New year, new resolutions and I definitely need to slow down with snacking 😅. Home working for almost a full year and not able in loading off your stress with social engaging in a nice bar makes life so much challenging now!
More days are becoming in reaching out to comfort sweets which brings happiness for a moment but then when I look in the mirror…. hmmm, I think I must reduce some sweet treats.
Starting from February, only on Tue/Fri/Sat and only if I have hard craving for sweets.
Together, we can motivate each other and then we might have a better chance of succeeding. And because today is Tuesday, Johan is baking his 1st Swedish Semlor for our treating day 😋. If you bake or buy your sweets, try to get some baby versions so that you have the option to choose and eat a smaller piece.
Semla (plural Semlor) is a Swedish delicious pastry. The dough is kneaded with crushed cardamom seeds, the center is hollowed out for almond paste filling and topped with fresh cream.
Easy peasy, installing a ceiling fan isn’t it? The last few summers in the Netherlands has been very hot and I can’t bear it any longer, especially when you need a good night sleep for the next day. I had to find a solution and being prepared for the next summer. I spent hours online in finding an aesthetic fan with low decibel and a qualitative product for less than €350. Finally, I made my choice on an American product having more than 120 positive reviews and a star rating of 4,5 out of 5 but there is a ‘BIG BUT’. Every single review complains about the installation and the provided instructions. I got in big doubts if I should do it myself or just wait for my man.
As I am a very independent woman since childhood, I wouldn’t call myself a feminist but I just like to prove myself that ‘I can do it’! So, I ordered the fan with 60 days return guarantee in order to buy time in case the job needs to be fixed by a man if my installation attempt fails.
I clocked the time from the moment I switched off the electricity. Got my tool kit and my ladder and started with de-installing my bedroom light first. Straight after, I had my 1st challenge with the mounting plate installation. The screw distance didn’t fit with the ceiling mounting box, a shortage of 1,5 cm. I don’t want to drill holes in my ceiling, so I went to a small local hardware store and seek for a solution.
Yes! I am saved for the 1st base 😁. Many thanks to one review I found to use an intermediate plate. I had no idea what it was and how it works! After seeing the solution, it makes sense. Terminology in the handy world is a riddle to me but luckily it solved my problem.
Then the puzzle continued with the instruction book. It was tricky and very challenging to understand on what to do exactly. The guidance came with 26 languages including Dutch. Struggling and sighing through the pages, reading in Dutch as well in English, the pictures and instructions are just not obvious. After a while, all the colourful threads are finally in place. Lifting up 8kg motor mechanism and making sure all the threads and remote receiver fit in that tiny hood….. that was a hell of a job! I am halfway and it took me 2hrs of effort.
Once the fan was installed, somehow there was no connection with the receiver and the light switch turns the fan on in its full power. Hmmm, something went wrong and I had to sort out what to do. After re-wiring the fan finally works, it took me 3:15 hrs of effort and decreasing patient! Next time, I’m sure I can beat my record 👍🏼
Do you like Japanese grilled skewers but also like to have the option in eating sushi or tempura? A new authentic Japanese restaurant bar is finally open in Amsterdam Rivierenbuurt, Yakitori la Kushi. I was so much looking forward to this new Japanese grill bar. The opening got a bit delayed by covid19 and some construction work but its now open for delightful dinners 😃
You can enjoy traditional Japanese dishes and some are with a modern twist. The menu offers a variety of appetizers, sushi, sashimi, tempura, rice bowls and ofcourse Yakitori. All look superlicious! You can take a seat at the bar counter like how it goes in Japan or dine at a table.
What is Yakitori? Yakitori means grilled chicken skewer, it can be served with various part of a chicken e.g. wings, stomach, heart or skin and the grilling is finished with a little bit of salt seasoning or yakitori sauce (glazed savory sweet sauce). When there are other grilled ingredients, you can also call it Kushiyaki as this term covers all kind of meat or vegetable skewers and not explicitly chicken.
Grilled skewers are a classic food served at izakaya in Japan and is a serious business. It’s about having dinner in a Japanese-tapas style pub where beer, sake, tasty bites and jolly chatters take part. The quality, the meat texture and the grilling skills are important factors in bringing the right atmosphere & flavours. Just yummie!
I started my evening with a smooth dry sake drink, a junmai ginjo from Kyoto and I loved it! I didn’t take a starter, I wanted it but I was so much graving for nigiri sushi. My sushi was fresh made with gloves on ☺️, this already gave me a positive hygienic feeling. It tasted very good, especially the unagi was in balance of sweetness and had the right texture. Personally, I’m not a unagi fan and I wanted to eat more. I continued with a shrimp tempura roll. The tempura shrimp was fresh fried and crunchy, and not greasy at all, so thumbs 👍🏼. Although, it could have a bit more kewpie mayonnaise and extra lettuce for a divine balance between fried food and a fresh taste. After the sushi and roll, I felt quite pleased in my tummy but being in a Yakitory bar I must try the skewers before leaving. So I ordered a tsukune (chicken ball) and hatsu (chicken heart), one of my favourites. The heart tasted fine, I was missing a bit of smoked flavour and the tsukune meat texture was a bit dry and pricy for a small thin ball. To my personal taste in terms of Yakitori, I prefer my regular favourite Yakitori bar but nevertheless, I had a superlicious dinner + good sake = which made my evening superb! Definitely highly recommended.
After a delicious tapas roaming experience in Donostia, we crossed over the Spanish/French border meeting up with our friends in Bordeaux. We stepped our foot in heaven; Cité du Vin, enjoying life with fromage, charcuterie and French gourmet!
What more could we ask for?
J’ adore Bordeaux, this was my 2nd visit and Bordeaux is a very lovely city where everything is on a footstep away. Not like Paris, where you need the metro to go to the other side of the center. I definitely suggest in staying in the city center as it’s more convenient and everything is close for a few days of stay. Nice things to do in Bordeaux:
Wandering through the historic cobbled streets and around medieval St. Pierre district… yes, bring your flat shoes 🙂
Absorbing neo-classic architecture at Triangle d’Or (golden triangle), bounded by 3 fine boulevards Cours Clemenceau, Cours de L’intendance and Allées de Tourney.
Attend a classical concert or opera at the Grand Theatre.
Palais de la Bourse, famous for its palace reflection on a water pool.
Walk or run along the riverfront Garonne and Pont-de-Pierre bridge.
Visit Marché des Capuchins – a bit off track from the center and close to the station. It’s a covered outdoor market with food stands selling fresh daily groceries. There are a few food stands where you can have breakfast or lunch. Slurp down some oysters & white wine on it’s French style.
Enjoy a glass of wine on a terrace or wine bar.
Rent a car and take the D2 Route Vins. This route is an hour drive from the city where you can visit many popular vineyards & wine houses. A wine tasting reservation is highly recommended as we ended up not able to get in anywhere.
Bistro du Fromage
Cent33
Cent33
Cent33
Cent33
Pont-de-Pierre bridge
Pont-de-Pierre bridge
Porte Cailhau
La Grosse Cloche
D2 Route Vins
D2 Route Vins
After Bordeaux we left for Arcachon. I remembered when I landed at Bordeaux airport on my 1st visit, there was a big wall poster of this place. I forgot the city name but definitely remembered the beautiful sand dunes and paragliders on that wallpaper. I googled and finally found the name where I wanted to go.
Did you know that ‘Dune of Pilat aka Grande Dune du Pilat’ is the tallest sand dune in Europe and runs parallel to a beach? It’s located in Arcachon Bay area, on the southwest coast of France, about 60km from Bordeaux. This dune has a length of 2,7km and the height is about 106,6m above sea level (this can vary each year).
I was so excited to be there. Going uphill, puffing and almost out of breath in getting to the top. It wasn’t easy walking uphill on sand that falls down on every step but the view from the top was amazingly gorgeous! We sat and lay down at the top and embraced the breeze, having sea view on one side and a forest on the other side. We didn’t stay long and the men were planning to go back the next day for an early morning run. I had no doubts and wanted to join. Not the running part ofcourse as they are crazy serious runners.
The next morning, we left at 8am. Wearing my running cloths and flip-flops…. I was ready in taking this challenge on my bear feet in running and walking off the entire sand dune stretch. This wonderful moment is unforgettable, in my own bubble enjoying this serene environment with just a few people in having the same thought. There was even a family walking up to the top with a baguette under their arm and had their breakfast when they finally found their spot 🙂
Chez Jejhene
Running up Dune de Pilat
Women relaxed uphill
Morning walk/run
Social pétanque kick-off
Learning Pétanque
Le Pit
Le Pit
Foodie & Wine places we liked in Bordeaux
Aux 4 coins du vin – a local favourite wine bar where you tap wine from an enigmatic machine. You use a chargeable card and tap the card to pay for each type of glass you want to taste. They offer a large variety of local wines including high-end wines. You can order charcuterie & cheese plates. Highly recommend in booking a seat if you go after dinner.
Cent 33 – superlicious gastronomic experience and awarded as Bib Gourmand. It was an unforgettable dinner menu.
Conseil Interprofessional de Vin de Bordeaux (CIBV) – a governmental organisation (includes a wine school) that represents Bordeaux wines within its region at incredible prices. In addition they offer small deli plates. Sunday’s closed.
Horace café – very nice charming place offering daily plats. Starter ~€8, main ~€13
Le Bar Du Boucher – carnivore paradise with a casual vibe and a local’s favorite. Choose your meat at the counter.
Le Bouchon Bordelaise – non fancy friendly bistro with affordable prices. A lunch plate is from €10.
Le Boulanger de l’Hôtel de Ville – very delicious small bakery (its not in the hotel) with a few tiny tables where you can eat your croissant or pastry and coffee.
Le Chien de Pavlov – contemporary bistro ran by native Bordeauxlais with good value menu.
Suzzi– popular Swedish café for breakfast, brunch or lunch.
D2 Route Vins, take a lunch at Le Wine Bar Margeaux – we had an amazing lunch here serving house wine from Chateaux Margeaux for a very good market price.
Foodie places we liked in Arcachon
Chez Jejhene, in La Teste de Buch – a simple oyster farm offering oysters, snails and pate and one type of housewine.
Le Cabestan, in Arcachon city center – we had an amazing good dinner here except for the black ink risotto.
Le Pitt, in Arcachon city center – lovely bistro and nice terrace offering oysters, shrimps, snails, pate & charcuterie.
How to get from BOD airport to Bordeaux city center?
By public transport, take ‘Liane bus 1’. Ticket can be purchased at Hall B near the bus stop. The ride can take upto 45min-1hr. Hopp off at bus stop ‘Gambetta’ (1 stop before train station St. Jean). Please note getting off and onboarding is not the same spot. Onboarding to the airport, the bus stop is situated on street Judaïque, close to street Château d’Eau.
Bon voyage if you plan your trip to Bordeaux or Arcachon & Enjoy your fabulous moments!
We continued our Covid trip from La Rioja to San Sebastián/Donostia. It was my first visit here and as many said, Donostia really brings a divine tapas roaming experience! Literally, we ate the whole day and walk it off from bar to bar. There is more fun, make a nice walk or do a run on the promenade along the bay having a gorgeous view. Then follow with a cool down by sipping on an ice coffee at one of the many cafés on the promenade. What about sunbathing on the beautiful beach bays? There is one bay on the left side of the old town and the other one on the right side where people can play beach activities. Hike up on the Urgull hill where you get an incredible view from the Jesus statue Donostia.
We liked it all, except for the lack of safety in being conscious of social distancing in packed bars. Of course, it is inevitable in bars and people tend to care less when they are in joyful groups. Police were standing in front of the bar and they did nothing about the crowded bar. No controls and no warnings, better take precautions yourself at all times in these bizarre moments. The nicest thing about travelling in Covid period is, is less crowd then normal. Shorter queues and no overwhelming flood of tourists in high season.
Bar Bergara
Bar Nestor
Special dishes to try in Donostia
Bacalao – salty cod fish in styles such as pil-pil, salt cod brandade, bunuelos de bacalao (cod fritters), tortilla de bacalao (omelet).
Carrillada – slow cooked beef or pork cheek or as guisos (stew).
Cider – natural fermented apple cider, no added ingredients or preservatives. The special pouring technique aerates the cider and gives it a bit of effervescence
Foie gras pintxo – in paté or freshly grilled.
Gilda – green olives, spicy local pickled peppers and a plump anchovy. It’s one of the most delicious bites, especially when paired with a glass of local vermouth or cider.
Idiazabal cheese – smokey sheep’s milk cheese
Kokotxas – fish cheeks, often served as kokotxas de merluza (hake fish).
Txakoli – a local white wine is served the same way as cider. Poured from a great in order to create effervescence. It taste similar to cider and a delicious partner in crime to a pinxtos crawl.
Txuleta – aged grass fed beef, often served rare and by 1kg only
Whole roasted fish – popular fishes are merluza (hake), lenguado (sole), rodaballo (turbot).
Tips: Order your pintxos or raciones (shared plates) from the menu board . Pinxtos on the bar could be standing there for a quite some time. You can check that on some pinxtos when the topping look dry, especially the salad types with dressing.
Visit a high-end restaurant or a Michelin star restaurant in getting a 360° gourmet experience.
Foodie places we liked
Bodega Donostiarra Gros – this place was recommended by a local friend and it has a great atmosphere with great food. Few tables indoor and outdoor. We like Gros area very much, it’s situated on the right river bank side where it has more a local vibe.
Bergara Bar – don’t miss out this place! Recommended by a friend and it offers innovative tapas with a modern twist. Tapas was superb delicious.
Goiz-Argi, Fermin Calbeton Kalea 4 – specialty is the brocheta de gambas. Tried at others bars but here is at its best.
Bar Nestor – they serve 3 type of dishes; tomatoes, padrón peppers, 1kg txuleton steak and if you have luck, tortilla de patata. I have not tried the kilo steak as its way too much for me and the tortilla was sold out. We didn’t understand the popularity of this bar and personally, we didn’t find the tomato salad and peppers to die for but maybe it’s their steak.
Papperino II Gelato – passed by this ice cream shop by coincidence with a long queue. Superb ice cream for a good price.
Kenko Sushi Kenji Takahashi, Urbieta Kalea 9 – you want something else than Spanish food? Try out this place located in Mercado de San Martin (ground floor). Normally, there are tables at the indoor market to consume your food but with Covid only take away.
Having a semi-lock down of 3+ months, we are finally somewhat free in spreading our wings in pursuing our life passions again. Terrace time, dining out, going to the movies and especially travelling beyond borders. Although mobility freedom is limited to your continent or to countries labelled as yellow/green zones, it does bring me an excited feeling being back in exploring new adventures!
Our journey drove us to La Rioja, Donostia/San Sebastián, Bordeaux and closing with Arcachon during the Covid19 period. Each country has their own safety restrictions and is subject to changes. This trip brought us a memorable extraordinary experience 😷
Travelling in La Rioja, we noticed that people in every single village were really being cautious. Keeping their masks on at most times, outdoor and indoor and keeping distance from strangers. At first sight, this was an awkward experience because in the Netherlands most people tend to be very relaxed about Covid. I felt safe at a certain matter as I take extra precautions myself, being in a risk group. La Rioja is so beautiful with its charm, serene villages, panoramic vineyard and sunflower fields at every corner you drive, and Rioja also offers its delicious local food & wine. What more could we ask for?
We lay our base at Palacio de Casafuerte in Zarratón, a small renovated charming palace hotel with 5 rooms run by a local family. We liked our stay here very much. This hotel is superb centrally located when you travel by car and their breakfast was such a wealthy morning start to look forward to every day.
Fields in Rioja
View from hotel Marqués de Riscal
Briones
View over Paisaje del Ebro
Special dishes to try in La Rioja
Bacalao in tomato sauce – cod fish
Beef/pork cheeks in red wine sauce
Chuletas – grilled lamb chops
Menestra de verduras – sautéed vegetable stew
Patatas a la Rioja
Piquillo peppers
Roasted suckling lamb/pig
Torrijas – Spanish style French toast (dessert)
White asparagus, often preserved in a jar
Zurracapote – quite similar to sangria cocktail drink
Octopus
Torrijas
Logroño tomato
Beef cheek
Foodie & wine places we liked
La Cocina de Ramónin Logroño– this was our most favourite restaurant where we had a divine 3 course lunch for €25 (weekdays only) and awarded as Bib Gourmand. We dropped by with no reservation and had luck with a table. Staff is friendly and speak a bit English. If you go for à-la-carte, highly recommend the Logroño tomato salad as starter.
Restaurante Palacio de Casafuerte in Zarratón– wonderful rustic serene setting and the dinner was superb delicious. Starter ~ €15, main ~ €20 and dessert ~ €5. Highly recommend the vegetable stew from La Rioja (menestra). I tried this dish at a few restaurants but here it was at its best.
Marqués de Riscal – ranked on 6th best world vineyards in 2020 and has a hotel onsite designed by Frank Owen Gehry (one of his work is the Guggenheim museum in Bilboa). You can join a wine tasting tour of 90min. This includes 3 tastings and prices are from €19pp. Personally, we skipped the tour and wanted to enjoy the building architecture and had a drink at the hotel bar. Access to the hotel area, go to the information desk and check with the shop staff if there is a table free at the hotel bar. We tried to walk in but there are barricades and security holds you up when you access via the road. After enjoying a nice view from the bar, we head to the café situated in the wine shop and did our own wine tasting with tapas bites which you can order at the café bar. To our surprise, the prices are very decent affordable.
La Vieja Bodega in Casalarreina – awarded as Bib Gourmand with a very nice authentic wooden farmer’s house setting. Friendly skilled staff, sommelier and hosts, all speak English. Great wine menu and a small selection can be ordered by glass.
We held our last virtual-covid19 dinner because countries are slightly opening their borders. This means, counting 95 days from our last trip in Paris I can finally hug Johan again. Hopefully, his flight will go smooth and safe with no unexpected travel restrictions between countries.
This time, we decided to cook paella and I was so happy that I have been invited to come over to T&Y’s place. After 3 full months almost daily cooking at home alone, its starting to get very boring and having good company always cheer up your day. For all of us, this was our first time paella cooking and I must say it was quite tasty.
Men cooked and women instructed, what can be greater then this right? 😁
My self-isolation started since March 15thafter a short trip in Paris with my partner. So far, the safety is going well. There are many challenges in this bizarre pandemic outbreak that bring some extend of stress in life, especially when you are part of a risk group. For me it’s definitely the respect of personal space when you go out for a walk or buy your groceries. Some people are not conscious in keeping distance and some just don’t care. I feel upset when that happens and need to be extra cautious in keeping the minimal distance.
Being in my 10thweek, these extraordinary days has changed Amsterdam city life. I have been out downtown a few times in time slots when you don’t expect many people on the streets. From my experience, walking on streets is much safer then in parks. On sunny days, people start herding and don’t want to think about social distancing because chilling out together is much more fun.
I remember my 1stwalk in the heart of Amsterdam in our semi lockdown, it gave me an overwhelming strange feeling. I love my city and got more in love seeing the serenity without the tourists and mass of people. A moment I never have experienced before. Ofcourse there are times when every big city has it silence moments at night or early mornings but that is totally different.
Nearly empty streets, empty squares, empty hotspots and an empty central station, places where it was always packed with crowd. Almost a peaceful city where the sounds of cars, scooters, motor bikes and trams make this special moment less attractive but yet …… AMSTERDAM IS CRAZY UNSURREAL AND ABSOLUTELY DIVINE!
These days, life is slowly getting back to normal having crowded streets, more traffic and more noise but without the tourists.
