Categorie: Hotspots

Terwijl iedereen zich verheugd op het paasweekend en zelfs de vrije maandag, ben jij nog aan het bedenken wat je gaat doen. Dat hoeft niet langer!! Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie organiseert Het Fries Food Festival! 

Dit jaar is alweer de derde keer dat het hippe festival georganiseerd wordt. (H)eerlijke regionale producten kan je proeven, eten en bereiden op het Fries Food Festival. Het is een inspirerende belevenis van de smaak uit de regio. De streekproducten worden op een hippe manier en vol passie gepresenteerd.

Niet alleen de streekproducten worden aangeboden, maar er vinden ook verschillende (kinder)workshops en kookdemo’s plaats. Henk Markus, chef van restaurant ‘Het Ambacht’ in Heerenveen en Jaap Frerichs, varkenshouder van ‘de Kempenaer’ in Echtenerbrug houden een gezamenlijke kook demo over Smaak. “Slimme marketing versus pure passie”. Ook de Slow Food Chefs Alliantie zal aanwezig zijn. Zij zullen het publiek kennis laten maken met Lekker, Puur en Eerlijk voedsel. Naast de workshops zal Marin Leus op een speelse en informele wijze stillevens en collages presenteren, uit de tentoonstelling ‘Komkommertijd’.

In de workshops kan je ook veel leren. Bijvoorbeeld hoe je thuis paddenstoelen kan kweken op een effectieve en duurzame manier, maar ook hoe je vis kan fileren. Dit laatste leer je van De Goede Vissers en het Fileerlokaal ‘tAiland. Er zijn ook workshops voor kinderen op het Fries Food Festival. Neem bijvoorbeeld een kijkje bij de workshop van Mama Mascha en leer gezonde traktaties maken. Ook kan je stempelen met ‘vergane groente’.

Klik op het plaatje voor de timetable.

Ben jij benieuwd geworden? Kom dan 2e paasdag langs in Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie!

 

As we walked through the streets of Ubud, we saw this breath-taking restaurant called Petani. It is part of de Alaya Resort. Petani restaurant was voted the best Indonesian restaurant of 2013 by Bali Advertiser. The relaxed atmosphere sunk in when we sat down at the rustic wooden tables. When you look around, you’ll see all grey and brown wooden tints. Petani only serves a la carte menu with the mouth-watering typical Indonesian dishes, such as Betutu Wonton, Crispy Duck and Mixed Grilled Balinese Satay. But as “king dish” they serve Nasi Raja. This signature dish used to be served to the king and royal family.

Just when we were enjoying the soft breeze that ran through the restaurant, this amazing looking dish was brought to us. Flabbergasted about the way it looked and after tasting it, we felt like real royals. On the Nasi Raja there were different small bamboo boats filled with spicy pork curry, a string bean salad, fish satay, crispy prawns and of course the traditional Balinese perfectly herbed yellow rice. Topped of with some kroepoek. After this tower of pleasure, we still wanted more from this tasty kitchen. The Rice Paper Tuna rolls were well filled with freshly cauterized, light pink tuna and lovely sweet-sour veggies. If you dip the rolls in the sweet chilli sauce, you’ll feel like you’re in paradise for a little bit. For a main course try the Grilled Jimbaran Bay Tuna. A in kintamani’s lime and soja marinated tuna steak, served with a funky mashed sweet potato, which was delightful. The pink tuna fell apart whilst cutting it. Also the Chef’s recommendation Steak Jawa was delicious. A perfectly marinated steak with green veggies and some buttered and fried mushrooms. On the side there was a typical Indonesian peanut sauce.

After these beautiful dishes, we had some colourful smoothies and refreshing juices. Full-on fresh fruit in the drinks, such as dragon fruit, berries and detoxing ginger. They serve most creative combinations, but you can also choose a combination of your own personal taste.

We definitely had enough to eat, so we were surprised when Restaurant Manager Krisna joined us and brought three platters with desserts. A classic blueberry cheesecake which was rich and creamy and it looked magical. Of course the Local Sweet Temptation was screaming “eat me” at us. A platter filled with traditional Indonesian specials, like black rice pudding, klepon, lapis, grated coconut and a insanely good banana fritter topped with some cinnamon. With some privilege we had the honour to try their new dish: Loempia Goreng. Wow, this was a very tasteful extra to our lovely afternoon. A crunchy filo pastry filled with tropical fruits, vanilla sauce and a sesame crust. This new dish is now on their menu! So check this out.

Afterwards we talked about their coffeebar. With their 4 handle limited edition “La Marzocco”, Petani distinguishes theirselfs from other restaurants. Their coffee has an light floral taste. The OJI Cold Brew was delightful. Strong coffee with ice cubes and takes a couple of hours to brew. One of their star-coffees which is definitely worth a visit to Petani restaurant in Ubud.

This gorgeous modern Asian tapas bar is tucked away above the great Taco Local. Jicama is a pearl with a roof terrace around and in the middle there is fully stocked bar. The bar is their pride, as they are just starting up. The signature cocktail of Jicama is The Merchant’s Daughter. With ingredients like lemongrass-infused gin, fresh watermelon slices, lime juice, Campari and their delicious homemade watermelon jam. This is definitely the most sweet jam I’ve ever had and it was lovely. The manager Andre told me that this was the hardest to make, but now it’s close to perfection.

As I sat down in the sun, enjoying the beautiful surroundings, Andre and Sebastian told me that the concept of Jicama is small plates to share while dining. So now it was my turn try. First up, a delicious Bao bun with twice-cooked pork belly. A steamed Bao bun with seasoned cucumber, crushed peanuts, chopped cilantro and hoisin. This makes the sweet glaze. The Bao was delightful.

One of their most wanted dishes is the KFC. Not mistaken with the fastfood, Korean Fried Chicken with gochujang dressing and pickled jicama. The dressing is a typical Korean sweet and spicy sauce. The jicama has an apple and pear texture which was really good. I loved the sauce where the batter was mixed with. The Chicken Thigh Rice Noodles were up next. Wow, this chicken was mindblowing delicious. Prepared with mum’s recipe, the lemongrass-infused chicken thigh was absolutely the star of the evening. I couldn’t stop eating the chicken thighs with market greens, cha gio, seasoned cucumber, pickled jicama, crushed peanuts and the divine chili vinaigrette!

If you want a small sandwich for lunch, their Banh Mi Tempe is delicious. A flat-toasted baguette, pickled jicama and carrot, cilantro and a lemongrass dressing. This Vietnamese sandwich is made with the best baguette I’ve eaten since arriving on Bali. The ingredients were stacked on top of each other and the sandwich fell apart in my mouth. While I’m enjoying the afterglow of these beautiful dishes, I see the beautiful ‘inside garden’ with hanging plants. I’m delighted when I hear they’re for sale.

Just around the corner of the busy Jalan Laksmana, there is the Caribbean pearl Chara. At this new spot, they love to collide the different tastes of sweet, sour and spicy. The typical food from different influences from the countries around the Caribbean, are the only things that they serve.

The Sweet Potato Fritter is made of mashed sweet potatoes, which are breaded and fried, served with a delicious tropical salsa and sour cream lime sauce. The nice sweet potato is perfectly combined with the sweet and sour salsa.

This nice starter is followed up by the Coco Loco Shrimp. Their famous fried crispy large shrimp. Topped off with some caramelized fresh coconut and served with a golden orange dipping sauce. The breaded shrimp was delightful, but the star of the dish was definitely the sauce. Spicy but sweet. It was a perfect combination on a plate.

As I always have a spot left for dessert, the Baked Apple Crumble called my name. What a beautiful presentation! A whole green apple, stuffed with a fresh apple, mix of cookie crunch and raisins. On the side, there was a creamy cinnamon scoop of ice cream. The combination of warm and cold was refreshing: the soft pieces of apple in combination with the cinnamon ice cream were absolutely lovely. For a night in the Caribbean, you’ll definitely have to stop by Chara.

On my way to the Double Six beach, I spotted this gorgeous coffee place just down Jalan Arjuna. Surati Sacred Ground is the name. My belly was grumbling and I really needed a good Shotgun Coffee Mocca. A delightful robust cup of coffee was just enough to wake me up. The menu is still changing because the old one was too much and of course, they’ll keep the hints of Bali hidden in the menu. But thank god, the breakfast menu was phenomenal. For a healthy-food lover like me, this felt like heaven. Continue reading “Healthy on Sacred Ground”

Mijn ouders zijn doorgewinterde zeilers en zwerven in de zomer vaak het Wad over. Dit jaar eindigde de zonnige bootvakantie door de koude omstandigheden in Harlingen. Ik ben even overgekomen vanuit Groningen en meteen had ik het vakantiegevoel te pakken. Nog leuker is, dat de Visserijdagen zijn begonnen. Bandjes, braderie en het traditionele Tobbedansen.

Nooitgedagt ligt in hartje Harlingen in een mooi hoekpand met prachtige luikjes. De heerlijke cleane uitstraling werkte erg uitnodigend. Deze parel bestaat al ruim 10 jaar en heeft een leuke, verrassende indeling. Hoge plafonds en veel grof hout. We worden naar boven meegenomen en krijgen een tafeltje aan het raam. Zo kunnen we nog een beetje meegenieten van de leuke muziek en zelfs een blik in de keuken werpen.

De heerlijke Biologische witte wijn wordt bijgeschonken, terwijl mijn voorgerecht op tafel gezet wordt. Een van mijn lievelingsbereidingen van gamba’s: Tempura! Wauw. Wat een heerlijke verfrissende salade! De Gambastaarten zijn heerlijk knapperig bereid en de uitjes en paprika in combinatie met de dressing zorgen voor een verfrissende bite bij de salade en shii-takes. Ik wacht met smart op mijn hoofdgerecht, terwijl ik mijn vader nog zie prutsen met de twee gerookte palingen.

Alsof ze gedachten kunnen lezen bij Nooitgedagt, serveren ze mij de perfecte Ossenhaaspuntjes. On the side: lekkere, zoete rabarber and frieten waar je echt van geniet. Deze malse ossenhaas smelt op mijn tong en het is binnen no time helemaal op!

Na al deze lekkernijen is er slechts nog ruimte voor een French Coffee op het terras, waar we stiekem zachtjes beginnen mee te zingen met de liedjes op de Grote Bredeplaats.

Wat een geslaagde avond! Tot volgende zomer!