Automne 2011 #46

Souvenirs from Amsterdam. Mostly food cos' I'm a glutton. =p

Stroopwafels.

Stroopwafels are waffles made from two thin layers of baked batter with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle.They were first made in Gouda in the Netherlands, in 1784. Large versions are sold in the streets as a snack.

Source: Wikipedia.

I don't usually like caramel, but the way they do it with the rest of the ingredients make it nice. However, one piece per day is more than enough, it is quite a heavy snack and more than one piece just gives you this sickening sweet aftertaste. I eat it with green tea, or tea without sugar. Maybe, I am just someone who prefer savoury food.

The stiff batter for the waffles is made from flour, butter, brown sugar, yeast, milk, and eggs. Medium sized balls of batter are put on the waffle iron. After the waffle has been baked, and while it's still warm, it's cut into halves. The warm filling, made from syrup, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon, is spread between the waffle halves, gluing them together.

2 kinds of Dutch cheese I brought back from the traditional market that I mentioned here.

I really like it when they wrap things up using paper. The way they fold it and such. Plastic bags are so blah... and environmental unfriendly.

The fabric I bought from the shop located on the same street where we had lunch on our first day in Amsterdam.

Amsterdam 2011 #16

We should have shared a taxi to the Amsterdam Airport Schipol on our return trip. We thought using the train would be easy, but due to renovation works, we got to change 2 lines using the train and walked to an opposite building after we alighted from the 2nd train before reaching the airport. In between involved asking around and worrying whether we were on the right track or not.

Something terrible almost happened during our return trip too. It was exceptionally crowded at the platform and this little boy who was with his parents fell through the gap between the train and the platform!! Luckily for him, one of his parents caught hold of his arms before he drops completely underneath the train. One can imagine the shrieks of shock around when it happened.

Inside the cabin. I am impressed by how clean and spacious their trains are.


En-route to Gare du Nord. Finally!!

Amsterdam 2011 #15

Netherlands's national identity is widely recognised as clogs, windmills and tulips and I learnt during this trip that the Dutch have been making cheese since 400 AD. Nowadays, they are the largest exporter of cheese in the world.

Gouda, Edam, Maasdammer, Boerenkaas, Goat's cheese, Smoked cheese, Dutch blue cheese, Herb Cheese, etc are just a few varieties of Dutch cheese.

We saw a traditional market going on after our lunch at the Pancake Bakery and happily strolled there because all of us wanted to get some Dutch cheese back as souvenirs.

The cheese located right under the hanging tray of cheese, with specks of stuff on it is the "Carrot cheese". Very strong. Too strong for me. My French colleagues love it.

This lady boss is very nice. She was very patient with the whole group of us, let us try what we pointed at generously and recommended us some very good Dutch cheese.

The very first thing I said to her was, "Hello, we are tourists and we want to get some original Dutch cheese." LOL. I wonder what was in my head then. My colleagues were laughing after I said that.

I got 2 kinds of cheese in the end. One is Edam, I don't know the other one, but I like it. LoL. Dutch cheese seems to be much saltier than French ones.

Amsterdam 2011 #14

Night time in Amsterdam. Taken on different days.

Amsterdam 2011 #13

It was 16H30. Evening skies of Amsterdam with the streets and bridges lighted up.



Shaky hands - I was slightly trembling due to the howling winter winds.

Amsterdam 2011 #12

Some shops I like in Amsterdam.

A shop opposite the café where we had lunch, was stocked full of fabrics, ribbons, laces, buttons and anything you can associate with embroidery.

I got a metre of white polka dots on red fabric. Can you spot it in the pic? =D





My favourite genre of shop.





Macaron moulds for dummies.





I like this shop a lot. they sell well made leather bags, leather bound books, vintage typewriters, etc.

Amsterdam 2011 #11

Highly recommended to us by our colleague. More than 75 different kinds of pancakes and omelets! We went there twice during our short trip and I love their sweet pancakes. Their savoury ones are just average.

This place is always packed, so if you are going with a group of more than 5, call to make a reservation first. Dutch speak perfect English. So, no worries.

Our boss bought 2 boxes of Poffertjes mixed in sugar and butter (I forgot to take some pics of this!! but they are baby mini plain pancakes soaked in butter & sugar syrup) for us during our business meeting at the hotel conference room to share, it was really good.

One whole pot of pure caramel.



I ordered the "Canadian" - Pancake with crispy bacon, onions, mushrooms, ham & cheese, shared 60% of it with D, who got the "Norwegian" - Pancake filled with salmon, sour cream, cream cheese and side salad.


They have huge servings.

Norwegian.


We read the Amsterdam guide book in French while waiting for our food - "Burning questions about the redlight district? The answers will be brought to you by current or formal prostitutes... "


Dessert shared among all, "English" - Pancake with William pears, chocolate, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.



Group pic!! with J's bf censored to protect his identity. =p

[ADDRESS]
The Pancake Bakery
Prinsengracht 191
1015 DS Amsterdam
Tel: +31 20 625 13 33