Food fetish month is coming up!

OK, fine, it is not an official thing. But, it might as well be.
Everyone who wants food (porn) all day every day must be jumping around with sincere excitement.
Even if you are not a sucker for Instagram posts of food made by you or anyone else in the world with internet access; trust me, you should be excited. Child in a candy shop excited; On a serious sugar rush.

So here is a list of what we should all be looking forward to:

Amsterdam Coffee Festival

I know, I know...not strictly food. But who are we kidding? Coffee is amazing, so it deserves its own weekend. Also, it is an amazing introduction of the month in which the weekends do not seem to be enough for all the binge eating.

When? 
Happening om the 2nd and 3rd of May at the NDSM-werf.

Who is gonna be there? 
Participants include Headfirst coffee roasters, Coffee Company, Lot Sixty One, and Food Kitchen for an additional epicurean edge.

Chek out their website for more info and tickets, or share the event with your friends.

Food Film Festival 

When?
Starting on the 9th of May. So for 3 days you will be able to stare at food in motion.

Films, workshop, lectures, parties, you shall have it all.
Here is a link to the event, as well as their official website, where you can also get your tickets.

Taste of Amsterdam 

When?
From 15th til the 18th of May.

But why? 
You can be eating dishes prepared by the crème de la crème.
Last year this time I had exams so I was not able to attend last year's edition. I was very bummed out, so I plan on making up for it. Were you obstructed as well? I suggest you follow my lead ;)

Who is gonna be there?
Just to mention some of the participating restaurants I got excited about:

- &Samhoud Places
- Aan de Poel
- Bridges
- Jaime van Heije (young talented chef!)
- Julius Bar & Grill
- Le Garage
- Screaming Beans
- The Harbour Club (Bring on the oysters and lobsters!)
- Vis aan de Schelde (Ditto)


Use this useful link to share with your friends, and get your tickets through the official website.

Dutch Rhubarb Week 2014

What a peculiar plant is this rhubarb! Totally in season and waiting to be used in creative ways from the 22nd until the 31st of May.

Organised by Mister Kitchen, who also co-organises the Weekend van de Rollende Keukens.

Het Weekend van de Rollende Keukens 

I mean, since we are on a roll with this food thing, we might as well.

When?
From Wednesday 28th til Sunday the 1st of June the Westerpark will be full of food trucks and tents.
Thank you Mister Kitchen and Pacific Park for organizing this event for the seventh time!

Last year I went twice, and I loved it! Some things were quite overpriced, that is true, but everything I had was delicious. I cannot wait to go again.

De Oysterkar - They had about 6 different kinds, tried them all

Rollende Keukens 2013

In Conclusion

Like seriously?! Are you freakin' kidding me?

All in all, I got overly thrilled just by writing this post. That cannot be healthy.
Also, I am fairly convinced that you will agree with me than May is not the month to start working on your beach body.

xxx A.

Burger lunch in Du Cap (Old West)

One not so nice April Monday noon I was in the Rozengracht area (Jordaan), and since I rushed out of my house disregarding my basic human needs, I was starving!

Ignoring my better judgement that the search for 'a new interesting and great brunch place' when really hungry is usually ineffective and disorganised, I biked into the Old West neighborhood. Obviously many places were closed; it being Monday.
Just as I was about to settle for Bagels & Beans, which I thought of when I realised that Screaming Beans on the Eerste Constantin Huygensstraat is also closed on Mondays, I biked past Du Cap. In fear of fainting from hunger during the next rain shower, which was well on its way, I decided to embrace the unknown and pop in.

First moments

After a quick and rather embarrassing encounter with a woman who was speeding towards me, so I mistook her for a waitress, I found myself a spot at a high table in the middle of the room. Only a couple of minutes later a waitress came to my table. This time it was an actual waitress, and I would like to note she had a much nicer attitude than the one who almost ran over me as she was on her way to grab the daily newspaper.

Speaking of waitresses and niceness - I always feel that when it comes to staff in Amsterdam 'horeca', being nice is a rarity. In most places the staff is exuding this bizarre I-am-bothered-by-you vibe. I do not want to get into this now, but in order to not leave things in the middle, I recommend you take Vice's test assessing your eligibility for the Amsterdam hospitality industry.

The decor is quite nice. Hues of blue, as their website suggests. Which I checked out as I sat down.

They should definitely put some pictures online. I usually check the website before I go to a new place in order to assess the atmosphere, as well as to figure out the appropriate dress code.

I found these hat-lamps above the reading table quite intriguing

Food

I ordered a cappuccino, bottle of sparkling water and the 'Du Cap' special burger. When I read in the ingredients pickles and BBQ sauce, I was immediately sold. I LOVE PICKLES!

My drinks arrived. I was very happy about the water being S. Pellegrino. Not that I terribly mind other ones, but I like S. Pellegrino the most, so it always makes me a tad more happy. The cappuccino was nice: I really needed that caffeine kick. My burger also arrived rather quickly. Side note: there were not that many people in the restaurant at the time of my order. 

My burger came with fries and salad greens. You can also order the burger without fries.

'Du Cap' burger

Even though I am not sure they make it themselves, the BBQ sauce was great. The meat patty was nice and juicy. I could have personally done without the cheese, but for people who like their burger with a crunchy cheese slice it's a win. I enjoyed the onions in the burger a lot. They were not quite caramelized yet, but were softened so they got the nice sweet flavor, and complemented the BBQ sauce nicely.The bun was also the right size, not too thick or too dry. The mayonnaise was nice. Ketchup - not so much.

The overall taste of the burger was really nice. It was very filling. The greens were also nice and fresh. I did not finish my fries. On one part because I was really full, and on the other because they could have used some more crunch. 

For a kick out of my food coma, I ordered an espresso. Smooth, no sugar needed. I love coffee :D

In sum

Food: The coffee was very nice. The burger BBQ sauce and patty were great. The fries could have been more 'crisp' on the outside.

Price:

Burger with fries - 12,00 euro

S. Pellegrino 0.75 l - 4.50 euro

Cappuccino - 2,50 euro

Espresso - 2,25 euro

Total: 21.25 euro

Staff: Friendly until the very end.

Atmosphere: Due to the weather conditions I could not sit outside. I imagine it being really nice on a sunny day, as it is situated on a sunny square. I like the color blue, so the interior was to my liking. Although, first I had the impression of the theme being 'the seaside', which I later was no longer so sure about. There is a bit of a bistro feeling, but then not really. Bottom-line: Blue, not too complicated.

xxx
A.

P.S.: Keep your eyes open for my upcoming post "Bloody Monday, why is everything closed? I am hungry!"