Is it that Italian food just calls out my name as I walk by?….Or do you think it’s an addiction? I don’t know, but either way here I am again….tasty food, good wine, and an outdoor table with perfect weather.
On the way to Doha in Qatar to work for a few weeks, and had a “stop over” in Amsterdam. Yep, you know what that means…got to find dinner! Lucky for me, the small town of Hoofddorp is a quick 15 minute walk from my hotel. On a small side street, lined with cute shops and cozy outdoor seating lies Trattoria Buoni Amici. With Chef calling Sorrento, Italy home, and Sabina, his wife, hailing from Croatia, it was just the perfect spot to call “home” for dinner.
For an appetizer, the Carpaccio di Polipo was the ideal way to sit back, relax, and enjoy a cold glass of Bianco del Veneto called “Seria”, Le Morette. With a blend of lemon, olive oil, and caramelized Balsamic vinegar, then topped with sliced strawberries, this appetizer hit the spot – light, delicate, with a faint taste of the sea – the balance of Balsamic and strawberries made for good friends on my plate!
Next was the tough decision on what to pick for dinner, as all of the choices were unique. With Sabina’s help, the choice was clear – Scialatielli con gamberetti e pomodorini. A traditional Neapolitan pasta, this combo was a perfect blend of shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and fresh pasta.
Paired with a red wine from Campania, a glass of Aglianico Campostellato Villa Matilde made it hard to stop at just one…but stop I must, as tomorrow would bring another 7 hours on yet another flight. Add that to the 9 hours from today, and – well – you get the picture. Time to rest.
But not without a trip to the cucina to capture a shot of the crew hard at work to bring about my dinner perfection!
Of course, what’s dinner without Limoncello? I had to be polite, right? LOL! Time to say “Buona Notte” and call it a day. Grazie Mille for a fabulous “Dutch” Italian dinner.
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I’m a good friend of Lucretia Cauthen… she sent me to your blog because you love Italy too. You can find me at the WhistleStop Cafe cooking blog ~ I’m always posting on my trips to Italy! I have just gotten home from Positano, Florence, Tuscany and Rome. Come visit!
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Hey! Yes, I joined your “cooking light dinner” about a year ago and participated. Thanks for stopping by for a visit. I’ll be sure and take a look at your newest Italy info. Can never get enough, that’s for sure! Hope we can connect in a “real” visit sometime. It would be fun to talk about our blogging and Italy adventures. Tell Lucretia that Wade 7 I said “Hi”!.
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Sounds like you found a wonderful little restaurant. The octopus with strawberries sounds so interesting. You certainly had a long couple of days flying.
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Yes, the flights were a little long. But I’m glad that I broke the trip up on the way over. It’s the flight back from Dubai that is the tough one – it will be 16.5 hours nonstop..The meal was fabulously fresh, and the Italian wine surely hit the spot!
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Yes, you do seem to find some good places to eat. You should write a book. Get some rest at some point in your travels.
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I’m sure the book would be about “hidden Italian around the world” restaurants, right?!?! Resting now. I arrived in Doha yesterday, and taking it easy today. VERY hot here, so drinking lots of water. More adventures to come!!
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Looks very delicious. Wish I were there with you. Looking forward to enjoying a meal there at Trattori Buoni Amici.
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Wish you were here, too…you would have really liked the entire experience and people. Next trip, si?
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