TVaddictlovesfood

For many who don't know, every twice a year, there is the National Restaurant Week. For one week, the participating restaurants offer their a 3 course dinner for under €30. This week happens to be the week!

The participating restaurants may not be Michelin star but they might as well be in my book. The creativity and variety available in the selection will be a trip for your taste buds. The cuisine featured is mostly from the modern kitchen but also very often inspired by traditional techniques and taste. Although the price doesn't include drinks, sometimes they offer wine pairing options.

It really is a great opportunity to try the best restaurants in Amsterdam at a reasonable cost. I just reserved one at Jaimie van Heije at Ouderkerk this weekend and I can't wait.

So you have 6 more days to make your reservations.

I have been so lazy lately. Haven't wrote anything despite the fact that I have been travelling. So here is my diarrhea of posts. First one up - Rotterdam. We wanted to pamper ourselves so we had brunch at the oyster bar at Hotel New York Rotterdam.

My first time to the hotel was just a couple of months ago when C brought me there to have a quick bite before the North Sea Jazz Festival. The building used to be the head office of the Holland American Line, a cruise company manning the main transport between 'the big apple' and Holland. The building itself is not spectacular. The interior, however is still kept in its early 20th century Jugendstil style decor. Walking in, you feel like you have been transported into a movie set.

The restaurant features an amazing oyster bar. They have up to 7 different types of oysters and a whole array of shellfish. We had the 'Taste experience of creuses' which has 2 each of 3 different variety of oysters. We also tried the razorblade mussels that has been cooked in white wine sauce and garlic. Both dishes were heavenly. The oysters were so fresh we felt like we were drinking from the sea. We then each had our own main which were actually starters. C had a tuna trio while I had the smoked swordfish. What should I say, stick to the oyster bar.

So if you are in area, and have a craving for fresh shellfish and you want to feel like you are dining in a ship, head to Hotel New York Rotterdam.

Hotel New York
Koninginnenhoofd 1, 3072 AD Rotterdam, Netherlands
Reservations: +31 (0)10 439 0525

Recently I read an article about eggs and I realised that I don't actually know the difference between the labels. What's the difference between free-range eggs and organic eggs or biological eggs. What do all these label means? If you are just as clueless as me, read on!

Disclaimer: There are maybe some other labels in other countries which I am not aware of. The references I made here are to the eggs sold in The Netherlands.

Cage eggs

These are probably the cheapest eggs. The hens are confined in cages where they can't even move an inch. They are usually fed with the cheapest food. This is really a production line rather than a farm.