Saturday, September 01, 2007

Foodies in Amsterdam















This afternoon a friend and I checked out the New Food Fair in Amsterdam. The Haarlemerstraat and the Haarlemerdijk are bursting with specialty shops where you can pretty much find anything your heart would desire, and today most of the stores took their wares outdoors for all to sample. We wandered in and out of gorgeous little shops, chatting about goat's cheese, tasting wine and every so often examining jars of jam for the right consistency. We oggled crusty breads, tasted fig 'sausage', admired barrels of oil and fancy vinegars and eventually sat down at a table in a quaint little bookshop specializing in cookbooks to discuss famous food writers and talk about our favorite kitchens. I picked up a copy of Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes after having drooled my way through his latest series.

Before hitting the fair though, we met at Cafe Winkel on the corner of Noordermarkt and Westerstraat for a slice of one of the most decadent apple pies ever, served still slightly warm, with a huge dollop of whipped cream. I particularly loved how the chunks of apple still had a bite to them. Blisfully sated, we walked through the organic market where I came across a French woman selling just a few, well selected treats. After tasting her exquisite green anise seed infused olive oil, I vowed to become one of her regular customers.

To me, there's no such thing as too much food talk! It's days like these that make me realize how lucky I am to have made food one of my biggest passions.

PS: Notice my foot shaped cookie cutter! Funny how you search everywhere for something only to find it when you least expect it.

12 comments:

Nora B. said...

I'm so envious! I wish we had such a food fair like that. All the wonderful ingredients in one spot. I do agree that there is no such thing as talk too much about food, esp if you can talk about it with like-minded people.

MEM said...

Hey, just found your blog today...great to have another Amsterdam foodblogger on the case!

I can't believe I missed the New Food Fair again...I live about 2 minutes away, I'm a complete doofus. Thanks for the pictures...

Anonymous said...

LOL @ the 'and checking jars of jam for the right consistency' comment. I must've been driving you nuts with my quest for the perfect balance of fruit and pectine-induced jelly-ness. But you'll be glad to know I had some of that Portuguese raspberry jam on a brown bread baguette this morning and it was worth the hunt! ;-)

Paola Westbeek said...

Nora, I'm glad we think the same! I'm sure you would've loved this fair.

Mem, thanks for visiting my blog! I'll be sure to check yours out as well.

Karin, there's no such thing as 'driving me nuts' when it comes to food. I'm glad you enjoyed the jam!

paola

Kelly-Jane said...

A great post Paola, you could write travel foodie colums for magazines, your pics are fab, and you really capture some of the atmosphere.

KJxx

Paola Westbeek said...

Thank you KJ! Oooh, I'd LOVE to do that! Actually, I'm pointing in the direction of doing something with food for a living. ;)

paola

Unknown said...

Paola, this sounds AMAZING!! Is it a regular thing?? I'll be there as soon as i get over!!

Also - love the photos.

Paola Westbeek said...

HI Stacey,

Thanks for your comments and for reading my blog! It's a yearly thing, but I only discovered it this year. You can bet I won't miss it in the years to come! It was great fun! Do you have plans of moving to The Netherlands?

paola

Paola Westbeek said...

Ah! I know who you are now Stacey!! Aren't you in Leiden yet???

paola

Anonymous said...

What a lovely blog :)) I truly enjoy reading your blog, because I am the same way about food and I decided to make it onto my proffesion. I give all the credits for the chocolate rosemarry mousee which I'll try for sure. Great job! ;)

dijiona said...

Hi, I saw your photo of the apple pie on tastespotting and I IMMEDIATELY recognized it. That was a fabulous piece of pie, that market that's there on Saturdays (?) is also absolutely amazing. Ah, how I miss Amsterdam.

Unknown said...

hey paola!!!

i'm hoping to move over in the next while! and definitely going to the food market next year!!!!

:)