I’ve often spoken to my little black book you know the one where I keep my list of “must eat at” restaurants in. One entry that has outlasted this book and the two before was The Dutch Shop in Smithfield. You see we don’t really live close to Smithfield and they have certain opening hours which make it hard to go out there unless you can drive (not I currently, due to a lack of parking prowess). Luckily I have a friend that can drive and wants to go there – the lovely Ellie from Almost Bourdain. “You really do have a black book!” she says seeing my Moleskine with “The Dutch Shop” entry written down many moons ago.
Ellie’s well versed in Dutch food as her husband is Dutch and when I was invited to a lunch at her house a couple of weeks ago she fed us a smorgasbord of delicious Dutch and Malaysian dishes. When I asked her where she had purchased them from, she mentioned the Dutch Shop and my eyes lit up. “Oh I’ve been meaning to got there for the longest time!” and instantly a date was made to go. She needed to stock up on Frikkadelle sausages and I needed help negotiating my way through the Dutch only labels as my Dutch is limited to words like “Clog”.
I know we’re in for a treat when we pull up outside. It’s in the middle of an Industrial type area so you’d never know it existed and the outside is so quaint and kitsch I suppress a squeal. The front of the shop is the grocery store where there are all manner of Dutch goodies which Ellie shows me. There’s Stroopwaffels, those firm round waffles that are filled with molasses type of filling sandwiched together. She explains the best way to eat these is by placing them on top of a cup of tea or coffee and allowing the steam to heat them them up.
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September 11, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
“Help! I’ve been held hostage by the Russians…” Naomi texts her friend late at night on a Saturday night. No, we haven’t gotten ourselves embroiled in a cross cultural post-Glasnost imbroglio. We’re dining at Romance, a Russian restaurant on a quiet corner in Kingsford. But more on our hostage taking later. Allow me to rewind to 7.30pm that night when The Second Wife, Gravy Beard, Naomi, Mr NQN and I entered Romance. Open just two nights a week it’s said to be totally and utterly Russian and a great experience to boot – if you understand that your main will hit your table at about 10.30pm and they do things their way. As I step in I am suddenly transported back to my teenage years with my Russian best friend. She and her family would take me out to Russian dinners at places just like this. The Second Wife tells me “Our booking tonight is for 7.30pm because that’s the earliest sitting” and by now the restaurant is in full swing.
The sight that greeted us as we walked in
Just like I remember, there are cold plates of colourful food set on the table. It looks like a bountifully dressed Christmas table and our eyes widen with excitement. And did I mention that these are just the cold entrees? There are hot entrees to come as well as a main as well as drinks and shots of vodka and all of this for $65 a person (and it’s assumed that you will have the set menu unless you specify so when booking). If you order a la carte, entrees are on average $14.90 and mains $24.90 and $29.90. Jugs of drink are a steal at $5, shots of vodka with a thin slice of lemon $10 and complimentary jugs of raspberry cordial are replenished throughout the night by the young waiters in civilian clothing.
Gravy Beard points out Jack White also tends the bar and waiters here
Salmon and blini platter $19.90
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July 28, 2009
by Not Quite Nigella
A bunch of well intentioned coffee seekers converged on Gelato Bar one weekend afternoon to partake of coffee only but one glance at the window and we were salivating. “OK maybe if we share something” was the first utterance followed quickly by “I think I could actually have one on my own”.
Gelato Bar is one of those places that has been around for decades (since 1958) and is loved by locals and visitors alike not only for their scrumptious pastry and cake windows (their strudels are legendary) but also their Hungarian/European main meals. I spied Matzo ball soup, one of my favourite soups so I know I will have to come back soon to have this.
We order coffees and peruse the menu but instead of choosing from the menu, we’d rather point and choose from the window outside so our friendly waitress follows us outside and explains what everything is. There are several flavours of strudel to choose from including apple, cherry, poppyseed, cheese & cherry and chocolate & hazelnut ($6.80). The cheese & cherry appeals to A1 and she selects that.
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September 29, 2007
by Not Quite Nigella
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