Christmas markets and Glühwein were always nightmares to me. Terrible curation of market stalls and very bad Glühwein. I couldn’t believe that there wasn’t a proper recipe which does justice to this popular mid European drink which is like a hot sangria haha
Crime: German wine and Beers
Scene: Cafe Brecht, Weteringschans 157, Amsterdam
Investigation: Had an awesome night full of ‘Gesseligkeit’ mit my German homies from the office. How German can a cafe be? Felt like Berlin and the sphere is awesome. It’s always crowded so make sure you don’t get in too late. The selection of wine and beer according my German girls is awesome. They felt at home haha. Check this place out and have a glass of German red wine outside if it’s dry and sunny :)
Crime: A lot, except for pork haha. The crimes we shared: oysters, smoked cod roe with toasted sourdough bread, roasted baby beetroot salad with walnuts, buffalo mozzarella with purple sprouting anchovy and chilli dressing, Dorset Clams with lemon & coriander, awesome chocolate mousse, COS wine and another one I forgot haha
Scene: Brawn, 42 Columbia Road, London
Investigation: Our London friend Ben recommended this relative new joint at Columbia Road called Brawn. Yes, I hear you think: yuck. Why would you eat there?
Brussels is at it’s most awesome when the weather is good. It has beautiful buildings and parcs like Schuman, Bruxelles, Botanique etc. bring your plaids, salad, cheese and wine! The fact that the people there speak both Dutch/ Flemish and French is quite charming too.
Crime: Chefs surprise Birthday menu
Scene: Envy, Prinsengracht 381, Amsterdam
Investigation: This was a real try before you die. A good one if I’m going to die during/ after this moment. People could say: Ambar enjoyed great food and great wine and she carried on until the end. She was ambitious enough to go trough the nine courses made by the chef for her loves birthday dinner. It was quite an adventure with great taste and visual experience, but I recommend you to fast before, choose a three course meal or leave the bread they serve alone!
Nevy - fish restaurant
Crime: Bouillabaisse with Gruyère croûtons and rouille as a starter. Brill served with couscous, ras el hanout and herbsalad as my main course. No dessert this time haha but managed to have a bite of the white chocolate ice cream.
Scene: Nevy, Westerdokdijk 40, Amsterdam open every day for lunch and dinner
Investigation: Had an awesome dinner with a bunch of fun people last week at Nevy’s. A fish restaurant located kinda undercover along the Amsterdam IJ Canal with an awesome terrace where you can come with your own boat and get served next to it.
I’ve been to this place a couple of times to have some sushi, oysters and the awesome sea bass baked in sea salt. The waiters and waitresses are pro, yet amicably which gives the place a nice sphere and accessible in my opinion. An ideal place to have some drinks on the terrace before the sun sets and have dinner inside the restaurant. It looks kinda posh but it isn’t, just have a visit.
I can totally recommend the Chef’s menu, because he won’t let you down. The regular menu is good too, tasted a lot of dishes haha but the Chef seems to know how to make a feast with his changing 3 course Chef’s menu. Time and time again. *By the way, a tip if you are into a checkin’ kinda mood: Ordering the Chef’s menu or ordering something vegetarian, (even if its not on the menu) will reveal his or her talents.
Maybe I’m exaggerating, because the fish do all the work themselves and the chef has the role like a diamond drag engraver. Well, that’s a hard job too. Ok, never mind the regular menu or that I’ve ordered the delicious bouillabaisse served in a cute pot and the lovely brill as the main course. Just go for the Chef’s menu and end your dinner with a wine flight of three delicious dessert wines. It’s going to be a hit.
FYI I’m always pleased by the desserts of the Nevy Chef’s menu. The Chef’s menu dessert of this week is the white chocolate ice cream served on a bed of marinated strawberries. I swear, its delicious.
Les Bouteilles, Nantes
Les Bouteilles
Crime: Seabass on a bed of creamy rissoto with mushrooms and yellow courgette with a glass of white wine, a 2006, MEO-CAMUZET, BOURGOGNE HAUTES-COTES DE NUITS CLOS SAINT-PHILIBERT MONOPOLE WHITE and a cheese platter with a glass of red wine, a 2009 Crozes-Hermitage from Emmanuel Darnaud. Both wines were very nice.
Scene: Les Bouteilles, 22, Rue Armand Brossard, 44000 Nantes 02 40 12 10 38
Investigation: After a walk on Ile the Nantes and not in the mood for one of Nantes best crepes for diner we continued our quest for food. 9PM and we were getting delusional and was about to eat crappy stuff in the neighborhood of our hotel La Perouse. Link.
Finally we bumped into Les Bouteilles. A small restaurant decorated with wine bottles and packed with locals. It was 9:15pm we need to go in here…
With our eyes focussed on one of the plats du jour, the grilled entrecôte, we got very disappointed with the news that the table behind us had the last pieces of meat haha So, we went for the sea bass with a tasty risotto.
But more impressive was the service, the wines they served and their cheese platter. With the little knowledge of french (I’m still practicing) I manage to ask the waitress for the names of the 5 cheeses we’ve tasted.
Clockwise:
1. Saint Nectaire - a soft french cheese with a very light and subtle taste
2. Saint Marcellin - a french cheese with a very crumbly texture with full of taste
3. Morbier - little bit a la Port Salut
4. Ubiato - a hard and salty Italian cheese which tastes like gran p…
5. Gorgonzola - this gorgonzola was the most ‘powerful’ gorgonzola I’ve tasted. Great on bread, because the flavour is quite spicy.
If you go to Nantes, please visit this place!
