My Dutch food diary

Fresh salad at Zondag

I spent a week in the Netherlands, where I had the chance to try some of the local food. Lots of cheeses (gouda, in particular) and freshly baked breads were characteristic of most of the breakfasts and lunches. Dutch dinners, however, are, like the people, usually warm. I tried their traditional mustard soup on a couple of occasions as well as some seafood (salmon and white fish) served with sides of carrots or french fries. I loved it all!

Dutch dinner at Groningen

The local fish, although cooked with only a mild level of spice, was delicious. White fish is commonly found on menus. I tried this in several restaurants cooked in different styles including French. It was generally fresh and often accompanied by a side of veggies that you should not miss. Not sure if it had something to do with the time of the year I was visiting (summer), but I really enjoyed the veggies served with the main course.  My favorite was a veggie salad with fresh mozarella cheese along with baked salmon and potatoes that I had at Zondag in Groningen. Finally, the famous Dutch fries with mayo is a must try at least once. They were made to order and not very salty.

Although I did not have a chance to try the popular Dutch pancakes (pannenkoek), I had waffles with a chocolate sauce in Bruges at a tea room. These were pretty good. Then there were the Belgian chocolates which you must try if you have a sweet tooth.

I got some gouda cheese and Belgian chocolate to try some home-made fondue. Looking forward to trying it.

Belgian Waffle with chocolate

Puneri Vegetarian Food

Baby corn masala, Amrapali, FC Road Pune

If you have visited India, it is not uncommon to come across a restaurant that serves exclusively vegetarian food. I lived in Pune for almost 7 years and had the fortune to experience its restaurant scene, with it's abundant vegetarian options.

Paneer Chili, Amrapali, FC Road

Vegetarian restaurants in Pune serve authentic Maharashtrian, South Indian to Italian vegetarian cuisines. I tried a little bit of all during my recent visit to the city. It was as good as I had when I left the city almost a  decade ago.
Pune's South Indian fast food joints are popular amongst both natives and the city's college-goers as places to engage in "deep conversations" over a cup of coffee. I visited Vaishali and tried the vegetarian beet cutlets as well as a regular masala dosa with filter coffee. Recommended.

Kacchi Dabeli, a street vendor, Bombay-Pune Highway

On the same vibrant Fergusson College (F.C. Road), in a nondescript corner behind the famous Roopali is a restaurant called Amrapali that serves the best vegetarian curries I have ever tried so far. I have probably had their baby corn masala 100 times before and yet I still came out licking my fingers. The portions are in that sweet spot that you are satisfied yet still leave you wanting more.

When I lived in Pune, I lived off its street (taperi) food, which included authentic Maharashtrian breakfast options like pohe, sabudana khichadi, or vada pao. I was disappointed to not see many of these street vendors in the Deccan area this time around. But if you are ever in India and brave enough to try its street food, don't miss the spicy Kacchi Dabeli (a spicy mixture of veggies and pomegranate served in a bun), vada pao (a potato cutlet served in a bun) and misal pao (a spicy mixture of veggies cooked with sprouts in a curry and served with bread) among others.

Mushrooms and garlic bread, Little Italy

Finally, I went to another of my favorite restaurants on Bund Garden road called the Little Italy that serves Italian vegetarian food. It offers a variety of pastas, pizzas and a few Mexican specialties like enchiladas, and nachos with cheese. I tried their mushroom with garlic bread and a pesto pizza and they were both delicious. 

Grilled meats in India

Tandoori Shikhari Tangdi, Khiva, Pune. 

Among my favorite South Asian delicacies are the grilled meats. Kebabs or Tandoori chicken (and other variants of fish or lamb) are meats marinated with a special marinade (yogurt mixed with spices) for hours and then grilled in a clay oven. Kebabs may consist of whole or ground meat.

You will find variations of these preparations in several South Asian or Middle Eastern cuisines including Pakistani, Afghani, Indian, or Turkish among others.

Kebab Platter, Mehak Tandoor Works, Goa. 

During my recent trip to India, I tried several versions of Tandoori chicken and kebabs in several restaurants. In my opinion, restaurants generally do a better job with it mainly due to access to a large clay oven which makes preparation easier than at home.

It is protein rich. Those not very fond of spicy food can enjoy the subtlety of spices in this grilled version more than in the curry. Sometimes, depending on the cuisine, you can combine the meal with a side of bread (naan) or just a salad. Veggie lovers are also presented with several vegetables grilled in a similar fashion which use the same marinades. 

Pizza - the comfort food

House special at Crust, Vienna

Pizza is a comfort food for people around the world. I have had the opportunity to try various kinds of pizza. Here are some of my favorites.

Lostdogcafe, Arlington VA
A local chain restaurant in Northern Virginia offers several gourmet pizzas. My favorite is the big red pie, wheat crust topped with marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil.

Pupatella, Arlington, VA
Another local favorite, offering Neapolitan pizzas.

Italian Store, Arlington VA
If you are in mood to try the New York Style thin crust pizza made of fresh dough, this is must-try. Reasonably priced, has several locations in Northern Virginia.

Crust, Vienna, VA
Another local chain offering some great Neapolitan wood-fired fresh pizza in Vienna. Nice ambiance, also sells wine and beer.

Varasanos Pizzeria, Atlanta, GA
Tried their house special thin-crust New York style pizza with mozzarella & san marzano tomato sauce with a secret blend of herbs. It was delicious albeit pricey.

Brixx, Santiago, Dominican Republic
I have not eaten a better pizza than the white pizza (sans marinara sauce) at Brixx (a chain restaurant, also in the United States) in Santiago, DR. A bit rich but unforgettable. 

My recent seafood picks

Octopus at Avalon Grille

Growing up in Goa, I've always considered seafood a delicacy. Given this, it is no surprise that I have taken the opportunity to try several local variants of seafood over the past few months.

At the Catalina Island, an hour-long ferry ride from Los Angeles, I tried grilled octopus (served with vegetable ragout) at Avalon Grille. It was well cooked and presented, albeit a bit pricey.

Smoked Salmon pizza at Spago

In a small town of Columbus, Mississippi, I tried several variants of catfish, a southern staple. Farm-raised locally, it was always delicious, whether fried or served in a Thai curry. Finally, during a recent trip to downtown Atlanta, Georgia, I enjoyed a whole red snapper at Southern Elements.

I have developed a taste for smoked salmon thanks to a smoked salmon pizza I tried at Wolfgang Puck's Spago in Vegas. Simple, filling and delicious if you can handle smoked fish.

Spinach and Mushroom Dip

Ingredients

Spinach and mushroom dip

4 cups chopped spinach
1 cup mushrooms (diced)
2 garlic pods (diced)
1 cup cream cheese
1 tablespoon mayo
2 cup mozzarella cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
Olive Oil
Chilli flakes
Salt and pepper to taste

Step 1: Saute the mushrooms and garlic in olive oil. Add the spinach and cook slightly.

Step 2: Add the mayo, cream cheese, and mozarella cheese and mix well on a very low flame. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Add parmesan cheese and bake at 350F for 20 minutes until the cheese turns brown.
Serve hot with pita bread. 

Casual Dining

Kabab over rice

Havabite Eatery,
10416, Main Street, 
Fairfax, VA 22030
This is an old favorite from my student days in Fairfax. Havabite is a small, family-run American Greek establishment which serves the best food of that type in the area. It excels at the execution of fairly simple dishes. Recent favorites include the shrimp sandorini, spanakopita, chicken over rice and gyros. Reasonable prices.

Chicken Friand

La Madelaine, Country French Cafe
5861, Crossroads Cir
Bailey's Crossroads, VA
We tried this cafe for breakfast. Both the food and ambiance read as authentic, though I cannot claim to be an expert on traditional french cafes. Their menu is widespread and they offer a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner options. For breakfast, we had their chicken friand, a pastry served with mushroom sauce on top. The sauce masked the taste of the pastry but the combination was delightful. We also tried their cinnamon french toast made with raisin bread - served with fresh fruit and a dash of honey. Their benedict with fried bacon and ham wasn't extraordinary but edible nonetheless.

I would be curious to see if their lunch or dinner menus are as satisfying but I can recommend La Madelaine if you are looking for a breakfast or a brunch option in the Northern Virginia region.