Just came back from a two week family visit in Holland. A home visit for me always includes a trip to the local supermarket Albert Heijn as I try to eat things I haven't tasted in a while; which brings me to the following: what have I missed most? Well, my top 3 is pretty steady:
1) cheese (any kind)
2) fries with dutch mayonaisse accompanied by a kroket or frikandel
3) dairy products (especially vla)

But as I visited during the holidays season I enjoyed another Dutch "snack" I hadn't eaten in a long time: the oliebol. Around the holidays oliebollen can be found in pretty much every Dutch home and can be bought at specially "decorated" stalls on markets and in city centers.

Ah well, it's probably better for my diet that my home visit has come to an end..never been good at restrictions..but for all of you out there: enjoy while you can!

I grew up thinking that the Hard Rock Cafe was one of the coolest restaurants around. And if I was lucky enough to visit a city that boasted one, I made sure to go and savor the atmophere and gaze at the unachievable merchandise.

Although rarely, I'm still drawn to this ambiance in Amsterdam's version. Well, that and the best burgers in the city, as well as the "American size" sodas and water. Eet smakkelijk!

Albert Heijn supermarkets (blue & white logo) are everywhere. Surely every Amsterdam resident is familiar with its neatly stocked shelves, its predictable array of foods, its delicious-looking deli.

But rather recently, they’ve introduced a “to go” element that deserves mention. They’ve expanded their array of deli sandwiches and wraps, and offer the wonderful, fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies in a smaller size. Some locations even offer a combo drink and sandwich for three euros. Not bad for a lunch on the go.

You haven’t lived until you’ve tried the soup at Soup en Zo. Freshly made, all natural ingredients, and incredible toppings like cilantro, pine nuts and grated cheese. This is no ordinary soup: It’s incredibly thick and filling, and serves as a hearty lunch (or dinner!). It even comes with freshly baked bread. There are locations on Jodenbreestraat (94a) and on the Nieuwe Spiegelstraat (54).

They even offer (at least they used to) a punch card – you know, buy “X” number of soups, get one free. I’m proud to say I have filled my card, and will be redeeming it shortly. Yum.

Okay. I don't mean to be a crank, but the only city I've seen these mid-term weeks was a little patch of canal overlooked by a Bushuis Library window. When it comes to library seating I'm extremely territorial. It is my seat; my table. Oh, and that lamp. Yes, that's mine too. The window and all that it overlooks...mine. It overlooks people in hats in cars on bikes smoking or on phones or both at once in the shadow of the bells of some old clock tower. Clock towers are nice no matter their age, and this one since I see it out my window is MINE! But enough on ownership and landmark pieces of time. I'd much rather talk about my favorite two euro snack in these days of hovering darkness (that is the week or so of getting those paper proposals into shape which somehow corresponds to the sun setting at 5:30pm -or is that 17:30 to you?) It is not the frites (those are 2.50 or not worth it), or kip sate, or (heaven forbid) a krokket or even those really tasty sandwiches made fresh with less than cordial hands at Spar grocery. I'm talking, in fact, about pizza, turkish pizza - turkse pizza - a very special pizza sort near and dear to my stomach, and maybe even my heart. Restaurant Turkyie in de Pijp (south on the Ferdinand Bolstraat), very near the west end of the Albert Cuypmarkt I get, almost weekly, a generous treat about the size of my forearm.

A light layer of sausage crumbles (vegetarians helaas! I once was one of you!!) and sharp sauce baked on a flatbread that functions, in this instance, like a tortilla. The oversize savory, as I taste it, is a blessed mix of pizza and burrito and thus two of the greatest culinary inventions at once. Order it with alles erop and receive the wrapping wrapped with another blessed mix of onions, tomatoes, lettuce, garlic sauce, sambal, and sometimes (if they're feeling really generous) green olives. I feel blessed when I eat this treat, and so should you! Oh, lord, how I wish I had stopped by there today I say as I creep to the kitchen and make another uninspired cheese and butter lunch.

Brunch, dessert, spectacular salad? The Bakkerswinkel has it all. I frequent the one on Warmoesstraat 69. Upon entering the smell of freshly-baked bread greets you. To the left are stacks and stacks of their own, delicious products, including tantalizing lemon curd. The menu is colorful and with scrolling letters describes the combinations that await you. High tea is an option, but try the salads if you’re looking for a healthy treat. I can also highly recommend the quiche. And the desserts are spectacular.

It’s a great place to impress, so make sure to take any and all of your visitors here. But don’t forget they’re closed on Monday. I’ve been sorely disappointed.

Every now and again I get a craving for a bigger meal and sense I am on a tight budget I can't really afford to go someplace too nice for dinner. I normally cook at home. That was until I was introduced to Dulac. After 5 pm students can get dinner for half-price. That is 50% off of whatever regular entree you get! I got a pasta dish for 4 euros. The portion was big, I was stuffed and quite content with the discovery of such cheap food. This only applies for dinner, though, and you have to bring your student ID with you. If you don't have it... well, I don't really know what they will do to you... probably give you half off anyway if you give them a convincing argument and an unhappy face.

In Amsterdam, just like in any major city, you need to know where to look if you want to have a scrumptious meal. Being well-educated or not can mean the difference between culinary heaven and hell. You’ve been warned; now choose wisely.

A great place to start your search for digestive bliss is the internet. Have a look at SpecialBite, a funky site with hip reviews for restaurants all over the Netherlands, of course including Amsterdam. They’ve got unique recommendations for breakfast, for smoke-free eating experiences, and even for restaurants that you can stay over in (well, close to, anyway).

Happy surfing and eet smakelijk, as the Dutch would say.

For a quiet lunch, a lively dinner, or a large, loud drinking party, Kapitein Zeppos has it all. Hard to find but well worth the discovery, this intimate-yet-huge restaurant is nestled close to the campus of the University of Amsterdam. The sandwiches are delicious, the staff friendly, and it’s even possible to seat large groups of people for special occasions.

Visit quickly before winter sweeps in and renders the beautiful outdoor seating area useless.

Who would have thought that a pinch of saurkraut could taste so good? Stuffed in a pita overloaded with falafel and all sorts of other savory bits: tomato, onion, hummus, that eggplant stuff (baba ganoush?), and of course the single dark olive that somehow magically did not come from a can - this is Bagel Nash, whose slogan might be 'falafel as big as your head' were it located in the heart of Chicago.

But this is not Chicago, it is Amsterdam, and so the slogan is different. In fact, there is no slogan at all, because it is a modest family owned spot in A'dam's Oud Zuid just off the Olympiaplein stop (that's tram 24 or an awesome bicycle ride through Vondelpark coming from the center).

And to those who say, 'But that is far away?!', I neigh say you with the following falsifiable facts:

1. You should be using a bicycle anyway (unless it totally sucks outside like it does today).

2. You should cycle through the Vondel park anyway (unless it totally sucks outside like it does today) if only to pay witness to the Ent that lives there of whom I might tell more in the future).

3. The first main exit out of the park after the Ent takes you south; which leads you to the following potentially novel experiences:

A. The two mysterious stairways that lead to the dungeon underneath Emmapark. How do I know a dungeon is under there you ask? Where else are the adventurers going to congregate when they get to the heart of the villain's empire?

B. The bicycle path that goes, quite literally, through a school. If you had time to go to Kitsch Kitchen and buy a pack of fake moustaches (about the only thing in the store even remotely close to not being overpriced) you can wear one to entertain the kids milling about outside - "Kijk, het snor!!!" one of them will shout.

C. Past Dutch people playing soccer and on to a skate park. No half-pipe (that's on the Mueseumplein yo) but all sorts of dips and ramps and bar things for skaters to go nuts, and they do.

D. And across the street...falafels as big as your head! (or all sorts of tasty and overloaded broodjes on bagel or pita)...Bagel Nash! What is this? Only 4,50 euro for this insanity of a treat? My god!

E. If it's a nice day you can take your giant falafels and cycle the three extra minutes to the Beatrixpark. Rather more scenic, quiet, and quaint than the bustling Vondel, one can picnic on the lawn along the canal; watch dutch people boat by in a practiced rhythm, and wonder who lives in that house guarded by the police observation post anyway?

Oh, and if it's Saturday, don't bother. For Saturday is the sabbath for some folk, and on this sabbath Bagel Nash is closed.