Madeleines

“She sent out for one of those short, plump little cakes called 'petites madeleines', which look as though they had been moulded in the fluted scallop of a pilgrim's shell....... An exquisite pleasure had invaded my senses...”

That's how Marcel Proust described these delectable shell-shaped beauties.  What he failed to mention was how incredibly addictive they are.  I'm almost ashamed to admit that most of my madeleines don't survive their ‘cooling’ stage once they leave the oven.  

Hungry for Lunch- The Club Sandwich

Club Sandwich

It is speculated that the club sandwich was an invention of the rather exclusive gentlemen's clubs that existed in the United States at the end of the 19th century. Whatever its origin, one thing is certain.  If I bite into a sandwich like this one, I am instantly transported back to the New York City delicatessens I so fondly remember.  The kind that serve you pastrami on rye or egg salad- always with a pickle. 
This is not a sandwich for those with light appetites. And if you're afraid to really open wide, then you might also want to skip this post. The rest of you can try the recipe as a delicious change of pace this weekend.

I prefer to serve my club sandwich as a hearty lunch, but it might also make a pretty delicious easy dinner if you serve it with a little cole slaw on the side. Whatever you choose, please... please don't forget a side of chips (the good kind) and a fat, juicy pickle.

Que Pasa New York?  Que Pasa New York? Hey! Hey!

Paola’s tips:

*The recipe is for 1-2 people, but feel free to increase the ingredients for more people, or bigger hunger. I also haven't been too specific here. An extra slice of bacon or just a little more mayo is not really going to change things much.

*Use a dry frying pan to crisp the bacon.  It will fry in its own fat. This goes very quickly so keep your eyes on your bacon!

*The gourmand in me strongly advises you to use the best bread you can get your hands on.  Not the gummy, white kind. I buy my bread at Le Fournil de Sébastien and Vlaamsch broodhuys.

For 1-2 servings

3 thick slices of good bread, lightly toasted

red pesto

mayonnaise

a little bit of nice, peppery rucola

1-2 fried eggs

2 slices of bacon

thinly sliced chicken breast

1-2 cherry tomatoes

handful of chips, and a pickle, to serve

1. Begin by spreading some red pesto on one of your slices. Top with the chicken breast and a little rucola.
2. Spread the second slice with some mayo and place it (mayo side down) on top of the chicken and rucola. 
3. Spread the top of that slice with more red pesto and top with the bacon and a little more rucola.
4. Spread the last slice with some mayo and top off the sandwich. 
5. Use a sharp knife to cut the sandwich on the diagonal. Top with the fried egg.
6. Finish the sandwich with the cherry tomato (you may want to secure it with a long toothpick), the chips and the pickle.

Restaurant Review: GateWay Diner, Almere

If you’re looking for something deliciously out of the ordinary, than hurry on over to Almere and sink your teeth into some of the tastiest all-American classics- happy days style!

Close your eyes and imagine yourself seated at a red-leather booth while sipping a frothy chocolate milkshake and tapping your feet to cheerful tunes emerging from a jukebox.  The friendly waiter flashes you a pearly ear-to-ear grin as he serves you your perfectly grilled burger. An American dream circa 1954? At Martin van der Voort’s GateWay Diner, it’s an everyday reality.
The authentic American diner stood at the entrance of a cotton factory in Pennsylvania from 1939 to 1992 and is now situated at the waterfront of Almere’s Beatrix Park. You don’t only come here for their generously sized and gloriously dressed hamburgers.  You also come here for a magical trip back to the good ol’ days when service always came with a smile.  
The GateWay Diner is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the menu includes favorites such as burgers (not for those with small appetites!), T- bone steaks, tuna salad and onion rings.
Be sure to try their taco salad (golden tortilla chips topped with spicy bits of ground beef, tangy sour cream, cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomatoes). Especially good with a cold beer or a chilled glass of their white house wine. Craving a sweet treat? With classics including blueberry muffins, fudge brownies, cheesecake and apple pie, there’s definitely something for everyone.
In the warmer months, you can enjoy your meal on the sunny terrace while watching sailboats lazily float by. And because you’re smack in the middle of Almere’s most beautiful park, a leisurely stroll afterwards is highly recommended.

Open daily from 10.00-22.00 hrs, Beatrixpromenade 7,  Almere,  036-5300291,

Review for restaurant Hemel op aarde

If you doubt Almere’s culinary repertoire, a visit to Hemel op aarde (the name meaning 'heaven on earth') could be enough to make you change your mind.

The bistro's ambiance is low-key and decidedly unpretentious. French chansons play softly in the background as diners relax with their pre-dinner drinks. There's a certain je ne sais quoi about the place that keeps me coming back at least once a month. And it's not just because they serve the best escargots I've had outside of France.
Starters include everything from understated delicacies such as the delightfully crunchy Holtkamp croquettes to fancier fare such as the veal pie with truffle and cognac. Especially memorable is their warm goat's cheese salad served with perfectly grilled vegetables and goldenly caramelized pecans.
The kitchen works with top-quality ingredients (all of their meats are hormone-free and come from animals that have had a good life) and their vegetables are always done to absolute perfection. No overcooked haricot verts here!
Meat lovers can woo themselves into culinary bliss with the bistro's classic masterpiece- the Waygu steak- or the entrecôte which can be ordered with a variety of sauces such as port-garlic, truffle butter or my personal favorite, cognac-pepper. Seafood fans can enjoy their always superior chef's choice or the succulent gambas served with white wine, sambal badjak and cream- both dishes pair beautifully with a glass of their crisp sauvignon blanc. And with choices such as the mushroom ravioli in vodka sauce or the cheese fondue with garlic and herbes de Provence, vegetarians aren’t forgotten either.
Those who claim they don't have a sweet tooth would be cheating themselves by not trying one of their amazing desserts. Choices include the warm belgian waffle with honey and hazelnut parfait, the white chocolate cheesecake with mandarins drenched in Van Wees orange liqueur and the tangy mango-cassis sorbet served with a coulis of forest fruits.
Hemel op aarde is a restaurant that surely lives up to its name. Not only because there’s always something new and enticing on the menu (the mussels served in September were some of the juiciest I've ever had), but because the service is welcoming and nothing short of exceptional.


Deventerpad 32, Almere. 036-5245836
Open Wednesday through Sunday from 17.00hrs.