what came first?

Beer, obviously. The chicken followed a couple of minutes later, cut in pieces, covered by juicy crispy skin. Sprinkle a bit of lemon juice on top and bon appetite!

Ever since Van 't Spit opened its doors, a mere five minute walk from our kitchen, we've been frequent guests. What better meal is there really, than chicken, fries and corn on the cob?

Well...

Chicken piri piri with grilled bimi. 

Bimi, or broccolini, is a rather new* vegetable that was developed by the Sakata Seed Company in the early 90's in Japan. I can't remember ever seeing it -or eating it for that matter- up until a few years ago. In Holland it's now available in most grocery stores. I love it. Love. It. Especially when coated with an ever so thin layer of soy sauce. But in the case of chicken piri piri my master chef (aka Joost) usually grills it. Perfect as a side dish for the spicy dish that is chicken piri piri. Which, by the way, I love even more than bimi. Just FYI.

I'd show you a picture of this delicious dish, but I am unable to do so for two reasons:

1. I never took a picture of it so far, because I'm eating it once it's in my sight.
2. Yesterday our oven finally broke down completely. And chicken piri piri is best when it has seen the inside of a hot oven. 

So for the time being, we'll have to make do with Van 't Spit's chicken. Which we'll gladly do so, and probably long after our oven has been fixed. But once the oven is up and running again, I'm sure the first dish we'll make is chicken piri piri, and I'll try to take a picture and let Joost write down the very simple recipe.

* New is, of course, a relative term and for someone who keeps forgetting that the 90's were about twenty years ago, it makes sense to refer to something that has been developed in the early 90's as 'new'.

tomorrow schmorrow, as long as you've got food and friends

When a friend calls you to ask if you want to go out for dinner, preferably 'now', you say yes, no? So I hopped on my bike and met the lovely Charlotte at Bar Brouw West, on a random Tuesday evening. We shared beers, food and lots of stories.

That's cornbread, potato wedges, ribs and beans with a side of Anchor Liberty Ale you see in the photo. What I loved most about the food, is the fact that it tasted even better than the first time I ate at Bar Brouw. I love it when great food becomes even better over time.

Speaking of time. Lately the concept of time seems overrated. Days pass quickly and are filled with surprises, things I never thought I'd do...done. Looking forward to something seems impossible. Before I know it, it's already happening. I know, I'm being cryptic, but hopefully not for much longer. Tomorrow's a big day. Tomorrow is actually today. See, time does fly.

I'm excited, a little nervous and a bit anxious when I think too long and hard about the near future. But, when you've got friends who drag you out of the house and into great restaurants, you know all will be well.