373 replies to this topic

[Chufi]

Excellent thread!  I will be visiting with a friend of mine from the 23rd to the 27th (sandwiched -- no pun intended -- between stops in London) and was curious what kind of food I could get my hands on.  The only thing I'd seen so far was an article on A Hamburger Today about the Febo burgers.

We'll be staying right by the Vondelpark; I was already really looking forward to the trip, but all these photos have increased the excitement TREMENDOUSLY.  Anything else folks have to contribute, please, lay it on me.

brooklyncook, what type of food/drink are you interested in, maybe I could give you some more specific advice! Also, see the other Amsterdam threads that albiston linked to for inspiration!

It'll sound elitist, but I'm fond of finding the places that aren't overrun by tourists. It's like when folks visit me in NYC -- the last place I'd take them is Times Square.

I'm really intrigued by the Febo burgers, mainly because I'm curious what they're like in comparison to U.S. burgers (possibly better, based on the burgers I've had in NYC).

I'm also interested in finding out about good comfort food from the Netherlands...and jenever. :)

It's actually very easy to avoid the touristy places. There are about 2 or 3 streets lined with your usual pizza/thai/indian fastfood places, with the ubiquitous 'tourist menus' written on chalkboards outside - but apart from that, Amsterdam very much caters to it's own people, at least that's how it feels to me.

I'll be away this weekend but I'll try to post about some nice beer & jenever bars early next week. Let me know if you'd like any more info (for instance about certain types of restaurants). I trust you'll be able to find the Febo all by yourself they are all over the city..

Edited by Chufi, 03 March 2006 - 01:17 PM.

[Chufi]

In the category 'beyond':

we spent the weekend at Hotel Droste Tubbergen. A lovely little hotel in the eastern part of the Netherlands. Tubbergen is in the province of Overijssel, about 2 hours drive from Amsterdam. For us, this is literally the other side of the country (drive 5 minutes more and you're in Germany). The landscape is beautiful here, little villages, lots of farms, and lots of woods and fields for hiking and biking.

This hotel is really special and quite different from the average Dutch 'provincial' hotel. It's beautifully decorated with lots of attention for detail, in a modern but warm and friendly style (see their website for pictures). Most importantly, the food is really really good.

here's what we had:
- brandade of brill, with a potato/dutch shrimp salad and anchovies sauce
- beignet of sole and shrimp, on braised cucumber

- pan-fried Dutch pike perch, with a caraway flavored carrot puree and almond potatoes
- braised veal cheek and sweetbreads in puff pastry with red wine sauce

- caramel mousse with vanilla ice cream, bailey's sauce, dutch soft amaretti cookies
- dried apricot crumble served with bigarreaux ice cream

3 courses with matching wines for 50 Euro per person.

All their tableware, right up to the waterglasses in the bathrooms, are from iitala. If you want to get some for yourself, there's an iitala shop in the town of Tubbergen nearby.

So, if you're thinking of exploring the Dutch countryside, this hotel is highly recommended!

[Bunniver]

Another favorite of mine (I know I'm saying that a lot, but that's what I want to show you, my favorite places  ) is Cafe Welling.

Thank you for this, Chufi. This is exactly the type of place I want to visit on my trip (which may be postponed now by the way I do contract work so sometimes vacation planning gets a wrench thrown into it).

I will admit publicly to my love of reading hokey mystery novels. Lately I've been on a Jan Willem van de Wetering kick. His characters are always going into places like this and having too much genever. I want to have that experience too!

[Chufi]

This is exactly the type of place I want to visit on my trip (which may be postponed now by the way  I do contract work so sometimes vacation planning gets a wrench thrown into it).

as long as you don't postpone until September, because that's when I will be in Canada, and I would hate to miss out on meeting you!

I will admit publicly to my love of reading hokey mystery novels. Lately I've been on a Jan Willem van de Wetering kick. His characters are always going into places like this and having too much genever. I want to have that experience too!

There are many places like that in Amsterdam. Like this one, where you can get really good beer and lots of different types of jenever:



Proeflokaal In De Wildeman
website (in english)

They are one of the very few Amsterdam bars with a separate non-smoking area. We used to live around the corner from this place and I went there all the time.. always different, interesting beers on draught, and very friendly and knowledgeable staff who will help you make your choice.

[Chufi]

I'm also interested in finding out about good comfort food from the Netherlands...and jenever.  :)

A good, very non-touristy place for simple Dutch comfortfood is Cafe Loetje (Johannes Vermeerstraat 52, southern part of the city, near Museumplein)



It's a neighborhood place that caters mostly to locals. It is famous for it's steak. Don't expect an American style steak! Dutch steak (biefstuk) is a thick and juicy piece of fillet, fried in butter. At Loetje it comes to the table on a deep plate, lying in a pool of brown butter gravy. Most people order fries and a salad as side dishes, but don't forget to also order some bread. You'll get a couple of slices of soft, white bread, perfect for mopping up the delicious gravy. Oh my mouth is watering just thinking about this steak! They don't ask you how you want it, if you say nothing it will arrive medium rare.
Other things on the menu are items like fried liver with onions, plaice fried in butter, schnitzel, etc. Also a great place to have lunch (try their 'broodje bal', a giant, juicy meatball on soft sqhuishy white bread, with gravy).

Edited by Chufi, 15 March 2006 - 07:43 AM.

[Chufi]

Last night I had dinner at Orontes (Albert Cuypstraat 40), a really good Turkish restaurant. Great appetizers (my favorites are the spinach sauteed with garlic and pomegranate juice, and the octopus salad with lemon, dill and pickles). Lovely juicy lambchops from the woodburning grill. Very nice Turkish wines, and excellent, friendly service.

[Bunniver]

[quote name='Chufi' date='Mar 15 2006, 10:23 AM']


A good, very non-touristy place for simple Dutch comfortfood is Cafe Loetje (Johannes Vermeerstraat 52, southern part of the city, near Museumplein)



Neato! I had the steak there on my last trip (and salad, and fries)--oh it was so good, my husband and I are still talking about it 2 years later. Do you ever make that at home Chufi (hint hint, if so, please show us how on the Dutch cooking thread.)

Thanks for evermore good tips (and photos, which are beautifully done--especially those dim bar scenes).

I will make sure NOT to come in September. Will you be in Ottawa, Montreal or Toronto on your trip to Canada?

[brooklyncook]

I'm also interested in finding out about good comfort food from the Netherlands...and jenever.  :)

Dutch steak (biefstuk) is a thick and juicy piece of fillet, fried in butter. At Loetje it comes to the table on a deep plate, lying in a pool of brown butter gravy. Most people order fries and a salad as side dishes, but don't forget to also order some bread. You'll get a couple of slices of soft, white bread, perfect for mopping up the delicious gravy.

THAT'S what I'm talking about!

I'm very excited. I leave for London tomorrow night, and I'll be in Amsterdam on Thursday -- this sounds like a good first meal there.

[Chufi]

I'm going to break my own rule now about not writing about places I haven't been, but this one seems like something you will enjoy brooklyncook:

Moeders
Rozengracht 251, Jordaan, Amsterdam
Telefoon (020) 626 79 57 / Fax (020) 626 79 57
keuken open 17.00-23.00
Website www.moeders.com

Best known for simple Dutch fare: stamppot (potatoes & vegetable mash), braised beef, meatballs & gravy, etc.
If you end up there, I'd love to hear what you think!

[cakewench]

What a nice thread! :)

I have to agree about De taart van mijn tante. I have been there for the atmosphere (even though it often features children thundering back and forth along those wooden floors), and I love their hot chocolate, but none of their cakes has left me craving more. They did have nice apple pie.

There are some nice places to get baklava in that area, though I don't have the names at the moment. We are in that area quite often on Saturdays!

[Timo]

super thread!

my friend and i decided to go to amsterdam next weekend. me, for the first time!!! i am really excited, even more so after coming across this thread.

it'll be my birthday on sunday and i was wondering if anyone has any birthday-dinner recommendations? i would love something authentically Dutch, and something reasonably nice since it's a special occasion.

if it helps, we're staying in what i think is the 'East' part of town. (sorry - my sense of geography leaves much to be desired) anyway, it is where the Amstel meets the Singelgracht. but we'd be willing to go out of our way for anything really good!

Hartelijk dank!

[Chufi]

super thread!

my friend and i decided to go to amsterdam next weekend. me, for the first time!!! i am really excited, even more so after coming across this thread.

it'll be my birthday on sunday and i was wondering if anyone has any birthday-dinner recommendations? i would love something authentically Dutch, and something reasonably nice since it's a special occasion.

if it helps, we're staying in what i think is the 'East' part of town. (sorry - my sense of geography leaves much to be desired) anyway, it is where the Amstel meets the Singelgracht. but we'd be willing to go out of our way for anything really good!

Hartelijk dank!

Hi Timo, that's great that you're coming to Amsterdam to celebrate your birthday!
I'm sure you can find lots of ideas for places to eat on this thread and threads that are linked to.

For your birthday dinner: you might like to check out restaurant Greetje. It opened october last year and has gotten some very good reviews. I haven't been there myself though.. The menu features all kinds of old fashioned Dutch dishes, some done with a little French twist. The cuisine is pretty unique in Amsterdam. (You can look at the menu on their website, it's in English)

If you have any other questions, either before or during your stay, be they food related or not, please feel free to contact me!

have fun on your birthday!

[Chufi]

What a nice thread!  :)

I have to agree about De taart van mijn tante.  I have been there for the atmosphere (even though it often features children thundering back and forth along those wooden floors), and I love their hot chocolate, but none of their cakes has left me craving more.  They did have nice apple pie. 

There are some nice places to get baklava in that area, though I don't have the names at the moment.  We are in that area quite often on Saturdays!

Hi cakewench, good to see you again!
I would love to hear about some of your favorite places. If we agree on Taart van mijn tante.. what places do you go to when you crave good cake?

[brooklyncook]

Chufi, just wanted to say thanks for the recommendations.

Tried to get into that cafe you mentioned, but it was MOBBED. Absolutely packed. So my friend and I ended up somewhere else...I forget the name but the receipt's back at the apartment; I'll list it later.

Amazing food in Amsterdam. Scalded the hell out of my mouth on hot bitterballen, but it was still tasty. :)

[Chufi]

Chufi, just wanted to say thanks for the recommendations.

Tried to get into that cafe you mentioned, but it was MOBBED.  Absolutely packed.  So my friend and I ended up somewhere else...I forget the name but the receipt's back at the apartment; I'll list it later.

Amazing food in Amsterdam.  Scalded the hell out of my mouth on hot bitterballen, but it was still tasty.  :)

Brooklyncook, I'm glad you had a good time! Please report about the places you went to, and what you ate? I'd love to hear!

[Chufi]

Trattoria YamYam is a little Italian restaurant just outside the city centre. I've been coming here for many years for 1 thing only: their famous pizza YamYam, with ham, mascarpone and trufflesauce. I have ordered other stuff from time to time and it was good, but it's this pizza that I really have to have every couple of months. I've just found out that this summer, they'll also be open for lunch, and I'm already having visions of Vondelpark picnics with a slice of pizza...

They are located on the Frederik Hendrikstraat 88. You can see their menu here (in Dutch and Italian). They serve great pizza from a woodburning oven, fresh pasta, and simple meat and fish dishes.



you can see the oven in the middle of the back wall.

Yesterday we had:
Fennel salami, Pecorino Sardo, and a spinach dish that they serve as contorni, but we had it before our pizza



And the pizza:


They are always very busy, reservations are recommended especially in the weekends.

edited to add:
I forgot about their must-have dessert.. coffee granita with whipped cream.. The granita has a very intense bittersweet coffeeflavor, mellowed by heaps of softly whipped cream

Edited by Chufi, 02 April 2006 - 02:32 AM.

[jennahan]

Hi Chufi.

What a well timed thread, as i will be in Amsterdam for Queen's Day (not for that reason, but serendipidously...). You mentioned above that it is a big food day...can you elaborate? What are the big events, and where will they be taking place? What is a definite not-to-miss, and what is a hidden jewel?

Thanks in advance for the advice,

xxJ

[Chufi]

Hi Chufi.

What a well timed thread, as i will be in Amsterdam for Queen's Day (not for that reason, but serendipidously...).  You mentioned above that it is a big food day...can you elaborate?  What are the big events, and where will they be taking place?  What is a definite not-to-miss, and what is a hidden jewel?

Thanks in advance for the advice,

xxJ

oh, what fun! How long will you be staying?
Please be aware that Queensday this year is not celebrated on the official date (the 30th) because that's a Sunday. So all festivities will take place on Fridaynight (aka as Queensnight) and Saturday 29.

I wouldn't say it's a big food day in the sense that it's a foodfestival. For many people, it's nothing but a beer festival - they will start drinking on Fridayevening and won't stop until somewhere around noon on Saturday. The centre of the city can get really crazy with crowds literally blocking the narrow streets, drinking and singing and dancing.
Many restaurants and bars have a special Queensday set-up, with beertaps outside, barbecues etc.
There are usually several stages set up in the centre, with live performances, music etc.

What I like most about this day is the fact that the whole city becomes one big fleamarket. From midnight on Queensnight, and the whole Queensday, you can set up your stall and sell whatever you like. Old clothes, books, kitchenware, or home made food. Or you can sell jokes, fortunetelling, riddles, performances, anything goes!
The Vondelpark is dedicated to kids: only children are allowed to sell stuff there, and it's pretty cute to see them selling there somewhat burnt brownies and old toys.

When we get a bit closer to the day, I'll try to find out what sort of festivities are planned and PM you. Also, I'll let you know where I'll be with my stall of second hand cookbooks, so you can come visit me if you like!

[jennahan]

When we get a bit closer to the day, I'll try to find out what sort of festivities are planned and PM you. Also, I'll let you know where I'll be with my stall of second hand cookbooks, so you can come visit me if you like!

[/quote]


I'm arriving on Thursday and leaving Monday, so I will be there for the festivities. I'm bringing my 2 year old, so i will definitely be at the Vondelpark, and love checking out cookbooks so I'll happily try and relieve you of some of yours. My mother, who is coming with me, adores flea markets, so I have a feeling we will be starting early (though not as early as midnight the night beforehand) and finishing very late. With all the other activities and food and drink stands, it seems as if the day will just fly by!

[MelissaH]

Any suggestions for somewhere to grab an inexpensive bite of lunch on the way from Centraal Station to the Heineken factory, at the end of May? I'm looking for somewhere that would appeal to university students on a tight budget towards the end of a 10-day trip. Most of the group has adventurous tastebuds, although sandwiches are always good.

I'm disappointed that poffertjes won't be in season any more by then!

MelissaH

[gaf]

Klary, thanks for the suggestions on this and on other threads.

I just returned from a week in Amsterdam with a range of food memories.

The finest memory was a wonderful chocolateria in the Jordaan area - west of Central Station. Jordino has some really wonderful marzipan treats (a concoction of figs, chocolate and marzipan, and one of dates, chocolate, and marzipan. The other desserts were equally good. Their ice cream, in contrast, was only fair.

Jordino
Haarlemmerdijk 25
020-420-3255

A second worthy dining adventure was the Surinaam-Indian eatery Wan Pipel at Albert Cuypstraat 140 (020-671-8001). This small restaurant is behind the shops at the Cuypstraat street market. There are a number of Surinam-Chinese restaurants along Cuypstraat, but much of the food at these restaurants (according to the menu) seem Chinese in design. Wan Pipel is more South Asian. We ordered Roti Lams (Lamb Roti), Baka Bana (baked banana), lapis (a red and white coconut dessert), samosa, and a kip pastei (a chicken pastry). I cannot suggest that this was the most fantastic Indo-Caribbean meal I've had, but I enjoyed the food, the hospitality, and the bustling market.

Wan Pipel
Albert Cuypstraaat 140
020-671-8001

We also enjoyed Pygma Lion, a South African restaurant on Nieuwe Spiegelstraat. The food was less Afrikaans that I imagined it would be, and I was less taken by the game (zebra, oryx, etc.) with nouvelle sauces. But I did enjoy the fish cakes, the guinea fowl liver with hot sauce, and a coconut-pumpkin soup. They need a better selection of South African wines and more traditional Afrikaans dishes. It is a small, friendly restaurant. It is in a space that once was home to a gallery named Pygmalion, and thus the name Pygma Lion.

Pygma Lion
5a Nieuwe Spiegelstraat

We also ate two Indonesian meals: at Tempo Doeloe and at Blue Pepper. Tempo Doeloe is the more traditional in design (batik) and cuisine, and we had a 25 course rijsttafel. Unfortunately my party didn't like heat, and I would have preferred more spice. Even the medium spicy dishes lack much pepper (this is, of course, Amsterdam!). I would recommend the restaurant, however, mostly for the experience but also secondarily for the food.

The other was Blue Pepper, which is a very contemporary, stylish space with Indonesian-inflected dishes. The design of the food was compelling as well, although the combinations were not memorable. Still, it was a quite satisfying meal, even though t was a good deal more expensive than Tempo Doeloe.

For more traditional rijsttafel TD is a good choice, BP is an interesting up-scale restaurant that grounds its new cuisine on Indonesian flavors.

Tempo Doeloe
Utrechtstraat 75
020-625-6718

Blue Pepper
Nassaukade 366

Pancake Bakery was quite good for traditional (and not so traditional) Dutch pancakes (they have a collection of "international" pancakes). My apple and cheese baked pancake was excellent, particularly for the first night of my visit, when I needed a light repast.

Pancake Bakery
Prinsengracht 191
020-625-1333

Two disappointments

Sluizer on Utrechtstraat (near Tempo Doeloe) is a nothing special outpost of international cuisine.

D'Vijff Vlieghen [The Five Flies] (Spuistraat 294-302, 020-530-4060) was a restaurant that I first went to in 1959 when I was nine. The restaurant is a Dutch "theme park - a series of nine rooms that each in their own way captures images of Dutch history. As a nine year old, I ordered Duck l'Orange (and how Dutch is "[House of] Orange" Sauce!), and I was transfixed and transformed. It is the first "gourmet" food that I can recall (perhaps in that it suggested that a main course can be dessert!). When I returned in the 1980s, the food was OK. Now in 2006, it is awful. Dish after dish was poorly cooked, poorly conceived, and filled with off-tastes and cheap ingredients (A four course tasting menu was only 38 Euros, so you get what you pay for). The service was no better than the food (we had to keep asking for water). Very disappointing. I thought that I would return again in 2030, but I'm having my doubts, even though I'm sure D'Vijff Vlieghen will still be around.

[Timo]

dag,

thanks for the recommendations! sorry it's taken so long to report back. school and life does sometimes get in the way of food...we had a great weekend foodwise and otherwise in amsterdam.
two favorites:

- Balthazar's Keuken
Elandsgracht 108
http://restaurants.d...azarskeuken/en/

Balthazar's keuken was really special. easy to find and get to, but it still seemed like a pretty local place. (well.. we were the only ones not speaking dutch at least) the menu is fixed, your choice of entree. really nicely done, simple food. a few goofs here and there (overcooked veal, beatiful cheese that was unhappily drowning in a cloying sauce) but, to be honest, we arrived late with no reservation and things had to be a bit rushed for us. Super deal for your money.

- Restaurant Greetje
Peperstraat 23
http://restaurants.d...tml&top=top.jpg

(Thanks for the rec. Chufi!) Turns out none of the locals know where Peperstraat is... but don't let that stop you from visiting. Restaurant Greetje was so exciting because it seems so.. Dutch! We had mixed appetizers, heavy on the seafood, even a black pudding (not sure if that is dutch..). oxtail and pea soups were especially good. My boyfriend had a special dish - Limburgs Zoervleisch i think is the name - but it was a beef stew, in a vinegary broth actually. this sounds awful in words but it was in fact so piquant and the beef so well cooked that i think it was my favorite dish of the trip. i had north sea red poon (i don't get to try many North Sea fish in new York) that was not especially to my liking but i'm glad i tried it. for dessert, another sampling platter, like the appetizers. my favorite was the Hangop with chopped mint and prunes. sounds unexciting. but it isn't. hangop is something of a dutch yogurt, i take it. maybe someone can further enlighten us? anyway, it is delicious, and i have never had prunes that i enjoyed so much.
the space itself is nice and very homey. i think restaurant Greetje may be new? they seemed to be working out minor kinks still... but nothing so much that distracted from the food. they were very surprised to have two new yorkers for dinner though, which gives me the impression Restaurant Greetje is also largely undiscovered by the masses at this point.

[Weasel]

Timo - I agree on Greetje - and thank you so much Chufi for recommending it.

We ate there when we were in Amsterdam over Easter on Chufi's recommendation on this thread and were not disappointed. Firstly it is a lovely couple of rooms at different levels with a cosy atmosphere and very friendly and welcoming staff and a lovely view over a quiet canal.

We too had to have the "Greetje's big beginnings" which is a sample of all of their starters. These included a light but very deeply flavoured clear oxtail broth, fresh tasting pea soup, lamb stew on a flaky pastry round into which the stew soaked temptingly, fried black pudding with apple, scallop with some very good dutch cheese which highlighted the flavour of the scallops surprisingly well and a shot glass of delicious brown shrimps with a piquant sauce.

Then E had a good piece of steak, perfectly cooked with a vast piece of duck liver topping it. In the spirit of adventure I chose veal tongue which was a revelation, this had been poached then fried so the interior had the delicate, almost mousse-like texture of properly cooked offal and the outside was nicely caramelised by the pan. The flavour was superb.

With this we drank a good bottle of rioja and beforehand had a drink at the bar - some cheap options of wine by the glass or carafe were available and perfefctly drinkable

We were too full to manage puddings although these looked good and there was a similar tasting option of all puddings. Instead we were brought chocolate eggs and mints with coffee and the host brought us a complimentary liquer which was poured to the accompaniment of a story on its history.

I agree with Timo that we were the only non-dutch diners there and it is clearly popular with locals though it has only been open for a few months. Thanks again to Chufi for recommending such a special place and I would not hesitate to recommend Greetje to others.

[Chufi]

The finest memory was a wonderful chocolateria in the Jordaan area - west of Central Station. Jordino has some really wonderful marzipan treats (a concoction of figs, chocolate and marzipan, and one of dates, chocolate, and marzipan.

I used to live in that neighborhood, and often bought their chocolate. Very good indeed!

A second worthy dining adventure was the Surinaam-Indian eatery Wan Pipel at Albert Cuypstraat 140 (020-671-8001). This small restaurant is behind the shops at the Cuypstraat street market.

Another very nice place to eat Surinamese food is in the take-away section of my favorite toko, Toko Tjin (eerste van der Helststraat 64, in a little street just off the Albert Cuyp market):

D'Vijff Vlieghen [The Five Flies] (Spuistraat 294-302, 020-530-4060) was a restaurant that I first went to in 1959 when I was nine. The restaurant is a Dutch "theme park - a series of nine rooms that each in their own way captures images of Dutch history. As a nine year old, I ordered Duck l'Orange (and how Dutch is "[House of] Orange" Sauce!), and I was transfixed and transformed. It is the first "gourmet" food that I can recall (perhaps in that it suggested that a main course can be dessert!). When I returned in the 1980s, the food was OK. Now in 2006, it is awful. Dish after dish was poorly cooked, poorly conceived, and filled with off-tastes and cheap ingredients (A four course tasting menu was only 38 Euros, so you get what you pay for). The service was no better than the food (we had to keep asking for water). Very disappointing. I thought that I would return again in 2030, but I'm having my doubts, even though I'm sure D'Vijff Vlieghen will still be around.

I am sorry that you had a disappointing dinner there. But thanks for posting about it, it can be a warning for others!

- Balthazar's Keuken
Elandsgracht 108

Balthazar's keuken was really special. easy to find and get to, but it still seemed like a pretty local place. (well.. we were the only ones not speaking dutch at least) the menu is fixed, your choice of entree. really nicely done, simple food.

I haven't been there in a while, but I agree it has a very nice atmosphere, very relaxed.

- Restaurant Greetje
Peperstraat 23

(Thanks for the rec. Chufi!) Turns out none of the locals know where Peperstraat is... but don't let that stop you from visiting. Restaurant Greetje was so exciting because it seems so.. Dutch! (...)
My boyfriend had a special dish - Limburgs Zoervleisch i think is the name - but it was a beef stew, in a vinegary broth actually. this sounds awful in words but it was in fact so piquant and the beef so well cooked that i think it was my favorite dish of the trip. (...)
my favorite was the Hangop with chopped mint and prunes. sounds unexciting. but it isn't. hangop is something of a dutch yogurt, i take it. maybe someone can further enlighten us? anyway, it is delicious, and i have never had prunes that i enjoyed so much.
(...)

I'm glad Greetje is such a success! Maybe I should go there myself one of these days!
Timo, there is a recipe for Limburgs sweet and sour rabbit in the Dutch Cooking thread over here, which is, I think, similar to the beef you had at the restaurant.
Hangop means "to hang up" and is simply joghurt, drained in a cheesecloth for hours until it has become very thick and creamy.

Edited by Chufi, 21 May 2006 - 05:41 AM.

[Chufi]

2 weeks ago I had a really good dinner at le Hollandais.
No pics cause it was our anniversary dinner and I left the camera at home for once.

I had a very rich and subtly flavored rabbit ravioli to start, my husband had a salad with grilled bay squid. We both had perfectly cooked turbot, and molten chocolate cakes for dessert. While this was not a 'dinner to remember' (as you can see I've forgotten most of the details of this dinner), everything is very well excuted - it's the kind of place you can trust to give you a very good meal, in a very pleasant atmosphere, every single time.
Service is excellent and the restaurant is located on the river Amstel, perfect for a nice after dinner stroll.

[Chufi]

I am going to cross-post some of the places I visited during my second blog, to make it easier to find them for future Amsterdam visitors.

a 10-minute ferryride from Central Station, in Amsterdam Noord, is this nice little harbor restaurant Wilhelminadok.
It has a lovely terrace with a spectacular view and I highly receommend it on a sunny day for coffee or lunch:




Kroketten, with Central Station in the background.

[Chufi]

de Koffiesalon (Utrechtsestraat 130) is a relatively new coffeeplace. Thet serve great coffee from very early in the morning, (7 AM) which is unusual in Amsterdam. Nicely decorated with large communal tables where you can relax with your coffee and a magazine. Another good thing about this place is that they sell pastries from one of the city's great patisseries, Lanskroon (the patisserie is located in the city centre, Singel 385). Lanskroon is famous for their stroopwafels and their stroopwafel variations, the one with figpaste is my favorite.
In the summer, the shop at Singel sells award-winning artisinal icecream.

Edited by Chufi, 21 May 2006 - 06:01 AM.

[Chufi]

Yesterday a friend took me to cheeseshop Kef for a cheesetasting.
In business since 1952, this shop has changed owners a couple of times the past years. The present owners are running the shop for a year now and I was very pleasantly surprised with what they are doing!
The focus is on French cheeses, but one of the things that distiguishes this shop from other cheeseshops in Amsterdam is the fact that you can sit down with a plate of cheese and a glass of wine, while chatting with owner Frank about cheese, wine, or life in general. A very friendly and relaxing atmospehere.. and some excellent cheeses.

This was just the first plate of 3 that we had yesterday: a Dutch goatscheese from Brabant, a Spanish goatscheese with almonds, and a Reblochon.


My favorite from yesterday was a blue cheese called Persille de Malzieu.







Highly recommended!

[Chufi]

On another thread someone asked what's New in the Amsterdam restaurant scene.

here are some places that are new, and that have gotten some good reviews. Note: I haven't been to either of them!

Brasserie Flo
Amstelstraat 9 (in the Eden hotel).
French brasserie of the La Coupole empire. Classic French brasserie food: steak tartare, onion soup, crepes Suzette, tarte Tatin.

French is the trend, it seems. Another opening:

The French Cafe
Gerard Doustraat 98

De Kroonluchter
Beautiful location in de Utechtsestraat.

[Chufi]

IJssalon Pisa has been voted best icecreamshop in Amsterdam in newspaper Het Parool this weekend. No surprise to us because it has been our favorite for years . They have all the classic flavors, and novelties like liquorice icecream, ginger icecream, after eight icecream (chocolate & mint) and the best pistachio icecream I ever tasted.
It's not exactly in the centre but really worth the detour!
Just around the corner is IJssalon Venezia, so you could make it an Icecream comparison excursion!

Edited by Chufi, 09 July 2006 - 01:26 AM.