Kom Bij Ma in Brussels, Belgium... traditional Belgian food where the locals like to eat!

After enjoying a few hours of window shopping and walking the beautiful cobblestone streets in the center of Brussels, I stopped by an English Pub and asked to see the menu.  The young bartender told me they only serve burgers.  I asked him if he could recommend a great place for mussels and he suggested I check out an area where the locals like to dine.  He was kind enough to take me outside, point me in the direction I needed to go, and said it would be about an eight minute walk. He said to look for the big church (Saint Catherine's) and that's how I would know I'm in the right place.

There are several restaurants in this particular locale, but I felt drawn to Kom Bij Ma (traditional Belgian food) after reading the entree choices on the outside menu. 

Owner, Eric Dosogne

Eric was the first person to greet me when I walked in the door.  His warmth and charm made me feel like I walked into his home.  I noticed he genuinely greeted all the customers, seated them, and served their meals too. He did the work of at least three people by himself, without skipping a beat. It was obvious he takes great pride in his restaurant and making people feel welcome. He told me the name of the restaurant, Kom Bij Ma, is Flemish and means "come with me".  The standard form of Dutch used in Belgium is almost identical to that spoken in the Netherlands, but is called Flemish.  

The walls are decorated with photos of actors, celebrities, and politicians well known in Belgium.  The restaurant is very modern, clean and cozy. 

The chicken stew in a vegetable and cream sauce (17 Euro) is under the "Belgium in your Plate" section of the menu. There is a hearty sized piece of chicken buried underneath the vegetables, potatoes, and light cream sauce.  I wondered if the chicken had been simmering in a slow cooker all day since it was so tender and falling off the bone... no knife needed!  This dish is excellent and I'd gladly come back for seconds.  There were several entrees on the menu I'd love to try. 

The majestic looking Saint Catherine church is located right across the street from the restaurant and was open until 8:00 pm.  I had enough time for a quick peek inside after dinner. 

Divine!

The Baroque tower, built in 1629,  is separate, yet adjacent to the church. 

I hope others enjoy their experience as much as I enjoyed mine!  

Salukes!  

Restaurant T Kelderke in Brussels, Belgium - November 2014

Grand Place or Grote Markt is the central square of Brussels and is considered one of the most beautiful places in the world.  

This Belgium restaurant has a strong French influence and was highly recommended by my flight attendant friend, Anne, who has dined here at least ten times in the past five years.  She said it's her favorite go-to restaurant when she's in Brussels. And the location is ideal since it's right in the Grand Place square where you're surrounded by beauty! 

Anne said her friend (living in the USA) grew up in Belgium and told her she loves coming to T Kelderke when visiting so she can experience the same kind of food her mother made at home. 

Cozy ambiance with arched brick walls and open kitchen in the background.  We  made sure we arrived early before the crowds. 

Fish Waterzooi (stew with vegetables and cream)   22,90 Euros. 

Anne ordered this popular dish which includes mussels, fish, and potatoes.  She said she prefers a tomato based seafood, however, she was eager to try something new and different. 

This is the French name of my lamb stew with potatoes, carrots and leeks. The lamb was tender and tasty, plus one of the special meals being offered that evening.  Very filling, indeed!

Even though the chef was busy cooking, he kept a watchful eye on the patrons, even leaning over and inquiring about our meals.  After dinner I told him about my blog, so he invited me in the kitchen for a photo.  Very friendly staff!

Magnificent view of the square as soon as we stepped out of the restaurant!  

Beautiful cobblestone streets lined with the best shopping!

Anne in front of the famed Godiva store!

We couldn't resist a little chocolate before heading back to the hotel!  

Tips:  

No advance reservations

Credit cards are accepted

A menu in English is available

La Cabrera... A Parrilla (Steakhouse) in Buenos Aires, Argentina-September 2014

When our Argentina hosts, Kim Advent and Luis Fain from CMI Abasto, told us they were taking us to a steakhouse around the corner from our hotel, little did we know that La Cabrera is listed number 17 under Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2014!  It's located amongst the cool boutiques and bars of BA's Palermo area.   

We were one of the first to arrive at 8:30 pm which was a good thing.  The restaurant was packed in no time.  In Argentina, we were actually considered "early diners", but our hosts were considerate knowing we just flew in that morning and that we Americans usually dine at a much earlier hour.  

We let our hosts order for the table and all of us shared the huge platters of filet mignon and ribeye steaks, which included some of the most magnificent freshly grilled vegetables I've ever seen.  We weren't even sure what some of the dishes were called, but we tasted everything!  

We couldn't help but notice a rather gregarious table of eight American men from Austin, TX seated at a table next to us. Everyone broke out in laughter when it was mentioned that "we all literally woke up next to each other that same morning". Coincidentally, they were on the same flight sitting close to us in the Business First cabin.  They said they were off on a hunting expedition.

The restaurant had such great energy from the wait staff to the patrons.   

La Cabrera is fantastica!

They let me sneak in for photos before the dining area was packed.

Our hosts - Kim Advent & Luis Fain with CMI Abasto in Buenos Aires.

Our server displaying several side dishes.

Steak from Argentina's famed
grass-fed beef!

Steak and side dishes galore.

Probably the best grilled vegetables I've ever tasted!

Muy delicioso!


La Cabrera
www.parrillalacabrera.com.ar

Persian Dining in Dubai at the Sadaf Restaurant ~ July 2014

My first dining experience in Dubai happened to be during Ramadan when eating is not allowed from 4:30 am until 7:00 pm. 

I  landed in Dubai at 3:30 pm and by the time I unpacked, organized my clothes, and took a bath, it was around 8 pm before I left for dinner.  It was dark so I wanted to stay within walking distance of my downtown hotel.  

I found the Sadaf Persian style restaurant about three blocks from the hotel and decided to try it.  They had a full buffet upstairs, but I decided to order off the menu.  I could have tried several dishes.  Saeed, the host, suggested I try the Kabab Koubideh, which is three skewers of minced meat, a grilled tomato, french fries, and vegetables.  

I assumed that two of the three different types of meat would be chicken and lamb since it was offered several times in other dishes.  However, when I inquired with Saeed about two of the meats, he replied that they are minced meat.  I knew one meat was chicken, but questioned the other two and wasn't so sure I had any lamb in my entree.  I dipped the meat in my yogurt sauce and it tasted fine.  I was hoping for some "surprise me with some Persian style vegetables" on the side, and was disappointed to see mixed vegetables out of a can.  The salad was good and the ingredients were fresh, but needed a bigger plate since everything kept falling off the tiny dish it was stacked on.  I could have easily enjoyed just having the salad and the incredilby yummy (only when it's warm!) Taftoon bread.  

Lovely hostess!

                         

Downstairs dining area.  A buffet was being offered upstairs.

I absolutely love Persian bread!  Taftoon is a leavened flour bread from Persian cuisine made with saffron and cardamom powder, then baked in a clay oven.  I was told to eat it while it's fresh and warm versus after it cools off.  It becomes a little harder to chew once it becomes cold.  

Saeed

Saeed, the host of the Sadaf restaurant, is originally from Iran and said he moved to Dubai one year ago after living in England for several years.  Saeed said he can easily visit his family in Iran now since a plane flight is a quick 30 minutes from Dubai.  

We talked about the Iranian culture and he said the people there are given a little more freedom today than what they had several years ago.  He showed me a photo of his wife and other family members with a head covering on (not a burka), followed by another photo without their head covering since they were at a private party.  Saeed said it is the law for a woman to wear her head covering in public, and if they don't wear it, then they would be put in jail for not obeying the law.  They do not need to wear one at a private party.  

Since every woman in the restaurant had a head covering on (some were even wearing burkas) I decided to show respect and abide by the stricter Persian custom and cover mine too.  As well as the top of my shoulders.  

Me enjoying my first dinner in Dubai!

The Spice Route Restaurant in the Imperial Hotel ~ New Delhi, India ~ July 2014

This was my second visit to The Spice Route restaurant which is located inside the stunning Imperial Hotel in New Delhi, India.  The first time I was there a small group  of us went for dinner.  The restaurant was packed and it seemed like the service was a little slow.  On this occasion (July 2014), I went with one other friend for lunch and there were only two other people dining at the same time we were.  We decided to walk around the hotel before having lunch.  It was nice being there in the day time hours versus at night since we were able to see the pool area too.  I also saw more detail in the restaurant since it was fairly dark when we were there for dinner.   The dining area is divided into nine sections corresponding to the nine aspects of life.  

The following description is in the inside of the menu:  

The Spice Route is heralded as one of the top ten restaurants in the world by Conde Nast Traveler.  

The Spice Route has been designed to reflect the journey of spices from the Malabar Coast in Kerala through Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Indonesia to Thailand and Vietnam.  

Designed along the principles of Feng Shui, the restaurant has been segregated into nine different sections, portraying the various stages from 'the journey of life'.  The Knowledge section, The Fate & Fortune section or The Relationship section, every section has been thoughtfully depicted in a series of murals, laboriously hand painted by artisans over months.  These murals have always been a defining feature of The Spice Route.  

The staff told us these columns at the entrance of the restaurant are 400 years old

We were seated at this very lovely table

Nice!

Marakkala  Kukulmas

I chose this delicious Sri Lankan chicken flavored with fresh yoghurt, curry powder, cilantro simmered in coconut oil.  

My friend had the duck and we shared this bowl of rice

THE IMPERIAL HOTEL

Built in 1931 and known as New Delhi's first luxurious grand hotel.  Located in Janpath, it has the largest collection of colonial and post-colonial art and artifacts in Delhi, a museum and art gallery.  The hotel is a mix of Victorian and colonial architecture.  

3 Nagas Restaurant in Laos ~ May 2014

We were told the New York Times rated the 3 Nagas the best restaurant in Laos in 2008 and we found out why!  It has it all ~ atmosphere, indoor and outdoor dining, very friendly and attentive staff, and a menu that makes you want to go back and try something different again and again.  Even though I like to explore new and different restaurants, I couldn't resist going back to 3 Nagas for a second scrumptious meal!  

May 2014

I highly recommend the 3 Nagas Restaurant for excellent Lao cuisine if you're visiting Luang Prabang, Laos!  

Our appetizer was the Jeund Khaiphaen known as Deep-fried Mekong riverweed, served with spicy buffalo jam and fresh vegetable sticks.  The riverweed was so incredibly delicious that we decided to go back to 3 Nagas so I could have it again.   

All the ingredients are organically grown in this fresh and tasty salad

For dinner I had the Paa Neung Khing, which is a steamed whole river fish with fresh ginger.   It cost 80,000 Kip.  

Pears and sorbet for dessert!

Fresh herb tea after dinner