This was one of my favorite hangouts on a weekend. The cafe also has a great kitchen for soups and sandwiches. However, beware, when it's market day on the Noordermarkt square in front of the cafe, the menu may be limited to the apple cake. Not that anybody complains about this. There would be a riot if they stopped serving the apple cake. I admire the energy, determination and dedication with which the kitchen staff churn out a continuous stream of fresh baked apple cake. Take a peak into the kitchen in the basement on the way to the loo and you'll see an insane amount peeled apples waiting their turn to be baked.
Mantoe is the name of my favorite Afghani dish - a thin skinned meat dumpling topped with dollops of tomato sauce and rich yogurt. The restaurant that names itself after this humble yet delicious creation is the place for those seeking to be surprised. You can chose the number of courses you desire however there is no description of what is being served. Of course you can specify allergies and preferences like no meat or an aversion to something specific...okra in my case. However for the rest the fun is being surprised. Today my friend and I were served celeriac root soup with a hint cumin, mantoes, fragrant rice steamed with cumin and served with slivers of candied orange zest, spicy chicken with a bite of pickled pumpkin, tender stewed and mildly spicy beef with a side spinach, cabbage and string beans. The restaurant filled up quickly as the evening progressed. Thus a reservation is probably a good idea.
Amsterdam - Small World - Foodie heaven on earth
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 sooo lucky. Sean offers catering so you can treat yourself and your friends at home or in your office.
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 sooo lucky. Sean offers catering so you can treat yourself and your friends at home or in your office.
Slightly outside the center, on Marktweg 8, you will find a kabab restaurant which was recommended by my Kurdish colleague. When we were discussing the tastiness of perfectly fat marbled wagyu steaks, he mentioned that proper kabab requires mixing finely chopped lamb fat with the meat. That also produces the same mouth-watering succulence. He explained that a proper kabab should be delicate and easily crumble. If you could hold one end of the kabab and it holds its shape horizontally in the air, it is wrong.
So I trekked out to this place and had my proper kabab experience. I ordered one kabab but to my surprise, the lentil soup and tea were provided to me on the house. The kabab was divinely succulent and soft. I agree with my colleague in that it came close to the wagyu experience.
I found this jewel when I needed to eat right after work. Larger restaurants often do not like solo-diners taking up a table for two or four. So I found Wang Wang when I was wandering around the Den Haag China Town in search of a place that seemed friendly for solo-diners.
Wang Wang is not a fancy restaurant. It is a simple family-run eatery with plastic chairs and very little in terms of decor. Looks like a snack bar from the outside, a place where one would go in for an order of fries to take out. Don't let this put you off. In my experience, these small hole-in-the-wall places often serve the best food.
So if you ever want an authentic Chinese home cooked meal after work, go to Wang Wang, Wagenstraat 109 and order: Bieslook en varkensvlees gebakken dumplings. To enjoy this, you really need to get the fried ones instead of the steamed ones. One serving consists of 12 large dumplings for 15 euro, guaranteed to fill you up. When it’s served, the lady will also bring over soy sauce, black vinegar and a small pot of chili peppers in sesame seed oil. For the dip, mix 1 teaspoon of vinegar, 1 or ½ tea spoon soy sauce and a few drops of the pepper oil. And you’re good to go.
I swear, this is the best homemade gyoza (pot sticker) dumplings I have had in my 33 years in NL. Nicely fried on the outside with some crispy bits and incredibly juicy on the inside with plenty of Chinese ‘bieslook’, i.e. garlic shoots. They were very close to the homemade ones my parents used to make when I was a kid. The first bite invoked a flood of childhood memories and I felt very emotional.
I swear, this is the best homemade gyoza (pot sticker) dumplings I have had in my 33 years in NL. Nicely fried on the outside with some crispy bits and incredibly juicy on the inside with plenty of Chinese ‘bieslook’, i.e. garlic shoots. They were very close to the homemade ones my parents used to make when I was a kid. The first bite invoked a flood of childhood memories and I felt very emotional.
The best way to visit this iconic location is to take a water taxi from the banks of the Maas river to reach this island. After an exhilarating boat ride (if the schipper is showing off his skills), walk over to the monumental building which used to be the HQ of the Holland America Line. Inside, take in the architectural details of the art deco style before settling in for a bite in the cafe restaurant of the hotel. On my last visit there, we just had a few bites at the bar. However I have had good meals with a great view of the Maas. I think it is best to reserve a spot in advance since they seem to be busy and filled to capacity every time I was there.
First I love the architecture. A huge marketplace in a cavernous atrium of an apartment building with a food-themed ceiling. Since it is a covered market hall, this also makes it an ideal spot to visit on rainy days. Once inside, I recommend starting off by walking along all the stalls and restaurants to take in what is available. This way, you can decide which stalls to eat at instead of starting at the first one that catches you eye and whets your appetite. I had some xiao long bao dumplings and delicate cream filled daifuku mochi as well as taco's.
