Cous Cous Club****

When an Irish friend suggested that we go to the Cous Cous Club on Saturday, to be honest, I did feel a little retiscent about the prospect of biking to the other side of town in the rain to just eat cous cous.

On entering Cous Cous, I completely forgot about the culinary parameters. Cous Cous is a charming restaurant with it's ornate chandeliers, sprinkled with art work, small curios, an old piano and seating for around 35. A perfect place for this wet May evening.

Cous Cous is owned and run by Wouter Apituley who believes in the concept of slow food. Cous Cous has a small menu of  3 dish options with cous cous. Option 1 is with 7 steamed vegetables, option 2 as option 1  with an additional lamb sausage, option 3 -The Royale-as option 2  with the addition of lamb stew.

We all decided on The Royale. It was perfect, the organic vegetables including chick peas, sweet potato, beef tomato, red pepper and courgette were  steamed to perfection. The lamb and the jus were deliciously tender and light. You will find no energy consuming microwaves or industrial ovens in Wouter's kitchen. The wine list is limited to house red or white- I guess that that doesn't count as a list, but there are ingredients for great cocktails.

It was co-incidence that on Saturday, as part of Amsterdam Art Week, Wouter had organised an opera singer and pianist to perform over the evening. Wouter also spoke to the restaurant guests about his theory of speed and dromology mixed with own funny experiences that he had had on his electric scooter. The stories were in Dutch, but Wouter translated these as he sat at our table to discuss further his thoughts on speed and the affects it has had on all our lives- from the Industrial Revolution we have become a society that want everything as quick as possible without thinking about the consequences on our World.  It was all new to me that the study of speed is 'Dromology'- from the Greek word for race 'Dromos' and the coincidence, or perhaps contradiction, being that I work with Nike- the Greek goddess of strength, speed and victory.

For dessert all of us had a slice of the only dessert on offer, an amazing Tarte Tatin with freshly whipped cream. A fantastic finish.

I really enjoyed this evening, really special. I can't promise you that the Cous Cous will be accompanied by wonderful music and storytelling next time. What I can promise you is pure, simple food-back to how it should be. This evening definitely made me re-think.

Another Amsterdam recommend.
Total: 25 euros each including wine


CousCousClub Amsterdam
Ceintuurbaan 346
Amsterdam
T: 020 673 3539
www.couscousclub.nl
Closed Monday

Restaurant Pont 13****

Pont 13 is housed in a renovated ferry dating back to 1927. The ferry used to go back and forth over the Ij. Pont 13 have tried to keep the unique features including the port-holes, old boiler, huge oval roof (with new skylights), wooden floors, add to the industrial ambiance. 

You can enjoy great French cuisine and fine wines within this spacious boat. I have been a few times and co-incidentally the majority of the times with large groups. The atmosphere is really relaxed and the staff always accommodating. The last visit on Wednesday was to bid farewell to a red bearded South African friend who is traveling back to Durban for the World Cup. There were about 20 of us and Pont 13 allowed us to have a mixture of plates with plenty of wine. Even as the evening got louder and louder, the staff were still pleasant. At some point there was also a musician playing near the entrance on his violin.

Just to add to Pont 13's uniqueness, I spotted a wee rabbit (who is not for dinner) later in the evening and the restaurant's huge (but not quite as big as a St Bernard- but fairly big) dog that wandering around the restaurant.

Pont 13 is a little way out, going West past Centraal Station but well worth the distance to this unique location, and the food doesn't let it down either.

http://www.pont13.nl/

Make sure you check the website for latest address as it may move again.

5 stars :-)

Buenos Aires*****

We were in Buenos Aires a couple of weeks ago for a quick visit. I haven't felt the same since. Buenos Aires stole my heart. Here is a list of restaurants, tours and things we did that help you if you decide to ever visit this city of more than just good air.

Palermo- my favourite area of Buenos Aires. An area full of top end restaurants, bar, art and designer boutiques. It reminded me of Chapel Street in Melbourne with it's pastel coloured low level buildings and wide tree line streets.

Boca- be warned this is a tourist trap but also a must see for the wonderful coloured caminito's. This is still a working community or barrio and home to the world famous Boca Juniors. Visit Boca early in the day to beat the crowds.

Tigre- Definitely worth a day trip out of the centre to the wonderful town of Tigre. We were lucky as J has family who live in Tigre along with Uncles who live close by who sail and had just bought a speed boat so we could venture around the Delta.

Asado: is the typical way to cook meat in Argentina. Did I mention yet that the Argentineans love meat? Enjoy chorizos, morcillas (black pudding) , chinchulines, mollejas (sweetbread) amongst other cuts of meat.

Cardon Nuestra Cocina- this was dinner on the first night after the obligatory asado in the afternoon, so there wasn't much room left. Cardon Nuestra, is part of a bigger chain of restaurants (most good restaurants are), situated just outside Tigre. If you are in that area it's definitely worth popping by. Informal but great selection of food, including a cold starter buffet and wine list. http://www.cardon.com.ar/principal?seccion=nuestra-cocina

Puerto Arroyan Restaurant : Is a small Parilla restaurant approx. 20 minutes by speed boat from Tigre. I am not sure where but if you ask the locals they will be sure to direct you. We were very lucky at this time of the waterways of the Delta are virtually empty. At Arroyan you will find a simple menu of, you guessed it, meat.What better way to wash the various sausages and part of the cow with a few glasses of a white wine punch.

Asia de Club- This bar is hardly worth mentioning unless you like uber trendy bars, except that we did experience a funny situation. We had been walking around the fantastic port area, with it´s award winning buildings and restaurants when we thought it would be nice to sit and have a glass of wine al fresco. Asia de Club looked appealing although empty, with it's great comfy couches loooking out on the water. We asked whether we would be able to sit outside and the waitress said no as it was too cold (at 24 degrees C). After a little negotiating we were allowed to sit outside and enjoy a bottle of Malbec in the warm evening. You will find that whilst 24 degrees would make the average European strip down to a modest, thin layer, the Argentinians are bringing out their fleeces and quilted jackets. http://www.asiadecuba.com.ar/

La Cabrera, Palermo-  After 4 days and nights of meat J and I were still impressed by th equality of meat at this small restaurant in Palermo. There is a no reservation policy, but whilst you wait outside you are given champagne.  Around 70% of the tables are tourists, but maybe it's that wait that puts locals off as the meat is amazing. J literally had a meat high in this place. A tip is to share a starter then a main, as the meat comes with an overload of side dishes that no one around us could finish. If you are in Buenos Aires definitely try this restaurant or it's sister restaurant La Cabrera Norte. http://www.parrillalacabrera.com.ar/

Cabaña las Lilas- Lunch Day 5. By now I was thinking that my body would be fighting the effects of a protein overload, but there was still room. Cabaña las Lilas is huge. Possibly the biggest restaurant I have eaten in, yet the food and service were of a high standard due to the kitchen staff of 40 and staff of 30 or more. If you have time for a 2 hour lunch head down to the Porto Madero to pay homage to Argentinian beef. 4.http://www.laslilas.com/restaurant.php

Barbaro Bar- Most evenings we would go for dinner which would effectively wipe you out from then bar hoping or clubbing. A couple of evenings though were spent at Barbaro just a stones throw and a bit from our hotel the Marriot Plaza. Bar o Bar is a great non touristy bar that serves a range of drinks and bar food. If you are in the area down town you should definitely try and find. http://www.barbarobar.com.ar/galeria.html

Modena-this restaurant and bar is situated approx 10 minutes walk from MALBA opposite the university. I was hungry so wandered unexpectedly into this strange concepted space with Mercedes memorabilia and it's own radio station on site.  It's a busy place, service is a bit haphazard, but my lunch of pumpkin quiche and salad was delicious.

Graffiti Tour-Another top tip for Buenos Aires is this tour organised by http://graffitimundo.com/en/  
whom promotes Buenos Aires street art and graffiti artists. Over the past decade the street artists of Buenos Aires really have produced really inspiring and beautiful work. The tour will take you around a few areas by foot and minibus, taking in a few galleries and finally a grafitti covered bar with more art for sale.

Cafe de Arts/ MALBA (Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos )- Another must do. Although the museum is smaller than those you might find in other big cities of the world, it's definitely worth a visit to broaden your knowledge of Latin American art. Really insightful and wonderful work. MALBA also has a great design and book shop. Next to MALBA is Cafe de Arts with a great modern menu. A perfect destination for lunch, but make sure you reserve if you want a table outside as this is one of the hottest seats at lunch time. http://www.malba.org.ar/web/home.php

Japanese Gardens- Not far from MALBA are the Japanese Gardens. A real oasis in the centre of this bustling city, worth a quick visit. http://www.jardinjapones.com.ar/

Marriott Plaza Hotel: Once upon a time, this hotel would of been the Queen of hotels in Buenos Aires. 2010 is her centinerary year, but unfortunately I think Marriott and it's investors have to dig deep into their pockets to save this hotel from falling from grace. The location is central across from the historic Plaza san Martin. I shouldn't really complain as my accommodation was paid for by the conference we were attending. If I was to personally chose a hotel I would opt for a smaller boutique offering in Palermo.

City Tour  : Still to add review.

Fyra*****

On a Wednesday night I was introduced by a friend to one of the most impressive yet understated restaurants I have dined at in Amsterdam. That being Fyra. It's a true gem.

Fyra is tucked down a narrow residential street just off the Vijzelgracht on the Noorderstraat.  The outside covered in vines and pretty flowers with white decorative chairs and tables. What looks like a small restaurant as you enter opens up into an open kitchen and approximately room for 60.

Fyra's menu changes daily depending what is available at the market. We couldn't make up our minds from the menu, so decided to go for the 4 course chef menu that was insightfully described by the waiter. The service is great, attentive but not over the top. Totally un-Amsterdam, and the guys had a sense of humour. We also opted for the wine menu to compliment the courses.

After a couple of small amuse bouce first course of Marlin with an assortment of pureed vegetables. Our neighbours caught our attention as they wanted to share that the 2nd course that they were on of sole was amazing and that they felt spoilt here. I was feeling the same way. First course was demolished then on to a perfectly cooked and presented Sole with pureed Pata Negra. Main course was steak from the barbecue with selected vegetables- this was a tad on the cold side ( a problem I have been having with steaks this week!!!) but still tasted great. We both managed to finish off all the dishes and still had room for a  cheese plate.

Fyra is a dining experience, yet although top notch service and food, it has a high-spirited (maybe as it was the 1st day of good weather in the Dam) but also a very relaxed, unpretentious vibe.

Fyra is my new recommend. Please try it.

http://www.restaurantfyra.nl

Telefoon: 020 - 428 36 32 

Noorderstraat 19-23 

1017 TR Amsterdam

Restaurant Looks, Amsterdam ***

I had been looking forward to eating at this restaurant hidden just of the Nieuwmarkt on the Binnen Bantammerstraat. I had been waying up where to take my other half for a 'date' for the week and Looks had good reviews. Already I feel I have to apologise on Looks' behalf for the name they have chosen.

Owned by Alco and Erik. From Look's website I learned that Alco's previous adventure was setting up restaurant fifteen and Erik is apparently a TV presenter. The chefs Cas and Joost Cremers have a credible CV so I was expecting something special.

The concept of Looks is based on the idea of a small, weekly changing menu comprising of 3 different starters, 3 main courses, and a tasting for dessert. They also offer a surprise menu for around 49euros. Oysters are on the menu all the time.

The interior of Looks is large, broken up into around 3 to 4 areas, that were candlelit, modern and contemporary, but not over designed. At the front of the restaurant is the open kitchen. It made a great first impression.

The service is great. Really great. On entering Looks we were immediately shown to our table, immediately offered water and bread, and then the menu. We were then told that some of the menu was unavailable as on this particular Saturday the chef had been sent home sick. Eeek, my heart sank.

But we were here now. For starters Mr half Argentinean, half Swedish decided to have the perch whilst I went for the duck and lemon pate. Both excellent. We were off to a great start, accompanied by a great bottle of Malbec. Then thinks started to unfortunately go down hill. We had both decided on the house smoked entrecote steak as recommended by the jolly waiter.

The steaks arrived just slightly seared and the flesh not cooked - the steak was cold in the centre. We had both asked for medium rare. The steaks were promptly taken away by the waiter with no hesitation. He seemed really shocked about our disappointing food. I started to blame the sick chef. The 2nd 'new' steaks arrived, but again for some reason the outside was only seared but the warmth had just not penetrated the flesh of what looked like succulent meat. Such a shame, for the sake of the waiter's embarrassment we ate half of each portion and pretended to be too full.  We could see the poor lone commis chef scurrying around the kitchen trying to keep on top of things.

For dessert, I decided to opt for what sounded intriguing, an English trifle syllabub. It was no English trifle and all I can remember was strong alcohol with cream. It was nothing memorable, and not because of the alcohol!

So Looks first time round, didn't quite live up to my expectations, based on the reviews I had read. I blame that on the Chef's absence so I still want to give it another try. I hope next time to recommend what could be a great hidden gem ' but please change your name' in the Chinatown/ Nieuwmarkt area of Amsterdam.

Total per head approx E150 inc. 3 courses, wine and digestif.

Restaurant Looks

Binnen Bantammerstraat 7
1011 CH Amsterdam, Netherlands
020 3200949

http://www.restaurantlooks.nl/

Cafe Amsterdam**

It was a friend's birthday so around 20 of us landed on what is a huge restaurant for Amsterdam standard's near the Westerpark. My partner and I were just back from Buenos Aires (reviews from there to follow soon) where we were spoilt with amazing food and service, so we weren't expecting too much from Cafe Amsterdam.

The last time we visited Cafe Amsterdam was last Summer on a Sunday afternoon, where the sound of screaming kids and waiting 10 minutes to be told that there was a 30 minute wait had detered us from venturing any further.

Cafe Amsterdam has such potential. The restaurant is set in an magnificient old pumping station. There are still elements of the old engine room and also the lighting is provided by 22 original floodlights from Amsterdam's two legendary football stadiums: the old Ajax-stadium and the Olympic Stadium.

Anyways to the food and service. As there were 20 of us we had the group menu, but this was still pretty extensive. Our friends around us opted for starters ranging from snails, to half lobster, to Vitello Tonnato. I had the Vitello Tonnato which was really bland and disappointing- I think it was missing seasoning and capers.

The wine list is good. We sampled a Rioja and also a red from the Languedoc. Both really pleasant wines.

For our main, as we were on withdrawal from the amazing meats of Buenos Aires- my partner opted for the Ribeye whilst I went for the Angus beef with a mushroom sauce. To my surprise the meat and the sauce were pretty tasty, but just not amazing. Maybe as the sauce was on the almost burnt side, but had a perculiar sweet and caramelised taste that I quite liked.

Oh Cafe Amsterdam. You didn't let me down, it's just I think you could be so much better. The restaurant must hold 200 people yet on a busy afternoon there were perhaps 8 young waiters. If the guys just upped the service and the quality of the food you would have a top restaurant in Amsterdam for the food and not only a spectacular space.

Food: ***
Service: ***

http://www.cradam.nl/