A few minutes before the start of the semi-final between Germany and Brazil yesterday I tweeted that all statistics were pointing to a Brazil win. But these statistics are normally there to be broken. With the benefit of hindsight it seemed so obvious. Nate Silver, an American statistician who mines data was stating without any shadow of doubt that even without Neymar and their star defender Thiago Silva, the Brazilians still had all that it takes to make it through to the final. The expectations were huge. Most of their supporters were expecting Brazil to reach the final and win the World Cup. After all they were playing at home. But these statistics ignored the most basic premise. This Brazilian team was lucky to be in the semi-finals. They could barely scrape through the last 16 against Chile and only made it by a whisker and the match against Colombia was also a close encounter. With Neymar out because of injury, it was no wonder that they were panicking. But football is a team … [Read more...]
What I enjoyed reading this week
Every week I will try to post a few links of what I enjoyed reading the week. Here is a short mix on travel, food, a controversial application which makes a reservation in popular restaurants and then sells them for a small fee and what looks like a fantastic ice-cream recipe. Some tips on the Costa Amalfitana A great article on work life balance A fantastic article on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria A great ice-cream recipe A controversial application … [Read more...]
Does anyone really care about tourist traps?
One of the most famous streets in Brussels among tourists or people on business trips is the Rue de Bouchers. It can be found just a few metres away from the Grand Place. Walking from the street at the Grand Place area last week on the evening when Belgium was playing against South Korea and locals were obviously nowhere near any restaurant without a television set, I could not help but wonder what makes people visit such restaurants around the world. What are they looking for? Why would locals consider such places a tourist trap but so many have no qualms in sitting down and eating there. What is so attractive about waiters greeting you in all languages as they try to guess your nationality to try and get you in? In the case of Brussels, are the mussels and fries served in such places so different in quality to restaurants which cater mainly for locals? Do the tourists who sit down to eat in such places care about the difference? Are they more interested in the experience of eating … [Read more...]
Liguria (2) Camogli – one of the most charming fishing villages
The first time we visited Camogli, we missed this fishing village, it is so hidden. The GPS in my car, normally reliable, took us to a hill whereby we could observe a superb view of Camogli and the Ligurian coast but couldn't spot the way to get there. After some time driving around we finally discovered that we needed to take a narrow street down towards the village centre. What we then discovered was amazing. Parking may be difficult depending on the time of year you visit but don't be discouraged. It is really worth your time. Camogli (Camuggi in Genoese dialect) is a small Italian fishing village and tourist resort located on the west side of the peninsula of Portofino, on the Golfo Paradiso at the Riviera di Levante, south from Genova. The name means "house of wives" ( casa delle Mogli ). We visited Camogli twice in May and another time in June. Both times the weather was great so people were eating out in the terraces with a splendid view either of the coastline or the tiny … [Read more...]
Food books (1) – Never trust a skinny chef
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqhPQIgKw44 You will by now have realised that one of the most inspirational chefs I follow is Massimo Bottura of the Osteria Francescana in Modena. The above video which has been created by book publisher Phaidon as a teaser for the forthcoming book Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef promises to be one of the most awaited food books of the year. Here Bottura explains what I like about his style. He is not just a chef but rather a creative inspiration. His lessons are pretty much the same as the ones you would expect from creativity gurus. In this short video you will see why he is considered as one of the best chefs in the world. The lessons he imparts in these three minutes are valuable in whichever career or phase of your life you are. He believes that with true passion you can transfer emotions. He urges you to get deep into things, to find structure in creativity. Most of all he asks his chefs to express themselves, feel free and be brave. He … [Read more...]
How to build your knowledge of wine
Michael Broadbent for many is the modern patron saint of wine. In 2002, in the Decanter magazine, he listed the ten most important things that he had learned on wine. Two quotes stick to mind. Drink good wine with every meal. Half a bottle of good wine is more interesting - and better for you - than six bottles of plonk. Be honest and rely on your own tasting; avoid the influence of others. Many love to drink a good glass of wine but are intimidated by the subject of wine and most people actually hesitate to go beyond the supermarket shelves. The subject of wine is incredibly fascinating. It is one of constant discovery, one in which only very few if ever will completely master the subject given the width and breath of wines that can be tasted. Take a region and break it down into different communes, within those communes, find different vineyards, some growing different varietals of grapes. You will find that different producers make different wines a few metres from each other and … [Read more...]
Beat your fear – how I overcame my phobia of cheese
Phobias are irrational and unexplainable. Cheese until a few years ago was my achilles heel. Few people could understand how someone who could be so obsessed with food and wine had a 'fear of cheese'. This was not an allergy but rather real fear. I recall a day when I was still at school and a friend had placed a piece of cheese in my school bag as a joke. I never used that bag again. I remember protesting with my father to refrain from using the same knife he had used to cut a piece of cheese to cut bread or spread butter. I even would tell him to wash his hands before handling anything else. Such was my fear. Now, with the benefit of hindsight a fear of cheese is not only irrational, it is also ridiculous. This was not an allergy. That would be perfectly understandable. Can you imagine never eating a pizza with mozzarella. Hard to believe but true. So you can just start to imagine what a big deal it was to actually try cheese for the first time. I overcame this phobia thanks to my … [Read more...]
Street food dishes in London – FT.com
Street food dishes in London - FT.com. If you are heading to London, here is a list of five street food dishes worth trying. … [Read more...]
Kokuban – a great Japanese place in Brussels
Brussels is not just the heart of Europe, it is also a place with many hidden culinary surprises. You just need to know what you are looking for. Japan has a special place in our hearts especially given the fact that my wife and I spent our honeymoon there and long to return back every time we remember that experience. So we are always on the lookout for Japanese places to eat. Sushi has become mainstream in most Western cities though I have only come across proper fare only on a handful of occasions outside of Japan. Two of them have been in Brussels. You head to Kokuban not to eat sushi. There is no sushi to be found on the menu and this is clearly written on the black wall of the restaurant which seems to indicate that they have been asked many times for sushi. The decor is bold - walls painted in brown and black. It is difficult to imagine but it does work. The place is buzzing at lunch time and in the evenings. It has an array of appetisers. Main courses include noodles, salads … [Read more...]
A promise to myself
From time to time, i have toyed with the idea of starting a blog. But there was always a reason to procrastinate. For some time, I blogged at brincs@wordpress.com but that is no more. I decided to delete that blog because it was not regular and also had haphazard content. This time, I want to test myself and see whether I can discipline myself to post on a regular basis. I will not limit this blog just to food and wine, which are among my top passions but also to book reviews, observations on news and politics, sports. In other words, anything which tickles my fancy. I hope you follow this blog from time to time and you find the content interesting. Do not hesitate to drop me a line with your suggestions or feedback. My first post will be about following your passion and is inspired by a recent experience we had at one of the world's best restaurants Osteria Francescana. I hope it tickles your taste buds. … [Read more...]