Last night nine CosmoPolites put on still-warm-from-the-previous-lender bowling shoes. At 19h30 the game was on: Team 1 against Team 2. After the first throws, Team 1 was leading the competition...
... after the second throw, team 2 took over the lead and crushed their opponents...
Dr. Evil (Team 1) was particularly deceiving with an opening throw of two 'gutters' and ending with a final score of 145, which included 1 strike, 5 spares.
Due to a computer mistake, Kinky Kira (Team 1) did not end last in the first round. In the second round she did loose. Rocking Roger (Team 1) tried to save his team from total humiliation by throwing two spares and two strikes in a row. Team 1 still suspects the other team of having practised the last month.
Team 1 shall contact Team 2 in March for the Spring Cup!
Team 1 was represented by Tasty Tascha, Rocking Roger, Saucy Susan, Evil Eric and Kinky Kira.
Team 2 consisted of the magnificent four: Dr. Evil, Drake, Mad Matt and Mighty Mary.
Friday, 5 February 2010
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Italian Cooking Workshop
Two Saturdays in a row a bunch of chefs-to-be gathered for some chopping and mixing of ingredients. The hard labour ended in a dinner fabuloso!
Besides mastering ancient old kneeding techniques for the perfect pasta dough, people enjoyed Italian wines and making international friends. At the end of each workshop, after dinner, phone numbers were exchanged on the napkins we had placed so carefully on the dining table.
Ideas for more cooking workshops were conceived; sushi-making workshop scored high in popularity, as did Spanish Tapas and Indian food. I, Kira, have heard my calling and shall try to catch an Espanol to teach us his secret kitchen tricks!
Besides mastering ancient old kneeding techniques for the perfect pasta dough, people enjoyed Italian wines and making international friends. At the end of each workshop, after dinner, phone numbers were exchanged on the napkins we had placed so carefully on the dining table.
Ideas for more cooking workshops were conceived; sushi-making workshop scored high in popularity, as did Spanish Tapas and Indian food. I, Kira, have heard my calling and shall try to catch an Espanol to teach us his secret kitchen tricks!
February update
The proceeds of the January Expat Drinks were donated to Haiti. Still, with the pay back money of start ups we have helped in 2009, Cosmo Polite was able to support two new start-ups : Natalya's childrens' clothing store and Joseph's motor bike taxi service.
Natalya is single and lives in Berdyansk. Natalya sells children’s clothing in one of the biggest markets of her hometown. She offers trendy merchandise at affordable prices, which has always been main attraction for her customers. Natalya has been in this business for eight years.
Natalya has requested a 15,000 Grivnya loan to increase her turnover capital and purchase additional merchandise at wholesale prices for further retail sale in her kiosk. Natalya can be characterized as a hard-working entrepreneur with a clear vision and integrity. She is talented and knowledgeable in business management. We believe Natalya’s business will benefit from her current loan and will continue growing in the future.
Senfuma Joseph is a hardworking man and a businessman with multiple businesses including a boda boda (motorbike taxi) business. He also buys and sells agricultural produce, he is a builder and has a retail shop at his home which is mostly managed by his wife with the help of his children.
Joseph has four children and he hopes to see all of them attain the best education even through to university so that they can have a better life than the one they are living today. Joseph needs this first loan to be able to expand his business by restocking his retail shop with more goods as well as to buy more agricultural produce and greens for resale.
People Cosmo Polites have supported by providing loans:
Natalya Bondareva (Ukraine) - January 2010
Senfuma Joseph (Uganda) - January 2010
Kei Uy (Phillipines) - December drinks
Uche Ike (Nigeria) - December drinks
Maqboolan Maqsood Ahmad Group (Pakistan) - October drinks
Azra M.rafiq Group (Pakistan) - October drinks
Rukiri 2 Group (Uganda) - Table Invitee dinner
Hermenia Soon (Phillipines) - September drinks
Letecia Ocular (Phillipines) - September drinks
Marguerite Kayitesi (Rwanda) - August drinks
Noeun Sorn (Cambodia) - August drinks
Deborah Alaho (Nigeria) - July drinks
Areli (Peru) - July drinks
Yarisa Mojica Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - June drinks
Dafina Vasileva (Bulgary) - Thanksgiving dinner 2007
Hamza Homidov (Tajikistan) - Thanksgiving dinner 2007
Digna (Peru) - Thanksgiving dinner 2007
Tomás Medina (Paraguay)- Thanksgiving dinner 2007
Natalya is single and lives in Berdyansk. Natalya sells children’s clothing in one of the biggest markets of her hometown. She offers trendy merchandise at affordable prices, which has always been main attraction for her customers. Natalya has been in this business for eight years.
Natalya has requested a 15,000 Grivnya loan to increase her turnover capital and purchase additional merchandise at wholesale prices for further retail sale in her kiosk. Natalya can be characterized as a hard-working entrepreneur with a clear vision and integrity. She is talented and knowledgeable in business management. We believe Natalya’s business will benefit from her current loan and will continue growing in the future.
Senfuma Joseph is a hardworking man and a businessman with multiple businesses including a boda boda (motorbike taxi) business. He also buys and sells agricultural produce, he is a builder and has a retail shop at his home which is mostly managed by his wife with the help of his children.
Joseph has four children and he hopes to see all of them attain the best education even through to university so that they can have a better life than the one they are living today. Joseph needs this first loan to be able to expand his business by restocking his retail shop with more goods as well as to buy more agricultural produce and greens for resale.
People Cosmo Polites have supported by providing loans:
Natalya Bondareva (Ukraine) - January 2010
Senfuma Joseph (Uganda) - January 2010
Kei Uy (Phillipines) - December drinks
Uche Ike (Nigeria) - December drinks
Maqboolan Maqsood Ahmad Group (Pakistan) - October drinks
Azra M.rafiq Group (Pakistan) - October drinks
Rukiri 2 Group (Uganda) - Table Invitee dinner
Hermenia Soon (Phillipines) - September drinks
Letecia Ocular (Phillipines) - September drinks
Marguerite Kayitesi (Rwanda) - August drinks
Noeun Sorn (Cambodia) - August drinks
Deborah Alaho (Nigeria) - July drinks
Areli (Peru) - July drinks
Yarisa Mojica Jimenez (Dominican Republic) - June drinks
Dafina Vasileva (Bulgary) - Thanksgiving dinner 2007
Hamza Homidov (Tajikistan) - Thanksgiving dinner 2007
Digna (Peru) - Thanksgiving dinner 2007
Tomás Medina (Paraguay)- Thanksgiving dinner 2007
Monday, 25 January 2010
Italian Cooking
After a welcome with a Prosecco and some bites, the ambiance was so 'gezellig' it was difficult to get the chefs to work! Yet, after kneeding for half an hour the kitchen princes & princesses got the hang of it...
The workshop started with making pasta dough. Secret ingredients? No: Flour, egg and a pinch of salt. The secret of excellent pasta dough is the kneeding technique, which all attendees now master. My advice: get invited to a dinner party of one of these Master Chefs!
Then it was time for making the appetizers, including the vegetarian quiches with bacon, many cheesy bites (sorry Dan) and desserts as Tiramisu and Chocolate Mousse. But that was not it! The pasta dough, by that time well rested, had to be rolled, filled and cut into ravioli.
After all this hard work, half of the group needed some resting, socializing and wining time. In the mean time, the others were putting together a dining table to seat 19 people - a tricky business in a small kitchen cellar.
And finally, at 22h we were able to enjoy our hard labour!! Yummy!!
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE COOKING EVENT ON SATURDAY JANUARY 30TH
The workshop started with making pasta dough. Secret ingredients? No: Flour, egg and a pinch of salt. The secret of excellent pasta dough is the kneeding technique, which all attendees now master. My advice: get invited to a dinner party of one of these Master Chefs!
Then it was time for making the appetizers, including the vegetarian quiches with bacon, many cheesy bites (sorry Dan) and desserts as Tiramisu and Chocolate Mousse. But that was not it! The pasta dough, by that time well rested, had to be rolled, filled and cut into ravioli.
After all this hard work, half of the group needed some resting, socializing and wining time. In the mean time, the others were putting together a dining table to seat 19 people - a tricky business in a small kitchen cellar.
And finally, at 22h we were able to enjoy our hard labour!! Yummy!!
PLEASE CHECK OUT THE COOKING EVENT ON SATURDAY JANUARY 30TH
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Dutch Cuisine
Dutch Cuisine - an oxymoron or something to be explored? If you go for the last, here’s a list of pleasant Dutch restaurants that serve more than a kroket or bitterbal.
Greetje - a Dutch Delight.
Set in an old Amsterdam house, in the hidden corner of the old entranchment (oude schans) you’ll find Amsterdam gezelligheid as it must have been a century ago- it is almost as if you are moving back into time. Invite your foreign friends from abroad to introduce them to Dutch cuisine - not an oxymoron! I even took my Italian mother-in-law, who appreciated the dishes (but… naturalmente… it was not as good as cucina italiana). Restaurant Greetje, Peperstraat 23-25, Amsterdam Centre East (very east, that is), T. 77 97 450
Moeders - No one cooks better than Mama!
Moeders is Dutch for ‘Mothers’. The whole cozy restaurant is decorated with pictures of guests’ their mothers (see photo right). It is here that I realized that Dutch food is true comfort-food, eg suddervlees (braised steak), hotchpotch and bitterkoekjes ice cream (cannot explain this flavour, you just need to try it). Portions are good and pricing even better. Being at Moeders is always a pleasant experience. Moeders, Rozengracht 251, Amsterdam Centre, T. 020-6267957
Restaurant Spelt - we need to check it out.
This Dutch restaurant is on my to-go-visit list: the menu boasts authentic Dutch food as creamy mustard soup and Cruezes Zealand (- Zeeland is a Dutch province on the south of Rotterdam). The restaurant looks styling on pictures. Has anyone already dined here? If so, please reply! Restaurant Spelt, Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 5A, Amsterdam Centre, T. 420 70 22
Dorrius - not to be missed!
Dorrius was already a great success and now, after the refurbishment, the new Dorrius has become a place not to be missed for foreigners. Dorrius shows that traditional restaurants do not need to be dark and brown; at this styling and light restaurant typical Dutch cuisine is served with flair. The well-known herring is on the menu and, for real men, the popular Hunter’s hotpot. Eet smakelijk! Dorrius, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 5, Amsterdam Centre, T. 420 22 24
Eau de Vie - surprisingly (un)Dutch
Only since my visit to De Bokkerdoorns (see below) am I open to Dutch cuisine. Little did I know that I had already been enjoying Dutch food! At Eau de Vie - a classy, small restaurant in Amstedam South- Dutch food is served with such style that I had mixed it up with French cuisine. Sevice was also unDutch elegant. May be the restaurant should be renamed to Levenswater or Vreugde des Leven (Joy of Life), because The Netherlands must be proud of such a restaurant. Eau de Vie, Maasstraat 20, Rivierenbuurt Amsterdam, T. 662 95 88
Contrast - French cuisine goes Dutch
Contrast is a trendy restaurant with a trendy decor, trendy clientele and consequently trendy ambiance. As can be expected with trendy places, the menu is fusion: French cuisine with the usage of (seasonal) Dutch ingredients. Like many other trendy restaurants, the service is good (when it's not too busy, that is) and the food is of decent quality. My advice: visit Contrast on a weekday evening when it is not to busy and I trust you'll have a great, uhm, I mean, trendy eve! Contrast, Ferdinand Bolstraat 178, De Pijp Amsterdam, T. 471 55 44
De Bokkedoorns- Best Dutch restaurant in the “whole wide world”
Hidden in the dunes west of Haarlem, you’ll find De Bokkedoorns - a restaurant that deserves every bit of the two Michelin stars they are awarded each year. The menu and service are of such a high level, it cannot be described. You just need to trust me. De Bokkedoorns, Wethouder van Gelukpark, Zeeweg 53, Overveen, T. 023-526 36 00
rather disappointing:
De Vijff Vlieghen - poor price-quality, may be they are trapped by their own success?
Febo - great price-quality, service cannot be faster, and certainly a Dutch success story: an ATM for E1 food…
Greetje - a Dutch Delight.Set in an old Amsterdam house, in the hidden corner of the old entranchment (oude schans) you’ll find Amsterdam gezelligheid as it must have been a century ago- it is almost as if you are moving back into time. Invite your foreign friends from abroad to introduce them to Dutch cuisine - not an oxymoron! I even took my Italian mother-in-law, who appreciated the dishes (but… naturalmente… it was not as good as cucina italiana). Restaurant Greetje, Peperstraat 23-25, Amsterdam Centre East (very east, that is), T. 77 97 450
Moeders - No one cooks better than Mama!
Moeders is Dutch for ‘Mothers’. The whole cozy restaurant is decorated with pictures of guests’ their mothers (see photo right). It is here that I realized that Dutch food is true comfort-food, eg suddervlees (braised steak), hotchpotch and bitterkoekjes ice cream (cannot explain this flavour, you just need to try it). Portions are good and pricing even better. Being at Moeders is always a pleasant experience. Moeders, Rozengracht 251, Amsterdam Centre, T. 020-6267957
Restaurant Spelt - we need to check it out.
This Dutch restaurant is on my to-go-visit list: the menu boasts authentic Dutch food as creamy mustard soup and Cruezes Zealand (- Zeeland is a Dutch province on the south of Rotterdam). The restaurant looks styling on pictures. Has anyone already dined here? If so, please reply! Restaurant Spelt, Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 5A, Amsterdam Centre, T. 420 70 22
Dorrius - not to be missed!
Dorrius was already a great success and now, after the refurbishment, the new Dorrius has become a place not to be missed for foreigners. Dorrius shows that traditional restaurants do not need to be dark and brown; at this styling and light restaurant typical Dutch cuisine is served with flair. The well-known herring is on the menu and, for real men, the popular Hunter’s hotpot. Eet smakelijk! Dorrius, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 5, Amsterdam Centre, T. 420 22 24
Eau de Vie - surprisingly (un)Dutch
Only since my visit to De Bokkerdoorns (see below) am I open to Dutch cuisine. Little did I know that I had already been enjoying Dutch food! At Eau de Vie - a classy, small restaurant in Amstedam South- Dutch food is served with such style that I had mixed it up with French cuisine. Sevice was also unDutch elegant. May be the restaurant should be renamed to Levenswater or Vreugde des Leven (Joy of Life), because The Netherlands must be proud of such a restaurant. Eau de Vie, Maasstraat 20, Rivierenbuurt Amsterdam, T. 662 95 88
Contrast - French cuisine goes DutchContrast is a trendy restaurant with a trendy decor, trendy clientele and consequently trendy ambiance. As can be expected with trendy places, the menu is fusion: French cuisine with the usage of (seasonal) Dutch ingredients. Like many other trendy restaurants, the service is good (when it's not too busy, that is) and the food is of decent quality. My advice: visit Contrast on a weekday evening when it is not to busy and I trust you'll have a great, uhm, I mean, trendy eve! Contrast, Ferdinand Bolstraat 178, De Pijp Amsterdam, T. 471 55 44
De Bokkedoorns- Best Dutch restaurant in the “whole wide world”
Hidden in the dunes west of Haarlem, you’ll find De Bokkedoorns - a restaurant that deserves every bit of the two Michelin stars they are awarded each year. The menu and service are of such a high level, it cannot be described. You just need to trust me. De Bokkedoorns, Wethouder van Gelukpark, Zeeweg 53, Overveen, T. 023-526 36 00
rather disappointing:
De Vijff Vlieghen - poor price-quality, may be they are trapped by their own success?
Febo - great price-quality, service cannot be faster, and certainly a Dutch success story: an ATM for E1 food…
Monday, 11 January 2010
Spa & Sauna in Amsterdam
For those who the cold is getting too much, here’s a list of spa’s and steaming hot sauna’s in Amsterdam.
Spa Zuiver - pure bliss
The newest and largest spa in Amsterdam is located in the Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Zuid). All imaginable top of the art facilities are available, including outdoor hot tubs and steam temple, colour therapy sauna and aroma baths. Entrance fee to Spa: E35 (day pass),
Spa Amsterdam Zuiver, Koenenkade 8, Amsterdam Forest.
Sauna de Keizer - Roman relaxation
De Keizer is a roman-inspired sauna and spa also located on the canal belt. Facilities include: Finish sauna, infrared sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, massages, sunbeds and beauty salon. Entrance fee to Sauna: E16
Sauna de Keizer, Keizersgracht 124, Amsterdam Centre.
Sento - modern city spa
Spa and health club Sento is a members-only club. The spa facilities include a sauna with colour therapy, whirlpool with air and water massage functions and relax zones with views over the Jordaan. During the week, visitors can get a day pass (E22) for the sauna. Making a reservation is recommended. Sento Spa and Health Club, Marnixplein 1, Jordaan.
Deco Spa & Wellness - city luxury
A beautiful luxury sauna on the canal belt. Facilities include: Sauna Cabin, Turkish Steambath, Lounge, Patio Garden, Fitness, Massage, Solarium, Beauty Salon. Entrance fee to Spa: E20.50
Sauna Deco, Herengracht 115, Amsterdam Centre.
Fenomeen - fuss free Popular amongst Amsterdammers is the down-to-earth Sauna Fenomeen at the Vondel Park. Facilities include Finnish sauna, Turkish steam bath, solarium, massages, indoor and outdoor relaxing zones. Entrance fee to Sauna: E9. On the website it reads ‘smoking of pure weed is allowed on Tuesdays’, just so you know.
Fenomeen, De Binnenpret square, 1ste Schinkelstraat 14, Amsterdam.
Thermos and Damrak - gay only
Hammam - women only
This bath house has multiple bathing areas with different temperatures and a Turkish steam room. At the beauty salon women can enjoy scrub, mud and henna treatments, as well as Eastern massages. Entrance fee to Hammam: E17. Making a reservation is recommended.
Hammam, Zaanstraat 88, Amsterdam
Hammam Shifa - women and men (separated)
The only hammam in Amsterdam where men are also welcome. This traditional bath house is not for bathing, soaping and soaking only; savonage (soap massage), gommage (body scrub), mud and henna treatments are also available. Other facilities include a sauna, beauty parlor and hairdresser. Entrance fee to Hammam: E16.
Hammam Shifa, Pieter Calandlaan 1375, Amsterdam Osdorp.
Spa Zuiver - pure blissThe newest and largest spa in Amsterdam is located in the Amsterdamse Bos (Amsterdam Zuid). All imaginable top of the art facilities are available, including outdoor hot tubs and steam temple, colour therapy sauna and aroma baths. Entrance fee to Spa: E35 (day pass),
Spa Amsterdam Zuiver, Koenenkade 8, Amsterdam Forest.
Sauna de Keizer - Roman relaxation
De Keizer is a roman-inspired sauna and spa also located on the canal belt. Facilities include: Finish sauna, infrared sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, massages, sunbeds and beauty salon. Entrance fee to Sauna: E16
Sauna de Keizer, Keizersgracht 124, Amsterdam Centre.
Sento - modern city spa
Spa and health club Sento is a members-only club. The spa facilities include a sauna with colour therapy, whirlpool with air and water massage functions and relax zones with views over the Jordaan. During the week, visitors can get a day pass (E22) for the sauna. Making a reservation is recommended. Sento Spa and Health Club, Marnixplein 1, Jordaan.
Deco Spa & Wellness - city luxury A beautiful luxury sauna on the canal belt. Facilities include: Sauna Cabin, Turkish Steambath, Lounge, Patio Garden, Fitness, Massage, Solarium, Beauty Salon. Entrance fee to Spa: E20.50
Sauna Deco, Herengracht 115, Amsterdam Centre.
Fenomeen - fuss free Popular amongst Amsterdammers is the down-to-earth Sauna Fenomeen at the Vondel Park. Facilities include Finnish sauna, Turkish steam bath, solarium, massages, indoor and outdoor relaxing zones. Entrance fee to Sauna: E9. On the website it reads ‘smoking of pure weed is allowed on Tuesdays’, just so you know.
Fenomeen, De Binnenpret square, 1ste Schinkelstraat 14, Amsterdam.
Thermos and Damrak - gay only
Hammam - women only
This bath house has multiple bathing areas with different temperatures and a Turkish steam room. At the beauty salon women can enjoy scrub, mud and henna treatments, as well as Eastern massages. Entrance fee to Hammam: E17. Making a reservation is recommended.
Hammam, Zaanstraat 88, Amsterdam
Hammam Shifa - women and men (separated)
The only hammam in Amsterdam where men are also welcome. This traditional bath house is not for bathing, soaping and soaking only; savonage (soap massage), gommage (body scrub), mud and henna treatments are also available. Other facilities include a sauna, beauty parlor and hairdresser. Entrance fee to Hammam: E16.
Hammam Shifa, Pieter Calandlaan 1375, Amsterdam Osdorp.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Ice Rinks in Amsterdam
There’s no need to tell you that it’s cold in Amsterdam. Freezing cold. Please be aware, that one cannot skate on the canals yet. The ice needs to be min. 6 cm thick before one can skate on it. Still, there will be spots where the ice is thinner, so my advice: opt for ice rinks. A bonus: there’s always hot coco available!
Photo: Typical Dutch skates called ‘houtjes’, which translates to ‘woodies’. Houtjes are tight to the shoes. At the rinks figure-meets-ice-hockey skates are for rent.
Throughout town you’ll find many rinks to practice skating and falling skills!
Jaap Edenhal is the largest rink in town. It has got an outdoor 400-meter track. Indoors you’ll find an official ice hockey size rink. Entrance fee: E6.10 (adults), E3.70 (children)
South Pole is the trendiest ice rink where cool parties are hosted. In the weekends the rink is open to the public.
The rinks in the centre are rather small, but are free and skates are available for rent.
Jaap Eden Hal
Radioweg 64. Tram 9, Stop Kruislaan.
Zuid Pool
Tram 4, Stop Europaplein
Ice Rink Museumplein
Museumplein
Tram 2, 5, Stop Paulus Potterstraat
Ice Rink Artis
Plantage Kerklaan 38
Tram 9, 14, Stop Plantage Kerklaan
Ice Rink Leidseplein
Open till January 10
Leidseplein. Tram 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10.
Photo: Typical Dutch skates called ‘houtjes’, which translates to ‘woodies’. Houtjes are tight to the shoes. At the rinks figure-meets-ice-hockey skates are for rent.Throughout town you’ll find many rinks to practice skating and falling skills!
Jaap Edenhal is the largest rink in town. It has got an outdoor 400-meter track. Indoors you’ll find an official ice hockey size rink. Entrance fee: E6.10 (adults), E3.70 (children)
South Pole is the trendiest ice rink where cool parties are hosted. In the weekends the rink is open to the public.
The rinks in the centre are rather small, but are free and skates are available for rent.
Jaap Eden Hal
Radioweg 64. Tram 9, Stop Kruislaan.
Zuid Pool
Tram 4, Stop Europaplein
Ice Rink Museumplein
Museumplein
Tram 2, 5, Stop Paulus Potterstraat
Ice Rink Artis
Plantage Kerklaan 38
Tram 9, 14, Stop Plantage Kerklaan
Ice Rink Leidseplein
Open till January 10
Leidseplein. Tram 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 10.
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