DONATO' S CUCINA DEN HAAG

THERE'S IS NOTHING MORE ROMANTIC THAN ITALIAN FOOD."

ELISHA CUTHBEAT

Dario Danato with his employee

Today I am talking to the owner’s of Danto’s Dario Danoto, a traitor situated in Benoordenhout, The Hague in The Netherlands. Dario is in his thirties, charming, funny and quickly spoken. Dario has been in business for 4 years and his intention when he opens this business was to bring the authenticity of Italian culinary to the area and to create a place where people would come to socialize.

In addition, he succeeded; people come from far to get a taste of the Danoto cuisine.  The place always seems to be busy, no seats available. They have the ability to make you feel welcome, such welcome that you become a friend or even you are made to feel like you’re part of the family. His business has become quickly a pillar of the community.

I ask him what does he think is the secret of his successful business so far and with no hesitation is the passion that is put into the business. He is very peculiar about the quality of the food. 

On prices, the average payment for a bread roll with coffee is around 7-8 euros, pasta with wine around 12.50.  Bottle wine cost from 8- 35 euros.

You can also find everything from olive oil to wine. All items sold are imported from Italy.

I asked whether he may expand anytime soon, but he thinks that there is no need to, because it is better to have a small cozy place than a big place that is empty and cold.

On children, the place is child friendly. You will find young to old to senior. Maybe it is a place to be seen…Lastly I asked what is the secret behind the always smiles, and his answer was probably growing up in the street of Naples where it’s sunny and because the southern people are just happy.

Thank you 

Xo Ermine 

When in The Hague in The Hague and you feel for eating delicious italian food 

 Danato Italiaanse Delicatessen

Van Hoytemastraat 22A

2596 ER Gravenhage

Panini van de Dag

Peperoni Imbottiti

Pollo allo Chef (GianPaolo)

Lasagna

Buffalo mozzarelo salad pesto

 

Zucchini alla scapece

Polpetta alla Napoletana

Countless italian wine

Donilo Donato 

Danato Italiaanse Delicatessen

Van Hoytemastraat 22A

2596 ER Gravenhage

TASTE OF BEETS

Beetroot Juice 

This juice is made of six whole beetroot with skin.

Beetroot is not listed as a super food but maybe it needs to be placed on that list. Drinking beet juice daily lowers blood pressure.  Someone dear to me had a minor stoke a while back and he mention that drinking beetroot juice is helping him to reduce his blood pressure to help prevent the stroke from recurring.

I have been eating many beets as snack and noticed that my skin, which was prone to spots, was clearing out rapidly. Through many happens in my life I stopped, but now I am back on the beetroot bandwagon. 

In some research, beetroot juice may boost stamina to help you exercise long, so I am even curious if it will give me more endurance during my yoga practice.

As a vegetable beetroots are sweet, astringent, heavy, smooth, relieves anaemia.

Apparently, some surveys also show that beet juice relieves many cases of disease related to calcification in the body like

Arthritis

Heart diseases

Cancer

Kidney stones 

Eye problems

Varicose veins 

Arteriosclerosis

In addition, beet juice is consider to be a perfect drink for cleansing/ detoxing. 

Benefits are good source of folate, potassium, vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants as well as nitrates.

In addition, if you start with drinking beet juice you need to know that it might make your urine and stools reddish.
 That is perfectly normal.

A juice recipe if you prefer a more diluted taste of beets.

One pear

½ a beetroot

One carrot

One apple

1-inch ginger

Delicious!

THE PULLING EFFECT

Today we are heading off to Santa Gertrudis in search of something delicious something like a chocolate dessert with a luscious coffee. Standing at the opposite side street in Santa Gertrudis facing an all white and red restaurant. I felt a sudden pull to this restaurant; something was telling me that this is the place that will fulfil my chocolate desire. 

This place was practically empty, it was just a woman and child, and she seems to be finishing off her coffee, what looks like an espresso judging by the size of her cup. Greeting us was a gorgeous young woman who was very welcoming with her smile. I instantly felt an attraction towards her. I told her what I was in search of and voila it was possible. 

The dessert was suppose to be a trio of chocolates; dark, brown and white chocolate mouse which had to be surrounded with melted chocolate sauce, but since I am not such a big fan of white chocolate I had to request my own concoctions. 

The dessert was just out of this world; I was having a chocolate orgasm.

Too bad the coffee didn't turn out good enough for the hostess satisfaction, so we received the coffee on the house. Some coffee houses will sometimes not be so considerate, you will be serve bad coffee and will be charge three euros fifty for filthy coffee....I will definitely return to GK restaurant and to see my lovely new friend. I’ve forgotten her name, shame on me, but the contact has been made. 

KRAKOW UNDERCOVER: ALCHEMIA RESTOCLUB

Saturday dinner in Krakow. After the almost summer weather of last weekend, grey, rainy autumn seems to have popped its head. Thank you Poland. You could have spared me that. With no food in sight in my temporary home we had no choice, but to face the aura and find a place where we could eat. We arrived at the the cozy, bright light, easy relax place Alchemia in Jewish Quarter. The waiter suggested that the best food on the menu was home made sausages with mash. Of course, it was after my desire for fried wings was suddenly crushed, since it was no longer available.

I must say, I'm not very much a sausage eater. I just don't find it very appealing, but why not try something new while in Poland?

Dinner was quickly served. Full and hot plate, covered with sausages - small and thin (remind me of something else). I grabbed my knife and cut through sausage stick. To my disbelieve it was actually very tasty.

Sausage and mash compliment each other very Sunday dinner. If only it wasn't Saturday…

Address: Estery 5, Krakow
Price range: 25 PLN