Omelegg
Where? Omelegg (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map Menu
When? Monday March 4, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Breakfast Eggs
Whenever I walk by this place, I always see a long line of people waiting to get in. So it must be good right? I figure a Monday morning at 8.30am would be a quiet time to drop by, and despite my best efforts to get there early, I’m still second in the queue. The wait isn’t too long though, and soon enough I’m sitting inside this very small and cozy cafe, on a table with a group of three strangers. 
I’ve gone with a farm boy without mushrooms, because mushrooms suck. The plates look very large, so this will probably tide me through until lunch. Their hot chocolate is very large but I’m okay with that. It’s no suizo but it’s thankfully not too sweet. I do like that every place gives a small little biscuit or stroopwaffel on the side, today’s selection is a Lotus biscoff, which is far sweeter than the drink it comes with.
Mains
Farm Boy: bacon, sausage, salami, onion, spinach, bell pepper, tomato, farmer cheese, thyme and rosemary
Mmm that’s good. The sausage is super tasty and the egg is seasoned well. I do wish they would toast that bread though, it would have really brought out the aroma of the grains. They’ve been very generous with the meat and the onions, the tomatoes are sweet and juicy. I’m pretty happy with my choice. The salad is dressed with something slightly sweet, and I wish it was more citrusy to give it that zestiness and freshness. All in all, a solid, hearty breakfast for a decent price.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:29am on Saturday March 9, 2024 :: 0 comments :: 
Loetje
Where? Loetje (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map Menu
When? Sunday March 3, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Steak
This lovely restaurant overlooks the water right outside Amsterdam Centraal, the main transit hub for the city. I’m a bit wary that it’ll be touristy, but the pictures of their famous beef tenderloin look too good to pass up on my final night in the city of canals and bridges. You don’t even get to choose how you want your steak, it comes medium rare - the best temperature. I’ve gone for “de roode waard”, which Google tells me means “worth the red”.
Their house lemonade is a refreshing citrus drink with a hint of mango.
Mains
Loetje Beef Tenderloin 'De Roode Waard': with Loetje gravy, onions, chicken livers and bacon
I love chicken livers and bacon, and I think having these with a steak is going to be excellent. There’s a lot on this plate and it looks like a mess but I’m having a good time. The sauce is rich and tasty, perhaps a tad oily, the livers are cooked perfectly and the bacon balances everything out with its saltiness. The tenderloin gets a bit lost in everything but it’s cooked a beautiful medium rare as promised, and it’s soft and juicy. There’s so much flavour on the plate and I’m really digging it. The only odd thing is the plain white bread - not even toasted - a roll would have been much better. I love the livers and there’s a very generous portion on the plate. This is definitely a memorable dish, the combination of all the elements is fantastic. I honestly wasn’t expecting something of this quality from a restaurant so close to the main tourist area. I should have probably ordered a salad to go with all the meat, but it's too late for that now.
I took a look at the dessert menu and given all the extremely heavy foods I’ve had recently, my heart isn’t in it to have something chocolatey or rich like cheesecakes, mousse, crème brûlée or lava cake. I still have some stroopwaffels back at my hostel…those will probably do.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:26am on Saturday March 9, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Quartier Putain
Where? Quartier Putain (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map
When? Sunday March 3, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Cafe
The name of this cafe amuses me and of course it’s in Amsterdam’s famous red light district. I'm actually really pleased with myself that my French is advanced enough to know what it means without having to look it up. The name comes from a Dutch song made by the artist Drs P, which is about the neighbourhood and the ladies that work behind the windows. Sure enough, there’s a few workers next door, separate to the cafe, of course.
I’m kinda sick of sweet things, and Dutch cuisine has a lot of it, so I want something savoury, especially after the apple pie from this morning. My first choice was the “Amsterdam toast”, which has beef sausage slices and pickled onion and mustard, but the waitress informs me that this is actually raw beef, and given I got food poisoning the last time I was in Amsterdam, I’m not going to chance that today. I’ve gone with something a bit safer, something that's cooked.
Mains
Chorizo and Cheddar Toastie
It’s pretty decent, lots of cheese, and the chorizo oil helps to flavour the bread, which is nicely toasted. It helps to bring out the aroma of the nuts and grains on the crust. That hit the spot and wasn't too bloating. There's a nice view of Oude Kerk from the window, and a small crowd has gathered outside the cafe to take pictures of a blow-up doll in a rubbish bin. Classic Amsterdam.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:14am on Saturday March 9, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Winkel 43
Where? Winkel 43 (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map Menu
When? Sunday March 3, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Dutch
It’s a very quiet Sunday morning in Amsterdam. The streets are practically deserted as all the partygoers from the previous night are probably all hungover and sleeping. There’s a few people walking around, as well as the super keen who are doing their morning exercises on this fine day. Winkel is full of the coffee crowd, and they’re popular because of their apple pie which I would love to try today.
Dessert
Appeltaart: Dutch apple pie
If Chicago is the king of deep dish pizza, then the Netherlands have the deep dish crown for apple pie. This dessert has been eaten for centuries; it's appeared in a Dutch cookbook from 1514 and it also appears in a painting from 1626. The crust isn't a regular pastry base like what you'd find on an American fruit pie, it's more crumbly and biscuit-like. Almost every restaurant or bakery in Amsterdam will have their own take on this dessert. I've seen some places that will do a crumble topping instead of a crust topping, but here at Winkel, we have a double crust with a lot of cream. The apple pie is served room temperature, the fruit itself is soft and full of cinnamon. It’s not too sweet at all - in fact the cream is probably the sweetest element on the plate - and I think it’s perfect.
Posted by Jeremy at 10:52am on Saturday March 9, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Bistro Amsterdam
Where? Bistro Amsterdam (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map Menu
When? Saturday March 2, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Dutch
The cozy interior of this bistro is welcoming on a cool March evening. It’s a few doors down from the Anne Frank museum and it’s famous for its traditional Dutch food, so I’m going to give it a go. I’m going to be honest, savoury Dutch food does not look particularly interesting to me - there’s stews and deep fried things and some fish. But on a day like this, perhaps a stew is just what I need. I’ve chosen a taster of stamppots, a dish made with mashed potatoes, vegetables and sausage or stewed beef. 
There’s a range of dildos on the counter. I guess that’s very classically Amsterdam. The jovial Dutch folk and pop music playing along makes for a very relaxed and chill atmosphere, especially when the waitstaff are singing along.
Mains
Stamppot Proeverij: three traditional Dutch stamppots in mini-pans with bacon, gravy, sausage and mom's stewed beef
It's pretty much what I expected. A lot of potatoes, hearty and rustic, and very winter-warming. Something a Dutch family would have during the cold dark months of January. It's simple and tasty, but there's a lot of carbs on the plate and not enough protein. The one on the left is a sausage and cauliflower stamppot with cheese and bacon. It's the richest-tasting one of the three. The middle has endives, which gives it a little bit of freshness and it's not as heavy as the first. The protein here is a meatball which is nice and chunky. The final one on the right is carrot, which has a hint of sweetness to it, and the protein there is a lovely stewed beef that is soft and juicy.
To be honest, I'm a little disappointed by the stamppots - yes they taste fine and I'm not hungry anymore, but it feels like this kind of dish is a bit boring. Very much run-of-the-mill kind of food that you'd be able to replicate easily at home. I will say though, if I was making this at home, I wouldn't be using non-stick pans to serve them in, there's no way I'd want metallic cutlery anywhere near that teflon.
Dessert
Poffertjes: tiny puff pancakes with powdered sugar and butter
One of the most famous Dutch foods, poffertjes are commonly found in markets and on the streetside food stalls. They're smaller than a pikelet, and are cooked using an indented pan that allows the batter to continuously rise during the cooking process. You'll see them called mini-pancakes in various other places, and here, I've got a pile of these fluffy pastries swimming in butter and icing sugar in front of me. They're super light and springy. They’re absolutely delicious and despite the large number of them on the plate, they’re consumed quickly. I’ve never consumed that much icing sugar in one sitting in my life. Or butter for that matter. That was very good.
Posted by Jeremy at 2:29pm on Friday March 8, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Pancakes Amsterdam
Where? Pancakes Amsterdam (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map Menu
When? Saturday March 2, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Pancakes
Single diner privilege has come through for me and I skip past the queue of ten people to sit at the bar by myself. It’s a beautifully sunny day in Amsterdam, but it’s chilly outside and I definitely appreciate the warmth of this pancakery near my hotel. It’s got a lovely view of Amsterdam Centraal and it’s perfect for people watching. I’ve definitely been eating a lot of sweet things lately, and I feel like I should detox at some point in time, but today is not that day. 
The ginger lemon tea I’ve ordered is literally ginger and lemon in hot water. I don’t know what to think. But I get a mini stroopwafel on the side too!
Mains
Homemade apple crumble: with raisins and cinnamon
I’ve gone for the apple crumble pancakes, as the Dutch are famous for this dessert and I’m keen to have something that isn’t too sweet. It’s a large, thin pancake, slightly thicker than a crepe but nowhere as thick as an American pancake. But it’s light and fluffy, and tastes clean without feeling overly saturated with sugar. The crumble has a nice crunch and everything is well balanced. The menu suggestion was to have whipped cream but I don’t think that’s necessary at all.
Posted by Jeremy at 1:55pm on Friday March 8, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Burgerbar
Where? Burgerbar (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map Menu
When? Friday March 1, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Burgers
I’m in the mood for a burger. Amsterdam looks like it has a very strong burger scene, with some Dutch specialties like bitterballen making its way to even the local McDonalds menu. However, something else has caught my eye at this casual joint near my hotel - a burger with truffle sauce. It’s got all the right ingredients to make something amazing, so let’s see how it turns out.
Mains
Truffle Royal: Angus beef, brioche deluxe, parmesan cheese, beef bacon, chives, arugula, truffle sauce
First of all, I just have to say, I love thick cut fries, and I love mayonnaise as a condiment instead of tomato ketchup. Europeans definitely have the point for that one. As for the burger, it’s deliciously meaty and the truffle is subtle but there in the sauce. I think a little bit more arugula would have helped to cut the richness of the sauce, especially with so much fatty content in the burger. The bun is nice and soft and the patty is cooked medium rare, with a clear pinkness visible from the outside. An excellent combination of flavours that delivered. Some red onion would have been the perfect addition to add crunch and acidity.
Posted by Jeremy at 12:47pm on Friday March 8, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Bakers and Roasters
Where? Bakers and Roasters (Amsterdam Oud-Zuid, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map Menu
When? Friday March 1, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Brunch
I don’t know how I heard about this place but it sounds like a ton of other people found it too and there’s a long line outside Bakers and Roasters. I do know that it’s run by some Kiwis who have a classic Kiwi Brekkie on the menu, and I’ve heard they have L&P available occasionally. It’s located a few minutes away from Riksmuseum, and on a cold day like this, I’d love nothing more than a hot meal and drink, especially if I can support some fellow expats. I’m hoping single diner privilege will pull through for me, even if it means a seat at the bar.
I've registered myself with their online queuing system and take a seat outside. It takes about 15 minutes, but my name is called and plop myself on a table near the entrance. It’s colder than I’m expecting inside, but a hot HoneyBush feijoa tea is sure to warm me up. The flavour is subtle but it’s there. A spot of honey helps to bring out that familiar floral, zesty flavour that I know and love.
Mains
Kiwi Brekkie: two free ranged eggs poached, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, garlicky spinach, creamy mushrooms, homemade tomato relish and hot buttered toast
I realise that I forgot to ask for no mushrooms. Oh well. Everything else is excellent, eggs poached perfectly, the homemade relish has a nice sweet and sour taste to it, and the bacon and sausage providing the saltiness to the dish. Satisfying and warming.
As I visit the restroom, I see some familiar te reo words: wharepaku (toilet), tane (man) and wahine (woman). Ka Pai!
Posted by Jeremy at 12:40pm on Friday March 8, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Cannibale Royale
Where? Cannibale Royale (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map Menu
When? Thursday February 29, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Pub Food
I’m in the mood for something Western, and after gorging myself on the best Chinese and Malaysian food for the past three weeks. I’ve settled on steak, though the name of the restaurant I’ve chosen is slightly odd - I do hope they’re serving beef steaks from a cow here and not the other other red meat. It takes a while for someone to notice that I’ve sat down without a menu, but we get there in the end. Prices are pretty expensive so I hope I’m getting something good quality and hearty.
Mains
Le Modeste: Flat iron steak with sweet potato fries and fresh Cannibale sauce
The sweet potato fries are very good. They go better with the steak’s mayo than the herby sauce they’ve given me. The steak is cooked beautifully, it’s juicy and pink on the inside, and the chimichurri (which cost €2) was worth the extra expense, I don’t even want the barbeque sauce they’ve given me. The pickled onions are an excellent side, and the acidity helps to balance all the rich flavours everywhere else. I've been given a large chopping knife to slice up my steak, which I find strange, but perhaps thematic?
Posted by Jeremy at 12:33pm on Friday March 8, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
Dabka
Where? Dabka (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map
When? Thursday February 29, 2024
Who? Me
Food Style? Lebanese
I’ve left the warmth of Kuala Lumpur and now I’m in cold, wet Amsterdam. I arrived and checked in to my hotel about 30 mins ago, and now I want something quick and simple for lunch as I try to readjust to the European timezone. I’ve heard Dutch food is not great, and they mostly specialize in waffles, pancakes, cheese and fries. However, near my hotel is this Lebanese place and although the prices are pretty expensive given I’ve just come from Malaysian prices, they have a special grilled chicken with salad and rice for €12. The restaurant is full of different people speaking different languages and it’s kinda nice that I can just speak English normally without feeling too foreign.
Mains
Grilled chicken with salad and rice
My goodness this is a large plate. But it smells fantastic and I’m instantly hungry. The flatbread is crispy and tasty, the salad well dressed. The chicken itself is grilled nicely with lots of flavour and spice, but a tad dry. It's not too bad with the garlic yogurt and that spot of chilli sauce gives it a bit of kick. In any case, it delivered a simple, straightforward meal and satisfied and ready to explore the city.
Posted by Jeremy at 12:26pm on Friday March 8, 2024 :: 0 comments ::
The Pancake Bakery
Where? The Pancake Bakery (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map
When? Wednesday June 7, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Pancakes
I've had food poisoning again. I had to cancel a reservation at a very well rated traditional Dutch restaurant last night, I was so sad. I'm so hungry now that I've lost all regard for my wellbeing and want something good because it's my last few hours in Amsterdam and I've missed out on so much.
Lizzie gave me this recommendation and I could use "a bit" of sugar to pick up my energy and spirits while I'm at it. The pancakes here are massive and I probably won't be able to finish it, but I'm going to try. I have to choose the Dutch pancake, since I'm in the Netherlands and all.
Pancake
Dutch Pancake - pancake with stroopwafel chunks, cinnamon ice cream, chocolate flakes and whipped cream
It's damn good. Wow. The stroopwafel buried inside the pancake is really something, and the cinnamon ice cream helps to mellow the sweetness of the whole thing. The pancake itself is not too bad, a nice soft texture, but it just seems irrelevant compared to everything else on the plate. I've already discarded all the whipped cream on the plate, but still don't know if I'll finish this.
Nope. Tapping out with a quarter to go. So sad! Damn you food poisoning.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:45am on Saturday June 10, 2017 :: 0 comments ::
Wurst and Schnitzelhaus
Where? Wurst and Schnitzelhaus (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map
When? Monday June 5, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? German Schnitzel and Sausages
The weather has taken a turn for the worse, so I've decided to make worse into wurst. It's horribly cold so I didn't want to venture too far from my accommodation, so this German restaurant sounded like the perfect place to eat.
Mains
Hollandaiseschnitzel and bratwurst with sauerkraut
A massive plate with my schnitzel and bratwurst combo comes out. Wow! There is a lot of food. The sausage is delicious, meaty with a hint of smokiness from the grill. The schnitzel is breaded perfectly and is really tasty even by itself. The hollandaise sauce doesn't taste like the usual hollandaise I'm used to, it tastes more cheesy than eggy. Even the salad is great; however, the sauerkraut seems to be lacking in flavour. I haven't had a lot of sauerkraut before but my memory of it is that it's very much like pickle, so it should be a bit sour and sweet. This tastes very mild, and I would have appreciated something stronger to complement the pork.
I'm struggling to finish. There's quite a lot of meat on the plate, and sausage is naturally filling. I decide to skip the sauerkraut and finish everything else.
Since I'm in a German restaurant, I'm really tempted to have Schwartzwalderkirschtorte, or better known in English as a Black Forest cake. I tried waiting a bit to see if my stomach would feel better but nope, it's not going to happen. I'll have to go to Germany itself to get some!
Posted by Jeremy at 11:42am on Saturday June 10, 2017 :: 0 comments ::
Stoop and Stoop Eetcafe
Where? Stoop and Stoop Eetcafe (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map
When? Sunday June 4, 2017
Who? Me
Food Style? Dutch Pub
Though it's my second night in Amsterdam, this is my first proper dinner since I was too tired to get any food last night. I have steak cravings again. The area around where I'm staying is full of ethnic restaurants - Argentinian, Uruguayan, Greek, Mexican, Italian, Belgian and more. I've gone to a casual Dutch pub for my beef steak.
Side Dish
Ah the classic Dutch fries with mayonnaise. On point - crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Just the way I like it.
Mains
Dutch beef steak with home made pepper sauce
My first thought is that there is more salad than steak. The steak is cooked perfectly and the pepper sauce is good though, I wouldn't mind a bit more oomph to it. The salad needs more dressing. It certainly doesn't have the finesse that the French have shown with their meals, but I'm at a pub, and it's not bad for a pub meal.
Still hungry. I'll need dessert. The Dutch apple pie is apparently well rated...
Dessert
Dutch apple pie with ice cream and cinnamon sauce
It's cold. I'm a bit surprised actually. Every apple pie I've had is usually warm to give it that "straight out of the oven" feel. Maybe there's something about Dutch ovens. It's good though, but the best thing on the plate is actually the fruit: the red berries, which I have no clue as to what they're called, the strawberry, and the cape gooseberry (I had to Google for this one, my search term was "fruit that looks like a small yellow tomato")
Posted by Jeremy at 11:39am on Saturday June 10, 2017 :: 0 comments ::