Sander and I love ramen. Maybe a little too much. I’ve often written about Ramen-Ya in Amsterdam. The food there is amazing and we always go when we can. But sometimes Amsterdam is just too far and out of the way to go for a lunch date. And have you seen the downtown parking rates? Just wow. So this time around we decided to visit Tokyo Ramen in Amstelveen. We’ve seen the restaurant many times during our Japan Festivals but…
The Dutch enjoy the holiday season a lot and festivities begin early! We even saw Christmas treats in our supermarket in October! Sometimes it feels like Christmas season starts earlier each year but the traditions always stay the same. So how do the Dutch celebrate Christmas? Christmas Markets I’ve written about Christmas Markets before but it’s such a huge part of Christmas in The Netherlands. Christmas decorations hang from every store front in America. Outdoor house decorations get larger and…
I’ve lived in The Netherlands for 3 years now! Can you believe it? I hit my anniversary on the 1st of August and didn’t even think about it until a few days later. I’ve got a good understanding on how the Dutch eat. Their dishes are world famous! It’s interesting that Dutch food has so much in common with American food. Of course there are differences but I’ve noticed there are a few ways the Dutch go about meal time…
A few weeks ago I made a post about Snacks from The Netherlands. I had exchanged a box of tasty treats with a friend from Australia. I’ve had the box long enough now that I can openly talk about what was inside and how it tasted! The fun part of opening a treat box like this is sharing it with Sander. We like to discuss the flavors of various snacks and how we feel about them. It’s a fun experience…
I’ve made a lot of international friends since I moved to the Netherlands and a handful of them live in Australia. A few weeks ago one of them expressed her disappointment when her local grocery store stopped selling Dutch goods like vlokken. So I brought up the idea of sending snacks to each other. She jumped at the chance! She’s decided to send me a box with goodies that any Aussie would have. So what did Dutch snacks I send…
This is more of a hint of what’s to come. It’s still only February. Even though the Dutch don’t normally celebrate Valentine’s Day, I’d still like to talk about it. But Easter and Paasdagen treats have already made their way into stores. You can say my eyes are bigger than my mouth is! Every time I see goodies that I haven’t tried yet I can’t help myself. So far we’ve only got a small haul but I’ve realized something about Easter…
It’s been ages since we’ve gone out to eat. Eating at home is cheaper, easier, and just plain wholesome for us. We do, however, belong to a large group of Pokémon GO players. Many of them are blue and it was decided that we needed a night out. So we headed out to a place called Proeflokaal Bregje (Tasting Room Bregje). Monday through Thursday is the three course menu. It comes with an appetizer, main dish, and dessert. I went with…
The Netherlands has dozens of old traditions. I’m at the point in my studies where I’m learning about everyday Dutch culture. One chapter discussed parties and events. Now I know we have our American traditions that seem over the top and interesting to read about. I find that the Dutch are particular interested in why I celebrate Thanksgiving. But one Dutch celebration that caught my eye (and taste buds) was the one surrounding the birth of a new baby. It’s…
It’s a big deal when Sander and I go to Amsterdam. We early wake up, have a light breakfast, and pack our bags. See when we plan a day out in Amsterdam, there’s only one thing on our mind – ramen. Our go to place is on the outskirts of the Red Light district, at underground level, but don’t let that fool you. Ramen-ya is home to some of the most delicious hakata ramen we’ve ever had. Hataka refers to…