Cafe de Paris in Hamburg

If you are in Hamburg and your have the time you have to have breakfast at Cafe de Paris, and be early because they're waiting in line. We went there on a business trip and made the stop on our way to the train station. Because we knew we had to travel for a long time and the curry wurst in the refreshment room is NOT something you want to eat for a second time, we went for the full breakfast including a glass of champagne.

It takes all the way to Amsterdam. Very nice, with breakfasts from all over the world in a place that looks like your in Paris. 

http://www.cafeparis.net

Braised Lamb Shank (gestoofde lamsschenkel)

My little brother is coming for dinner and he just loves braised meat. Luckily for him De Krat has brought me some Lamb Shanks.

2 lamb shanks

1 tbsp flour

1 tbsp olive oil

1 shallot, choppes

1 clove of garlic, sliced

100 ml red wine

150 ml stock

1/2 can chopped tomatoes

2 sprigs rosemary

Coat the lamb shanks in the flour. Heat the olive oil in a casserole on high heat and fry the shanks brown. Take them out of the pan and saute the garlic and onion until they're soft. Put the shank back in the pan and add the wine, stock, tomatoes and rosemary and bring to a boil. Put a lid on, reduce the heat and simmer for 1 hour until the meat comes of the bones easily.

Take the shanks from the pan, let the sauce boil without a lid for 10 more minutes until it thickens. Shanks back in the pan, if necessary season with salt & pepper and it's ready. We ate it with some mashed potatoes and green salad. Very yummie.

Muiderslot

Just outside of Amsterdam is the old town of Muiden with it's very own Castle: Muiderslot which you can also visit. Stroll around the gardens, surrounding grasslands and have a cup of coffee watching the boats waiting in the sluice.  

Twiske

Wanting to get out of the city and go for a stroll among the goats and cow's? Twiske is the place to go. You can reach it by bus or by bike, it really is a nice ride if the weather is good. Only half an hour or so by bike from the ferry behind central station. It's a nice place to walk around and have a cup of coffee and if the weather is really nice you can take a swim in one of the lake and have a pick nick in the grass.

We unfortunately choose a rainy day for our walk, so got soaked, didn't see that shower coming. Nevertheless, wasn't cold so getting wet wasn't that bad.

Roof Terrace Wasp

Fifteen Amsterdam

It's important to once in a while take take some time together and bring the little one to grandma ans grandpa. Time for mummy and daddy to go out. We start our evening with some beerd at Brouwerij 't IJ, one of my all time favorites. A small brewery in an old mill. On a warm day like today the terrace is packed, they only sell beer and some small snacks like peanuts or some cheese and close at 8 o clock. That a good thing because we are already late for our reservation at Fifteen (and a little bit lightheaded after to of the heavy IJ beers) 

At fifteen we're warm welcomed by the hostess and shown to our table. Which I find very odd because it's a very slow night and I really don't understand why she's not letting us pick our own table. Now we're in the middle of a huge space, surrounded by empty tables. The girl that serves us tonight is very sweet, still learning but that's ok. I start with a salad of buffalo mozzarella with beets and a very nice balsamic vinegar. Very good, this starter alone would be a reason to come back, Very fresh and soft mozzarella, nice and fresh dish. The Vitello Tonato of Men is also very nice, with some grilled fresh Tuna added besides the Tuna mayonnaise, but I'm just not a big fan of putting endangered species on a menu. 

For the main we take some pasta's. I'm having the linguine with mussels and tomatoes, the dish is nice, but this plate is undoable. It's just not possible to eat normal from this soup bowl shaped plate. The Tagliatelle with Rabbit Men is having is delicious, will be trying to make some nice pasta with stew myself. 

Deserts are not good. Very salty and not very tasty. I will certainly visit fifteen again for the nice starters and mains, but will never order a desert here again, just a cup of coffee

 www.fifteen.nl