Kevelaer - Thai Rin Raum – Freshly prepared Thai curries to go

Sometimes authentic Asian food can be found in the weirdest location. Just outside the Edeka parking lot in Kevelaer, there’s a small mobile restaurant with fresh Thai curries and noodles. Yes, literally in the middle of nowhere by the road. And yet, people flock to this place from far and near to get their Thai dinner take out. There’s some seating next to the caravan with protection from the elements but most customers go for the take out. On a sunny summer day, we sat down for a Thai road side picnic. I usually alternate between Pad Thai noodles and a Thai curry. They also have a mean tamarind sauce stir fry. Everything is prepared on the spot as you wait. And for all this quality fresh Thai home cooking, they don’t charge an arm and a leg. Seriously is there anywhere else where you can have a generous serving of steaming hot Thai curry with rice for around 11 euros? I’m not kidding. Check out their online menu.

http://www.thairinruam.de/thai-rin-ruam.html

2023 Update: They changed to take aways only.

Weeze - Alpago - Italian ice cream heaven

Great family-run Italian ice cream café. They actually close down for the winter season and go back to Italy. I don’t blame them considering how miserable and cold the winters are in this region. And every spring they open their doors to serve great ice cream. In summer, long lines are proof of their quality. My favorites are a very dark chocolate ice cream combined with a raspberry sorbet. Both are incredibly rich in flavor and proof of all the good ingredients that go into the making of their ice creams.

http://www.eiscafe-alpago.de/

Rees - Inselgasthof Nass - Inland haven for seafood !?

Fish? This far inland? Most will not expect a good seafood restaurant in this region and Nass defies that prejudice. Beware that the dishes are not only delicious but also hefty in size. So skip your breakfast and lunch to prep yourselves. At the time I was writing this, I couldn’t find the photographs of the dishes I ordered. So you’ll have to use your imagination. What I enjoyed most and definitely will order a double portion on my next visit are the scallops in dill cream sauce with wild rice. And last but not least the restaurant is set in an idyllic location on the banks of the Rhine.  Not quite the source of the fish they serve but they are near water.

http://www.inselgasthof-nass.de/

Tokyo - Sushi Zanmai Bekkan - Imperial quality sushi that doesn't max out your credit card

When it comes to sushi in Tokyo, there’s a wide range of dining options. There are fast food joints and conveyor-belt sushi stores on one of the spectrum and Michelin star restaurants like Jiro in Ginza on the other end. And while my family in Tokyo is spoiled for choice, Sushi Zanmai Bekkan is where they go – right around the corner from the old Tsukiji fish market, tucked down a side street. And in particular they seek out the company of Sushi chef Eiji Shibata who not only serves great sushi but entertains guests with witty conversation and his vast knowledge of the sushi trade.

Since Eiji Shibata has worked in Dusseldorf at the famous Kikaku (see my other blog entry, link below), he speaks some German and English which is a godsend for foreign customers. During the 1990s when he worked in Dusseldorf, under the tutelage of master sushi chef Ito, he's served sushi to Emperor Akihito. In my opinion that is a great sign of quality that outshines a Michelin star.

There’s a fair amount of cheerful shouting going on as staff greet customers entering and thank departing customers. And do not be alarmed when this shouting goes up a notch. Once in a while, one of the sushi chefs will take a net and extract a fish from the large aquarium at the back. The fish – still flapping – will be held up high and displayed while a chef announces which type of fish it is. In response, eager customers start yelling back orders as the poor fellow meets its untimely end. That unfortunately is how fresh sushi is made. 

The best seats are at the counter where you can see all the action. You can try asking for a seat by Eiji's section if he is on duty.

Note: Sushi Zanmai has numerous locations in that neighborhood. All are equally good and one is even open 24 hours. The Bekkan location just happens to be our family favorite.
Unlike some sushi joints which quote prices that fluctuate with the going market price, Sushi Zanmai is clear about pricing. The price on the menu is what you pay, no surprises.
And they have attractive sets for around 30 euros.

2018 Update: Tsukiji outer market with the fish shops is still operational. However, the inner market where the auctions are held has been relocated to Toyosu.

2023 Update: Please check opening times prior to planning a visit. You might even try asking hotel staff or a friend to call and see if you can reserve a counter seat in Eiji's section.

https://kiyomura.imachika.com/store/2

Nara - Nara Hotel - Exquisite ambiance of the Meiji era

This beautiful hotel is located right on the edge of Nara Park, home to the sacred deer who freely roam there and the monumental temples. Built in 1909 as a guest house for visiting foreign dignitaries, the hotel boasts an impressive lineup of distinguished guests ranging from royalty to movie stars. For our family, this hotel was the preferred lodging for my father in his student days. An extravagance that I’m not sure if I should be proud of or embarrassed about. More recently we stayed there on a family vacation. The turn of the century architecture shows the Meiji era style where traditional Japanese elements were married with the new influx of Western influences. To this day, the hotel embodies the meeting of two cultures. Guests can dine grandly in the restaurant with a choice of top Japanese or French cuisine. The photo shows the roast lamb served on the night of our stay. And the next morning, we were spoiled again by breakfast served to order with enough choices to satisfy the most demanding diva.
http://www.narahotel.co.jp/eng/history.html

Tokyo - Din Tai Fung - Little dragons in a bun

This is the Walhalla of the xiao long bao. Din Tai Fung is located on the 12th floor of the Takashimaya department store in Shinjuku. Go well in advance of the time you really want to eat because there's usually a long line that wraps around the corner from the entrance and down the hall. Once inside you have to order the xiao long bao. Xiao long bao are dimsum dumplings with a meatball and hot soup inside. The name translates literally as little dragon in a bun... a name that is rather fitting because eating these directly as a whole will result in burning your mouth.

First you need to add the dip sauce (vinegar and/or soy sauce) to the small plate of fresh ginger. Next, you place the dumpling in a small bowl or the spoon and carefully break the skin to let the soup leak out first. Dip the dumpling in the vinegar and place some ginger on it before popping it into your mouth. Finally, drink up the soup. I’ve also seen articles stating that the only correct way to eat this delicacy is to nibble a small hole and first suck out the soup. I prefer the first method because I don’t fancy burns.

Although xiao long baos are their specialty they also have other dumplings like the spicy pork and shrimp dumplings as well as my favorite fried chicken and jelly fish salad featured in the photograph.

https://www.dintaifung.com.tw/eng/store_world.php?cid=2

2023 Update: Try the Din Tai Fung branch near Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit. Every time I was in the Shinjuku Takashimiya Branch, I faced long queues to get a table. Had better luck getting a table at the Tokyo Station branch.

They have branches all over the world in several Japanese cities. So check out their locations via the link above.

Goch - Terschlusen - Schnitzels, spareribs and fries

This family establishment has been around for decades. Friends of mine who grew up in Goch who are now in their fifties remember eating here when they were kids. The place itself is like a seventies time capsule with furnishings which seriously date back to that era.

Never mind the interior, what strikes you on most days is how full and bustling the place is. The entrance area is usually packed with people waiting at the counter for their takeaway meals with more waiting at the bar for a table to free up. Sometimes the wait for a table can be as long as half an hour. And that is not surprising when you see the assortment of mouth-watering schnitzels they have with every imaginable topping. Every time I come here for a quick meal, I am torn between ordering their tasty spare ribs and one of their schnitzels, like the wild mushroom cream sauce schnitzel which is a personal favourite. A serving of spareribs goes for just over 7 euros and the schnitzels range from 5 to 7 euros for the small ones. And believe me, their small-size schnitzel would be considered large elsewhere. I never had the courage to take on one of their large schnitzels. Fries, potatoes and a side salad or cooked vegetables all cost extra but only a few more euros. Even when it's busy, the meal you eventually get is very much worth the wait.

http://www.heidestuebchen.de

Zusje, Cuijk, Netherlands

If tasting a variety of dishes is your thing, Zusje has the right setup. Calling this is a tapas restaurant is a bit of misnomer since the dishes are not limited at all to the Spanish kitchen.  The variety of cuisines represented in the huge menu is quite impressive. There are bits and pieces from the Dutch, French, Asian and Mediterranean kitchen to name a few examples. So there are items like carpaccio, grilled scallops , Javanese chicken sate, teriyaki chiken, mini burgers. And the all-you-can-eat formula allows diners to indulge and explore to their heart’s content. Reservations are usually necessary especially in the weekend. Check out their website to see if there is a Zusje near you. Unfortunately I didn’t take any photos of the dishes since I was too busy enjoying the food. This will be amended next time I dine at Zusje.

http://www.zusje-tapas.nl/

Zeeuwse Stromen, Renesse, Netherlands

A hotel with a welcome mat for dogs. Not only does this hotel welcome the family pooch, but they even allow well behaved dogs into the dining room. So it is not surprising that entire families complete with their four-footed members flock to this hotel to celebrate Christmas. From another point of view, if you have objections to dogs in the hotel rooms and in the dining room, you have been warned.

Although we don't have pets, we have repeatedly stayed at the Zeeuwse Stromen. That is saying quite a lot since we normally would prefer to discover new places. So what brings us back here each year?

Well to begin with, there is the prime location. The hotel on the outskirts of Renesse is removed from the beach by just one dune ridge. One step out of the door and there is peace and quiet, salt wind, sea grass, sandy stretches, rhythmic crash of waves and winding paths through the dunes. Although to be fair, I've been told by other friends that high season brings an unwelcome horde of noisy tourists. So far, this being our winter/Christmas destination, we have been blessed with tranquility. I can't really say anything about high summer until I've experienced it first hand.

The other significant reason that brings us back each year is the superb kitchen. Christmas eve, Christmas day and Boxing day all feature special dinners for the guests. Each evening offers a choice of a wild game, fish or vegetarian main course. Appetizers are served in the form of a generous smorgasbord of fresh local produce. This Christmas we started with a lobster bisque soup (oops forgot to photograph this) and two helpings from the buffet which included puff pastry with creamy meat stew, Dutch shrimp in cream and herbs, smoked salmon with dill and a fine roast beef with sweet onion chutney. The main course consisted of a tender medium rare venison steak on caramelized Brussel sprouts and mashed celeriac. Dessert was a lovely creamy chocolate mousse with a rich dark chocolate filling.

As if we were not spoiled enough at dinner, a sumptuous breakfast buffet awaits us in the morning. Freshly baked local bread specialties, smoked salmon, local cheeses and cold cuts are just some of the breakfast highlights. That is in addition to breakfast standard fare such as bacon, scrambled eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, fresh fruit, cereals and yogurt.  A leisurely sitting at the breakfast table is a good way to fortify oneself for a long trek through the dunes and beaches.

http://www.zeeuwsestromen.nl/

Our Seaside, Renesse, Netherlands

Having dined at Our Seaside for the third Christmas in a row, this beach restaurant is now a tradition for us. Our Seaside is located about 40 minutes down the beach from the Zeeuwse Stromen hotel. On fair days, it's a wonderfully relaxing stroll over the immense stretch of sandy beach. And no worries, if it's stormy like it was for us this Christmas. There's a parking lot on Rampweg just over the dunes from the restaurant. 

In fact on 27 Dec 2014, a day of wet snow and fierce winds blowing in from the sea, there was a surprisingly constant stream of visitors braving the dismal conditions to reach Our Seaside. If that isn't proof of good food and cozy warm shelter, I don't know what is. 

Our Seaside's lunch menu features delicious large sandwiches such as the gourmet hamburger I had and beverages ranging from hot steaming mugs of coffee and cocoa to fresh mint tea. Other favorites of mine are the large salads, especially the one featuring smoked fish. What is characteristic of this restaurant is that they excel equally in meat, wild game and seafood specialties including lobster. 

Last Christmas we enjoyed a special wild game three-course dinner with a variety of venison and wild hog dishes. This Christmas we went for fillets of Atlantic sea wolf with a crunchy mustard crust and red wine sauce on a bed of mashed potatoes and glasswort. And to top this feast off, we were served a homemade warm apfelstrudel with an incredibly crunchy paper-thin crust. The best I've had ever. Although we traditionally visit Our Seaside in the winter, I'm sure there is great food to be had all year around. 

http://www.ourseaside.nl/