Garden-fresh runner beans

[Freshly picked purple runner beans]

Look at these beans, oozing with dizzying delectability! From the garden of T’s aunt in Sevenoaks right outside London. I was given a bagful to bring home to Amsterdam two weekends ago. Not sure about how long the beans will stay peak in my refrigerator, I “googled” and found these storing tips from a UK site advocating seasonal foods.

“Runner beans will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days but, as with all legumes, the beans' sugars start turning to starch after picking and they are best eaten as soon as possible.”

So to savor these freshly picked beans and optimizing the vitamin C and fibre it has to offer, I sautéed them in olive oil with garlic the very next day, and served them with some organic ravioli I picked up from the health store near Rijksmuseum on my way home from work. Real easy and simply healthy. Except the lustrous purple hues didn’t stay mauve when cooked. Yup, you guessed it, they all turned into the color what beans are normally known to be – green! The wonders of nature...

*This is an entry for Weekend Herb Blogging hosted by Kalyn's Kitchen.

Bling H20

[glitzy designer water for sale]

Would you pay 49€ for a bottle of water? I suppose someone crazy about displaying an empty bottle studded with real Swarovski Crystals might...

The owners of De Waterwinkel (translated simply as the water shop) in Amsterdam certainly knows people who would pay beaucoup money for designer water, as their entire store is a retail space for beautifully packaged water from around the globe. (Though they don't carry my favorite water on earth - the Vichy Catalan.)

We were wondering if their main business is largely based on corporate water supply accounts cos we just can't seem to make out the revenue equation one can get out of a pretty shop selling pretty water. We absolutely love the Ty Nant still water's bottle design, conceived by Ross Lovegrove who used to work for Frog as a consultant to Apple.

I have asked my visiting mum to double as special delivery service to bring this bottle back to my little brother as a little gift from Amsterdam. With all the airport security measures, she insisted on knowing the contents of the parcel.

"What's in this?"
"It's a surprise."
(feeling the outline of the parcel) "It's a bottle... what's in it? A special drink?"
"Well, it's a bottle of water..."
"You mean drinking water? Is it the sparkling kind that we had in the restaurant?"
"No..."
(Unspoken expression says: You want me to bring back a bottle of plain drinking water for your brother?)

Well, of course it buffles her that I'm giving her an extra half liter of water to add to her bulging suitcase. And of course, I can't tell her how cool the thing is until she sees the thing herself. Thankfully, my brother thought this was the coolest thing ever. I can only thank my product designer of a boyfriend for coming up with this idea.

In the know:
De Waterwinkel
Amsteldijk Zuid 197
(Across from the College Hotel, near Museumplein)

Foodie’s weekend trip to London

[Food stalls at London's Borough Market]

Back from my weekend trip in London and all I can say is that it revolved around food. Surely, what else can it be since I write a food blog and am obsessed about taking photographs of edible items? These images can only attest to the decadent sights and smells (not to mention cheese sample tastings) that were to offer from my Saturday morning window-marketing, if there is such a thing.

It was not really just a short get-away. More like a get-orientated-n-meet-the-family trip, T carefully thought out that the most fun thing to do would be a morning foray at Borough Market, which he deemed “a very Kelly thing to do”.

The background information carefully relayed to me in amused detail by family members D + F were that ages ago the market used to be this truly original organic farmer’s market where Londoners, high on taste, style and health, could expect to pay a reasonable price for a basketful of wholesome ingredients for an at home gourmet meal.

Today, with its repertoire evolving into a standard Saturday-morning activity for a lot of Londoners and tourists in the know, the close-knitted group of stallholders are giving room to a wide range of gourmet food offerings from every corner of Britain and spilling over to the continent. Authentic Spanish carnicera, French cheese specialists, organic Italian Parmeggiano-Reggiano, you name it. One may still expect to find artisan food products like fresh organic raviolis, smoked tofu and handmade truffles. We were poking fun at one of the organic vegetable stands, which I was told, is now ridiculously over-priced and offers dirt-covered vegetables that one, adds up a good few pennies when weighed, and two, gives the customer a dilemma about putting away carrots with dirt.

Wholesale Spanish products retailer Brindisa has a full-blown retail space to attract its customers in search of the imported queso Manchego and Arbequina olives. As the well-known supplier of Moro, one of London’s most talked about Spanish restaurant, they even stock the Moro Cookbook alongside other Spanish culinary books. (Interestingly enough, my cousin is married to one of the original partners that started Moro, along with the Clarks – current owners, and a Sainsbury heir. Years later, Jake pulled out of Moro, and started his own Moorish-inspired restaurant Cigala at Lamb's Conduit Street.)

We were supposed to try out the best cheese sandwich nominated in Britain, but the guy was not there that Saturday. No luck this time around. We did wander into nearby Neal’s Yard Dairy, with me and D taking in every cheese bit that was offered. Since we were so close, and the restaurant offered a view of the Thames, lunch was decidedly fixed at Tate Modern. The walk towards the South Bank and London Bridge has a real London feel to it: trains running overhead, views of the Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s dome looming in the distance.

At Tate, the Cornish crab appetizer was a huge pleaser and so was the fish and chips made with haddock. I can’t help but notice all the Spanish servers and their very Spanish ways. It seemed to me from my last trip to London last year that a lot of young and not-so-young southern Europeans are quite attracted to a stint in the city, I assume partly to brush up their English, which is completely applauded considering they try.

In the Know:
Borough Market
London Bridge Underground Station

Neal’s Yard Dairy
6 Park St. 44-207/ 645-3554

Sleek Restaurants of Amsterdam: Envy

[Envy of Amsterdam]

Close to the shopping streets of Negen Straatjes (9 Streets) and not too far from the Anne Frank Museum is the strategically located Envy, the talk of the town when it first opened a few years ago. One can never fail to notice the bar-restaurant's chicness as you walk past its glass-paned premises with immediate views of its busy open kitchen and Tom Dixon's installation of mirror ball pendants. The narrow and dark space concept was developed by the creative team at Concrete, known for their astounding designs in the city for places like the funky Supperclub, the renowned caterer AMAISON's concept store and De Lairesse pharmacy.

[Intimate dining at Envy's bar]

With a changing menu based on the fresh ingredients like Italian cheeses and prosciutto di Parma air-flown daily, the food is served a-la-delicatessen in small portions with very refined ingredients. The last time we were there for lunch, I had a lobster bisque and a veal salad and they were wonderful. It's one of those places that you pay for the ambiance and the foofoo-ness of the food, but it won't necessarily fill you up. (In Spanish, you say "pica-pica" for something like that - grazing.)

In the know:
Envy
Prinsengracht 381, Amsterdam
Reservations: 020 344 64 07

Aubergine lemon linguini with chicken

[A healthy fusion pasta dish]

Entertaining is a form of art, albeit a tad challenging. You ought to present something completely innovative (from the guest's point of view) yet at the same time quite effortless to put together (from the host's point of view). Friends who have been invited over for dinner might know that one of my star dish repertoire is this aubergine lemon linguini with chicken.

This pasta dish combines a few distinctive spices like lemon zest and ginger, yet blends them so well into a flavorsome meal, completely balanced on the healthy diet scale. If you eyeball the ingredients and cooking directions below, you might notice a Mediterranean-Asian fusion thread. Happy entertaining!

Aubergine lemon linguini with chicken

1 aubergine/eggplant cut into 4 or 8 parts length-wise and subsequently into quarter-inch thick 'triangle' wedges.
Half a chicken breast thinly sliced across the grain into strips
Kikkoman soy sauce
2 tablespoon lemon zest
2 teaspoon grated ginger
2 tablespoon finely diced onion
1 clove ginger minced
1 teaspoon tarragon leaves
1 teaspoon black pepper
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt to taste
Extra virgin olive oil
Durum wheat linguini cooked al dente

Marinate chicken strips with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and a dash of pepper and salt. Meanwhile, prepare the other ingredients.

Put water to boil for pasta. Once water is boiled, add salt, and wait for water to reboil again. Add linguini. (If your pasta requires 11 minutes to cook, you could coincide cooking time so that both are done at the same time.)

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on hot skillet and add onion, ginger and garlic. Sauté for one minute and add chicken. Stir-fry on high fire till cooked for a few minutes and add aubergine. Cook on high fire for 3 minutes till softened, while adding pepper, 2 tablespoon soy sauce, tarragon, in between.

Once aubergine is medium-soft, add cooked chicken, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon pasta liquid and simmer covered for 2 minutes.

Combine cooked pasta with lemon juice. Arrange aubergine chicken on top and serve. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and garnish with pepper.

*This is an entry for Weekend Herb Blogging hosted by Melissa at Cooking Diva.

Bar Mundial in El Born, Barcelona

[Bar Mundial en Barcelona]

Resuming my tapas run in Barcelona: for the same reasons you’ve got to be at Cerveceria Catalana to soak in the typical bar scene, Bar Mundial offers you yet another kind of down-to-earth neighborhood tapas bar tableau. Fresh seafood is the name of the game in this antiquated establishment, run by the same family for many many years.

That weekend I was in Barcelona, Nico and Ivan offered me the honor of choosing a dinner venue. And for T’s benefit, since I’m showing him MY Barcelona, Bar Mundial was my top choice, namely for the fresh-seafood-to-order tapas genre I want to orientate him through. We got lucky since Nico has an “enchufa” (literal translation for both plug and socket; Spanish slang for connections or network.) The “enchufa” is the co-owner -- the female counterpart of the husband and wife team, who went to school with the guy Nico was dating.

Okay, so we arrived, and we get (drum roll…) reserved seats at the bar – absolute prime real estate! You see, this is such a treat for me because I swear the first three times I tried to check this place out, I was flat down turned away cos it was full house, and it was late, and they simply couldn’t accommodate more. This was great. The fourth attempt and my first actual taste of the place, we were in the dining area, which was not all that fun. In contrast, the seats at the bar gets you all the action: people standing at the bar debating on the headline of the day and demanding for more cerveza, people beside and behind you talking loudly with their voice and their hands, tables so small all the food that arrives just appears to be larger and more inviting in size – you get it, it’s just more fun and less boring.

[Pulpo a la gallega]

To give you an idea of what kind of big seafood dinner we get, here’s what we ordered out of the menu: navajas con ajo y perejil (razor clams with garlic and parsley), mejillones a la marinera (mussels in white wine sauce), pulpo a la gallega (Galician-style octopus with paprika). We also had a huge serving of jamon Iberico, pan amb tomaquet (national Catalan dish – tomato and garlic on baguette) and patatas bravas (Spanish “fries” in its own right).

According to T, it was the best tasting fries he’s ever had. I’ve had some really good ones at Brasserie Harkema in Amsterdam past weekend but he insists that those Spanish ones are unbeatable, best tasting. I’m sure the olive oil used to make those patatas bravas does really make a difference.

So here you go, holiday-makers, you can’t miss this one if you’re heading to Gaudi town anytime soon. One online reviewer simply put it this way: “Popular with discerning Barcelona dwellers I cannot think of a more 'authentic' experience in the city.”

In the know:
Bar Mundial
Plaça Sant Agustí Vell 1, 08003 Barcelona
Metro: Jaume I
Reservations recommended: 933 199 056

Herbed Risotto with Portobello Mushrooms

[First attempt at Risotto]

Okay, so the story was that I went completely berserked with risotto. Alright it was my first time making it, but rarely would I be completely satisfied with my own cooking (read perfectionist) let alone being so happy with it that I made it again and again for THREE consecutive days.

What is this?? Just rice in a creamy sauce? Well, surely not! This concoction has all the wholesome goodness of raw organic herbs and vegetables, namely rosemary, basil, tomatoes, portobello mushrooms, and red onions. And of course, imported Italian Arborio rice and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

The combination of fragrant herbs and tomatoes gives this dish a very light and airy taste. Completely flavorsome and fresh. With a recipe this uncomplicated; you will learn it by heart once you make it the first time. And maybe you’ll be remaking it again and again with your own variations for three consecutive days! Without further ado, here’s the easy recipe.

Herbed Risotto with Portobello Mushrooms
(adapted from Intercourses, an aphrodiasiac cookbook)

1 medium red onion finely diced
1 tablespoon butter
¾ cup Arborio rice
2 cups of hot vegetable stock
1 extra red and plump tomato diced
1 tablespoon of freshly chopped thyme
1/4 cup freshly chopped basil
2 medium-sized Portobello mushrooms, thinly sliced
¼ cup crème fraiche
1.5 teaspoon olive oil
grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
a generous amount of freshly ground pepper
salt to taste

Sauté onion in butter till fragrant and softened. Add Arborio rice and sauté for 1 minute. Add stock and let simmer with a lid for however long the packaging says it takes to cook rice (usually about 10 minutes.) Meanwhile, sauté mushrooms with olive oil for 2 minutes. When the rice is chewy and done, fold in the rest of the ingredients and add salt and pepper to taste.

*Style with more herbs and a sprinkle of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

This is an entry for Weekend Herb Blogging hosted by Kalyn's Kitchen.

Best brown cafe food in Amsterdam

[High Dutch Cuisine]

Amsterdam’s a great place to be, what with all the delightful culinary offerings I’ve been discovering. Thanks to fellow foodie Talia who sent some delectable brownies to my door in Barcelona some time ago, I was able to be in the know for some of the sure-fire finds in town.

Fluent in Dutch and blissful with her newfound role as mom, Talia has lived in Mokum (what locals call Amsterdam) for five years now. We met in person for the first time last month in a traditional brown café here in the Jordaan, De Reiger, which Talia chose for the “track record of good food” the couple of times she’s been there.

We both ordered the rack of lamb with fried gnocchis -- done to perfection, paired with a glass of red. So busy were we talking about life in Amsterdam, food, and one’s life passions that we realized that we kept missing the busy servers to place our dessert orders that we finally left without sweetening a tooth.

My second visit to De Reiger was with T cos I know how much he loves lamb. For a change, I ordered the fish of the day. It was a sea bass on a bed of mashed potatoes served with asparagus and this creamy and flavorfully complex sauce that was extremely good. Again, we didn’t get a chance to taste the chocolate mousse cos by the time we finished our main course, it’d already been a hearty-enough meal.

One of the online reviews warned about getting seats because it can get crowded at dinner time. However, my first hand experience was that reservations are not possible, so you’d have to show up either a little earlier or later than the usual dinner crowd. Be prepared though: Dutch customer service, when it comes to food, are notoriously leisurely slow. They’ll take all the time they want and you’d be lucky if your food get served within 30 minutes the moment you are seated. (That's if they take your orders within 15 minutes of you being seated.) This is just how things work. Good luck!

In the know:
De Reiger
Kitchen open from 6 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.
Nw. Leliestraat 34, Amsterdam
Tel: 020-624 74 26