Hotel New York - III

Hotel New York / Koninginnenhoofd 1 / 3072 AD Rotterdam

+31 (0)10 - 4390500 Website : http://www.hotelnewyork.nl

Always busy this place, very simple but lovely building that's a beauty only looking at it. A terrific location (plenty or parking space) and a place were you can eat from dusk (07) till dawn (24), no closing hours. And full it was again, a lot of people making the place the perfect place to talk and catch up.

Just been there with Rene about a month ago and since I needed to thank Sema for her help the other weekend when there were so many sick people I decided to go to Hotel New York again. Like always very busy, such a cosy place. Started of with the perfect Calamaris again ... went for the shrimp croquette and after that the mixed grill. Thanks to a good tip from my lovely friend Sandra I had to go for chocolate and since she wasn't there I think she'll forgive me for choosing this dessert ... ;-)

And also suitable for kids ...

The Dylan - Amsterdam

Amsterdam, December 1, 2006

The Dylan Amsterdam
Keizersgracht 384
1016 GB Amsterdam

The Dylan Amsterdam (former the Blakes Hotel in Amsterdam), is a Creation Of Anouska Hempel, The Celebrated London Hotelier And Internationally Renowned Designer. The Building Is An Exceptional 17th Century Landmark On The Keizersgracht, One Of The City's Famous Canals. Its Beautiful Garden Offers A Haven Of Tranquility, Away From The Hustle And Bustle Of Amsterdam's Unique Historic Center. The Dylan Amsterdam Is A Testament Of A Philosophy On Design And Lifestyle, Offering The Ideal Blend Of Color, Texture And Atmosphere And Of A Meeting Of East And West.

Well in plane english it's a perfect place in the heart of Amsterdam in a terrific and stunning building and very nice styled using a lot of black.

Time for a lunch last Friday (December the 1st - 2006). The last time I was there it was still the Blakes hotel and now transformed to the Dylan. Invited by my dear friend R. This busy woman deserves a lot of respect of how she manage her oh so busy job and family life and still find the time to have lunch with me. She's a real sweetheart. Each diner / lunch we get to know one another a bit better. Her possible only flaw is her car ... but we're working on that :-)

The last diner was with rather strange subjects as for conversation so this lunch was just fun. Time went by very quickly and before we knew it we're actually too late. But we managed, thanks for the ride home. And she also wanted to have her dish stated here, so her wish is my ...

Amuse :
Homemade sundried tomatoes (that's actually funny in Holland ;-) )
Handmade Crisps with seasalt and a tomato sauce
Salted puff pastry with Reypenaer Cheese

Starter :
R; Salad niçoise 'The Dylan
P; Dutch shrimp consommé with poached turbot and tarragon oil

Main Course :
R; Grilled Dover sole fillets with a vol-au-vent of sweetbreads, crayfish and frog legs
P; Monkfish fillet spiked with lemon, served with fennel and baby squid à la Grecque

Dessert :
R; Sugar pastry tartlet with lemon cream, marinated citrus fruit and a mandarin sorbet
P; Warm tartlet of Pur Caraïbe chocolate with chestnut garnache and vanilla ice cream

Coffee :
R & P ; Espresso ... and again Peeze what was not good, both got a second one and was a bit better but still not what you expect from espresso. Dear Vic please help these people out ...

served with some small alternatives to bonbons, like a 'sorbet'of Cocos, Papaya and Yoghurt foam, A caramel cookie, sugared pear and nougat.

We drank champagne during the lunch and although it wasn't Ruinart is was most enjoyable.

The food was pretty good, the flavors of the individual ingredients were kept like they should and weren't covered in sauces. The nouvelle cuisine look need to go though that can be done much better although their variety on the Salade Nicoise was very nice. For ambiance we would preferred diner in stead of lunch I think, it was quite ... (actually we're the only ones)

Thanks R for the invitation next time it's on me again, have a great weekend,

-xxx- P.

Iris - GooGooDolls

IRIS - GOOGOODOLLS

And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest thing to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
Cause sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything seems like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know your alive

And I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

great song, great lines ...

click to listen here (with parts of the serie the OC)

Chateau Pomys 1983

What can I say ... ???
After almost 20 years in my celler it was a party to drink this wine ...

website : http://www.chateaupomys.com/

Hotel Costes

Hotel Costes / 239 Rue St. Honore / Paris - http://www.hotelcostes.com

One of the most beautiful, romantic hotels of Paris. An hotel with an attitude, look at the website and google for it. In the heart of Paris in the one of the most trendy areas this late 19th century hotel is 'hidden'. A place for trendy people, as well the restaurant is worth wile. Details were it's all about, nice old building with trendy touches of which it's music is one. A mix of trendy, contemporary lounge. Especially album 9 is excellent.

What more is there to say ...

The album covers of their 'lounge' cd's,

their cd's are all made by Stephane Pompougnac.

Are you ready to jump? - Madonna

Once in every life
There comes a time
Because We walk out all alone
And into the light
The moment won’t last but then,
We, We remember it again
When we close our eyes.

Vis aan de Schelde - Amsterdam

Scheldeplein 4
1078 GR Amsterdam
+31 (0) 20 6751583

http://www.visaandeschelde.nl

It has been a while since I've been here. Probably the best fish restaurant in town. Leaving a job for another has also it's advantage, for instance having lunch (like today) or diner with the associates you have been doing business over the years. Today I was invited by Loes en Marco (see the log of the College Hotel), and of course they chose something nice.

We should make a tradition of this at least once a year... :-) And even lunch can take up to almost 4 hours before you know it. This restaurant has a big clientèle, and that showed, almost every table was occupied for lunch. There is a nice atmosphere in this restaurant that is situated on a perfect place in Amsterdam, near the centre, near the highway and plenty of parking space.

There was a lot to talk about and some nice developments as well. We will stay in touch that's for sure.

What did we have for lunch :

For starters :
Succulent squid prepared three ways

For Main Course :
Grilled tuna with béarnaise sauce and house-made fries

Accompanied by a : Chateau Neuf du Pape - Domaine de la Charbonniere - vin blanc

It was a nice lunch with good company, thanks for the invitation and we'll see eachother pretty soon. Since I'm not the only one who's changing 'lane's' good luck to you too,

Boris - Holy Pleasure

Boris - Holy Pleasure

Boris has a new CD, yes indeed the Boris of Idols. And it a very nice and mature album. Very good and strong numbers that are a bit undutch. Beautiful Day is a very nice song, Those things you do and of course Stupid Things is on there. Click on the link or on the photo of the album to hear the song on YouTube.

Visit the website at http://www.borismusic.nl/flash_en.html for more info about Boris.

Hotel New York - Rotterdam

Today it was time to visit a friend that I haven't seen for too long a time. We went to see some things for the kitchen that I'm looking for in a long time, also wanted the CD of Karin Bloemen, bought about 6 CD's ... and indeed not the one from Karin Bloemen. Sold out !!! Oké need to go to the next shop.

But too many people, so we went pretty quick to have some food for Lundin (lunch / diner) we headed for Hotel New York in Rotterdam.

Hotel New York

Koninginnenhoofd 1

3072 AD Rotterdam

+31 (0)10 - 4390500 Website : http://www.hotelnewyork.nl

Always busy this place, very simple but lovely building that's a beauty only looking at it. A terrific location (plenty or parking space) and a place were you can eat from dusk (07) till dawn (24), no closing hours. And full it was again, a lot of people making the place the perfect place to talk and catch up.

We started of with Oysters, and yes they are here again, the Oysters (0000) from Zeeland, small and flat but nice from taste. A good starter. 6 is only a few for two people so we ordered some Calamaris as well. They were also excellent. A lot of places can take this as an example, not the fat big 8 rings in a basket. This was excellent and the sauce was perfect. Of course we still had some appetit left and ordered half a lobster with mayonais and Stellendamse shrimps unpealed. A delicacy again with homemade mayonaise, always a treat. Finished with something real sweet - chocolate things and hazlenut pie. The chocolate things you can skip, they can do much better than that, the home made hazlenut pie was perfect. Pitty that the coffee was not good, but I'm used to that in this country .... we need to work on that !!!

Staff is very friendly, not well trained or experienced but with everything around, of course good company, it is worth the waiting. I love this place even if IAMSTERDAM. Haven't been there in a while but surely will be back. A real treat, the prices are also very good for the quality served !!!

for a look at the menu : http://www.hotelnewyork.nl/eng/caferestaurant/menu.html

Silver Spoon / Wappaz

It's a small shop (web link on the left side) in Amsterdam in the Runstraat in the city centre. They have almost every book you're looking for. Ask them for a book and they know about it. I couldn't resist today and expanded my range of books with :

Wappaz. A book that's written in a nice style. Very clear with simple dishes to make but with perfect taste and stunning to look at. The pictures are just so well taken, you'll get hungry looking at them. Next to good recipes it also makes you think about your own next creation .... nice book if you like small dishes but an awfull lot :-).
It's what you get with restaurants like ENVY in Amsterdam or LAMBERMONS in Haarlem...
The other book I bought is Silver Spoon. This italian book has been the best seller in Italy for over the last 50 years or so.
Silver Spoon is the book to have if you want to know about Italian cooking, so it was not yet in my collection and as of today it is. It's over 1200 pages, about 3 recipes per page ... I looked and every thing I could think of is in the book. Looking forward to make some great recipes.
Well I need to check the stove and fridge since my first items should be ready for testing ... have a nice weekend and of course a great diner,

Le Gindreau - Catus / France

Le Gindreau
46150 Saint Medard - Catus / France

Telephone +33 (0)5 65362227 / Telefax +33 (0)5 65362454

Cazals, October 6^th, 2006.

In our ‘quest’ to eat at highly recommended places in the neighborhood (star, or almost star level) we found Le Gindreau (1 star Michelin), recommended by a lot of locals from here this was the place to go to. The location was perfect, a very nice old building (former village school) overlooking a small valley. Saint Medard is a very small place and it’s fun to see that in these places restaurants like these appear.

We headed out for lunch, unfortunately there was only one other table taken so it was a bit quite. The entourage is a nice old building that’s renovated and there is a good mix of old and new. The ceiling holds an air conditioning that’s nicely covered up by a lowered ceiling. Also the huge open doors to the terrace are modern but it suits this building. Something else are the toilets which are in the old style, nice!

We started of with a Mise en Bouche (something like an appetizer) this small ‘bitterbal’ was perfect, a kind of cheese ‘bitterbal’ filled with foie … also a ‘cheese cracker’ also already served some bread, nut – red wine bread. Must be from the kitchen itself.

We went for the menu Gibier (€ 65) and the 5 course menu (€ 77). And started of as always with a Kir …

Started of with a Mise en Bouche again:

Veloute de potimarron, (a veloute from chestnuts)
Oignon des Cevennes au safran du Lot, (half of a small onion drenched in a dressing)
Longuet au sesame dore (salt galettes covered with sesame seeds)

Starter

Ravioli de queues de Langoustines au beurre de gingembre flan de Courgettes
(A ravioli filled with langoustines with a butter made with ginger and a ‘pate of vegetable marrows’)

In between

Escalope de foie gras de canard poelee, pane de grue jus corses au Xocopili, patate douce
(fresh foie with a special gravy)

Main dish

Carré d’agneau fermier du Quercy roti au four pomme au Rocamadour jus d’ail en chemise
(Lamb with a gravy of garlic)

Cheese

Three pieces of cheese from the trolley

Dessert

Croustillant à la crème citronnée fraises et brunoise de fruits safranés sorbet quatre fruits
(specialty of the region I think, these croustillants are served regularly)

Of course we ordered a wine from the region, unfortunately the sommelier didn’t had her day, and the wine was not longer available. She came up with a replacement, A Cahors of 2004 from Chateau Tour de Miraval. Perfect wine and very ‘smooth’ for a Cahors. Perfect wine for a more than perfect price (only € 31)

The restaurants all serve menu’s that saves a lot compared to order directly à la carte. And the portions are more than enough. Make sure you have a real appetite if you go out eating. Let’s say no problem for me … but make sure you don’t have a great lunch and than finish in this restaurant for diner.

Very well kitchen, staff could be a bit more friendly and genuine but the girl who served us most was perfect. If you like good food this is a place to go. Maybe go for diner because than there should be some more people. Only need reservations during the weekend.

Website : http://www.perso.orange.fr/le.gindreau/

Also Le Gindreau is member of Le Saissonier.

Au bon accueil – Cazals / France

Au bon accueil – Bar Hôtel Restaurant
46250 Cazals - France / Telephone +33 (0)5 65228117

Cazals, October 3^rd, 2006.

In Cazals near the town square on the corner there is a small place next to the road (D 663) with a big window overlooking the road. It’s an old place, the wallpaper is still from the sixties and the lamps on the ceiling are something you will find at a brocante. But that’s the atmosphere that suits this place.

The menu is simple, you’ll eat what they serve.

We started of with a kir and after that we started with the first course. Chicken soup, served directly from the terrine. Simple but nice. Followed by a small pâté stuffed with beef stuffing with a very nice dried piece of ham on the side. Strange combination but perfect from taste. As main course we were served chicken with a nice mashed potato. Very nice and full with garlic, lovely! Of course a cheese platter with four nice cheeses. As dessert we got tutti frutti or vanilla cream and finished of with coffee. Accompanied by a bottle of red wine.

It’s a family restaurant, with a lot of local people visiting daily. Especially the people working in the neighborhood. And the price … we needed to pay € 11,00 per person … Since my father is a regular guest, he eats there every Thursday with his 'work', we even got a discount, normally it’s around € 12,50 for a meal.

Where else can you eat for this kind of money …

If you just want a fine simple lunch, this is a nice place to go to, friendly people, good portions, good and honest food with nice taste go here for one of your lunches if you’re in the neighborhood.

Aphorism of the day

I shut my eyes
in order to see

Gauguin

Flo - Amsterdam

Restaurant Flo Amsterdam
Amstelstraat 9 / 1017 DA Amsterdam / Tel : +31 (0) 20 8904757

Right from the Boulevard du Montparnasse en Paris Amsterdam as well (like many other capitals in Europe) has it's own Brasserie Flo. FLO Amsterdam is a must-visit for culinary lovers and anybody who enjoys French cuisine and the charming, haute café ambience one finds in the best brasseries in France. You will experience the French feeling through it's buffet of crustaceans and shell fish located at the entrance, caracterizing for many Parisian establishments. A pity of all the glass but that would be a HACCP regulation I guess. The menu is inspired by the typical French cuisine and traditional cooking methods and changes every three months.

After these words it's tempting to visit the place, as part of the going away present we went to Flo in Amsterdam. Indeed it's nice hidden near the Rembrandt Plein in the city center. The entrance indeed is very nice, hostess at the door, the nice crustaceans on the left and the very big restaurant. We started of with a bottle of champagne (Bollinger Special Cuvee) and went for the menu ...

Starter :

Foie gras d'oie gelee au sauternes compote de rhubarbe et pain de campagne grille
Terrine of gooseliver with Sauternes-jelly, rhubarb compote and toasted pain de campagne

Great taste and a large portion (70 grams) but nothing as a remark other than superb. The rhubarb compote was fine and very nice with the foie, the Sauternes compote I didn't like, no refine taste like the rest. It's a large portion so watch out if you're not too hungry but perfect !!!

Main Dish :

Belle sole meunière légumes d'été pommes sautées sauce aux herbes
Whole sole meunière with herb sauce, summer vegetables and sautéed potatoes

Let's start with the potatoes ... perfect, nice modelled into shape and perfect sautéed, this looks easy but for a potatoe this size all three were perfect. The sole itself can't be bad, just use good butter and you're there. Nice presented though and the present the entire sole and you have the choice of doing it yourself. Nice and big firm fillets. The herb sauce was not impressive but the sole didn't needed it anyway.

Dessert :

Profiteroles à la glace vanille sauce chocolat
Profiterlos filled with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce

Nothing real special as a dessert but it's so nice, very well with large profiteroles real good dessert to finish.

We drank A Gevrey Chambertin AC - Domaine Chanson - 2003, might be a little strange with the Sole but since the other were namely eating other things than fish this was the perfect wine to go with it.

The menu is what you can expect of a french brasserie, for the Netherlands the crustaceans is a real treat. Hard to get ... but the portions are also french and the price as well. So price - quality ratio is more than well. The nice wines are as well nice priced. It's a real treat to go to this place and have a nice night out.

The only big negative point would be staff at this point. The guy was just started in the business and that showed. But it was not what you expect from a place like this. There were enough experienced waiters that even didn't help him ... pity. Take him by the arm and he will be fine. But a little to soon to give him his own tables. And last but not least, the coffee (espresso) afterwards, is know body in this city tastes his own coffee ... awe full without a doubt one of the worst espresso's ever. And it can be so simple ...

Would I visit again? yes for sure, will not orde coffee anymore but will definitely go for the menu. Try it you will not be disappointed and they have also ea ...

Website : http://www.floamsterdam.com

Thanks to my team, I had a wonderful day, the present I'm still wearing today. After almost three years it's time to change careers and this is my goodbye / farewell diner. I've never been here so they made a good choice. Hey they had a good teacher. I hope to speak / mail / sms / see you guys till long after this date ...

love, honour, cherish & obey -x- P.

All ends badly ...

All ends badly
otherwise it wouldn't end ...

Seems to be right ... but there are also good things of course, let's not forget. For my going away party we ended up at the Smirnoff Ice Bar in Amsterdam. A very nice and trendy bar oposite the ugly Stopera (City Hall and Opera building). Marilyn Monroe says hi at the entrance, large mirrors, nice bar a lot or red. And in the back is the "freezer". Of course we went in, the perfect end of a perfect day.

Thanks to Alex (our Controller who wants a new system so bad), Marjolijn (typical and Wolter will never be forgotten), Jacqueline (better that her family stayed home), Danique (our red head that always put herself in the background), Joyce (our blond studyhead), Ninke (hope te have some more diners the years to come), and last but certainly not least and unfortunately not able to attend René (our senior advisor).

Thanks for the lovely night out, the sour muscles the next day, of course the nice watch but of all, thanks for being part of my team. I'll miss you as a team, we still had a long way to go but with the respect and the way we went along we would have been the perfect Food & Beverage team. Unfortunatley things change along the way, I'll keep in touch and wish you all the best in your carreers ... Let's drink this coming Friday to that.

Love, Honour, Cherish & Obey,

-x- Paul.

Confessions tour - Madonna

Confessions on a dance floor ...

Amsterdam, September 3th 2006. After Paul Oakenfold (known from the soundtrack of Swordfish - with that beautiful TVR) what seems to be THE remixmaster of this moment a lot of silence ... He mixed a lot of 80's hits in a today beat. Not too bad, nothing compared to our own Ben Liebrand of course.

After Mr. Oakenfold more than an hour of silence ... what's up with that, no music no nothing just waiting ... hate that. Finally after more than an hour she finally started. Oké the entrance was one of a star indeed. The show was more than great, she always knows how to bring her old songs in the music of today. Very well done. Highly impressed. A lot going on on the "dancefloor" and the images, the movement, the atmosphere in one word she's one of the greatest.

She had a few thoughts to think over : Are you listening ... especially for George Bush I think. And if we were confessed after the tour? The last question is for everybody to interpret but the first question I have a question back. Did you do a soundcheck before going on stage. The Arena is definitely not concert worthy. What a terrible sound, how dare people to ask these prices for tickets if the sound quality is that poor.

The concert was more than great only the sound ... and is that not what we want, we can all buy the DVD but that's not the reason why we go to a concert. And the ending without even one extra song ... what's up with that. A pity.

For the rest who didn't see it, if you can get tickets, go see the show ...

Aphorism of the day

May you be in heaven an hour
before
the devil knows your dead

Sandra

La Crema Canela - Barcelona, Spain

La Crema Canela

Passatge Medoz, 6
08002 Barcelona

Tel : +34 933 182 744
Email : info@lacremacanela.com
http://www.grupandilana.com/es/restaurantes/la-crema-canela


A place just a street behind La Rambla. A line was standing before the restaurant, that must be good. And indeed it was more than good. The price/quality ratio is unbelievable, how can you make this food for that price. 4 persons for 80 euro's. Food, dessert, water & wine. Unbelievable. And so good, going to Barcelona you just have to go here.

On our way home from a lovely vacation we made this stop over in Barcelona. And it was worth our weight .... Hotel on La Rambla, La Boqueria ...

"Tuin van Brabant" - Haaren

Restaurant "Tuin van Brabant"
Kerkstraat 24 / 5076 AW Haaren / Tel : +31 (0) 411 621373

On the way back from the south of Holland we took a small road in stead of the highway to get back home. We couldn't find the road we're on last time and since it was almost 19.30 we stopped for something to eat. Haaren, a small town were I used to come to pick up an army buddy to go to do our duties on Sunday night. I remembered some small cafes and thought well let's have a look. We passed along this restaurant.

Quality has a price, that's a fact. But quality don't have to be expansive ... something I learned again last night. A Coca Cola just cost € 1,50. A three meal course for € 22,50. For a price like € 22,50 you have a main course in Amsterdam (if you're lucky). We choose the three course menu. (They even had a menu - 3 course - below that price...).

For starters :
Toast with mushrooms, onions and baked bacon. Served with a small salad on the plate.
Lukewarm salad of smoked chicken. The two dishes were served with a pistolet with garlic butter.

For Maindish :
Sole fillets with a fish (dill) sauce
Tournedos with mushroom sauce

Both dishes with garnish (potatoe onion and leek pie - poached pear) accompanied by a salad, vegetables and french fries and mayonaisse.

Dessert :
Doesn't happen often but we skipped, it was too much ...

Well what can I say. They deducted from the bill our drinks since we had the menu and didn't took a dessert. If we had ordered the dishes seperate we wouldn't have spend money. So they even deducted the drinks, that's service.

Quality wise we could only make a remark on the fish (dill) sauce, that could be a little better, but in terms of fish and meat the quality was extremely good. Tender beef, like it should, nice fillets of Sole, pretty big. Garnisch fine and site dishes very good. Service was especially good since there was a large group eating and we didn't need to wait long. So good to see that service for a very good price is still out there.

If you live in Haaren or nearby, pay them a visit!

Caulils - Amsterdam

Caulils - Haarlemmerstraat 115 - 1013 EM Amsterdam.

Open 7 days only from 12.00 (Saturday from 10.00), weekends closed at 18.00 and during the week at 20.00.

If you want your '00' flour for that perfect home made pasta. Different cold cuts from Spain, perfect - ready to cook - pasta, upscale wine, lobsters & oysters, nice warm take away meals, oils, vinagres even perfect knives. Everything concerning the precious ingredients in the kitchen, this is the shop to go. Jamie Oliver could be a regular visitor of this shop.

So see you in 3 hours in the Haarlemmerstraat ...

I Envy You (delicacies - Amsterdam)

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

I know, I know ... I've been here before, but hey ... it's so good. Envy at the Prinsengracht almost in the heart of "my town". And we started of with a nice wine by Robert ... and even it was only Tuesday it was packed. For those who don't know where I'm talking about .. it's Bubbles and Wines. He renewed the menu and got some pretty good extra wines by the bottle on the menu. It makes you feel so good ... tried his new white ones by the glass. The ideal place to start your evening.

At ENVY of course heading for the chef's menu and order the entire menu ... what a feast again it was. Staff is really terrific, food is superb. What else can I say ... packed again, in between the spanish guys and the German girls the last two seats available ... What did we had this Tuesday ...

for starters 3 different kinds of deli meats.
(Bacon marbled with salt , Dried Wild Boar, Smoked tenderloin of pork)

4 cold dishes
Fillet Americain from veal / Tiger prawns / Surimi of Tuna / Confit de Canard with foie de canard

4 warm dishes
Hellibut, "Packed" coquille on a mash with truffle ..., Lamsracks and Sweetbread on a truffle risotto why can I eat so little .... mjammie

4 cheeses
Tete de Moine / Roquefort and the third one .... I don't know

4 desserts
Crème Brulée / Chocolate Mousse / "Hangop" - perfect !!! and a rising sun ...

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 - you can reserve, or the high tables on the left. Look at the narrow restaurant as well. It's very cosy that way !

Cork - Journey before the last ...

The Isaacs Hotel in Cork - Ireland

The last time before opening. To tie up all loose ends, make the final paperwork, talk to the suppliers and hope we didn't forget about a thing. We'll see. So for all you people who want to call as of tomorrow, it's one hour earlier so especially in the early mornings ... The Isaacs is a lovely hotel with very friendly staff and a real good restaurant. I'll be gone the entire week,

Lambermon's - Haarlem

Lambermon's
Spaarne 96
2011 CL Haarlem
tel : +31 (0) 23 - 5427804 / fax : +31 (0) 23 5427826


Yesterday I had to see it with my own eyes, so again I ate at Lambermon's. I know I've been there way too often. In my last log I said : "But the food and service are one of the best ... at least untill today". And unfortunately that was not true. The formula is excellent, still good, again no Mr. Lambermon's himself, thirth time in a row he wasn't there ... The food wasn't excellent, it was good but not the special attention it use to have. The service was still below the standards of what we were used in this place. Again the maitre was on the phone when we entered the restaurant (what is he doing ...) and not even a sign of hello ... The food wasn't outstanding, the wine was probably well chosen but all very young not one with a real bite, the service wasn't again what Lambermon's stand for. Hate to say it but, love the place, love the formula, last time though ... I give up. Especially since they even haven't answered to my last mail with some remarks ...

What did we have ?

Poached Veal with baked avocado
Baked on the skin Seabass with a "bitterbal of risotto and Dutch Shrimps caught by Ria (Stellendam) "
Entrecote with Bearnaise and chinese mushrooms
Halibut with Salami and Parmasan cheese
Barberie Duck with a "poulty sausage" and artishoke
Espresso
http://www.lambermons.nl

Cork - Journey xx

Within a month it should be open and actually we're on scedule, May 10th the new Airport should open it's doors ...

During a site visit .... Erik and myself



The Airport terminal from the parking / the "iron" for the Foodcourt (landside)




The entrance of the spotsbar (airside) / the entrance of the Red Bar (landside)

It's progressing, less than a month to go, I'll get back to work now ...

Cork - Journey xx

Cork Airport, work in progress. Another weekend and week looking after suppliers, searching for possibilities and ... beer, cakes from Amandine, Salmon from Frank Hederman, Bread from the new factory of Arbutus, Clonakilty pudding, Sandwiches from the English Market, Crisps from Tayto and not to forget real bacon ...

Have a nice week too Slainte !

Tame the beast ...

The beast, tamed! http://www.hankooktire.com

Ron Blaauw - Ouderkerk a/d Amstel

Ron Blaauw Restaurant - Kerkstraat 56 / 1191 JE Ouderkerk a/d Amstel
Tel : + 31 (0) 20 4961943 / Open from 12-14 and 18-22, Saturday no lunch, Closed on Sunday's.


It's located in the centre of beautiful Ouderkerk aan de Amstel. They serve lunch and dinner and offer their guests celebrated gastronomic delights. The seasonal menu is composed of the finest ingredients from regional suppliers. The service is elegant, competent and discrete (as they like to say it themselves) but also not stiff and that's a big plus! Terrace dining in the summer and free parking in front of the door. A beautiful place to go to, good atmosphere, always full and the food is really great, one of the best of the Netherlands in my humble opinion. So what did we have (sorry in Dutch)

Amuse :
Gefrituurde Hollandse garnalen uit Den Oever
Gefrituurd hoorntje met komkommer en wasabi eitjes
Tomaten coulie met Beemster kaas en een kaassoesje
Gepocheerd ei met zelfgemaakte 'cream cheese'
Deegballetje met Crab vulling
Zuurkool aardappelsoepje

Menu :
Laagjes rosbief van moerkalf, paddestoelen, kwartelei en merg
Bonbon Zeeuwse platte met passievruchtengelei
In Mojo gebakken gamba met krabmayonaise en chorizo
Zacht gegaarde gamba met tonijn met gepeperde zure room
Zacht gegaarde rogvleugel, haricots verts met gerookt buikspek en piccalilly
Steam van zalm, inktvisjes en een ravioli van Piere Robert met ansjovis
Geroosterde artisjokken met bloemkool en oude Beemster met piment Despelette
Spliterwtencreme met een gerookte aal op melba toast
VOC kruiden en ganzelever, kropsla en mint en Madera Tartin Ganzelever met truffel, Zilveruitjes kalfjus
Gebraden runderribstuk met augurk, knoflook aardappel
Canneloni geconfijte eendenbout, citroenblad caramel met schuim van wortel
Ossenhaas met een gevuld aardappeltje met tartaarsaus en krokante uitjes

Boerenkazen met vruchtenjam
Blauwschimmel met peer en amarenekersen
Tarte Tatin roomijs caramelsaus
Proeverij van Tiramisu
Yoghurt chocolade

accompied by : Clocher - Ron Blaauw / Chardonnay of Toques et Clochers - 2001

Since we took two different menu's we also had twice the opportunity to taste everything, it was heaven. The taste is devine and especially the details within the ingredients. The taste of the meat, fish and vegetables were pure and the sauces rich but blend in with the rest. I like the setup of the menu, a lot but in small portions ... I'll be back .... If you really appreciate your food this is the place to go to. Every dish so well balanced ... I can go on and on ...

website : http://www.ronblaauw.nl

Tapasbar El Mundo - Utrecht

Tapasbar El Mundo

Voorstraat 18,
3512 AN Utrecht
Tel : +31 (0) 30 2364543

What do you eat in Tapas bar ...

We ate :
Fuet Collar Jamon Serrano
Cangrejo con salsa de limon
Champiñones
Calamares (were not good ... don't take them)
Gambas Aioili ...

of course some wine and nice company, and that all after our get together at the Murphy's Pub to start the (Irish) St. Patricks day, like every year, march the 17th. The menu looks very appealing, the food is oke, not perfect and the service is not that good. They could have sold us so much more drinks if they just paid some more attention. Staff not at all friendly and looked like they don't cared. They must be doing it great though. It was packed during the entire evening, that must count for something.

The Aioili though (which looked like there was some avocado in it next to the garlic) was very good, we took an extra portion ... But Tapas is always a good opportunity to have some nice talks ... till we eat again!

Website : http://www.tapasbar-elmundo.nl

Delikeet - Amsterdam

Willem van Weldammelaan 4
1082 KV Amsterdam
tel : +31 (0)20 6613730

This restaurant not to far out of the city centre has perfect parking facilities. It's in the middle of a shopping street and it's open from 11.00 till 22.00. This means that you can have normal dishes even at 16.00 o'clock. And that's what we did on February the 19th. It's a nice interieur with friendly people, maybe a little bit slow but perfect food especially for the price quality comparison.

Started with : Mabre of duck and duckliver and balsamico jelly
Main Course : Steamed veal with crabrisotto 'cakes'.

Especially when you want to eat something a little bit before diner time and you don't want to wait but feel more 'hunger' than a sandwich. The menu changes much and is small but with such a variety that always appeal to your needs ...

Chris Peeters - headchef, Ina Kenter - our host will welcome you daily except on Sunday.



website : http://www.delikeet.com