I CAN GOURMET
A dedicated blog to the wonderful world of fine eating and fine drinking.
3/29/17
1/7/15
I can Istanbul
Dear Folks,
unfortunately I did not had much time to dedicate
lately to my Blog, and this is a shame.
Still, I would like to share with you a Post
dedicated to one of my favorite cities, Istanbul.
It was in this city that I found my wife, so it will always be synonymous of love and romance.
Istanbul is the biggest city in Europe and one of
the biggest in the world. Its unique location, between Europe and Asia is
already a guarantee of a magic city, but there's more, much more.
Istanbul is also known as "second Rome"
because of its historical past as the capital of the Roman Empire of the East.
The city has always been important, first as Byzantium
(the capital of the Byzantine Empire), then as Constantinople (the capital of
the Roman Empire of the East) and then as Istanbul (the capital of the Ottoman
Empire).
The magic of this city can be observed while
walking thousands of years of history just in front of your eyes. Wonderful
monuments, wonderful views, friendly and welcomed local population, wonderful
food, wine, drinks and desserts.
If you go to Istanbul please start with a visit
to Hagia Sofia, it was for a thousand years the biggest Christian Church in the
world, after its conquest by the Turks it was then transformed into a Mosque
and since 1935 by the order of President Ataturk, it was transformed into a
Museum. A testament to what is a unique place that can be cherished by all.
A few meters from Hagia Sofia is the Blue Mosque,
a majestic, beautiful Mosque and for sure a must see. It is called Blue Mosque
because of its tiles decoration. Please bare in mind that half an hour before
prayers, during prayers and half an hour after prayers the Mosque is closed for
Tourists.
If you stand in the park between Hagia Sofia and
Blue Mosque you can observe that the Ottoman Empire adopted the Byzantine style
of the Orthodox Churches in the construction of all their Mosques, this can be
observed all over the city and in most Mosques, the result of this mix is
absolute beauty. Not far away from Hagia Sofia you can find the wonderful
"Cistern of the Cathedral", a magical underground world built as a
water reservoir during the Roman period. It’s a plunge into history, a James
Bond movie was filmed down there and also there's a chapter in the Dan's Brown
novel Inferno.
Few blocks up the road you will find the Gran
Bazaar. It’s like a Shopping Centre but bare in mind that it was built 500
years ago and it is still busy busy busy. There are some shops that are managed
by the same family for centuries. You can find anything there, it is not a
bargain as you might expect, because quite honestly they will profit from
Tourist and its rich currency but still it is a must of Istanbul. Close to the
Gran Bazaar you have some old Turkish Baths houses and in my opinion it is
another must of Istanbul. You will be in a bath house relaxing and thinking
that 500 years ago, in that very same place people were already enjoying the
very same experience. Also around the Gran Bazaar you can find place where you
can sit down, smoke Shisha and enjoy the amazing Tchai (that's Tee).
Top Kapi palace deserves a longer visit, but if
you are fun of world history you need to go and visit the palace of the Sultans
and how they have ruled a huge and rich Empire (Ottoman), the views from the
palace of the Bosphorous are breathtaking.
You can then go down to Golden Horn area by the
New Galata bridge, you have the New Mosque and next to it the Egyptian Bazaar
or the Spice Bazaar. Not far go and visit the famous Restaurant and Baklava
House Hamdi, the Turkish food is excellent and then finish with a Pistachio
Baklava, heaven.
You can then walk the New Galata Bridge and check
on the local fisherman’s. After you cross the bridge you can start walking
towards Galata Tower, another landmark of the city. Once in that area you can
walk the famous shopping street Istiklal and its Tram. It finishes in Taksim
Square a much loved area for the locals.
Istanbul is a vibrant huge Metropolis where old
and historical can mix with modern and huge, like the biggest Europeans
Shopping Centers, with huge modern Skyscrapers and amazing views.
There's a modern and hype nightlife, very modern
and probably not in our occidental image of a Muslim country. Beautiful bars
and discos, awarded restaurants are many and the choice is difficult.
I will suggest you to go and visit Ulus 29, its
one of the most awarded Restaurants of Istanbul, not cheap but also I believe
that the food, the wines, the service, the views are well worth the visit.
Please call beforehand for a reservation. In the same building you can stay for
late cocktails next to local hype young rich beautiful people and dance the
night away.
But Istanbul it’s much more, there’s so many
museums, you can also have a small cruise in the Bosphorous, visit the Fish
Restaurants in the Asian side, etc.
As a conclusion, do not trust Taxi drivers for
suggestions for a Restaurant, they might take you to isolated restaurants that
will give a menu with prices for rich Tourist and then you will have a horrible
meal and will pay much much money. Always take a taxi with a specific
destination and an address written in a paper so that you can show the driver,
communication bobble can be a huge problem. Also, even though Istanbul can be
considered an European city it is still a city outside the normal standards of
the Western standards, so if you are a woman do not walk alone outside known
streets and always be suspicious of local gents, better afraid than sorry.
Enjoy Istanbul, enjoy history and enjoy a wonderful
culture, its cuisine, its traditions.
Bon Appetit
Chef Gourmet Du Art
7/7/14
Travel Foodie...
Dear Folks,
it has been a while since my last Post
and I do apologize, but you see I have been really busy lately…
You see I have been travelling to Paris, Sofia, Venice to name a few and I want to share some of the experiences with you.
In Paris, once again I have paid a visit to Willis Wine Bar in Rue des Petits Champs 13, a place that I know very well, as I have worked there back in 1997,98. I have missed Mark Williamson, still I have enjoyed a delicious meal an exquisite wine. The place is a bit different from my period, it is bigger now, still it was an emotional moment as I cherish my time and my youth passed there. I highly recommend it and also it is a good place for you to buy one of the famous Posters that they commission every year from different Artists, I actually ate under the very same poster that I have in my kitchen.
In Paris, once again I have paid a visit to Willis Wine Bar in Rue des Petits Champs 13, a place that I know very well, as I have worked there back in 1997,98. I have missed Mark Williamson, still I have enjoyed a delicious meal an exquisite wine. The place is a bit different from my period, it is bigger now, still it was an emotional moment as I cherish my time and my youth passed there. I highly recommend it and also it is a good place for you to buy one of the famous Posters that they commission every year from different Artists, I actually ate under the very same poster that I have in my kitchen.
The other great place that we went out was
Montmartre, for many it might look overcrowded and very touristic, well it is. Still, it is one of my favourite all time spots in Paris, as you can check good street Painters
and also a few old places where famous use to hang out 100 years ago (Sisley, Degas, Cezane, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, etc).
I enjoy seating out at “ Le Consulat” and look at the walking crowds while drinking a vibrant Rose Wine.
Usually my wife and I have the “cliché” Moulle
& Frittes, French Onion Soup and also the Escargots. A very French and
Parisian night out.
In Venice we went out at one of my favourite
places to eat real Venetian food, Trattoria Cà d’oro (La Vedova) at Calle del
Pistor. A real delicious small trattoria where you can indulge yourself with
real small traditional Venetian dishes, it is actually a place where real Venetians
go to eat.
In Sofia you can enjoy wonderful traditional
Bulgarian food at Chevermeto Restaurant in Bulgaria Boulevard, Sofia. Enjoy the
greatness and particularity of a melting pot nation.
Well, it was not a Post dedicated to a single
place but a testimony that the greatest thing that one can do is to travel, to enjoy new places, to discover different cultures and to taste exquisite food and
dishes.
Bon Appetit,
Chef Gourmet Du Art
5/12/14
Pleasant surprise in Milano
Dear Folks,
Saturday night I had the opportunity to receive
here in Milano some friends and together with my family we went out for dinner.
Having a Gourmet Blog gives me a huge responsibility
when choosing and/or proposing a Restaurant.
Well I’ve managed to do it again, the chosen
Restaurant is a small pleasant surprise that I would like to share with all my
readers.
It is called “28 posti” that is 28 places, the capacity
of this small cute restaurant right in the heart of the trendy quartier of “Naviglio
Grande”.
It is a minimalistic modern design restaurant
with open view kitchen, as you not feel the pressure of prententious posh place you can relax and feel more at home.
The owners of the Restaurant are very concerned
about many important issues such as Km0 (that is local suppliers to avoid pollution
in the distribution process), Rehabilitation and Social issue: the furniture of the Restaurant was built by
Prisoners from a nearby prison and also real prisoners’
are part of the Team of the Chef of the Restaurant, meaning that after work
they have to return back to the prison.
The Menu is characterized by good quality fresh
nature products, divided in a Fish Menu and a Vegetarian one.
We have decided to follow a “degustacion” Fish Menu
that included also wines that were especially selected to each individual course because of taste, texture and flavours.
It was delicious and course after course (there
are quite many little courses) one will find a pleasant delicious and fresh
surprise.
Did I managed to arouse your curious you? Then
pay a deserved visit to 28 Posti in Milano.
Bon Appetit,
Chef Gourmet Du Art
Here's the contacts:
Ristorante 28 Posti
Via Corsico 1-3. Milano.
Tel. +39 02.8392377
4/15/14
Portuguese Wines celebrated with 23 medals at the Wine International Competition of Lyon
Dear Folks,
Once again, Portuguese wines are being awarded
in main international competitions, this time in France.
Portugal was awarded with a total of 23 medals
during the last International Lyon event, such competition in renowned for Gastronomy and
good taste.
With a total of 9 gold medals and 14 silver
ones, the wines are from different areas of Portugal, from Douro to Setubal and
from Dao to Alentejo (to enumerate a few).
The Jury from the Competition awarded in its
majority the Reds but there are also two Rosés and seven Whites. The most
awarded wine was the Quinta Vale d’Aldeia (from the city of Guarda) with a
total of four medals.
In one of the most prestigious wine
competitions of the world, the Jury analysed more than 3.685 wines from 22
different countries.
Here’s my humble contribution for the
Portuguese wine awareness in the world and as someone once said “the best wine
kept secret of the world”.
If you have the opportunity pay a visit to my
country and make a toast with a wonderful Portuguese wine.
Saùde…
Bon Appetit.
Chef Gourmet Du Art
3/28/14
I CAN "LONDON"
Dear Folks,
it has been a while since I Posted a
so-called polemic text. Thus, I will just allow my fingers to click along the
board and let’s see what we will get in the end…
I left my home town back in 1995 and moved to
London, being raised and born in a small fishing Tourism Town, life was easy,
relaxed and we could just enjoy long warm days most of the year. The arrival in London was a mix of
excitement and a lasting nostalgia from home, in Portugal we call it “Saudade”.
London was the center of the world for someone
like me. A huge city full of all the things that a Western Youngster longs for…
freedom, trends, availability, discos, pubs, museums, shops, restaurants,
music, education and millions of people living together.
Once a friend of mine that grew up in London
told me, “You see, living in a big city can be good or bad, for example you can
walk throughout the street completely face painted and no one will pay
attention nor look at you. This sense of freedom can be exciting (if you come from
a small city where everybody knows you) but at the same time can be very scary,
meaning that the other face of the coin is that no one’s cares if something bad
happens to you.”
I have really enjoyed my time in London to the max and now-a-days I consider
it also as my city, it is part of who I am today, I have learn a lot by living there. I've earned
a Master’s degree at the University of Westminster and also worked in Harrods
to pay for my costs, thus I can say that I have experienced quite a lot in my 3 year stay.
I know now most of the city, its Museums, Palaces,
squares, parks, markets, cool areas, trendy places, restaurants, stadiums, etc…
London can give you so much, but
beware it is a very expensive city.
I have managed to visit the Michelin Star awarded
Restaurant at the Dorchester Hotel or the OXO Tower Restaurant, but attention, both are ridiculously expensive.
Thank God that at least museums are free now,
you can enjoy the wonderful British Museum, the amazing National History
Museum, the thrilling Science Museum, the highly quoted National Gallery, the
vibrant Tate Gallery, the glamour Victoria and Albert Museum, the Imperial War
Museum and so many others.
I will never forget the street performers of
Covent Garden and Leicester Square, the cool bars of Soho, the West end
Musicals, the crazy trendy Camden Town market.
If you know London, you will probably tell me… you
forgot Madame Tussauds, the War Cabinets, Big Ben, St Paul’s, Westminster
Abbey, the Royal Palace, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the Parks…
No, I did not forget anything, I just believe
that it is such a vibrant big city that one must live there in order to enjoy it to
its most.
If you have the chance go to London (at least
for a period) and become a Londoner.
Bon Appétit,
Chef Gourmet Du Art
2/3/14
Portugal wins two Gourmet “Oscars”
The Gourmet International Academy met last week in Paris for the Gourmet Oscars awards.
Such prestigious academy awarded two Portuguese Chefs amongst the winners.
Armando Fernandes, author of the book "À Mesa em Mação - Carta Gastronómica", and David Jesus, chef of the Restaurant Belcanto, owned by José Avillez, where tow of the main Gourmet personalities that most emerged according to the Gourmet Academy.
One award goes to "À Mesa em Mação" winner of the Gourmet Literature ("Prix de la Littérature Gastronomique").
Also awarded was Chef David Jesus, that daily presents the most sophisticated and interesting Portuguese Cuisine at Restaurant Belcanto owned by Chef José Avillez", according to the Gourmet Academy, he was awarded as the Chef of the Future ("Chef de L' Avenir").
Once again Portuguese Cuisine is breaking both barriers and prejudice and more and more “connoisseurs” are falling in love by such particular cuisine.
Hope that you have the chance to pay a visit to the Country that most have influenced the world and its habits as we know it.
Congratulations to the winners.
Bon Appetit,
Chef Gourmet Du Art
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