Yummy cupcakes at Patty cake

November 2, 2011 / dolcevitaspinelli / Leave a comment

I’m not really a cupcake person, as they tend to be dry from time to time… but well if I get some I’ll eat them anyway (I don’t want to be rude 😉 )

But Saturday after shopping with my girlfriend (she made me), we passed by the Patty cake (cupcake) shop… And I think everybody who has passed by this shop will agree, that it is very difficult not entering to buy something? Right?

It is really the prettiest little shop you’ve ever seen.

The only ‘problem’ was that we still had to go to the Kookeet event in Bruges and therefore we couldn’t eat too much… but then again one cupcake didn’t kill anyone before. Also, when you enter the shop and see cupcakes as far as the eye reaches in all different flavors (that also change from day to day)

It is difficult not finding something that doesn’t make you wanna have one … or is that just me?

Anyway, I took one with hazelnut and my girlfriend one with chocolate. Only 1 comment YUMMY! They weren’t dry at all, not too sweet and I didn’t feel too guilty after eating one 😉 And the picture below shows one happy little camper 😉

So if you are ever in Antwerp and feel like having a small sweet… You know what to do

Patty Cake

Website: http://www.pattycake.be

Address:

Nationalestraat 99

2000 Antwerp, Belgium

Phone n°: +32 (0)3 770 87 60

My view on Bruges Kookeet event

October 31, 2011October 31, 2011 / dolcevitaspinelli / Leave a comment

Last Saturday I went to Bruges for the “Kookeet” event. You can’t believe how excited I was 🙂 This is like Disneyland for me… Although one thing we shouldn’t forget about when going to an event like this, is that it still is a mass event . Basically the quality you’ll get at the boots, is not comparable with the quality you’ll get in the restaurants itselves. Nevertheless I’ve had a very nice evening with my friends and even met a few other very friendly people :-).

And let’s be honest, having an event in a mediaeval town like Bruges is really unique. I might even have to admit that I liked this one better than the one in Antwerp (damn how can I say this, betraying my city).

For all of you who don’t know the concept,”Kookeet” is an event In Bruges where all the best restaurants, caterers and chocolatiers from Bruges serve you a gastronomical teaser . For these teasers, you’d pay 3, 6 or 9 euro. Overall I have to say that everything tasted well. I tried following dishes:

Carpaccio of coquilles St Jacques with ginger (by Olivier from Chez Olivier)
- My impression: very fresh dish, nice to start the evening

Pate of pheasant, compote of ‘Brugse zot (beer) and turnips, liquorice vinaigrette (by Timothy Goffin from Goffin)
- My impression: Not bad, but not mind breaking

Sole à la meuniere, quail egg, potatoe and truffle soup and crispy bread (by Paul Hendrickx from Aneth)
- My impression: one of the better dishes of the evening

braised veal in ‘Brugse zot’( double) needle with root vegetables and pommes Anna (like pommes dauphin) (by Stefaan Timmerman from Assiette Blanche)
- my impression: Very good meat! Not really sure about the combination with the cold root vegetables, but it wasn’t disturbing

Tuna burger new style with béarnaise from lambs ear (vegetable) (by Tim Geers from Traiteur Geers)
- My impression: really nice combination, but I would use something else then tuna, as the herbs and sauces take away the gentile and tender taste of the tuna. Shame for the expensive fish.

Mascarpone crème with coulis of red fruits and forest fruit tea, pâté Breton and chocolate decoration (by Servaas Van Mullem from Patisserie Servaas van Mullem)
- My impression: Really good, not more to add

Last but not least, Magic chocolate mushrooms (by Dominique Persoone from The chocolate line)
- My impression: Very strange tastes together, a chocolate mushroom that tasted like a real mushroom and also like chocolat. Dominique also added a salty part to the dish. I’m sure this will not be everybody’s favorite, but for sure the most experimental on this event! (but that’s how we know Dominique)

The restaurants that convinced me to visit them are Aneth and Assiette Blanche. The chocolate line didn’t need my convincing anymore, they already did that way back when trying my first chocolate line mellow cakes 🙂

For my friends the absolute n°1 was the “rabbit shoulder with foie gras “ by Geert van Hecke from the 1 and only Karmeliet ***. This didn’t come as a surprise 🙂 as this is one of the best Belgian restaurants. I would add it to my list, but spending 300-400EUR per person isn’t really for me at the moment.

My girlfriend’s favorite (Karmeliet was n°2) was “ Tuna mi-cuit (half cooked), salmonmousse, Coquilles St Jacques with green herbs” by Jo Nelissen from Manuscript Kempinski. I think this was from all the dishes I saw passing at my table (which were a lot as we were with 6 people) this was the best value for your money. And the ginger ice-cream was really nice and fresh (if you like ginger ofcourse). I’m adding this restaurant to the list (to keep my girlfriend happy 😉 )

For all you people who would still want to have a drink after the event, only a few steps from the event you’ll find a small beer house (home brewery) Garre, really nice tasty beer (thank you Katrien and Reinout)

I really had a really nice evening. Couldn’t be better, nice food and great company!

And then there was the day that my girlfriend cooked

October 28, 2011October 28, 2011 / dolcevitaspinelli / Leave a comment

Yes, that’s right, she cooked. And it was really nice! She didn’t use a cookbook, but a recipe from Smulweb. The dish she prepared was “quick cabbage with minced beef and yellow rice”, I know it might not look good or sound good, but I promise you that it was good (I even took twice). You can find the recipe on the following link. She even gave the recipe her own twist 🙂 She added some beef stock and some white wine. She did leave out the ginger. I’m so proud of her!

The result:

The day before I had made a “Witloof in de oven” or “Chicory ham roles in the oven”. For this recipe I used “Natural Basics” cookbook on page 93. The basic cookbooks are actually the first books that gave my brother the interest of cooking… Good books for people who don’t have much experience!

The difference between this recipe and the usual “Witloof in de oven” recipe is that they add a little bit of cayenne pepper (to spice it up) and before putting it in the oven they sprinkle some sliced almonds on top. Which gives it a crunchy crust J Personally I didn’t find that the almonds gave it something special, but they for sure didn’t disturb me…

My result:

Good, design and normal priced cookware for young people not possible?

October 27, 2011 / dolcevitaspinelli / Leave a comment

I know the combination of the words design, good and normal price seems like something that is non-existing. Well, Demeyere made this combination a true fact! I’m sure everybody has already heard the name Demeyere? Or not? I know I have always known it :-). Demeyere is a family business already making cookware since 1908 and what makes this, so if they don’t know what they are doing, who does? Already since I started cooking I always wanted pots and pans from Demeyere, first of all because they are known as the Rolls Royce of cookware and secondly because all my cooking heroes on TV were also using it… Those pots and pans always looked so great and the result of their cooking was always perfect (yes always blame the material, not myself 😉 … When moving out of my parents’ house buying a set of Demeyere cookware was not my main priority as it was quit the investment (lucky for me I could confiscate some of my moms’ 🙂 ). This was probably also a reflection Demeyere had made that young people don’t always have the resources to buy a set of their pots and pans, even if their quality and design is wonderful. For this reason, Demeyere will launch a new set of cookware called “Young by Demeyere” in December! A contemporary design for a budget friendly price and on top of that of a remarkable quality. These pots and pans have been designed by the 2008 Designer of the year Stefan Schöning. Just look at the picture below, I’m sure you’ll agree that they are really beautiful.

The whole Young assortment has been made from stainless steel which will keep your pots cooler (when on electric stoves). They also thought about the hygiene, as they have melded handles so no dirt, fat or bacteria’s could go in-between the screws.

But ofcourse you guys are waiting for what you’ll be paying all of this, as that’s basically what we want to know 🙂

So behold and feast your eyes:

For a 3-piece set (like on the first picture) you’ll pay 199 EUR

(Cooking pots with lid 1,8 liter; 2,5 liters and one from 3,5liters)

Soup pot with lid 7,2liters at 99 EUR
Saucepan 2,5liters at 55 EUR
Frying pan Thermolon™ Granite anti-adhesive 20cm at 89EUR
Frying pan Thermolon™ Granite anti-adhesive 24cm at 109EUR
Frying pan Thermolon ™Granite anti-adhesive 28cm at 129EUR

I know it might sound cliché, but buying Demeyere cookware is a live long investment as everything you’ll buy will really last your whole life! You’ll be feeling at least like a 1 Michelin star chef in no time 🙂

If you want more detailed information about these pots and pans, please check the Demeyere website or go to your local cookware shop as of December 1^st. I can’t wait to try them!

Aperos vintage de Bordaux goes Antwerp!

October 25, 2011October 14, 2014 / dolcevitaspinelli / 1 Comment

All you people that were not able to taste the wonderful Bordeaux wines in the streets of Brussels, don’t feel sad! First of all because tomorrow you still have the change of going. Secondly because starting from November 9^th the Aperos Vintage story continues, but this time in Antwerp!!

The Brussels event has already been a huge success, will you help to make the Antwerp edition an even bigger success?

In case you don’t remember about this event (shame on you), you can read all about it in one of my previous blogposts

The first dates for Antwerp are already available:

Wednesday 9 november at Café Vertigo

Draakplaats 3, 2018 Antwerp

www.cafevertigo.be

Wednesday 16 november at Vitrin Café

Marnixplaats 14, 2000 Antwerp

www.vitrin.eu

Wednesday 23 november at Café Mombassa

Moorkensplein 37, 2140 Antwerp

www.cafemombasa.be

But those who still want to expierence the Brussels edition:

Wednesday 26 october at Bar du Matin

Chaussée d’Alsemberg 172, 1050 Brussels. Metro Albert 3

Concert van Jack Fire

See you in Antwerp!

Cook Book Discovery – Part 3

October 25, 2011 / dolcevitaspinelli / Leave a comment

Yesterday it was Piet Huysentruyt time. For all you people who don’t know him, Piet Huysentruyt is without any doubt one of the most famous tv chefs in Belgium. He used to own a Michelin star awarded restaurant and he still owns a restaurant in the South of France. The idea of Piet is that cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. He always tries to explain the art of cooking in the simplest way. He does this in a TV show called ‘SOS Piet’ where he goes to people’s homes to fix their cooking problems. Besides that, he also shares his knowledge through his books. The fact that he has sold more than 1 million copies of them says enough! (knowing that Belgium is not a huge country).

So yesterday I decided to prepare a dish with “Brussels Sprouts” from Piet’s “Leven & Koken als Piet in Frankrijk” (living and cooking like Piet in France) cookbook. This cookbook is divided in 4 parts, the four seasons to be more precise. In every part/season he gives some great recipes that would fit perfectly in that specific season. I made the “Grilled quail with mashed sprouts” and gave it a little Spinelli twist. The original recipe would be a quail covered with bacon and a gravy sauce. Here I used chicken instead of quail and instead of rolling the bacon around, I used bacon cubes. For the sauce after baking the chicken and bacon in same pan, I added some Porto and squeezed Orange juice and a little bit of butter to bind the sauce (reason, I still had an orange in my fridge). The mashed sprouts is exactly as in the book (p107). Basically cook 500g of sprouts with 2 or 3 potatoes (depending on size) and some garlic. When cooked mash them, add salt, pepper and some nutmeg and in case you like it some cream or milk.

I’m pretty satisfied with the result.

If you like the Piet Huysentruyt recipes, you can either buy one of his books, look at the Belgian tv channel VTM just before the news or you can look on the zesta website.

What was your last dish you made out of a cookbook? Let me know!!

My second week of Cooking with Cookbooks

October 24, 2011 / dolcevitaspinelli / Leave a comment

I just had a great weekend! When I opened my eyes Saturday morning, the first thing I saw was sunshine and I really could not stay in bed (even when it is 7o’clock in the morning)… On top of that I also had the urge to go to the Open-air market in the centre of Antwerp (Vogeltjes markt) aka ‘Vogeltjesmarkt’. I like to go there because I have my usual market stalls where I buy my ingredients. This week I decided to buy the promotion of the week at the vegetable stall. For 5 euro I got: 1kg Red paprika, 1kg Brussels sprouts, 1kg of tomatoes, 1 cabbage, 1 kg of Belgian chicory and 1kg of spinach. Not bad for only 5 EUR? So I had to build my week menu around these vegetables… and got my inspiration in some great cookbooks.

I also would like to mention Véronique and Tom, dear friends of my girlfriend an me. They invited us for a dinner party on Saturday night. Véronique made us a pasta with pine nuts, fresh tomatoes, rucola, basil, Italian ham and some gooooood olive oil!

But the ‘moment supreme’ was definitely the dessert!! This was based on a Princess Misia Recipe (one of my favorite food/recipe bloggers, check her website and you’ll know why!!). Veronique made the Speculoos Cheesecake In A Jar and they were really really good if you ask me. See pic below for the result:

And as if that was not enough, they introduced me to the wonderful world of Fattoria La Vialla. But I’ll be coming back on this Factoria in another blogpost. One thing is for sure, the things they sell are mighty good!! (word going to Italy and visiting them).

Now it is time to get back to my original topic, cooking with cookbooks. Yesterday night I cooked the “Terrine of red pepper and spinach” from the book “My Italian diet” of Gino D’Acampo. This recipe was surprisingly easy 🙂 .

The only difference between what I made and the original recipe, is that I added some basil and used fresh spinach. If this recipe is too vegetarian for you, just add some ham. (that would work to my opinion.

You just simmer some spinach in olive oil for about 10 minutes and let it leak until almost all water is gone. Peel (best in the oven or over the stove, because this also ‘cooks’ the paprika a little bit) and cut the paprika, add some chili flakes. Once the spinach has almost no more water in it, you put it in a bowl, with fresh cheese, 3 eggs, fresh grated parmesan cheese and some salt and pepper. Mix it all. Take a terrine form or if you don’t have this, you can just take the form you use to make a cake (rectangular). Put half of the spinach mix on the bottom of the form, on top of this you put the paprika and finish with the remaining spinach mix. Put for 30 minutes in a pre-heated hot air oven on 160°C (320°F) and voila 🙂

I was pretty happy with my result, hopefully Mr. D’Acampo would agree? 🙂

The Gino d’Acampo cookbook is nice if you want to be on a ‘diet’ but still want to enjoy the Italian taste (and feel less on a diet). I also cooked the Frittata di spaghetti con rucola (a few months ago). Although choosing a recipe out of this book is not easy as they all look good.

Tomorrow it is Piet Huysentruyt time!

Cooking with Cookbooks

October 21, 2011October 21, 2011 / dolcevitaspinelli / 1 Comment

I really have so many cookbooks and honestly I barely use them (or most of them). So since last week I decided that every week, I at least have to make 1 recipe from a cookbook (every week a different one).

This week I actually did 2 🙂 . This week I made the Vol-au-vent the Peter Goossens Way (Hof van Cleve ***) from his book “Meesterlijke Klassiekers” in English this would be “Masterly classics”. I must say that in this book they really explain everything really well! The only thing that I changed was that instead of using chicken, I used pheasant (also for the stock) as I still had some left in my freezer from last Christmas. I also left out the calf thymus (kalfszwezerik).

You can find the recipe on the following link or buy the book 🙂 and cook like a 3 Michelin Star chef

This was MY result 🙂 . Probably not as good as the one from Mr. Goossens, but it sure tasted really well!

The other dish, was one from Jeroen Meus out out of his “Dagelijkse kost” cookbook. When you see him cooking it is like your best friend explaining something… I really should get to Leuven one day to eat at his restaurant “Luzine“, but finding an open spot is the tricky part 🙂 Anyhow, I choose the Meatloaf with onionsauce, boiled potatoes and lettuce. Man man, really fantastic, if you don’t like unions, I think this dish might even make you change your mind! And on top of that very easy to make!! Basically mix minced meat with some herbs (fresh rosemary, thyme and parsley finely chopped), eggs , breadcrumbs, pepper and salt. Bake it for a second in butter on each side. Put it in a pre-heated oven from around 170°C (338°F) for about 30-40minutes (with enough fresh, real butter). When you take the meat out of the oven, take the meat out of the pan. Use the pan from the meat to bake the sliced onions, add (if needed some butter) Thyme, red wine, a bay leaf, salt and pepper. Let the red wine reduce its volume and voila 🙂 For more details I would advise to buy the book 🙂 or look on the following link

The result (you are lucky I took a quick picture, because the meatloaf has a short existence). As Jeroen would say “Nen Topper”

Not sure yet which cookbooks I’ll be choosing next week. But I’ll keep you posted.

Heavenly Italian ice cream

October 19, 2011 / dolcevitaspinelli / Leave a comment

I know it is really not the weather for it anymore, but a few weeks (when the weather was still great) I had a taste of the Gelato Factory Ice cream. Mmmmmmm, that’s the only thing I can say! I don’t know if it is the best ice cream in Antwerp, but it is really good(of that I’m sure). Gelato factory is actually the ice cream shop from Herman Tackaert, a former lawyer who decided to have a big career change J . So Herman went to Italy (where else) to learn how to make the best hand crafted ice cream. After having learned he opened a little ice-salon in the Trendy Antwerp “Zuid” district. So if you are ever in the neighborhood, stop by and try this freshly made Italian ice-cream. The only problem I have with this shop is that it is on my way to my mom’s home, and I always feel the urge to eating ice-cream L

B.T.W. I took a cone with a scoop of ‘chocolate’ ice cream and ‘nocciola’ (my favorite) (hazelnut ice). Ok ok and I also had part of my girlfriend’s ice cream as her ice were bigger then he stomach. She had red berries ice cream or ‘Frutti di bosco’. And FYI on their facebook page you can find some of their yummy creations!

Ah well, I’ll survive 😉

Gelato Factory:

Website: http://www.gelatofactory.be

Address:

Verschansingstraat 57
2000 Antwerp, Belgium

Phone n°: 0473 81 53 33

My Jong Keukengeweld experience

October 18, 2011October 19, 2011 / dolcevitaspinelli / Leave a comment

I hope most of you have seen and tried the special “Jong Keukengeweld “event? This was an initiative from ‘Vlaanderen Lekkerland’ that selected 48 young chefs, both new upcoming (as Stephanie Wouters, Michel Timmermans, etc…) as set talent like 2 Michelin start chef Gert De Mangeleer (Hertog Jan), were young people between age of 18 and 30 could eat a 3 course menu for 45 euro’s including wine and water. So Basically By and For young people, something that I really encourage!! So obviously I also wanted to go to one of these restaurants as I’m still not 30 years old (lucky me). The choice wasn’t easy, because they ALL looked great and inviting, but out of the 48, I made a list 6 from which I made my choice… The restaurant I picked was Pand 19 . Located in the heart of the Flemish Ardennes in a place well known by all you cyclists out there Geraardsbergen (from Wall of Geraardsbergen).

Anyhow, back to the food. What I didn’t know before I went to this restaurant, is that chef Ann De Roy is actually the sister of Kris De Roy chef of ‘Hofke van Bazel’ (a very renowned restaurant near Antwerp).

I have to admit that the location of the restaurant was really superb, with a view over the hills and valleys of Geraardsbergen . I really like that a lot, it calms me 🙂 (ZEN)

It was a beautiful day, but too bad it was too cold that night to sit outside 😦

When we entered the restaurant, I really fell in love with the interior, it was really nice, this was actually a color we wanted to use in our home.

One thing I must really say, Pieter, Ann’s husband really looks a lot like our former prime minister Guy Verhofstadt ! I wanted to take a picture, but that would have been awkward 🙂 , nevertheless the whole staff was friendly, it was pretty busy, so they couldn’t give us their full attention (but that’s very understandable). My start was already wonderful, we started with a nice glass of Champagne.

And man I really had the best view ever, basically the best of two worlds. At my front left and right I had the kitchen (so I could see everything) and right in front of me my beloved girlfriend.

But ofcourse I didn’t come to this restaurant to see, but to eat 🙂

The ‘Jong Keukengeweld’ menu was first some Tuna Tartare with fine vegetables and pickles (a yellow mayonnaise-based sauce with turmeric, mustard and crunchy vegetable chunks) mayonnaise . Served with a German Silvaner Trocken Weingut Sander wine. Our main course was Wilde duck with chicory, madras curry and appel/potatoe puffs, this dish got accompanied by an Italian wine from the Piemonte region (as if they knew) “La Luna del Rospo, Silente (Barbera doc). The dessert they gave us were pancakes (thin ones, not the American kind) with cinnamon, apples and calvados icecream. Overall a very nice dinner, only the dessert didn’t really convince me(but that’s a matter of taste)