Sweets - The Hungry Nomad

Poffertjes (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

July 2, 2011 2 Comments

Every time I come across my favorite local foods, well, sweets I get a bit nostalgic and I just have to have them. No different this time around. Poffertjes, loosely translated as little puffs, are tiny pancakes which you pair with icing sugar, butter and preferably a splash of liqueur (I chose one creatively called ‘brides tears’, a liqueur with aniseed and orange zest). You can find poffertjes at fancy fairs, festivals and basically any outdoor event in summer and winter. Yum!

Here a few bites to get a taste of what ‘home’ is to me. Let’s start and finish with lots of mini pancake goodness.

Gourmand, Sweets, Vancouver

Cafe Crepe (Vancouver, Canada)

March 13, 2011 1 Comment

Need a quick crepe fix in the morning, mid-day or late night? Cafe crepe is your answer. It has several locations in downtown Vancouver and serves sweet and savoury crepes along with French baguette sandwiches crepes and other French food on the go. I like to go there once in a while when I miss Paris to have a crepe and immerse myself in the french aura of the cafe (plus eavesdrop on the francophone waiters and cooks). My favorites include the jambon, fromage and mushrooms; chicken and mayo; dark chocolate and strawberries and the plain Nutella crepes. (See Menu)

Cafe Crepe is located at: 1032 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC/ 874 AND 796 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC

Netherlands, Sweets, Travel

Stroopwafels (The Hague, The Netherlands)

March 12, 2011 2 Comments

Living in a country with an amazing reputation when it comes to their cuisine, it’s easy to forget the trusty food from back home which has served me so well for years. However, leaving for my home country shortly, I can’t wait to get my hands on a hot stroopwafel. Don’t confuse these caramel waffles with their Belgian cousins, but they are equally delicious. Caramel waffles are even popular internationally, and I’ve noticed them in several countries at a certain large coffee chain. When in the Netherlands, my advice for the best stroopwafel experience is to keep an eye out for a waffle stand out on the streets and treat yourself to a warm, soft but crunchy, crumbling waffle. Alternatively, when you happen to stumble into a package of waffles somewhere, quickly rush home and put your waffle in the microwave for 5 seconds and you come very close to that lovely fresh waffle experience.

Istanbul, Sweets, Travel, Turkey

Sweet Tooth (Istanbul, Turkey)

February 27, 2011 No Comments

This week I leave you with little words but with all the more sugary and syrupy goodness hailing from Turkey. Kadayif, lokum (turkish delights), traditional candies, baklava… My favorites: coffee, mastic and bergamot flavored candies from this lovely historic store. Can you make out all their awards hanging there on the wall to the left?

Gourmand, New Orleans, Sweets

La Boulangerie (New Orleans)

December 20, 2010 1 Comment

La Boulangerie: For those of us nostalgic for the days spent in Paris and knowing that walking the cobble streets and stopping for a frequent cafe, vin et cigarrette are no longer possible, La Boulangerie can help fill the void. Not only do you get to taste delicious delights that resemble most bakeries in Paris but what you also get is the Parisian attitude. Lack of service and an air of arrogance can be found at La Boulangerie along with delicious pain au chocolat, croissant et le parisien.

But back to what is really the heart of the matter: the food. Despite the service the bread, pastries and quiches are delicious and keep the customers going back for more. Try getting there early so that you can taste the freshness of the croissants that melt in your mouth. They often run out by mid-day.

Delicious Cherry Danish

Puffy, light, perfect raspberry croissant

La Boulangerie is located at: 4600 Magazine St, New Orleans, Louisiana – (504) 269-3777

Chocolate, New Orleans, Sweets

X-mas at Sucre (New Orleans)

November 28, 2010 No Comments

I know I know! I already have a long post on Sucre. But I went there again last night and they happen to have the nicest window installations so I just had to create another post in order to honor the creativity of the owners and share it with the rest of you.Plus, they have special holiday macaroons (double chocolate covered in gold dust). Could anything taste better? I think not.

Gourmand, New Orleans, Sweets

Café du Monde (New Orleans)

November 21, 2010 2 Comments

Café du Monde:

You can’t come to New Orleans and not make a trip to Café du Monde in the French Quarter. It is a New Orleans tradition. Located on Decatur street Café du Monde serves only one thing: Beignets: a French pâte à choux pastry (think of the pastry part of an eclair ), fried, with a crunchy outside and a soft, tender inside. I like to think of it as a french name for a doughnut. Although anything french just tastes better. And this is no exception: the doughnut has nothing on a french beignet soaked in powdered sugar. They come in a serving of 3-6 and go best with a cup of café au lait, hot chocolate or coffee. I personally like to dip my beignets in the café du lait. Also- for your convenience and due to popularity this café is open 24/7. Enjoy.

1039 Decatur Street New Orleans, LA 70116

Beignets and cafe du lait

Gourmand, Los Angeles, Sweets, Travel, USA

A Little of Bit of Pain Quotidien in Los Angeles (Los Angeles)

November 11, 2010 1 Comment

I was so pleasantly surprised to have literally stumbled into my favorite organic pastry/ brunch spot all the way here in Los Angeles. Turns out Pain Quotidien has locations all over the States and the world. Therefore- there goes my assumptions that Pain Quotidien was exclusively a European luxury. This was my weekly hangout in Paris and Geneva and well nothing could make me happier to learn that I don’t have to travel to Europe to enjoy some of PQ’s yummy delights. Beautiful and impeccably arranged pastries, breads and tarts wait behind glass cases, and it takes a considerable amount of self control not to order one of each.

This communal table, according to the restaurant’s website, has been a consistent and important feature of all Le Pain Quotidien sites since the first store opened in Brussels in 1990. Since then, it has “encouraged sharing of time and space” and has helped bring people together over food. An excuse to be brought together over food. I’m okay with that!!!

PQ- to me means one thing: delicious organic breads and a wide selection of spreads. Of course they offer so much more than that including wonderful tartines, salads, soups, etc. My personal favorite on a lazy Sunday morning is the basket of bread (including the croissant) and their to-die-for Belgian Praline spread. I wish I could put in words the amazingness of this praline spread but I don’t know how to describe it. I guess it can be compared to Nutella- except better. I know , I know, you’re thinking what can be better than Nutella? Well- come try this spread for yourself. In fact I am on my way to buy some to take home with me.

8607 Melrose Avenue, Melrose, West Hollywood/1st St and Beverly Blvd, 113 North Larchmont Boulevard/320 South Robertson Boulevard, Los Angeles

Gourmand, New Orleans, Sweets

Sucré – A Sweet Tooth’s Paradise (New Orleans, USA)

November 8, 2010 1 Comment

Sucré~ Most people from New Orleans are familiar with Sucre. It’s every sweet tooth’s paradise. For those visiting New Orleans and wanting to experience more than the French Quarter- I hope you make your way over to Magazine street- a long stretch of road filled with restaurants, boutiques, galleries, art shops, and gelaterias. If you are in the mood for sweets then I highly recommend you take the time to experience Sucré. Last night, as I wrote about La Duree Macaroons in Paris, I suddenly got a craving for Macaroons and within 30 minutes found myself indulging in sweets from Sucré. There is so many different deserts to choose from that it’s hard to choose one. Luckily there were 4 of us so we ended up with a variety of different sweets and macaroons to share amongst us. Sucré also has a large variety of gelatos which are amazingly delicious in the heat of the New Orleans summer.

France, Gourmand, Paris, Sweets

If only I could live in La Duree (Paris, France)

November 6, 2010 No Comments

La Duree, 75 Champs-Élysées/ 21 Rue Bonaparte/ 16 Rue Royale/ 62 Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, France

Every girl and secretly every boy falls in love with La Duree . What’s not to love about a shop decorated in pastel colors offering every possible flavor of Macarons your little heart can desire? If you need a break from shopping the streets of Paris or if you really have no excuse but want to try macarons in every flavor then please take the time and visit your nearest La Duree. My personal favorite is the chocolate (anything chocolate makes me happy), lavender, caramel and the raspberry. You may have to try all flavors to find out what your favorite flavor.