Ein nettes, inhabergeführtes, spanisches Restaurant in der Südstadt, Nähe Chlodwigplatz. Bei unserem Besuch am Sonntag, 28. Juni, war schönes Wetter und es gab ungefähr ein Dutzend Zweiertische draußen, an der Straße, die aber einerseits ruhig (kein großer Durchgangsverkehr) andererseits von Passanten und anderen Restaurants interessant belebt ist. Der Innenraum ist auch geschmackvoll eingerichtet, war an dem Tag aber fast ganz leer, bis auf ein Pärchen an der Theke.
Wir hatte eine Auswahl von Tapas, die durchweg lecker und von sehr guter Qualität waren (z.B. Oktopus und andere Meeresfrüchte). Die Bandbreite an Tapas war zwar nicht übermäßig originell, aber dafür gab es auch eine Reihe von interessant klingenden Tellergerichten, die wir diesmal nicht ausprobiert haben. Zum Nachtisch eine schmackhafte Crema Catalana und ein sehr guter spanischer Brandy.
Zwei Sorten Hauswein, je in rot und weiß und einer in rosé, sowie spanisches Bier vom Fass (und günstiger als das Kölsch!) sorgen hinreichend für die flüssige Begleitung. (Für nur 17 Euro die Flasche kann man auch aus einem ganzen Schrank mit Flaschenweinen auswählen, was wir aber nicht genutzt haben, besonders, da wir uns mit spanischen Weinen so gut wie gar nicht auskennen.) Abzuraten ist nur vom Sangria, der trotz frischer Orangen und Äpfel im Glas einen intensiv künstlichen Geschmack hatte. (Der aufs Haus servierte Likör am Ende hatte übrigens ein ähnliches Aroma - der gleiche Saft, einmal mit Wein, einmal mit Branntwein versetzt?)
Eine kleine Verwechslung bei unserer Bestellung führte zu einem amüsant anzuhörenden, temperamentvollen Bohei im Hintergrund. Insgesamt ein sehr angenehmer und nicht zu sehr ins Budget gehender Abend (die Tapas je um die 5 Euro, alles zusammen unter 90 Euro).
http://www.la-guitarra.de/
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A nice, family-run Spanish restaurant at the southern end of the city centre, near Chlodwigplatz. When we visited on Sunday, June 28, the weather was mild and about a dozen tables for two had been placed on the pavement next to the road, which luckily is not much frequented by cars, but made interesting by other restaurant and passers-by. The inside looked pleasant, too, but was quite empty that day.
We had a selection of Tapas, all tasty and of really good quality (noticeable esp when you have octupus and squid etc). The range of Tapas wasn't overly exciting, but there were a number of other dishes on the menu that sounded interesting. For dessert we had a yummy Crema Catalana and an excellent Spanish brandy.
Two types of house wine, each in red and white and one in rosé, plus Spanish beer on tap (and costing less than the local Kölsch!) take sufficient care of your thirst. (You can also have a bottle of wine which you can select from a wine cabinet for only 17 Euros, but as we know little about Spanish wines we didn't try that.) I would only advise against the Sangria, which, in spite of fresh oranges and apples in the glas, had a distinctly artificial flavour. (The final home-made liqueur on the house, btw, had a very similar aroma - the same juice in both, maybe?)
A little mix-up in our order led to an amusingly spirited exchange in the background. All in all, a very pleasant evening that is not too much a strain for the budget (tapas at about 5 Euros each, altogether our bill was under 90 Euros).
http://www.la-guitarra.de/
Wednesday, 1 July 2015
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Sorgenfrei, Köln
Update: Leider gibt es das Sorgenfrei seit 2020 nicht mehr.
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Update: This restaurant permanently closed in 2020.
A good restaurant with a lot of interesting contrasts is "Sorgenfrei", in the "Belgisches Viertel" in Cologne. Easily missed from outside, it nevertheless has room for almost twenty small tables. The menu is short, but items changes frequently, and there is always something vegetarian to be found, too. The cuisine is an interesting mix of German and Mediterranean, using traditional, seasonal ingredients. Prices ranges from an average of ten Euros for starters and desserts to 25 - 30 for main courses. Portions are none too big, but the quality and presentation are excellent. There is a special lunch menu at very friendly prices. Service is relaxed but competent, the overall interior design is sparse and plain, but warm colours keep it pleasant. On entering, the place feels more like a bistro than stylish restaurant, but this just allows the food to speak the more clearly for itself. The dining experience is completed by an excellent choice of European wines, by the glass as well as by the bottle.
Monday, 20 August 2012
Thursday, 28 June 2012
Flogaus, Köln/Cologne
Update: Leider ist das Flogaus (seit 2015 Metzger&Marie) seit 2021 geschlossen.
Seit sie vor einem knappen Jahr eröffnet haben, sind wir vier- oder fünfmal bei "Flogaus" gewesen, und sind jedesmal glücklich nach Hause gegangen.
Das Restaurant (dessen Name übrigens nur der Nachnahme des Inhaberpaares ist, keine sonstige Bedeutung ;) ) liegt in einer recht ruhigen Seitenstraße im lebhaften Agnesviertel. Die Innenausstattung ist warm und einladend, obwohl sie recht modern ist.
Alles, was wir bisher gegessen haben, war einfach unbeschreiblich lecker, und dabei gleichzeitig traditionsverbunden, mit saisonalen und regionalen Zutaten. Die Karte ist recht klein, aber es ist immer etwas dabei, das man probieren möchte, und durch die frischen, saisonalen Zutaten wechselt sie auch öfter. Viele der Gerichte stammen aus der traditionellen österreichischen Küche. (Bei unserem letzten Besuch gab es allerdings eine Neuerung: es wurde ein "Überraschungsmenü" angeboten, die Karte selber war dadurch noch etwas kleiner geworden. Wir haben das schon mal in einem anderen Restaurant gesehen, und bei so garantiert guter Küche ist es auch kein Problem, sich überraschen zu lassen, aber wir hoffen doch sehr, dass das nur wegen der Frische der Zutaten eingeführt wurde, und nicht wegen etwaiger Probleme mit dem Umsatz.)
Die reichhaltige Weinkarte besteht ausschließlich aus deutschen und österreichischen Weinen, die die Wirtsleute wohl selber bei den Winzern einkaufen, weshalb sie oft viele Detailinfos zu den Weinen geben können.
Der Weineinkauf ist aber nicht das einzige, das die Inhaber, neben dem Kochen, selber machen. Zum Auftakt bekommt man immer selbstgebackenes Brot und verschiedene hausgemachte Wurstsorten, zum Abschluß gibt es, anstatt des sonst üblichen Getränks aufs Haus, ein kleines Gläschen selbstgemachte Konfitüre o.ä.
Bei der Rechnung kommen wir bei jedem Besuch zu zweit auf gut über hundert Euro, aber wir nehmen auch eigentlich immer drei Gänge, und bei der angebotenen Qualität sind die Preise wirklich sehr anständig.
http://flogaus-restaurant.de/
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Update: Flogaus (its name changed to Metzger&Marie in 2015) closed in 2021.
It's high time to review what is possibly our favourite restaurant in Cologne at the moment.
We've visited "Flogaus" four or five times now since discovering it less than a year ago (when they had just opened) and have always gone home happy.
The restaurant takes its name from the couple who started it last year - he is the chef, she manages service. It's a small place in the middle of the popular Agnesviertel, yet situated in a quiet side-street. The interior manages to be modern but also warm and welcoming at the same time.
The cooking is delicious beyond words and at the same time wonderfully down-to-earth. No silly frippery of rare or new-fangled ingredients here, we keep being surprised by the almost-forgotten household words we find on the menu. The menu is small, but there is always something eligible and the use of seasonal ingredients guarantees regular changes to the menu. Many of the items on the menu are from traditional Austrian cuisine.
The rich wine list consists entirely of German and Austrian wines, which they seem to get from direct contact with the wine-makers, judging from the details the service can give you about them all.
Apparently, the family also owns a butchery, as the guest is always greeted with a selection of home-made bread and meats.
Last time we visited there had been a change to the way the menu was set-up, in that a 'surprise menu' had been introduced while the actual menu had been further reduced. We'd seen that at another restaurant of similar style before, and there we had been told they were very successful with that - we very much hope that the change to this style at Flogaus does not denote any difficulties. (With the cooking as lovely as we know it to be, a 'surprise menu' is fine by me, really.)
Although I don't think we've ever left the place with a bill under a hundred, given the quality prices are very decent indeed.
http://flogaus-restaurant.de/
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Cucina di Rosa, Cologne
Wir haben dieses Restaurant auf der Suche nach einem kleinen Imbiß nach dem Kino gefunden, und sind seitdem noch ein paarmal dagewesen, mit gemischten Ergebnissen.
Gelegen ist es geradezu ideal an dem Platz direkt gegenüber der Agneskirche (nähe Ebertplatz). Dadurch gibt es hier Tische draußen, ohne Straßenverkehr. Auch drinnen sitzt man ganz nett.
Das Essen war bisher immer sehr lecker - die Karte ist klein und kommt ohne die italienischen Allgemeinplätze aus. Das macht sie interessant, und die Qualität der Speisen ist erfreulich.
Es gibt auch eine schöne Auswahl an Weinen im Glas, nur weiß man leider nie, ob das, was auf der Karte steht, auch vorrätig ist. Das erste Mal, als wir da waren, gab es nur ungefähr drei der acht gelisteten Weißweine.
In Anbetracht der Lage und der Qualität der Küche sind die Preise angemessen, aber leider ist die Bedienung oft unprofessionell. Man kann sich des Eindrucks nicht erwehren, dass man hier lieber nur ein paar Stammgäste bewirten würde, und dass man die Idee, jeden der kommt gleich zu behandeln, besonders wenn es mal ein paar mehr Leute sind, für eine ziemliche Zumutung hält.
Einige Beispiele aus unserer Erfahrung: da wird gezögert, einen gelisteten Wein auszuschenken, weil nicht mehr viel da ist (und man ihn ja vielleicht noch für wichtigere Kunden braucht?), und als wir einmal an einem Sonntag da waren, war das Brot ausgegangen, aber anstatt sich zu entschuldigen und den Sachverhalt zuzugeben, wurde nur mit einem 'später vielleicht' abgewunken (das Personal wurde dieweil durch die Nachbarschaft geschickt, um nach Brot zu fragen), dem Paar neben uns ihre Antipasti ohne Brot serviert und anstatt einer Entschuldigung gab es Klagen über zuviel Kundschaft - eine Viertelstunde später war etwas Brot aufgetrieben (auch für das Paar neben uns, das mit den Antipasti inszwischen fertig war). (Es war altbacken, aber zu meinem Spargel-und-Champignon Gericht unbedingt nötig, wir hatten Glück, dass wir unsere Gerichte erst so spät bekamen.) Eine Entschuldigung mit dem Angebot eines Preisnachlasses, oder zumindest eines Getränkes aufs Haus wäre meiner Meinung nach angemessen gewesen, wenn schon nicht für alle, so zumindest für das Paar, das seine Antipasti ohne Brot essen mußte, aber nichts dergleichen. Wir sind dort aber auch schon angemessen bedient worden.
Alles in allem also ein netter Laden für eine Kleinigkeit vor oder nach dem Kino, aber nichts wenn es ein geplantes, schönes Essen sein soll. Das Problem ist dabei nur, dass es bei der guten Lage kaum gelingen wird, bei schönem Wetter spontan einen Platz im Freien zu ergattern - das Vorbestellen lohnt sich hier aber wirklich nicht.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We found this place looking for a snack and a drink after the cinema one day and have been back a few times since, with mixed results.
The place is situated almost ideally, in the square right opposite St Agnes church, giving it the option of out-door seating and a low-traffic side road. Seating indoors is pleasant, too.
The food we've had so far has always been very nice - the menu is fairly small and doesn't do the Italian standards, making it quite interesting, and the quality of the cooking is enjoyable.
There is also a good selection of nice wines by the glass, though there's always a chance that they are out of stuff on the menu. The first time we went, they had about three out of the eight or so whites listed.
Considering the location and the quality of the cooking, prices are adequate, but unfortunately the service is rather erratic and quite unprofessional. You get the impression they would prefer to serve only a small number of familiar guests and are a bit put out by the idea of having to serve anyone who comes in, especially if there are a lot of people at once.
Some examples from our experience: They will hesitate to serve a wine, listed on the menu, if they fear they might run out (saving it for more important customers, one wonders?), for example, and last time we were there, they had run out of bread, but instead of apologising and explaining, they just signalled a 'maybe later' (as they were obviously sending staff out to find replenishment of stock) and served the couple next to us a plate of antipasti without it (and instead of apologising complained about the amount of custom they'd had that made them run out). Fifteen minutes later, when they had finally found some bread somewhere, they served it to the couple who had by then already eaten their antipasti. (The bread was stale, but still, better than nothing - as I had a dish of asparagus and mushrooms that really needed bread with it - I was lucky we were served only after they'd found the bread.) In my opinion, an apology with an offer of reducing the price of the dish or at least a free drink would have been in order - if not to all customers who were out of bread at least to the couple with the antipasti - but nothing of the sort.
At other times, however, we were served adequately.
So, all in all, a good place for a drink or a snack before or after the cinema, but nothing for a more ambitious kind of meal. The problem is, of course, that the good location means it's pretty unlikely you'll get a seat outdoors on a fine day without booking, whereas it's not the kind of place you'd want to book for.
Gelegen ist es geradezu ideal an dem Platz direkt gegenüber der Agneskirche (nähe Ebertplatz). Dadurch gibt es hier Tische draußen, ohne Straßenverkehr. Auch drinnen sitzt man ganz nett.
Das Essen war bisher immer sehr lecker - die Karte ist klein und kommt ohne die italienischen Allgemeinplätze aus. Das macht sie interessant, und die Qualität der Speisen ist erfreulich.
Es gibt auch eine schöne Auswahl an Weinen im Glas, nur weiß man leider nie, ob das, was auf der Karte steht, auch vorrätig ist. Das erste Mal, als wir da waren, gab es nur ungefähr drei der acht gelisteten Weißweine.
In Anbetracht der Lage und der Qualität der Küche sind die Preise angemessen, aber leider ist die Bedienung oft unprofessionell. Man kann sich des Eindrucks nicht erwehren, dass man hier lieber nur ein paar Stammgäste bewirten würde, und dass man die Idee, jeden der kommt gleich zu behandeln, besonders wenn es mal ein paar mehr Leute sind, für eine ziemliche Zumutung hält.
Einige Beispiele aus unserer Erfahrung: da wird gezögert, einen gelisteten Wein auszuschenken, weil nicht mehr viel da ist (und man ihn ja vielleicht noch für wichtigere Kunden braucht?), und als wir einmal an einem Sonntag da waren, war das Brot ausgegangen, aber anstatt sich zu entschuldigen und den Sachverhalt zuzugeben, wurde nur mit einem 'später vielleicht' abgewunken (das Personal wurde dieweil durch die Nachbarschaft geschickt, um nach Brot zu fragen), dem Paar neben uns ihre Antipasti ohne Brot serviert und anstatt einer Entschuldigung gab es Klagen über zuviel Kundschaft - eine Viertelstunde später war etwas Brot aufgetrieben (auch für das Paar neben uns, das mit den Antipasti inszwischen fertig war). (Es war altbacken, aber zu meinem Spargel-und-Champignon Gericht unbedingt nötig, wir hatten Glück, dass wir unsere Gerichte erst so spät bekamen.) Eine Entschuldigung mit dem Angebot eines Preisnachlasses, oder zumindest eines Getränkes aufs Haus wäre meiner Meinung nach angemessen gewesen, wenn schon nicht für alle, so zumindest für das Paar, das seine Antipasti ohne Brot essen mußte, aber nichts dergleichen. Wir sind dort aber auch schon angemessen bedient worden.
Alles in allem also ein netter Laden für eine Kleinigkeit vor oder nach dem Kino, aber nichts wenn es ein geplantes, schönes Essen sein soll. Das Problem ist dabei nur, dass es bei der guten Lage kaum gelingen wird, bei schönem Wetter spontan einen Platz im Freien zu ergattern - das Vorbestellen lohnt sich hier aber wirklich nicht.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We found this place looking for a snack and a drink after the cinema one day and have been back a few times since, with mixed results.
The place is situated almost ideally, in the square right opposite St Agnes church, giving it the option of out-door seating and a low-traffic side road. Seating indoors is pleasant, too.
The food we've had so far has always been very nice - the menu is fairly small and doesn't do the Italian standards, making it quite interesting, and the quality of the cooking is enjoyable.
There is also a good selection of nice wines by the glass, though there's always a chance that they are out of stuff on the menu. The first time we went, they had about three out of the eight or so whites listed.
Considering the location and the quality of the cooking, prices are adequate, but unfortunately the service is rather erratic and quite unprofessional. You get the impression they would prefer to serve only a small number of familiar guests and are a bit put out by the idea of having to serve anyone who comes in, especially if there are a lot of people at once.
Some examples from our experience: They will hesitate to serve a wine, listed on the menu, if they fear they might run out (saving it for more important customers, one wonders?), for example, and last time we were there, they had run out of bread, but instead of apologising and explaining, they just signalled a 'maybe later' (as they were obviously sending staff out to find replenishment of stock) and served the couple next to us a plate of antipasti without it (and instead of apologising complained about the amount of custom they'd had that made them run out). Fifteen minutes later, when they had finally found some bread somewhere, they served it to the couple who had by then already eaten their antipasti. (The bread was stale, but still, better than nothing - as I had a dish of asparagus and mushrooms that really needed bread with it - I was lucky we were served only after they'd found the bread.) In my opinion, an apology with an offer of reducing the price of the dish or at least a free drink would have been in order - if not to all customers who were out of bread at least to the couple with the antipasti - but nothing of the sort.
At other times, however, we were served adequately.
So, all in all, a good place for a drink or a snack before or after the cinema, but nothing for a more ambitious kind of meal. The problem is, of course, that the good location means it's pretty unlikely you'll get a seat outdoors on a fine day without booking, whereas it's not the kind of place you'd want to book for.
Monday, 16 April 2012
The Old Thatch Tavern, Stratford-upon-Avon
We visited Stratford-upon-Avon last week, and in our search for lunch came across this gem of a pub: The Old Thatch Tavern.
Cosy interior, with a separate dining area, friendly waiters, and great food and drink!
My partner was thrilled to find one of his favourite beers (HSB) on tap and there was a selection of three white wines by the glass - I tried two, and found them both really nice for pub wine. For cider they had some Aspall, which was very nice, too.
For lunch, my partner had a chicken and mushroom pie, which was very pleasant, with good quality meat and a good balance of filling/sauce/crust- also, it was a piece of a real pie, not a small, individual one (which in my opinion oftem means too much crust). The veggies and gravy didn't convince me, but they weren't bad, just pretty much standard.
I had a honey and mustard glazed cold ham (two thick slices), which was fabulous, with two fried eggs (done to the point) and great chips, cut just to the outer extreme of the ideal thickness range (but not beyond!), giving the right balance of outside and soft inside.
I had room for dessert, and had a warm chocolate fudge cake with custard which was pure bliss - amazingly light and fluffy.
We came back two days later for lunch again. The pie was still the same kind and another beer my partner had hoped to have this time was out, but what we had was just as delicious again: pork and black pudding sausages with slightly mashed new potatoes for my partner (lovely sausages and the gravy and veggies with it much nicer than the time before), and fish and chips for me, which was excellent, too.
Prices were really decent for the quality offered, too.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186399-d1412024-Reviews-The_Old_Thatch_Tavern-Stratford_upon_Avon_Warwickshire_England.html
Cosy interior, with a separate dining area, friendly waiters, and great food and drink!
My partner was thrilled to find one of his favourite beers (HSB) on tap and there was a selection of three white wines by the glass - I tried two, and found them both really nice for pub wine. For cider they had some Aspall, which was very nice, too.
For lunch, my partner had a chicken and mushroom pie, which was very pleasant, with good quality meat and a good balance of filling/sauce/crust- also, it was a piece of a real pie, not a small, individual one (which in my opinion oftem means too much crust). The veggies and gravy didn't convince me, but they weren't bad, just pretty much standard.
I had a honey and mustard glazed cold ham (two thick slices), which was fabulous, with two fried eggs (done to the point) and great chips, cut just to the outer extreme of the ideal thickness range (but not beyond!), giving the right balance of outside and soft inside.
I had room for dessert, and had a warm chocolate fudge cake with custard which was pure bliss - amazingly light and fluffy.
We came back two days later for lunch again. The pie was still the same kind and another beer my partner had hoped to have this time was out, but what we had was just as delicious again: pork and black pudding sausages with slightly mashed new potatoes for my partner (lovely sausages and the gravy and veggies with it much nicer than the time before), and fish and chips for me, which was excellent, too.
Prices were really decent for the quality offered, too.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g186399-d1412024-Reviews-The_Old_Thatch_Tavern-Stratford_upon_Avon_Warwickshire_England.html
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Wackes, Cologne
A great discovery, this place, with just a few minor irritants. It is an adorable little place in the margin of the city centre, a few steps from the middle of the ring road that does Alsatian cuisine.
Alsace is an area in the middle between north and south, east and west, half German, half French. They like their snails as much as their sauerkraut, and simple, yet fine white wines are produced there.
The major original contribution to the world's stock of recipes from the area is the 'Flammkuchen' - flamed cake - comparable, in a way, to pizza, in that it is a very thin dough, covered traditionally with onions, bacon and sour cream. Goes adorably with a crisp Riesling.
The restaurant does 'Flammkuchen', but as it is a simple dish, it is not really advised to order it, because the owners (this being one of the minor irritants) prefer to serve bigger orders and are liable to turn a little stand-offish if you don't order anything major. (In fact, the review websites that have reviews on this restaurant have people complaining they became outright rude when the guests asked for soda-pops - which, indeed are not on the menu! - something that, I agree, isn't right, but, then, really, soda-pops with a good meal...??? - we've always gone with the wines they recommended, which might have been naive, but we can only say that we fared really well with it. :D )
So, what do they do that it is recommendable to order, then?
Well, I tried both my first frog-legs and my first vinyard-snails (escargots) there, and they were both some of the most delicious things I've ever tried. Maybe it was just the herb-and-oil dressing they came in, but it still makes my mouth water to just remember them. :D
The first time we were there, I had a fish dish that was lovely, and my partner had a poussin (spring chicken) cooked in a clay pot. He loved it so much, that he had the same again the second time we went. The second time, I tried their Flammkuchen - which was good, but, as I said, I did experience them going 'hmmph' in an implicit way. We've been three times altogether by now, and the third time I had some pork cheeks, which were lovely, too.
For dessert, I once had an apple-Flammkuche, flamed with calvados, which was pretty cool, and we also tried their Creme Brulée with Hop Brandy, which oddly came with the brandy separately the first time, but the next time was claimed to have the brandy inside. Ah, well, it was lovely both ways.
Seating is comfy yet simple - like the local food - and prices are mid-range. Another one of the slight irritants is that they like to get the bill slightly wrong in their favour - people on the review pages remark on this, and we noticed it two out of the three times we went - but it was pennies, so no problem, really.
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Lichtenberg, Cologne
Vor ein paar Wochen haben wir diese hübsche Weinbar mit Restaurant in einer Seitenstraße hinter einem der großen Kaufhauszentren nähe Neumarkt in Köln entdeckt.
Hier bekommt man eine ausgezeichnete Auswahl an Weinen im Glas, viele weitere interessante Getränke aller Art und eine gute, kleine Speisenauswahl zu menschlichen Preisen. Damit ist das "Lichtenberg" eine schöne Möglichkeit, nach dem Einkaufen ein bißchen auszuspannen. Man kann draußen sitzen - es gibt Wolldecken über den Sitzen, wenn es kühl ist - und die Innendekoration ist sehr originell, mit Leuchtern aus Kristallglas und -geschirr und einem Stutzflügel. Die Speisekarte unterhält mit literarischen Zitaten als Randnotizen.
http://www.cafelichtenberg.de/
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A few weeks ago, my partner and I discovered this lovely winebar and restaurant in a side-street behind a major shopping arcade in Cologne.
They have an excellent choice of wines by the glass, interesting varieties of all kinds of drinks and a nice selection of foods. Prices are decent, so this is always an option for a bit of relaxing on a stressful shopping trip or so. The indoors decoration is cool, quite original (chandeliers made of crystal glass dishes, a baby grand) and there's outdoor seating with blankets provided on the chairs. The menu entertains with literature quotes as marginal notes.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Amfora, Ghent
On a brief visit to Ghent last weekend, we had lunch at this unassuming place, and I was very pleasantly surprised by how good the food was.
The restaurant is located on a pretty square a few minutes away from the central place of the town, in a nice shopping area. From outside, it looks like a café with simple snacks for food and when you enter, the downstairs guestroom is far from charming. However, there is an upstairs which is inviting and has a lovely view towards the square the restaurant is on and the interesting architecture around it.
The place is indeed more a cafe than a restaurant in that it is open only during day and offers mainly cafe-type dishes, which also has a very positive effect on the prices, and all dishes and drinks we had were excellent.
I had a quiche with a shrimp and cheese filling (a local specialty), which sounds odd but tasted marvellous, my partner had meatballs in a spicy vegetable sauce, which came with really good fries, our friends an omelette and a focaccia filled with goat cheese.
For dessert there were pancakes with chocolate sauce and a really good vanilla ice-cream. The pancakes were wonderfully light and fluffy - if I'd known before, I'd have had them just with a sugar sprinkling, as they didn't need a sauce to help them go down.
For drinks, there was an ample choice of Belgian beers and I had a tea that came in style in a little cast iron tea pot.
Definitely a recommendation if you need a bit of a refreshment between shopping and enjoying the beauties of Ghent.
http://www.zone09.be/wca_digi/resto_detail/63/52157/Amfora-.html
The restaurant is located on a pretty square a few minutes away from the central place of the town, in a nice shopping area. From outside, it looks like a café with simple snacks for food and when you enter, the downstairs guestroom is far from charming. However, there is an upstairs which is inviting and has a lovely view towards the square the restaurant is on and the interesting architecture around it.
The place is indeed more a cafe than a restaurant in that it is open only during day and offers mainly cafe-type dishes, which also has a very positive effect on the prices, and all dishes and drinks we had were excellent.
I had a quiche with a shrimp and cheese filling (a local specialty), which sounds odd but tasted marvellous, my partner had meatballs in a spicy vegetable sauce, which came with really good fries, our friends an omelette and a focaccia filled with goat cheese.
For dessert there were pancakes with chocolate sauce and a really good vanilla ice-cream. The pancakes were wonderfully light and fluffy - if I'd known before, I'd have had them just with a sugar sprinkling, as they didn't need a sauce to help them go down.
For drinks, there was an ample choice of Belgian beers and I had a tea that came in style in a little cast iron tea pot.
Definitely a recommendation if you need a bit of a refreshment between shopping and enjoying the beauties of Ghent.
http://www.zone09.be/wca_digi/resto_detail/63/52157/Amfora-.html
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Lobster at The Landing, Kennebunkport, Maine
When it comes to food, I'm normally of a somewhat inland persuasion. I love the sea, though, I'm near a major river and I like to eat fish, too. I've had fantastic fish dishes, esp when staying at the coast. I'm not too much into shellfish of any kind, though - not a fan of the texture and I tend to find the taste not worthwhile the risk of getting ill from a bad piece of shellfish. However, I'm always happy to give new things a try, and when we went on a holiday to New England last September, one of the things I'd definitely wanted to do there was to try some of the seafood specialties of the area.
In addition to chowder (or, more precisely "chowdah" ;) ), which I had delicious examples of at various places, the main challenge was lobster.
I'd not eaten lobster at all before in my life, and I was quite excited about the whole thing. My chance to try it came at a weekend trip to Kennebunkport in Maine. Here, we were happy to find The Landing, a restaurant with all kinds of lobster-variations on the menu and idyllic waterfront seating.
I ordered whole lobster, which came with butter, excellent chips (fries) and a really good salad - plus, of course, that requisite of humiliation, a funny plastic bib.
I needed a lot of advice of what to do and how, but I managed to crack the critter open and enjoyed the process of finding the food inside.
And, oooooh, how good this food was! I hadn't expected the lobster meat to be so sweet and tender and juicy. I even went on to eat the green bit inside, which I was told was edible though opinions were divided - some people scorned it, others relished it. Encouraged by the success of the lobster-eating-experiment so far, I dipped my chips in it and found it of exquisite taste.
(I tried not to think too much about what it might be - after all, it looked, to all intents and purposes, as if it might have been nothing worse than that staple of British pub food, mushy peas - and it certainly tasted better than those. ;) :D )
I had lovely glass of white wine with it, which complemented the lobster very well.
Prices and service were both alright.
Definitely a recommendation for a lovely place with good food.
http://www.landingintheport.com/
In addition to chowder (or, more precisely "chowdah" ;) ), which I had delicious examples of at various places, the main challenge was lobster.
I'd not eaten lobster at all before in my life, and I was quite excited about the whole thing. My chance to try it came at a weekend trip to Kennebunkport in Maine. Here, we were happy to find The Landing, a restaurant with all kinds of lobster-variations on the menu and idyllic waterfront seating.
I ordered whole lobster, which came with butter, excellent chips (fries) and a really good salad - plus, of course, that requisite of humiliation, a funny plastic bib.
I needed a lot of advice of what to do and how, but I managed to crack the critter open and enjoyed the process of finding the food inside.
And, oooooh, how good this food was! I hadn't expected the lobster meat to be so sweet and tender and juicy. I even went on to eat the green bit inside, which I was told was edible though opinions were divided - some people scorned it, others relished it. Encouraged by the success of the lobster-eating-experiment so far, I dipped my chips in it and found it of exquisite taste.
(I tried not to think too much about what it might be - after all, it looked, to all intents and purposes, as if it might have been nothing worse than that staple of British pub food, mushy peas - and it certainly tasted better than those. ;) :D )
I had lovely glass of white wine with it, which complemented the lobster very well.
Prices and service were both alright.
Definitely a recommendation for a lovely place with good food.
http://www.landingintheport.com/
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
New Year's at the Limbourg
My sweetie had booked a table at the Limbourg for us to welcome the new year with a leisurely meal.
The restaurant right round the corner from Friesenplatz (Cologne's party mile) looks small at first sight, but actually has a second floor, so is not quite as small as it seems.
I had been doubtful at first, as Friesenplatz is not my favourite part of town and the restaurant had looked almost too understated at a first quick glance.
Getting there on New Year's Eve, though, it was soon evident that is was an excellent choice. Right round the corner from the tram, it was nevertheless quiet - hardly any background music throughout the evening - non-smoking, and the other guests seemed perfectly bearable on this evening. Also, in spite of the brick walls, the atmosphere as well as the temperature was pleasantly warm and comfortable. The tables were decorated perfectly for the occasion, with lots of silly paper toys and balloons to amuse you during the evening. There were even a couple of crackers provided.
The meal consisted of six courses, spread out perfectly over the evening, starting at eight and ending shortly after eleven. The amount for each course was perfect, too.
We had aperitifs and then a bottle of Champagne during the meal.
There was some bread with salsa first, probably to keep you entertained or as amuse geule. I had stupidly forgotten my insulin, so I had to take it slowly on the carbs, which worked ok, though. (The nice thing about classy meals like that is that they tend to come with very few carbs. ;) :D )
The meal opened with scallops in a pine, date and mince sauce. The pine kernel with the dried fruit made a very curious texture sensation in the mouth.
Next was a smoked duck breast, thinly cut, with lambs lattice, cheese and balsamico. The meat was delicious (if intense and at times a teeny bit chewy - just so much that I was glad for the salad and some bread). I couldn't detect the balsamico, though, but as it didn't spoil the taste, that was ok.
Next was a lemon sorbet. This was my favourite course of all, as it was exactly what I'd always imagined sorbet to be like, from what I'd heard of it. So far, what I'd had had mostly just been more or less frozen juice. This, by contrast, was certainly 'half frozen' in texture and consisting to a large part of sparkling wine, as it was swimming in a glass of prosecco.
This providing a nice break and transition, for the following main course you could choose between meat and fish. Both of us chose the meat, which was haunch of lamb, briefly fried, with a morel sauce, sweet potato slices and a half pear filled with a thyme-creme.
It was very good, although I prefer my lamb cooked tender. I had a few inedible bits on it, which wasn't helped by the fact that my knife had an edge as sharp as an eraser.
The first dessert was Lebkuchen-mousse in a chocolate ring with slices of mulled-wine-jelly. The mousse with the chocolate was excellent, though I wasn't convinced by the jelly.
To finish up, there was a cheese course, with four different cheeses and some grapes and bread. The cheeses were all delicious, and just enough to be filling without being too much.
We had finished the Champagne by then, and I had a glass of French dry Muscadet with the last course, which was really good, too.
When it went on midnight, glasses of Prosecco were poured for everyone to take, which was really nice, I thought - not having to make sure you order in time so you have a glass in your hand in time. A slight disadvantage was that no one was officially checking the clock and counting down the time, so we went a bit stumbling for the time - but it was pretty much around midnight, certainly while it was still 00:00, that we clinked our glasses and cheered the new year, then all went outside to see what fireworks were being let go on Friesenplatz.
It wasn't as crowded as I'd expected - it's probably a bit off-centre for a night like that - but, then, no drunken crowds was just what I'd wanted, so that was good; and we still saw a nice amount of rockets, too - and not seeing a part of them, because we didn't have eyes for them just then. ;)
When the rocket spectacle was over, we went back inside and settled down for a nightcap.
I had a shot of Williams pear spirits, which they made a very generous glass. It was very good and provided and a nicely rounded finish for a wonderful, delicious, fun New Year's Eve.
http://www.limbourg.mynetcologne.de/
The restaurant right round the corner from Friesenplatz (Cologne's party mile) looks small at first sight, but actually has a second floor, so is not quite as small as it seems.
I had been doubtful at first, as Friesenplatz is not my favourite part of town and the restaurant had looked almost too understated at a first quick glance.
Getting there on New Year's Eve, though, it was soon evident that is was an excellent choice. Right round the corner from the tram, it was nevertheless quiet - hardly any background music throughout the evening - non-smoking, and the other guests seemed perfectly bearable on this evening. Also, in spite of the brick walls, the atmosphere as well as the temperature was pleasantly warm and comfortable. The tables were decorated perfectly for the occasion, with lots of silly paper toys and balloons to amuse you during the evening. There were even a couple of crackers provided.
The meal consisted of six courses, spread out perfectly over the evening, starting at eight and ending shortly after eleven. The amount for each course was perfect, too.
We had aperitifs and then a bottle of Champagne during the meal.
There was some bread with salsa first, probably to keep you entertained or as amuse geule. I had stupidly forgotten my insulin, so I had to take it slowly on the carbs, which worked ok, though. (The nice thing about classy meals like that is that they tend to come with very few carbs. ;) :D )
The meal opened with scallops in a pine, date and mince sauce. The pine kernel with the dried fruit made a very curious texture sensation in the mouth.
Next was a smoked duck breast, thinly cut, with lambs lattice, cheese and balsamico. The meat was delicious (if intense and at times a teeny bit chewy - just so much that I was glad for the salad and some bread). I couldn't detect the balsamico, though, but as it didn't spoil the taste, that was ok.
Next was a lemon sorbet. This was my favourite course of all, as it was exactly what I'd always imagined sorbet to be like, from what I'd heard of it. So far, what I'd had had mostly just been more or less frozen juice. This, by contrast, was certainly 'half frozen' in texture and consisting to a large part of sparkling wine, as it was swimming in a glass of prosecco.
This providing a nice break and transition, for the following main course you could choose between meat and fish. Both of us chose the meat, which was haunch of lamb, briefly fried, with a morel sauce, sweet potato slices and a half pear filled with a thyme-creme.
It was very good, although I prefer my lamb cooked tender. I had a few inedible bits on it, which wasn't helped by the fact that my knife had an edge as sharp as an eraser.
The first dessert was Lebkuchen-mousse in a chocolate ring with slices of mulled-wine-jelly. The mousse with the chocolate was excellent, though I wasn't convinced by the jelly.
To finish up, there was a cheese course, with four different cheeses and some grapes and bread. The cheeses were all delicious, and just enough to be filling without being too much.
We had finished the Champagne by then, and I had a glass of French dry Muscadet with the last course, which was really good, too.
When it went on midnight, glasses of Prosecco were poured for everyone to take, which was really nice, I thought - not having to make sure you order in time so you have a glass in your hand in time. A slight disadvantage was that no one was officially checking the clock and counting down the time, so we went a bit stumbling for the time - but it was pretty much around midnight, certainly while it was still 00:00, that we clinked our glasses and cheered the new year, then all went outside to see what fireworks were being let go on Friesenplatz.
It wasn't as crowded as I'd expected - it's probably a bit off-centre for a night like that - but, then, no drunken crowds was just what I'd wanted, so that was good; and we still saw a nice amount of rockets, too - and not seeing a part of them, because we didn't have eyes for them just then. ;)
When the rocket spectacle was over, we went back inside and settled down for a nightcap.
I had a shot of Williams pear spirits, which they made a very generous glass. It was very good and provided and a nicely rounded finish for a wonderful, delicious, fun New Year's Eve.
http://www.limbourg.mynetcologne.de/
Thursday, 9 December 2010
Back and bringing a quick and easy home-made autumn meal
Wow - I've been in hiatus from blogging for almost half a year. Just didn't get round to updating - the less so the more there would have been to post about.
Life has been good and we got around a lot, enjoying good food in lots of different places. :)
To pick up the threads again, though, I'll make a start with a meal I cooked a couple of weeks ago for my sweetie and me.
I cook for myself very regularly, but am yet not used to cooking for others or, indeed, to cook more than one course. So I hardly knew what went into me to make plans for a three course meal - just so many different things that I wanted to make. And, best of all, finding a series of things that sounded easy to make, and really were a pleasant evening's work for my first ever three-course meal. And very yummy they all were, too. :D
For starters, we had potato soup. I love soups, and I'd made this one first a few days before (inspired by having just the kind of sausage that needs to go into it) and was surprised how easy it was.
Potato Soup (makes a starter for two or a small meal for one)
175 grams (approx. ;) ) potatoes - peel and dice
1 onion - peel and dice
1 knob of butter - melt in a pot and stew onions until glassy. Add potatoes, stew for five minutes, adding a little salt.
400 ml veggie broth
100 ml cream
- add, bring to a boil and let simmer with the lid on for 15 - 20 mins.
Puree with a hand-blender, spice to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
The recipe suggested adding diced, fried bacon and oregano. I added a few chives and cut up Mettwurst - a traditional requirement for Rhenish potato soup.
Life has been good and we got around a lot, enjoying good food in lots of different places. :)
To pick up the threads again, though, I'll make a start with a meal I cooked a couple of weeks ago for my sweetie and me.
I cook for myself very regularly, but am yet not used to cooking for others or, indeed, to cook more than one course. So I hardly knew what went into me to make plans for a three course meal - just so many different things that I wanted to make. And, best of all, finding a series of things that sounded easy to make, and really were a pleasant evening's work for my first ever three-course meal. And very yummy they all were, too. :D
For starters, we had potato soup. I love soups, and I'd made this one first a few days before (inspired by having just the kind of sausage that needs to go into it) and was surprised how easy it was.
Potato Soup (makes a starter for two or a small meal for one)
175 grams (approx. ;) ) potatoes - peel and dice
1 onion - peel and dice
1 knob of butter - melt in a pot and stew onions until glassy. Add potatoes, stew for five minutes, adding a little salt.
400 ml veggie broth
100 ml cream
- add, bring to a boil and let simmer with the lid on for 15 - 20 mins.
Puree with a hand-blender, spice to taste with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
The recipe suggested adding diced, fried bacon and oregano. I added a few chives and cut up Mettwurst - a traditional requirement for Rhenish potato soup.
As it was pumpkin and squash season, and I love pumpkins and squashes, we next had squash filled with minced meat, lambs lettuce and bread.
Filled squashes or pumpkins (serves 2)
Originally, the recipe asked for small pettipan squashes, one per person. I couldn't get any pettipans, but I happened to have the lower, conveniently bowl-shaped part of a butternut left and bought a small Hokkaido pumpkin in addition.
Here's how to make the dish:
Cut top off pumpkins and remove the seeds.
1 small Spanish onion (or two normal onions) - peel and dice
200 - 250 grams minced meat, half pork, half beef
2 tbl sp oil - heat and stew onions in it, add minced meat and fry until cooked while stirring, so that it becomes crumbly. Salt and pepper to taste. (Garlic is an option here, too, though I didn't use it.)
2 beef tomatoes - briefly dip into boiling water, then chill; peel and cut into stripes, removing the seeds. Add to the meat. (Leaving some for decoration later.)
1 teasp salt, a little Cayenne pepper - rub the inside of the pumpkins with the spices.
Fill meat into the pumpkins.
Place pumpkins in an oven dish, place leftover tomatoes on top.
2 teasp butter
4 tblspoon parmesan cheese
- sprinkle butter flakes and grated cheese on top
Fill dish with approx. 2 cm water
Bake for about 40 mins at 200°C (until pumpkin seems done).
Dress lambs lettuce with a fine vinegar (whichever you prefer) and olive oil, salt, pepper, dried herbs.
Serve with French or Italian bread.
Dessert was fun to make and surprised me with how good it was. I guess you have to be in Germany to be able to make this, though, but nevertheless, here goes:
Stracciatella-Quark (serves 2)
4 chocolate kisses - remove wafers, squash in a bowl
250 grams quark - mix with squashed kisses
(if available: 1 teasp grated peel of orange - mix with quark. If oranges with edible peel are not available - couldn't get any myself that day - just let the juice of the orange (see below) you fillet drip into the quark and stir again)
1 orange - peel and fillet and serve with the quark
Deeeelicious! :D
I guess this is a rather German meal all through. :D There's ingredients in each course that won't be easily available abroad.
Instead of the Mettwurst in the starter use the bacon the recipe suggests. A soft salami might work, too. Mettwurst is similar to that.
Instead of mixed (half pork, half beef) minced meat, I could imagine you could use any other kind of minced meat just as well.
For the dessert, however, I'm afraid I can't think of replacements. You'll have to visit Germany and try chocolate kisses and quark for yourself. :D
You can see, though, why this is fun and easy to make: you only need one pot per course, plus a couple of bowls, leaving you with hardly any dishes. The dessert can wait in the fridge, and the two first courses have fairly long cooking times during which they hardly need any supervision, giving you time to work on other dishes and clean up. A kitchen not in utter chaos after a three-course meal for two was a really pleasant surprise. :D
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Adolph's Brauhaus, Cologne
This place - a humble Brauhaus and a bit out of the way (in Weidenpesch, just outside the Cologne city centre) - was a wonderful surprise find.
We were walking in search of dinner from my partner's flat and happy to try anything that looked comparatively smoke-free and half-ways appetising. This place exceded all my expectations.
A 'Brauhaus' is a brewery pub, and normally that means beer and plain (though mostly decent) food. Here, however, they also offered a very decent choice of wines and other drinks, and food that even on the menu looked unusually ambitious for a pub.
The one thing that immediately caught my eye was "Viennese Schnitzel (veal)". Now, in order for you to allow calling it "Viennese Schnitzel" it has to be veal, but they did well to make a special note of it, because otherwise you'd have assumed they were misnaming it - because real Viennese Schnitzel is really, really uncommon here. What you get in virtually all pubs is "Schnitzel, Viennese style", which then means a chunk of pork with a bread-crumb batter. I do like bread-crumb batters, but what makes Viennese Schnitzel so adorable is the fact that it's ultra-thin veal and a very fluffy (from proper frying, I think) batter. I had to try this one.
And wasn't disappointed. It was utterly delicious. My partner had steak with fried potato chunks, which was very good, too. The salad was the only thing that was less than great - typical pub-style, that is - and the fries (which I had with my schnitzel instead of the recommended potato salad) weren't perfect either, but very edible.
Now, a plate-sized schnitzel with fries is normally enough even for my appetite, but I had spied something on the dessert menu that had tickled my interest - Palatschinken.
This is an Austrian specialty (which, together with the proper Viennese Schnitzel made me suspect the chef was Austrian, which the waiter confirmed), one of their many egg-based delicacies, this time in form of a pancake or crêpe. (Palatschinken)
I'd heard much of them, but never tried any.
They came with an apricot or cherry filling - or both, and I opted for both.
At first I was a little shocked when I saw two large-ish pancakes on my plate. I'm not normally a great fan of pancakes. I eat them mostly because I like the idea of pancakes. I tend to find the texture unpleasant and the taste not sufficiently interesting to outweigh the unpleasantness of the texture - and that goes for any pancakes I occasionally make myself, too.
I never thought I'd be able to eat more than half of one of them.
However, I soon found that these were a different matter entirely! They were airy and fluffy and the more I ate, the more I wanted. I finished both of them easily and thought I shouldn't have minded some more.
The interior of the restaurant itself is simple but tasteful, with a bar area (with a TV, to show football games) and a generous dining area behind, TV-free, plus seating outdoors in a quiet street parallel to the main street on which the building is situated. Smoking, thankfully, is outdoors only.
Prices were nice, too - typically Brauhaus/pub, really.
The restaurant doesn't have a website of its own, so here's an entry for it in a pub-listing: http://www.gaffel.de/index.php?nc=82&firmaid=905
We were walking in search of dinner from my partner's flat and happy to try anything that looked comparatively smoke-free and half-ways appetising. This place exceded all my expectations.
A 'Brauhaus' is a brewery pub, and normally that means beer and plain (though mostly decent) food. Here, however, they also offered a very decent choice of wines and other drinks, and food that even on the menu looked unusually ambitious for a pub.
The one thing that immediately caught my eye was "Viennese Schnitzel (veal)". Now, in order for you to allow calling it "Viennese Schnitzel" it has to be veal, but they did well to make a special note of it, because otherwise you'd have assumed they were misnaming it - because real Viennese Schnitzel is really, really uncommon here. What you get in virtually all pubs is "Schnitzel, Viennese style", which then means a chunk of pork with a bread-crumb batter. I do like bread-crumb batters, but what makes Viennese Schnitzel so adorable is the fact that it's ultra-thin veal and a very fluffy (from proper frying, I think) batter. I had to try this one.
And wasn't disappointed. It was utterly delicious. My partner had steak with fried potato chunks, which was very good, too. The salad was the only thing that was less than great - typical pub-style, that is - and the fries (which I had with my schnitzel instead of the recommended potato salad) weren't perfect either, but very edible.
Now, a plate-sized schnitzel with fries is normally enough even for my appetite, but I had spied something on the dessert menu that had tickled my interest - Palatschinken.
This is an Austrian specialty (which, together with the proper Viennese Schnitzel made me suspect the chef was Austrian, which the waiter confirmed), one of their many egg-based delicacies, this time in form of a pancake or crêpe. (Palatschinken)
I'd heard much of them, but never tried any.
They came with an apricot or cherry filling - or both, and I opted for both.
At first I was a little shocked when I saw two large-ish pancakes on my plate. I'm not normally a great fan of pancakes. I eat them mostly because I like the idea of pancakes. I tend to find the texture unpleasant and the taste not sufficiently interesting to outweigh the unpleasantness of the texture - and that goes for any pancakes I occasionally make myself, too.
I never thought I'd be able to eat more than half of one of them.
However, I soon found that these were a different matter entirely! They were airy and fluffy and the more I ate, the more I wanted. I finished both of them easily and thought I shouldn't have minded some more.
The interior of the restaurant itself is simple but tasteful, with a bar area (with a TV, to show football games) and a generous dining area behind, TV-free, plus seating outdoors in a quiet street parallel to the main street on which the building is situated. Smoking, thankfully, is outdoors only.
Prices were nice, too - typically Brauhaus/pub, really.
The restaurant doesn't have a website of its own, so here's an entry for it in a pub-listing: http://www.gaffel.de/index.php?nc=82&firmaid=905
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Manala, Helsinki
On a recent weekend visit to Helsinki, Finland, we went to the "Manala" for dinner. We were in search of local food and weren't disappointed.
Apparently, "Manala" means "Underworld" in Finnish, and the restaurant greets you with a merry devil painted on the door. But neither is the restaurant underground nor is the food in any way hellish.
On the contrary, it's a big, airy place with a comfortable dining room that is a pleasant mix of the rustic and the stylish. There is also a bar, probably for when you are waiting for a table or just want drinks. Both are, according with sensible Finnish law, non-smoking.
Food and drink were good, and some dishes on the menu sounded decidedly local.
I had sautéed reindeer, cut up in tiny bits with (somewhat too watery) mashed potatoes and the seemingly omnipresent but very tasty lingonberries as a sauce. They also served excellent salmon chowder and an interesting pudding with buckwheat sauce for dessert.
Though alcoholic drinks were, typically for Finland, extremely pricey, the food prices were decent enough.
The only iffy thing about the place is the fact that you are first faced with a cloak room to which it is obligatory to give up your coat or jacket - for a fee. That's the first time I've seen a restaurant make money of its customers' clothing. They also sold a bunch of 'fandom'-items with the name of the place on it there - also not something you'd exactly associate with stylishness. Odd that they should resort to such measures to make an extra bit of money, when the place seemed fairly popular with customers.
Friday, 18 June 2010
Ouzeria, Cologne
This Cologne restaurant is a jolly little mix of cuisines from all around the Mediterranean (with a bit of the rest of the world thrown in for good measure), mostly Greek and Spanish, situated fairly centrally in the fashionable 'Belgian quarter'.
Good wines, both by the glass and by the bottle, Ouzos (of course) and other interesting spirits accompany a wide selection of tapas, some of which come as a full meal, too.
(Distinguishable only by the price, which might lead to some confusion as some tapas are a bit pricey and look like they might be a meal.)
In addition to a rich standard menu, there is an interesting list of the day's specials, too.
The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, the interior a bit noisy, on account of being kept in a Mediterranean mix of bare stone, wood and plaster.
I've been there twice now: once coming in late for a dessert and drink only, we found the place very lively at about 11pm. The desserts on offer then were certainly very imaginative, if not entirely convincing (I had an asparagus zabaione).
The second time I visited with a large group, which could barely be seated (I don't think the place could take groups of over 20 people), but the waiters worked hard and patiently to get everyone pleasantly seated.
This second time, I had three tapas, which were all very good, even though, oddly, the first one was served as a starter. The two for 'mains' were potato-chips with cheese (nice price option, if you just wanted a snack with your drink) and some rabbit, very pleasantly spiced with cinnamon and coriander. I had a traditional Greek yoghurt for dessert and a white wine from Crete, which was very pleasant drinking, plus a good Samos and a sweet herbal liqueur.
A place to come back to and try the many interesting things on the menu - it is also commendably non-smoking.
Thursday, 17 June 2010
La Barra - Cava Y Mas, Cologne
Dedicated to Spanish Cava (the Spanish variety of sparkling wine), this is a fair-sized, comfortable and relaxed restaurant right in the middle of the newer part of Cologne's city centre. Seen from outside, it looks inconspicuous, but inside it is quite roomy. It is entirely non-smoking and the typical clientele seems to be fairly young, twenties and thirties, I'd say.
Apart from Cava, which you can have in all varietes of dryness and by the glass as well as by the bottle, they also serve really good tapas.
Prices are very decent, for both food and drink (tapas average at € 3.50, a 0.1 l glass of Cava at 2.50, a bottle at 13 Euros), and the place is open till midnight during the week and till late at the weekend. You can also buy bottles of Cava to take home.
Definitely a place to come back to. :)
Weinhaus Brungs, Cologne
A place I really like to go to in Cologne is the "Weinhaus Brungs".
In a city that prides itself on its beer and where, accordingly, there's no shortage of brewery pubs, finding a place that offers good wine is worthwhile to a wine-drinker like myself. It's also bung in the middle of the old city centre. Plus, the food there is really good, too.
When I went there last winter, I had some very nice liver pâté with berries, which I didn't find on the menu when I went there again last week. However, last week I had a fairly good Flammkuchen (flame cake - a sort of pizza, an Alsatian traditional that goes very well with white wine) with some exotic toppings (olive and sheep cheese), and my partner had an excellent beef in aspic, which we followed with a shared dessert of cinnamon ice cream with grappa plums.
And, meeting up with some friends by the river the other day, we ended up there again, and as we had had dinner before, shared a cheese dish of Tête de Moine among us:
Tête de Moine, for under 7 Euros, a nice accompaniment for a glass of wine (on average 4 Euros per 200ml glass).
The wine selection by the glass is more than sufficient, and you can get even greater choice by the bottle. German wines are predominant, which is exactly how I like it.
The waiters are friendly and informal in a good way.
You can get full meals as well as just a drink or a drink and a snack, and they are happy to let you share dishes.
Apart from wine, you can get any other drink, too, and they have some nice sparkleys and a wide range of spirits.
The building itself incorporates the remains of a medieval city gate. In summer, you can sit outside, the main guest room isn't too big, but very pretty, involving lots of old architecture, and there's a cellar of ancient vaults to host larger group bookings. Last time I was in the cellar, though, it had smoking allowed there. Not sure if that's still the case - the unfortunate failure of Germany to provide non-smoking laws for pubs and restaurants leaves you always unsure of whether you'll be pestered with smoke or not anywhere. Their website, otherwise very informative, doesn't provide any information on this.
Wednesday, 16 June 2010
A new blog - and it's all about food and drink :D
Being a hobbit, I'm somewhat partial to good food and drink. And by 'good food and drink' I simply mean food and drink that I like. And as I've been getting rather a lot of it lately, I thought I'd start keeping a diary on nice things I've had, places I've been to etc.
I'm in Cologne, Germany, so most of the restaurants visited will be in or near Cologne, but I get to travel occasionally, so I hope that I'll be able to add places from elsewhere, too.
And I'm not excluding home-cooking either. :D
At the moment, there's a lot I'd like to catch up on, but as with a number of other online-projects, I wouldn't be surprised if nothing much was added to this one after all. Well, we'll see... :)
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