Greasy Spoon
I love a good brunch. Normally when Koen and I travel, rather having to go out for two meals, we generally enjoy a nice big brunch around 11ish. We looked up places close to our AirBnB and found Greasy Spoon, the Odenplan location. I was so excited when I saw the specials for this week – Chicken and Waffles! So of course we had to go!
La Neta
We were really curious to go out for tacos at La Neta. Antwerp doesn’t have a great selection of Mexican restaurants, so when we discovered a taquería with a high rating close by we wanted to try it out!
You’re unable to make a reservation, so expect to wait in line. Luckily it moves quickly so you don’t have to wait too long (plus it’s worth it!). We ordered a serving of chips and guacamole and two types of tacos: pastor (marinated pork with pineapple) and carnitas (pulled pork confit). Once you receive your food, there are many salsas to choose from along with chopped onion and cilantro. Yum!
Vete-Katten
A visit to Stockholm isn’t complete without having fika, or a coffee and sweets moment! This time we visited Vete-Katten, a Stockholm institution for coffee and princess cake. I tried princess cake for the first time in February and had to have it again this visit. Vete-Katen’s “royal cake is baked according to our own secret method, which gives it its unique taste and creaminess. The sponge bases are layered with freshly-prepared custard and raspberries, enveloped by a thick quilt of whipped cream, all encased in green marzipan powdered with icing sugar.” It was soooo delicious! The coffee is also excellent!
Pizza slicing is serious business
For our first meal in Stockholm, we headed to Meno Male (recommended by a Stockholm colleague) for a Neapolitan-style pizza. We were staying in Östermalm, the north-East neighborhood of Stockholm and were happy that it was a mere 5 minutes from our apartment!
They have a selection of pizzas to choose from or you can create your own. I have to say I’m not too daring when it comes to pizza, and ordered my favorite – spicy salami, mushrooms and red onions. I couldn’t wait to take my first bite when it came to us fresh from their giant pizza oven. Delicious!!
Hawksmoor on Air Street
Koen and I can’t be in London on a Sunday without eating a roast. So we were happy when Chris and Hannah agreed to go to the Hawksmoor for their delicious Sunday Roast!
From their site:
Traditionally, large joints of meat were roasted on a spit over an open fire. To achieve a similar flavour we start ours on real charcoal and finish them in the oven. Served with beef dripping roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, carrots, greens, roasted shallots & garlic and lashings of bone marrow & onion gravy.
Kanada-Ya
One of my favorite things about big, international cities like London is that you can find great food from almost any nationality. High on our list during this trip was ramen, so I researched some of the best restaurants and discovered Kanada-Ya. Originally found in Yukuhashi ont he southern island of Kyushu in Japan in 2009, a location was opened in London in 2014. For their famous tonkotsu, pork bones are simmered for 18 hours to create a delicious broth with homemade noodles that are made on site. Worth the 45 minute wait!
Rabbit
I love visiting Chelsea whenever I’m in London – so many great restaurants as well as my favorite museum, the Victoria & Albert. This trip we made reservations at Rabbit. From their website:
“Our ever changing menu champion’s local and wild British seasonal produce. We use all things wild, foraged, and locally grown, including sustainable livestock from the Gladwin’s own family farm in West Sussex. Plus we have a range of English Wines from our own vineyard.
Dishes are presented as “small plates” designed for sharing or to enjoy individually. Our team will guide you through the menu to help you make a balanced selection of dishes.”
The food was really delicious and I loved that we were able to share all of the plates. Standouts were the smoked butter and the partridge nuggets.
Granary Square ready for Christmas
I love visiting London and this time we planned a weekend trip with our friends Chris and Hannah! From Brussels to London, it’s only a 2 hour train ride – fast and easy!
St. Pancras Train Station is in Kings Cross, so my trips always begin here. I love visiting Granary Square and walking along the Regent’s Canal. Normally we always visit Dishoom or The Lighterman for lunch, but we decided to try somewhere new and more traditionally British – Piebury Corner for meat pies and scotch eggs.
Cantinho do Avillez
For our last dinner in Porto we decided to eat at Cantinho do Avillez, the more casual and relaxed restaurant of Chef José Avillez. Chef José Avillez is the most famous chef in Portugal and is most famous for his restaurant Belcanto, currently ranked #75 best restaurant in the world. Whereas Belcanto is pure Portuguese cooking, Cantinho do Avillez is Portuguese with inspiration from trips abroad. The cherry gazpacho and green bean tempura were the best!
View of the beautiful dining room before all of the tables filled up
Koen and I love gastronomic tourism – you really are able to get a sense of the city and culture by eating the food. While in Porto, we couldn’t pass up the chance to eat at The Yeatman, one of only two 2 star Michelin restaurants in Portugal (the other being Belcanto in Lisbon). Most notable is the wine cellar at The Yeatman. Maybe the name sounds familiar if you’ve been reading my posts – it comes from the port house Taylor, Fladgate, & Yeatman, more commonly just called Taylor’s Port.
An American in Antwerp 