Food
Welcome sign in Thai
I have loads of this umbrellas bought in Thailand donkeys years ago, this is an awesome way to display them!
Love that green chicken curry!
a very warm presentation!
Cocktails a la caribbean!
I like the cutlery…quite awkward to manipulate though
15 December 2009
Christmas market delights in Monaco
Socca. A popular street food in Nice, Monaco and other areas in the south of France.
This pancake of chickpea flour, water and olive oil is cooked on a griddle.
06 December 2009
The Italian Aperitivo
It was 12 o’clock, time for lunch but we were not yet hungry as we had a heavy breakfast this morning. What to have? Take an aperitivo.
Aperitivos in Italy is like a meal in itself, the only difference is, it is lighter, and cheaper. It consists of light alcoholic drink and little bites of various snacks. We were already enjoying the little bowls of chips, pretzels and peanuts (above)…
..when the proprietor put another plate before us, containing of grisini, sausages, toast with pâté and chunks of pizza.
The cost of all these: 6euros! (or 3euros per person)
22 November 2009
Dining, Welsh Style
As is typical in the UK, before sitting down for a meal, drinks are ordered at the counter and consumed at a table or place entirely different from where you will have your food. This is called bar service, something which is not practiced in other parts of Western Europe. The hotel restaurant where we had our meal has two reception areas. We took our drinks in one of them.
Starter: Welsh mussels with a creamy garlic and white wine sauce
We expected the mussels to come with their shells which would have made it more visually, if not gastronomically, delightful.
Another Starter (which I ordered): King Prawns with garlic butter
The prawns are a winner! They melt in the mouth. Lovely!
Main Course: Hake in butter sauce.
Another Main Course (which I ordered): Welsh steak, medium rare.
That thing on top is fried battered onion.
I’m always wary about steaks because they could be very tough and chewy. The one above confirmed my suspicion.
Sachertorte in Vienna
If Italy has tiramisu, then Austria has sacher torte!
A must-do when in Vienna is to try their cakes and pastries… delicious!
Taken at a coffee shop in Hundertwasserhaus Village. I was planning to have an appelstrudel, but the sight of this chocolate cake was more tempting! Great choice because it was beautifully moist with its oozing jam filling!
The cute boxes on display at Hotel Sacher’s boutique.
Did you know…
That sachertorte is a chocolate cake, invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 for Klemens Wenzel von Metternich in Vienna, Austria. It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties. The Original Sachertorte is only sold in Vienna and Salzburg, and is shipped from both locations.Until 1965, Hotel Sacher was involved in a long legal battle with the pastry shop Demel, who had also produced a cake called the “Original Sachertorte.” Numerous tales have circulated to explain how Demel came by the recipe. The cake at Demel is now called “Demels Sachertorte” and differs from the “Original” in that there is no layer of apricot jam in the middle of the cake, but directly underneath the chocolate cover, covering the entire cake. (wikipedia)
20 March 2009
If you are feeling hungry and on a budget in Budapest, look for stores sporting the
Coca-Cola sign. They serve coffee and tarts here. Sometimes they also sell meat and sausages on one side. Hungarians, like the Germans, love their sausages!
Apple tart and coffee at 270 forints (88centimes). The tart was delicious!
25 March 2009
Daube a la Provencale aux haricot verts
Stewed beef, Provencal style, with green beans
Daube is one of our favorite dishes. The meat (beef or wild boar) is marinated in red wine overnight then cooked on slow heat for hours. I love the tenderness of the meat and the thickness of the sauce..
Thai Food in Paris
Our palates were craving for something Thai, so we went scouting for a Thai restaurant and found one hidden in a dark, empty street. The sign mentioned the word “gastronomic” so we knew the food would be good.
A 3-course meal for two persons:
Entrée: steamed dumplings
Main Dish: canard (duck), stir-fried vegs, cantonese rice
Dessert: candied ginger
The meal was accompanied by a pot of jasmine tea
Cost: 35euros.
Comment: Very good! We will definitely go back! Too bad that the place was practically empty save for another couple. Iit is too hidden from view, that’s why.
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France vs Italy
Table Wine (English)
Vin de Table (French)
Vino da Tavola (Italian)
- it could be Red, White or Rosé
- it could be just as good if you are on a budget
In France, table wine is normally served on a pitcher or simple bottle as below:
This half-liter French table wine cost us 7.50euros
If served on a pitcher, you can choose from a liter, a half-liter or a quarter liter.
Italian table wines are normally served on wine bottles at either 75cl (full) or 37.5cl (half). Above is a half-bottle at 5euros.
Water:
In France, it’s free. You can always ask for a pitcher of water along with your order.
In Italy, it’s not.
If you order bottled water from either countries, you have to specify if “Normal ” or “Gas (sparkling)”
Bread:
In France, they give you a lot….and it’s free (again)
In Italy, they give you a few…and you usually pay for it.
19 October 2008
The Italian Apperitivo
When in Italy, a must-try is their APPERITIVO! You can take it before lunch or before dinner, for its purpose is to tickle your appetite, to make you hungrier for the big meal!
We went to the town of Cuneo today to get some fresh Italian air. Of course, one of the reasons why we need to go to a bar before lunch is their apperitivo.
For two glasses of Campari soda and bits and pieces of fingerfoods, the bill was 6euros!
The counter was filled with bowls and small plates of every kind of light eats. A man came in to buy a glass of white wine and the next thing we saw, he was cutting a slice of dried sausage! Everybody who comes to buy wine can help himself to the buffet on the counter.
Our menu says that a glass of campari soda is 3.50euros and campari bitter is 4euros. Those prices already include the light snacks.
Before we left in the afternoon, we went again for some “before-dinner” apperitivo. This time, the bar was more elegant - instead of bowl and small plates, the fingerfoods on the counter were nicely offered in huge wineglasses.
08 May 2008
the French Aperitif
Dito sa France, bago ka umorder ng meal, usually naga-appetizer muna; a glass of an alcoholic drink and something small to eat like pretzels (in France), olives (in Spain and Greece), tiny bits of toasted bread with cheese on top (in Italy)….
04 October 2008
Fauchon
Pierre Hermes
July 2008
A Legendary Cafe in Budapest
One of the legendary cafes still existing today in Budapest. Founded in 1858, Gerbeaud is not only one of these historic cafes, but also one of the largest, most traditional, and most famous café-confectioneries in Europe.
The café was established by Henrik Kugler in 1858 and expanded by its later owner, Emil Gerbeaud. In 1995, Gerbeaud House came into the ownership of the German businessman Erwin Müller. Lovingly renovated in 1997, “Gerbeaud” shines with the cultured nostalgia of its original days: rich plaster work, magnificent chandeliers, marble tables, lavish fine wood paneling, and brocade wall coverings that characterise the elegant, yet comfortable atmosphere of this home of tradition….(from a guidebook)
What is so remarkable about this café is that, the staff just lets everybody (customer or not) go around their establishment and take photos. Anybody can also go inside the museum (at one end of the dining hall) where old molding tools, oldest and finest china, photographs of their earliest servers, among others, are displayed.
25 November 2007
Lunch a la Provencale
We were in Provence but did not stay long because it was pouring with rain all day long so we decided to drive to the Alpes Maritimes which is surprisingly dry but still cold. We go to Limoné (Italy) tomorrow for our Sunday out and will look for that solid hot chocolat!
Here are photos of our provençal lunch today:
dorade grillé (grilled dorade) courgette quiche, potatoes, tomato sauce with thyme and rosemary
My favorite dessert: nougat glacé (nougat ice cream)
my noisette (small coffee with nut-size of milk)
The Italian Espresso
“Be warned that Italian coffee is strong and dangerous to your health!”, says my Italian hairdresser, and he went on to tell this story:
There was this Englishman who ordered Italian espresso for the first time. He complained why the quantity is so miniscule!
“It’s a rip-off! In England, they serve coffee almost in half-a-liter mugs!”
But as soon as the Englishman finished drinking the coffee, he started shaking uncontrollably!!!
Warning; Too much caffeine will make you shake, even causing heart palpitation
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