Discover Benelux | Top Eat, Drink & Sleep Spots | The Jordaan in Amsterdam
Vibrantly Thai TEXT: PAOLA WESTBEEK | PHOTOS: GINA RAMOS
While it was not always the case, the Haarlemmerstraat is now a bustling street brimming with an array of interesting shops, including some of the city’s finest food addresses. One of those not-to-be-missed culinary locations is Thai & Co., a restaurant that proudly exemplifies Thailand’s mouth-wateringly vibrant cuisine. When owner Gina Ramos purchased and renovated the location that would become Thai & Co. in 2001, the Haarlemmerstraat was yet to become the popular street it is today. Luckily, that all changed: “During the last decade, the Haarlemmerstraat has become hip, with many trendy shops and delicatessens opening their doors,” says Ramos. Her tastefully decorated restaurant, housed in a building dating from 1756, is a must for anyone who enjoys the immense array of colourful flavours and textures of Thai cooking. Character-
istic is the use of fresh ingredients and fragrant herbs and spices such as sweet basil, lime, coriander, galangal and chili peppers – flavours that are healthy, invigorating and delicious. The dishes served at Thai & Co. are freshly made using quality ingredients. For those who are not partial to heat, it is good to know that the spiciness of all dishes can be adjusted to your liking. Examples of delicious choices include the spicy beef red curry composed of Thai vegetables, coconut milk, lime leaves, chilies and sweet basil; and the chicken with cashew nuts with oyster sauce, red onion, whole-dried chilies, mushrooms and spring onions. Washed down with one of their Thai beers (Singha or Chang), these meals are guaranteed to keep you warm and satisfied. Thai & Co. is a restaurant that, once discovered, is bound to become a favourite. The restaurant prides itself on many satisfied
clients who keep coming back for more of its delectable offerings. www.thaiandco.nl
A Spanish experience in Amsterdam TEXT: XANDRA BOERSMA | PHOTOS: H. J. KAMERBEEK
The first thing you will hear when entering Duende Dos, in the middle of the Jordaan, is Spanish music. This is an important part of the restaurant. Various famous musicians have played here and the food is good too; so what are you waiting for? Reservations come in from all over the world, but also people just around the corner visit it with pleasure. Which is exactly what Duendo Dos is about. “Everybody is welcome, that personal touch is very important to us,” owners Jacky and Erik Dos explain. And everybody shows up: kids, groups of friends, families, grandparents and even the occasional celebrity enjoys the Spanish atmosphere that you feel when walking through the door. Ever since 2002 this family-owned restaurant, where Mum, Dad and their three children work, serves you tapas, paella and more elaborate 46 | Issue 24 | December 2015
dishes. On Sunday the big pan will come out for a spectacular dining experience. “Our pinchos are a favourite; Spanish finger food. We experiment a lot so you’ll always be able to eat something new. But there are some things we can never stop making. Like calamares, meatstew or baked chorizo, some guests will kill us if we do.” All products are homemade, preferably with ingredients that have a story. “For example: we get vegetables at a farm that helps ex-drug addicts get back on track. We like being socially involved and eco-friendly.” Also, cultural involvement is important to them, which is why they let artists exhibit on their walls and musicians come over to play more often than not. It all contributes to the easy-going atmosphere that is part of the Duende Dos experience. www.cafedos.nl