Abyssinia: African dining in Amsterdam

As I was wandering down the street of Overtoom at around 8:30pm, a poster advertising “the best African food in Amsterdam” caught my eye. Unsure as to how many African restaurants there could possibly be in this small Dutch city, I allowed myself to succumb to the marketing and have my final meal in Amsterdam at Abyssinia.

A theme of wood accompanied by pots and fabrics with geometric tessellations and floral prints filled the two dining rooms. We were seated in the more unique seating area with couches and lounge chairs surrounding low coffee tables. The relaxed and homey atmosphere sedated me into a state where I essentially let our server order for me.

We started the meal with a coconut “exotic beer” Mongozo.  I love sweet and different flavor combinations, but I have tried neither coconut nor beer that tasted quite like this. The drink was so high in sugar that it took on a rich, syrupy flavor that proved too sweet to finish—or even attempt a second swig.

The menu was overwhelming yet uniform. A variety of meats and vegetables are all served with Injera, a flat, spongy bread that serves as the crepe of Ethiopia. We ordered Zegni, which is beef served in a red sauce with Ajibo (fresh cheese), and Alecha, fried butter-beans, carrots, and potatoes. Both dishes were served with a lentil sauce and a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and lentils.

The food, all atop one large piece of Injera, was served on a metal pizza-dish-looking tray and set on a beautifully woven table.

The flavors failed to be as ornate as the presentation. I attribute this to a sensory confusion. The highly sauced array of meats and vegetables caused me to expect more Indian flavors with bold curries and spicy flavors. 

The food was very fun to eat—hands only—using the Injera as a mop to scoop up all the lightly spiced flavors topped with cooling cheese. Crafting each bite was a fun adventure, although, if I closed my eyes, I do not know if I would be able to differentiate between the two dishes.

Abyssinia provided an entertaining dining experience in a relaxed and unique environment. Overall, the flavors in Amsterdam were fair, but the bizarre food combinations and special presentations were what made dining in Amsterdam such a treat.

Abyssinia

J P Heijestraat 190
1054 MN  Amsterdam
+31 (0)20 683 07 92
open: daily 5-11 pm

nooch

If it wasn’t the funky tables with curved bamboo centerpieces then it was the fun menu with neon green writing that reeled me into Nooch in Amsterdam.

Although Nooch fails to provide the most authentic of Thai food, the trendy atmosphere and great sharing dishes made for a good dining experience.

Not knowing what to expect after ordering the “Chinese Pearl” appetizer, I was thrilled when four stuffed pastries arrived at the table. The “deep fried pancake” was like a miniature piecrust. The shell was very crispy, creating some difficulty upon eating, but this was a mere hiccup once I was introduced to the seasoned mushroom filling.

Sautéed soft, the mushrooms were met with shredded carrots, lettuce, green onions, oil and spices. The mixture created an explosion of flavor, especially when paired with the red sauce that tasted like Sriracha. The heat from the sauce added that perfect kick to bring the dish to the next level.

The Pad Thai was bizarre. The attractive presentation was a nice touch—a bright 

green leaf lined the white plate—and if the dish had been named different, then maybe I would have been more pleased. The fact that neither the noodles nor the preparation met my expectations of traditional Pad Thai left me slightly disappointed. The noodles were wide and the flavor was bland. I think some sliced cherry tomatoes found their way onto my plate as well, which was a little odd. Whole peanuts, instead of crushed, topped off the dish, fragmenting the ingredients rather than bringing them together.

Regardless of the underwhelming noodle dish, the friendly staff and delicious starter were enough to tempt me to return to Nooch. There are too many enticing dishes I have not yet experienced for me to write off this restaurant just yet.

nooch

Reestraat 11 1016 DM Amsterdam

+31(0)20 622 21 05

goodfortune@nooch.nl

www.nooch.nl

Open daily: 11.00-23.00

Pancakes! Not your Mamma’s Flapjack

Amsterdam is like the pregnant woman’s fantasy, for you can find a restaurant that caters to almost any bizarre craving combination that you can conjure up. When I heard that the Dutch love pancakes, I had no understanding of the severity of this patronage until I visited Pancakes! in the Nine Streets.

Every part of this quaint, two-story pancake café—from the blanketed bench outside the front door to the intricately designed tabletops—is packed with personality. If you’re not delighted yet, then take a look at the wonderfully overwhelming menu. With over 30 options, you will not be disappointed.

The charm is in the details. An order of hot chocolate arrives with whipped cream sitting atop a glass partition as to prevent it from dissolving until you want it to.

The true spectacles were, of course, the pancakes. The “Pancakes! Dutch De Luxe” 

pancakes are very thin, resembling an open-faced crepe, with an elaborate assortment of toppings. A slice of delicately browned goat cheese can sit on a bed of spinach, garlic oil, salad pits and pine nuts for €9.80.

I have never been a ham fan (bacon’s a different story), but when you crisp the edges and serve it with camembert cheese embedded in thin pancake dough that is then drizzled with raspberry sauce, then that’s something I can support.

With this unique ensemble of ingredients, I felt obligated to visit Pancakes! a second time. 

The apple pancakes are delicately crafted as the cooks handpick thin apple slices and place them beautifully in the pan. The open kitchen displayed the artistic talent and multitasking skills necessary to pull off this beautiful feat.

Poffertjes turned out to be pan-seared—note the glistening oil—miniature fluffy pancakes. For only €5.50, I was served an army of these little cakes, drizzled in a decadent dark chocolate sauce, and served with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream. Indulgence has just reached a new level.

Whether you have a week or just a weekend in Amsterdam, I absolutely suggest that you visit Pancakes!, where going once just isn’t enough.

PANCAKES! Amsterdam


Berenstraat 38
1016GH Amsterdam

+31 (0)20 528 97 97 

Broodje Bert: The Greatest Honor to the Sandwich Name

Nervously peddling down the uneven brick paths of Amsterdam on my new set of rental wheels, I credit fate for bringing me to Broodje Bert, for this was where my bicycling skills had landed me—on the ground outside of the small corner shop, home to a sandwich so spectacular you'll want to write it a thank you note.

I sat at a low wooden bar facing a window that provided a view of the open kitchen.  After getting a feel for the scene and scoping out the action over at the grill, I decided on the mozzarella-tomato-pesto sandwich, to which I added a grilled chicken breast.

This place was like Subway’s refined older brother with its selection of oils, herbs and fresh vegetables -- and when I say fresh I mean the tomatoes were plucked from the vine right in front of me.

Every sandwich came with the works. What that entailed was beyond me as the 

language barrier and glass shield inhibited my ability to read the labels on the oil and 

herb containers. However, I did have the honor of witnessing the birth of my sandwich, constructed by the cooks as if by instinct: corn, red peppers, tomatoes and lettuce all joining the party in one swift motion. Then came some wondrous combination of salt, freshly cracked pepper, dried oregano and vinegar.

This untamed beauty remains to be one of the most beautiful culinary creations I have ever seen. The dazzling display of vibrantly colored tomatoes and arugula could only be matched by its crisp, fresh taste.  While in the oven, it seemed as though the pesto had proposed to the mozzarella, and after a momentary broil, the two were inseparable. This kind of artwork deserves attention from multiple angles:

The only element to surmount the greatness that had already been established—the stunning veggies, the softened cheese, the crisped juicy chicken—was the ultimate blend of oil/herb perfection. The seasonings and vinegar created a new intra-sandwich hierarchy, under which all ingredients wanted to cooperate.

By neglecting to taste the indulgences at Broodje Bert upon traveling to Amsterdam, you are only cheating yourself. Now, if you would excuse me, I need a moment.

BROODJE BERT

Singel 321, 1012 WK Amsterdam

Hours: 8am – 5pm

+31-20-623-0382