"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 !