26000 Valence

Tél ; + 33 (0) 4 75 43 00 87 | info@hotel-valance.com

Day 2 of the vacation .... what a way to start it ... :-)

La Bouzerotte - Bouze les Beaune

Mercredi le 21 Juillet 2010

La Bouzerotte - Bouze les Beaune / Olivier ROBERT
21200 Bouze-les-Beaune
France

www.labouzerotte.com


A small restaurant in a small town just before Beaune. (Bouze les Beaune) Just along the main street. A big modern sign next to the road not quite one that fit these kind of towns.

The restaurant wasn't that modern, more like a cosy living. All different kind of tables. Living room furniture in the restaurant.


A menu that ended with 32 euro for 4 courses. And a small selection of a la carte. Very good service and a passion for food. Fresh ingredients throughout the menu and the salad had a dressing ...  :-)  with a little camarque seasalt added ... Perfect.

We took the 32 euro menu and added a small dish that we split  from the a la carte menu to start ...



Foie gras poele sur croutons de pain, gros sel et poivre du moulin

Very good, and not one plate but nice and evenly divided over 2 plates. Very well made, exactly perfect and a smooth piece of foie. The salad with dressing and little bit seasalt was a perfect company.

Tartare de tomates et rillettes de cabillaud petits croutons a l huile

Presented in a round shape. The tartare in combination with the cabillaud was perfect. Good fresh starter of the menu.




Tournedos de canard plancha risotto a l orange

The risotto was perfect, the hint of orange was very well flavoured not too much fortunately, we always say ... no fruit in your menu  :-)  the canard was perfectly cooked and tender, a nice piece of meat.


Fromage

From the trolly over 20 choices ... Epoise, and 2 local cheeses. Just good !


Dessert


Chocolade ....

a good ending of the first day of this vacation ...

Tante Koosje - Loenen aan de Vecht

Tante Koosje
Kerkstraat 1
3632 EL Loenen a/d Vecht

Maandag 7th of June 2010,
Amuse Komkommer met moes van zeewier
Springroll gerookte makreel, watermeloen couillie
Bonbon tonijn

Voorgerecht
Canadese kreeft met licht gerookte zalmfilet, creme van pastinaak en witte chocolade, gepofte guinoa met pastille van komkommer en wodka

Tussen vis gerecht
In pomodori coulis rode mulfilet met krokante avocado, artisjok en madelaine van parmezaanse kaas

Tussen vlees gerecht
Gestoofd lamsschenkel met lamsnek en compote van cevenne ui vinaigrette van lam en olijfolie extra vergine

Hoofdgerecht
Gegrilde runderzijlende met geglaceerde rode uitjes, cantharellen polenta en ossestaartvlees met jus van aceto balsamico

Nagerecht
Brownie van sorbet van frambozen panna cotta van frambozen amandelroom chocolade cilinder en schuim van frambozen

Espresso


Beautiful restaurant in a perfect setting on the perfect location. The menu looks promissing and it was oke. Not the quality I had expect, food is very good but not great. The staff is very good and in for a laugh. Know exactly how to treat the customer.



Stukje Geschiedenis van Tante Koosje

Restaurant Tante Koosje dankt haar naam aan de Loenense inwoonster Koosje Edema die in het pand woonde met haar ouders. Na het overlijden van haar ouders woonde zij er alleen tot haar dood, in het begin van de jaren zestig. Ondank haar teruggetrokken leven was zij een markant dorpsfiguur. Na het overlijden van Koosje wilde de gemeente haar huis en de omliggende huizen afbreken, dit heeft men kunnen voorkomen en zijn alle woningen herbouwd, onder toeziend oog van de Loenense architect Dhr. Leicher. Na de wederopbouw van het huis van Koosje, ongeveer 40 jaar geleden, wilde men een restaurant beginnen in het pand. Op het gemeentehuis werd gesproken over Het huis van Tante Koosje, men was namelijk zo gecharmeerd van de historie van het huis en Koosje Edema zelf, dat er besloten is het restaurant naar haar te vernoemen.

Gedurende de eerste jaren was het restaurant een echte bistro met geblokte theedoeken als placemats en de kaart bestond vooral uit vispotjes, uiensoep en stoofpotjes. Iedereen uit de buurt wist het te vinden en dat is nog altijd niet veranderd! Inmiddels is Tante Koosje uitgegroeid tot een culinair restaurant waar gekookt wordt met eerlijke producten en waar men dineert voor een goede prijs kwaliteit verhouding.

Masters of Formula 3

Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus

27, Rue de Dunkerque

75010 Paris

France

http://www.hippopotamus.fr/

Need a restaurant at affordable prices. A Hippopotamus is the place to be. The meat is incredible, it's high quality and the menu's are great. Lot of choices and for the money incredible quality. There are a lot of them around in Paris. look for one it's worth it.

Chocolat Cluizel

Chocolat Cluizel

201, Rue Saint Honoré

75001 Paris

+33 1 42441166

http://www.chocolatmichelcluizel.com

Catherine Cluizel is the grandchild of it's founder, Michel Cluizel. This 'chocolat house' is sepecialised in pastries with chocolat. (in this Paris location). They produce on a larger scale chocolats, chocolate bars ...

In the middle of all the big names in fashion there is this chocolate shop. Buy one of the delicious 'Individuelles'. Go to the 'Tuileries' sit on the grass and enjoy :-)

Les Indivuduelles ;

Ora, Volupta (my favourite), Exotica, Ecla noir, Amanda, Bahia, Perla Noire or Pera Blanche.

PARIS  -  NEW YORK  -  RIYAD

Fauchon

Fauchon

30, Place de la Madelaine

Paris

France

+33 1 70393800

http://www.fauchon.com

Place de la Madelaine, where else should a foodie need to go when in Paris. Make sure you visit Fauchon. Like a child in a candy shop. From chocolats to entire meals. But when a little hungry don't forget they have fresh sandwiches as well.

Sandwich Baquette Foie Gras Fique ... just to name one .. and the packaging ... like a small handbag it looks superb. Their squeezed juices are a big treat as well. Never visit Paris without visiting Fauchon.

They even have a line for the supermarket, and don't expect to be a mediocre quality, it's superb !

Van Dobben - Amsterdam

Simple
Top made buns
Top location
Top price
Top Service
Top People

De Jaren - Amsterdam

Just Cappuccino on this terrific sunny day, overlooking a part of the Amstel. Live can be so fine and simple sometimes ...

Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam

Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam
Watertorenplein 6
1051 PA  Amsterdam
Tel : +31 20 6822 666

The ambiance and the setting are perfect for a cafe / restaurant. Great location, very well parking in the neigbourhood as well. The staff could use some more hospitality training, but the food makes up for that.

Mushrooms and toast
Shrimp croquettes

Rib Eye
Black Angus steak

Chocolate Cake
Sticky Toffee Cake