[Guest Post] Addis Ababa - Ethiopian Dining in Amsterdam

Hi everyone, this is Peter again! After reading Fon's awesome guest post, I got inspired to write a new post of one of the restaurants I visited recently in Amsterdam. 

This time I went with a few friends to an Ethiopian restaurant in Amsterdam. None of us had ever tried Ethiopian food before, so everyone was excited. 

The name of the restaurant is  called "Addis Ababa", which is named after the capital of Ethiopia. My knowledge of this country is very limited, so I was eager to learn something more about the food culture. 

 (Source: Google Street View)

The restaurant is quite small and doesn't look very appealing from the outside.  It is located outside of the tourist area, so most of its visitors were local people from Amsterdam. The staff came from Africa, and they didn't speak Dutch very well.

We ordered a 'Addis Ababa Speciaal (ምርጥ)', which is a gigantic fluffy pancake, with  beef, lamb, chicken egg, vegetables, lentils, spicy pea flour sauce, spinach with cottage cheese and salad on top of it. The dish was so huge, that it barely fitted on our table. All ingredients looked very colorful and exotic and it was more than enough for four persons.

The big pancake was served with a basket of separate pancakes. The idea is to tear a piece of the individual pancake and then to scoop some of the sauce and meat on the pancake. I bet that Ethiopian people are really handy in doing this but we sucked at it, so we ordered plates and cutlery.

The funny thing about eating Ethiopian food is to observe how everyone is digging through the pancake. You can exactly tell who eats quickly and who eats slowly. It is really about social dining, which makes it much more fun compared to standard Western dining. It reminded me a bit of the dinners I had in Asia (and in Vancouver :p), where most of the meals are shared too.

However, one of the downsides was that the food became quite cold soon, probably because we were sitting outside. Also, the flavor of the pancakes was a bit plain in my opinion. All in all, it was a interesting dining experience and it was really cheap! (20 Euros per person ($27 CAD), including drinks).

Based on these reasons:

• Unique and exotic Ethiopian dining experience in Amsterdam.
• Social dining is fun.
• Service was okay, but it could have been better.

Service rating: 3/5

Food rating: 3.5/5

Price: $$

Overall: 3.5/5.0

Happy Adventurous Eating! Eet smakelijk!

Peter

courtesy of http://www.funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/3161581/Ethiopian+food

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[Guest Post] The Diamond - Mingle. Drink. Drink More.

Hi everyone, I'm officially hijacking Kirby's blog for a quick guest post! Those of you that follow her posts regularly (and if you aren't, why not!) might know me as "FW", but that is neither fun nor easy to remember, so I will introduce myself here as Fon.

Amongst the many things Kirby and I have in common (our birthday being one of them), is an affinity for good food and novel restaurants. Needless to say, I've promised her many guest blogs that never quite materialized until this one, so hope you enjoy it!

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A couple of nights ago, following a long discussion of where to go for dinner, I found myself in Gastown with the idea that the area is a pretty fail-safe bet for reliable food and creative drinks. We headed toward The Diamond as we had heard good things about their cocktail menu.

The entrance to The Diamond is easy to miss if you aren't looking - we walked right past and didn't find it until we looped around the block. Beyond the big green doors lies a dark set of stairs that opens out into a brightly lit dining room with lots of windows and a view of Water Street below.

Colin's Lawn: Sake, Lillet, Lemon, Mint, Ginger, Sparkling Wine

The Diamond boasts an ample list of creative cocktails and ordering drinks was a no-brainer as it was one of the main reasons we had come here. I ordered a Colin's Lawn upon the recommendation of the waitress for a light refreshing drink, and it was exactly what I had in mind! I love mint, sake, and sparkling wine, and this went down very easy - I could easily have downed a couple of these. 

New Toronto: Bourbon, Italian Vermouth, Fernet Branca, Honey, Lemon Twist

My companion for the night ordered the New Toronto. It came in a very small glass the size of a tennis ball, but did not skimp on the liquor as it packed quite a punch. Not bad if you like your drinks strong.

Yucca fries with Chipotle aioli

Food at The Diamond comes in the form of tapas to share. We ordered three between the two of us and could easily have had more. The first item we tried was the yuca fries. Yuca is also known as cassava, and is a starchy tuber that is actually used to make tapioca! The taste and texture was very subtle, and yet undeniably different from potato. I really enjoyed these - worth a try if you've never had it before (they are only $4.50, after all).

4 Cheese dip, White bean and artichoke hearts

The four cheese dip was warm and creamy, satisfying my love of warm and gooey foods. This was very hearty, filled with beans and giant chunks of artichoke hearts. The tortilla chips were pretty standard and we ran out long before the dip was gone, but that didn't stop us from polishing off the rest with our forks.

Soft tacos with Ancho spiced chicken

The soft shelled tacos came in a minimum order of two, and we went with the Ancho spiced chicken as our filling. The chicken was tender and adequately spiced - no complaints here.

The Diamond embodies the Gastown vibe and was exactly what you would expect from an establishment in the area. Drinks are priced in the range of $10-12, and here is their tapas menu for you to view. I would definitely recommend it as a fun place for drinks and a small bite, but if you are looking for a full meal, there are plenty of other options nearby.

One last note - rumour has it that a secret room lies behind the brick walls at The Diamond. If you've been lucky enough to see it, I'd love to hear about its mysteries - perhaps the dining experience hidden there is the true diamond in the rough!

Service Rating: 4.5/5
Food Rating: 3.5/5
Price: $$$ ($20-30)

Overall Rating: 3.5/5

Happy Eating!


courtesy of http://chronicle.com/blognetwork/tenuredradical/2011/09/drinking-again-forget-the-sats-how-many-days-was-your-kid-drunk-last-week/

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*Ding Dong*. Sir, This is a Food Package From Kirby!

This is Peter from the Netherlands again! Last November I visited Kirby in Vancouver and as a gift I brought her a pack of 'stroopwafels'. A stroopwafel  is a thin waffle filled with caramel syrup and I really recommend everyone to try it when visiting the Netherlands.

Kirby and some of her friends liked it so much that one pack of stroopwafels wasn't enough! When I came back to the Netherlands, Kirby begged me to send her more stroopwafels and so I did. Sending a package to Canada isn't very cheap, but I was able to send her two kilograms worth of stroopwafels for a reasonable price.  After one week, the package arrived in Vancouver and she was able to enjoy the taste of stroopwafels again!

In return, Kirby  promised me to send a food package with all kinds of exotic food which I absolutely can't buy in the Netherlands.  I felt so excited and I couldn't wait for the package to arrive. It took several weeks, but it finally arrived in the Netherlands a few days ago! 

So.......... what do you get when Kirby sends you a food package? Well, let's have a look at the pictures! . *WARNING! The following pictures may cause severe drooling and supervision of parents is advised*

The picture above shows how I opened Kirbys package. She had managed to put so many food items in the box! She also put a card with a personal text in it, so kind of her! :-)

When I had unpacked all the items, I put them next to each other... 

Pocky chocolate sticks! Help me!!! there are so many Japanese words on it... 

These were the weirdest items in the package. It is called 'Dragon Beard Candy' and Kirby sent two flavors: Icy Crispy and Almond flavor. I tried the almond flavor and it was really delicious! It tasted a bit like cotton candy that you would get at a fun fair. I am curious how the Icy Crispy flavor will taste...

My first reaction when I saw this: What the heck? I tried seaweed in Korea before, but I had never seen seaweed potato chips. I can't wait to try this!

The picture above shows macaroni with seafood soup. I have been with Kirby and another friend to the Australia Dairy Company in Hong Kong where we ate macaroni and ham soup. To me it was one of the weirdest things I had ever tried, but it tasted REALLY good! I guess Kirby remembered, so she got me this.

Seaweed! <3 It is really impossible to get this in the Netherlands, although we have a lot of seaweed in the ocean!

This is another food item that makes me feel excited. A few months ago, I bought udon noodles in Amsterdam and I proudly showed it to Kirsty and I said: " Look how Asian I am!". She said: "That is not udon!".  I was a bit sad at that time but she was right: it wasn't proper udon.

The picture below shows Japanese Ramen! I have no idea how to prepare this..., I'll think I have to ask Kirby.

Last but not least: Shredded Squid!!! When I first saw this, my jaw dropped to the floor. It doesn't look appealing at all, but I am really fascinated by it!  I showed this picture to my family and they freaked out a bit :-).

That's it! I have only tried a few food items but I can't wait to try them all. I'll update this post when I have tried all the products. I would like to thank Kirby so much for the food package!

Happy adventurous eating! Eet smakelijk!

Peter

courtesy of factsanddetails.com

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Crêpe De Licious - Get Yourself An Overdose Of Nutella!

Hi there! It's Peter here, back for another guest post! A few weeks ago, I visited Kirby in Vancouver and she gave me an awesome tour through the beautiful city. Kirby also took me to many of her favorite restaurants and she let me try typical Canadian things, such as Poutine, Maple Syrup and Tim Hortons. I am very grateful to her, for showing me around and letting me try all the awesome food!

On one day I went to Richmond Center to do some shopping. After visiting the stores, I was really craving for a sweet snack. I had read Kirbys post about the new food court at Richmond center (the Dining Terrace), so I was really excited to see it by myself.  For me, food courts are an unusual thing, because there aren't any in the Netherlands (the country where I live), although I really wished that we had some.

When I arrived on the first floor by escalator, I didn't know where to look! There were so many food stalls that offered all kinds of dishes! The new food court looked very modern and bright and I really liked that. After a few minutes of staring and dealing with all the impressions, I went to Crêpe De Licious to get a sweet crêpe.  The picture below shows an impression of the food stand.

When I looked at the menu of Crêpe De Licious (picture below), I couldn't really decide what to order! You could choose between sweet or savoury crêpe and I noticed that some of the sweet crêpes contained Nutella, which I think is a bit weird thing to put in a crêpe but I really wanted to try it. 

I decided to order the Black and White Crêpe, which contained sliced bananas and Nutella (I am a huge fan of bananas :-) ). You could decide whether you want to have ice cream or whipped cream next to it. When I saw the section containing all the delicious ice cream flavors, I decided to go for the ice cream. Yet again I had to make a tough decision, because there were so many flavors. I ended up with just strawberry, although I wish I had taken something more exotic.

The picture below shows the final product of all my decisions! It looks very delicious, but the inside of the crêpe contained too much Nutella and it really dominated the taste. After a few bites, my plate was covered with molten Nutella and I really got bored of the taste. However, if you are really a fan of Nutella, then I would recommend this crêpe to you.  

In my opion, the crêpe was quite expensive. I bought the most expensive one (the Black and White) and I paid 8.95 CAD. The other sweet pancakes were between 6 and 8 CAD. Luckily, the exchange rate from the Canadian Dollar to the Euro is good, so I didn't feel bad ;-).

So if you are craving for a high-calorie snack/dessert, come to Crêpe De Licious! They advertise that their crêpes only contain 130 kcal and 3.5 grams of fat, but the filling and the ice cream causes this number to be much higher!

Happy Eating / Eet smakelijk!

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Vancouver’s Top 5 Restaurants on The Water

[Kirby: Hi everyone! I want to share with you guys another guest post today. This post is written by a talented entrepreneur (and foodie!) by the name of Thomas Jones and he will be writing about the top 5 restaurants in Vancouver with the best view of our scenic coastline. These are great ideas for your next Valentines or Anniversary date with your muffin/sweetie/cupcake. After all, what's better than dining next to the water in the 'most beautiful place on Earth'!]

It is not a secret that water in many forms has a calming, stress-reducing, and relaxing effect on the human body and mind. For this reason health advocates inspire the drinking of water, consumers purchase replicas of waterfalls, millions of tourists flock to the beaches each year, and customers are drawn to restaurants that not just tempt their palate with their menu selections, but also provide a psychological spa, by offering dining in view of the water.

 In this day and age of hustle and bustle, taking the time to unwind and eat a meal in a relaxing water themed restaurant is more than just a meal. For many patrons enjoying their meal while enjoying the view of the water is a mini-vacation for the mind. Vancouver, with its remarkable landscape and shores, is a paradise for the weary and hungry resident and tourist alike.  Ranked by business magazines as one of the most liveable cities worldwide, Vancouver is home to a number of restaurants that offer customers an amazing meal alongside an amazing view of the water. Vancouver's water-themed restaurants are great places to escape the stress of everyday life while enjoying a meal alone or with company. 

photo courtesy of modernmixvancouver

The Raincity Grill

This is a restaurant in Vancouver that offers the greatest views of boats sailing into the city on the English Bay, along with a "farm to table" philosophy. It features a majority of organic ingredients used to create the masterpieces on its menu and a wine list that showcases local wines. One of the favorite dishes on the menu is their roasted sapo bravo pepper linguini, served with local arugula, watercress, and basil.

courtesy of vanfoodies

The Teahouse Restaurant

Formally known as the Sequoia Grill, The Teahouse Restaurant offers a stunning view of Ferguson Point, along with an atmosphere of fine dining. While out on the patio patrons can admire the view that this restaurant claims is "the longest sunset in the city," and enjoy a selection like Wild Mushroom Ravioli off of their diverse menu.

courtesy of guntermarx

Bridges Restaurant, Bistro & Bar

Patrons will find themselves not only enjoying a view of False Creek, (where fishing trawlers can still be seen coming in with buckets and baskets of fresh catch from the sea), but also the local seafood menu. Their menu includes items like their famous local mussels roasted in garlic herb butter and advertises daily beer specials.

courtesy of tripadvisor

Lift Bar and Grill

Located on Coal Harbour, Lift Bar and Grill features fire pits for group dining and was named Best Patio, Best New View, and Best Restaurant just one year after it opened. One of their specialties includes beef tenderloin with lobster gnocchi and pico de gallo.

courtesy of panoramio

The Observatory

Located on Grouse Mountain, this restaurant features a staggering view of the mountains, the ocean, and of the city of Vancouver. Patrons can satisfy their appetites with one of their fine menu selections such as Braised Beef Shortribs, squash gnocchi, and Brussel sprouts.

For those diners that want to actually "escape" out to the water, Vancouver's best kept secrets are the Harbour Cruises. Patrons can enjoy the view of land while eating their meals out on the water. The cruises offer floating restaurants and bars and the experiences usually last around 2 1/2 hours. Servers provide guests with information on the areas and the calm inlet water provides smooth sailing.

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About the guest blogger:  Thomas Jones is as much of a home renovator as he is a big eater.  Having spent most of his life in the DIY game, he now satiates his love of water with Falcon Pools.

Happy Eating! 

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[Guest Post] Seoul Garden (Netherlands): Little Bit of Korea in the Netherlands!

[Kirby: Hey guys! I have something very exciting to share with you! This is the first guest post featured on Eating With Kirby and it is written by my lovely friend, Peter. He is from the Netherlands and he has decided to share some of his food adventures with us all the way from Holland! Thanks for reading! :D]

After reading all the awesome posts that have been written by Kirby, I got inspired to write a post myself.  I have always been wanting to start my own blog, but I was too lazy to write posts on a regular basis. I asked Kirby whether I could write a post as a guest blogger and she got excited! First, let me introduce myself: my name is Peter and I am from the Netherlands. I met Kirby during the ISC program in Korea, and since then we kept in touch with each other and exchanged many pictures of our different 'food cultures'!

Before I went to Korea, I only ate western food like bread, pasta and potato-made dishes.  However, during my stay in Korea, I really learned to appreciate the Asian cuisine. Kirby encouraged me to try all kinds of (exotic) Asian food and a whole new world opened to me! One of her most amazing posts was on eating live octopus in Seoul and after reading that post I wanted to try the octopus myself! Sadly, all restaurants in Seoul were sold out at that time and I couldn't get my live octopus! However,  next time when visiting Korea, I will definitely try the live octopus!

'Seoul Garden'

Since I came back to the Netherlands, I have been struggling a bit to find proper Asian food. I tried to make noodles and rice myself, but I failed horribly. There are quite some good Chinese-Indonesian restaurants located in the Netherlands, but last week I was really craving for some authentic Korean food! After a long search I found an authentic Korean restaurant called 'Seoul Garden' in The Hague, the city where my sister lives and where our government is located.

The restaurant was difficult to find, because it was located in a small alley.  When my sister and I entered the restaurant, we noticed the strong smell of Kimchi and Korean bbq.  At that moment I got flashbacks to my stay in Korea and I felt like I was standing in Seoul again! Wow, such an amazing experience without showing your passport and paying an expensive air ticket!

The restaurant was very small and cosy and had a few Asian decorations. The  Korean owner greeted us and allocated us a table near the window. The restaurant was filled with Koreans, most of them probably working for the Korean embassy. The pictures below give an impression of the restaurant.
The menu of Seoul Garden consists of a wide variety of Korean dishes, such as Bulgogi , Bibimbap, Kimchi chigge and many more. My sister and I decided to go for the 'Samgyeopsal ', which is the Korean barbecue consisting of  pork. My sister had never tried this before and I was really curious whether she would like it.

As a starter we got a Korean pancake and a soup containing tofu. The pancake was really delicious and tasted a bit like traditional Dutch pancakes. The tofu soup was ok, but nothing special.
After the starter, the waitress brought us the 'pan chan' (side dishes). We got some Kimchi and lettuce and a bowl of rice. The Kimchi was really fresh and spicy and luckily  they didn't create a mild version for the Westerners.

I noticed that there wasn't a grill built into the table, so I was wondering how we would be able to barbecue.  After ordering, the waitress brought us a portable bbq (which is actually not typical Korean). Several other tables were having bbq too but none of these bbq's had a fan above the table. After a while there was a layer of fog in the restaurant and when we left the restaurant our clothes smelled badly. The pictures below show the samgyeopsal and the various side dishes at our table. The quality of the pictures is not that good, because it was quite dark in the restaurant.

The trick with eating samgyeopsal is to take a lettuce leaf and put some meat on top of it. Then, you add some side dishes on it and then you wrap it together! It tasted so delicious and sharing your food with others really enhances the social interaction at the table!  My sister also enjoyed the samgyeopsal and she really wants to return.

The staff were native Koreans, and  they were friendly and helpful. They offered us a fork and knife, because most Dutch people cannot handle chopsticks very well. The staff didn't speak much Dutch, but this wasn't a big problem, because they could speak English. I even managed to say a few words in Korean to the waitress!

Verdict

The price for having samgyeopsal at Seoul Garden is €14 (~18 CAD) per person, which is relatively cheap to Dutch standards. The portions were quite big and we could also get a scoop of ice cream as dessert, but we were both too full to order that. The overall service was quite good and there was a cosy atmosphere. However, the restaurant should install some fans above the tables, because our clothes smelled badly afterwards. It was very exciting to experience Korea again and I will definitely go back!

Price category: €€

Happy Eating! 



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