Finally Europe. PART III: Amsterdam

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol was our point of entry to Europe from Manila and also our exit. We really did not have plans to disembark here but what a waste since one step out of the airport and you are in another country. A slight deviation from the itinerary and here we were in Amsterdam, for the much needed rest and recreation from that hectic cultural pilgrimage.

My friends made the same Schiphol entry (8:30 p.m.) and they encountered a huge problem. Medyo very strict the authorities, their luggage were searched thoroughly and they were detained for questioning. A companion had the surname Sison and my beloved readers know there is another Sison (Jose Ma.) who lives in Utrecht. They left the airport, morning na with added guarantees from their European host that they were peace loving animal doctors en route to a convention.

But the culinary journey of your favorite food columnist continues and we had our first Dutch dinner at the Restaurant de Roode Leeuw. I ordered Herring with Beet Root Salad, Half Dojizn Zeeuwse Oesters Met Citroen (Dutch Mussels) and the Marrowfat Peas with Fried Bacon, Minced Veal, Fried Onions & Boiled Potatoes. Paired with Heineken and Grolch Beers – that was a nice introduction to the Dutch food culture.

Then off to some sight seeing at the red light district De Wallen, for two reasons: observe the gedoogbeleid (tolerance policy) with regards to marijuana and the “unusual window displays” of licensed brothels. The lawmakers in the Netherlands believe “that if a problem has proven to be unsolvable, it is better to try controlling it and reducing harm instead of continuing to enforce laws with mixed results”. As I have said, it was strictly “for your eyes only” but things would have been different if I had visited Amsterdam two decades earlier.

So shopping na lang at the De Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) and at the Albert Cuymarket for some pasalubong and DVDs then some nourishment. You can choose between the bruine (“brown” cafés), equivalent of the pub for beer and snacks or the eetcafé (“eating café”) or bistro for larger meals. We dropped by the Café van Daele for some Gehaktballetjes (meat balls) and Pikante Kipvleugels (Chicken Wings). We made a quick visit to the open market and I was amazed at the variety of foodstuffs like vegetables, fruits and nuts. But no pirated DVDs were in sight.

Amsterdam is a cosmopolitan city and the mixture of people enhances the food scene. There are lots of Italian restaurants which make use of Dutch cheeses like Gouda, Leyden and Edam but we just came from, excuse me, Italy. We sampled other foods like Argentinian cuisine at Argentinos San Thomas (Spare-Ribs served with Steak, Fries & Salad) and the Top Wok Café Restaurant for a descent Chinese dinner like Roast Pork, Stir-fry Beef and plain rice which we had sorely missed. 

The best thing about Amsterdam is that its citizens are very tourist friendly and their readiness to assist seems endless. Even the menus in restaurants are printed in five languages! The only thing I missed in the Netherland was my favorite painting, The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. I remember that it is found in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. And that’s another story.