Something To Look Forward To On Friday

my plate every Friday 

 The weekend starts on Friday afternoon, it ends on Sunday afternoon. In the Netherlands, the weekend is something to look forward to. Be it with family, friends, time alone, or time to remember and to worship our Grand Creator. In most Dutch homes, weekend means being lazy, cozy. In our home, weekend means laid back, fast food on Friday night, game time, tv time. Have you ever heard the word frikandel? Uh! This is something that we look forward to on Friday! Our family is not much a consumer of fast foods. Not on Friday! Frikandel is one of the most likeable fast food among Dutch. It is a kind of sausage, my husband makes it more delicious by garnishing it with a mix of fresh shredded onions with catsup and mayonnaise, in short, the famous "frikandel special."

frikandel and fried shrimp

sla (fresh salad) the sla mixer is a gift from my dear friend

this makes "frikandel special"

cassava kropek

TGIF!

I have never seen frikandel in the Philippines, it’s the Purefoods tender juicy hotdog that both young and adult love there. Sometimes, I also buy them in the Filipino store in Rotterdam. We match frikandel with French fries, sometimes with chicken nuggets, my husband also includes our recent discovery, the cassava kropek! Real fast! Fast food! I cannot eat them without anything green, so I always prepare a fresh salad, I don't want to loss the word “healthy food”. For Nederlanders, fresh salad is sla. 

Any fresh leaves, usually it is rucola, with sliced tomatoes, cucumber, white cheese or feta is my version of sla. After the meal, my husband has cola, I drained them with oat milk. As I am writing this, I am thinking to search the origin of frikandel. The foods we eat are for me a rich blessings from God. There is always a good story behind every food we eat, as well as the rich culture that made that food known. How about you? What food made your country famous?

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The Food Truck Festival In Vlaardingen, the Netherlands

The center stage for performer (me and my son)

The atmosphere was cozy, chilly, and I was torn between summer and fall. The place was at the beautiful and ever scenic Oranje Park, in Vlaardingen.

my souvenir glass from Toost

The good looking festival from afar

From our congregational meeting, Sunday morning, me and my son have a short walk going there to meet my husband, the father of my child. To consume, to enjoy. The event is something unique, family friendly, a Food Truck Festival.

The beautiful Thai food truck (that is my husband)

We chooseThai.

A cozy lunch with my family

My delicious Thai green curry

The festival was held from 1 until 3 of September. The trucks that I have noted are: Piepers and Rund, Bommelbeef, Lekker Hotel Mama, Early Coffee, Crepes BuBu, Logical Food, Butterflies, Foodtruck King, Spoons & Buns and Pasta Penne. We choose to eat something Asian, we took our table and sit in front of the Thai truck. My husband has the delicious red curry, and I have a green curry that I also shared with my son. We got a drink from the Toost truck, I brought home the glass as a souvenir for 1 euro.

Decoration at the pasta penne truck

the Lekker Hotel Mama truck

I am torn between summer and fall. 

There was also a truck that appears like a living room, this truck was the one that provides music for the audience. The festival was indeed worth seeing. I am looking forward to the next year's summer, to get fascinated again with these unique and artful food trucks.

Garlic eggplant with tuna and mushroom

What I have learned in cooking is, that is also a matter of mix and match.

I miss to write something about food and cooking. I have today a short food/cooking blog, a simple recipe that anyone can follow. Simple but healthy. If you are a vegetarian, this is for you. Garlic eggplant with tuna and mushroom.

What you need:
Butter
Garlic
1 can tuna flakes
2 eggplants
200-300 grams mushroom
Black pepper
for seasoning you can use oyster sauce or fish sauce.

How:
Sauteed the crushed garlic in butter.
Add the shredded eggplant and your choice of seasoning. Cover and lower the heat. When the eggplant is already soft, add the mushroom, mix and cover again. Mix occasionally. When the mushroom is already cooked, add the black pepper and adjust the heat higher. Cook until the dish gets oily. It is best served with rice.

What I have learned in cooking is, it also a matter of mix and match. Enjoy!

Philippine Holiday 2017: A Great Hamburger Experience At St. Marc Cafe

It was lunchtime. Me and my family were at Robinson's Malate. We were finding a restaurant to eat. If you were in Malate, you can see many fast foods, cafés, and restaurants. My husband suggested to me that we try the St. Marc Café. We checked their menu and we ordered their thick hamburger... I can't almost believe it that I eat the whole hamburger with its thick filling. Instead of coffee, I have their ice-tea that I also love so much with its bittersweet taste. Before we left, I made some photos. Right there, I was already thinking that I will write on my blog this great burger experience. Because when I like something, I never hold back myself not to enjoin it, or not to share it.

Me with my son in front of St. Marc Cafe-Robinson's Malate

With a Japanese origin.

I regret it that I did not make a photo of my burger before we eat :)

What we have is the Menchi Katsu Burger. Highly recommended!

Below is the history of St. Marc that I found on internet. 

Saintmarc South East Asia Pte Ltd (SSEA) is a subsidiary of Saintmarc Holdings Company composed of nine brands in Japan.

Japan Head Quarters tested the waters of Southeast Asia for their St. Marc Café brand and started the pilot store in Singapore in December 2012.

With the café’s promise to provide friendly service, a vibrant atmosphere and yummy food always, St. Marc Café won the hearts of our customers.

Over the years, Saintmarc South East Asia Pte Ltd has established itself in the region. Here are our outlets as of July 2016:

Singapore	5
Philippines	6
Thailand	3
Indonesia	1
Malaysia	1

Today, Saintmarc Holdings has over 900 outlets across all brands globally. With St. Marc Café making up the biggest share of the pie (at over 350 outlets), we believe it speaks for itself.

Philippine Holiday 2017: The Most Delicious Pancakes Of My Life

I am not that fan of pancakes. I eat pancake when my husband making it. I also like my sister's pancake, just a simple and basic pancake. When me and my husband went to visit the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, we ate lunch at the famous Pancake Bakery. They have so many kinds of pancakes. This past holiday in the Philippines, I have had the best pancakes of my life. It is just where we were staying, at Appartelle de Francesca in Puerto Galera. The hotel also serve meals, from breakfast to dinner. Our first taste of their pancake was an experience! Hahaha! The taste stick on our mouth, that me and my husband said: we like more! Before we left, I asked one of their staff if they can share with me the secret of their delicious pancake. The staff said, it is only Maya Pancake. Uh, yes, I know Maya Pancake, but I never tried it before. On the day of our flight, I went to the supermarket and bought boxes of Maya Pancakes that I took back to the Netherlands. Just a tip: when you make your pancake, instead of water, use fresh milk.

the plain pancake, it is very delicous, the sauce is like something with coconut syrup.

The chocolate pancake, I am not sure if the sauce is Hershey's. Because its taste is really different from the other pancakes that I ever tried.

Travel Gluttons In Delft

Delft Market Square

Delft, a canal-ringed city in the western Netherlands, half an hour drive from our home, known as the manufacturing base for Delftware, those charming hand painted blue-and white pottery, the city with beautiful medieval buildings, and Dutch in every way market square.

Another exciting door has opened up to me. The door to write and become a team member of Travel Gluttons. What is Travel Gluttons? Here is the link:  Travel Glutton

Street photograpy.

Travel photography tips: include people.

Yesterday, I had the privilege to meet the team, not just a meet and greet but an entire day of meeting, learning, brainstorming. I am telling you, the women behind Travel Gluttons are empowering, supportive, fun, and beautiful. If the word gluttons sound indulging, the team members are all modest in every manner.

Our morning at Het Konings Huys Restaurant, Delft.

The team met at the Het Konings Huys Restaurant at 10 o'clock, Sunday. Again, thanks to my husband for driving me to Delft, since I do not want to be late. The Het Konings Huys sit at a unique place in Delft. Our editor in chief made the reservation. The restaurant is in the market square of Delft. If you prefer to sit on the terrace, the view is worth to have a drink or a good meal at Het Konings Huys. The Nieuw Kerk and the beautiful City Hall are just in front.

Part of our meeting is the tips given by our editor in chief on food photography and also on travel photography. I really enjoyed that part. Our meeting at Het Koninghuys ended around 12. Our group was split up into two groups, and we have the task to go around the city, make photos and using some of the tips given to us. After doing the task, following the map that our editor gave us, the two groups will meet at Mills & Hills, another restaurant where we are going to have our lunch and to practice our food photography skills.

Spelt sandwich at Mills & Hills

Fruit salad and carrot cake, Mills & Hills.

My composition, my plate.

Mills & Hills has this tag line: Pure Food Cafe. Hills & Mills created a group lunch for our team, they ensure that they have enough food for us, to consume and to photograph. Our team has the premium lunch that consists of: spelt sandwiches, quinoa salad, chickpea salad, fruit salad, carrot cake, mango lassi, and (sparkling) water. You can imagine how fun it was when the food was being served, all of us take our time, and our turn to photograph the food before taking our share. It was really fun, I enjoyed my time being with these people who love food, photos and words... Just like me.

Lumpia, Loempia, Loenpia, Or Ngohyong

In the Philippines this is lumpia. This is spring roll of Chinese origin, but also found and common in Indonesia. Here in the Netherlands, lumpia is also a regular entry in many Asian restaurants. Lumpia, loempia, loenpia, or ngohyong.

It was twice already that I made lumpia here in the Netherlands. My very Dutch husband comes to like some of my Asian cooking, including lumpia. Lumpia is easy to prepare, easy to cook. I also found out that the Turkish store nearby is selling lumpia wrapper for only €2.75.

use the egg wash to seal the lumpia wrapper

my lumpia: consists of carrots, coriander, onion, paprika, and egg yolk. 

wrapping

Ingredients:
500 grams ground meat (I like ground beef)
Lumpia wrapper (the entire package has 40-50 pcs)
250 grams shredded carrots
250 grams shredded coriander
1 pc paprika, also shredded
1 pc medium size onion
1 egg (keep the egg wash separately to seal the wrapper)
For seasoning, you can use lumpia ready mix

Procedure:
Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl, including the egg yolk and the lumpia ready mix. Mix well.
Spread the lumpia wrapper on a flat, clean surface or in a big plate.
Spoon the lumpia mix to the wrapper and wrap the lumpia like you are wrapping a small gift. I suggest two tablespoons of lumpia mix for every wrapper. It is light, easy to fry, and bite-size.
Don' forget to use the egg wash to seal the lumpia wrapper.

Frying: if you have a French fries fryer, you can fry your lumpia there. You can also use even a pan as long as you dip fry the lumpia for a crunchy result.

Lumpia is good with sweet and sour sauce. I also like dipping it in vinegar with crushed garlic, or soy sauce with lemon. Enjoy!

A Delicious Vietnamese Dinner At Little V Rotterdam

our delicious starter at Little V

My first time eating at a Vietnamese restaurant was about two years ago. It was at Pho Vietnamese Restaurant And Noodle Bar in Rotterdam. Last night was my second time, again, in Rotterdam. Me together with my former Dutch Language Course teacher and one of my former classmates at Dutch course who is a Mexican expat.

Because I have tried to dine at a Vietnamese restaurant and I am very satisfied, I make a little inquiry on how many Vietnamese Restaurant are there in Rotterdam. The Trip Advisor has lists of 10 Best Restaurants in Rotterdam. The Little V  is on the top, the Little V Vietnamese Restaurant where we had our dinner last night.

my drink named: flavor of the moment

Yasmin, my Dutch Language teacher and Lili, my Mexican former classmate and friend.

It was a night of laughs, good talks, and delicious Vietnamese drinks and dishes. The truth is I don't drink anything with alcohol. The drinks that we all enjoyed last night are very own drinks of Little V, though I already tried the Vietnamese "slow coffee" at Pho Restaurant.

It was I who first arrived at Little V. I travelled by train. I arrived in Rotterdam 4:15 and our reservation is 5:30. I killed time by going inside the MarktHal, making some photos. Because it was very crowded inside, I did not stay long, I went out and enjoyed my time in the market outside. At exactly 5 o o'clock, I started to find the Little V. My classmate gave me the address and it's not difficult to find the restaurant. It is just at the other side of the Grote Kerk (Big Church).

our big bowl of soup (fat noodles, chicken, shrimp, and fresh tauge, lemon, and coriander for garnishing

I sit in the cozy lounge outside, but one of the staff told me that only those who had a starter meal allowed to sit there. Since we are going to have a complete dinner, our place or our table is inside. So I went inside and the staff led me to our table. It was nice, many lights and our table is with candle lit. One of the waiters gave me the drink menu card. I ordered a drink with a very interesting name: flavor of the moment. I don't drink with ice here in Holland because I always feel cold, but last night, I did like the refreshing minty taste of "flavor of the moment" even it has many ice.

the Vietnamese "slow coffee" is dripping

"slow coffee" is now ready. Very, very delicious!

photo with our main course.

And then, Yasmin (my teacher) arrived. After a few minutes, my classmate Lili also arrived. It was like a grand reunion, even we're just three! Hahaha! The charming waitress took our order. Because Asian restaurants here in the Netherlands have a big serving, me and Lili agreed to share food. It was fantastic because we had starter, we have soup, and the main course. It was so fun when I get my camera and making food photos! Hahaha, I want to share the fun with all my blog readers.

me and Yasmin outside, homebound.

last photo for the day: the Markthal at night.

Is there also a Vietnamese Restaurant in your place? Have you ever tried their foods? I really love their cooking. Last night, I ate fresh (raw) tauge and coriander. My first time. They are very delicious in our soup. Also last night, I was able to eat pechay again! Pechay in The Philippines, here in The Netherlands, it is paksoi. I remember my mother, she deliciously cooks tilapia wrapped in pechay and cooked in coconut milk.

I feel it was not my last in a Vietnamese Restaurant. I am planning to be back at Little V or will try another one. My husband found a wife who loves photos, writing, and dining out every now and then.

A Great Dining Experience At 't Oude Raedthuys

my delightful plate of dessert

Who loves dining out? I bet you do. Me too. The Netherlands has so many good eating places. Because of diverse culture that are residing in The Netherlands, there are restaurants that cater local foods of a specific country. You can find Chinese, Vietnamese, Turkish, Greek, even a Filipino restaurant, and others. But of course, Dutch restaurant offers something that's really different from the rest. What I like when we dine out to a Dutch restaurant is the location, the ambiance, and the food of course.

Last Saturday, my mother in law gave us a dinner treat. It was a great dinner treat. My mother in law is, I would say very classy. Every time she invites us to dine out, for me, it is something to look forward to. She always chooses a fine restaurant for us, where we can enjoy our times together.

' Oude Raedthuys. The restaurant where we have our dinner last Saturday. Oude Raedthuys is located in Schiedam, the next town from Vlaardingen. We have a reservation. When I saw the restaurant from the car, I noticed right away that it is an old building. From the menu card, I have learned that the Oude Raedthuys building was built in 1890. You can calculate how old it is now.

The Oude Raedthuys building is a former town hall, but now it is a beautiful eating place. They served lunch and dinner, I think also brunch. It is a two storey building. When I went upstairs to use their toilet, I saw the place upstairs is to hold events or party.

On the ground floor is a cozy dining room which is ideal for groups. It is cold season now, so I understand it that it gets dark early, and the dining hall is for me dark even there are hanging old lamps. There is also a bar where you can lounge after dinner.

The ground floor is not that spacious. In my estimate, it can accommodate only up to 40 persons. There were three or four staffs that are taking orders and serving. They are fast, brisk, and polite but we waited our foods for nearly an hour.

with my Dutch family.

I ordered for mosselen (mussels). When our foods were served, I eat right away! Hahaha We are used to eating dinner at 6 o clock and that time, I feel really hungry! I don't even make a photo of my big plate of mussels for my blog! Hahaha! It is a fried mussels, sauted in many onions, tomatoes, and paprika. It was very delicious! All of us enjoyed our food, even my son. When we took our seats at our designated table, the life size menu card hanging beside our table, the list of desserts are very tempting! Hahaha!

When we dine out, I usually don't order for dessert. But that night, I love to eat dessert. I have waffles with vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, and cream. It was a delightful dessert. The waffles is not too sweet, it was like, the ice cream provided the sweetness.
After dinner, we drive back home my mother in law. We all went home merry and full.

Have a nice weekend to all! Until my next dining out! That is very soon because it will be tomorrow with my two dear friends. Bye!