Musings from a foodie…
During the last month, I had the opportunity to engage in one of the very best of the best dinners I’ve experienced in the last decade. The last time I was able to partake in a meal this good was at Steirerecke im Stadtpark Restaurant in Vienna. The only problem is that the distance to the restaurant is kind of far away. Well, I haven’t solved the problem!! I recently returned from a trip to the Nordics for the first time and it was quite nice – and, I feel so very lucky to have had the opportunity. So, if any of my readers are headed to the Nordics and you’re planning a start in Amsterdam, you should definitely consider The Rijks® Restaurant [ * * * * * * ] under the guidance of Chef Joris Bijdendijk since 2014 and Sous Chefs Ivan Beusink and Yascha Oosterger Bijdendijk!! It’s the second-best meal I’ve had in the last decade although you could consider the two venues essentially “equivalent”. They were awarded a Michelin Star as well as listed in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants both in 2016 as well as moving forward. If you’re not inclined to a full meal, they also have a coffee / sweet treats / drinks / snacks menu in the afternoon as part of the Museum visit in the Garden. The focus of the restaurant is on Dutch flavors and cooking from throughout the centuries that have influenced the Netherlands. The five-course tasting menu – while a bit pricey – was well worth it for any foodie. On the evening when we visited, dinner started with tomato gelatin and sliced strawberries followed by chicken livers with a cranberry sauce (oh la la!).
They then had us settle in with an offering of French bread with toasted black garlic, a dash of black pepper, honey butter, and sesame seeds with sweet paprika. The piece de resistance; however, was mandolin sliced beets cooked in a “Tomasu” soy sauce where smiles adorned the table and begging for the recipe began!! Tomasu soy sauce is made only in The Netherlands and I’m still trying to figure out how to get my hands on it so I can try out the recipe 😊. There were other helpings but – trust me – it was ALL quite wonderful. They then finished up with my favorite dessert = rice pudding. However, the mix of fruit, crumbles, and whipped cream far exceeded my culinary expectations. Sooooo, if you get to The Netherlands – you must try The Ricks Restaurant – Museumstraat 1 – 1071 XX Amsterdam - +31 (0) 20-6747-000.
PS – There were more culinary finds that I’ll be reporting out in future editions of The Fickenscher Files…
Musings from a foodie…
Bunyan’s Barb-B-Que ( * * * * * ) – Oo-la-la what a place!! There’s BBQ and then there’s real BBQ. Bunyan’s is one of the rare latter places. First, when you walk up to the place – you wonder if you had it wrong. It’s very unassuming but that’s because the emphasis is on what they put in your tummy and not where you sit or, don’t sit as the case may be. It was started in 1972 by Rosie Cole and her husband in Florence, Alabama. For you musical types out there, you’ve probably heard of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio that is famous for almost every genre of music you can think of and has more Grammy records of note than any studio…but, I digress. Bunyan’s is just down the road a speck and worth the trip. I had a plate of BBQ ribs with potato salad and baked beans. Suz had the rib sandwich with some coleslaw mixed in for additional flavor. Both were fabulous. I topped it off with some of their homemade peach cobbler. Whoa – was I a happy boy. BBQ places are fairly common but places like Bunyan’s are uncommon and absolutely wonderful. And, worthy of your visit if you get to Alabama. Finally, the sign next to the serving counter says: “Made with Love – means I licked the spoon” – my motto and approach to cookin’ for all these years. Bunyan’s Bar-B-Que – 90 West College Street – Florence, AL 35630 – (256) 766-3522 – www.bunyansbarbeque.com. Takeout is an optional dining experience with seating on the outside on a good day and limited inside on any day.
