Winkel 43
Where? Winkel 43 (Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Map Menu
When? Sunday March 3, 2024
Who With? 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 With? 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 With? 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 With? 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 With? 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 ::