Just a short 15 minute trot from Central Station down the Harlemmerstraat,
look for the side street Binnen Oranjestraat on the left-hand side. You can’t
miss the green awning that marks the corner shop ‘Small World’. A word of
advice: do not get tempted by the various other cafes and bakeries in the Harlemmerstraat on the way there. For those who can resist temptation, the ultimate food reward awaits.
The shop is indeed on the small side with a shelf that
serves as a counter/table along the windows with seating for about nine. When the
weather is kinder, there are seats and tables on the outside. And even on colder
days, the outside seating is still a necessity to accommodate the unlucky ones
who spill out of the shop. However, nothing in Small World is ‘small’ when it
comes to the dishes cooked up by Sean and his team. The first thing that
catches one’s eye is the colorful array of cakes and pies, quiche, tortilla, oven-cooked
chicken, salads and roasted veggies in the glass case. Glance to the wall on
the right and there’s a list of mouth-watering sandwiches which makes it even
more agonizing to come up with a decision. And there’s fresh fruit and
vegetable juice to top off the gastronomic act of sin you are just about to
indulge in. Since one cannot possibly eat the spanakopita, lamb burrito and the fresh
tuna sashimi on ciabatta in a single sitting and live to take a bite of one of the
luscious cakes, the solution may be to go with friends and share. My personal
favorites are the goat-cheese-pumpkin quiche, string bean-parmesan-walnut salad,
the roasted vegetables, the carrot cake and fresh orange-carrot juice with
extra ginger. Yes I confess...sometimes I managed this in a single sitting.
Behind the counter, Sean and his team are in a whirl
of constant motion, cooking up more to keep up with the demand. And despite the hectic pace, there is a stream
of lively banter between the customers and Sean that adds spice to the food and
makes this place so special. When I was living in Amsterdam, Small World has
always has been a haven of good food that kept me going after work.
P.S. If you live and/or work in Amsterdam, you are soooo lucky.
Sean offers catering so you can treat yourself and your friends at home or in
your office.
