MAMA SHELTER-MAMA’s GOT IT GOING ON****

Restaurant Mama’s Shelter

I had heard good things about Mama Shelter from a producer friend of mine. I was through in Paris working on post on a Nike film that will be launched in a couple of weeks. It was pretty intense working with the French post co so producer friend and I decided to head to Mama Shelter on the Wednesday night.

The restaurant is part of the Phillip Starck designed MAMA SHELTER hotel. I was imagining minimalism, but instead was nicely surprised by the eclectic interior. All stylishly put together but in a homely way. With a chalk board ceiling, video walls, photo montages, comfy sofas, dim lights, fussball table but for the occasional reading light on an Eiffel Tower which was the only signs that you were in Paris. The restaurant and bar area were almost full. It's a popular place with a mix of clientele both young and old, including children and a dog.


The waiters and waitresses are friendly and efficient. The menu is French influenced but modern. For starters I shared a couple of slices of Foie Gras with toast. Both perfect. To follow a small chicken with a light jus. I’m not sure what it was called in French, it sounded more exotic than a ‘small chicken’ but it was one mean sized chicken. Cooked perfectly moist and delicious. I think I only managed a third of the chicken as it was just so big.

It had been a long day at work so had to leave around 10.30pm for sleep. I would of stayed longer. I loved this place, it's a little way of town, but it's well worth travelling the distance.

http://www.mamashelter.com/
109 rue de Bagnolet in the 20th district of Paris

Service: *****
Food: ****

Not quite the Tonic**

Tonic

At the weekend I took a little trip back to my parents home in Nottinghamshire. It was Mother’s Day weekend so I wanted to treat my folks to something special in the city on Saturday. Usually my restaurant of choice is World Service but unfortunately it was fully booked. Instead following the excellent reviews on Tripadvisor I booked Tonic.

From the reviews I had high expectations. I was half expecting to be intimidated by a discerning crowd of Nottingham’s fashinistas. The first impressions of Tonic are that of a huge cruise ship. Downstairs there are 2 bars; one as you enter that had one lone guy propping up the bar, then a large bar on the 2nd floor that had a few groups of people. I was really underwhelmed. I noticed that a few people were going up the stairs and promptly back down again. I had to briefly scamper upstairs to check whether we stay or whether I quickly make an escape plan. The restaurant was busy, so I assumed that the walk-ins didn’t have a reservation. We ordered a round of weak Martini’s and took a seat in the bar. The barman then decided to turn the lights down low and pump up the heavy techno music. Yikes. We quickly took the stairs to the restaurant, hoping it would be a haven away from the decibels.

We were greeted by a cheery waitress, immediately shown over to a comfy waiting area, swiftly asked whether we would like some bread and olives and then we were off on another experience. Our seat was in one of the comfy booths that look out onto the restaurant. The atmosphere was relaxed; it’s not trying too hard. The staff looked like students, my father mentioned that the cooks in the kitchen are from a local culinary college, which I thought was a great idea.

The menu is a mix bag but I was surprised at how fairly priced it was. I started with a fishcake with a poached egg (they called it Welsh Rarebit). I found the fish far too smoky and luke warm, although my egg was perfectly runny. My father enjoyed his scallops, although from my wee bite I thought there wasn’t much spice and were on the rubbery to over cooked side. My mother had gnocchi with a tomato sauce. The sauce was more like mushed tomatoes with some dry green gnocchi around the side. Well we were going through the wine, so were quite merry and were hoping that the main course would be better.

My lamb could only apparently be cooked pink which I didn’t mind, although there is pink then there is undercooked and unseasoned. The meat itself was good quality, but it was bland. On the plate there was undercooked ravioli, a carrot, roast potatoes and other vegetables that didn’t add anything to the dish. It was just too much of blandness. Such a shame as I’m sure there is promise, but I was really disappointed.

The service was lovely although you can tell inexperienced as the girl struggled to open the wine and when asked how spicy the scallops were- she didn’t know.

Anyways I was having fun with my parents and finished with some liqueur coffees that rather finished us all of.

All in all, I felt like I was a customer in some culinary experiment. I give it marks for effort but Tonic didn’t quite make the mark on the food or service. The bar and the restaurant don’t mix; the ingredients on the plate didn’t quite mix. Not sure I’ll be back as I am sure there must be better restaurants in town.

http://www.tonic-online.co.uk/
Chapel Bar, Nottingham.

Food: **
Service: ***

Winkel**

After a busy weekend and a bad experience in the Albert Heijn on Saturday I vowed this week not to visit Albert Heijn. The worst supermarket chain in Europe, who unfortunately have the monopoly on every street in Amsterdam. So Saturday evening we had friend's round for dinner with all produce from the market and Marqt, Sunday and Monday was food from the cupboard then Tuesday an impromptu bite at the Winkel on the Nordermarkt.

Winkel is an unassuming eetcafe. No pretense, no nonsense but still attention to detail and service, busy but not overcrowded. It's really cosy, as the locals would say 'gezellig'.

After a crazy day at work my partner and I met at Winkel around 9.30pm and were promptly greeted by the lone barman/ waiter. The menu was pretty straight forward but perfect when thinking the act of having to buy the ingredients at the AH made me smile. We skipped over the starters, there was a choice of 6 main courses. My partner went for a stuffed crepe of vegetables and I plumped for fried halibut with potato mash and a parsley oil. The plates were on our table in ten minutes. We demolished both. The food that is, not the crockery. I still had room for a huge slice of the Winkel's famous home made Apple Cake. Delicious.

Total: E35 with a couple of glasses of house red.

It's another thing I love about Amsterdam. There are numerous neighbourhood eetcafe serving decent food at a fair price. At the weekend Winkel's great location on the market makes it the perfect place to watch the world go by on the terrace. For a weekday simple bite I'll be stopping by again.


Winkel
Nordermarkt 43
http://www.winkel43.nl/

Food: ***
Service: ***

Restaurant As

First foodie review is of 'Restaurant As'. My Partner 'J' and I were offered the Restaurant week reservations by a friend as they were unfortunately ill. As part of Restaurant week in Amsterdam- many of the restaurants serve up a fixed menu for a fraction of the price to lure you in and hopefully tempt you back.

Restaurant As is situated near Beatrixpark in the South- a little way out, but after a swift 20 minute tram journey and a 2 minute walk you will notice an illuminated fencing that surrounds an old water tower. The tower used to be an exhibition space called 'Platfom 21' which sadly closed down, although the good news is the tower still houses an art space above the restaurant.

I'd been to Platform 21 a couple of years ago and was expecting a sterile interior, but instead the interior is modern and warm- accentuated by the natural, wood furniture and candlelight. Perfect for a cold Amsterdam evening. Careful interior design has exploited the circular building, with a star arrangement of refectory style tables in the middle and then more long tables in alcoves around the outside. Perfect for semi-private dining. The kitchen is housed in a temporary marquee. Outside is a garden that will I'm sure be perfect to dine in when the Summer eventually arrives.

As was packed but we were greeted pleasantly and swiftly seated. 'As' is a big restaurant for Amsterdam, seating 120+ diners.

We shared a table with a a trio of German ladies and a Dutch couple- the atmosphere was lovely. Lots of conversation and laughter in the air. Although there must of been over 100 people the waiters were swift, knowledgeable, warm and receptive to requests. Even one of the chefs was helping out on the floor. It was pretty impressive to see this in Amsterdam. They were really trying their best to make an impression.

I had read that As is about real, organic, in-season food. First on the menu was: Salad of chioggia, verona and yellow beet, blood orange, almonds and Leidse cheese.Completely unexpected and it completely worked. My taste buds were delighted. After an ok wait next up was Fleckvieh ribeye from the grill with wilted greens in red wine with roasted potatoes, braised red onions and red wine sauce. The meat was good, really good, but I guess the vegetables were a little over roasted. I can forgive though. For desert we had an amazing 'Kastenjetaart' with mascarpone filled with dates and figs. Complimented by a cold glass of Monbazzilac. Amazing.

Although the main wasn't really up to scratch, I can forgive As. The waitress was apologetic about how unusually busy they were and it wasn't the norm. Average night is one seating instead of the two. The guys who work at As are passionate about the food. I got that. I told her we will definitely be back.

Stars out of 5: Service: ***** Food:***

http://www.restaurantas.nl/

Prinses Irenestraat 19
1077 WT Amsterdam
info@restaurantas.nl

reserveren: 020 6440100

Glorious Food

I've decided that I want to share my appreciation of food and life in Amsterdam.

Here is the beginning of Gracie's foodie blog.