Author: Philip

Sep 22: Filet Américaine; Tapas

Lunch

We took an early train the Haarlem, and sadly experienced Haarlem in the rain again. After exploring the city for a couple of hours, we headed back to Amsterdam and Rembrandtplein for another Filet Américaine at van Dobben. Aproximately $5.40 per serve.

21.5Dinner

Our final dinner in Amsterdam and an opportunity to return to a restaurant, or find something new. As there were unexplored entries on the Dos menu, it was close by and we liked the local ambience we went back.

Tonight it was a little later and the light was not good for photos, but we enjoyed three different dishes.

The roasted garlic mushrooms was good with plenty of garlic flavor, but we decided that Greg’s version with butter is better.

We finally had an opportunity to try the ropa vieja – a beef and vegetable beef stew with origins in Indonesia, as it was out at Jottum last night. It was exactly what a warming beef stew should be like.

And for a fish dish, we had fried calamari, which was also as perfectly floured and fried with just the right bite and tenderness.

All up, the food cost about $13.45 per serve. Worth every penny.

Sep 21: Steak and Fries; Tapas

Lunch

As we were out walking, we did the total tourist thing and stop in for rib eye at an Argentinian steakhouse, just off Dam Square. It was competent all round, although the sauces lacked a lot of flavor.

Lunch cost approximately $27.85.

Dinner

We returned tonhave a full meal at Jottum, as we enjoyed our last minute, on the way home, meal there last year.

We chose four dishes, which seems to be enough for us. First out were the padron peppers. Although there are random hot ones, we had only mild on this plate.

Next out was the lamb sausage with yoghurt dressing and a little tabouli. They had good flavour, and the texture was perfect.

We couldn’t have Tapas without tortilla, the Spanish kind made from potato. This was a particularly good example.

We also had a scallop each, but there’s no photo!

All in the meal cost approx $16.67 per serve.  Although Jottum was good, we think Dos takes the lead for local tapas.

Sep 20: Pannekoeken; Tapas

Lunch

Out for a walk around Centrum, we stopped for pannekoeken: Dutch pancakes. Greg had a bacon, onion and cheese, while Philip got a huge surprise with his schwarma pancake!

A full schwarma wrapped in a pancake.

Lunch today was approximately $11.90 per serve.

Dinner

For dinner we decided to revisit a neighborhood tapas place – Dos – where we had enjoyed a great meal last year. They did not disappoint.

Starting with the tomato bread with anchovy featured in the cover photo, through three more great dishes.

The rib eye was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, largely because there was fat on the meat.

The cherizo sausage was simply fried off, but was delicious and proper sausage  not the loose version common in Mexican food.

The hit of the meal was definitely the endive and blue cheese. Yum. The bitterness and wetness of the endive is a perfect balance totblue cheese dressing.

With a bottle of wine the total was 50 Euro, or without wine, about $17.00 per person.

Sep 19: Filet Americaine; Lamb Loin Chops with Green Bean Salad

Lunch

We followed our IBC tradition and had filet Americaine at van Dobben. Filet Americaine is a tartar variation that includes mayonnaise and limited spices. Best consumed on a crusty French loaf, for $5.40 per serve.

Dinner

We finally made a much anticipated return visit to Eatcafe Kevoet. We had two great meals here last year and we’re not disappointed tonight.

Both Foodies had the Spring Lamb loin chops. Cooked perfectly, but much less than would be in the US, they were tender and fully flavored.

The lamb was about $26.50 each.

Worth mentioning is their Sgroppino: lemon sorbet with vodka beaten in until it’s light and fluffy, finished with a little proseco. Indulgent but good.

Sep 18: Smoked Trout; Beetroot Marshmallow, Flank Steak, ‘Tiramisu’

Lunch

Circumstances had us eating at the RAI convention center, so we ended up at the Grand Cafe there. We chose the smoked trout from the limited menu, with relatively low expectations – It’s is a conference center after all.

It was genuinely good: tender, tasty and the accompanying Caesar salad didn’t have potato! Really good, not just conference center good, for approx $23.40 per serve.

Dinner

A rather magical night started with a sunset luxury cruise on a private “boat” (it was big enough for a group of 20+ to not be at all crowded) that ended at restaurant Riva. An amazing meal followed.

Bothe the Foodies had the ‘marsmallow’ appetizer because it looked intriguing. Described as ‘Goats cheese – beetroot marshmallow’ and detailed as “acocado cream, hazelnut, olive oil and orange blossom ice cream” it exceeded the description with a mousse-like texture and a subtle beetroot backroad, offset by the slight tartness of the ice cream. Definitely a dish to remember, and the popular choice at our table.

The Foodies chose different entrees with Philip opting for the flank steak with jacket potato, and Greg going for the hake filets with mussels.

Both dishes were amazingly good. Full of a variety of flavour and texture that balanced each other perfectly. Impossible to fault either meal.

The biggest suprise of the night was desert. We both chose the tirimasu. Although neither of us are ‘sweets’ people, tirimasu has some balancing bitterness from the espresso. Not this one.

This version was very deconstructed, and not at all sweet, so naturally we both really enjoyed it.

Our two bonuses? Number one is that we were guests of a very generous host.

Number two: we had a clear view of the open kitchen and could see first hand how hard people work – and how precisely- to bring us this wonderful food.

The open kitchen also made it possible to thank the kitchen directly.

Sep 17: Supermaket Salads; Steakhouse

Lunch

we were once again holed up at a relatively isolated conference venue, so we prepared by buying salad kits from the supermarket.  The chicken Caesar and apple & endive salads were pretty good, although boiled potato at the bottom of the Caesar was a surprise.

Salads were about $3.50 each.

Dinner

The night finished with a group of friends at a steak house where we shared the two person special of sirloin with fries, salad and a bottle of wine.

It was a good deal, but what made it even better was when a very generous friend picked up the tab for the whole table.

Sep 16: Club Sandwiches; Snacks

Lunch

We picked up some club sandwiches to take with us to the conference venue. The cost was about $3.00 each.

Dinner

Because of the odd conference schedule, we snacked on some village bread with a mix of meats and cheeses, before Philip went out to an evening mixer, where some snacks were available.

Hard to detemine a cost, but let’s say $4.00.

Sep 15: Scrambled Eggs and Endive Salad; Variety of Finger Food

Lunch

The Foodies are preparing for tomorrow’s presentations and had scrambled eggs with an apple and endive salad, all, prepared by our friend and business associate who had also purchased the ingredients. The color of the eggs is indicative of a varied, natural diet.

Lunch was free to the Foodies.

Dinner

After final preparation at the presentation venue, we headed off to a party that included drinks and finger food.  We had the first bitterballen of the trip.  There was no addition cost to the Foodies.

Sep 14: Airline Breakfast; Gorgonzola Steak/Pasta Combo

Breakfast

Still on the aircraft we were served an omelette and single sausage!

Dinner

Our first night in Amsterdam and we had dinner with friends. Foodie Greg – and most of the table – had a combination pasta while Foodie Philip had a Gorgonzola steak.  The Capri is a regular hang out for us during IBC and the food is always good.

Our meal was payed for.