Discover Benelux | Amsterdam Zuid | The Ultimate Winter Destination
Honest food in a casual ambiance TEXT: SOFIE COUWENBERGH | PHOTOS: SOLOETENENDRINKEN.NL
On the corner of the famous Museum Square, right across from the Royal Concert Hall in Amsterdam South, family-owned restaurant Solo has been serving locals and tourists alike for more than 15 years now. The menu consists of mainly French and Italian dishes, all prepared with specially selected and, where possible, organically sourced ingredients. A key element in Solo’s kitchen is the Josper charcoal grill oven which allows fish and meat to keep their natural juices, thus retaining all their natural flavours. The idea of no-frills quality returns in everything Solo does. When it comes to steak, the restaurant only works with high-quality Scottish Angus Beef. “We also prepare everything in-house, from the soups to the sauces - and the desserts,” says owner Willeke Bouricius. The pasta dishes are prepared by chefs from Naples and the pasta ‘alle vongole’ is said to be worth a detour.
At the impressive wine bar, guests can sample a great variety of European wines, many of them organic as well. But gin and tonic fans are spoiled too. They can choose from a variety of perfectly served and combined gins. The heated terrace offers an all-year-round spectacular view on the Museum Square, overlooking the museums and the Royal Concert Hall. Whether guests drop in for lunch, an afternoon treat, a quick bite before catching a concert or an elaborate dinner, they are always welcomed with a cosy and casual ambiance.
Eating at Solo is like eating at a friend’s house, only better. www.soloetenendrinken.nl
An experiment with delicious results TEXT: ANNA VILLELEGER | PHOTOS: VALENTINE GALLONE
When British-born research scientist Saima Awan became tired of London, she set off to the Dutch capital in search of adventure. There, her longtime passion for baking developed into an exciting business enterprise: Dragons Delight. “I had been on holidays to Amsterdam and it always felt like home. It was a natural choice when I decided to leave London,” she recalls. As well as running the English bakery and brunch café in De Pijp, Awan has built a fantastic reputation catering for events such as the Turkish Airlines King’s Day celebrations at Schiphol Airport.
With her flair for science, Awan comes up with innovative recipes such as erupting volcano cupcakes. Not for the faint hearted is the Bloody Mary cupcake, with tomato, chilli and vodka. If you need a kick, try the coffee cake with whisky icing. “We don’t have an alcohol licence, but we are allowed to serve alcohol in food,” grins Awan. You can find all your British favourites at Dragons Delight: think muffins, apple crumble and Victoria sponge. Perennially popular are the scones, served with jam and Devonshire cream. “We are introducing the Dutch to clotted cream!” smiles Awan. Dragons Delight is as popular with locals as it is with expats longing for a taste of home. “One customer recently told me: ‘this is better than anywhere in London!’” More good news for homesick Brits: the café recently started serving Sunday Roasts. Never ones to rest on their laurels, Awan and her team are also in the process of launching a
new project: a food truck serving Asian street food, with bookings already lined up at festivals in the UK, the Benelux and potentially Germany. Want to know more? Visit www.dragonsdelight.nl Photo: Adam Szuly
Issue 36 | December 2016 | 53