Travel with Julie

My Top Restaurants In Bruges

If you read my last post about Bruge, then you know that I LOVE Bruges, Belgium.  It's quaint, charming and simply beautiful.  To top it off, we had some of the most fantastic meals in Bruges.  Here were our favorites:

Den Wittenkop

Steps from the main square, this intimate restaurant fills up fast, so be sure to make a reservation.  We chose this place for our first meal in Bruges mainly because it was just down the street from our B&B, but it didn't disappoint! Serving typical Flemish food, I enjoyed a delicious steak with peppercorn sauce and fries.

 

 

 

 

 

Tom's Diner

Located in a 17th-century building, this restaurants oozes with rustic romance. The chef is considered one of the best young chefs in Bruges and whips up simply delicious meals that don't cost an arm and a leg.  I chose the special of the day: fettucini with tomato sauce, mushrooms, spinach, Serrano ham and mozzarella.

 

Kok au Vin

This restaurant wasn't on my list originally.  It was only after we were turned away from De Bottelier that we hungrily stumbled into it.  Bear with me while I digress for a moment to share the story.  I was looking forward to a delicious lunch at De Bottelier after reading wonderful reviews on the internet.  Nowhere on the restaurant's website or any reviewers' websites did it mention that reservations were required for lunch.  As we walked in, the owner quickly assessed that we did not have a reservation and told us he could not accommodate us. I pointed out that there were several tables that were not marked "Reserved."  Apparently, that was a moot point!  He was barely apologetic and further recommended a "friend's" restaurant across town, ensuring us it was similar to De Bottelier.  After hunting it down, we found the recommended restaurant to be a large fine-dining establishment serving a very different cuisine. Dissapointed and starving (and a little miffed), we blindly picked the next place we came upon, Kok au Vin.  To our delight, the meal and service was one of the highlights of our trip!  I ordered the mouth-watering and gut-busting coq au vin, the house specialty. Admittedly, there was a part of me that wanted to return to De Bottelier to boast about our fantastic find. Instead, I chose the high road.  This time!

A Visit To Bruges

I thought for sure I was making a big mistake planning to stay three days in Bruges, Belgium.  The town is small enough that most visitors only day-trip it there from Brussels.  Yet, staying three days was the only way I could make it work in my travel itinerary.

Now, I don't understand how anyone could possibly leave after only one day.  I didn't want to leave after three!  I am completely and utterly in love with Bruges!  It may be small in size, but it is big in so many other ways.  I will have more posts coming on Bruges, but for now, I want to show you why I fell in love with this town.

 

My Favorite Restaurants in Amsterdam

Amsterdam offers a feast of culinary cuisines.  Even so, I would have none other than traditional Dutch food on my first night in The Netherlands.  For that, I went to Hap-HMM.  This is not the place to go for fine-dining or culinary fireworks.  Instead, it is a simple, no-frills locals' hangout.  The restaurant is modest and quaint with small chandeliers and wood panelling.  The service is fast and friendly.  Locals come in and sit wherever a chair is available--even if that means sitting at your table.  Conversations quickly rise between friends and strangers. Hap-Hmm is a true local experience.

Not knowing a lick of Dutch, I asked the server for the house's specialty.  I received stewed beef that flaked apart with the touch of a fork, mashed potatoes, steamed green beans and carrots.  It brought back a lot of fond memories of eating at my grandmother's house.  For dessert, I had one of the best panna cotta with caramel sauce ever!  To top it all off, one appetizer, two entrees, two desserts, a bottle of sparkling water and a carafe of house wine was had for under €40.  Who does that anymore?

Of course, I can't go anywhere without having a good Italian meal.  In Amsterdam, that required a trip to Koevoet. Run by two italians (thankfully, my Italian is far better than my Dutch!), a dinner will prove to be not only delicious, but entertaining.  In true Italian fashion, a glass of prosecco was offered before a menu.  By the time the meal rolled around, we had enjoyed a fabulous asparagus gratin, a killer spaghetti carbonara and scaloppini al fungi porcini.

The evening ended with lively conversations with the local Dutch diners beside us, hysterical imitations of Al Pacino (because our server looked like him), and many glasses of grappa and limoncello.  Yes, another memorable evening!

Rarely do I seek out pizza at home or in travel.  However, when I heard about a pizza place in Amsterdam that is so popular you have to have a reservation to get in, I had to try it.  Sure enough, Yam Yam was packed with diners of all ages.  Next to us were three families enjoying a meal together.  On the other side were two well-dressed elderly couples getting together for dinner.  Behind us was a young, fashionable couple on a date.  The food that came out all looked and smelled delicious!  My salad was incredibly fresh and tasty, as was the margherita pizza. Yam Yam was yum-yum!

Lastly, everyone knows that the Dutch are famous for their french fries.  And, everyone who knows me, knows I will eat french fries any chance I get!  Stopping for a mid-morning break, I discovered the BEST french fries in all of Amsterdam at Cafe Staalmeesters.  The big, fat, hot, and well-seasoned fries (served with the creamiest home-made mayonaise) are to die for!  So much so, hubs and I split two orders!  The chef must have thought we were crazy since it was only 10:30 in the morning!!

Lunch And A Treat In Amsterdam

One of my favorite spots for a tasty lunch in Amsterdam is Puccini's.  Sitting on the corner of a cobblestone street, overlooking the Groenburgwal canal, and near the Waterlooplein market, this quiet little cafe serves the freshest and most delicious soups, salads and sandwiches.  Hubs and I shared a bowl of sweet potato bisque and a pastrami sandwich that rivaled any other we'd had.

The treat?  Next door to the cafe you will find Puccini Bomboni, a chocolate shop.  The aroma alone will lure you in! Then, the beautiful and artfully crafted chocolates draw you closer with their unique shapes, colors and flavors like tulip-shaped chocolates filled with calvados (apple brandy).

What more could you ask for in a lunch?    

 

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50 Italian Ways To Drink Coffee

Ready to deviate from your standard Americano caffe and order your cup of 'joe' Italian-style?  Try one of these 50 Italian ways to drink coffee (click on the photo to enlarge):

50 types of Italian coffee: espresso, cappuccino and many more by Charming Italy