Nostrano Stockholm

Everybody loves a small Italian.

Nostrano is one of the best Italian restaurants that I have ever been to here in Stockholm. And I have never tried a better fillet of beef.

The Best Stuff I See is almost turning into a food blog this week, but I'm on vacation so it's a bit different this week. Anyway, if you're in Stockholm and have the urge for Italian food then this is the place to go. Nostrano is a small, light and cosy restaurant the serve excellent food. I don't know how they did the fillet of beef (did they put MDMA in there?) but it's the best one I have ever tried.


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Burger Time.

Max Burger.

With out a doubt the best burger I ever had. Well, so far.

Sure a burger bought at a fast food restaurant can be tasty, but it's not the same as a home made one. Especially when it looks and tastes just as good or even better than one bought in a fancy restaurant.




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Good with fall. Part 5.

The Dinner.

Food and friend, what can be a better way to spend a Tuesday evening.

So far November has been a classic fall month. Leaves on the ground, rain and a couple of rays of sun. We can all feel that the even darker time is on it's way. But before I start talking about fat men in red and what to get your dad this year, let's just see what can be good with fall one more time.

I have heard people saying that the best way to the heart is through the stomach. And I can understand that. I mean the breastplate is very hard to get through so it's logical to cut up the stomach in order to reach the heart. Less bone that's in the way. But if you're not preforming surgery I would recommend something Italian to get to someones heart. A nice Italian pasta dish to be specific.

It's not that hard to have a nice dinner. Like most things the preparations are important. Meet up with the one or the ones that are cooking directly after work. Go to the a bit nicer supermarket (you know, the one where they actually have all the ingredients) and do the shopping. Buying food is always more fun with friends. Feels less of a chore. Oh, and what's really important is to get a good wine. Because if you somehow mess up the food you at least have some good wine.

When you're back in the kitchen, start the cooking. Follow a recipe that looks good. Drink some of the wine as you are cooking. Just see the whole thing as one of Jamie Oliver's TV-shows. In fact, why not dress up as Jamie Oliver and try to act exactly like him. I would be rolling on the floor laughing if one of my friends did that. Of course that might depend on the performance. But still fun.

When you are done with the cooking it's time to just enjoy the food. Time to enjoy the company of the people or person you're with. When removing stress and just taking it easy any dinner will be something that's good with fall.

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Sushi.

The Sushi Club.

Sometime you just feel a need for a certain type of food. Today that type of food would be Sushi.

Sushi has a long history, the first versions of it goes back as far as to the 14th century. But the type of Sushi that we know today was created in Edo (now Tokyo) in the beginning of the 19th century. It was created as a fast food. Fast to make and easy to eat. The Japanese are always one step ahead.

The whole idea of this Japanese food is brilliant. Fresh food that tastes great and that is great for you. Sushi manages to bring the basic tastes together in a way that in lack for other words can only be described as fresh. The health aspect of Sushi is also a good one. There is almost no fat, it contains good carbohydrates and is high in protein. If we would eat food like this more often our medical bills would be a lot smaller.

So get together with some friend and make some Sushi. It's not hard at all. That's what I will do tomorrow. I just hope that I somehow can make my favorite, Kaziki Nigirzushi the one with swordfish.

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The Mini Fridge.

Food for thought.

Where are you if your thinking about buying a mini-fridge?

We have all come along way. We can build machines that can break down matter to its smallest peaces. We have harnessed the power of the atom and can send people in to space. But what do we do with all this potential? We get ourselves in the position where we want a mini-fridge.

Is it because we are so lazy that we have invented a gadget that can cool and that's so small we can have it anywhere. We can have it anywhere and we do have them everywhere. Next to the couch, under the bed or in the car.

But is it just out of sheer laziness that we do this or could this be a entire new way of living. If we were able to store food exactly where we needed it, perhaps the kitchen could be integrated completely with the living room. More and more people are already saving space by having one part of the living room as the kitchen. A open kitchen. And we eat less and less often in the kitchen anyway. It should be possible to integrate the two so you have the things to cook and eat around you but you still have the comfort of the living room. Want a drink, right there. Chop a onion without leaving the sofa, anything will be possible. This is just the start of the idea, it still needs some work but I can see it in front of me - The Living Kitchen! The perfect solution for compact living.

Hell, I want a Living Kitchen. But for now I have to settle for a mini-fridge because I want to be able to chill a couple of beers or the tonic before heading out to see what might be happening in the city.

Have a great weekend. See you next week for more...

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Good with fall. Part 1.

The Flea Market.

There are a few things that are actually good with fall and that the weather is beginning to turn into crap.

One of the nice things to do in fall is to go to flea markets. The old things, the people, the whole set up works better when the leafs are turning gold and the air is a bit chilly. The mood is something special when you get up on a Sunday with a flea market day ahead. Just drinking a coffee to get yourself up and then going straight to the restaurant for brunch. Brunching in Berlin is like a hobby for some people and the interest in this way of eating had given the city a good supply of affordable brunch menus. That all-you-can-eat mentality really works in the city.

After you have filled up on to much food and to little drink it's time to go to one of the many flea markets. And the Berliners love their flea markets. You can find them on Saturdays but on Sunday it's for real, then it's business. And people have stuff to sell. Maybe people got a bit crazy and bought to much stuff in the 80's or they simple need the money, because flea markets are big business.

If you pick the right one you will get a nice mix of normal people selling off their memory's and professionals with € signs in mind. But some of these pros are artist trying to get by or young designers that want to get there brand going. It's that mix, a smoke, a cup of coffee and the fresh autumn air that makes the Flea Market one of the really good things about fall.

The only hard thing is to manage to get up to make a day out of it. I'm usually to hung over to walk out the door at 10 in the morning on a Sunday.

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Vacation.

Going to the old country.

It's time for vacation. Ah, vacation. Soon I will be heading towards the beautiful Småland in the south of Sweden. My days will consist of sleeping in, fishing, swimming, drinking wine, eating nice food and most importantly spending time with my family.

Just look at that picture. Sweden can be so beautiful in summer. If you ever get the chance to go, all I can say is -Take it! Take the chance and see the nice towns and go for a hike in the woods. Swim in one of the thousands and thousands of lakes or head towards Stockholm and party your ass off. That's what I'm gonna do.

As I mentioned the other day, I will not be able to post next week but I will try my best to do so the week after. So take care and if you really need more "stuff" then take a look in the archives. There's a lot of good post back there.

I will be back soon...

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Midsummer.

Midsummer's eve the pagan holiday.

Today millions of people in north Europe will be celebrating this old holiday. It is actually the most celebrated holiday next to Christmas. The pagan holidays are just more fun. And for good reason. As you can see in the picture people will gather on fields and in meadows and erect big fallos symbols to symbolise fertility. Hoping that the harvest will go well. It's the summer solstice. After the big midsummers pole is up people start to dance around it and traditional music is played.

After the dancing is over the real party starts. People gather with friend and family for a feast that must contain at least three things, pickled herring, potatoes and Snaps. You eat some and then you sing a drinking song and then you drink. And you drink. And after that you drink some more. You sing and then drink. It's a lot of fun. Nice food, drink, friends and family.

It is also said that you can see in to the future on this night. You can see who is your one true love. All you need to do is to pick seven different flowers in seven different meadows and then place them under your pillow. During the night you will dream about your big love.

Trevlig Midsommar! And have a nice weekend. See you Monday with a new pair of sneakers.

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Chicken delicious, Chickalicious.

BBQ's finest.

There is something about cooking meat on a grill. The fire's glow, the smoke and then the smell of meat being roasted to perfection. The best stuff here is really chicken. Chicken that has bin marinaded for at least 12 hours. Try this recipe the next time your making chicken.
Get some nice chicken breast. Cut it to long stripes, smaller peaces will absorb more flavor. Put them in a plastic bag. Then pore a little cola and honey in the bag. Spice with oregano, pepper, thyme and if you like spicy a little chili. Leave that in the fridge for 24 hours and then simply trow it on the grill. That's how you make the Max honeylicious chicken.

New studies show that chicken is the most environmental meat out there. Many chickens for a small amount energy. But the real advantage is the high protein rate in this meat. Filled with protein and low on fat. Chicken is what made men like the Governator and Sly Stallone well that and a lot of pills.

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