The Hague - A Food Destination - Who Knew?

Okay, we made it to the Netherlands in fine style. The trip was non-eventful and smooth. Our place in Amsterdam was not ready the first day, so we hopped on a train (from the airport) to The Hague. This is the famed city containing the World Court which, of course, we never saw, but I'm sure it's lovely. I'd recommend it to anyone, war criminals and political criminals alike.

We stayed in a hotel across the street from the train station, the Eden Babylon (Sofitel). The outside was seriously under construction and we wandered somewhat aimlessly looking for an entrance. Parts of it looked like the Eden Beirut (somewhat to the East of Babylon), but we pressed on.

We finally found the lobby and we were greeted in true Dutch fashion. "Warmth" may not be their first name, or their last name, but it certainly isn't their middle name either. I think "efficient" might describe it. We were efficiently greeted, checked in and went up to our rooms. The hotel rooms were "outstanding". My son, who prefers not to be specifically mentioned, so we will refer to him as "Dirk Iwantignuther Bier" had an identical elegant room. It was basically a suite, well air-conditioned (in an American sense), with a huge awesomely comfortable bed and a large comforter.

Before taking a rest, we thought we would go for a quick snack at the hotel restaurant. It was a lovely venue, well-staffed, interesting menu, the only problem was that we were the only patrons and we didn't appear to be welcome additions. We ordered food and drink, sat back after our travel-day from Edinburgh and waited for our drink (or food) to come. And waited, and waited. Eventually, Karen asked "do you think they misunderstood us?" I pointed out that they had handed us food and wine menus and appeared to take our order. The finally brought us water. After some delay, we were supplemented with bread. Between those two items, we were able to survive, marking the days with our butter knives on the wood table.

Anyway, for that restaurant, I think I would quote a Dutch bartendress (is that the word we want?), who said, "If you find a Dutch red wine, don't drink it." Our recommendation, "if you find yourself hungry at the Eden Babylon, walk or ride somewhere."

After our waiting and the meal (the shorter period), we napped in the wonderful beds in the cool rooms. "God was in Den Haag and all was right with the world".

We awoke in the early evening and decided to forage for food. For some reason (we're still not sure why), we thought the hotel was within a few blocks from the beach. When we asked our efficient receptionist, she informed us it was only a 2 to 3 hour walk.

We got a cab (a very nice unmarked Mercedes), who asked if we wanted to go into Old Town or the beach. We said the beach sounded wonderful. He took us to the beach and the restaurant (pictured above) called the Restaurant Seinpost. Their website is: www.seinpost.nl

We sat down, ordered some drinks and started looking at the menu. I looked at the "pris fixe" menu and then the ala carte menu and both had a similarity. With the exception of a duck kidney ravioli, everything was sea food. Unfortunately, Dirk (the son formerly known as Ewan), does not like sea food. He is a sport, he will try anything once, and in Keswick (on the outer edges of the Lake District in England), he actually had a full order of fish and chips. However, he prefers other sources of protein (and we're not talking tofu).

Well, I got up from the table, walked over to the owner and described our dilemma. The owner was outstanding! He said, "no problem, we can make something for him, let me talk with him." The owner personally came over, talked over the available meats with Dirk and described what he thought would go well with the evening. Dirk ended up with a steak tartare as an appetizer and had a beautiful sliced pork shoulder in a sherry demi-glaze for his main course. In the meantime, the meal started with a lovely selection of appetizers (an incredible "puff" thing that exploded in your mouth), followed by bread, another selection of appetizers (Dirk got non-seafood separate ones, all totally off-menu), soups (Dirk with his tartare) - a lobster bisque and a seafood, both wonderfully presented, a little palate cleanser in a martini glass, of nectarines, foam flowerette-berry flavored "something" and a frozen yogurt, followed by the main courses, Dirk with his pork shoulder, Karen with St. Peter's fish with a beurre blanc sauce (not easy for her to say), lovely onion ring swirled with a potato puree' and grilled artichoke hearts that were "awesome". I had a monk-fish, wonderfully prepared and a rissotto, which was also wonderful. Did I mention that the meal was wonderful?

In the meantime, before our main course, they had tricked us into ordering desserts (while we still were hungry). Dirk and I ordered a rhubarb souffle', with a side plate of rhubarb, praline ice cream and cream. Karen had the "four chocolates plate", which is Dutch for "a hell of a lot of chocolate". She had chocolate and cherries, with wonderful dark cherries, chocolate, chocolate ice cream with flecks of chocolate and a chocolate cake, a stick of chocolate, and some other chocolate-based items. The veritable, "death by chocolate" experience.

Dessert was accompanied by dessert wines (a port, an orange muscat and a cognac, in no particular order).

After dessert, they brought, well, more dessert. First, individual gelati on a cookie/chocolate shell. Then, a selection of three by three desserts (a wonderful chocolate truffle, a raspberry thing and a caramel in a cookie to die for). After that, Dirk and I selected a couple of cigars (only legal inside for the next few months), had some espresso and continued to enjoy the evening. At that point, they brought out stacks of "madellines" - wonderful - we accused the waiter of trying to kill us, he replied "it's my job".

It was, just possibly, the most wonderful dining experience we ever had.

Today, the next day, we have dined so far on french fries and beer (on the train) and some great cheese and bread as we are sitting on our house boat on the canal. It is about time for us to go out and forage for food.

Love from Holland!!