Lisbon, Portugal: A special night at Eleven

It's HT couple's first time to dine in a restaurant with Michelin star.  Thanks to our friend who shares the same passion for food and travel, did this reservation in a snap and we were brought into once in a lifetime experience.

All we can say is, it was worth the star.  Come and join us on our journey with Chef Joachim Koerper's creation.

we got extra pieces of the chocolate financier :)

I exchanged the supposed-to-be cream soup with a clear one as the name has "portuguese" with it but disappointing.

portugal = bacalhau (cod)

perfect!  my dish of the night

for palate cleansing

my 2nd best dish of the night

from lower right (clockwise) - youngest to oldest

more sweets to go with coffee or tea

We got a few plates outside the menu that was served in between.  The best things in life were for free that night.

starters...loved that hairy tempura prawns!

heavy, fruity, nutty cake that was served with the cheeses

the diners of chef Joachim left with fully but happy tummies.

Eleven

Av. Marquês da Fronteira Jardim Amália Rodrigues

1070 Lisboa Portugal

(at the top of Eduardo VII Park)

Tasting menu = 98.50 euros



Lisbon, Portugal: loving it!

HT couple loves to explore food whenever they're in a different country.  The way we prepare our itinerary is a few pages of things to see...and then pages which you can compile as a book on where to eat.

And we just love being tourists.  We go to places where all the tourists flock.  Some are tourist trap but some are worth to queue up for.

Join us in exploring Lisbon the HT couple way.

We arrived in the late afternoon.  We walked around to familiarize ourselves with the area and be like locals in the next days.

Avenue de Liberdade - their Champs-Élysées but cleaner.  Love the gothic prints on the street.

just like anywhere in Europe, the architecture of the buildings in Lisbon are lovely.  Check out the picture at the top right, you can have your shoes polished on the street.  It reminds me of Manila 20 years ago.

We stumbled in Elevador de Santa Justa.  If you think this is not worth the trip, think again...

the view from the top...Castelo de Sao Jorge can be seen from afar.

There are a few elevators around Lisbon that helps you as a tourist to go around...I think the locals are used to the hills so you don't see them in this type of transportation. Santa Justa connects you from lower Baixa to the other higher side.  And believe me, it's saving you a hike (as Lisboa, is very hilly)

As soon as we reach the other side, we went to this infamous cafe (for tourist) and got ourselves cups of bica (espresso) and hydrated our bodies with their pilsner.  We said hi to the statue of Fernando Pessoa, a Portuguese poet, who frequented this cafe when he was writing(wikipedia). 

 We continued walking up and down again..whew!

Until, it was time for dinner. Yehey!

the first stop was at Bonjardim (Santa Antao 11).  The place is known for its Frango de Assado (roasted chicken) with chili oil on the side.

The spiciness is not for the faint-hearted.  So watch out when you brush that oil onto your white meat.  The chicken was a bit salty...the hot sauce complemented well with it.

When it's our first dinner in a place for the first time,  we tend to order as much local items as we can.  Pasteis de Bacalhau is cod fish croquette.  It's fishy for HT hubbie but my friend, my travel and foodie partner and I loved it!  Each piece was packed with fish flakes and it was very tasty.  My friend wanted something hot while waiting for the chicken, so she decided to order Canja.  Surprise!  Aside from chicken meat and soup, numerous gizzard pieces (internal organ) were floating.

  We got an order each that's here on my plate for sharing.  Each order was pretty huge and is good for 2-3 persons. 

Esparregado - creamed spinach which has a very prominent eggy taste.  I didn't like it very much as the taste was a bit tiring.  Nevertheless, we ate it just like locals as this veggie dish is typically a good accompaniment to any meats including our frango.

Arroz ala Brasseira (rice) was the favorite of everyone, even though we all knew that all types of internal organ pieces were cooked together with this rice.  It was inexplicably delicious!  You can eat it alone as your main dish.

It was cheap, no frills restaurant in a small street.  All the dishes we ordered (the chicken was 1 1/2 pcs) including couverts(bread, cheese and, butter) and a bottle of wine - was only 36 euros.  We were happy campers when we strolled out of the restaurant.

*Couverts would be placed on your table in any restaurants in Lisbon and if you touch it, you pay for it, but if ignored, you don't see them on your bill.  (fair enough)

What was nice with this restaurant was that even if we touched the couverts, we were not charged for it since we didn't have salad and fries (which are part of our chicken dish). We got our big bottle of water and croquettes as well for free.  (DISCLAIMER: this might not be a norm, we might have just been lucky :D).

With heavy stomachs, up we go to our next stop.

Gloria Elevador  is the easiest way to send us to our next destination.

But we decided to be environmental friendly.

We were entertained with all the arts on the wall while hiking up.  My friend(middle)  and I taking a break before we continue our journey.

Ta-dah!  We were in heaven...of wines!

Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto - was our must-go place.  We were given a menu explaining different types of port, which was pretty interesting.  Tawny, a blend of wines from several harvest is my favorite.  You can get Colheita, Reserva, Ruby and it's up to you what you fancy most.  What i like about this place is that bottles that cost 40 euros or more are also in the menu which you can get in a glass between 5-6 euros.  Not bad if you wanted to taste a bottle that is not part of your budget.  The place was cozy that we had a great night of comparing the ports based on their years and types (just like true connoisseurs...haha)

We started reminiscing our younger years as well.

After a few glasses, we decided to hit the bed with smiles on our faces.  It was a wonderful 1st day.  

I fell in love immediately with Lisbon.

*TIPS:

Hotel Fenix Garden - 50 euros a night was worth it (off-peak).  Breakfast was 3.90 euros (with good choices and nespresso)

Take aerobus from the airport for 3.50 euros.  You can use the card for 24 hours in buses, trams, elevators

Buy Viva viagem/7 colinas (a reoload card) for 0.50 euros to go around.  Load it with 5 euros and enjoy ride-all-you-can for 24 hours.

2nd part of our lovely trip...is up next weekend...stay tune!

New Year's resolution: Chili Crab!

Do you make new year's resolutions and when that year is almost over, you're preparing for your next resolutions and little did you know you haven't fulfilled any of your previous ones?

Sounds familiar to HT wife but this 2012, after 2 weeks of drinking, eating and merrying, she decided to do something this early in 2012 which has been part of her resolutions since she moved to Holland...that is to cook crabs!!!

Funny that i have thought about it when i'm living in a country where crabs are usually not part of a family's table.  (compared how we eat it in the Philippines and Singapore per se).  There's dampa in the Philippines and my mom cooks pretty good buttered garlic crabs or steamed crabs.  Singapore provides wide range of shops serving crab dishes.

Yes, i've fulfilled one of the my resolutions already this 2012, and thanks to a friend of mine who gave us chili crab mix. :)

It all started going to the market and looking for crabs.  There was only one stall selling it (we prefer moving ones), and got 2 of them.

ta -dah!  We kept them in a backpack.  HT hubbie was walking around the centrum with moving crabs behind him...yes, he and the crabs survived for 3 hours.

Now the challenge...was to stop them from moving.

my mom told me to steam them alive!!! "oh, and don't forget to put ginger in the water".  HT couple didn't know what to do but to follow.  Later on, HT hubbie decided the next time, we just freeze them so they get numbed instead of the suffering they encounter from hot water (he's such a sweetie, to think about it...:)  Yeah, but eating it says otherwise :))

We were scaredy-cats cleaning and cutting the crabs alive.  And believe me this is the wrong way.  We were so stressed that we just wanted to get it over and done with.  Check out this video of Jumbo Singapore (one of the crab places we love in SG).  They cut them alive!!!

I cannot teach you how to do this chili crab mix, but this is available in any toko, asian store here in the Netherlands.  In Singapore, you can buy them in supermarkets or Jumbo is selling the pre-mix sauces now.  If only we are in Singapore, then we wouldn't bother making this. :)

the finished product after all the hard work :)

with mantou, chinese steamed buns (of course).  We prefer fried mantou but after all the eating during the holiday season, we decided to keep it healthy.  This is the same bread used for bapao, siopao or hong ba pao.  Also available in the toko.

It was a great start for 2012!

HT wife is fulfilled...

 and so is Tommie... *wink*

Happy 2012!

The Hungry-Trotting Couple wishes all the foodies out there....

A happy, happy 2012!!!

Cheers to more food, food and food!!!



Copenhagen, Denmark: The Royal Cafe

Copenhagen is like my 2nd home in Europe :).  Thanks to the cool dutch friends of HT couple who has been living in Denmark, it was easy to feel at home in this country.

With our visits in Copenhagen, we always stuff ourselves with ristet polse...check out the previous post.

This time, after stuffing ourselves with polse (hotdogs), we decided to get cozy in this lovely cafe (beside the shop...The Royal Copenhagen) i.e. 

I got myself a glass of hot chocolate (50dkk~7 euros) ...to warm myself after walking around the cold and misty Copenhagen

The chocolate was creamy and not overwhelming.  It's one of the best hot chocolates i ever had. 

Cortado (35 dkk ~5 euro) - after HT hubbie's first sip, he just blurted out "this is how a good coffee should be".  I am aware how particular HT hubbie is with his coffee.  To be able to say such compliment, says a lot on the quality of the coffee and how Cortado was done perfectly in Denmark even if it's more famous in Spain and Portugal.  (Cortado - espresso with a small amount of milk).  He hates it when some cafés drown their coffee with milk (whether you order a latte or cappuccino).

if tapas are for the spaniards, Smørrebrød (open-faced sandwich) is for the danish.  This smaller version of smørrebrød, known as Smushi is the specialty of this cafe.  Only 6 selections, we decided to get 3 of them (it was quite expensive 130 dkk ~17 euro for 3).  Indulging into each of them explained the price...the quality of the ingredients used were superb! 

Røget Ål med Æggestand og Purløg (Smoked Eel with Egg stand & Chives) - we loved the combination of the smoked eel and the egg which the latter was nicely cooked.  Topped with cherry tomato and black raspberry, we get the best of everything in this smushi.

Mørbradbøf med Svampe a la creme (Fillet of Pork with Mushroom a la creme)  - carnivorous HT couple, this is a must among the 6 choices.  The pork was nicely cooked but was a little bit bland.  Until we realized that the mushroom a la creme was very tasty and delicious and should be eaten together with the pork.  I loved how such combinations worked unexpectedly.

Juleksinke m/ Cornichonner og Grønkål(Christmas Ham w/ Cornichons and Kale) - from the name itself, it must be a limited edition smushi, so we decided to get it for this yuletide season.  I like the colors that were put into this sandwich.  The cornichons (pickled cucumbers) were mixed with cream cheese and layered the ham in between.  The cream was quite overpowering that you can't taste the ham anymore.  Nevertheless, it was still a delightful smushi.

The setting is so cute that it's worth to be posted. :)

Wouldn't you love to stay for a few hours, having a cup of chocolate or coffee with your girlfriends?

or get cozy with your hubby or wifey in this sofa...:) (Taking pictures of food is becoming an "in" thing not only for asians :D )

So don't miss this entrance when in Copenhagen.

The Royal Cafe

(beside The Royal Copenhagen shop)

Amagertorv 6  1160 København

Denmark

Spain, Barcelona Part 3: must-eat, must-do, must eat...

For the last installation of this trip, we made sure that we don't miss entering one of the tabernas around Barri Gothic.

you're sure that you're in the right place, when you don't mind if a leg of jamon or a few sausages hit your head upon entering the place.

and the first thing that welcomes you, is a cake of anchovies...*yum*

it's a point-point system, point which one you salivates on, and you'll get it.  The bread is toasted with tomato pulps and olive oil.  You'll get this anywhere even in restaurants as starters.  It gives the bread a fresher taste.

locals eat in front of the counters..standing.  Little did we know, that there's surcharge if you get a table.  (this is typical in Barcelona tabernas.  And if you want to sit outside, enjoying the sun and lovely weather of the city, you pay more...nothing is free nowadays. (average is about 10%).  Feel free to ask if you wanted your pennies worth.

don't forget to wash down your meal with cerveza

what else do you gorge in Spain?  Tapas!!!  Check out the galician style octopus(purple) and the black sausage.  Don't be shocked when you see in the menu the combination of meatballs(albondigas) and cuttlefish...it's a typical combination there (based on several restaurants/tabernas)

Spaniards eat dinner pretty late.  So we "localized" ourselves and jogged into this restaurant at 9 pm...famished!

Arroz negro, paella cooked in squid ink was the best dish that night.  It was lovely to the palate and the ink was not overpowering but rather giving a balanced taste to this arroz plate.

our yummy seafood paella!  The seafood was abudant and the rice was nicely cooked.

Cochinillo is a must-have especially for Flipinos visiting Spain.  It's just like home...our lechon.

One thing that HT couple loves doing aside from eating...exploring as much churches as we can wherever we are!

Barcelona cathedral

Iglesia Santa Maria del Mar

Picasso Museum "wowed" me.  The museum was done in such a way for the visitors to see the  progress of Picasso from the start when he's art still spoke "anybody can do that" until he has improved and found his own style.  It was very interesting...

check out the interesting facade of the museum...it ain't ordinary...

This ends our Barcelona trip...and before ending this post...

credits to my friend, Cindy :D

HT couple wishes everyone...a very Merry Christmas!  Happy Holidays guys!  Keep the love in the air!  Love, love, love...eat, eat, eat!!!