Episode 1: Barts Babbels the podcast, Michel's favorites
In episode 1 of Barts Boekje, Michel joins the table. He worked at The Hoxton on the Herengracht, has been writing for Barts Boekje for many years (together with partner Renske), and knows the hospitality industry from the inside out. Michel doesn't mince words about what is amiss in the industry, but precisely because of that, he also knows exactly where things are right. In his shortlist, he shares where he personally prefers to eat and drink. He has lived in Amsterdam East for years and spends a lot of time in North, so his list is primarily Amsterdam-based, with a few excursions outside the city.
Aflevering 1: Barts Babbels de podcast, de favorieten van Michel. Beluister de hele aflevering hier.
Jollof Club (Southeast) opens November 7. Chef Nicolas Agua hosted his pop-ups at various locations, including The Hoxton, where they were very well received. Jollof is a West African rice dish to which he gives his own twist and combines with other influences. Southeast fits perfectly, both in terms of target audience and the origin of the dish.
Drinks, wine, and snacks. Michel runs to get them. Francois! A new French wine bar in Amsterdam-West.
- Europizza (North): The tip he always passes on. You can go there with any group, from your children to your mother. The pizzas are culinarily very different from elsewhere, and the small starters are refined. The frozen pizza is also highly recommended.
- Room.bar (Westerstraat): In the location where De Parel was situated for a long time. A beautiful building, a pleasant atmosphere, and a small menu of about five dishes. “Everything has just been right there since the opening.”
- Yusu: A coffee shop with good coffee and homemade baked goods, from pistachio pie to cheesecake. The community is truly lived there, and the team dares to speak out about what is happening in the world.
- VRR (formerly Rosa & Rita): It is quite hidden, but is doing really well without crazy marketing. The bakery recently gave the concept a new boost.
- Esra: Celine cooks with Turkish influences there, totally different from other cuisines in the city. It is small and popular, so make a reservation or be ready half an hour before opening for a walk-in spot.
- Café Wu: Asian food and a new boost for the neighborhood.
- And further: the entire Dapperstraat, Alba, Tros and Bottleshop.
- Spontaneous on Thursday evening: Esra, betting on the last communal table.
- With friends: Metro.
- Date night: Café Iep, low-key, with wooden tables, where service and cuisine come first.
- Large groups: Cradam.
- Eating solo: Café Wu, at the bar.
- South: Cafe restaurant Sandberg.
- Breakfast: Stadsbakkerij As, Kleine Bes in Oost or Kometenbrood.
- Natural wine: Bottleshop (which also imports itself) and Pimpelmees in West.
- Around Central Station and the Nine Streets: Trees, Celia, Willem, House of Noah, Linguini and classic Bistro Neuf.
- Bistro Zacht Staal (near Beverwijk): A barn where the children play outside. Reasonably priced: around 120 euros for four, a meatball around 12 euros. The fine-dining restaurant in the greenhouse is also nice.
- Hattem Castle: A sort of farm shop with all the wines from Bottleshop, where you can also grab a sandwich.
- Durgerdam: Nice, but more geared towards tourists.
- Hotels: Van Oost Pillows (more expensive, with fine dining), The Hoxton and Morgan & Mace in Rotterdam.
- Activations: the pizza battle at Klaproos, Bon Burger Bar in West, and during ADE, Comptoir from Paris is a guest at Europe.
And one more tip: Buy your books at a local bookstore.