hotspot Archives - Wander-Lust

08 Jun 2018

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SNCKBR IV Utrecht, The largest vegan restaurant of Europe

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On June 8, 2018 With No Comments

Vegan food is hot hot hot! Everywhere you look, a new vegan restaurant pops up in Holland. We already wrote about the Vegan Junk Food Bar, and some secret vegan spots in Amsterdam. But there’s now also a new vegan restaurant in Utrecht, which is the biggest plant based restaurant in Europe: SNCKBR IV.

SNCKBR
SNCKBR already has three other restaurants in the Netherlands, two in Amsterdam and one in Eindhoven. But the one in Utrecht is very special, mainly because it is 100% vegan ánd has 110 seats which makes it the biggest vegan restaurant in the whole of Europe. So it’s 100% VGN and 0% BULLSHIT, to use their own words. The place is a perfect hotspot for people who like both guilty pleasures as well as healthy and cruelty free food and snacks. The name might suggest a snackbar kind of place, but that’s not the case at all. They serve all kinds of international classics like Chinese bao buns, Indian curry, but also Dutch kapsalon and various pizza’s. Everything is cruelty free, so you don’t have to feel guilty. Even the interior is 100% vegan and the clothes of the staff are fair-trade.

100% VGN, 0% BLLSHT

Delicious vegan bites and dishes
I have to admit: I think I have never eaten vegan before. Shame on me, I know…Every time I’ve eaten a vegetarian dinner, it was topped with cheese, cream or eggs. I am curious about vegan food, but never cooked something for myself nor did I try it in a restaurant before. You can imagine my excitement when I got invited to the press dinner in the new SNCKBR. I really had no idea what to expect.

Avo special on toast anyone?

The restaurant arranged a six course menu for us so we would be able to taste a variety of nice dishes. We started off with Gyozas, made with spiced tofu, shiitake, leek and peanuts. Then we got the Peking Luck which were thin pancakes we could fill with soy protein, spring onion, cucumber and plum sauce. The protein really tasted like duck, which was very surprising. My favorite dish was the third one, the Bao Bun with eggplant, panko zucchini, mayo and cucumber. It was very crunchy and tasteful. And it didn’t stop there!

We also had the delicious Mushroom Wellington, which tasted much like beef Wellington, but without the meat. And we had two small burgers, one made of chickpeas, miso and chestnut mushrooms and one which was filled with mushrooms, seaweed, beetroot and soy protein. We finished with a tasteful Chocolate Ganesha made of chocolate, dates, mixed nuts and custard together with a scoop of rice ice cream.

Wow, who knew vegan food tasted so good! I really liked it and I am definitely going to check them out another time to try something else from their big menu. SNCKBR’s menu changes every few weeks so make sure you check them out regularly. They have many delicious recipes coming up!

Love,

Merel

SNCKBR IV Utrecht
Vredenburg 28, Utrecht
Website

*Merel is one of our guest editors from Utrecht and describes herself as a daydreaming student who has wanderlust ever since she traveled sround Jamaica for 3 months. She can’t wait to travel the whole wide world after she finishes her bachelor. Follow her on Instagram!

29 May 2018

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Venster33 » Not a new spot, but definitely a hotspot!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On May 29, 2018 With No Comments

Normally when it comes to brand new hotspots, I’m like a fish that sees the bait. As soon as they pop up, I want to drop by. But this time I shine some light on an established one: Restaurant Venster33. I hear you think ‘why not a new spot’? It’s the older family member of Miss Moneypenny, and because my boyfriend and I were so enthusiastic about their shareable food, ambiance, and hospitality, they invited us immediately for a dinner at Venster33. We said yes! (obviously)

The story behind restaurant Venster33 Amsterdam
Two years ago I moved to the increasingly popular Eastern part of Amsterdam, hello hello lovely Javastraat. Since that moment I’m not a frequent cyclist to De Pijp. But sometimes it’s great to go back to my old neighbourhood, brings back good memories. Enough, let’s talk about restaurant Venster33. They’re up and running since 2015. This month they celebrate their third anniversary on the 26th whoop whoop! Good job Cas Jansen and your two companions / childhood friends. All three are Amsterdammers in heart and soul. The city love was an aspect they really wanted to highlight in their laid-back restaurant. That’s why all what they do has something to do with Amsterdam. Think about the famous Holtkamp bitterballen (by far my faves), tasteful wines of the colourful wine brand Grapedistrict, and daily fresh fish from the Albert Cuyp market.

Venster33 has enough space to sit outside Source

All day long up and running
The three food Musketeers had the idea to create a relaxed place for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. Recently they switched their whole menu. They’ve extended their assortment of small dishes to mix and match. And besides that, they’ve ’put some new more diet-friendly main dishes on the menu. More and more often they got the question for vegetarian, gluten- and lactose-free options. So voilà, they’ve taken it into account in their new menu.

I saw a lot of pretty cocktails leaving the bar

From a quick bite, till an extensive dinner
After my visit at Miss Moneypenny, my expectations were high with a capital ‘H’ for Venster33. The two have a totally different style, but the same welcoming vibe. Unfortunately, both of us were in a ‘no alcohol period’, so ginger beer it was! I did see a lot of pretty cocktails leaving the bar, so definitely don’t hesitate to go for the Grab Some Grape GT, the Apes and Apples or The Young Cuban cocktail.

Pretty tasty drinks at Venster33

Steak tartar

We started with some shareable food. Especially the steak tartare was very tasteful. For round #2 we decided to choose individually a main dish. I’ll never be the biggest meat lover, but my juicy leg of lamb was as it has to be. Tha boyfriend also appreciated his manly Picanha steak Brazilian BBQ style. Love to spice up your food? The last one is your match made in heaven. And surprise, surprise: we shared the choco lava cake and one of my favourite cheesecakes in town. Well hello food baby!

Yes, This golden oldie is worth visiting, no doubt. Thumbs up for the concept: mix and match or go for whole dishes, it’s totally up to you. Special likes goes to the sincere staff, bizarre how it can make or break your whole experience. So one more must-try for your food bucket list, no thanks!

Venster33
Eerste van der Helststraat 42, Amsterdam
020-3626423
Facebook /Instagram

Sunday till Thursday 10:30 till 01:00, Friday and Saturday 10:00 til 03:00

Love,

Sharmaine

*Sharmaine is one of our guest bloggers from the Netherlands with a sweet tooth. The sweeter, the better! She no kitchen princess so she’s always in search for the best hotspots in Amsterdam! You can expect an article from her once a month! Check her out on Instagram!

17 May 2018

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Karvan Cévitam opens the first Lemonade Bar in The Netherlands!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On May 17, 2018

We love ourselves a good pop-up bar. Especially if it’s something to do with food or drinks! Karvan Cévitam just opened the first ever lemonade bar in The Netherlands and we were there to check it out.

To celebrate their 70 year anniversary, Karvan Cévitam will open up the doors of this colourful pop-up bar in the heart of Amsterdam. They’ve turned the place into an Instagrammable whahalah, with 2 lemonade bars. For the pink flavors you’ll have to head upstairs, where you can roll into the pink flamingo ballpit, and order your favorite pink mocktail. For yellow you’ll go stay downstairs, where you can enjoy a confetti shower (must try!). Visitors can order a FREE lemonade with added fruits, chilli flakes or herbs.

Free mocktails!

Confetti Showers!

Karvan Cévitam was founded back in 1948, and I think almost every household has grown up with their lemonade. Did you know that they sell around 22,5 million bottles of lemonade each year? Oh, and most people prefer the pink flavours such as strawberry or raspberry. What kind would you go for?

The KC Lemonade Bar is open from the 18th until the 26th of May between 10am & 5pm.

KC Lemonade Bar
Prinsengracht 715, Amsterdam
Facebook

16 May 2018

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Roootin » The Healthy Middle Eastern Hotspot in Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On May 16, 2018

Hello hello newbie, warm welcome to Roootin. For weeks or maybe even months they were renovating their place…and the result doesn’t lie. Don’t expect the usual hotspot with eggs Benedict’s, croque madams and juicy burgers, nops. Time for something new, let’s introduce you to the Middle Eastern cuisine! I think I never had something Iranian or Kurdish before, so let’s zoom in on what they’ve in store for you!

Interior Roootin Amsterdam

The story behind Roootin Amsterdam
Roootin is an idea of one Iranian brother, his two sis and their mom. How cool a family have teamed up. During reading the intro you might have thought: Roootin with 3x ‘o’? Yes, and I tell you why. Roootin is a combi of roots and origin. It doesn’t only has to do with their Iranian roots, but also with their interest in the essence of humans, nature, healing power of products…let’s say the roots of things. Mix that with origin and Roootin is born, a place where you can meet the healthy Middle Eastern food.

Amsterdam meets Middle Eastern food
When it’s bedtime I can become such a happy kid by thinking of how my next morning will start: yaaasss breakfast is callin’! Recently my day started even better with a brunch at Roootin. I had no idea what to expect from a Middle Eastern inspired kitchen, I couldn’t mention one typical Iranian, Kurdish or Lebanese dish. A totally new food world opened for this girl with dishes like orange blossom pancakes, labneh, avocado toast the Iranian way and a Kurdish dish called Sawar. Choosing didn’t last long, pancakes for me. Defenitely one of the best I’ve had in Amsterdam, and I can know as probably one of the biggest pancake lovers in town (wink wink). Dropping by at Roootin means experiencing lots of new flavours, unknown homemade dishes and…a bright colour overload! Even when sometimes the sun is hard to find, you can find her here on your plate. Oh and I don’t discuss their complete menu in detail, because it has so much more charm to discover it by yourself.

Pancakes Iranian style, love them!

Vegan avo toast, worth tryin’

Roootin, place to charge yourself
Besides I really liked the pancakes and juices, for me the whole atmosphere stood out. No hustle or bustle, just relaxed vibes, laidback music in a modern and above all warm place. East has some places where it is ‘see and be seen’, luckily they’re not that kind of a food spot. In terms of hospitality, they also score super high. In case you’ve a food allergy, nothing is too much to ask. They’re really supportive and focus on specific solutions for every vegan, lactose-intolerant or other special wish.

One last thing: Roootin hopes to further deepen the concept by initiating all kinds of projects that are in line with their philosophy. Think about workshops and yoga classes, you name it. I’ll try more of their brunch food and healthy guilty pleasures as soon as possible, and book a yoga class. Who wants join this beginner yogi?

Love,

Sharmaine

Roootin
Linnaeusstraat 16, Amsterdam
Opening hours: Tuesday till Sunday 09:00 till 17:00, Mondays closed
No reservations
Facebook
Instagram

More foodie spots from Sharmaine? Check out Tasty Hotspots section!

LUST Spots

28 Apr 2018

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Panama » the perfect exotic holiday destination

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 28, 2018 With No Comments

Panama has it all, for me, it’s the perfect exotic holiday destination! It’s small in size but it offers a big variety which is easy to reach; exotic tropical rainforests, beautiful beaches, more than a 1000 islands, best surf spots, an incredible nightlife, breathtaking views, Spanish colonial architecture, jungle, rafting and kayaking. Panama really surprised me and here are my personal tips!

Panama City

Downtown of Panama
When you enter Panama you will immediately see a very impressive skyline on the right side that is surrounded by tropical rainforest and on the left sight you see the beautiful ocean where people are surfing. In Panama city you will find the business district on one side, with lots of hotels and restaurants with the best shopping opportunities, and on the other side you will find Casco Viejo district, historical center built in the 17th century. There’s a lot to discover and activities like jungle trips, a visit to Panama canal are just a few hours away from the city.

Panama still struggles with crime and poverty. In some areas you’re not allowed to enter, which you will know when the police will tell when you try to enter a street. Panama is definitely tourist friendly, you feel save during the day and night, but people recommend you to take a taxi in the evening.

The skyline of Panama is so impressive!

Casco Viejo

The Old Town
We stayed in the historic district of Panama City, Casco Viejo – which means old quarter in Spanish, and is only 10 min. away from the business district by taxi. Casco Viejo is small, but you can wander around for days, since this cozy neighborhood has a lot to offer: numerous bars, various restaurants where they service top notch food, great nightlife with some very nice bars where you can order delicious local beers and fresh cocktails, street art, castles, museums etc.

We only had two days to explore Casco Viejo, before heading to the islands, which was too short and therefore we came back again on the end of our trip! You feel at home right away; the locals are very friendly and the area is so incredibly beautiful. Take a walk along the beach where you will have the impressive ocean view, wander through the streets and admire the Spanish architecture with beautiful pastel colored buildings, have a coffee at one of the quality coffee shops, stroll at Plaza de La Independencia Market where I bought this handmade Wayuu Mochila bag, check out the Panama Canal, wander and end your evening with a very nice dinner and have some fresh cocktails at the oceanfront art bar.

Catedral Metropolitana & Market at Plaza de La Independencia

Bocas Del Toro

Bocas Town
A propeller plane took us from Panama City to Bocas Del Toro. After one hour you see the Caribbean Sea, the archipelago’s nine islands, surrounded by hundreds of tiny uninhabited islets and the mainland, Bocas Town.
It takes a 10 min.walk to enter Bocas. Bocas is a hotspot amongst travelers all over the world where most lodging and restaurants are. Water taxi’s depart from this mainland to the different islands. During the day you can wander the streets for shopping, drinks and food and in the night Bocas is known for their famous party’s.
Are you looking for a more quit holiday, then you should definitely stay at one of the island like we did. Each island has its own unique vibe and offers travelers diversity.

We skipped the mainland and went directly to Isla Bastimentos by boat, that takes 2 min. We’ve found this tropical romantic Caribbean beach front villa where we relaxed for almost one week. We stayed longer than planned since we really enjoyed the vibe and the surrounded islands with lots of activities.
We swam in crystal clear water, enjoyed beautiful sunsets while drinking delicious cocktails and ate fresh fish which the local fisherman caught. We slept in a very nice cabin where you hear the sounds of lapping waves, parrots and monkeys.
In the night we took a boat to the mainland for dinner and drinks.

Taxi’s will bring you to different breathtaking islands where you can snorkel, surf, tan and relax.

Red Frog Beach
We often took the boat to some other islands. One of them is Red Frog Beach which is 10 min. from the mainland.
We found this very cozy place, Palmer Tent lodge, where we met some very nice people, one of them was the owner. Unfortunately it was fully booked, we really wanted to stay for a few days. This Eco-friendly beach front place offers lots of activities like; surfing, hiking, zip line riding, yoga and most important you can really just relax in a hammock. They have a small but yummy affordable menu.
I really enjoyed surfing, the teacher was so friendly and patient that I got the change the learn it even better.

Red Frog Beach, chilling and surfing at Palmer Tent lodge

Tips

» Bring Sunscreen SPF30, you can get burned very easily in Panama, my favorite is Lancaster
» Make sure to bring dollars or exchange your money into their local currency balboa
» Book your domestic flights upfront to save money, Air Panama
» Try to combine Panama with another country when planning a few weeks, like Costa Rica
» Book your stay at Bocas upfront, since it’s a very popular destination and fully booked very easily, check here

Costs

» Tickets cost around 800 euro
» Cabins at the beach start from 35 dollar
» We spent around 50 euro a day per person

We didn’t managed to go to the San Blas islands because unfortunately illness struck me for a few days. It’s suppose to be heaven so hopefully we will get the chance to travel there again!

Love,

Sarah

19 Apr 2018

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam, L U S T, Tasty Hotspots Permalink

Nomads Amsterdam » a New Restaurant Inspired by Travel

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 19, 2018

Amsterdam is home to another restaurant, and this one is directly linked to travel! We welcome Nomads Amsterdam!

Nomads is officially opening on the 25th of April but you can already pop in for a experimental bite before they start serving the actual menu. Why is Nomads unique? The restaurant offers a new menu every few months where a different country is highlighted. This way, foodies can enjoy a trip around the world (of food) and cultures. Fist stop is..Peru! This means lot’s of fish, corn and spices. We are exited!

You never know in which jungle you are..

This month the Peruvian kitchen will shine

Nomads
Oranje Vrijstaatkade 55, Amsterdam
Website

Love,

Elke

08 Apr 2018

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Hotel Buiten » a community hotspot in Amsterdam New West

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 8, 2018

Amsterdam New West is one of the area’s outside the city center of Amsterdam that is under massive development. Old flats are being taken down, and new houses are build. With the housing, come new hotspots and one of those is Hotel Buiten. The place to be this summer, if you live in Amsterdam West.

Hotel Buiten is not just any hotspot, it’s a creative hub, build from raw and used materials, designed by lenka dittrichova. It stared with a few neighbours a few years ago, that wanted to do something with lost space full of weeds and grass. After a temporary set up, they managed to get more people involved and eventually 180 people and businesses helped fund the project. Many volunteers helped build the building, so you could say that Hotel Buiten is community. No, it’s not a hotel, but they do have future plans to rent out self-build houses around the Sloterplas area.

Inside Hotel Buiten

The upstairs terrace

They started to build Hotel Buiten in the beginning of 2017, and even though they officially opened up their doors months ago, they’ve just recently added the finishing touches. Hotel buiten is located next to the Sloterplas and surrounded by water from all sides, which makes it an unique spot. Sloterplas is gaining popularity because of the man-made beach, sailing activities and the recently opened Van Eesteren Paveljoen.

Overlooking the Sloterplas Beach

The Menu
At Hotel Buiten they cook seasonal. Meaning, that they’re changing the menu every few months of the year to guarantee the best flavours. Most products are organic, and with the home garden recently finished, they will use their own herbs for seasoning. For lunch you can order homemade soups, salads or sandwiches. Nice to know; the bread comes from iambe, a non-profit organisation where people with a disability help bake the bread. For coffee you’re also at the right address with beans from The White Coffee Label, and beer drinkers are happy to know that they have a variety of local craft beers available.

Hotel Buiten with the new organic garden (that obviously still needs to grow)

I had a little peek this week because they’ve recently opened the upstairs and downstairs terrace, which gives you a nice spot in the sunshine. They are currently building an upstairs and outside bar, to accommodate customers during the high season. The location is also perfect for hosting a wedding or birthday party, with plenty of options.

With the beach, newly build housing projects and Hotel Buiten, Amsterdam New West is certainly worth visiting this season!

Love,

Elke

Hotel Buiten
TH J Lammerslaan 3, Amsterdam
Website

Find out where the best outside terraces in Amsterdam West are!

19 Mar 2018

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Katfé, the first Cat Café in Utrecht will open soon!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On March 19, 2018

Cat lovers around the world listen up! After the success in Amsterdam and other cities around the world, Utrecht is finally coming with a “Cat Café” named Katfé.

After a crowdfunding process and help from 65 volunteers around the neighbourhood, they have finally managed to find the right location and the construction has started. Katfé will be located where the old Wibra store used to be, in the Amsterdamsestraatweg in Utrecht.

Cuddling with Cats
Katfé is going to be a place where you can enjoy a coffee or a small bite while you can cuddle with several cats from all shapes and breeds. Don’t be mistaken, it’s not the place to bring your own cat, but to enjoy the company of others. There are many cats on the streets of Utrecht that love to sneak into different café’s and bars, which is not always the best place for them to hide or relax. The Katfé will be the perfect sollution for this problem and the cats will have a safe and especially designed area for them to play and relax.

Jelmer Bergsma en Stephanie van Hovell came up with the idea a few years ago and believe that cats can bring cat lovers together. “It’s also the perfect place for those that can’t keep a cat in their own home, for whatever reason”.

Katfé is planning to open the doors early Juli 2018, Miawow!

Elke

Katfé
Amsterdamsestraat weg 253, Utrecht
Website

19 Mar 2018

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam, L U S T, Tasty Hotspots Permalink

Spingaren, the restaurant where opposites attract

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On March 19, 2018

If you cycle around in Amsterdam, you almost forget how many hidden spots there are. Behind the walls of the many canal houses of Amsterdam, you’ll find restaurants, hotels and businesses. The other day, I had dinner at Spingaren, a restaurant that I could have easily missed when walking by. Time to tell you what’s behind those walls.

Arriving at Spingaren, you need to walk up a small staircase to find a glass door that brings you to the restaurant. The bar and brick walls welcome you for a drink and you wonder where the tables are. The restaurant area is situated in the back and goes on for ever. The best spot to sit at, is without doubt the area where I enjoyed my dinner, I call it the green spot. Plants are hanging from the ceiling and one of the walls is covered in moss.

The Menu
Spingaren is able to accommodate anyone at anytime. There is a menu available for vegans, vegetarians, carnivores, pregnant women and if you can’t bare gluten, you’re also good here. I enjoyed a veggie platter for 2 and it was delish!

One of the shared platters at Spingaren (this one includes fish)

Share your plate and discover your neighbours dish

For mains, I was pleasantly surprised with my sticky cauliflower dish, and noticed the carnivores across the table looked with envy as they tried to steal the food of my plate. But hey, sharing is caring and I was more than happy to give them a little taster. This is what Spingaren is all about. Share your plate, discover your neighbours dish and order something else next time around! I ended my meal with roasted pineapple (which was a little too sweet for my liking), espresso creme brûlée and ice-cream. You can find the full menu here.

Sticky Cauliflower with black quinoa

The location is surprisingly large and even fits a large group of people up to 200 people! But there is more.. Spingaren developed their own charcuterie and creates homemade pastrami, vegetarian chorizo and kimchi. The wine and cocktails aren’t bad either so Spingaren is a great contender for a dinner with friends, where you can discover new flavours that you may not have ordered first hand.

Spingaren
Herengracht 88, Amsterdam
Website

Love,

Elke

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17 Mar 2018

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The Avocado Show just announced their second location in Amsterdam!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On March 17, 2018

Holy guacamole! Just when you think the hype has calmed down a little bit, The Avocado Show is back at it. Again. Celebrating their 1 year anniversary, the’ve just announced their second location in Amsterdam and we know where!

Haven’t heard of the Avocado Show? Quick recap; it’s the first Avocado restaurant in Europe and has been trending on social media for the past year. You can order anything you can imagine that includes the healthy green stuff. Entrepreneurs Ron Simpson, Julian Zaal and chef Jamie van Heije, opened the first Avocado Show in trendy area De Pijp in Amsterdam and even had people sleep in front of the doors, the night before it opened.

From L to R: Ron, Jamie and Julian

After a good and solid first year, their collaboration with Shawn Harris, the woman behind Nature’s Pride, one of the largest Avocado supplier in the world, they dicided to take the next step and expand abroad. She believed in the Dutch entrepreneurs from the beginning and is investing millions to take The Avocado Show International.

Avocado breakfast

Source

But first, let’s talk about the highly anticipated second location of the Avocado Show in Amsterdam! (I know you have been scrolling down the page for this one..;)) It will be located on the Willemsparkweg, with the focus on take-away and delivery so you won’t need to queue for hours. As soon as there’s more news to tell, we will be the first one to let you know, of course.

Love,

Elke

*All photo’s are courtesy on the Avocado Show

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