Eating out Amsterdam: Sapporo Ramen Sora

Finding good/decent Ramen is relatively easy regardless of where you are. Finding exceptional Ramen is another story,  and this inconspicuous little joint, my friends, has one exceptional Ramen.

A Japanese chef trained in the French culinary arts who decided to come to Amsterdam and set up shop to show the people here what real Ramen is all about sounds like a good story right?

But this joint does not live of stories, the food is just outstanding, the broth is rich and complex, a great balance, it does not need anything else inside, trust me. The noodles are beautifully cooked and the pork is flavorful and soft. Their Takoyaki is pretty delicious and they have Asahi beer on draft. What else do you need?

The shop is tiny, so you should either be lucky or gonna have to be patient, but this just makes things much more cozy. The presence of Japanese people should tell you a little about the authenticity of the joint, and once you are done with your Ramen you will agree with me. So just forget about dinner tomorrow and get your butts to Sapporo Ramen Sora, you will not be disappointed. 

A kick ass bowl of Ramen

The Japexican take on Asian Fusion; Red Curry Ceviche.

This one came to me a couple of  years ago, I was living in Asturias, Spain, right in front of the Cantabric sea. I was a little surprised that  even though there was such a broad variety of freshly caught fish, most of the dishes of the region were heavily cooked and more often than not deep fried, don’t get me wrong, I love the Asturian seafood; its hearty, rich and delicious, but sometimes I want my fish to be fresh and spicy.  So, after a visit to the only decent Asian shop in the area and having bought a bunch of goodies, including some nice Red Curry paste, I decided to go to the local fish market and get some beautiful piece of fish. The end result was this; my Red Curry  Ceviche. 

Fancy little ceviche in the shot glasses. 

The Japexican take on an Asturian Classic; Fabada

Asturias is amazing, a small area in the northernmost point in Spain, surrounded by mountains and in front of the Cantabric sea, Asturias has a weather that differs much from the typical Spanish landscape you may have in mind; it is always green, and aside the few weeks of perfect summer, it's very rainy and humid. All of these conditions have turned the area, the people and the food, into something very different, quite unique and well, awesome.

Fabada is, by far, my favorite dish from back in the days I lived in Asturias. It is a hearty stew-like soup packed with strong flavors, meatiness and a silky creaminess that feels awesome when you taste. It is definitely not a dish best suited for a hot day (although some Asturians eat it year round), it is too heavy for a late dinner (although I always get it for dinner) but it is without a doubt a dish that will put a smile on your face in the gloomiest and coldest of days. Fabada is in one word, happiness.

Food from around Asturias is quite simple, it is all about the quality of the ingredients, so I really didn't mess with the recipe(s) (which I end up combining and adapting from a few of my Asturian friends). Most of the ingredients are not really that hard to find even if you are not in Asturias. Alright, enjoy and thank me later for this amazing Fabada you are about to make.

A sexy looking plate of Fabada

Baked Sweet Potatoes

As it turns out, I have a full time job now and not that much time to sit down and write my recipes. Don't get me wrong, I still cook a lot, I just don't have time to prepare the recipes… Anyways, I decided that I should at least be publishing one of these every week. But this weekend I was really lazy, luckily, I still have some backlog of recipes that have the photographic evidence ready and just need me to write down. Hence, this recipe. This weekend has been awfully cold over here, so cold  that it makes you want to crawl under a blanket and consume delicious carbohydrates like there is no tomorrow… The carbo-hangover is something future you will have to deal, you will just have to enjoy!

So, no more excuses, it's time to treat yourself to my Stuffed, baked sweet potatoes.

Look at that deliciousness!!!