[COMM] The Inner Mammal at work ...
The Italian illustrator Franco Matticchio gives a rare glimpse of the Mammal's culinary activities. This image can be found, along with many other beautiful illustrations, on Laura Ottina's Animalarium blog.
[COMM] Kruid & Druif—new food shop on the block!
The Mammal decided to pop down the road yesterday to investigate a new food shop with an interesting concept. Kruid & Druif (spice & grape) provides 'ingredient packs' and recipes for meals from a range of Asian cuisines, along with wines suited to each meal. For vegetarian meals, everything is included in the price; for fish and meat meals, you have to buy the fish/meat separately, though it is available in the shop. Each 'pack' provides 3 portions (in some cases stretching to 4). Some of the main courses are all-in-one, others need side dishes to complete the meal.
It works very simply. Recipes are grouped into a number of types (mild, hot, etc); you decide which you want, plus starter and/or side dishes if required, get the recipe card from the rack, and then either find the ingredients or ask one of the staff to do it for you. There is an array of fresh vegetables, whole or cut to size (e.g. 1cm pieces of ginger) as required for the recipes, along with coconut milk and similar. Rice and noodles are provided in the amounts required for the recipe; the exact quantities of the necessary spices, herbs or sauces/pastes are provided in little sachets or containers, which are all packed into a labelled box.
The meat (free-range or organic from the artisan butcher a couple of doors down) and fish (from the harbour at Scheveningen) is also packaged up in quantities appropriate to the various recipes. A good selection of wines (the staff will advise which go best with your chosen recipe) and some Asian beers are also available. Some good but rather pricey kitchen equipment (chopping boards, herb caskets, knives etc) can be bought, if you're feeling reckless. You can order online and have the pack prepared in advance for collection; if you live in or near Den Haag, it can also be delivered (the delivery service is limited because the ingredients are fresh).
The Mammal tried out Massaman Curry last night, a mild and aromatic Thai chicken curry which is big enough for 4 portions (so it's on the menu again tonight!). The whole lot, including 500g chicken, came in at about €21, which is pretty good for four meals and definitely a lot cheaper than buying the various spices in separate jars (and probably not using them again for ages, if at all). Oh, and it was very tasty indeed: we foresee several return visits in the Mammal's future ...
It works very simply. Recipes are grouped into a number of types (mild, hot, etc); you decide which you want, plus starter and/or side dishes if required, get the recipe card from the rack, and then either find the ingredients or ask one of the staff to do it for you. There is an array of fresh vegetables, whole or cut to size (e.g. 1cm pieces of ginger) as required for the recipes, along with coconut milk and similar. Rice and noodles are provided in the amounts required for the recipe; the exact quantities of the necessary spices, herbs or sauces/pastes are provided in little sachets or containers, which are all packed into a labelled box.
The meat (free-range or organic from the artisan butcher a couple of doors down) and fish (from the harbour at Scheveningen) is also packaged up in quantities appropriate to the various recipes. A good selection of wines (the staff will advise which go best with your chosen recipe) and some Asian beers are also available. Some good but rather pricey kitchen equipment (chopping boards, herb caskets, knives etc) can be bought, if you're feeling reckless. You can order online and have the pack prepared in advance for collection; if you live in or near Den Haag, it can also be delivered (the delivery service is limited because the ingredients are fresh).
The Mammal tried out Massaman Curry last night, a mild and aromatic Thai chicken curry which is big enough for 4 portions (so it's on the menu again tonight!). The whole lot, including 500g chicken, came in at about €21, which is pretty good for four meals and definitely a lot cheaper than buying the various spices in separate jars (and probably not using them again for ages, if at all). Oh, and it was very tasty indeed: we foresee several return visits in the Mammal's future ...
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