Musings from a foodie…

During the last month, I had the opportunity to engage in one of the very best of the best dinners I’ve experienced in the last decade. The last time I was able to partake in a meal this good was at Steirerecke im Stadtpark Restaurant in Vienna. The only problem is that the distance to the restaurant is kind of far away. Well, I haven’t solved the problem!! I recently returned from a trip to the Nordics for the first time and it was quite nice – and, I feel so very lucky to have had the opportunity. So, if any of my readers are headed to the Nordics and you’re planning a start in Amsterdam, you should definitely consider The Rijks® Restaurant [ * * * * * * ]   under the guidance of Chef Joris Bijdendijk since 2014 and Sous Chefs Ivan Beusink and Yascha Oosterger Bijdendijk!! It’s the second-best meal I’ve had in the last decade although you could consider the two venues essentially “equivalent”. They were awarded a Michelin Star as well as listed in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants both in 2016 as well as moving forward. If you’re not inclined to a full meal, they also have a coffee / sweet treats / drinks / snacks menu in the afternoon as part of the Museum visit in the Garden. The focus of the restaurant is on Dutch flavors and cooking from throughout the centuries that have influenced the Netherlands. The five-course tasting menu – while a bit pricey – was well worth it for any foodie. On the evening when we visited, dinner started with tomato gelatin and sliced strawberries followed by chicken livers with a cranberry sauce (oh la la!).

They then had us settle in with an offering of French bread with toasted black garlic, a dash of black pepper, honey butter, and sesame seeds with sweet paprika. The piece de resistance; however, was mandolin sliced beets cooked in a “Tomasu” soy sauce where smiles adorned the table and begging for the recipe began!! Tomasu soy sauce is made only in The Netherlands and I’m still trying to figure out how to get my hands on it so I can try out the recipe 😊. There were other helpings but – trust me – it was ALL quite wonderful. They then finished up with my favorite dessert = rice pudding. However, the mix of fruit, crumbles, and whipped cream far exceeded my culinary expectations. Sooooo, if you get to The Netherlands – you must try The Ricks Restaurant – Museumstraat 1 – 1071 XX Amsterdam - +31 (0) 20-6747-000.

PS – There were more culinary finds that I’ll be reporting out in future editions of The Fickenscher Files…

Musings from a foodie…

Bunyan’s Barb-B-Que ( * * * * * ) – Oo-la-la what a place!! There’s BBQ and then there’s real BBQ. Bunyan’s is one of the rare latter places. First, when you walk up to the place – you wonder if you had it wrong. It’s very unassuming but that’s because the emphasis is on what they put in your tummy and not where you sit or, don’t sit as the case may be. It was started in 1972 by Rosie Cole and her husband in Florence, Alabama. For you musical types out there, you’ve probably heard of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio that is famous for almost every genre of music you can think of and has more Grammy records of note than any studio…but, I digress. Bunyan’s is just down the road a speck and worth the trip. I had a plate of BBQ ribs with potato salad and baked beans. Suz had the rib sandwich with some coleslaw mixed in for additional flavor. Both were fabulous. I topped it off with some of their homemade peach cobbler. Whoa – was I a happy boy. BBQ places are fairly common but places like Bunyan’s are uncommon and absolutely wonderful. And, worthy of your visit if you get to Alabama. Finally, the sign next to the serving counter says: “Made with Love – means I licked the spoon” – my motto and approach to cookin’ for all these years. Bunyan’s Bar-B-Que – 90 West College Street – Florence, AL  35630 – (256) 766-3522 – www.bunyansbarbeque.com. Takeout is an optional dining experience with seating on the outside on a good day and limited inside on any day.

Musings from a foodie…

As I noted above, this is my birthday week. One of the traditions that I’ve always asked for in my home – which started with my Mom – was to have her prepare a “Waldorf Astoria Red Cake” for my annual birthday cake. Each of the kids had their favorite type of cake and mine was clearly “Red Cake”. So, I was more than a bit disheartened when I was told that the dye used in Red Cake has been deemed to be carcinogenic. Yikes!!  So, what to do? Suzanne (my wife) came up with a great suggestion by offering up a “Traditional Red Cake” made with red beets for the color instead of using dye. Hmmm. But, will it taste as good? I’m not sure because I’m on the road and will not be home until Saturday when the “new” Traditional Red Cake will be presented in all of its glory with more than a few candles. I’ll report back in a couple of weeks…with the recipe of course! Meanwhile…

Anatolia Mediterranean Restaurant – But, I couldn’t resist mentioning a newfound restaurant in the southern Northeast in Somersworth, NH. Anatolia [ * * * * * ] is a fabulous find that we only recently learned about from friends. I did not get to meet the Owner/Manager – Chef Ali Kalem, but I can assure you I will be asking for him (continuously, if necessary) during upcoming visits. He’s done a masterful job of creating the right food, with the right ambiance and the right staff who truly believe in offering you the finest in dining “experience”. If you like (I “adore”) Mediterranean foods, Anatolia is the place to visit if you are in the Northeast. It’s a bit hidden in one of the back entrances to one of the old mills along the river but it is worth the search. It represents the fusion of Turkish and Greek cuisine at its best. The only downside from my perspective was the noise level was a bit high so I turned the hearing aids down a bit and simply said “Huh?” a bit more during the conversation with our friends. Make reservations because a walk-in may take a bit of time. Check it out: Anatolia Mediterranean Restaurant, 2 Main Street – Somersworth, NH 03878 – (603) 841-5372 – www.anatolianh.com –

Musings from a foodie…

Our family recently had the opportunity to break bread together in the Phoenix area for a New Year’s celebration. So, given my penchant for selecting good places, the business of selection fell to my lap. And, I surely responded. I decided to try a place that has been on my list for a good couple of decades – Vincent on Camelback [* * * * *]. While the experience pinched my pocketbook substantially, it was worth the once-in-a-couple-decades experience rating. The menu is a combination of French and Southwest styles combined in an excellent fashion to offer the best of both worlds. I decided to forego the first starter that caught my attention – Crispy Potato Pancake with Lobster and Ginger Dressing – because, as I told the waiter, “I’m from Maine and I can’t believe the lobster is as good in the desert as it is on the seashore.” And, he believed me 😊. From there, we proceeded to a varied menu of meats including lamb, beef, and duck with lots of various veggies and a few starches for the diehards. Every – YES, “every” item was great. It was one of the best meals I’ve had in many moons but, it was also the priciest!! So, if you go there, you’ll enjoy yourself but, at a price. My suggestion is to reserve it for a very special occasion and then, only once but…definitely, once! Vincent on Camelback – 3930 East Camelback Road – Phoenix, AZ 85018 – (602) 224-0225 – https://vincentsoncamelback.com/.