Bar Bitterbal, in the heart of the historic canal ring of Amsterdam, bills itself as “The place with the world’s largest selection of the perfect bar snack.” And that snack, bitterballen, is as Dutch as it gets. For your average Dutch person, a “borrel”—a meet-up for drinks—unaccompanied by a plate of bitterballen, is hardly a […]
Bar Bitterbal: A Bar Snack Mecca in Amsterdam Read More »
I love it when beautiful old buildings no longer suitable for their original task are repurposed, with imagination and taste, into wonderful new uses. Such is the café/restaurant/bar CT Coffee & Coconuts in Amsterdam. The façade gives the game away; this was once a 1920s movie palace, with strong Art Deco elements in the streamlined
CT Coffee & Coconuts, Amsterdam Read More »
I grew up in California, so I was an avocado lover long before they became a huge foodie fad and an Instagram trend a few years ago. I’ve loved them my whole life. So I was excited when I learned about The Avocado Show, in Amsterdam, a restaurant where the silky green fruit features in
The Avocado Show, Amsterdam: Where the Green Fruit Takes Center Stage Read More »
When you’re in Amsterdam, and a friend recommends a bakery café with the name De Laatste Kruimel, meaning The Last Crumb, you go looking for it with a sense of anticipation. Then you see an old-fashioned shopfront—two big show windows on either side of the door. The one on the right is filled with huge
De Laatste Kruimel – Good to the Last Crumb in Amsterdam Read More »
The Dutch have a long-beloved tradition called bruine kroegs, or brown cafes. This is Dutch pub culture at its most traditional, and Cafe Papeneiland is one of the oldest and most typical of them all. In fact, it was first granted a liquor license in 1642, but was likely serving up drinks to patrons a
Great Apple Pie & more at Cafe Papeneiland, Amsterdam Read More »
In Amsterdam (and now in two other Dutch cities), it’s easy and lovely to eat a fine meal and also help the planet. At Instock Restaurant in the Oosterpark neighborhood just outside the historic canal belt, food waste is turned into creative cuisine. Think ugly but perfectly edible fruits and vegetables, one-day-old bread, bycatch fish,
Zero Waste Dining at Instock Restaurant, Amsterdam Read More »
De Koffieschenkerij—meaning the Coffee Parlor—is a not-quite-secret in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. You might think there are no secrets left in Amsterdam’s Red Light District. After all, everything’s right out there on display, for everyone to see and indulge in. But snugged up against an outer wall of the Oude Kerk, or Old
De Koffieschenkerij: Coffee and Cake in Amsterdam’s Oldest Church Read More »
In Dutch, the words De Pont mean “The Ferry.” So of course, a café/restaurant just a few steps from the ferry landing on Amsterdam’s trendy north side must be called, Cafe De Pont. If you go, you’ll find that getting yourself to Central Station and onto that ferry will take you to a delightful stop for
Small Plates with a Dutch Accent at Café De Pont, Amsterdam North, The Netherlands Read More »
It’s easy to eat well in Amsterdam. You can eat your way around the world, with every type of cuisine being offered. But oddly enough, one type of food is hard to find in Amsterdam—traditional Dutch food. Food like a Dutch mom or Oma would make for you in her home kitchen. Fortunately for Dutchies
Moeders – Authentic Dutch Food in the Heart of Amsterdam Read More »
