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.
