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.