lunch Archives - Wander-Lust

04 feb 2020

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Our top 10 favourite lunch spots in Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On februari 4, 2020 With 2 Comments

To be fair, there are too many great lunch and brunch possibilities in Amsterdam, but a few standout!

We’ve handpicked our favourite 10 lunch spots in Amsterdam because they have that extra little thing. More importantly, we have also selected our choices by these important pillars:

They serve topnotch food
Provide excellent and friendly service
Good quality at reasonable prices
Great vibe
Inspirational or unique design

1. COTTONCAKE, 1e van der Helstraat 76-hs

This Concept store in the Pijp has it all! No need to travel to Paris, Berlin, Melbourne or New York – Cottoncake brings all influences together in their store and café. They put all their love in fine organic food & smoothies. Besides food & drinks you will find a mix of fashion, design & lifestyle. From lovely handmade jewelries of Mimi et Toi & Monocraft, organic creams of La Bruket, to lovely basic shirts of Samsoe & Samoe and beautiful knits of Sita Murt.. I really fell in love with this concept store; you can sit down and relax, enjoy their organic healthy food and find that special item that you have to try on and you will keep for ever. cottoncake.nl

source: www.cottoncake.nl

2. BAKERS & ROASTERS, Eerste Jacob van Campenstraat 54

Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland are known for their great coffee shops and these two friendly owners of New Zealand & Brasil brought the caffé culture to Amsterdam. This New Zealand style café is a very nice place where they serve fresh fruit salads, healthy juices, hot pies fresh from the oven, eggs, granola and is packed every day and we totally understand why! They do not except reservations, but it’s worth to wait.
Don’t forget to take a coffee, since their crafted coffee is a selection of Roasts from Ozone Coffee. They establish relationships with all their growers, batch roast & dispatch daily to ensure maximum taste & freshness. http://bakersandroasters.com

3. VINNIES DELI, Haarlemmerstraat 46 | Nieuwezijds Kolk 33

Are you looking for tasty & healthy lunch where they use organic, fair-trade and sustainable products? Then Vinnies Deli is definitely the place to be for you! It’s no surprise this is one of our favourite lunch spots in Amsterdam. It’s a small cozy lunch/coffee room where you can eat your hart out! I have two favorites on the menu: eggplant with buttermilk sauce and pomegranate, and smoked mackerel with grapefruit chutney. But they also serve delicious cakes & coffees. Vinnies Deli is open from 7.30m in the morning and does take a killer take away and delivery. Do you like what you see inside? All the designer furniture is for sale! vinnieshomepage.com

4. GARTINE, Taksteeg 7

In the hectic city you will find this ‘secret’ place in Amsterdam, Gartine, a cute, cozy and lovely restaurant that is known for it’s high tea! From the garden to your plate: The special thing about Gartine is that they produce vegetables, fruits and herbs from its own garden. Almost all products are produced locally and everything is organic. They serve high quality breakfast, lunch & high tea dishes on flower-printed china plates. You need to make a reservation upfront since they only have 7 tables in total. gartine.nl

source: www.gartine.nl

5. CANTINA, Joris van Den Berghweg 107

In case you were looking to escape the city, Café Cantina is one of our favourite all time spots in Amsterdam. It’s not close to the city center and you can only reach it by car and bicycle. Therefore it’s never crowded and popular with locals. The organic café is also part of “Het Rijk van de Keizer” which is a location that can be used for weddings, parties and special dinners. You chill in the sundeck on a fatboy, hammock or even sit in an old car wreck. Find a spot in the shade under umbrella’s tucked away in between the trees. Don’t be surprised if you see chickens walking around, this is normal! Read more about this amazing spot.

6. SLA

If you want to eat something healthy and nutritious and organic, SLA is the place to do it. Currently, they own x locations in Amsterdam and they are still growing. Our favourite location is the one on the Amstelveenseweg because it’s large and next to the famous Vondelpark in Amsterdam. Every season they change their salad options, so you won’t get bored and they have more than 12 choices! It’s also one of our favourite workspots in Amsterdam, and furthermore, they offer free tea refills! ilovesla.com

Source: SLA

7. KARAVAAN, Kwakersplein 2h

To begin with, this place is brand new. It’s large, warm and the staff is extremely friendly which can be rare these days. In terms of people, you will find it all here. Couples, friends, freelancers, you name it. Find out more about this favourite lunch spot in Amsterdam.

8. BENJI’S

One of us has Indonesian roots, so we especially love Benji’s Toko. That being said, all of their locations are magnificent! Best of all, all locations are full of plants and greenery, making you feel like you are in a tropical location.

9. DROVERS DOG, Heemstedestraat 25 | Eerste Atjehstraat 62

This Australian café/restaurant has been around for many years now, but is still popular with locals and visitors till this day. To be fair, their service is excellent and the kitchen produces delicious comfort Aussi style food. In fact, two Australians and a Dutchman set up this great spot. In addition to the fact that a Drover is a well-known dog breed, the name has more to do with what these dogs do. They bring large herds of cattle together in Australia and bringing them together is what is important at Drovers Dog. It is always cozy and full of friends, couples and families. Everyone who works there speaks English fluently and often with a strong Australian accent. (Oh, how we love it).

10. BAR LELY, Cornelis Lelyplein 4

It’s one of Elke’s favorite workspots in Amsterdam at the moment, and situated at a brilliant location in Amsterdam West. Bar Restaurant Lely is so much more than just a restaurant next to Lelylaan train station. The restaurant opens at 8am, so early birds can drink a quick coffee and have some simple breakfast such as granola & yoghurt or a croissant. For lunch they serve simple but very tasty options and I must say that the avo on toast with a poached egg.

Happy eating!

Wander-Lust

30 nov 2019

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FACTORY GIRL AMSTERDAM

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On november 30, 2019 With 2 Comments

What would you think of a stylish Berlin breakfast and lunch spot that spreads her wings to the Netherlands? Nine years after founder Sofia Sözen started her culinary journey in the capital of cool, she proudly popped up a second ‘+Factory Girl.’ This time in another trendy district: De Pijp, Amsterdam. A youngster with a lot of potential!

Treats for belly and eyes

Let’s be honest, breakfast is the best meal of the day, right? So, it won’t be a surprise Factory Girl’s all-day breakfast concept immediately grabbed me. A spot with lots of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free delights. The idea of this boutique brand was born and raised in Berlin. I know what you’re thinking. Why ’Factory Girl’ and a ‘+’? Sofia’s first store had an architectural factory texture. The place where she created the magic. And the plus sign? It’s a creative outburst to show the simple extensibility of the concept. A concept that can be seen as a small package which you can unpack everywhere. In every country, every city. Because Sofia admires the open-minded and vibrant lifestyle of Amsterdam – feels like home -, she had to listen to her gut feeling. And so her second shiny food spot was a fact.

Food for thought at Factory Girl Amsterdam

+Factory Girl is situated nearby the slightly touristic Ferdinand Bolstraat. You must have heard about this lady otherwise there might be a change to miss this cool tasty hotspot. And hidden gem it is. A modern venue designed to ode to the ever-growing healthy eating culture and to revitalise the ‘all-day breakfast concept.’ A very welcoming, friendly environment jam-packed with comfort and bliss. The atmosphere bursts with warmth, charm and friendliness. Upon entry you’ll be surprised by the spatial and urban, industrial vibe. Without too much fuss, but with an eye for details.

+Factory Girl: 0% bullshit, 100% goodness

+Factory Girl is the perfect place to pamper yourself. The place where you can begin or break your (work)day in style, or only to drop by for a kaffeeklatsch. But treating yourself doesn’t mean lots of needless E numbers, unnatural ingredients and very few nutrients. Their raison d’être? The +Factory Girls believe in a healthy lifestyle with a planet-friendly attitude. That’s why the concept provides daily fresh, healthy vegan and vegetarian food with an infinite amount of ingredients, spices and herbs. Distinctive recipes but still conventional tastes. And above all, running business with a BIG smile!

Factory Girl’s pancakes, yumminess to die for!100% goodness captured in this ‘egglicious’ shot

How lovely if you can mix the tasty with the healthy? +Factory Girl is here to impress you with an abundance of goodness. Goodness without bullshit. Mix and mingle whatever you prefer. Start daydreamin’ about some of their pieces of happiness: fit & sexy mueslinola, not benedict like benedict, three brothers no sisters, the Dutch senator sandwich and Sofia’s salad. Not to mention their…pancakes with chocolate drizzle and some little dark chocolate chuncks inside. Genius! A delicious fresh ginger tea on the side, and they had me. Even the most fussy eaters will fall in love with this super tasty concept. An everyone’s friend. Still thinking of skipping a wakey breaky? Think twice! This venue knows how to rumble, aficionados.

Factory Girl’s signature dish, a must-try!

Meet your new addiction: Coco Anjéla

Coco Anjéla, remember that name. Even if you only can make a very short pitstop, please promise that you’ll try the Coco Anjéla. Coco whut? It’s +Factory Girls’ signature dish. I can tell you, my first rendez-vous with this finger lickin’ good treat tasted like more. A healthy, addictive delicacy created by Sofia herself. Pure vanilla, a pinch of gluten-free flour, a little coconut sugar, vegan cream and cookies. Mouthwatering! It’s kind of an Italian panna cotta in different flavours. Let’s say the healthy, vegan little sister. Did I mention you have to try this pretty girl?

In short, +Factory Girl really is a culinary escapade for the non-vegetarians and non-vegans. But I can tell you, a world is opening up for you! Discover meatless treats, and whole new taste variations which will saturate all your morning and lunch craves. Absolutely worth the try both for the light ánd more dark green eaters!

Love,

Sharmaine

+Factory Girl
Saenredamstraat 32, Amsterdam
Opening hours: every day from 9:00 am till 5:00 pm
Website

09 nov 2019

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These are the best lunch spots in Antwerp

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On november 9, 2019 With 1 Comment

Sometimes you don’t want to reveal your best kept secrets but then again.. we didn’t start this platform for no reason! We travel to Antwerp at least once a month (for work or pleasure) and we found some quirky lunch spots we want to share with you!

These are our top lunch spots in Antwerp.

1. Native

This hidden pearl is by far our favorite lunch spot in Antwerp. This bistro serves fresh, original, and good quality food. It’s organic, locally produced with sustainable ingredients, this is Native! Vegan and organic food lovers will love this place! During the summer they open a very nice terrace.

FOOD – COFFEE – JUICES
Muntstraat 8, 2000 Antwerp
http://www.nativefood.be/

2. De Broers van Julienne

When we need to grab a quick and healthy bite, we go here. In a side street of the Kammenstraat – with lots of boutiques – you will find this small cute little restaurant. You can take away the best quiches, soups, salads and other warm healthy dishes. Besides that, they sell oil, wine, coffee, juices and other delicatessen. They also offer catering and cook workshops.

Source; http://www.lusterweb.com/nl/blog/vegatarische-restaurants-in-vlaandere

FOOD – COFFEE – JUICES
Kasteelpleinstraat 45-47, 2000 Antwerp
http://www.debroersvanjulienne.be/

3. Foodbar Cordoba

Cordoba is situated in a dockside area called Het Eilandje (the little island). We love this area in Antwerp, this is where the locals come to eat breakfast and lunch. Don’t forget to stop by Cordoba, a lovely cozy place where you can easily stay for the whole day! Order the homemade ice tea with red fruit, the soup of the day with bread crumbs and their famous toast with hummus and grilled vegetables.

FOOD – COFFEE – JUICES
Napoleonkaai 1, 2000 Antwerp
https://www.facebook.com/foodbarcordoba

4. Chick Pea

This cozy Mediterranean/Israeli restaurant offers a specialty that we really like: hummus. Next to that – they offer hummus in 5 varieties, with chickpeas and mushrooms – they also serve delicious salads, Italian coffees and fresh juices. We definitely recommend this place; The restaurant is situated in a lovely area, the owner is very friendly and the food was damn good!

FOOD – COFFEE – JUICES
Oudaan 4, 2000 Antwerpen
http://www.chickpea.be/

5. Crumbles & Beans

This place, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch and pastries in the afternoon, really surprised us. First of all the owners select their product with great care; bio croissants, fresh milk, wood roasted coffee beans van Antica Tostatura etc. Besides, the vibe is awesome – warm and comfortable – the restaurant looks great and the owners are so sweet, the food is cooked with love. Try their quiches and home made cakes!

FOOD – COFFEE – JUICES
Lange Dijkstraat 16, 2060 Antwerp
http://crumblesandbeans.blogspot.nl/

Now you know where to find us! Do you want to know more about the city? Check out our complete Antwerp City Guide!

Love,

Sarah

31 jan 2019

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Carstens Brasserie is bringing the farm back to the city

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On januari 31, 2019 With No Comments

Opening on the 6th of February 2019, is the brand new Brasserie Carstens, located in central Amsterdam. The concept of the Carstens is an idea created by Maik Kuijpers, former head chef Michelin star restaurant De Librije. (Yes, that is promising!) We had a first look.

The Concept
Brasserie Carstens is a collaboration with the Park Plaza Victoria Hotel which is a stone’s throw away from Amsterdam Central Station. It is a brassiere revolving around fair-trade and qualitative products, mostly from Dutch soil. The menu offers surprising flavours from the Veluwe to the North Sea to show what the Dutch soil and water has to offer. The wines come from winemakers with a Dutch connection and local beers come from traditional breweries.

Local Dutch glory with a twist

The Food
The Brassiere works with a menu that changes with the four seasons; they serve more fresh dishes in summer and more often meat dishes in winter.
On the menu you will find recognizable dishes with a creative twist. I went to the brassiere to try out lunch and it felt like a surprise party. They served calf tongue with langoustine (not for the faint hearted), beef goat quark, a Caesar salad with kale instead of lettuce, a carpaccio of puffed yellow beet, and a badass stump with the sprouts still on it.

Bringing the farm back to the city

Never skipping dessert. ©Marvin Duiker

Decor
The restaurant is colourful and cozy furnished. It feels very homely but with a modern twist. The space is quite big and natural light comes from the big windows which are decorated with ornate curtains, and the many plants and flowers make it a green and pleasant environment to be in.

©Marvin Duiker

So.. Looking for a place to have a tasty lunch or dinner in a beautiful, atmospheric restaurant? Head to Brasserie Carstens! The front door is located at the Hasselaerssteeg, which is between the Damrak and the Martelaarsgracht.

Being a Dutchie, I’ll definitely return!

Carstens Brasserie
Hasselaerssteeg 1, Amsterdam
Monday – Friday 12:00 – 22:00
Saturday & Sunday 12:30 – 22:00
Website / Instagram

Love,

Iris

*Iris is one of our guest editors from The Netherlands. She’s got a big interest for fashion, poetry and traveling. She was only 3 months old when she was on the plane for the first time, and she has been to every continent in the meantime. She’s a dreamer and would prefer to be on the beach every day. You can follow Iris on Instagram.

29 jan 2019

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Eat & Dance at MILK Café Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On januari 29, 2019 With No Comments

Music venue The Melkweg has been around for ages, but did you know they recently opened up a café/restaurant on the Marnixstraat? We checked out MILK Café.

We had to look for the way in, but MILK Café is located across from the DeLaMar Theater and joins the entrance with Melkweg Expo, which MILK café customers can visit for free. The interior has been inspired by the American diner look, but with black & white colour schemes. It’s a relatively big space filled with natural light and has several seating spots by the window which makes it great for people watching. (oh how we love that!) The art on the wall and flowers on the tables, make the café a pleasant place to walk into.

The Menu
The lunch menu isn’t very extensive, but there is something for everyone. From a stack of pancakes (these are very good by the way), to eggs benedict or spicy chicken on bread. Yes, there are also vegan options. For dinner they serve Ramen, Risotto, the Galaxy Burger, Fish and a weekly special. The menu will change per season, is prepared with (mostly) organic ingredients, and has some Asian influences. For a 3-course menu you pay a set price of €30,-.

Eat & Dance
The extra good thing about MILK Café is, that you can combine your dinner with a dance at the Melkweg. The toilets are literally connected in the same space. The Melkweg has live performanes as well as many DJ’s and Techno Tuesday for those who like to dance until the early hours. Check the complete agenda to see what’s on.

MILK Café
Marnixstraat 409, Amsterdam
Open from 11am till 1am / Weekend till 3am
Website

Love,

Elke

17 jan 2019

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The ultimate list for our favourite lunch spots in Amsterdam West

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On januari 17, 2019 With No Comments

Over the years we have tried a lot of lunchrooms in Amsterdam. It is time for that ultimate list of places and this month we start off with our favourite lunch spots in Amsterdam West. All tried and tested!

Meatless District
Bilderdijkstraat 65-67
This lunch spot has really improved over the years. They are now fully vegan and have recently opened up a new location in the Eastside of Amsterdam. Our favorite dish is the vegan rainbow wrap, and sunshine bowl. www.meatlessdistrict.com

Saus West
Amstelveenseweg 170A
Crazy but true, we only discovered this cute lunch spot last week! They’ve been open for more than 12 months, so I guess we were living under a stone. We recently ordered the Humus, grilled vegetable sandwich and it was so big and yummie! The interior is cute and feels like coming home. Have a little chit chat with the owner, he always has funny stories to tell. Nice to know; during the summer, they offer filled picknick baskets (including bubbles) for in the Vondelpark! www.sauswest.nl

Saus West

Waterkant
Marnixstraat 246
During summer, Waterkant is one of our favourites! during the winter you can still enjoy the nice food and indoor parties, but we prefer Waterkant when it’s a sunny day and everybody is sitting outside watching the boats pass by. Our favorite dish? The gado gado or pumpkin roti roll!

Morgan & Mees
If you’re looking for a little bit more luxe, try the lunch/brunch menu at Morgan & Mees. Avo on toast with poaches eggs at it’s best! They also serve soup, burgers and oysters (with bubbles of course) Use this lunch spot to treat yourself! Prices range from 8,- to 20,- euro, you can make it as expensive as you want. www.morganandmees.com

Vondepark 3
Vondelpark 3
Vondelpark, one of the most beautiful (green) gems of Amsterdam. A perfect place for a lazy Sunday walk, a giant playground for dogs, or for a really surprising lunch or dinner at Kitchen & Bar Vondelpark3. The restaurant has recently launched their Keto menu. Website

Jacketz
Kinkerstraat 56
Oh how we love jacket potatoes! At Jacketz you can get them in all sorts of flavours. Pick a potato, add your favourite toppings and saus. Warning; you will be full for a while! Good news if you live in Utrecht, they have just opened a new place there.

Bar Lely
Cornelis Lelyplein 4
It’s one of Elke’s favorite workspots in Amsterdam at the moment, and situated at a briljant location in Amsterdam West. Bar Restaurant Lely is so much more than just a restaurant next to a train station. Bar Restaurant Lely opens at 8am, so early birds can drink a quick coffee and have some simple breakfast such as granola & yoghurt or a croissant. For lunch they serve simple but very tasty options and I must say that the avo on toast with a poached egg. Website

Bar Lely

Peperwortel
Overtoom 140
For the best sandwhiches and delicatessen on the go, you must visit Peperwortel. Elke was in a hurry, but also very hangry. She entered Peperwortel and wow, such good eating! They prepare their food freshly every day and the whole neighbourhood comes by for their dishes which varies from salads, to quiches, pasta’s, sandwiches and much more. There is enough for veggies and meatlovers, and most of it is organic. The place itself is small, so not great to sit down at, but when it’s sunny you can sit outside. www.peperwortel.nl

Bar Kantoor
Haarlemmerweg 8
Every detail in Bar Kantoor has been carefully thought of. The menu, the accessories and the cool ceiling painting. It’s located in the Westerpark and has a large outside terrace which is great! The service is good, the lunch is tasty and healthy, but you can also order yourself some snacks. Nice to know; next door to Bar Kantoor, you can find Café Conscious where you can grab a coffee or snack to take to the park. You can also sit down, relax and buy local goods at the café shop. Find more on Bar Kantoor here.

De School
Even though De School isn’t located in a central area, it’s doing more than well. The restaurant has two sides; the cafe side and the luxury dinner side. We are talking about the café here. It’s also a great place for freelancers, with plenty of tables and a chill corner. They serve fresh juices, salads, sandwiches and the menu changes now and then. When it’s sunny, you can sit outside underneath the trees. www.deschoolamsterdam.nl

SLA
For one, it’s healthy, and second of all, it’s a great place to drink oatmeal coffee while working on your laptop. You can hang around as long as you want and the salads are so nutritious that it fills you up for the whole afternoon. No cravings! They already have 7(!) locations in Amsterdam, and in Amsterdam West you can find this lunch spot on the Amstelveenseweg across from the Vondelpark entrance. (officially it’s south, but it’s on the border so we count it in!) www.ilovesla.com

Café Zurich
Mercatorplein 2b
Cafe Zurich has been around for a number of years now but it’s right to say that this place really changed the face of the Mercatorplein in Amsterdam West. Where before it was an empty dull square, is now a vibrant area where adults chat, eat and drink and children play. During spring and summer the large outside terras is never empty and one of the largest in Amsterdam West. During Autumn and winter it’s a cozy place to drink hot chocolate by the fire place. More about Zurich here.

Zurich

Moak Pancakes (previously Mook)
De Clerqstraat 34
It’s Dutch, it’s clever, it’s Moak Pancakes. Yes, they have recently restyled their name and look. Amsterdam West is going though the make-over as we speak but will re-open very soon! This place is always full during the weekends and we understand why. They serve fluffy “healthy” pancakes, sweet or savoury. We love the hip-hop/R&B tunes they play and the fresh juices they serve. A great edition for breakfast or lunch spots in Amsterdam West. www.mookpancakes.nl

Moak Pancakes (source)

We say to you; try them all and bring your friends! We hope you enjoy these lunch spots in Amsterdam West as much as we do.

x

Wander-Lust

17 dec 2018

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Hotspot in Rotterdam » WES Eettentje

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On december 17, 2018 With No Comments

Last month our new guest editor Katrin, visited recently opened WES Eettentje in Rotterdam. The guys behind the all-day breakfast joint, By Jarmusch, opened their 2nd food business this summer and attracts locals for coffee, mediterranean food and chitchat.

WES Eettentje is a café, restaurant and bar in one, located in the “Oude Noorden” of Rotterdam, a picturesque local neighborhood. In the busy Rotterdam Noord, WES quickly became a popular hang out spot for locals and visitors alike. This is the perfect spot if you like Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. They offer a wide range of healthy and delicious dishes (also a lot of vegan options) with a little twist for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

It is a lovely decorated and cozy café with seating options inside as well as outside.

Smoothies and Salads
Inside at the counter you will already find a mouth watering display of cake, fresh salads and smoothies making it very hard to choose what to go for. If you find it hard to decide the mixed platter is the perfect choice. It’s perfect for sharing as a starter or a nice option for lunch if you are keen to try a wide selection of spreads, salads, falafel etc. As main course they have a lot of delicious dishes to choose from such as grilled fish, lamb, chicken- the food is inspired by Jewish and Persian cuisine. In this culture hospitality and food plays a very important role and WES perfectly mastered both.

TIP: If you wish to get some of the things as takeaway and bring your own container, they give you a discount. A great way to take extra care of the planet!

From coffee to cocktails
Of course WES also has a large selection of drinks available. Along with delicious coffee, tea, freshly made smoothies and juices, they also have alcoholic drinks on their menu such as wines, beers and cocktails. Whether you are just dropping by to have a coffee or fresh smoothie outside in the sun, want to get some work done while grabbing a bite to eat (yes they have fast WiFi) or a dinner in the evening with friends- Wes is for all occasions. It is open from Thursday to Monday from 10am till 10pm.

Photo by Mitchel van Voorbergen

Whether you are from Rotterdam or planning to visit, put this new hotspot in town on your list.

WES Eettentje
Benthuizerstraat 94a, Rotterdam
Website / Facebook

Love,

Katrin

*Katrin is our guest editor based in Rotterdam. She lives there with her boyfriend and when she not home, she is traveling the world. Being a flight attendant, she combines her love for food and travel and publishes on her blog TravelersLittleTreasures. Follow her on Instagram!

20 nov 2018

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Marxito is Paris’s latest Hotspot (and it’s pink!)

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On november 20, 2018 With No Comments

Do you ever want to have street food but fear the quality of the vendors? Also, does the term ‘fast food’ makes you immediately think of oily, fat and bad quality food? Worry not, chef Thierry Marx is about to alter your perception and make fast food great again! Say hello to Marxito by Thierry Marx.

Refreshing concept
With a growing emphasis on healthy eating, many restaurants have come up with organic and vegan menus to attract the increasingly health conscious consumers. Author of seven cookbooks and chef at many luxury hotels, Thierry Marx is one of the most prolific and innovative figures in the culinary world. Along with the renowned interior designer Ora Ito, the pair created a charming little place in the heart of Champs-Elysées (perfect for refuelling after a shopping spree). Marxito is not only an experience for your mouth but also for your eyes.

Do not underestimate its size! They fill you up quicker than you’d think

Simplistic all-day menu
The menu is simple and with only four different savoury ‘Marxitos’ – including meat, fish and veggie options, a favour to those who have a hard time deciding what to eat (me!) The ‘Marxitos’ are the chef’s attempt in putting a Japanese twist to the classic French crêpe, turning it into a healthier and tastier ‘fast food burger’. Do not underestimate its size! They fill you up quicker than you’d think.

The restaurant also does breakfast ‘Marxitos’ with egg and cheese or with jam, for the those with a sweet tooth. All ingredients are sourced organically and naturally! You can witness the whole process at the see-through counter. Even the ice creams are made to order, ensuring everything is fresh and of the highest quality. Each savoury Marxitos cost only €10 to €13. I recommend trying the Pastrami one! It has the most flavour and is the most filling. For lunch, you can make it a menu with a drink and a dessert for only a few extra euros! Probably the healthiest and most affordable lunch you could find in this area.

Instagrammable design
Here in Marxito, pink is not restricted to Wednesdays. As you go in, you will be overwhelmed with an explosion of pink, from the counter to the tables. The design is minimalist yet beautiful, slightly resembling the famous restaurant Sketch from London, but less over the top and more welcoming. The fast food restaurant is usually quiet, perfect for those who wish to enjoy their meal and work simultaneously but do expect a long queue of people during lunch hours, as they hurry in for a quick sit down meal or a takeaway.

Trying the ice-cream at Marxito

Delightful staff
A culinary experience would not be complete without good service. The staff were friendly and helpful, plus their recommendations are spot on!

Located just at the roundabout of Champs-Elysées, Marxito is the new spot in town for you to grab breakfast, lunch or just a quick snack during the week. They also have an extensive (non-alcoholic) drinks menu.

Marxito
1bis Rue Jean Mermoz, 75008 Paris, France
Website / Instagram

Love,

Chantelle

*Chantelle is one of our guest editor from Hong Kong. She has lived in three different countries and have travelled across many continents. Having been in England for the past nine years and graduated with a Law degree, she is now taking a break in Paris for the year as she figures out her next step in life. Always passport ready, she is an expert at traveling light and on a budget, although she still enjoys the occasional indulgence in a luxurious holiday. You can follow her on Instagram.

19 jul 2018

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The Birdhouse Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On juli 19, 2018 With No Comments

Hip hip hooray summer is in the city: the sun is shining (and luckily isn’t going to stop with it), lots of smiling faces in urban parks, and a variety of birds which bring a colourful joy to Amsterdam. Our beautiful capital city in optima forma, thanks good-humoured Mother Nature! Not to mention all the new food kids in town, the hospitality industry don’t know a so called ‘cucumber season’. This time I visited The Birdhouse, almost my neighbours, or in WK football terms ‘a home match’. Definitely one of my new favourite spots in town, let’s have a look!

The urban design jungle
Sometimes my expectations aren’t sky high before I drop by a new restaurant. Mostly it’s because of what was settled there before. I had that with The Birdhouse, situated in the Lancaster hotel. It always didn’t look very vibrant, it didn’t invite me to drop by. But since a couple of months my interest has been aroused with the arrival of this picture-perfect restaurant. Expect a really stylish restaurant with a lot of different kind of cosy corners, and detail-oriented. Overall, they’ve used natural materials to highlight the hotspot background: The Birdhouse is inspired by the bird gardens of Artis, their neighbours across the street. The outdoors has been brought inside, thumbs up!

The Birdhouse for all plumage
Whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, this restaurant will become in no time one of your new faves, mark my words. Breakfast bowls, savory toasts, birdhouse cocktails, every day all day long. I’ve been here for brunch / lunch on a Sunday morning, and it was one of my best hospitality experiences of 2018. I hear you think: Why? It’s the total package of genuine, welcoming staff (especially Luc, he’s born to do this), a stunning atmosphere and finger lickin’ good (looking) food. Yassss jackpot! I guess the pictures speak for themselves, no explanation needed.

Simple, green and tasty!

Juicy

I can tell you so much more ins and outs about The Birdhouse, but this one deserves your visit. And this is cool: they’ve gift cards, so you can surprise every hangry boy or girl with this really original, appetizing present. So go go go for it, you smart bird!

Love,

Sharmaine

The Birdhouse
Plantage Middenlaan 46. Amsterdam
The Birdhouse Facebook
The Birdhouse Website
Opening hours: Every day 07:00 till 22:00

*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!

16 mei 2018

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Off the Beaten Track Permalink

Roootin » The Healthy Middle Eastern Hotspot in Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On mei 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
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More foodie spots from Sharmaine? Check out Tasty Hotspots section!