Good Eating – Page 2 – Snapping The Globe

Noord Nourishment

When in Amsterdam, everyone seems to gravitate towards Thai food…maybe because there is a Thai restaurant near our hotel, but also because there are a lot of Thai options in Amsterdam. Occasionally, I like to indulge my Thai taste buds, but more often than not, I like to try other things.

Remembering the first time I went to the Eetcafe Mosveld (not to be confused with Eetcafe Number One, also in this area), I was officially hooked. Chicken schnitzel is what they are known for and with extremely good reason. It is truly divine and probably the best that I have had outside of Germany. The accompanying sauces are outstanding and the home-churned seasoned butter placed on the table with the freshly baked bread has caused me to break my diet more than once. Other dishes are offered as well, as nightly specials, such as fresh grilled fish and occasionally stuffed potatoes as an option other than French fries.

And then, there is the fabulous service! The owner is aware that many crew members frequent his establishment and we are treated very well, though I have always seen his hospitality extended towards all patrons. At the end of our meal, we are always treated to an after-dinner drink. The thing that has most made an impact on me, though, is that I have only eaten here about six or seven times over the last three or four years, but the owner remembers what I like and what sauce I usually order.

Another thing that we adore about this place, is that as a group, sometimes it becomes a little difficult trying to remember “who had what” and trying to split the bill, especially after a few beers are involved. No heavy duty math skills are involved, as we each go up to the bar and the owner charges us individually for what we owe. Come prepared with cash, however, no credit cards are accepted.

Last year, when my family spent spring break in Amsterdam, with all of the options available to us in the city center, we made the trek across the river, to Amsterdam Noord, just to eat here at my recommendation. Yes, I heard many gripes about why we had to go so far when there were so many other places to dine, but after our meal was complete, not one complaint was heard from my picky eaters. In fact, my family still talks about this restaurant today and the owner still asks about my family! Now, that’s the kind of place I like to give my business to!

Night view…you’ll know it by the twinkling lights on the ceiling inside!

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Eetcafe Mosveld

Mosveld 47, 1031 AC Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hours: 10:00-01:00 Sat, 15:00-1200 Sun, 10:00-1200 Wed, 03:00-12:00 Thu, 11:00-0100 Fri, Closed Monday and Tuesday
Phone: +31 20 632 7348

Awesome Akbar’s

Years ago, traveling to Manchester, England was a pretty regular occurrence. It wasn’t until much later, after we temporarily discontinued service, that I found out Manchester was known for some pretty fabulous Indian food and I had missed the boat.

My return to Manchester was much anticipated, especially having an extra day there to do some sightseeing. However, as much as I love my picture-taking and sightseeing, the thing I was looking forward to was getting to sample the Indian cuisine.

After braving the windy, rainy afternoon, I returned to the hotel to mourn the loss of my umbrella, dry off, freshen up and meet my crew for dinner.

Shortly after our arranged meeting, a brief discussion ensued as to which Indian restaurant we were going to dine. A place called Akbar’s won the debate!

Located a few blocks away, we arrived to an extremely crowded bar area overshadowed by a large Buddha statue.

The wait was going to be about an hour, but, hey, did I mention there was a bar? After spending time in London and experiencing the agony of parting with too many pound notes just to quench your thirst, the best part about this bar was that drinks were quite cheap! Bottles of Indian beer and healthy pours of wine were only 3 pounds.

Patrons continued to stream into the place, striving to find any niche, cubbyhole or square foot of floor space to wedge themselves into while waiting for their table. Soon, our table for eight was ready and we were ushered into the crowded and noisy dining room and seated at a long rectangular table. Our waiter soon appeared and recorded our orders, one by one.

One of my favorite entrees has always been Chicken Tikka Masala, however, lately, my taste has turned to Butter Chicken. Not seeing it on the menu, I inquired as to whether or not I was missing it. My waiter said, “no”, however, he would ask the chef to prepare it especially for me. The same thing happened when we asked for Cheese Naan. Needless to say, I was very impressed!

No long after our orders were taken, our waiter brought our naan to the table…one garlic and and one cheese. The restaurant has these metal “trees” that the huge naan hangs from. And it was huge! We all began tearing the delicious naan apart and soon after, our entrees were delivered.

My Butter Chicken…oh, what can I say? Mmmmm! I have never had Butter Chicken or any Indian food, for that matter, that tasted so delicious! I am not sure that I uttered any words, besides, “you all have to try this” because I was so busy stuffing my face. I did try some of my fellow diner’s dishes; Seafood Balti, Chicken Tikka Masala and the Chicken Tikka Makhani, the latter of which I have to say was a close second to my Butter Chicken. It was very apparent why this was an award winning restaurant.

Soon, our dining experience was complete, but I made sure to leave with a copy of their menu and the knowledge that I have truly tasted some of the best Indian food in the city (actually many cities)…and if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your hotel room…they deliver!

Akbar’s

http://akbars.co.uk
73-83 Liverpool Road, Manchester, M3 4NQ
Phone: 0161 834 8444
Asian Curry Award 2015, English Curry Award 2014
Best of Manchester and Restaurant of the Year
Other locations: Bradford, Leeds, Eastgate, York, Sheffield, Bradford Cafe de Akbar, Middlesbrough, Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow

The Old Bear

After a lackluster dinner, we were in search of gelato for dessert. While ambling along a cobble stoned alley towards our hotel, we spied the most quaint little restaurant I think I have ever seen. With vines covering the outside and a rustic, old-world feel, it was warm and beckoning. There were many tables on the street and within the large floor to ceiling open-shuttered doorways as well as many inside. Dark wood beams and floors with old wood tables further enhanced the cozy feeling inside. We all grabbed business cards and made a promise to come back at another time. Fortunately, my time was going to be a couple days later…I had another jaunt to Rome after this one and was determined to give this little gem a try.

On my next trip, after a fun bike ride along the Tiber, my friend and I began to contemplate our dinner plans. Digging the card out of my bag and presenting it to her, I inquired if she had ever been there. She had not and was game for anything, so off we went.

When we arrived, we were in luck…there were a few tables open, one being one of the ones that sat in the open doorways giving the feeling that you were on a balcony. As we sat higher than the street level tables, it gave us a remarkable view of the pedestrian traffic and the old buildings nearby.

The menu is not extensive but has enough choices to keep everyone happy. There are many pasta dishes as well as other fare and a complimentary bread basket with olive oil and delicious whipped butter. On this visit, we decided to split a tomato and mozzarella salad followed by gnocchi for me and truffle lasagna for my friend. Both of us were very pleased with our selections and left full and happy and with only a small dent in our wallets. With its proximity to Piazza Navona, we would have expected higher prices, but entrees averaged 10-12 euro. Additionally, the staff spoke fluent English which helped when ordering and trying to split and pay the bill.

After our visit, I told many people about the restaurant and found that many of my coworkers already knew about it, had been there and shared my enthusiasm for the place. Crew members can be quite particular about their food, so having someone else validate our experience was a plus!

Four months had gone by since that first visit and I again had a trip to Rome on my schedule. The first thought that popped into my head when I knew about this trip was that I was going to be able to dine at The Old Bear again. I couldn’t wait to try something different from the menu!

After some touring in the city, we had planned to meet a couple of our other crew members for dinner. They were given the address and had agreed to meet us there at 7:00 pm. There were five of us and it wasn’t very busy, so we were given the entire room, on the left, to ourselves.

Because it was winter, there were no tables on the street or in the doorways looking out to the street. Everything was shuttered up, but inside, the low level lighting and cozy wood made us feel warm and welcomed.

Our dining experience started with wine, beer and of course, bread, olive oil and whipped butter. A Mediterranean salad and grilled artichoke were next and plenty enough to split among the five of us. After hearing from a friend that the pumpkin lasagna was “to die for”, this was my dinner order.

Everyone was extremely happy with their dinner choices…gnocchi, truffle lasagna, fettuccine…but I have to say that not only was I happy…I was elated! This was one of the best meals I have ever had in all of Italy! It was hot, perfectly prepared and so delicious! Eccellente!

At the close of our meal, everyone was accommodated by the staff in splitting the bill in an easy, friendly manner and after hearing that we had an extra day in Rome, they were eager to give us many suggestions for sightseeing in the area. With the many tourist traps that exist in this city, it is so refreshing to find such an amazing establishment near a touristy area that offers phenomenal service and outstanding Italian food.

The Old Bear

Via dei Gigli d’Oro, 2-3-4, 00186 Roma
Hours: 1700-0100 Monday-Saturday
Tel. 06 682.100.09
http://www.oldbear.it/siamo_oldbear.html

Let Me Tell You About Tel Aviv

One of the biggest surprises in my life was visiting Tel Aviv.

Knowing virtually nothing about the country of Israel at the time, I swapped onto a Tel Aviv trip thinking that it was another, Istanbul, since the rotation numbers were very similar. My husband, under the impression that it was unsafe to travel there, had previously warned me about bidding or swapping onto the trip, so, when I realized my mistake, I flew into a panic.

Secretly, I really wanted to go there, but I was in turmoil as to how I should I handle it? Should I lie to my husband and tell him I was traveling elsewhere? Should I honor his wishes and re-swap the trip for another? Should I tell him about it?

Finally, I decided to come clean. Admitting my mistake, I expressed my wish to keep the trip. I certainly did not want something to happen to me and have him find out I was there in that fashion.

Years after flying that trip and visiting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for the first time, I still think about that experience; how I almost gave up one of the most amazing experiences for the unfounded wishes of another.

Today, I still enjoy visiting Tel Aviv as much as those first few times. Back then, it was still so new and exciting to tell people that I was visiting a place that few people I knew would ever go. Now, I enjoy visiting because it’s so familiar; my favorite restaurants, bars, nightclubs, markets, tours, beaches.

My husband still gives me a hard time.

This past weekend, I went to Tel Aviv for the first time in two years. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to visit…recently, when I had been awarded the trip, I needed time off or had something else that needed taking care of. It’s also a hard trip to work…long flight hours, two all-nighter flights and a sometimes demanding clientele.

We arrive late in the afternoon, and after working more than 11 hours, we are quite exhausted. The trick to this late arrival is to keep on going. So, after a quick shower and change, we meet up for happy hour and a nice dinner…and sometimes dancing! Yes, the nightlife here is amazing with some outstanding bars and clubs.

Having a strong desire to see what the country of Israel has to offer, I usually book a tour for the next day, even knowing how tired I will be after touring all day and then having to work a 12 hour flight home. I have visited the cities of Caesarea, Acre, Megiddo, Haifa, Galilee, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Masada and swam in the Dead Sea…sometimes on more than one occasion. Visiting the many historical and biblical sights, one realizes why so many Christians make the pilgrimage to this country.

One city, that I had never had the opportunity to visit, was Bethlehem. A tour of the birthplace of Jesus had been on my agenda for this layover, but realizing that there were many things that needed accomplishing, I decided that postponing the tour until another time would be best.

Catching up on my sleep, I got a somewhat late start to my day. After finally opening my balcony window and seeing the oceanfront view and the beautiful sunny weather awaiting me, however, I quickly got a move on.

Wandering over to my favorite falafel place, Yashka Shawarma and Grill, I found that they had done a bit of remodeling, but the falafel pita was still as good as I remembered. I also love the wide array of salads available with your food! Cabbage and beets? Never was a fan until I came to Israel!

Walking down, Dizengoff Street, I discovered a unique and colorful fountain, which I had never seen before. I stopped to appreciate the dancing water and accompanying music for a few minutes. Located on a pedestrian bridge, many people seem to congregate here to enjoy the view.

My next stop was the Dizengoff Shopping Center to purchase a bracelet charm. Having to wait in line at the mall entrance and then have your bags searched, really makes one appreciate the freedom that we enjoy in our own countries. Knowing that this is for everyone’s safety, the locals seem to take it all in stride and patiently wait their turn.

Making my way down King George street, I soon found myself at my final destination; the Carmel market.

The Carmel market is an amazing assault on your senses and pocketbook. There are clothes, purses and jewelry to buy on one end and tons of fresh vegetables, desserts, juices, fresh fish and other food items on the other. You can get a suitcase or skincare products…you name it…it’s there. After saying hello to my friend, Leon, who sells Dead Sea skin products, I set about finding the olive oil that I had come searching for. Three bottles later, my purse was so heavy, I decided that a detour to the hotel would be in order.

Not quite ready to call it a day, I dropped my purchases in my room and headed out toward the beach area. My favorite bike rental place, Pinky’s, closed a few years ago, so for the first time, I used the Tel-O-Fun bike rental kiosk, closest to my hotel, to rent one of the bikes available throughout the area. The bikes are rented thru a credit card swipe and rates vary according to time used.

Riding down the promenade toward Jaffa, the walkway was crowded with both Israelis and tourists, enjoying the 70 degree weather, clear skies and ocean view. Soon arriving in the old port city, I stopped to admire the sweeping view of the city of Tel Aviv and the occasional fisherman hoping to secure dinner.

Having visited Jaffa many times, I decided to ride along the waterfront to the port located at the rear of the city, stopping occasionally for the many pictures that present themselves along the way. The numerous restaurants, here on the waterfront, were bustling with patrons enjoying fresh seafood and Mediterranean fare and the art galleries were teeming with customers.

After retracing my steps, I walked my bicycle to the main street. Here you will find the Jaffa flea market, home to a treasure trove of antiques and handmade and secondhand items. Take the time to explore the many alleyways, covered walkways and outdoor verandas that have been operating for more than 100 years. There are many souvenir shops and clothing stores to satisfy the most discerning shopper and many restaurants to satisfy any foodie’s cravings.

Here on the main street, one can also gaze upon the clock tower that greets visitors at the entrance to Jaffa. The clock tower is one of seven built in Palestine during the Ottoman period. The others are located in Safed, Acre, Nazaret, Haifa, Nabius (West Bank) and Jerusalem, the last being the only that has not survived. The tower stands in the middle of Yefet street at the northern entrance to Jaffa. Made of limestone, it incorporates two clocks and a plaque commemorating the Israelis killed in the battle for the town in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Finally, as the afternoon was drawing to a close, I began to make my way back down the beach toward my hotel. Knowing that my time in Tel Aviv was ending, I stopped many times to watch the glowing sun as it dipped into the sea.

Later that evening, as we headed to the airport for the long return home, I realized how grateful I was that I, once again, have had the opportunity to return to this intriguing country.
For more pictures of Tel Aviv and Jaffa, please check out my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, Snapping the Globe.

Yashka Shawarma and Grill
Dizengoff Street, 105 (corner of Frishman and Dizengoff)
Try the falafel pita

Carmel Market
Location: Extends the length of HaCarmel Street, from Magen David Square to the end of Carm lit, and across the nearby streets of the Keren Ha Teimanim neighborhood and Nahalan Binyamin pedestrian mall.
Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 8 am until sundown and Friday from 8 am until 2 pm.
Transportation: From the New Central Bus Station: Dan Bus lines 4 or 205. Public taxi minibuses 4 or 5 to Allenby Street. From Central Train Station: Dan Bus lines 18, 61 or 82. From University Train Station: Dan Bus lines 24 or 25.
Parking: Ahuzat HaHof Carmel-Kalisher Street, corner with HaCarmel Street. Pay lot with 313 spaces.
ATMs and public restrooms available.

Tel-O-Fun Bikes https://www.tel-o-fun.co.il/en/
Cost: Access Fee plus Hourly rental
Daily Access Fee 17 ILS
Daily Access Fee-Saturdays and Public Holidays 23 ILS
Weekly Access Fee 70 ILS
Annual Access Fee 280 ILS
Cumulative time from rental beginning:
Up to 30 minutes 0 ILS
Up to 60 minutes 6 ILS
Up to 90 minutes 12 ILS
Up to 150 minutes 32 ILS
Up to 210 minutes 72 ILS
Up to 270 mintes 153 ILS
Please note: Allow time to watch the video for instructions on returning the bike and allow time to find an alternate location for bike return. When arriving at my original location, I watched the video but did not realize that the rod that is to be inserted into the bike to lock it, was not working (wire tie prevents it from being inserted all the way in). I had already pressed the button to return the bike, so the bike could not be returned to a different stall or a different location. Thankfully, a gentleman and his wife came to my assistance, calling the Tel-O-Fun office for me. A code was given to unlock the bike, allowing the proper return procedures.

Jaffa Flea Market
Hours: Open 6 days a week, from Sunday through Friday, from morning through early evening hours.

Wandering…

Wandering is one of my favorite things to do while in many cities. Setting out with a map in my bag, is a necessity only if I am truly lost or just need a little guidance. I love going out with only a general plan in mind. Sometimes you never know what you will find!
Last week, I was in Zurich, Switzerland. Zurich is a very pristine and charming city and I love walking along the river in the Old Town area and along the northern shore of Lake Zurich. The last few times I have been to Zurich, it seems that I have only been there on Sundays. Most shops are closed and the streets are very quiet.
Taking the train into the city center, my goal was to find the free bike rental location. Years ago, I rented a bike from one of these free rental locations and rode along the river with a few of my coworkers. This time, I was alone and decided that I would use my bike to further my wandering.
Finding the bike rental location was a bit challenging and I thought that I would have to abandon my plans, but soon enough, I managed to stumble upon the area in which it was located.

https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/sport/zurich-on-wheels
Many years ago, Züri Rollt Free Bike Rental secured the rental with a driver’s license or identification card, meaning they kept it until you returned the bike. They have now changed the process. They still require an identification card or passport. Your information is recorded and you are given a copy of the form, however, you now keep your means identification. You are also required to pay a $20 Swiss Franc deposit. When returning the bicycle, you give back the copy of the form and your $20 Swiss Franc deposit is returned.
After the formalities, I was finally on my way. Since it was Sunday and there wasn’t much traffic, I found it quite easy to navigate the streets on my way to the lakefront.
With an admiring glance out towards the Alps, I decided to head to the right of the lake. There are many bike and pedestrian pathways along the lake.
After riding for a while, I saw the bike rider in front of me take a left turn. I looked down the alleyway in which she had turned and noticed lots of graffiti. Now, I am a sucker for good graffiti, so I had no choice but to check it out. There was an entryway of sorts and the walls were lined with amazing graffiti. I walked with my bike throughout the area and down along the lakefront. I had no idea what this area was until I asked a local Swiss woman who was walking through the area. She informed me that it was called Rote Fabrik.
Rote Fabrik, or Red Factory, is a former factory in Zurich, which is now used as a music venue and cultural center. It is so named because the buildings are made of red brick, but also because left-wing parties were part of the campaign to turn the location into a cultural center.

After snapping many photos, I decided to head back to the city, return the bike and wander on foot.
Venturing through Old Town, I passed the Grossmunster and the Church of Our Lady (Fraumunster). Neither were open, but they offer themselves up for many a beautiful photograph. Along the Fraumunster, I spent about 15 minutes photographing the carvings on the side walls.

Finally, all that cycling had worked up a mighty appetite. Now, if you’ve ever been to Zurich, then you will know how expensive it is. Meals can run, on average $35-40 US (no drinks included). The last time I was in Zurich, we found a cute little place called Thai Bamboo right near the river on a side street. Address: Schoffelgasse 3, Zurich, Switzerland. Previously, I had the Pad Thai, which was good. Compared to other Pad Thai I have had before, I can say that I have had better. This time, however, I decided to try the Red Curry. Oh my goodness! I have been to Thailand and I can tell you that this ranks up there with any Red Curry that I have ever had in that country. The best part was that my Red Curry and two beers came to a grand total of $25! That’s a steal for
Zurich! Now mind you, it’s not a five-star restaurant…you select your meal from a counter-style serving area. You grab your drink from the refrigerated cooler and you seat yourself. But, I will trade all that for a very good meal served at the right price.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/thai-bamboo-z%C3%BCrich-2

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