Lebanese lamb pizza

6-30-2010 Wed. warm, sunny.

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed vegetables | watermelon
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- egg and tomato soup with cilantro |sauteed napa cabbage with wood-ear and pickled bamboo shoots | Lebanese minced lamb pizza (Lahm bi ajine) | fennel salad | red wine

• this Lebanese pizza calls for yogurt bread dough.
  

Ceviche and Swedish pickled herring

6-29-2010 Tue. hot, sunny.


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed asparagus and shrimp
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries
DINNER --- tilapia ceviche and celery | stir-fired green beans with black bean sauce | sauteed mushroom, wood-ear and green onion | rice | fennel and avocado salad

• there is some similarity between ceviche and Swedish pickled herring.
  

a Kitchen of one's own

6-28-2010 Mon. hot, sun and storm

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- steamed vegetable buns | cherries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- fennel salad | scrambled eggs with tomato and cilantro | sauteed shrimp and asparagus | steamed Brussels sprouts | rice with asparagus creamy sauce

• good to be back and cook at home, miss the kitchen and lots of green food.
  

Chicken or pasta? once more

6-27-2010 Sun. warm, sunny.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- (at airport) chicken wrap | coffee | beer
DINNER --- airline food | (at home) vegetable soup

• a traveling day is always a terrible day for food
  

A feast under the Midsummer maypole

6-26-2010 Sat. warm, rain and shine.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | fruit | bread | boiled egg | juice
DINNER --- ( at Thomas and Harry's cottage in Gnesta ) Jansson's temptation (scalloped potatoes,cream, onion and anchovies) | Swedish pickled herring and red onions | Swedish meat balls | sausage | smoked salmon | Swedish crisp bread || baked salmon with herbs | sour cream sauce | boiled potatoes | snaps | white wine || almond cream cake | coffee

a feast of Swedish traditional food

• a family reunion after many years. A great effort in cooking was made by Thomas. Truly a great and authentic Midsummer feast.
• the cottage sits near a lake in Gnesta, about one hour train ride from Stockholm, beautifully decorated. the garden has abundant flowers, fruit trees and berries.
  

cottage, heirloom lace, dinning room, antique stove, sauna

in the garden: goose berry, maypole, apple, flower

no food for the Summer Festival eve

6-25-2010 Fri. warm, sunny


BREAKFAST --- coffee | raspberries
LUNCH --- pasta with cray fish and salad | cherries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | cured pork
DINNER --- Swedish beer

• could not find a place to have dinner in the eve of "summer festival" in Stockholm
  

Lefse in a Fjærland bookstore

6-24-2010 Thu. warm, cloudy to rain.


BREAKFAST --- tea| poached egg | bread | fruit
LUNCH --- ( at Fjærland book store ) tea| lefse ( Norwegian potato pancake )
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- coffee
DINNER --- ( at Bergen airport) fish soup | lefse

• Fjærland is a small village near the Norway glacier museum, somehow there are several used book stores in the village, one of them serves lefse and tea.
  

Trout from Jølster lake

2-23-2010 Wed. warm, sunny


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- ( picnic on the way to Jostedalsbreen glacier park) open-faced sandwich with smoked salmon, sweet shrimp, cured pork and brown cheese | cherries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea
DINNER --- ( at Skei hotel) poached trout from Jølster lake | potatoes with sour cream sauce | pickled cucumber

• gorgeous scenery route to Jostedalsbereen, farming and fishing land. Trout is local and tasted fresh.
  

Immersion of Norwegian seafood

6-22-2010 Tue. mild, cloudy


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- Smoked salmon | Norwegian cracker | flat bread | brown goat cheese | sweet shrimp | raspberry
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | cream puff | raspberry
DINNER --- ( at Cornelius in Bergen ) Norwegian oysters | French oysters | cod with smoked mussels and rice in green sauce | Langoustines (aka Norway Lobsters) and asparagus
AFTER-DINNER-COFFEE-TIME --- (at Det Lille Kaffekompaniet in Bergen) cappuccino

lunch at B&B, food from the fish market

• a visit to Fisketorget i Bergen gets a preview of local supply. sweet shrimp is very sweet and full of roe. there are lots of smoked salmon, mussels and crab claws, but not scallops or clams. we found oysters and Norway lobsters in the indoor upscale section

Cornelius is on Island Bjorøy near Bergen

shell fish supply for the restaurant (from its website)

Langoustines (aka Norway Lobsters)

Norwegian oyster

• Cornelius is a seafood restaurant on the island Bjorøy famous for its "meteorological menu", meaning local fresh seasonal catch. and it now has a second new location in Bergen in a beautiful old building near Bergen Fish market. the Norwegian lobster (cray fish like) tails at Cornelius is just outstanding, the taste and texture is better than crab, shrimp, and other kinds of lobster. Norwegian oysters are flatter and smaller than the french kind, and a little more crisp.

around 10 p.m.................... about midnight

cappuccino

• the coffee at Det Lille Kaffekompaniet is the best so far from UK to Norway, the place has an old Parisian cafe feel, plus the girl running the cafe tonight is really beautiful.
  

Water, water everywhere

6-21-2010 Mon. warm, sunny


BREAKFAST --- (on the train to Myrdal) coffee | boller
LUNCH --- (on the express boat from Flam to Bergen) open-faced sandwich with smoked salmon and vegetables
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- coffee
DINNER --- (at Escalon in Bergen) baby potatoes | salted cod | green beans | king crab | lamb cutlet | sole

Sognefjord

Sognefjord

Bergen harbor

seafood and vegetables in Bergen

• it is quite a journey from Oslo to Begern via Sognefjord, water everywhere and so is seafood.
  

Norwegian boller and goat cheese

2-20-2010 Sun. warm, sunny


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- tea | cherries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- (at Frognerparken) beer | (at Deli de luca ) boller, coffee
DINNER --- (at Havfruen) scallop with mushroom | grilled sole and potatoes | grilled king prawn with ratatouille and rice | brown goat cheese | tea

Norwegian woods in Baerum

Frogner park

Norwegian boller and brown goat cheese

• boller is a kind of sweet roll, ubiquitous in Norway like donuts. brown goat cheese is sweet and creamy like caramel.
  

Tapas for Oslo's white night

6-19-2010 Sat. chilly, shower


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | bread | brown goat cheese | juice
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- coffee | Norwegian boller
DINNER --- (at Champagneria of Oslo) bread and aioli | jamon Serrano ham | oysters with fish roe and pomegranate juice | paella

late evening at Champagneria

Apartment 18, Bygdoy alle

almost midnight

• the oysters are amazingly good. people dress up in evening wear while daylight does not fade away

Moule frites on the wrong side of the Channel

6-18-2010 Fri. mild, cloudy

BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- (at Thai Rice of Notting Hill) hot and sour soup (Tom Yum) | papaya salad (Sum Tum)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- coffee and cookie
DINNER --- (at Cafe Rouge in Gatwick) wine | mussels in white wine sauce with baguette | duck confit and potatoes

• mussels are overcooked. miss the freshness of moule frites in France
  

Fusion food in good old Oxford

6-17-2010 Thu. warm, sunny


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- leftovers
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- coffee
DINNER --- (at Jam Factory of Oxford) Belgium beer | flat bread with chorizo sausage and jalapeno | shrimp with green curry sauce, spinach and basmati rice | strawberry sorbet and ice cream

• a great time in Oxford visiting Dick and Jan. the beer and food are very up to date in Jam Factory, a gallery, beer bar and fusion restaurant rolled in one in an old building used to be a jam factory.
  

a French dinner in England

5-16-2010 Wed. mild, cloudy


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH ---(at EC Canteen) ham | boiled cabbage
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- English tea
DINNER --- (at Paul's) Champagne | greens salad with grilled bread and cheese | pasta with tomato sauce | asparagus | broiled beef | Stilton cheese | baguette | strawberry parfait

• Paul and Mary Ann made a wonderful french dinner with their eighteen month Petite Champignon running around.
  

Meat pie and Sweeney Todd

5-15-2010 Tue. warm, sunny


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- (at EC Canteen) boiled potatoes | fresh fava beans
DINNER --- salad | bread | meat pie (from Sweeney &Todd)

• no comments on the meat pie that somehow associates with Sweeney Todd
  

Going Turkish in England

6-14-2010 Mon. cool, sun and clouds


BREAKFAST --- tea | cherries
LUNCH --- homemade flat bread | coffee
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | bread and cheese
DINNER --- (at Mangal Turkish restaurant) fried squid with eggplant dip | flat bread with fish roe and lemon dip | grilled whole sea bass | moussaka ( baked eggplant, minced lamb and cheese ) | Turkish red wine | Turkish coffee

• the wind and air in England are nothing like that of Mediterranean, only the Turkish food brings in the warmness.
  

Chicken or pasta? no thanks

6-13-2010 Sun. hot, sunny


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | mint yogurt | scallion and radish pancakes | strawberries AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea | dried plums
DINNER --- scrambled eggs with leek | roasted red pepper and marinated king mushroom | chive flowers and tofu | rice | white wine

• had an early dinner so to skip the airline food of "Chicken or pasta" later.
  

Fresh green peas

6-12-2010 Sat. hot, cloudy


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | middle eastern mint yogurt | Norwegian pancakes with strawberries
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- cold green tea soba noddles | boiled spinach with ponzu sauce | fresh peas sauteed with garlic scape | fennel and radish salad | white wine

• a cool dinner with different shades of green, shelling fresh peas is very enjoyable, particular in a hot day
  

Veggies, eggs and tofu

6-11-2010 Fri. hot, sunny


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed fresh peas
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries
DINNER --- roasted red pepper and marinated king mushroom | scrambled eggs with tomato and spring onion | stir-fried chive flowers and spicy tofu | rice | red wine

• an easy meal good for a summer day. Our new sweet bay magnolia is in bloom.
  

Seasoned rice wrapped in reed leaves

6-10-2010 Thu. warm, sunny


BREAKFAST --- coffee | Pocky
LUNCH --- seasoned rice with cured pork wrapped in reed leaves (棕子)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries
DINNER --- sauteed fresh peas with garlic scape and cured pork | new potato and fish stew in roasted red pepper sauce | red wine

• the rice leaf bundle (棕子) is for the Chinese Duan Wu festival (or Dragon Boat Festival), a tradition of a couple of thousand years.
  

a Dozen fresh homemade dumplings

6-09-2010 Wed. damp cool, rain

BREAKFAST --- coffee | Pocky
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed spinach and curried potatoes
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- cherries
DINNER --- steamed dumplings with fillings of shiitake, bok choy and chicken, spicy dipping sauce

• a meal can be as simple as a dozen steamed dumplings, fresh homemade essential.
  

Keep up with seasonal vegetables

6-08-2010 Mon. mild, sunny


BREAKFAST --- coffee | Pocky
LUNCH --- rice with stir-fried tofu and zucchini
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plum
DINNER --- spinach sauteed with tomato and leek | curried angel hair potatoes | string beans in black bean sauce | rice | red wine

• so many fresh vegetables, so little time...
  

Braised artichokes, 45 minuntes!

6-07-2010 Mon. warm, sunny


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- stir-fried vegetables and tofu | seasoned rice stuffed vine leaves
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- plum | cherries
DINNER --- stir-fried zucchini, mushroom and smoked tofu | braised artichoke | spinach sauteed with leek and tomato | rice | avocado and fennel salad

• the recipe of braised artichokes is from the minimalist's column.
  

a Few of my favorite things

6-06-2010 Sun. hot, storm


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | cherries | lychee | scallion pancake
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- piadine flat bread | sauteed fresh peas with garlic scape and cured pork | teriyaki baby octopus | fennel salad | red wine

• a few of my favorite things gathered in this meal.
  

a Lebanese dinner, a celebration of the season

6-05-2010 Sat. hot, muggy.


WEEKEND BREAKFAST --- coffee | lychee | watermelon | coconut cream bread
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- green tea
DINNER --- pita bread with hummus and eggplant dip | Artichokes cooked in sweet spices with fresh fava beans | egg and green olive salad | Mushroom-stuffed vine leaves with herbs | Syrian mountain bread with chilies, spring onions and black cumin | white wine | dry rose

artichoke and fava beans


mushroom stuffed vine leaves


fresh peas

fresh fava beans

loquat

lychee

• a successful day for just-in-season fruits and vegetables: fresh peas (the farmer's market), fresh fava beans, loquat (枇杷) and vine leaves (the middle eastern market Yekta), fresh lychee ( the Chinese market, artichoke ( Wholefoods)
  

Simple Italian fare

6-04-2010 Fri. hot, muggy


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- fried rice with spring onion and mushroom
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- tea | pocky
DINNER --- salad of lettuce,fennel, radish and cherry tomato | pasta with roasted red pepper sauce | fresh mozzarella | red wine

• learned both salad and pasta from Italian friends.

Running out of steam

6-03-2010 Thu. hot, shower


BREAKFAST --- coffee | pocky
LUNCH --- rice with sauteed bean sprouts
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- steamed fermented tofu with shrimp and scallions | boiled and sauteed greens | rice | fennel salad

• summer is here, cannoli leaves are no longer crisp.
  

an Accidental new dish

6-02-2010 Wed. warm, sunny


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- rice with asparagus and garlic scape
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- sauteed bean sprouts and spring onion | stir-fired wheat gluten with wood-ear mushroom and pickled bamboo shoots | pan-fried new potatoes with sesame seeds | red wine

• accidentally used sesame seeds in the potato dish, the container looked same as the one for dried onion flakes
  

Garlic scape, early summer special

6-01-2010 Tue. warm, cloudy


BREAKFAST --- coffee
LUNCH --- mushroom stuffed grape leaves (leftovers)
AFTERNOON-TEATIME --- apple
DINNER --- fried rice with eggs and garlic scape | ceviche and chayote | avocado and fennel salad | white wine

• garlic scape arrives at the farmer's market, fresh peas should show up very soon.