Shrimp Dim Sum
These Chinese shrimp dumplings are so good and worth the effort to make from scratch, even though it takes 1.5 to 2 hours to make a batch. They are just like the shrimp dim sum Har Gow (虾饺), but with … Continue reading Shrimp Dim Sum
Tag: wine pairing
Fried Eggplant (Melanzane Fritte in Pastella)
Melanzane fritte in pastella are slices of eggplant/aubergine dipped in batter and then deep fried until crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. With some basil and tomato dipping sauce this is a lovely appetizer, that could also … Continue reading Fried Eggplant (Melanzane Fritte in Pastella)
Dining in the Netherlands: At Home
Happy Christmas everyone! It was on December 24, 1999 that I first met my husband. Every year we celebrate our anniversary by going to a great restaurant. For some years now we’ve been going to the Librije. But due to another lockdown, our dinner at Librije was first turned into lunch and then cancelled altogether. I contemplated going to Italy, but Kees suggested we stay at home and spend the budget for dinner at Librije on wine instead. Ten minutes later I had ordered these two bottles 🙂 The wines we usually drink are in the 10-30 euros price range, … Continue reading Dining in the Netherlands: At Home
Zander with Apple Syrup and Bacon
Zander is a freshwater fish with a very elegant flavor that is caught locally in the Netherlands. It is also called pikeperch or pike perch. The combination with tart apple syrup and bacon has been made famous by Jonnie Boer, … Continue reading Zander with Apple Syrup and Bacon
Ravioli del Plin al Sugo d’Arrosto (Meat Ravioli from Piemonte)
Ravioli are called agnolotti in Piemonte. Every restaurant in Piemonte has them on the menu. As is always the case with traditional recipes in Italy, there are many variations. The most important variations are with or without greens (spinach or … Continue reading Ravioli del Plin al Sugo d’Arrosto (Meat Ravioli from Piemonte)
Pheasant Fillet Sous Vide with a Mushroom Marsala Cream Sauce
Pheasant fillet dries out easily, but with sous vide it is a piece of cake to prepare it tender and juicy every time. The idea for the sauce comes from restaurant Le Due Lanterne in Nizza Monferrato, Italy. There the … Continue reading Pheasant Fillet Sous Vide with a Mushroom Marsala Cream Sauce
Fresh Pasta with Pheasant Sugo (Tagliatelle al Sugo di Fagiano)
Last September on vacation in Italy, I enjoyed fresh pasta with a pheasant sugo at one of my favorite restaurants in Italy, Danêl Ai Cacciatori in Friuli. This was a pasta sauce without tomato, or not really a sauce actually, … Continue reading Fresh Pasta with Pheasant Sugo (Tagliatelle al Sugo di Fagiano)
Veal Cheeks Sous Vide (Guancialino brasato)
After enjoying pork cheeks during our trip to Portugal last year, this year in Italy we had several different renditions of veal cheeks. The veal cheeks we had at Mariella were amazingly tender and flavorful, so back home I wanted … Continue reading Veal Cheeks Sous Vide (Guancialino brasato)
Flan di Zucchine
Flan di zucchine is a typical dish from Piemonte that we enjoyed at Due Lanterne in Nizza Monferrato. It is a savory flan (pudding) filled with zucchini and served with a lukewarm tomato salsa, basil, and extra virgin olive oil. … Continue reading Flan di Zucchine
Dining in Italy: D’O**
D’O is the restaurant of chef Davide Oldani in the town of San Pietro all’Olmo, just outside of Milano. The restaurant does not only hold two regular Michelin stars, but also one green star for sustainability. There are three degustation … Continue reading Dining in Italy: D’O**
Cappon Magro Sous Vide (Stack of Fish and Vegetables with Green Sauce from Liguria)
Cappon Magro is a delicious and special dish from Liguria with fish and vegetables. It is on the menu in Liguria for special occasions such as the holidays. The name means “lean capon”, which indicates that it was an alternative … Continue reading Cappon Magro Sous Vide (Stack of Fish and Vegetables with Green Sauce from Liguria)
Risotto alle Vongole
We love vongole and we love risotto, so risotto alle vongole hits all the right buttons. I opted to prepare it in bianco, without tomato, to allow the vongole to shine. The clams come with their own built-in stock, which … Continue reading Risotto alle Vongole
Crab, Foie Gras, and Kohlrabi
Although the inspiration for this dish came from our latest dinner at the Librije, this is not an attempt to recreate the dish from the restaurant. It is a ‘taco’ of kohlrabi stuffed with foie gras and crab dressed with … Continue reading Crab, Foie Gras, and Kohlrabi
Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Pork and Shrimp (Gỏi Cuốn Tôm Thịt)
There are two main kinds of Vietnamese spring rolls: deep fried, and ‘uncooked’. The shrimp and meat in those is actually cooked, but otherwise these Vietnamese spring rolls are a fresh appetizer that is served at room temperature. Traditionally the … Continue reading Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Pork and Shrimp (Gỏi Cuốn Tôm Thịt)
Fresh Spinach Pasta with Sausage Ragù (Gnocchetti Verdi con Ragù di Salsiccia)
The first dish from our trip that I tried to make at home was gnocchetti verdi con ragù di salsiccia, like we had at Due Lanterne. It is a bit of work to make the small pasta dumplings by hand, … Continue reading Fresh Spinach Pasta with Sausage Ragù (Gnocchetti Verdi con Ragù di Salsiccia)
Dining in Italy: Laite* (2021)
This was our 4th visit to Laite, a restaurant in the ski resort town of Sappada in the North-East of Italy, close to the Austrian border. Just the way the restaurant looks tells you that Austria is not far away. … Continue reading Dining in Italy: Laite* (2021)
Thai Eggplant and Chicken Stir Fry with Nam Prik Pao and Basil
I’ve only recently discovered this dish, and absolutely love it. It has great depth of flavor. If you have already made the Nam Phrik Phao, then most of the work is in pan frying (or oven roasting) the eggplant. We … Continue reading Thai Eggplant and Chicken Stir Fry with Nam Prik Pao and Basil
Pairing Food and Wines of Bisci
Because of the pandemic I haven’t visited any wineries for a while, but luckily the nice people of Bisci Wines contacted me. They were enthusiastic about the recipes I have posted that pair well with Verdicchio, and offered to send … Continue reading Pairing Food and Wines of Bisci
Pasta with Slow-Roasted Cauliflower (Orecchiette al Cavolfiore)
This is what we’ve just had for dinner, or as the primo piatto to be more precise (with a flat iron steak as secondo piatto): orecchiette pasta with slow-roasted cauliflower, capers, anchovies, lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, parsley, and … Continue reading Pasta with Slow-Roasted Cauliflower (Orecchiette al Cavolfiore)
Lamb with Mint Sauce and Green Asparagus
Due to the pandemic I can’t visit wineries, but thankfully sometimes a winery sends over some samples. I will write more about the wines of Bisci from Matelic from the Marche region in Italy in my next post. Their 2017 … Continue reading Lamb with Mint Sauce and Green Asparagus
Sous vide baby carrots with bulgur, goat cheese, and pistachios
This elegant vegetarian appetizer was inspired by a more elaborate version we enjoyed at Alma** in Lisbon. The combination of flavors and textures is very nice. The sweetness of the carrots goes well with the tartness of the goat cheese … Continue reading Sous vide baby carrots with bulgur, goat cheese, and pistachios
Pasta with Sausage and Fennel (Gnocchetti Sardi con Salsiccia e Finocchio)
Pasta with sausage and fennel is one of our favorite pasta dishes, that I prepare on a regular basis. The flavors of the fennel, fennel seed, sausage, and pecorino cheese blend into one fantastic flavor. I like to prepare it … Continue reading Pasta with Sausage and Fennel (Gnocchetti Sardi con Salsiccia e Finocchio)
Strawberry Frangipane Cake
Frangipane is a cream of ground almonds with sugar, eggs, and butter, and is a common ingredient in cakes. In the Netherlands strawberry cakes are often made in an elongated shape, are made with frangipane, and then called “aardbeienslof”. They … Continue reading Strawberry Frangipane Cake
Veal scaloppine with eggplant and mozzarella (Involtini di vitello con melanzane e mozzarella)
Eggplant with mozzarella, basil, and tomato is one of my favorite flavor combinations. In this dish, veal scaloppine are added to make a luxurious dish that is worth of a special occasion. I’ve blogged about this dish before, but back … Continue reading Veal scaloppine with eggplant and mozzarella (Involtini di vitello con melanzane e mozzarella)
Portuguese Lobster Rice (Arroz de Lagosta)
Arroz de marisco is a Portuguese seafood dish of rice with seafood that is like a soupy version of risotto. Click here for the regular recipe. For a more luxurious version, you can also make it with lobster, and then … Continue reading Portuguese Lobster Rice (Arroz de Lagosta)
Vitello Tonnato Sous Vide
Vitello Tonnato is one of those classic dishes that are not ‘trendy’, but that I keep preparing because they are so delicious. It is originally from the Italian region of Piemonte. My blogging friend Stefano recommended this book about Piemontese … Continue reading Vitello Tonnato Sous Vide
Orange Cake (Torta all’Arancia)
This orange cake is simple to make but has a special flavor because of the orange juice, orange zest, and orange syrup. I’ve made it using this Italian recipe, with some minor changes. It is great for breakfast (very Italian … Continue reading Orange Cake (Torta all’Arancia)
Duck Breast and Sunchokes Sous-Vide With Mushrooms and Five Spice
I enjoy cooking, but it is also a great pleasure if someone cooks for me for a change. I appreciate it all the more because it can be nerve-wracking or at least intimidating to cook for a more experienced cook. … Continue reading Duck Breast and Sunchokes Sous-Vide With Mushrooms and Five Spice
Lobster Thermidor
Lobster Thermidor is a classic French dish that I had not prepared before. Now I regret that, because it is really delicious and I will definitely make it again. As I am somewhat of an ‘adopted Italian’, I don’t tend … Continue reading Lobster Thermidor
Sous-Vide version of Layered Foie Gras, Smoked Eel, and Green Apple
This decadent appetizer was inspired by the signature appetizer of Martín Berasategui, three Michelin star chef from San Sebastian (Spain), “Mille-feuille of smoked eel, foie-gras, spring onions and green apple”. The combination of foie gras with smoked eel and green … Continue reading Sous-Vide version of Layered Foie Gras, Smoked Eel, and Green Apple
