Envy - Amsterdam

Envy
Prinsengracht 381
1016 HL  Amsterdam
+31 20 3446407
http://www.envy.nl


There (for me) is actually one thing you need to order and that's the chef's choice. So we ordered 5 times the chef's choice. It's always a treat to eat here. Ambiance, location and staff - also the food - are great. The menucard is actually very nice to look at, very well done! Also the coolers for their ingredients, how would that look like @ home ... :-)

Bubbles & Wines

Bubbles & Wines
Nes 37
1012 CK  Amsterdam
Tel : +31 20 4223318
http://www.bubblesandwines.com

Bolli they would say in Absolutely Fabulous ...

Always a good start of the evening

You have put down a terrific bar my friend :-)

there's only one ...

Googoodolls - Iris

Lavendelhof - 04/10 - 2008

Has been a while, but finally we're getting somewhere. Kitchen is ordered, the 1st floor is ordered and the front is almost done. Another step ...


Same for the back, all the windows are in, and almost all the 'walls' are done ...

The Ivy - London

The Ivy

1-5 West Street
London
WC2H 9NQ
Tel : +44 20 78364751
http://www.the-ivy.co.uk/



London, Sunday, September 28, 2008,

On the list of places to visit for 'food' was The Ivy (London) one of them. And because diner was already booked we took lunch for our celebration of 20 years of friendship. After having a superb diner the night before they needed to perform extremely good to life up to this expectation. This old place, dated from 1917 as cafe, brings back memories from long ago. Glass and lead windows, a lot of wood, waiters in 'standard' black and white, small tables, a lot in such a small place.

We started of with a G&T and a real Kirr (not to sweet and of course with Bourgogne Aligote - even written on the bill), and not asked if it was to be with champagne or the Bourgogne wine ... like it should.

We choose for more dishes and shared the experiences,

Starter and Main course

Steak Tartare
extremely tender meat, no fat in it, real good spiced (took the medium spiced) with all the extra ingredients next to the meat good and tastefull.

Crispy Duck Salad & Water Cress Salad
very well prepared, cripsy is crispy but the meat is tender and not dry. The salad with dressing was a perfect match. So much better than the first night of this short visit to London.

Mediterranean Fish Soup
also very well on taste, maybe could be a bit more fishy (but that's only for the 'wankers' like I do right now) but with the perfect company like the bouillabaisse always has ; rouille, Gryere and homemade croutons.

Breaded Scampi
a perfect example of how to prepare breaded scampies, the best I ever ate. Don't know how they manage to get the scampi as tender as they do, of course it would be a nice and perfect scampi but the preparation was litterly DIVINE, never tasted it anywhere better than here ... the homemade ravigotte was supberb as well but without it this dish would have still been DIVINE.

Spinach & Ricotta Ravioli with pesto
What can we say ... for those who try this at home (like I do once a while) this is amazingly well done, the spinach and ricotta is very well on taste but also texture wise superb. The pasta than together with the pesto is a terrific dish.

Wild mushroom Risotto
The risotto was like it should be, the small grains could be tasted, the wild mushrooms were well prepared and not overcooked, it was a perfect dish again ... finished with some nice Pecorino cheese.

accompanied with a bottle of ;

Chablis
Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume
Domaine Guy Mothe
2006


Dessert

Bramley Apple Crumble with custard
Of course they prepare apple crumbles with a real British apple ... The sweetness of the crumble with the custard in contrast to the fresh Bramley apple is very good. Actually a bit much after such a diner but the crumble was gone so there was some room left ...


After yesterday we're wondering if they could match Imano, but they could. Although the kitchen is real old fashioned the dished are well presented, and the taste is so good that it's not a miracle they were almost full for lunch and fully booked for the night. If we really want to go into detail and also highlight what was not worth a 10 that would be, table number written on the label of the wine ... not showing the wine lable with testing and pouring, not saying hello when entering the restaurant and those two at the door doing nothing and not even helping opening the door for the guests was lacking points for outstanding. For the rest, if you're in the neighborhood, make a reservation... IN ADVANCE ....

Inamo - London

Inamo
134-136 Wardour Street
Soho
W1F 8ZP
London
+44 20 7851 7051
http://www.inamo-restaurant.com/

How stylish, how innovative, how new, how different, how wonderfull but also tastefull .... the website of Inamo could be pimped up and made more like the experience in the restaurant itself. Inamo is a pioneering Oriental fusion restaurant and bar where the control of the dining experience is placed firmly in your hands. Their mission is to provide delicious cuisine with charming and timely service in a warm and vibrant atmosphere. At the core of Inamo is their interactive ordering system. Diners place orders from an illustrated food and drinks menu projected on to their table surface. You’ll set the mood, discover the local neighbourhood, and even order a taxi home. Our dedicated and friendly staff are always on hand to help with whatever you need.

Also for our 20 years of friendship this was one of the things we just had to do ... :-)

the picture below describes the restaurant at best ... every table has a beamer per person and the beamer displays everything you choose on the table. On the right hand side you have a built in mouse (like a mouse pad of a laptop) with that you just click the icons at the right top of the table. Choose between, food, drinks, games :-), transport, extra's ... just have to go there and play with the options. If you go through the starters and you go over a dish the dish is diplayed on your plate ... it's amazing and it works without any flaws ... Yes you can change the look of the table as well ...


Started of with some cocktails, the Sake Mojito. Since it's oriental orientated they replace some ingredients with oriental ones like sake ... it still remains a superb cocktail this way.

Starters and main course

Truffle Marble Beef
Thin slices of marble beef served with truffle vinaigrette, crispy garlic and mixed cress. So tender, melts on your tongue, the truffle vinaigrette perfect of taste, well balanced with the truffle. Superb!

Lobster Salad
A light salad of lobster with wild cress and a ginger pomegranate dressing. Very well done, nice flavors and a very good lobster, you didn't need to search for it ... :-)

Vietnamese Spring rolls
Vegetable spring rolls served in a lettuce leave with a sweet chilly dip. The combination was stunning, the rolls very well and handmade of course.

Marinated Quail
Marinated in garlic soy with plum wine poached nashi pear and nothing else, this quail was delicious. As often as we ate these with my parents, this was a small trip to memory lane. Like in France, prepare it don't do fancy stuff with it, enjoy it as it is ...

Wagyu onglet
Slow cooked Wagyu beef onglet served with soy braised yam bean and hijiki seaweed. This meat is so wonderfull tender. All the stories of this meat is thru, taste it, it almost melts on your tongue, this is DIVINE!

Hot Stone Rib-Eye
Seared Rib-Eye served with a sweet potato puree and three sauces, chilli herb, yuzu soy, truffle. Served on a hot stone so you can cook it to your own taste. And the sauces were incredible, chilli herb, fresh with some sour and perfect combination with the meat, like the yuzu soy perfect, ans last but not least, we liked our fingers with the truffle sauce ... DIVINE.

Accompanied with a Sauvignon Blanc, Sherwood Estate, 2006 (New Sealand)


Dessert

Vanilla Creme Brulee
Strawberry and lemongrass coulis served with this creme brulee that was cooked to perfection. Structure wise flawless, taste wise divine, combination perfect, way to finish a perfect diner.


The system, the ambiance is perfect, but what if the food lacks that perfection, your concept would be rubish. But the cooking is so perfect, not only taste and combination, but also preparation and presentation. They went all the way. It's really amazing. Next time in London it will be hard not to visit this place ...


To R,
thanks for another year of friendship, a year that's not going to be the most memorable year for me and one that will not fade away in my memory for unfortunate things that life brings as well and luckily also nice moments like these weekends ... - grote kus - Paul.

Lavendelhof - 25/09 - 2008

2 stories done, 2 to go ...

Lavendelhof - 24/09 - 2008

We're getting somewhere ...

Mario - Neck

There is only 1 Mario ... :-) - they even cater on location ....

Carpaccio & carpaccio tuna
Vitello Turkey
Salad Caprese

Dorade
Stew
Potatoes

Tiramisu

Lavendelhof - 18/09 - 2008

Black = Black

Lavendelhof - 30/08 - 2008

Beautiful day and the back walls are ready for their final face ...

Restaurant Tante Agaath

Amsterdam - 29 augustus 2008
Jordaan / Amsterdam
Restaurant - Tante Agaath

Via de restaurant week.


Champagne

Diny Schouten's Baambrugs Varken Pate

Steak Bearnaise

Appeltaart


Aardig maar geen hoogvlieger, konden het niet bijhouden en onderling de bediening een ramp. Eigenaar springt bij :-)

Flo - Amsterdam

Flo Amsterdam
Amstelstraat 9
 1017 DA  Amsterdam
http://www.floamsterdam.com/


It's hard during Restaurant week .... another night out.

Restaurant Flo Amsterdam (Culinairy Paris in the heart of Amsterdam) On the Rembrandtplein there is a small piece of Paris : Brasserie Flo Amsterdam. It's rebuild after a Parisian Brasserie. White table linnen, open kitchen, tables tight together, everything you breath is french inside here.


Fruit de Mer buffet when entering the Brasserie, like so many places in Paris. They serve of course real authentic food from Paris they have a nice menu.


Pastilla with a confit of rabbit leg,
almonds and ras el hanout, served with a tabouléh
Fiefs Vendéens Mareuil V.D.Q.S. Collection, J. Mourat - 2007

Ballotine of Scottish salmon
with a spinach salad with yoghurt and mint, tomato spices dressing
Vin de Pays d'Oc, Viognier, Jardin des Cigales - 2006

-

Fillet of Plaice with asparagus
tomatoes, sea aster and samphire grass with a sorrel and watercress sauce
Saint-Véran A.C., Domaine des Poncetys - 2006

Sautéed breast of duck
with peaches, sugar peas and a basil sauce
Côtes du Roussillon Villages A.C., Domaine du Rouvre - 2003

-

Crème Brûlée
with bourbon vanilla
VdP des Côtes de Gascogne, Gros Manseng, Millet - 2006

Gazpacho of watermelon
with red fruits and a yoghurt and tarragon ice cream
Muscat de Rivesaltes A.C., Cassell Real - 2005




Nothing wrong, the waiting staff could be better, food was good,

RM - EdG (met for the first time :-)

Restaurant Teppanyaki Nippon

Restaurant - Teppanyaki Nippon
Amsterdam
26 augustus 2008

Restaurant week

Voorgerecht
Sashimi en Sushi Maki

Tussengerecht
Gebakken zalm met champignon en courgette
(ben geen zalm liefhebber maar moet zeggen van de plaat echt top !)

Hoofgerecht
Ossenhaas (zoals vaak) met groenten (tauge, wortel, paprika en ui)
gebakken rijst (met ei en lenteui)

Nagerecht
Crepe, vanille ijs, caramel flambee


standaard gerechten bij zo'n kennismakings diner (restaurant week), maar de kwaliteit was erg goed, en top gegeten.

Brasserie Leclerc - Montayral / France

Brasserie E. Leclerc
47500 - Montayral
tel : +33 55 340 4795

That not all lunches need to be expansive to deliver good food is proven by the many lunches available in France (especially this region - that I know off) for only a few euro's. For only € 10,50 you get a three course menu (€ 8,90 if you skip dessert). Of course it's not star level but price quality is extremely good. And coffee only € 1,00 ...

Entree
Salades Gesiers (look it up in the French dictionary :-) )

Main
Half a chicken (pasta and and spinach to go with it)

Dessert
3 kinds of pie

next to Leclerc their are so many restaurants offering a very well lunch for about € 15 (variating from € 11 to € 18). Even in the better restaurant they start doing that. And the quality is superb, and add it all up, sometimes cheaper than bying it yourself ...

Lavendelhof - 13/08 - 2008

A silver lining ...

Spijslokaal Rubens - Weesp

Spijslokaal Rubens

Herengracht 33
1382 AH Weesp
Tel : + 31 294 414726
http://www.spijslokaalrubens.nl

In the heart of Weesp there is a kind of Brasserie style restaurant along the waterside. It's a huge place, very long that can hold up many people for dinner. It's an old 'Dutch" house where the wooden beams still can be seen.

The food is simple though perfect. During high season and nice weather it can be pretty busy. Prices are good, value is great and service is perfect as well.


while in the neighborhood place them a visit,

Restaurant Sophia - Amsterdam

Restaurant Sophia
Sophialaan 55
1075 BP Amsterdam
tel : +31 20 305 27 60 http://www.restaurantsophia.nl

The love for hospitality and culinary passion are the basis for Sophia. They want you to feel home with them, while your senses engage the adventure with everything you hear with them, see and especially taste. Because Sophia is above all a sensation of tastes. Enjoying together from small international dishes; 'Sharing Dining'. Culinary Director Ron Blaauw, chef Barry de Back and maitres Clair Bik and Evert Groot take care nothing of no short coming. Bar manager Wim Boereveen invites you to prolong your visit to Sophia and introduce you to the world of cocktails ... Promising words, but do they live up to their own standards ...

to be short ... they do ... look at the menu, that's enough. Try the 'Sophia' cocktail before, it's a big treat.

Menu Pourcel

Amuse
Shooter cold tomato with wasabi - lime froth next to Japanese Tuna

Starters

Garden Pea puree with corn sorbet and a crouton with Pata Negra
Pan fried lobster with potato froth

In between
Soft boiled egg yolk with morel mushrooms and frothy truffle sauce
Souffléed zucchini flower with prawn filling

Main
Sautéed goose liver with rhubarb compote and red wine sauce
Pigeon breast with b'steeya stuffed with pigeon and chocolate sauce

After
Pistachio parfait with pineapple and vanilla syrup
Red currant, raspberry and lime gazpacho with egg white froth

These dishes are inspired by French Michelin starred chefs Jacques and Laurent Pourcel of the renowned restaurant "Le Jardin des Sens". They ask every now and than some chefs from other very well known restaurants and make a menu together with them.

The portions are perfect and at the end of diner you've had a great meal, terrific presentation and excellent taste. Menu Pourcel will set you back for almost € 70 per person (excluding drinks) but it's well worth it. Drinks are actually very well priced as well. A Bottle of water at a perfect price.

It's a Ron Blaauw 'creation' that's for sure ...

will come back ,,,

1 note though ... although the tea and espresso (& coffee of course) is being presented in these beautiful new doubled glassed glasses (really keeps it warm) the espresso was horrible ... such a shame after such a diner. Need to change, Senseo is even much better ....

Oker - Den Haag

Oker
Denneweg 71
2514 CE Den Haag
Tel : +31 70 3645453

A new star in town. They are quite the place to be at the moment in The Hague. Of course in a superb spot at the Denneweg, seen and be seen. Although all the 'glitter' the food is superb and the staff is the way it should be. No matter who's at your table, everyone knows where you are with your diner, know the cart by heart and even know all the 5 cheeses and where they stand for. Recommendations are on it's place here.

We took some starters to make our own menu

Starters
Sashimi of Tuna with Soja Sesame Vinaigrette, wasabi, ginger and pappadum

Coquille with papperdelle, Cantharelle and sauce of duckliver

Pancakes of duck

After
5 choices of cheese with orange chutney


coffee in Des Indes .. :-)

De Patatza(a)k - Amsterdam

De Patatza(a)k
Langsom 5
Amsterdam
Tel : +31 20 6691868

Of course you need to be able to be satisfied with food that isn't fine dining all the time. So if you want the best (Belgium cut) fries you need to visit this place. They cut their own fries in front of your eyes. Pre fry it and fry it on demand as you order. (the way it should be).

And I'm not the only one who thinks this is the place, try to get some fries on a Friday early night ... you can even call them and order for pick up, do this before 17.00, after that they won't answer the phone, simply - too busy.

Also the price is right, pay € 3,10 for a large bag of fries - with mayonaise - to go (about 3-4 times the size of a normal 'snack bar' place). Prices are compared to normal standards lower but quality is much higher. They should win an award.

Love them

-x- keep up the good work,

Y Laparra - Libos / France

Pour les meilleurs Maccarons ...

Anthony - Gabin - Yoan - Elisabeth

Y. Laparra
31, rue Nationale
47500 Libos
France

Brasserie Paardenburg - Ouderkerk a/d Amstel

Brasserie Paardenburg
Amstelzijde 55
1184 TZ Ouderkerk a/d Amstel
http://www.brasseriepaardenburg.nl
Tel : +31 20 4961210

Brasserie Paardenburg, another 'business' of the HME group that's led by Ron Blaauw. Very nice atmosphere and great place to have a brasserie next to the Amstel. Although it's culinairy led by Ron Blaauw the kitchen is not up to standard of Ron Blaauw. The dishes look pretty good on paper, and keeping in mind it's a Brasserie we need to forget about places like Sophia, but it was oke, but not what is to be expected. So Dennis (neighbor restaurant) not to worry. Especially for the prices (not Brasserie style) in Brasserie Paardenburg I expected more.

A pity though cause this could be a very well place, also quite empty for this night while the restaurant next to it was packed.

Starter
Noix de coquilles
Risotto with Petoncles

Main
Ris de veau
Grilled Fillet of beef

Dessert
Chocolade Almond Pie
Various ice

rather go to the other places of the HME group, only a bit more expansive but so much better in quality.

Lavendelhof - 30/04 - 2008

It's getting somewhere. Almost vacation time for the builders ... finishing the last stones for the last floor and than they will be finished with the bricks. Looking nice :-) Scaffolding can than be removed and it will look really like a house :-)



We did an 'in between' check and had the opportunity to make a picture from the garden towards the houses ... still missing some panels though ... and huge open windows, really cool ...



From the roof to the (to be) gardens. This will be my little roof terrace :-)

Lavendelhof - 29/05 - 2008

The bricks untill the second floor ... it start to look like a house now.



And now with a roof ...

Lavendelhof - 28/05 - 2008

Now also with windows ... :-)

Lavendelhof - 23/05 - 2008

Lavendelhof - 22/05 - 2008

Lavendelhof - 18/05 - 2008

Lavendelhof - 10/05 - 2008