CONNOISSEUR IN TRAINING: July 2011

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Sterk Staaltje | Amsterdam

Clocking in: 20/06/11 @ 12:33

Fresh ingredients for food made fresh to order can be found at Sterk Staaltje. However, it was the fresh fruits brightly lined along the store’s shop front that caught my attention. I grabbed two punnets of berries along with the scrumptious chocolates from Puccini Bomboni and sat in a nice quiet spot along the dam to enjoy.

Clocking out: 20/06/11 @ 12:46

Puccini Bomboni | Amsterdam

Clocking in: 20/06/11 @ 12:22

The long extravagant table holding trays and trays of bonbons neatly arranged in a mountain like shape offering a plethora of familiar and unfamiliar flavours such as ginger, fig, cranberries, chilli and aniseed is a table I want at my place.. permanently! The quality of Puccini Bomboni’s handmade chocolates is worth every cent and gave me the best chocolate-gasm I haven’t had in a very long while. It is on the top of my to-do list for my next trip back to Amsterdam.

Clocking out: 20/06/11 @ 12:29

Puccini | Amsterdam

Clocking in: 20/06/11 @ 11:26

Being frequented by locals and barely any tourists, I made the presumption that Puccini will be a great place for a relaxing Sunday brunch and I was pleased to be correct. My salmon focaccia was flavorsome and happily enjoyed whilst watching the Dutch go about their everyday life.

smoked salmon focaccia with fresh dill and chive crème fraiche - €7.50

proscuitto focaccia with tomato and tapenade - €7.00

Clocking out: 20/06/11 @ 12:17

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

La Rive | Amsterdam

Clocking in: 18/06/11 @ 16:51

The cherry paneled walls and tall French windows of Restaurant La Rive frame the view of the Amstel perfectly whilst capturing the essence of Amsterdam through the grandeur that is the InterContinental Amstel Hotel. Service was impeccable, engaging and amongst the best you will ever find but together with Chef Rogér Rassin’s culinary creations, La Rive offers the utmost gastronomical dining experience that is essential for every connoisseur in training. La Rive strives to enrapture the palate with unexpected flavours and flawless preparation influenced by an exquisite infusion of French and Mediterranean dishes. Attention to detail is evident in every dish that is delivered by our synchronized waiters and the delicate yet empowering presentation leaves you breathless every time – see Roemer Overdiep’s video below. Spoil yourself and accompany each masterful dish with the appointed wine pairing to create a suburb virtuoso.

Clocking out: 18/06/11 @ 21:28

Taste of London | Regent's Park | London

Clocking in: 16/06/11 @ 18:36

With the weather not looking good all week in the buildup to Taste of London, my mood was rather sombre… until miraculously (locals would simply describe it as typical London weather) it was sunshine and blue skies, well when I got there anyway!! My sombre mood had diminished by the time I reached Regent’s Park as I was greeted with fresh-white mini picketed fence and luscious purple carpet illuminating the pathway. Freshly shucked oysters and scallops from Bentley’s Oyster Bar and Grill to begin the magical gastronomical adventure were deliciously enjoyed before venturing on to watch David McIntyre and Jay Rayner at the AEG Taste Theatre. Four o nine, sorry if I was in your way whilst attempting to photograph your mouth watering dishes, I just couldn’t decide between the brownie and the crab ravioli. In the end, it was the crab ravioli that won me over and it was sublime! So too were the wasabi prawns from Kai Mayfair! Succulent king prawns coated in a crunchy yet light batter before being generously covered in a refreshing wasabi mayonnaise and topped with basil seeds and mango cubes to compliment. Oh it’s 7:30pm, we must return to the Club Gascon stand for the next batch of their award winning dish; Foie Gras Burger before they run out again. The line got long and the crowd was pushy, Pascal helped lighten the mood with his entertaining character and salesmanship in trying to entice his audience to purchase his latest book, but the crowd just chanted ‘we want our foie gras burger!’ After the anticipation of the wait, we jostled ourselves out of the crowd to enjoy this creamy and luxurious interpretation of the timeless burger! Alice’s yellow brick road had been replaced with a purple path that could only lead you to a gastronomical adventure to tantalise your taste buds.