Dinner at Bellies - featuring Jo Bøe Klakegg

With covid-19 restrictions in Oslo, a few restaurants there have chosen to close for a while. This means that chefs have time to do guest appearances in Stavanger and we appreciate that. A couple of weeks back, Jo Bøe Klakegg (chef from Restaurant Hot Shop) had an event at Bellies. We managed to get a table and was ready to try some vegan “fine dining” once again – Bellies is still the only vegan restaurant in Stavanger as far as I know. 

 

This time the concept was a set 8 course menu and we started with some lovely fried bread topped with dried, crunchy cabbage. We continued with small dishes such as artichoke pieces, endive in a lemon sauce, a pumpkin “porridge” that was spiced up quite a bit with habanero sauce, potato cream and cauliflower with truffles. As we were quite hungry (and wanted to taste their excellent pizza once again) we also convinced them to squeeze in a pizza before we started with desserts. 

 

The atmosphere in the restaurant was good and it seemed like the chefs were enjoying their work and having a good time and that usually results in good atmosphere and good service. We rounded of the evening with a couple of desserts. My favorite was the delicious almond ice cream with buckthorn and topped with a hazelnut praline. Thanks for the excellent food to chef Jo Bø Klakegg and  Bellies – we look forward to visiting you again.

Facts:
Homepage: bellies.no
Location: Støperigata 6 - see this Google map

 

 

Lunch date at Cin Cin

We went for lunch on Cin Cin on a Saturday as we had a good dinner there this summer (see the review here). Cin Cin has a unique character and the description from their homepage is “Italian and French cuisine with a dash of Asia...“ and we noticed that when we had dinner there in the summer. At lunch, the menu is a bit more limited with a few Asian options and a few Italian options.

 
 After we got some wine, we ordered the food and I decided to go for the classic Risotto alla Milanese and Nikki wanted the bento lunch box. We got the food surprisingly fast and Nikki got a Thai style curry soup to start with before the rest of the bento box was served. My risotto was yellow and creamy and did not disappoint. There seemed to be a bit more onion in it than I am used to (or maybe it was less fried that what I'm used to) as there was more prominent onion taste. But all in all, a good risotto – I like saffron and it gives an awesome color and great taste. 

 

The bento box included quite a bit - tempura, steamed bun, yakitori on a stick, tataki, sashimi etc. Lots of good flavors on one plate but I think I would have preferred a steamed but that was filled with meat and sauce – and not only as a wraparound to the yakitori. But conclusion is that Cin Cin is also a good option for a lunch date. Located in the middle of Stavanger and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere with the open plan layout and view to the kitchen. I’m sure we will be back soon. 

Facts: 
Homepage: https://cin-cin.no/
Location: Hospitalsgata 6 – see this Google map
Price: Bento box is 395 kroner (45 USD) and risotto is 215 kroner (24 USD) 

 

Mixed fajitas at Harry Pepper

I went to Harry Pepper on a weekday and we managed to get a table. The restaurant is quite big and have seating on several floors. The interior is playful and colorful and can be quite lively – due to the covid-19 situation the atmosphere is a bit more low-key. 

Menu has not changed that much since the last time I was there, and we decided to have a taco to start with and I decided to have mixed fajitas as my main. You can also order various sides – I decided to order guacamole, sour cream, habanero sauce and cheese. I think these used to be sides that came with the food in the past but to reduce food waste, you know order this separately.

 

It did not take long before the tacos were served. The confit chicken taco was served warm and was good with a distinct taste of the chicken. The chili crab was served cold and I got a bit disappointed by this – maybe because I was expecting something like a warm Singapore style chili crab taco.

 

The fajitas were served 15 minutes later and included chicken, scampi, steak, and some onion. I started with the chicken and that was quite dry and very salty. Everything on the sizzling plate was very salty – I hope that this was just a freak accident. The wheat tortillas were quite plain and without the sides this would have been quite a sad fajita. The scampi was quite good, but I would have liked to see my meat fried a bit more as it was quite rare.

 

I have been to Harry Pepper quite a few times over the years and the concept seems to be the same. But I think there is room for improvement, and this is of course just my personal opinion. But I think the guacamole could have been better, I would have enjoyed a good salsa, more flavorful tortillas etc. If I had not ordered sides to this dish, it would have been a very dry fajita. I hope that the salty food was just a freak accident and that it will be better on my next visit.

Facts:
Homepage: http://www.harry-pepper.no/
Location: Skagenkaien 33 - see this Google Map
Price: mixed fajitas with sides (guacamole, sour cream and cheese) 320 kroner (36 USD)

 

Birthday gift : dinner at RE-NAA

In November 2020 I got a chance to re-visit RE-NAA as I had gotten the reservation and meal as a gift from friends! How amazing is that? RE-NAA got 2 Michelin stars this year so we were of course very excited. We got to the restaurant at about 6 PM and were greeted by the staff as we entered and we were shown to our table. As we were the first ones there, I got the opportunity to take some photos and just take a look at the stylish restaurant in this beautiful, old and renovated building (located in Eilert Smith hotell). We soon got some drinks and could enjoy the view to the chefs that were preparing the meal that evening– or should I say, the chefs that were preparing the experience for that evening!

 

 

There is not much you have to decide on – the menu is set and you only have to decide if you want a wine pairing or not. We decided to enjoy the wine pairing – after all this was a big celebration. As the menu changes due to season and access to ingredients, I will not go into details about every dish but I hope that the photos will give you an indication of what to expect if you ever end up going to RE-NAA. 

  

We started with small appetizers that are tiny pieces of art that you devour in one bite basically. A small potato flatbread topped with roe, small chicken and lobster snack with herbs, chicken liver snack etc. We soon moved over to a seafood section with raw shrimp and then to a platter of oyster, mussel and clams – all topped with various ingredients to enhance and compliment flavors – I still find Mahogany clam (kuskjell) to be very good both in taste and texture!

  

As we live on the coast, we continued with seafood. Next up was tuna, an amazing squash dish topped with black garlic and lemon, lobster in three settings, a beautiful scallop, and Norwegian haddock (uer). In the end we returned to land and had quail breast, quail legs and ended up with reindeer with an amazing sauce. We rounded of the meal with no less than three desserts – and selection of petit fours.

  

All in all, an amazing meal and it is incredible to see what Renaa has been able to do with this place in few years. At the moment, I think RE-NAA is the only Norwegian restaurant that has two Michelin stars and it is quite an experience to dine there. Food is one thing - but everything else also works without any flaws. I'm very impressed by the service and knowledge that the staff displays. Highly recommended if you want to celebrate something special – or just want to celebrate life! 

Facts:
Homepage: http://www.restaurantrenaa.no/en/renaa/
Location: Nordbøgata 8, Eilert Smith hotell – see this Google map 
Price: Set menu including 20-22 servings: 2400 NOK (270 USD)

 

 

Midweek madness at Ostehuset

We went to Ostehuset on a Wednesday afternoon  - it is always a bit special walking in here as it is a historic building. It used to belong to the Bank of Norway and they have kept quite a bit of the old structure inside. In the summertime there are tables outside and when they first opened, there was a restaurant, a café and a wine bar here. These days, Ostehuset focus on the café and close at 6 pm.

 
When we walked in, we were delighted to see that it was decorated for Christmas – that lights up the space! As before, they have a deli that sells cheese, hams, juice, pasta, bread and so on. We found a table and as it was 5 PM there were not that many people there so easy to find a table and easy to keep distance to other in these covid-19 times. The booking of food and drinks is done by scanning a QR code and then selecting from a menu and you also pay there. 

 

We decided to go for the weekly special and it was served quite fast! The weekly special was baked salmon on risotto. I love my risotto and this was quite well made – creamy and with rice that were still a bit firm. It was also good with some firm peas in the risotto itself. The risotto was topped with a salmon that was supposed to be baked but it appeared quite raw – that is not much of a problem and it seemed to get some heat treatment just by being on top of the risotto. All in all a good meal and it was good to go out and support a local business on a regular Wednesday. 

 

It is a bit sad to see that Ostehuset is just running the café now. As I mentioned, when they first opened there was a restaurant, wine bar and a café. With this stunning location and the beautiful and historic interior, it feels like there is potential for much more than just the cafe. I hope that business will pick up again and that we will see a proper restaurant in this place again in the future!

Facts:
Homepage: https://ostehuset.no/
Location: Domkirkeplassen 3 – see this Google map

Renaa Matbaren - a French bistro in the middle of Stavanger

 I went to Renaa Matbaren on a Saturday night in November. It has been a while since I have been there, and it was great to see that they have used the corona lockdown period to refurbish the place a bit. Now even more stylish and more dedicated to being a French bistro. Next door is Lou-Lou – the wine bar that belongs to Renaa and that is also worth a visit. In Matbaren the setting is relaxed and informal – and the room is still dominated by the neon sign and the sculpture by Antony Gormley.

 

We got the menus and it was in French and Norwegian – just to emphasize on the French bistro setting I guess. There are a few small snack dishes to nibble on, some starters and a few mains. Most of it contains local fish and meats so there is not that much focus on vegans and vegetarians. We decided to share some starters, and some had fresh oysters, we shared some croquettes, some charcuterie and some cheese. The croquettes were fresh and was just a bit spiced up with chili and were great. And you can’t really go wrong with cold cuts! The wine list is not that extensive in Matbaren but if you ask, they bring out a more extensive list - which has a lot of focus on French wines of course ;-)

 

My main was quail from the area and it was deep fried and topped with herb butter and French fries on the side. The butter melted on top of the quail and it was excellent and satisfying! There was a small salad on the side, but I would have loved to have a few baked vegetables on the side as well. 

I rounded on the meal with some espresso gelato topped with salted caramel and some sort of sabayon sauce. As you have seen from the blog, I like my gelato and I would have liked to see an even stronger coffee taste in the gelato. But apart from that it was delicious. 

 

All in all, a great and informal dinner in a relaxed setting. I would like to go back soon as there are lots of things on the menu that I would like to try – and that is always a good sign. Remember to book a table as this place is quite popular!

Facts:
Homepage: http://www.restaurantrenaa.no/matbaren/
Location: Steinkargata 10 – see this Google map 
Price: a starter is from 100 to 200 kroner, mains are from 200 to 450 kroner