Eating at nice restaurant's in Amsterdam, for me, requires a little creativity and even luck.

What I'm saying is, I am a man of modest income. So modest the main course had better not go over 15 euros or I can't replace that pair of socks with a hole this week.

However, if I get a visiter who offers to treat me to dinner. If a wealthy relative comes to visit (do I have any of those?). Or if by some luck someone just says -- come with me, Im buying you a fancy dinner... I GO!

Recently that happened, and our destination was Balthazar's Keuken (Kitchen) in the historic Jordaan. When I think Balthazar I think wizards or ancient history, not necessarily gourmet cooking. But this kitchen is more than gourmet.. it's gourmet times 10 with a cherry on top. (literally I think my desert had a cherry on top)

Don't ask me how much the meal ending up costing, I really don't want to know. But I do think you should be aware the the main course is about 27.50€, and that isn't including the wine.

On the bright side you get alot of exciting food, including an array of appetizers with both veggie and non veggie friendly choices. The main course is meat or fish, unfortunately for the vegeterians. I splurged and went for the fish, which was not only delicious, it was really decorative in that "we're a fancy-cool restaurant" style. Then you finish it all with a painfully delicious desert, which I thought was ice cream but after one bite I realized they had taken ice cream to some new level that could potentially be the key to world peace or at least eternal happiness.

So if you're wallet is thick enough and your stomach demands the finest, head to Balthazar's Keuken and you'll know what it is to do fine dining in Amsterdam. (directions on the website)