Amsterdam has a lot of things going for it and for me (as with pretty much everywhere I travel), food was a big part of the experience. It was my third trip, so I certainly had some things I sought to eat again (e.g., The Pancake Bakery, Bitterballen) and things that I still needed to try out (e.g., Olieballen). The city is decorated with adorable corner cafes, little restaurants you walk from downstairs from street level to enter, and your typical on-the-go places found worldwide. Another thing about eating in Amsterdam, it's expensive. Even the chain, take-out type places will cost you 7-10 Euro and if you think about sitting down somewhere expect 15+
Oliebollen are dutch donuts, so basically balls of deep fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar, that taste similar to a classic New Orleans beignet. They are sold at street food stands all around Amsterdam in the wintertime and cost ~1 Euro a piece. Simple concept, but let's get real, who doesn't like fried dough?
Wok to Walk is an establishment that I am astounded has not yet hit the USA (although after some Google research, it seems Noodles & Company is a somewhat similar concept). It's essentially the Chipotle of Asian noodle dishes due to it's three step menu concept: select your noodles, add-ins (meats + veggies + nuts & seeds), sauce and after a quick round in the Wok pan it's served up way hot in a take out box. As an avid fan of anything that involves rice noodles, this place is high on my figurative list of imaginary chain restaurants. It's also open way late.
FEBO is a Dutch fast food chain that serves things up a little differently. The stores are filled with vending automats where you insert change at out pops your burger, fries, croquettes, frikadellen, and more. They also have a food counter, but let's get real, the vending machine concept is way more fun if you don't overthink it.
Heineken is the most well-known Dutch beer worldwide and is widely available, and usually one of your cheapest options, in Amsterdam. Often times, you can get it served up 'Extra Cold' from a frozen tap (seriously, ice encases the tap) at the bars, like pictured below at The Tara - a bar who's interior blew us away. For me, Heineken is nothing to call home about, but this girl's always down for a cheap Pils.
Bitterballen are traditional dutch fried appetizers. They come in balls consisting of minced meat, broth, flour, and seasonings, served up with a side of mustard. After trying them a second time, the ruling is: DELICIOUS. Hooray mystery meat!
Gouda cheese originated in Holland (named after the city of Gouda) and is thus a proudly promoted tourist item all-around the Netherlands. It is dang good, and if you stop in the right shop, you can get your fill of all different flavors. We stumbled in one of the many Henri Willig cheese stores throughout the city and sampled 10-20 varieties of Gouda, made from cow's milk, and goat cheese. They also had several mustard pairings to sample them with. I was most taken by the green pesto gouda and definitely had to purchase. I had seen a sandwich made out of green pesto cheese before and was thrilled to find some to try and lemmetellya, freakin' outstanding!
The Pancake Bakery is one of those ridiculously overpriced tourist restaurants, but even the Dutch will tell you it's a worthy stop. After two visits, I, too, can say it's worth the whopping 8-15 Euro you will shell out for one thin, oversized Dutch pancake. They offer over 70 styles, so choosing is more than difficult. I've now gone the sweet and savory route and both are equally delicious. First pictured is the chicken, onion, and cheese and the other was the summer special with straberries, cinnamon ice cream, whipped cream, and belgian chocolate. Oddly enough, the Dutch syrup (stroop) goes super well with the savory pancakes, too.
I cannot lie, this is merely a sampling of what I've eaten over my three times in Amsterdam. I promise I don't just eat junk food though.
What would you eat during an Amsterdam adventure?
25 comments
all of this? thats what i would eat.
ReplyDeletefirst, I've decided that I'm going to come visit you and you can take me to all these places.
ReplyDeleteI ate at the pancake bakery when I was there, BEST FOOD EVER.
We also ate at Wok to Walk!
there are some other ones that you mentioned that look awesome. can't wait to try!
p.s. are we best friends yet?
I have lived in the Netherlands for two years and of course you do not get away there without all the traditional food. Bitterballen are not too bad in fact (well, I am a veggie now, but not for ages yet, and I find them more than acceptable). I am not in favour of frikandel as I am never quite sure what it is made of (from a wide spectrum of meat). I always love frietjes speciaal. Fries with onions, spicey ketchup and mayonnaise... Delicious. And cheap. Probably around 2 Euros for a huge portion. And the pancake houses (pannenkoeken huis) are of course a must :) sweet and savory pancakes are offered, yummy. Small version are poffertjes to buy in every supermarket. They are delicious. So that is basically what I would go for when I am in Holland. Oh, and going out for dinner and eat Indonesian food. Delish!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post & photos (as usual)
Love,
Svenja
xx
Bitterballen look AMAZING. And I absolutely LOVE Gouda. I swear if I wasn't worried about dying from a cholesterol induced heart attack, I'd sit and just eat a block of Gouda by itself. Maybe washing it down with a Heineken.
ReplyDeleteAlso, this vending machine junk food place is a work of evil genius.
I. Hated. Stroop. We opted for Light stroop and we liked it MUCH better. However, I could see how the regular Stroop might be okay with savory dishes. We went to Amsterdam a few years back and we loved it! I didn't love having to pay for ketchup and condiments, but everything else was yummy and fun.
ReplyDeleteI visited a friend in Delft earlier this year (sadly, she is now back in America) and she introduced me to the delights of Kibbeling - basically deep fried batter fish pieces. Delicious with garlic sauce!!
ReplyDeleteWe also had Dutch pancakes in Leiden. AMAZING!! And sooo many different kinds. And of course I had to try appeltaart. YUM! I'm getting hungry for Dutch food now!
Delft is beautiful by the way, like a smaller version of Amsterdam but with way less tourists. I blogged about my trip here: https://confuzzledom.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/the-land-of-blue-and-white-porcelain/ Unfortunately I didn't include a lot of pictures, but I did rave about pancakes :-D
The US has a chain called Genghis Grill that has the same concept as The Wok place. You buy a bowl, go up to the counter and choose your ingredients. First, meats and they have over 20 to choose. Then veggies with over 50 to choose. Sauce, eggs, rice or noodles. You fill your bowl up with as much as you want. They cook itup Mongolian style and deliver to your table or to go.
ReplyDeleteBTW...those donuts looked freaking good!
Yes, yes we are best friends. Next time I find myself in Dallas, we ARE meeting each other. Which reminds me that I have a couple you and your hubs should be besties with. Is that strange for me to set this up?
ReplyDeleteGosh totally should have asked you for some food advice before going! We did have some fries but not with onions which would have made ALL the difference! And we noticed all the indonesian restaurants but we were like what the heck is Indonesian food? I probably owuld have loved it too as I usually love all ethnic foods
ReplyDeleteWhy is food just so amazing? Love your food porn fridays, genius, just genius. The bitterballen are a drunk persons God send, I'm surprised they don't have them in the vending machines. Or, maybe they do and I missed it? How could a business skip out on that $$$ opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI would probably like the light better too - it was very thick and rich but i just barely dabbed my savory pancake int here and it ended up being delcious! Paying for condiments is the worst... even at McDonald's in Germany you have to pay.
ReplyDeleteI do LOVE genghis grill, but they don't so much have the quick, cheap, to go thing down but it is so delicious!
ReplyDeleteI'd like to eat all of it.
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, we need a Wok the Walk in Provence. I LOVE noodles!
Right? Especially Asian noodles, all over that!
ReplyDeleteThis all looks so delicious! I've been to Amsterdam a few years back, and it really looks like I have paid way too little attention to the Dutch sweets! Need to make up for this mistake soon! :) And I love Heineken - I'd say it is one of the best beers I ever had (and this doesn't come easy from a German!). Those food vending machines however, disturbed me quite a little :)
ReplyDeleteOh man, Wok to Walk and FEBO....I've some crazy memories of those places, haha! And The Pancake Bakery is great (although agreed about being expensive!)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, Amsterdam is so expensive! I really wish we would have known Wok to Walk when we went there last fall!
ReplyDeleteI am working as an au pair in Maastricht (NL) now, so I have gotten to eat all of them. You are missing kaascroquet or kaaassouffle and waffles (Pinky's wins) as well, but everything else is amazing!
ReplyDeleteGosh so many good things!! Croquets are awesome for sure!
ReplyDeleteAh wow, Delft sounds great then! I definitely need to explore some other parts of Amsterdam and I really want to ride bikes through fields of tulips someday, too
ReplyDeleteI love Heineken too, but I think it's because I'm so used to the more American lighter tasting beers and sometimes the beers are a bit heavy for me. Except, I do love Auguststeiner and our Karlsruhe Hopfner. Except, I like drinking the German wine over beer any day.
ReplyDeleteAnd totally admit I haven't tried the food vending machines yet but so intrigued by them every time I'm in Amsterdam!
haha Amsterdam activities can certainly cause some culinary adventures!
ReplyDeleteReally, near impossible to get a full meal under 10 Euro, except doner of course ;)
ReplyDeleteWe ate at that pancake place also; it was delicious. I also loved the Bitterballen, the fried dough, the vending place, and those little apple tarts that were kind of everywhere. Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities to eat in.
ReplyDeleteI have fond memories of eating a peanut/beef curried croquette from a Febo machine in Leidseplein. Everyone should try one once (but I doubt if many people have one again!)
ReplyDelete