Lunch in Antwerp | Mokkakapot

Mokkakapot might be one of the most colourful places in Antwerp. Although it's quite near to where I live, I had only been there a few times before.

I got bored of the having lunch at home. Although I think of myself as the master of hummus-making, I decided it was time to go and eat someone else's hummus elsewhere. I hopped on my bike and headed over to Mokkakapot. 

About the interior... 
As I said before, VERY colourful. It's a challenge to pick a table, because they're all so cute. You can sit at a large wooden table together with other people or at one of the vintage-school desks. 

About the food...
I had a very hard time ordering only one thing of the menu. And this time it wasn't because I couldn't decide whether I was going to pick something healthy or not. I couldn't decide between one healthy thing and another healthy thing. There's a first time for everything they say... In the end I decided to go for the sandwich with hummus, beetroot, mint leaves, sesame seeds and honey. Hmmm... I'm craving one right now!

About the drinks...
I'm trying to drink less milk so I went with a regular coffee, which I normally find boring and a little too strong, but I have to say that I truly enjoyed this one! And it was not only due the pretty glass it came in...

I highly recommend you to go to Mokkakapot. You're missing out if you don't!

x Jeanneke

Coffee in Antwerp | Normo

I felt kind of stupid asking the people from Normo if I could write about them on my blog. Most of the time I write about places that are not that known. Normo is very popular and I doubt that my little blog with its few readers will make them even more successful, but I thought "what the heck". It's so damn good, cool and cosy that I felt like writing about it. The people who work there are so nice and the coffee is so good that I just couldn't risk any tourist to miss out just because I was too shy to ask them if I could take some pictures.

Normo is very well located. It's near the city center and close to the university and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts which makes it very tempting to stop by and grab a coffee after a long day of shopping or a long day at uni. I had a delicious latté and my friend went with a flat white. They also have their own brand, so if you're lazy and don't feel like going out for a coffee everyday you can simply purchase a bag of their delicious Normo coffee and do it yourself at home. 

Apart from the location, coffee and people that work there, I also love the interior. If you love the cofeebars in London and New York, but can't afford to go there every weekend, you should definitely try out Normo. There are many ways to sip your coffee at Normo; you can sit on one of the benches outside and enjoy the sun, do some work on the large wooden table, sit on a high chair staring out of the window, have a talk with your friend at a marble table or enjoy a good book in one of their sofas. 

I haven't tried their cakes and pies yet, but I'll do that once I've lost that extra christmas weight.

Let me know if you are planning on visiting Normo, or if you've already been... Let me know what you think.

X Jeanneke

NORMO
Minderbroedersrui 30, 2000 Antwerp
http://www.normocoffee.be/

Breakfast in Antwerp | Maison Tartine

http://reneevanzadelhoffphotography.tumblr.com/

Sometimes I have to remind myself that it is perfectly okay to have a few very close girlfriends instead of a big group of boys and girls to go out with. 
When I first started university I had this image in my head that I was going to meet so many great people and that I would go partying with them every single week. I did try for a few months to go and sit next to strangers, starting awkward conversations and in the end concluding that you have absolutely nothing in common apart from the fact that you both think it's too cold outside.

When I finally had some time to meet up with the girlfriends I've known for a while, I realized that I should be happy with the few very lovely friends I have. Not having to think too much about what you're going to say. Never having enough time to say everything you want to say to them. Meeting up twice in one day, because there's never enough time. Making plans for summer. Talking about food. Planning a christmas party. Wearing the same watch. Asking them to come to your class, because two hours goes by way faster with your close friends next to you.
Last but not least, having a lovely breakfast with them at one of my favourite places in Antwerp. 

Maison Tartine is most popular for its great tartines, as the name suggests. Many young people go there for lunch since it's located quite closely to the Academy of modern arts and the University of Antwerp. Having a very big menu isn't always a good thing, because you have to make sure that everything on there is delicious. You know what they say: "Quality over quantity." And I totally agree with that, but Maison Tartine gets every single recipe right.
We went quite early in the morning and there was a very cozy atmosphere. I don't think there were any christmas decorations up yet, but the lighting and music were just very warm and suiting.

We really enjoyed our breakfast! I went for cruesly with greek yoghurt, dried fruit, nuts and fresh fruit, Julia got the tartine with omelet and bacon and Renée got a boiled egg with "soldiers" and a "plistolé" with nutella. For drinks I went with a tea and a cappuccino (yes two drinks because my friends overslept and were half an hour too late).
Make sure to check out this hotspot if you're in the neighborhood. It's totally worth a visit.

Why go to Maison Tartine? 
Cosy atmosphere, delicious tartines, big menu, lovely staff, good coffee, letterkoekjes!

Breakfast in Antwerp | Eten Vol Leven

Yes, it's me again, with another breakfast post. I will never understand people who skip breakfast. I mean how do you survive an entire morning without eating anything? Maybe I'm one of the few that's extremely active in the mornings. I just love riding my bike down the empty streets on my way to the bakery. Normally Sundays are for sleeping in, but I get up extremely early just to make sure that I wouldn't arrive at a sold-out bakery. When you're craving that one specific pastry all week and the employee tells you they ran out of exactly that one... We want to avoid that right?

Although I do love me a big Sunday brunch with eggs and pastry, I usually have a very healthy breakfast. In fact, I'm always very motivated in the mornings to start a healthy day and then I give up around midday. But it's a good thing that I can balance things out a little by starting my days with a healthy breakfast.

Today I'll be introducing you to Eten Vol Leven, a place where you will not get seduced by pancakes or French Toast, because they only serve healthy and fresh food. So if you're someone like me who always ends up getting the unhealthiest, most decadent thing on the menu, this is the place to go if you don't want to slip up again.

I went for their Lifefood Granola and a Chai latte with cashew milk. I really enjoyed this lovely breakfast. The Chai Latte was heartwarming (I think I might have heard them make my cashew milk on the spot, I mean I heard something mixing so I guess they were mixing the cashews?). The granola was nothing like an average granola bowl, it was very light and the ingredients where out of the ordinary. The granola was made out of sprouted buckwheat and millet served with nuts, dried fruit and almond milk. 

The interior is also very pretty and there are piles of magazines everywhere. The people who work there are extremely friendly! They even gave me a little healthy snack to take away, because I was going to write this article about them. No one has done anything like that for me before and it made my day.

I strongly recommend Eten Vol Leven, for people who are interested in healthy, raw, vegan, gluten free food or for those who just love to try out something different.

Breakfast in Antwerp | Koek & Zopie

Before I went to university, I used to pass by Koek & Zopie twice a day on my way to school and back. So that means I've passed this lovely cafe a billion times without going inside. If only I knew back then what I was missing. I'm talking beautiful interior, great menu, pleasant staff, and delicious breakfasts!

I could've gone for the yoghourt and granola, but I thought I'd go all the way and order me some french toast with clotted cream, mint and berries. When my plate arrived it almost screamed "made-with-love"! I loved how the thick slices of bread seemed to be of a very good quality with beautiful poppy seeds on the crust. I always try to get a little piece of every single ingredient on my fork, so that all the flavours unite and my tastebuds can have a little party. First a berry, then a piece of french toast topped with a spoonful of clotted cream and lastly a bit of mint which gives you that fresh taste. 

I ordered a cappuccino to warm me up a little, and it came on this wooden tray which made my cappuccino taste even better. I'm not that person that thinks you eat with your eyes and presentation is everything, but I have to admit that everything looks better on a wooden chopping bord, tray or table. I can't wait to go back and try something else, because literally everything on their menu screamed my name. 

Breakfast in Antwerp | Loes & Krikke Express

As I told you in my previous post; many nice restaurants and coffeeshops have recently opened their doors in Borgerhout. I love how I can go for a nice breakfast only five minutes away from me. Today my friend and I went to Loes & Krikke Express. I've been there quite a few times for a coffee, but I was always drooling over the granola they served. Today I finally decided to go and try one. We set ourselves by the window and enjoyed our granola, hot chocolate (with real melted chocolate), flat white and not to forget that little piece of brownie that comes with your drink. It's even worth just going there for that little piece of brownie you get. It's the best ever! The people who work there are very nice, and it's fun to watch all the people who sit there with their children before dropping them of to school or after picking them up. 

Everything is also very reasonable priced! I paid €7,50 for my sweet hot chocolate and big and beautifully served granola. 

They also serve spelt sandwiches, salads, brownies and other sweet goodness. There's also a small range of chocolate, coffee, postcards and little notebooks for sale. I really love this place and I think you should definitely pay a visit even if you're not in the neighborhood. 

Some of the pictures were taken by me, but the best ones are Renée's work. Check out her website here: http://reneevanzadelhoffphotography.tumblr.com/

    

RECIPES - Crunchy Coconuty Cinnamony Oatmeal

After a week of sun, pasta, pizza and ice cream (in other words, a week in Italy), it's time to get back to healthy eating. I've been loving a good and warm bowl of oatmeal. I used to eat granola every morning, but it just didn't fill up my belly enough and I always got hungry an hour after breakfast. Oatmeal is supposed to be very good for you and it's very very filling. There are many variations on oatmeal recipes, but I happened to come up with this one. And yes, I'm going to share this goodness with you.

What you need:

• 60g oats
• 250ml rice milk
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cinnamon stick
• 1 1/2 tbs grated coconut
• 1 tsp agave syrup
• 3 tbs granola

What you do:

1. Put the oats, rice milk, half of the banana (sliced), the cinnamon stick and the grated coconut all together in a casserole.
2. Heath the mixture while stirring. Turn down the heath when it starts to simmer.
3. Let it simmer until it becomes as thick as you would want it to be. I don't really like my oatmeal to be very liquid.
4. Serve the oatmeal in any bowl you like, slice the other half of the banana to garnish the ugly brown mixture. 
5. Throw some homemade granola over the oatmeal to add a little bit of crunch. 
6. Lastly, toss a little bit of agave syrup all over the place to add that sweetness we all love.

I get many questions on how I motivate myself to eat healthy or work out. For me, knowing that I look better when I do, is enough to get me on track. She says while eating pretzels...

Another thing that motivated me was an article I read in last month's issue of Red magazine. I quote Xanthe Clay: "Be mindful about what you eat. Forget 'is it worth the calories?' and ask, 'Is this nourishing as well as delicious?"

xxx