our 2 favorite Amsterdam meals

So we ended up being split about our favorite meal in Amsterdam. Phil's vote went to Bord'Eau (which I also loved) and mine went to Restaurant Vermeer.  I put them slightly ahead of Bord'Eau based upon the edgier approach to the fine dining experience.  Both were fabulous meals with excellent service.  Each had a terrific sommelier to assist with wine lists that were also both full of options we liked.

I liked the quirky note of servers in blue blazers and converse style navy tennis shoes (Vermeer) as I found it just the note of casual the quite stark decor needed to make it more welcoming.  The dining room at Bord'Eau has a really lovely view over the canals (so it gets the edge for the view) and for groups a really fun location of a dining area surrounded by the "wine cellar".  These two restaurants are about as evenly matched as you could find and I suppose that is why our votes were split.  And in the end you couldn't go wrong at either of them.

So off we go into the two meals- I am going to do these individually rather than compare course by course. Both meals started with numerous amuse bouche courses that were delightful (even playful in the case of Vermeer) and both offered seasonal menus that focused on what was fresh at the moment.

jellied consume of chicken-

the crab beignet and crab meat covered with avocado-

what was underneath once you ate the beignets-

an oyster in a a custard with pearls of oyster "juice"

a  bone marrow flavored potato- topped with caviar

the spring green mix with couscous - very fresh tasting

the lobster course-

the fish course-

the lamb - "stuffed" with lardo to make it evenmore succulent-

the miso soaking segment of the slow cooked foie gras course - which is shown below it-

the astounding green apple flavored dessert

the strawberry dessert with meringue - very seasonal!

So that was Phil's favorite and now on to my favorite meal of the Europe trip (not just Amsterdam)

excellent crisped cheese to begin- and "bread sticks" that had a fibrous crunch like celery - so clear they were not bread...LOL

passion fruit and some sorbet? - unfortunately the amuse were not memorialized on a paper menu and therefore I have to let memory serve (good luck with that!)

this course I do remember because they took dry ice and used it table side to whip up a creme fraiche and chive sorbet for the incredible golden beet and red beet sauce that was served as the next amuse-

then the menus arrived - so no matter what you ordered you were already wowed by the amuse selections!

and this is the tasting menu we had- truly epic meal for our last night in Amsterdam!

as we perused the menu our final amuse arrived - a palate cleanser to prepare our selves for the amazing courses to come... (wish I could tell you what it was LOL)

and we begin with scallops with caviar and ketchup made from red cabbage--- described as scallops- carpaccio with black radish, salmon eggs and red cabbage ketchup

poached lobster with rhubarb and avocado - with rhubarb and lobster bouillon- and although not named some kind of sea vegetable as a garnish...

my favorite course (it reminded me of something Jake Bickelhaupt would make at 42 grams) the morrels with cauliflower and a grain (I think barley) and hints of almond flavors- this dish was FABULOUS!

each table had a centerpiece with ceramic fruit and a candle in a wooden bowl -

the next course- white asparagus as the side to the halibut with a carrot sauce-

the sweetbreads were just as good as the previous courses- this time with green asparagus-

the pigeon course- which was too gamy for me but luckily I brought my (squab) pigeon loving husband to help out on this course-

an intermezzo - a terrific white asparagus sorbet with white asparagus panna cotta and crunch of ?

then a beautiful strawberry dessert - with passion fruit ice- and meringue

then three post desserts to really put us over the top!

these sticks were all "cookies" of various sorts!

a really perfect way to end our trip- or almost end it. We were leaving the next morning and our hotel offered a Tesla taxi to the airport and since we don't foresee ever owning a Tesla we decided to take them up on it and ride in one....

Phil loads luggage with the driver-

gets in and then after we arrive - stands for a photo!

so a terrific trip - lots of great art, great food, and mostly blue skies! This is my last post from the nineteen days away in May - but there is always plenty to do at home so stay tuned - - -

two evenings in the Jordaan district

The Jordaan is a district in the centre of Amsterdam. Originally a working-class neighbourhood, the Jordaan has become one of the most upscale areas of the Netherlands, known for its art galleries, speciality shops and boutique restaurants. Among the Dutch, the Jordaan is known for its folk singers; several of its most popular musicians now have a statue in their memory at the corner of Prinsengracht and Elandsgracht. (wiki-travel)

We found two places to eat in this area that we really enjoyed and so for those who follow the blog for these recommendations I am posting menus/food pics/cards etc... so you will know where to head when in Amsterdam for some darn good food and friendly dining companions.

The first recommendation is Bistrot Neuf -

excellent oyster starter eaten so quickly - all you get to see are empty shells- :-(

very good pate - and an enormous portion too!

classic escargot prep-

as with every place we went - it is white asparagus season - so of course we indulged again! (and again and again!)

a terrific duck with lentils but I was already stuffed - so Phil had to help out...

an excellent red to pair with our food-

the dessert sampler was perfect to end the wonderful meal - we sat down at 8:30 and got up at 12:10... we really enjoyed the restaurant but about an hour into our meal a couple sat down at the table next to us and we got to talking to them and enjoyed a lovely evening of conversation with this local couple... BJ and Idris.. a shout out to their hospitality!

On another night we had dinner at the lovely art nouveau De Belhamel-

I had the menu with three courses - the asparagus soup, the asparagus with salmon and the strawberries bavarois-  Phil ordered ala carte-

here we are in the tiny dining room at 9:45 PM - still light outside...

Phil's first a scallop in puff pastry-

 
my white asparagus soup

Phil's lamb (sorry about the focus- must have been a good bottle of wine- LOL)

my main- salmon and white asparagus-

Phil's dessert and then mine-

we pretty much closed this place down as well - our next table dining companions were Jerry and Dale and they were both administrators at NYC area universities and were headed to Brussels and Bruges - so we spent a good deal of time exchanging recommendations for things to "MUST SEE" and thing to "not bother"- and of course - as always where to eat! LOL

so some more art and two more meals coming up - so don't miss out!