Month: February 2009

Tony's Chocolonely – My Favorite Chocolate

What started as a journalistic experiment against child labor, has turned into my favorite chocolate!

Back in 2002, Teun van de Keuken, a journalist for a popular Dutch TV program on food quality, read about the dire conditions of cocoa plantations where thousands of children are forced to work. Comparing buying chocolate made from those cocoa beans to buying a stolen bike from a junkie in the streets of Amsterdam, he turned himself in to police asking to be prosecuted.

Not unexpectedly, the police did not take Teun seriously and no legal action was taken. He did get a lot of media attention, including a feature article in Time Magazine. So Teun decided to produce the world’s first slave-free chocolate bar and in November 2005 Tony’s Chocolonely was successfully introduced to the market.

tony's chocolonely slave-free chocolate bars
Tony's Chocolonely slave-free chocolate bars

Tony’s Chocolonely is amazing. First and foremost because of its incredible taste! Tony’s has an intense chocolate aroma combined with an almost silky smoothness that makes it melt in your mouth and will keep making you long for more! Apart from the flavor and slave-free feelgood factor, I also like the bright red retro packaging and the large and sturdy 200g bars. Tony’s Chocolonely is different!

Tony’s is expanding rapidly and today is producing milk and bitter chocolate bars as well as chocolate letters, sprinkles and t-shirts. On their web site you can find a store locator as well as an option to order online (minimum 15 bars). If you’re in Amsterdam, local produce concept store Marqt currently has a special offer – two Tony’s bars for € 4,=.

Tony’s Chocolonely – My Favorite Chocolate

What started as a journalistic experiment against child labor, has turned into my favorite chocolate!

Back in 2002, Teun van de Keuken, a journalist for a popular Dutch TV program on food quality, read about the dire conditions of cocoa plantations where thousands of children are forced to work. Comparing buying chocolate made from those cocoa beans to buying a stolen bike from a junkie in the streets of Amsterdam, he turned himself in to police asking to be prosecuted.

Not unexpectedly, the police did not take Teun seriously and no legal action was taken. He did get a lot of media attention, including a feature article in Time Magazine. So Teun decided to produce the world’s first slave-free chocolate bar and in November 2005 Tony’s Chocolonely was successfully introduced to the market.

tony's chocolonely slave-free chocolate bars
Tony's Chocolonely slave-free chocolate bars

Tony’s Chocolonely is amazing. First and foremost because of its incredible taste! Tony’s has an intense chocolate aroma combined with an almost silky smoothness that makes it melt in your mouth and will keep making you long for more! Apart from the flavor and slave-free feelgood factor, I also like the bright red retro packaging and the large and sturdy 200g bars. Tony’s Chocolonely is different!

Tony’s is expanding rapidly and today is producing milk and bitter chocolate bars as well as chocolate letters, sprinkles and t-shirts. On their web site you can find a store locator as well as an option to order online (minimum 15 bars). If you’re in Amsterdam, local produce concept store Marqt currently has a special offer – two Tony’s bars for € 4,=.

The Incredible Shrinking Biertje

0,19 l Brand beer glassEach country has its own traditions for the size of a beer. While the age old argument of the merits of the imperial pint versus the US liquid pint might never be settled, Dutch beers are certainly on the small side.

A regular beer in Amsterdam, called a “vaasje” is 0,25 l. And a small beer, or “fluitje” is 0,2 l.

Yet much to my surprise I was served an even smaller one, a mere 0,19 l of Brand beer served in something that looked more like wine glass. Needless to mention that the waitress had to make frequent trips to quench our thirst…

Zus en Zus Closing for Construction

inside restaurant zus en zus amsterdamSmall neighborhood restaurant Zus en Zus on Overtoom is closing down for six months on February 15th. The building will undergo major construction for a new foundation. Zus en Zus is planning to reopen in the summer.

Zus en Zus is a great low-key restaurant in Amsterdam West. The service is very friendly and personal. The food is international organic. The menu is small with four starters and main courses only, but always has an interesting vegetarian option. It’s fairly priced, especially if you go for the € 24,50 three-course menu which you can combine yourself. The wine list short and mainly new world but carefully chosen.

If you have the chance, stop by for dinner next week. Otherwise keep an eye on the reopening in the summer!

Dine Around the Okura

dine-around-okuraHotel Okura is offering a sort of “anti restaurant week” to celebrate keeping its Michelin stars and Bib Gourmand. For € 120,= you can book a menu that starts off with three traditional Japanese courses at one-star Yamazato. You will then head up 23 floors and enjoy three courses at two-star French cuisine Ciel Bleu.

Both restaurants are located in Hotel Okura at Ferdinand Bolstraat 333. The offer is available every Sunday until February 22. For reservations, call +31 (0) 20 – 6787 450.