I promise next week… back to the recipes. Today is the last day of our trip and I just have one last while-traveling travel post…

Last week, Jack and I celebrated our third anniversary in Amsterdam. At dinner, I surprised him with this little detour I had planned to Barcelona for the last leg of our trip. I love a good surprise … and Jack is so oblivious to everything which makes these things incredibly easy to pull off.

We have a special place in our hearts for Barcelona – we were here about four years ago (he proposed to me during that trip). Since then this city has had a special place in our hearts… and, well, our stomachs.

I can post a few more details at home later on when I have some more time at the computer… for now, I need to pack up because we’re planning on hitting La Boqueria in the morning before we head to the airport for one last round of tapas… breakfast style.

We’re onto our next destination, but I wanted to share some quick snapshots of our few days in Amsterdam… (we had a little snaffoo with the berlin photos, I’ll share those later).

A whole bunch of readers mentioned Cafe Winkel for the best apple pie in Amsterdam… (thanks readers!) It was the perfect stop while walking around the city on a cold and rainy afternoon. And it did not disappoint – it’s not as pastry-ey as American apple pie… it was more of a cross between pie and cake. Which I loved because, well, I like cake.

Two nights ago, we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. We had a cosy dinner at Balthazar’s Keuken and a walk around the canals… they are just so beautiful at night.

We’re in Berlin now, about to head out to dinner… we’ve walked about a million miles, and it feels nice to sit down and rest for a few minutes. Here are some snaps from our first night in London at Nopi… Ottolenghi’s newest restaurant. A big thank you to all of the readers who left comments recommending it!

Jack started with a bourbon sour (pictured above). I had wine, but if I had been a little less jetlagged, I would have gotten a cocktail called The Saffron Chase (gin, elderflower liquer, lemon juice, saffron syrup & champagne). I’m still kicking myself a little bit for not trying it…

I gushed over the decor – especially all of the gold accents and shiny subway tiles (when you see photos of my kitchen you’ll understand how much I love subway tiles).

For our meal, we shared the aubergine with feta & pomegranate (the dish that’s on the cover of the book Plenty), pea & broad bean fritters with cardamom yogurt (which didn’t make pretty photos, but tasted amazing)… portabello mushroom farro with leeks (probably our favorite), cod with sweet corn puree, and roasted beets.

I’ve cooked a good many dishes at home from the cookbook (with much success), so I was really excited to taste the food at the actual restaurant(s). The best way I can really describe the difference is that the flavors were somehow brighter, the flavors more distinct and the seasonings more perfect. Hopefully I can lock those flavors in my mind to take back home to my own kitchen experiments.

I have to admit, I always used to enviously read Heidi’s posts about the food she would make and bring on long airplane trips and think, “really, how the heck does anyone have that kind of time before a big trip? She must really have it together…”

My mom is going to read this post in disbelief because I promise you this kind of prepared-ness is so not me. Running for flights and just barely making them… is me. But in recent years, I’ve gotten a little bit better just because it’s no fun traveling for 20 or so hours and being stuck eating crappy airplane/airport food. We’ll probably be eating Ben & Jerry’s during our layover on the way home (no judgement), but I like to at least start a trip on a healthier note.

This time there was the usual: apples because those long flights are so dehydrating, trail mix from the Whole Foods trail mix bar, and yogurt pretzels (ok not so healthy, but they’re Jack’s favorite). I also managed to pack up some leftover chickpea & quinoa salad that we ate for dinner the night before. It’s not so much a recipe, but a “everything I had to use up before we left” kind of meal… with aubergines, courgettes (we’re speaking british now), and some chopped poblanos…

Go to the recipe “b-y-o airplane food”…

We’re leaving next Wednesday and I would love love love your suggestions and recommendations if you live in or have traveled to one of these cities…

Restaurants, markets, cafes, shops, galleries… some “not-to-miss” sights… some that are off the beaten path and a little less touristy. We’re also open to meeting up with some fellow bloggers if time allows.

I’ve been to London a few times before and I’m excited to go back for more curry, and of course a stop at one of the Ottolenghi restaurants.

Amsterdam & Berlin… I’m not so sure what to expect (especially for veggie food finds)… um… help?