Cousins dinner at Kapitein Zeppo's

Photos taken a few weeks back in Amsterdam when my cousins, Kon, Syahiid and Shih Jun came to visit. We went to Kapitein Zeppo's for dinner, a cool little bar/restaurant with quirky decor near the Uni of Amsterdam.

Famous Dead People

We went to the Pere LaChaise cemetary in Paris last Sunday to visit the graves of the famous dead people buried there...James Morrison, Modigliani, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, to name a few. The photo with the large sculpture is Oscar Wilde's grave and the other is Edith Piaf's.

Bastille Day Celebrations in Paris

Paul, Bronte and I spent a 4 day long weekend in Paris and caught a glimpse of the Bastille Day Celebrations on 14 July. Much to our disappointment we had limited visibility of the fireworks celebration, as the 'best location to view the fireworks display' as recommended in the tourist magazine in our hotel ended up being a location where the view was mostly blocked by trees. Nevertheless, it was still great to absorb the atmosphere and buzz.

Canal Cruise and Music Concert

During summer, the canal boats in Den Bosch also have several musical concert events in the evenings. We went with a group of friends and my cousin Kon who was visiting, on a canal boat tour and spanish quartet performance. The concert was performed from a small podium jutting out of the canal, and there were only 5 boats allowed at each concert. Everyone remained on the boats as they listened to the music. It was a very intimate concert, and at the end of the performance, our canal boat drifted along its merry way...

The Bossche Bol

The Bossche Bol is the local speciality of 's-Hertogenbosch. It's filled with fresh cream then covered in choux pastry and chocolate. Although you can buy the bossche bol at most supermarkets, bakeries and food shops in Den Bosch, the locals only go to one speciality bakery in town to get it. It's seriously good!

Bill Granger's Friand Recipe

I know they look like muffins but they are raspberry friands. I couldn't find any friand trays at the shops so had to settle for a muffin tray. This afternoon, I tried out Bill Granger's friand receipe from his cookbook 'Simply Bill'. A friend, Indra, once said to me that friands are quite simple to make and failproof too...and now I can second that! They smell and taste delicious too. I think I will progress to cupcakes next. I have never baked a cupcake before...

Food Festival At Our Doorstep

The chitter chatter of people talking and laughing, wine glasses clinking, musicians entertaining the crowds, and the local restaurants and cafes proudly serving their dish of the day at their stall. It was an absolutely splendid food festival last weekend, downstairs from where we live. Here's a bird's eye view from our apartment. The festival started on Friday night and ended on Sunday. The local restaurants in our neighbourhood each had a stall, they served a different dish each day, and had to change stall position everyday as well. Needless to say, Paul and I, being big foodies, were there every night. Why cook when you have a food festival at your doorstep? My fave dishes were carpaccio of duck meat and duck liver, freshly shucked oysters with a balsamic vinaigrette, lamb teriyaki skewers (perfectly cooked and melted in my mouth) and Mexican meatballs with rice. Also, had a delicious dessert called Bossche Ijsbol. It was like a choc eclair with a massive ice cream ball inside, whipped cream, hot choc sauce poured on top and came with a shot of chilled port. I should have taken some photos of the food but I was too busy eating.