Chili made its debut today for my husband’s family. The in-laws were over to help fix our apartment up a bit (hanging lamps and curtains) and my sister-in-law joined us afterwards for dinner. When you need to feed 5 people quickly without resorting to take-out, chili seemed like a great option. Gray’s American Store was closed – which meant no pre-packaged chili seasoning – but it was easy enough to make my own. The nice thing about making chili at home is you can make it just right. As spicy as you want, with as much cheese and sour cream as you want, and just as bean-y as you want. I’m also from the Midwest, so I usually serve it over pasta. It was a hit with the family, and that’s what counts.

It’s definitely Fall!

First soup of the season: Tomato lentil w/ Barley
My measuring and unit conversions got the best of me. Even in college, I could do integrals in my head, but ask me to do division, and I was stumped. After 3 hours in the kitchen, I ended up with a batch large enough to feed an army. The barley expanded and made the soup so thick, that the consistency was closer to a risotto. It was a good base though, and we made the best of it by adding different things each time (one thinned as a vegetarian soup, one thinned with mini-meatballs, another with salmon, and another thickened as a side with chicken w/ goat cheese). Lesson learned: I’ll definitely use a light hand with the barley next time….

The skinny:

The Orient House Of Falafel No. 1 |  Österportsgatan 2A
Cost for Falafel w/ Tabouli Roll: 35 SEK
Cost for Kebab Roll: 40 SEK
Rabatt Tips! Do you really need a discount when you can eat a dinner for under 40kr?  Extra Falafels are available for 2kr a piece.

The fat:

I know it’s wrong, but for the longest time I always got the kebab at Falafel No. 1.

My first kebab experience was the kebab wagon in Lund – served more like a pita cone, it had kebab meat, onion, tomato, salad and blended sauce (spicy and garlic).  So when I tasted a crazy little pickle in that first bite of my kebab from Falafel No. 1, I didn’t know what to think. Was this a single rogue pickle that found its way into my kebab rulle?  Or were there…MORE?

Oh, little pickle…. How I doubted you in that first bite.

A little Tiffany Food-Quirk background…. I love pickles. However, whenever I find them on sandwiches, burgers, and pretty much everything that can contain a pickle, I usually pick them out and eat them. Separately. It’s just what I do.

Except at Falafel No. 1. These pickles just… work.  Together.

Recently, I’ve been obsessed with the falafel and tabouli roll. The tabouli is really good and fresh, with just the right amount of lemon and mint. Even though the falafels are fried, I feel a little less guilty eating it calorie-wise. The falafels are always hot and crispy on the outside, never soggy. If you order falafels separately, they’re 2kr a piece and you often get a few bonus.

The gentlemen behind the counter making your food are always willing to accommodate “no’s” and “extra’s”. And if you’re lucky, you’ll get to hear them sing along to the music.

While this is fast food, and it probably means my husband and I are working late and neither one of us has the time to cook or do dishes… I’m proud to have this be my neighborhood falafel shop.

***
Edit March 29, 2010

The Sora Nygatan location has moved to Hansacompagniet (Malmborgsgatan 6).

Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 10.00-19.00
Saturdays: 10.00-17.00
Sundays: 12.00-16.00
***

The skinny:

Redfellas Juice Bar | Stora Nygatan 44
Cost for Juice: 37 SEK
Rabatt tips! Check out the daily lunch specials for 59 SEK, combos available with daily juice for only 79 SEK!

The fat:

I think if the US had these, they’d give Starbucks a run for their money. I’m all for coffee in the morning, but a mouth full of FRESH mid afternoon can give your day a boost that coffee just can’t. Even Jamba Juice in the US can’t compete – Redfellas is more creative and feels less like a chain business operation.

Their website says “Only the fruit and nothing but the fruit so help us God!” While it’s a wee-bit off from the famous courtroom phrase, they’re not lying. Sure, there are your average ingredients like apples, bananas, berries of all kinds, pineapple, orange, kiwi, lemon, carrots and mango… but what makes Redfellas special is the not-so-ordinary ingredients like figs, passion fruit, mint, acai, goji, chili, cinnamon and ginger. The taste is amazing, the atmosphere is relaxed, and it’s pretty fun to see whole apples going into your drink. I know quite a few lactose intolerant people out there, and friends – this is for you. A dairy-free smoothie alternative! Today I opted for the Sayonara Hangover®: blueberries, banana, guarana, apples.

Looking for a little extra? Boosts like Protein, echinacea and ginseng are available for 5kr. Check out the daily lunch specials for 59 SEK, combos available with daily juice for 79 SEK.

A big thank you to to my friend Sara, who introduced me to Redfellas.

Fruit lovers, rejoice!

The skinny:

Café Kreuzberg | Kompagnistræde 14A
Cost for sandwich and large Carlsberg: 97 DKK
Rabatt tips! 10% off for students showing a valid student ID

Waffle Street Vendor | Strøget
Cost for waffle w/ soft ice and chocolate: 40 DKK

The fat:

It was rainy on Saturday — really rainy. So what do the better half and I decide to do? Mini-trip to Copenhagen!  While our main reason for traveling to Copenhagen was Agent Provocateur, our secondary objective was to find a good, inexpensive late lunch at a cozy café.

I was a bit put-off in picking a place to eat because of the weather; there would be no outdoor eating that afternoon. However, one step into this place, and I knew we’d made the right decision. With steps leading down into the establishment, it truly is a “dive” café.  Café Kreuzberg is definitely cozy. Not too big, not too small… and while they boast 10% off for students, not overrun with obnoxious kids. It wasn’t overrun at all. In fact, it was just busy enough to keep a buzz and warmth in the air on a wet, chilly, windy Saturday afternoon. The décor is mainly skate culture from Berlin.  The atmosphere was a healthy mix of local and foreign… a group of Swedish girls talked and laughed loudly in the corner, yet weren’t the least bit disturbing.  If you happen to make it on a nice day, outdoor seating is available.

What did I get? Chicken salad with bacon. Now, this isn’t ground breaking. Nothing earth shattering going on with chicken salad. It’s a modest open-faced sandwich. But the bacon in Denmark is special. They know their sexy salted pork parts. Paired with a beer, this was a perfect mid-afternoon meal.

Did I mention that they have 10% off for all students showing a valid student ID? Personally, I think this is a great way to stimulate a nice slice of the Economic Pie.

When in Rome… er… Copenhagen…
Street waffles… don’t resist these. I shall hereby refer to them as Waffles of Insane Greatness. WIG’s are not just for tourists… even the locals indulge. However, it is hard to say that it is an indulgence when they partake heavily in all things that kill you slowly (alcohol, tobacco, fatty foods…) I’m not judging or anything. I’m just saying.

Mission Accomplished!