Menno Kroon
We're approaching the end of the November and Christmas is just around the corner. You're probably all starting to think about your decorations for the festive season.
One of our favourite florists in Amsterdam, Menno Kroon is getting us in to the festive mood with the gorgeous flowers and decorations.
Go an have a look for yourselves and get inspired.
Red Lentil and Swiss Chard Soup
Keep the cold at bay with this warm and comforting soup which is also happens to be incredibly healthy.
Serves 2
Ingredients
200 g red split lentils
1 vegetable stock cube
1 red onion
200 g swiss chard
1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 garlic cloves
1 lemon
1 bag coriander
4 tablespoons olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Finely chop the onion and garlic. Dissolve the stock cube in 1 litre hot water.
Heat a pot over medium heat with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sweat the red onion for 2 minutes. Add the chopped garlic and fry for a further 1 minute.
Add the spices, lentils and stock to the pot. Bring to the boil and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes. If necessary, remove the froth with a soup ladle.
Slice the stalks away from the leaves of the swiss chard. Wash the chard and drain in a colander. Finely slice the leaves and slice the stalks on the diagonal into 1 cm pieces. Heat a frying pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil and fry the chard stalks for 4 minutes, add the leaves and cook for a further 2 minutes.
Blend the cooked lentils with a stick blender to a coarse soup. Season with salt and pepper.
Add the fried chard to the lentil soup and add lemon juice to taste. Pick the coriander leaves. Divide the soup between 2 bowls and garnish with the coriander.
Polaberry
Polaberry, a new store in Amsterdam combines artistic creation using berries and Belgian chocolate. These are truly edible gifts combining strawberries, fruit and flowers.
It's the prefect gift to surprise a friend of loved one, or just for the sake of giving someone a gift. Who doesn't love berries and chocolate?
Fo more information, visit Polaberry.
Pompadour
Pompadour in Amsterdam's 9 straatjes (9 streets) is one of our favourite pastry stores.
They work with the season's best products to produce irresistible creations. The array on offer extends from tarts, to meringues and the most perfect chocolate truffles.
As chefs, the most important thing to us besides how beautiful things are is the flavours. Pompadour manages to maintain the perfect balance. The pastries are never too sweet, so that the flavour of the core ingredient is accentuated.
We suggest you either go and spoil yourself in their classic tearoom or take one of the pastries away to enjoy at home.
Visit Pompadour for more information.