Sunday, August 02, 2009

Jewish,Suriname Shop, Turkish,Moroccan shops







Boats going home after the Gay Pride Boat Parade.




The Beigel Shop, Brick Lane, London.

Last night was the night was truly horrible, as it got later it got hotter so much so Richie put the fan on at midnight.

When it was time to turn off the lights, the fan stayed on right next to me and even so it barely kept the air fresh.

It was like lying in a hot, sticky bath, both sheet and top were damp with sweat, when I heard Richie was awake I asked for some THC so that I could finally sleep.

Had been lying awake desperately wanting to sleep, seemed to drift off initially but the tremendous heat stopped sleep for hours.

After Richie got me the THC I did manage to drift off into an uneasy sleep where I was totally aware of lying in sweltering room.

When the rain that had been forecast for the day arrived, it was a deluge according to Richie, who got up and turned off the fan as the temperature dropped considerably with the rain.

After the fan went off we both fell asleep and when I was awake again several hours later another lot of THC helped me sleep on very happily for another couple of hours.

Really strange night all because it got so unbearably hot, seems to be getting unbearably hot now too.

Hope Richie and the dogs are having a real good time in the park, they seemed to need a big walk today.

Richie made a great smoothie for me, of orange, carrots, banana really delicious and healthy.

When he is back from the park the bread will be put in the oven, am looking forward to a tasty bread roll not too long after the merry band return.

Talking of bread makes me think of bagels and the wonderful bagel bakers there are in London.

The bagel bakers that I first went to was on Brick Lane, they call themselves Beigel Bake and are open 24/7.

The first bagel I ever ate was a classic salmon and cream cheese which is yummy as is the cream cheese or humus, other fillings include smoked salmon, chopped herring and hot salt beef.

The bagel is a Brick Lane staple, which has been around for years, and serves as a remnant of the area’s Jewish past.

At the Beigel Bake they are made the proper way, by boiling then baking, creating the dense chewy consistency which is so more-ish.

At the back of the shop you can watch them making and boiling and then baking the bagels.

They encourage you to watch them preparing the bagels the traditional way.

This is a welcome change from most bagel chains, who essentially serve bread rolls with a hole in the middle.

When we lived in Hackney there were lots of good bagel bakers around where we lived, we would visit Brick Lane every now and then but we got our bagels close to where we lived.

Usually we go them from Ross’s on Stamford Hill road, Ross’s was a small family run place, their bagels were excellent.

I was getting some bagels one day, when I overheard some talk of the community having a festival at the weekend.

When the other people had gone Mr. Ross tallied up what I owed, which I paid saying, hope you have a good festival this weekend.

Mr Ross was so funny in the way he replied that this was not that sort of festival and rolled his eyes as if fun would be the last thing on their minds.

A great man Mr Ross, with a great sense of humour, like when I knew I was moving back to Amsterdam.

I went to tell him at the shop, that I was moving back to Amsterdam and would miss his shop so very much.

Asked him if he couldn’t start an Amsterdam branch of Mr. Ross’s Bakers as otherwise I would have to miss his tasty bagels.

Mr Ross rolled his eyes and said ‘’ But I could not bear to live in an attic, can you guarantee that nothing untoward will happen.

Sadly we have missed bagels here very much, good bread is not easy to find here and bagels are here but sadly they are bread rolls wsith a hole.

One shop here makes good bagels and that is a Jewish shop over the other side of town.

Amsterdam is I find much improved by the communities that have established themselves here.

Now there are Suriname and Indian and Pakistani and Turkish and Moroccan shops to choose from.

The Turkish shop near us is very much a neighbourhood shop and is open later than most, just like other Turkish shops.

They really make the neighbourhood so much livelier and streets are bustling and everyone feels happier and safer.

Personally, as a Trini I like a mix of people, I enjoy the cultures meeting, love being able to get a Suriname filled roll with tempe or saltfish with lots of pepper.

When I was first here in Amsterdam you could only get a cheese roll.

Racism seems to restrict people in a culinary way as well as emotionally and socially, a cosmopolitan life seems to be a healthier.

It is good to know about other people other lives, the blog world is a great place to find others and exchange stories.
THC
I am going to post this and visit some other blogs, both those I follow and some I don’t and see how my lovely blog friends are doing.
Have a great Sunday.

18 comments:

Diane J Standiford said...

LOVE BAGELS, especially pumpkin bagels. (one of my first posts) I imagine sailing on that er, boat, right now. Seattle is scorching hot lately. Have a nice day!

Anonymous said...

Good morning(afternoon) Herrad!! Sunny days are good, but that heat at night will keep me up too. I have a wee little fan and it doesn't do much good on the sultry nights! We're expecting thunderstorms today so hopefully that humidity will lift!

Bagels.....man, do I ever miss the Montreal bagels! I used to go to Fairmount Bagel Bakery in the Jewish quarter, every other day since it was only a 20 minute walk from my apartment. They made the bagels fresh each day and I often indulged in smoked salmon and cream cheese! There are no bagel shops around here, and the only ones are the "cardboard" ones at the grocery store. Hope I can find a good bagel shop eventually!

Hope you have a great day!

Herrad said...

Hi Diane,
Pumpkin bagels sound good must get Richie to try and make some.
It is getting hotter here too, hope it does not get as crazy hot as yesterday.

Hi Rain,
Hope you are having a good day and the humidity has lifted.
Here it is getting hotter.

Thanks for coming by, really nice seeing your comments.
Have a good Sunday.
Love,
Herrad

Lucy said...

Hello Herrad, so glad that you visited my blog. I know the heat and humidity really takes it's toll, on MS patients. Please if I make a comment you don't feel comfortable with please, please tell me. I admire your courage so much because I have a pretty good idea how difficult everyday life can be. I have never been a big fan of bagels but Joe likes them.

Herrad said...

Hi Lucy,
Thanks for coming by, the heat is giving me a hard time this weekend.
You have certainly not upset me, far from it you have been very supportive of me
I am very happy you can visit this blog as well as the dog's blog, asa I can imagfine hgow difficult it is for you because of your son.
Hope you have a good day today.
Love,
Herrad

suejan said...

We eat a lot of bagels,Sains did a B.O.F Even got a bagel stand to help cutting. Had dreadful night. Catheter came out and had to get emergency nurse in. Computer man going to help me set up background for blog-bought camera. Will do my pretend Heron near pondspecially foryou.

Even though poured with rain yesterday tubs are dry so hose out-don' feel like it too tired

suejan said...

We eat a lot of bagels-even gotspecial gadget to help with cutting. Sains. did a B.O.F.Had dreadful night painkllersmade me constipated and pressure caused catheter to comeout. Hadto call emergency nurse.Despite pouring rain yesterday tubs are dry so hose out don't feel like it as so tired. Computerman is going to help with background to blog.Boughtcamera-will do my pretend Heron near pond specially for you

Denver Refashionista said...

I hope you can stay cool today.

THC, a cure all. It really seems to improve your quality of life. It does the same for me.

Herrad said...

Hi SueJan,

Nice to hear from you.
Hope you are doing well.
Not sure which of your blogs to follow as most of your blogs only have a name and no content.
Please advise mle which one is your daily blog.

Hi Nadja,
Somehow stayed cool today.
My life is immensely improved by using thc.
Glad to hear so is yours.


Thanks both of you for coming by and leaving a comment.
Take it easy and have a good day tomorrow.
Love,
Herrad

Libby said...

hi herrad! i love reading all your memories of where you've been & what yo've done, & who you've met! it's so interesting to me! i like where i live, it works for me, but i love hearing about life elsewhere!

Herrad said...

Hi Libby,
Thanks for coming by glad you like my stories.
Where you live looks very plelasant to me.
If I could have chosen where I wanted to live I would have chosen Trinidad.
Have a good Monday.
Love,
Herrad

awb said...

We have a Kosher deli in town, they have the best bagels around here, chewy on the outside, soft in the middle. I was excited to see in pictures that the signs were in English, then I read they were in England! Hope it cools off for you,

Andy

Herrad said...

Hi Andy,
Nothing like real bagels is there, here in Amsterdam only one Jewish shop is good the rest sell bread rolls with a hole and they are just not real bagels.
Hope you have a good day tomorrow.
Love,
Herrad

Richie said...

Brick Lane is a great street. Beigels (I spell it that way 'cos Brick Lane was my first beigel and as far as I am concerned set the standard)at one end and curry at the other with a crazy market in the middle. I do not miss much about London but good beigels I do miss. Mr Ross was a true gentleman. I have never met such a scholarly shop keeper- amazing breath and depth of knowledge. The orthodox community in Stamford Hill gives that bit of London a real different feel. I believe it is one of the biggest orthodox communities in the world after Israel and New York. Funny enough my favourite was beigel filled with halumi -Jewish bread with Cypriot cheese, thats London!
Oh yeah and in the middle of Stamford Hill is that little halal Pakistani restaurant that is mentioned in the Michelin guide- every food in the world in London!
I hope we get a better night tonight-I'll try to remember that Malaysian restaurant I used to know around Victoria... I can taste it but can't quite remember what I ate there.

robert said...

Good morning Herrad,
as you may see with the time, it's also too hot during the night to sleep.
Never ate a Bagel in my life, guess there are so many things left which I did not do so far.
Like visiting Amsterdam for instance.
But there's a new week coming up, allowing to do many new things.
Wish you two a nice and not so hot start into the week.

Kelli said...

Hi Herrad. I hope Richie and the dogs had a great romp. Your blog makes me want to experience "real" bagels. All I know is the bread with the holes.LOL
Have a nice week.
Kelli

A said...

Dearest Herrad:

In total agreement that trying to sleep when its steamy hot is definitely not my cup of tea either.

But to awake to the smell of fresh ground beans, that first morning cup of Java Joe with a warm bagel, cream cheese, and sweet jam sure can take the edge off the heat.

Hope you are having a great day, and the rain is keeping things palatable at the very least.

Waiting to hear you are out and about in the fresh air embracing nature's delights again soon.

Your Pal,
Stan

Herrad said...

Hi Richie,
I still miss Mr. Ross and Brick Lane,Ridley Road market and the bagel shops and Green Lanes and Hackney Marshes ands that briliant Pakistani take away with the tasty nan bread.
And the London voice and the humour.

Hi Robert,
Good to see your comment.
Hope life in the new house is good.

Hi Kelli,
Richie and the dogs had a great time.
Bagels are delicious, hope you get to try them sometime
Hope your Monday was good.

Hi Stan,
How delightful to see your coffee, I cxould smell the coffee and taste that bagel.
As soon as I can go out I will post about it.

Thanks for coming by really makes my day seeing comments, it is good to be in communication.
Really appreciate your suppot.
Love,
Herrad