And finally Esther..

After 4 days in here with a number of strong and independently-minded individuals, a number of whom have become friends and who I look forward to meeting again, it was time for my last dinner for this trip.

Bij den Boer was recommennded to me - just 2 stops up the metro from where I'm staying so off I went. OK - I know it may not look much from the outside, but what an absolutely delightful meal...and what a delightful restaurant - full of character and with a real buzz about the place.

The staff are just great - fun to watch...especially when they get unusual customers [of which I saw quite a few]. Not unusual-weird...just a little out of the ordinary maybe. Anyway after a beautifully cooked Dover sole; as you can see the bones did just what the book says should happen, it was time to pick a dessert.

I couldn't quite make up my mind so I opted for chocholate mousse and an Irish coffee. I admit that the mousse, as presented, looked a little like 3 turds communicating with the mother ship, but it tasted just heavenly. Then there was the Irish Coffee...I watched the Main Man behind the bar make this - he used care and attention to detail that I found strikingly unusual to my British eyes, checking that the cream hadn't gone off by smelling it before pouring and then going off to get some more (presumably because it had) and floating it over the back of a spoon. He ran proceedings from behind the bar with absolute authority...his eyes were everywhere and he missed nothing. By the time I was getting ready to leave the place was full and he'd been turning people away for the previous 15-20 mins. Here he is with what I assume is a frequently spotted gesture...he held this pose for all of 2 mins. until the hopefuls finally gave up and when to look for somewhere else to eat that was less crowded.


All in all a wonderful meal and a wonderful evening's entertainment - I really need to come back sometime and check it's for real. On the way back to the metro I spotted the fourth piece of choc. mousse en route back to Starship Alpha - the perfect end to a long day reviewing EU bids. Roll on the next funding cycle.