Amsterdam Yummies

The food situation in Amsterdam is a good one, my friends.

When you're not busy stuffing yourself with french fries,

(the hardest part of sight-seeing in Amsterdam is not caving into the temptation of the french fry stand on every corner),

treat yourself to a great meal at any of these restaurants and you won't be sorry. 

Let's start with the traditional cuisine first, shall we?

If you want an authentic Dutch experience, 

I would highly recommend Restaurant Greetje.

We kicked the night off with Greetje's Big Beginning for two,

which is basically a giant presentation of all the appetizers on the restaurant's menu.

A lot of the dishes were different from anything we've ever tried before, 

and the thin sliced pastrami of "Beemster" lamb with duck liver curls were unbelievably tasty.

For the main course, Erik opted for the tri-tip while I indulged in a veal cheek... 

Wow. 

The most tender piece of meat I've ever had in my mouth. 

The cheek that is. Pervs. 

Definitely worth a visit!

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Insalata con agnello al rosmarino e carciofi - salad with lamb, rosemary and artichokes

Pizza al carpaccio - with tomatoes, rocket salad, mozzarella cheese and thinly sliced fillet of beef

Fettuccine nere con capesanti, coda di gamberi e scalogno - black fettuccine with scallops, shrimps and small onions

After lots of walking on a blustery day, there's really nothing better than some comfort food. 

One of my girlfriends who recently visited Amsterdam highly recommended Casa di David,

for their quatro formaggi pizza and an outstanding wine list. 

Everything was so delicious! Just what we needed to warm our bellies and carb-load for another half-day of walking. 

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On our last day in the Netherlands, we wanted to treat ourselves to a fancy farewell. 

I have read amazing reviews about Restaurant De Kas, but I'll be honest, I wasn't ready for what this green house had to offer. 

After our cab dropped us off on Middenweg, we followed a footbridge through a park until we saw the glass structure of the restaurant. 

I got so excited the second I smelt the organic essence from the garden before it was even in sight. 

Situated in Frankendael Park, between the Rembrandt Tower and the nineteenth century facades of Water­graafs­meer, 

De Kas is an oasis of calm for the fifty-thousand guests who dine there each year; 

either in the breathtaking dining room designed by Piet Boon, 

or - if weather permits - outside in the herb garden.

The menu is created daily, based on the harvest of their own nursery. 

The cooking style is inspired by the Mediterranean, the presentation was simple yet stylish, and the flavors light and exciting. 

The concept, the design, the food... everything was absolutely exquisite. 

I still dream about this place, and will definitely be back one day. 

I Amsterdam

Hey remember when I went to Europe last year?

Yeah.. I still haven't finished telling you all about it. 

Ooopsie. 

We spent three fun-filled days in Amsterdam,

doing... a lot of things that are probably not appropriate to mention on this blog. 

Certain things I can recommend though:

1. Rent a bike and pedal your way through this gorgeous city. 

It may be a little intimidating at first, 

simply because of the overwhelming amount of bicycles every where you look. 

That, coupled with cars, trolleys and pedestrians,

makes for a pretty tricky ride,

but I promise you'll soon get the hang of it and even find it quite enjoyable. 

We started out with a bike tour to get into the groove, and it was a perfect intro to the culture. 

2. Pay a visit to the Anne Frank museum. 

Granted, you may walk out a few hours later in a pretty somber mood,

but the experience is a must and will leave you humbled and more appreciative of life. 

3. Grab a street-side table at one of the numerous cafes around Dam Square,

and just people watch for a few hours. 

It's pretty entertaining. 

Or, join the rest of the crowd and get lost in one of the many tiny side streets of city center.

You're guaranteed to stumble across something interesting.

4. Get out at night and wander through the Red Light District. 

No, you won't be considered a perv. 

This is such a big part of the culture that you'll regret not seeing it with your own eyes. 

Hop into one of the many bars, take an unknown shot, and chat with random strangers about just how gorgeous some of those window girls are. 

5. Grab a seat along one of the canals and take in a stunning sunset. 

Amsterdam is honestly one of the prettiest cities we've ever had a chance to visit. 

I can't wait to go back!