Restaurant Blue Pepper

November 18, 2009 By

 

Blue Pepper Interior

Blue Pepper Interior

Blue Pepper is a very intimate space near the popular Leidseplein in Amsterdam. The restaurant is away from the touristy places, but within close proximity to the nightlife and fun of Leidseplein.

 

First, the service at Blue Pepper is impeccable.  Our server was very well-versed about the menu and the ingredients and had great wine recommendations. Very impressed by him, and can’t say this about many people in that role.

Executive chef Sonja Pereira does an amazing job at recreating the famous Indonesian rice table. The 70 Euro tasting menu features over 25 dishes, yes 25, each more outstanding than the next.  Stellar were the citrusy soup, the lamb saté, the extra spicy meat ‘stew’ and the banana and caramel fritter.

Blue Pepper Food

Blue Pepper Food

 

 

We’re experienced diners and this might be one of my top 5 meals ever.  A must-try in a city not typically known for its cuisine.

 

 

 

 

Blue Pepper

http://www.restaurantbluepepper.com

Nassaukade 366

1054 AB Amsterdam

Telephone: 020-4897039

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , ,

Settling on Just One Restaurant is Pure Hell in Hell’s Kitchen

November 16, 2009 By

For those of you who don’t live in Manhattan and aren’t familiar with the city’s neighborhoods, Hell’s Kitchen is, yes it’s a cliché, a truly unique place.  Located in the general vicinity of 9th Avenue and the 40s, it’s eclectic, nutty and foodie haven.  For locals, it’s worth revisiting Hell’s Kitchen if you haven’t been in a while.

Along 9th Avenue, hungry folks can sample from an interesting international array of restaurants.  Here are just a few of the places you should try in the area:

  • Mercury Bar:  Fun spot to watch football game while enjoying some pretty decent bar food and a nice selection of beer on tap.
  • Rachel’s:  Neat place to enjoy a casual dinner or Sunday brunch.
  • 5 Napkin Burger:  The place is so popular that there’s a line out of the door waiting for a juicy burger.
  • Xie Xie:  Stop by this trendy spot for the “1000 Year Old” Ice Cream Sandwich.  Chocolate cookie, black caramel…need I say more?
  • Esposito Finest Quality Sausage:  Besides being a fabulous old-world butcher shop, Esposito’s prepares first rate sandwiches.
  • Chez Josephine:  Neat $35 prix fixe menu perfect for pre-theater.

Wherever you land in Hell’s Kitchen, you’re sure to find something to satisfy any craving you might have, whether it’s Thai, a burger, Turkish kebab or something a bit more exotic.

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , , , , ,
30 October 2009 Mosel Wine Region of Germany in Three Days

Mosel Wine Region of Germany in Three Days

October 30, 2009 By
Wehlen Vineyard

Wehlen Vineyard

Wine lovers looking for a quick getaway to one of Europe’s most beautiful regions should consider the Mosel Wine Region of Germany.

The heart of the region is a mere 3 ½ hour drive from Amsterdam and a short 1 ½ hour drive from Dusseldorf.  A rental car is highly recommended to fully enjoy all that Mosel has to offer.  The region is filled with neat little towns, country roads lined with castles and vineyards on steep hills overlooking the beautiful Mosel River.

Vine-Covered Bernkastel

Vine-Covered Bernkastel

For those who have not been exposed to German wines or think of German wines as overly sweet, a 3-day visit to the Mosel region will provide a new perspective.

Day 1:

An ideal place to start this short wine tour is in Cochem.  Cochem is an attractive town famous for 1,000 year-old, late-Gothic Cochem Castle.  Cochem is a great place for wine enthusiasts to lunch on traditional local fare before heading south to begin wine touring.

After lunch, travelers can head south to Briedern where they’ll find a charming inn named Mosel Landhaus.  The inn is small and inviting and the hosts, Sylvia and Jan, offer warm hospitality and well-appointed, newly renovated rooms.  This inn is centrally located within a short distance of popular vineyards and attractions and is quite affordable.

The hosts of Mosel Landhaus will make insightful recommendations for places to have afternoon drinks and dinner.

Day 2:

Weingut Lipmann in Beilstein

Weingut Lipmann in Beilstein.

Riesling tasting at Weingut Lipmann in Beilstein

Riesling tasting at Weingut Lipmann in Beilstein

After a lovely breakfast at Mosel Landhaus, a short drive east to Beilstein offers cute shops to visit and the welcoming Weingut Lipmann for a tasting of the region’s best whites.  The friendly staff at this cozy winebar, also known as a Weingut, offers a cheese course to pair with the wonderful Mosel wines.

Day 3:

Weingut Friedrich Storck

Weingut Friedrich Storck

A trip to Bernkastel begins a full day of wine tasting.  The drive to Bernkastel offers beautiful views of the regions’ most expansive vineyards.  A great place to stop for a first tasting is a quaint wine bar named Weingut Friedrich Storck in Traben-Trarbach.  The place offers a vast selection of German whites and modest selection of reds.

After lunching and visiting Traben-Trarbach, it’s only a short drive to Wehlen, home of well-known SA Pruem Winery, with its breathtaking vineyards spread over steep hills.

Cellar tasting at Mosel Landhause in Briedern

Cellar tasting at Mosel Landhause in Briedern

On the last evening at Mosel Landhaus, guests can participate in a wine tasting in the inn’s wine cave.  I strongly urge patrons to partake in this activity as the wine cave is full of charm and the inn’s hosts are proud to share their love of Mosel wines with guests.

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Drinkless in Salt Lake City

September 11, 2009 By

So, I’m in Salt Lake City for a conference (nice town by the way).  It’s my first stay in Salt Lake City and I’m here for two days, working hard and playing…very little.  As I picked up my registration packet upon arriving at the venue, the beautiful Grand America, I immediately noticed some interesting information about alcohol consumption I should be aware of as an attendee of the conference.

1)      Alcohol beverage service in a licensed restaurant requires that:

  • You order food with your drink (can you say side of chips and salsa with after-dinner drinks?)
  • Your beverage be delivered to your table or at a counter by a waiter
  • You consume your drink at or near your table or counter

2)      Limitation on number of drinks:

  • Each attendee may have no more than one spirituous liquor drink before the patron at one time (more on this in a bit)
  • Other than spirituous liquor, attendee may have no more than two alcoholic beverages at any time before them (sic)

What??!  If you’re a road warrior like me and attend tons of conferences, you know that the ‘reward’ at the end of the day is a visit to the nearest bar to commiserate about the long hours with some of your cohorts.  These limitations put a serious damper on the evening fun (nice town by the way).

Took an associate to dinner last night and we both ordered a well-deserved round of Stellas prior to our meal.  I also ordered a decent glass of California Cabernet to enjoy with my steak.  When the waiter brought my wine, he actually waited for me to drink my last swallow of beer prior to pouring my wine.  State law!  The poor guy actually said to me, as he was holding back the wine, “you’re not from Utah, are you?” and went into a well-practiced apology about not being able to put down the wine before he could pick the beer glass (nice town by the way).

And I thought my home-state of New Jersey was off by not letting me LEGALLY order wine online from a non-NJ vendor.  More to come from my next conference in LAS VEGAS, where I don’t think my blog entry name will be “Drinkless in Las Vegas”.

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales
24 August 2009 Mosel Landhaus – The perfect inn for a Mosel River Region wine vacation

Mosel Landhaus – The perfect inn for a Mosel River Region wine vacation

August 24, 2009 By
Mosel Landhaus View

Mosel Landhaus View

My husband and I are wine lovers and selected Briedern and Mosel Landhaus as a central place to tour the Mosel River Region.

What a pleasant surprise it was to arrive at this riverside inn with its welcoming facade. The hosts, Dutch-business-people-turned-inn-keepers, treated us and the other guests like family. They couldn’t have done more to make us feel at home and to recommend restaurants, cafes and places of interest.

Mosel Landhaus Bedroom

Mosel Landhaus Bedroom

Our room at Mosel Landhaus was beautiful and recently remodeled. It featured a direct view of the Mosel River, which made for a romantic experience. Linens were white and pale yellow and the bed was very comfortable. The bathroom was brand new with a huge corner shower and all new fixtures.

Mosel Landhaus Breakfast

Mosel Landhaus Breakfast

The breakfast, which was included with our stay, offered the best that Mosel has to offer. The scrambled eggs cooked in salty butter with home-grown fine herbs were the best I’ve ever had. The plates of cheeses and regional meats, the incredible bread, the velvety yogurt and the great coffee were the perfect start to perfect days.

On our last day at Mosel Landhaus, the owners invited us to a wine tasting in the inn’s cellar. What a treat! Make sure you do this tasting as it was a great time and the perfect place to learn about German wines.

I highly recommend Mosel Landhaus to anyone who wants to feel pampered and who wants to leave Mosel feeling like they’ve stayed with family. The hosts, Silvia and Jan are experts at attention to details.

Moselstrasse 19, Briedern 56820, Germany

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales Tagged With: , , , ,

Picture perfect Maine stay at Cabot Cove Cottages

August 24, 2009 By

The Cottages at Cabot Cove has been refurbished to a beautiful and comfortable haven on the outskirts of quaint Kennebunkport, Maine.  The cottages are adorable and feature front porches where you can sit, lakeside, and take in all that Maine has to offer.

The staff at this property is friendly and warm, and guests are made to feel very welcomed and attended to – New England style.

A perk of staying at The Cottages at Cabot Cove is its proximity to the village of Kennebunkport, while not being in the middle of the busy town center.  Kennebunkport offers great places to eat and shop.

This property is super for a couple wanting to getaway for quality time, or for a family wanting to enjoy a Maine stay.

7 South Maine St.

Kennebunkport, ME 04046

(207) 967-5424

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page