I visited Anna during the build up process and I was already then impressed how this, still very young lady, used her network to build a high quality project. She was not afraid to take help from people who knew better and I remember that even some professors at the fashion academy had their fingers in the game.

Sometimes I have the feeling that we are over flooded with concept stores but Anna and Romain managed to build a place with high value in every aspect. Everything from Interior design to book selection to the integrated restaurant is perfect. Most stores of this kind seem to fail somewhere, but Anna and Romain have not.

But even if you are not into fashion there is one convincing reason to never miss a visit at RA. Of course it is the food. Hadas from Israel is in charge of the kitchen. I had a pizza with caraway seeds and poached eggs in yoghurt and rosemary. Simple but so new to me.

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Right now they are having an insane sale on the 1st floor. Brands such as Chloe Sevigny, Cosmic Wonder, Gareth Pugh, Opening Ceremony, Kutsune, Stine Goya among many others. Weekends everything is sold for 70% off.

RA 13

Kloosterstraat 13

2000 Antwerpen

The Kloosterstraat is crowded with Vintage and Antiques. Some of the shops are top quality and some are great bargains. I normally end up filling my car to the limit.

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This time my new treasures did not need much space though. I ended up spending most of my money on a floral collection,  from the early 1950’s. The silly side of the story was that the Herbarium is Swedish. But the collection was beautiful so I think it is worth all the money. And, it feels a little bit good to “bring home to lost goods”.

Inspiration and mussels in Antwerp. And early morning Fleemarkets and vintage shopping in Brussels. Maybe a short sprawl in the park of the African Museum? Two days is all I need. And I can not wait.

Of course I will bring some fresh baked bread with me as well as a sourdough to bake. So if you happen to be in Antwerp this weekend, feel free to send me a mail and I will be happy to trade with you!

AND, I will be needing an oven… Does anyone have an idea?

malin@elmlid.com

And I am almost just as nervous to see the result of the studio recording.

On wednesday night I am interviewed on German Television, Deutsche Welle. The show, “Insight Germany”, is broadcasted outside of Germany on Wednesday 6.15pm. Yes, the German TV Channel Deutsche Welle can be watched everywhere in the world. And, from wednesday night, if you can’t find it with your remote control, you can also see the show here.

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The Show is in English, which is not very common here as everything in this country tend to be synchronized into German…

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PS. I AM BAKING THIS WEEK. SEND ME A MAIL IF YOU WOULD LIKE A BREAD!

One newcomer and two classics:

1. Mulberry bread baked with water, flour and British sea salt.
2. Dior Shaded Sourdough with Sage crust. Bake with water, flour and French sea salt.
3. Buttenheim Beer Sourdough with Apricots and Hazelnuts. Baked with Beer from Levi Strauss hometown Buttenheim.

Let me know if you like to trade with me. They will be ready any minute and can be traded before 9.30 or after 11.

Have a great weekend!

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Yesterday I traded one of my Mulberry Breads for a drawing by Lea. THANK YOU for interpreting Bread Exchange! Love it!

The perfect Swedish color matching is just a coincident.

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I am still baking tomorrow. Let me know if you like one. It will be charcoal bread and another Mulberry bread. I really liked the mulberries actually.

Mister Sourdough is fit for fight by the way. After 3 weeks in the fridge he is happy to serve you.

The Bread of Mulberry. I expect it to be the most fashionable bread since the Dior Shaded Bread was introduced in December 2010.

It is baked with Mulberries, Water, Organic Wheat Flour and, of course, Brittish Sea Salt.

Let me know if you want it.

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I am baking every day until Friday so feel free to send an email to malin@elmlid.com and we can arrange a place and time to meet.

Yes, that is correct; Food- The best souvenir there is.

I wish I could give you a description of the goods but unfortunately I do not know the name of most of the vegetables. What I do know is that The cucumber I am bringing has an insane bitter taste (I love bitter) and the brothers of zucchini has great white stripes and will lay wonderful in my kitchen window. The green bananas will rather join the green stilleben in my dining room and the banana flower will have to be eaten already tomorrow. Probably in some kind of curry but maybe I will make it into a pasta sauce. I think that the wood apple will make a great juice (or do you have another suggestion?). And the papayas, do I have to tell you what I will do with them?

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If I use any of the veggies in a Bread, I will let you know. And, of course, bake it for you as soon as the sourdough is fit for a fight. Unfortunately he is always tired after too long chilling in the fridge.

However, when it comes to the food I am slowly becoming a bit complicated. I dream of swiss cheeses and thick layers of butter on bread. I am buying local palm tree honey and have already planned atlas 5 things that I will use it for. And I am thinking of all amazing jam recipes that I could be doing here if I was just allowed to use the spa kitchen. Sasha, you really got me with your comment the other day.

Instead of posting pictures of the curry and rice that I just had I decided to post some pictures of what I am craving the most right now. My massive chocolate cake from last may. Made together with the dear Ladies Emma and Rahel. It is one of these More-Is-More dishes that you do not need much of.

By the way, the white on top is just pure white chocolate.

All pictures taken by Ailine Liefeld. Thank you!