Eatmania

Well, well, well it has been quite some time since I have updated my blog last… and from the title you might guess why! The volcanic eruption in Iceland left me stranded in Dusseldorf, Germany for quite some days and at last I arrived home safe and sound after a train hopping trip to Amsterdam, Basel and finally Milan from where I flew to Malta. Needless to say that during my trip I was on the look out for good food and interesting dishes so let me share with you some observations and experiences.

In Dusseldorf, I came across this food market in Carlsplatz where you can find a large number of stands selling a variety of food items such as fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, cheeses, sweets, plants and herbs and many more. The square was very busy especially during lunchtime where many gather for their lunch break and indulge in the choice of quick snacks available such as grilled sausages, grilled fish, Indian curries, and of course Pils (beer). Whilst roaming around you will come across a number of bakeries who sell all types of bread, many of them with a mixture of seeds and nuts such as sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, walnuts, pine nuts and more. Have a look at this mouthwatering bakery www.bastians-baecker.de … surely not to miss if you are around in Germany, yet make sure you take your dictionary as menu is all in German!

As I moved on to Amsterdam I was staying at my brother’s place, since he has been living there for the last 2 years now. Well, food in Amsterdam is not really up to my tastes and standards however I had the opportunity to sample this new concept of food – check out the following website: www.lovefood.nl – these Sunday brunches are organized at this Cafe Bax in Amsterdam and I headed there. The place was jam packed with people, many of them basting out in the sun sipping Bloody Marys! I was ravenous after the long train journey from Dusseldorf and my brother was cooking at this place with Jason Hartley, the man behind the brunches of lovefood, so I took a seat and studied the menu. I was seeing many mouth-watering dishes coming out from the kitchen, food very well presented and looked yummy! Very busy place indeed at one moment I overheard waiters saying kitchen is closed! Oh no, they ran out of food and I am still hungry!! Anyway, I managed to take 2 poached eggs served with crunchy bacon on home made English muffins… eggs were so oozy and soft – it was delicious. I finished it off with a scone, the only thing left from the dessert menu available, which was tasty and of the right texture. Well I can say thumbs up for the concept and food quality Jason! It was a pleasure meeting you.

I was starting to believe that you can actually eat good food in Amsterdam as well and in fact, on the same evening I was pampered with some tapas cooked by my brothers’ flat mate – Adam. Here again, I must admit that all was deliciously tasty and appetizing… have a look!

We also had Patatas Bravas…

and fresh clams sauteed in wine wine and leeks…

I left Amsterdam with a positive note yet with a scrunching appetite for some Italian food as I headed to Milan… sorry no photos available for the food I indulged in on my 1 day in this city of fashion, food and culture… but for the record I had a great lunch at a Cantina Piemontese where I treated myself to a plate of fresh papardelle con ragu and the piatto vegeteriano where I had assaggi of 5 different vegetarian items such as stuffed tomatoes with ricotta, green beans with tomatoes and herbs, mozzarella souffle, spinach tart and ricotta and zucchine balls.  If you are in the vicinities pop over to www.cantinapiemontese.it

Whilst touring through the roads leading to the Duomo, apart from the never ending shops enticing you to shop till you drop, I came across some interesting food spots… enjoy the photos and remember that in life everything happens for a reason… this is the reason why the volcano in Iceland erupted

Tags: Amsterdam, Cantina Piemontese, chickpea, chorizo, Dusseldorf, lovefood, Milan, Patatas Bravas, Travel, vongole