Amsterdam Food Events Summer 2014

Like in many other cities around the world, numerous food events have been popping up in and around Amsterdam. They are fun especially in the summer, when the weather is nice. So here’s our selection for summer 2014:

The NeighbourFood Market

The NeighbourFood Market is kind of a flea market of caterers, all making different kinds of food from all around the world to be consumed right then and there. It takes place once a month on a Sunday at the Westergasfabriek.

Dates: Sunday 18 May, Sunday 15 June, Sunday 27 July, and Sunday 17 August
Website: neighbourfoodmarket.nl

Pure Markt

The Pure Markt takes place every last Sunday from 11am to 6pm of the month Park Frankendael. It’s focused on producers of organic and regional food products.

Dates: Sunday 25 May, Saturday 29 June, Sunday 27 July, and Sunday 31 August
Website: puremarkt.nl

Rollende Keukens

The rolling kitchens festival brings all sorts of food carts to the Westergasfabriek for a weekend of yummy street food.

Dates: Wednesday 28 May – Sunday 1 June
Website: rollendekeukens.nl (Dutch only)

Taste Amsterdam

Taste brings together some of the best chefs of the city for a weekend of cooking and sampling. Admission is € 9,50 and a taste of a signature dish of restaurants like Michelin stars &samhoud places or Aan de Poel as well as many others is between € 5 and € 7,50.

Dates: Thursday 15 May – Sunday 18 May
Website: tasteofamsterdam.com

Amsterdam Food Festivals

ruudmaaz.nl – The Online Grocery Store for Foodies

We have complained many times about the poor state of food stores in Amsterdam, dominated by dreaded Albert Heijn supermarkets. With the online options even more limited we often ended up zigzagging all across town to get the ingredients we wanted in many small specialty stores.

A few weeks ago we discovered online grocery store ruudmaaz.nl which quickly has changed all that!

ruudmaaz.nl is a small operation with a big dream. The name is a play on “duurzaam”, Dutch for sustainable, as Ruud Maaz is set on providing Amsterdammers with an easy way to order the tastiest foods from local producers and entirely without plastic packaging.

The basics seemed well covered. Delivery is next day during a two hour time window in the evening. The selection is great and we quickly managed to put the minimum of € 50,= worth of groceries into our shopping cart and place our first order.

The arrival of our food certainly was a happy moment. Being used to delivery by a grumpy and sweaty Albert Heijn kid, the tone was set when the delivery team rang the door bell with a big smile. It was obvious that they were completely sold on the sustainable idea and proud of the tasty groceries they had in their bag. Everything was delivered right into the kitchen which looked like we had just gotten back from the farmer’s market.

There was milk and yogurt in glass bottles from local dairy producer Weerribben Zuivel, fresh fish from Fishes who also have a store in Amsterdam, smoked salmon from our favorite Frank’s Smokehouse, individually packaged sausages and organic chicken from Amsterdam based butcher De Wit, a whole week’s supply of seasonal local fruit and much more. Basically it was like all of our favorite shops had huddled together and sent us a great package of their best foods!

We’ve quickly adopted placing orders regularly and hope that ruudmaaz.nl continues to expand while maintaining the small scale spirit!

Amsterdam Food Festivals Summer 2010

Even though it has been raining heavily the last few days, summer is just around the corner and with it several great food festivals. To help you plan your summer in Amsterdam or a trip to our Dutch capital, I put together this list of my favorite Amsterdam food festivals.

Taste of Amsterdam – 24 to 27 June 2010

taste of amsterdam 2010Taste of Amsterdam is part of a world-wide series of food events that celebrate fine dining in major cities. The formula is to provide visitors with an opportunity to sample small portions of the signature dishes of prestigious local restaurants. Michelin star decorated Ron Blaauw and Aan de Poel will participate amongst a group of 18 restaurants. Guests will need to buy € 15 tickets to attend the events and can then taste samples from different chefs for somewhere around € 4 to 9.

www.tasteofamsterdam.com
When: 24-27 June, 12:00 to 17:00 or 18:00 to 23:00
Where: Amstelpark on Europaboulevard near RAI exhibition center.
Public transport: Take tram or metro to RAI.

Over het IJ Festival – 1 to 11 July 2010

over het ij festival amsterdam 2010The Over Het IJ Festival is a theater festival on NDSM wharf in Amsterdam North, across the water behind Central Station. There is an extensive program with a focus on performances by younger talent. There also are nice food options for in between, including caterers “One for the Road” or the pancake boat. You may also enjoy a trip to neighboring Noorderlicht Cafe, spectacularly housed in a cool glass hangar and sporting a hip vibe.

www.overhetij.nl
When: 1-11 July, exact program to be decided
Where: NDSM wharf on Neveritaweg 15 across the water from Central Station
Public transport: Take the free NSDM ferry behind Central Station.

De Parade – 6 to 22 August 2010

de parade amsterdam 2010De Parade is another theater festival with a strong food focus. The atmosphere is very much cabaret and circus, with all performances held in large tents around the main area of restaurants, bars and ticket sales. It’s a traveling festival that starts in Rotterdam mid June, moves on to The Hague and Utrecht and ends in Amsterdam from 6 to 22 August. Expect comedy, song and dance and other quirky shows such as the popular silent disco. And enjoy food and drinks from the Tacobar, wood oven pizzeria Fuoco e Desiderio or organic eatery La Rana. Tickets are € 7, excluding food, drinks and performances.

www.deparade.nl
When: 6-22 August, 15:00 to 24:00
Where: Martin Luther Kingpark on Amsteldijk between the Berlagebrug and Utrechtsbrug.
Public transport: Take tram 25 to President Kennedylaan.

Pure Markt Amsterdam 25 April 2010

I have written about Pure Markt Amsterdam, an artisanal farmer’s market several times, covering the fresh produce and the family style atmosphere.

So today I will leave with just a little reminder that the next Pure Markt is coming up on 25 April, as usual the last Sunday of the month.

pure markt amsterdam - flyer

puremarkt.nl
Park Frankendael, Amsterdam
Public transport: Tram 9 to Hogeweg, bus 65 to Pieter Zeemanlaan
Every last Sunday of the month
Dates: 28 March, 25 April, 30 May, 27 June, 29 August, 26 September, 31 October, 19 December

L'Amuse Cheese Store Amsterdam

I first read about L’Amuse, a new cheese store in Amsterdam, on Stadionweg, on Klary’s blog. She posted many mouthwatering pictures and a long write up of a cheese tasting. It all really sounded too good and I made a mental note to stop by L’Amuse on my next trip to my favorite bakery Le Fournil just down the road.

Then just a few days later I saw a feature on zestz about burrata, a fresh Italian cheese that is a mix of mozzarella and cream. I love the buttery flavor and smooth creamy texture of burrata. Unfortunately it’s hard to find as it’s only produced in Italy and cannot be kept for long. When I found out on zestz that L’Amuse sells burrata, I had to go there immediately.

l'amuse cheese store amsterdam - burrata

I did go and was not disappointed! The store is located on Stadionweg and has a modern, spacious design with a large wooden table in the back. The cheeses are on display in a large refrigerated display case. And the two friendly guys running the store know everything about them.

I asked about their favorites and recommendations and was very pleased to be allowed a small taste of the cheeses that interested me. They were all very good, but I had to decide and in the end went home with a brie de meaux, a sharp Montgommery’s cheddar and a fruity comté. And of course the main prize, a wonderful burrata.

In case you cannot decide, you might want to check out their web site, which has a complete list of cheeses with full classification and long descriptions.

l'amuse cheese store amsterdam - cheeses

www.lamuse.nl
Stadionweg 147
1076 NM Amsterdam
Tel: +31-20-6707559
Open Tuesday – Friday 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 17:00
Public transport: Tram 24 or bus 15 to Olympiaplein

L’Amuse Cheese Store Amsterdam

I first read about L’Amuse, a new cheese store in Amsterdam, on Stadionweg, on Klary’s blog. She posted many mouthwatering pictures and a long write up of a cheese tasting. It all really sounded too good and I made a mental note to stop by L’Amuse on my next trip to my favorite bakery Le Fournil just down the road.

Then just a few days later I saw a feature on zestz about burrata, a fresh Italian cheese that is a mix of mozzarella and cream. I love the buttery flavor and smooth creamy texture of burrata. Unfortunately it’s hard to find as it’s only produced in Italy and cannot be kept for long. When I found out on zestz that L’Amuse sells burrata, I had to go there immediately.

l'amuse cheese store amsterdam - burrata

I did go and was not disappointed! The store is located on Stadionweg and has a modern, spacious design with a large wooden table in the back. The cheeses are on display in a large refrigerated display case. And the two friendly guys running the store know everything about them.

I asked about their favorites and recommendations and was very pleased to be allowed a small taste of the cheeses that interested me. They were all very good, but I had to decide and in the end went home with a brie de meaux, a sharp Montgommery’s cheddar and a fruity comté. And of course the main prize, a wonderful burrata.

In case you cannot decide, you might want to check out their web site, which has a complete list of cheeses with full classification and long descriptions.

l'amuse cheese store amsterdam - cheeses

www.lamuse.nl
Stadionweg 147
1076 NM Amsterdam
Tel: +31-20-6707559
Open Tuesday – Friday 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 17:00
Public transport: Tram 24 or bus 15 to Olympiaplein