Brunch at Pain Quotidien

About space cake ;-)

I thought I would write something about my experience of "space cake" since it was quite special ;-).



Most of my close friends heard the funny story that I told them about "space cake", but well, here it goes again ;-). Before I visited Amsterdam for the first time, most of my friends had recommended me to try "space cake" ;-), the first time I heard about it, I thought I didn't get the name right, "space cake"?, and then found out that the name had spoken for itself-"cakes that sends you straight to space, stoned in other words", but my friends only explained what it was, but didn't tell me where to find them in Amsterdam ;-). So, destination Amsterdam ;-), me hunting for the famous local speciality cake ;-), after strolling on the streets of Amsterdam, I was happy to see a bakery on the way back to the train station, so I went straight in, and one of the ladies who were there for a "space cake" (thinking to bring it back to Brussels to share with my friends), I still can remember clearly that all of them were looking at me as if I was coming from an outerspace ;-), rolling their eyes, narrowing their eyebrowes, and told me very shortly "we don't have space cakes here!". I went out of the bakery shop, felt a bit confusing and disappointed ;-). Of course, later I know that it was made with drugs...



Anyway, I told this story to some of my friends who know me well, and every time it gives them a big laugh, but noone has tempted to bring back a piece for me until two weekends ago ;-). One of my friends went to Holland, and he brought back what he called a mysterious surprise ;-) (curiousity kills the cat-you might advise ;-), and of course, he didn't say that it was from Holland. My friends tricked me into eating it, and because they know me, and they told me that "I made it, try it, and let's me know so I can improve". Well, it tasted it dry and old ;-), but I was being polite, so I skipped the old part, I said "yeah, it tasted ok, but a bit dry". Only when I finish the cup cake look alike ;-), they said "Thao, you just had "space cake"".

The result was rather nasty. I didn't feel anything at first, and because we were in Gent for the Gent Fiest, we had only bad foods, and beers, I felt happier and happier (which was very good), but then they proposed to go on a ride (one of those that turns you upside down from very high above)...yeah, now you probably get the picture. I threw up twice that day, and stayed in the bed the whole next day, feeling so stoned and dizzy ;-). The only thing I remembered was that every time they asked me after the ride, I continued saying "No, not so good" whilst at the begining I said " I feel very happy" ;-).

Well, they promise that we will try again "sapce cake" without the ride part, but I really doubt that hehehehe

Yassa Chicken recipe_Chicken with lemon

Since a super chef (and those of you who sent me emails to ask) dropped by and asked for its recipe, I decided to put the recipe on a separated post. The recipe was in French, so I hope my translation will help ;-). Here to all amateurs (but not least in quality cooking) chefs. Enjoy your cooking!

I have got the original recipe for 8 persons. So, it is up to you to divide the ingredients.

2 chickens about 1,5kg each
lime zest
1 glass of lime juice
10-12 medium onions
peanut oil
thym (3 branches)
bay leaves (about 2)
chilly confit
salt and pepper

Cut the chickens in order to obtain 7 pieces. Marinate the chickens in the lime juice for 2 hours, turn them from time to time to make sure that each of them is well absorbed.

Take the chicken pieces out, but keep the marinated sauce. Grill them on charcoal bbq, watch out so that they are not burned. During this time, slice the onions.

In a sauce pan that contains peanut oil, braise the oinions until they turn slightly golden, put salt and pepper according to your taste, add thym, bay leaves, the rest of the marinated sauce and the lime zest. Then, put the chicken pieces on the top of the oinions. On small fire, let it simmer without covering the pan for 15 mins.

Then serve the chicken yassa in an ovale dish (later with white rice or plantain bananas)

Translated from Les merveilles de La cuisine Africain

Poulet Yassa ;-)

It is one of the famous African dish, lemon chicken, that I recently get my hands on.

It was easier to prepare and it went very well with rice, fried plantain bananas, and it is abso-ducking-lutely delicious if you serve that with a simple fresh tomatoes, cucumber, red sweet onion, balsamic vinaigrette salad ;-). All that with a glass of rose, the trendy wine that people now have the tendency to consume (although I only like its colour, not the taste). Connaisseurs do not drink rose, so said ;-) because their prices are actually expensive than what they actually are! (demand/supply theory works here)

Smakelijk eten, everyone!

Visit from Australia ;-)

Cris and one of her lifetime love, Tristan ;-)

Couleur Cafe and Ommegang 2008

I don't think I will go back to Couleur Cafe at least for the next couple of years. The ticket price has gotten ridiculously expensive, 39Eur (okey, if you got to see Jimmy Cliff, Zuccero..etc) but still, I think it is too much for what it really is, considering the global slow down of economy. Moreover, this year, most of the concerts were hip hop types (nothing against that, mind you) but several hours with the same tune, the same shouting (and not singing) just too much! Of course, I can't ignore some good bands like The Sahara Blues, whose music sent me straight to the Sahara with the nomads.

And the foods were nothing exceptional to mention here, apart from some Tibetan tents with real tibetans selling teas ;-), I can hardly remember how many cups of Tchad tea that I drank. One of my new friends told me that when you trek in the Himalaya, you drink Tchad a lot. It is a tea made with black tea, milk, and cardamon. It tastes good but if you drink a lot, it becomes quite heavy.

Anyway, we left Couleur cafe accompanied with Zuccero's sound of guitar and voice, feeling happy to spend a Sunday with music, meeting exotic people, having interesting conversation that enrich our knowledges...although slightly disappointed with most of the concerts.

Ommegang (omme: around; gang:to go), an old Dutch word that means "to go around"...well, that was what the commentor explained about the festival. Of course, I can guess since I have been taking Dutch classes (om: around, gang: the way) unless I have completely burnt out ;-). Anyway, this festival has been organised every year since 1971 to mark the event that Charles Quint and his successor-son, Philip visit Brussels. On that day, they also took the Virgin statue in Sablon and walk around with it (hence, the name). There are 1400 people (actors, actresses, history connaisseurs...)participate in this festival that last 3 days, wearing beautiful, and well made customs. There are also free concerts, but the most interesting is the knights fighting on horses ;-). Anyway, if you are in Brussels, go to see this today and tomorrow, very nice. If you have time, and are lucky enough (like myself ;-)), you will be able to learn many thing with the people who are interested in history, they will tell you lots of things about the Middle Age, and Renaissance period.

Enough said. Here are some pictures.