We are two weeks into an 8 week trip and have had some amazing meals between our lengthy walking tours and hikes.
We chose Haarlem as our base in The Netherlands. We were thrilled to find amazing food as our expectations were not high. But....
- We were stunned to discover a truly Italian pizza in Haarlem at Pizzeria Back-to-Basics. The owner, Francesco, is a Neapolitan who came to Haarlem 30 years ago. He produces masterpieces from a tiny wood-fired oven and kibitzed with me in Italian. Even the wine was a good Italian negroamaro. Got the tip from Rick Steves' Guide, thank you very much!
- Another night we experienced the Indonesian rijsttafel, an experience we’ve not had prior and would not mind repeating. At Restaurant Flamboyant, an array of 12 dishes was not unlike a Lebanese mezza. Each dish presented a different flavor palate from mild to spicy, from sweet to savory. Deep-fried tofu, stewed lamb, tender braised chicken, fried bananas, coconut vegetables, zippy sautéed eggplant: too many to name and each a bit of heaven on the tongue.
- On a stormy night, we arrived soaking wet and found a cozy yet trendy interior and non-traditional menu at Popocatepetl. Pollo asado was served with sweet potato fries (side of mayo, of course!) and my husband's birria, a lamb stew, was something we’d not seen before on a Mexican menu. The playlist varied from jazz to Mexican and the hang-out factor was huge. No wonder the place is always crowded with the young Dutch.
On to München where we not only had an interesting private tour with Dark History Tours, we had one of the best Lebanese meals ever at Restaurant Baalbek. High quality, reasonable prices, large servings, in an elegant interior full of locals. Score!
We are also loving the price of wine on the continent. We can get a decent bottle for the price of 1-1/2 glasses in Portland or Seattle!
Lots of weather issues in two weeks; we can count the truly nice days on one hand. Rain and wind were awful in The Netherlands and we had to buy fleeces for our foray into the Dolomites (where we are now). But hey, we are on a Grand Tour, eating well, walking 17,000 steps a day, and relishing every minute!