From A to P: Appeltaart to Pannenkocken

I (Dan) came to Amsterdam after Paris with lowered expectations. I had eaten well prior to this leg of our trip and figured that Amsterdam was primarily a chance to see the canals and Anne Frank's house. However, I found a list of some Dutch foods before I left, and then I found a new and wonderful website, www.eatyourworld.com, that highlights foods in some international cities. Suddenly, Amsterdam had more appeal and I had goals.

In the last 24 hours, Vicki and I found and tried:

1. Appeltaart - you've heard the expression, "as American as apple pie?" Could be Dutch as well. We came upon a wonderful little place called the Cafe de Prins and got seated canalside by a Canadian who came to Amsterdam for love and stayed past boyfriend #1. We saw someone peeling and cutting up apples at the bar, and found out that the bartender actually makes the pies herself. Ours was delicious. 

The same spot also provided an opportunity for #2 and #3.

2. Bitterballen - related to krokets, these are basically very crunchy, fried balls (about the size of a ping-pong ball) with creamy centers of shredded chicken or beef, mixed with broth, flour, and almost assuredly butter. Think of leftover stew with flour added to make it thicker, rolled into  ball, rolled in crunchy coating and fried. 

3. Beer - more specifically today, Heineken. Not the stuff one buys in a bottle in Memphis, but local draft. Completely different taste, undoubtedly improved by location and the accompanying bitterballen. I have to say I have had no other memorable beers here. Vicki found Kriek and was very happy.

4. Frites - after pommes frites in Paris, I was quite happy, but walking around last night, I had a craving. There are frites stands here, and they sell only fries. Last night after dinner and dessert, I was not hungry, but what does that have to do with anything? I saw the stand that proclaimed that they had the best fries in the city or nation or world, so we stopped. They have three sizes - and the smallest paper cone of fries must have had a whole potatoes worth. They serve these to you hot and on the top you can have one of probably 30 different toppings, from the common (sweet mayo) to the unusual (satay sauce or curry ketchup). 

5. Jenever - the previously mentioned gin-related beverage that can apparently range from very juniper-ish to sweet and flavored varieties.

6. Gerookte Paling - smoked eel and 

7. Haring - brined herring. These are both local specialities typically sold out of market booths and we just happened to find one. Vicki was willing to try the smoked eel (on the left below) but would only taste the onions on my herring. The herring was almost buttery in texture, still very oily and I liked it. That oily flavor was still with me several hours later, however! [it was with everyone near him for several hours as well...]

8. Pannenkocken - pancakes. I had no idea that pancakes were a Dutch item. Not only the plain ones, however. There are pancakes with any number of items served on top, from eggs, bacon and other breakfast-type items to the sweet versions to the more exotic, like a tex-mex pizza pancake, and all of these  flopped over the edge of a dinner plate. [These are not big, fluffy,American pancakes. They are thinner and chewier.]

9. Stroopwafel - a delicious waffle made from two thin layers of baked batter with a caramel-like syrup filling in the middle.

Add to that the cheeses we got to try, various coffees, Kriek, soft-serve pistachio ice cream, gaufres, etc. and I pronounce the two days in Amsterdam a culinary success.

Cheeses stacked in a cheese shop we visited:

Yes, we did some other things besides eat. Your point?