Welcome to Wednesday! Although it’s not Friday yet, I thought I’d do another ‘ramble’ post and fill you in on a few of the many things that have been on my mind recently. From tea and cookies, to music and some very cool upcoming press events!
OK, so let’s start with the tea. You might actually be surprised if I told you that I don’t only drink wine. Tea is also another favorite, especially in the colder months and usually in the late afternoon, somewhere between that post-lunch espresso and evening glass of wine. I probably have around three to five tea breaks between 1PM and 6PM. But, as with my wines, I am rather picky about my teas. The Tea Bar in Amsterdam has a stunning collection (pleeease try the ‘Old Dutch Apple Pie’), but recently I found another brand which is quickly becoming a favorite — Clipper! Their organic teas come in a wide variety of flavors and I just happened to fall madly in love with their Chai Green Tea, infused with cinnamon, orange rind, cardamom and cloves. It is so beautifully mild and smooth, and quite warming on these cold days (yeah, it looks like fall has finally started!).
Tea makes me think of cookies (although I don’t eat cookies with every cup of tea!). In fact, I hardly buy cookies. and when I do have them in the house, they’re usually homemade. But that might change after the special delivery that arrived yesterday — a box with four packs of the crisp, buttery Parisian waffles from the Belgian brand Jules Destrooper! Made with real butter and scented with a touch of vanilla, these thin waffles not only look beautiful, they taste fantastic too! I just had one with a cup of tea. Next time, I might do something a little more sexier — like drizzling them with melted dark chocolate and serving them with raspberries and cream. Oh, oh, oh!
On to music… Not the Beatles or Aznavour this time, but French Yé-yé from the 60s. Besides everything Gainsbourg (whom I adore) I am mildly obsessed with the swingy sounds and fun, bubbly lyrics of songs such as L’Temps de l’Amour by Françoise Hardy and Brigitte Bardot’s Moi Je Joue. I love playing these songs in the morning as I get ready for my day. They make me smile!
And smiling is something I will be doing a lot of next week. On Tuesday I will be treated to an exclusive press dinner cooked by Dutch chefs Robert Kranenborg and Ramon Beuk with wines chosen by sommelier Jan-Willem van der Hek. The event will take place at Amsterdam’s Westergasfabriek and will be prepared with an exclusive line of products by a major Dutch supermarket (but more on that later!). Better start looking for something ritzy to wear!
The following Thursday will see me in Markthal, the recently opened food paradise in Rotterdam — this time not only eating but also cooking with none other than Dutch food writer (and judge for the popular television show Heel Holland bakt), Janny van der Heijden. We will be preparing a festive three-course meal using Amarula, a deliciously creamy South African liqueur made with the exotic marula fruit. I am so looking forward to an afternoon full of culinary inspiration and good fun.
And of course, I’ll be posting all my experiences here on the blog. Stay tuned, stay warm and stay inspired!