Taste of Amsterdam – 24 to 27 June 2010

Taste of Amsterdam is part of a world-wide series of food events that celebrate fine dining in major cities. The formula is to provide visitors with an opportunity to sample small portions of the signature dishes of prestigious local restaurants. Michelin star decorated Ron Blaauw and Aan de Poel will participate amongst a group of 18 restaurants. Guests will need to buy € 15 tickets to attend the events and can then taste samples from different chefs for somewhere around € 4 to 9.

www.tasteofamsterdam.com
When: 24-27 June, 12:00 to 17:00 or 18:00 to 23:00
Where: Amstelpark on Europaboulevard near RAI exhibition center.
Public transport: Take tram or metro to RAI.

Over het IJ Festival – 1 to 11 July 2010

The Over Het IJ Festival is a theater festival on NDSM wharf in Amsterdam North, across the water behind Central Station. There is an extensive program with a focus on performances by younger talent. There also are nice food options for in between, including caterers “One for the Road” or the pancake boat. You may also enjoy a trip to neighboring Noorderlicht Cafe, spectacularly housed in a cool glass hangar and sporting a hip vibe.

www.overhetij.nl
When: 1-11 July, exact program to be decided
Where: NDSM wharf on Neveritaweg 15 across the water from Central Station
Public transport: Take the free NSDM ferry behind Central Station.

De Parade – 6 to 22 August 2010

De Parade is another theater festival with a strong food focus. The atmosphere is very much cabaret and circus, with all performances held in large tents around the main area of restaurants, bars and ticket sales. It’s a traveling festival that starts in Rotterdam mid June, moves on to The Hague and Utrecht and ends in Amsterdam from 6 to 22 August. Expect comedy, song and dance and other quirky shows such as the popular silent disco. And enjoy food and drinks from the Tacobar, wood oven pizzeria Fuoco e Desiderio or organic eatery La Rana. Tickets are € 7, excluding food, drinks and performances.

www.deparade.nl
When: 6-22 August, 15:00 to 24:00
Where: Martin Luther Kingpark on Amsteldijk between the Berlagebrug and Utrechtsbrug.
Public transport: Take tram 25 to President Kennedylaan.

So today I will leave with just a little reminder that the next Pure Markt is coming up on 25 April, as usual the last Sunday of the month.

puremarkt.nl
Park Frankendael, Amsterdam
Public transport: Tram 9 to Hogeweg, bus 65 to Pieter Zeemanlaan
Every last Sunday of the month
Dates: 28 March, 25 April, 30 May, 27 June, 29 August, 26 September, 31 October, 19 December

In 2009 I had fun at Pure Markt several times, picking up English style sausages, Dutch home-grown grapes and Canadian chocolate coated cranberries amongst other things. It’s a fun thing to do, so go check it out on Sunday if you have the time!

puremarkt.nl
Park Frankendael, Amsterdam
Public transport: Tram 9 to Hogeweg, bus 65 to Pieter Zeemanlaan
Every last Sunday of the month
Dates: 28 March, 25 April, 30 May, 27 June, 29 August, 26 September, 31 October, 19 December

Unfortunately, the Pure Markt goes into hibernation in November and you’ll have to wait until March 2010 for the next edition. Here are a few pictures from the last edition in October to keep you interested until next year.

The Glühbier caught my eye because it was so random, but I refrained from it since lots of Glühwein will be coming my way in December.

The pork cut chart is by the Berkshire Butcher who makes amazing sausages.

And I had tried and liked the crêpes and galettes from a real French chef and his Crêpes-Mobiel before and had to go for a galette with truffles, walnuts and gruyère.

This Sunday, 25 October 2009, from 11am to 6pm is your last chance to visit the Pure Markt and stock up for the winter. The market takes places each last Sunday of the month and closes during the winter.

There was a spectacular light that day from a bright sun behind huge stacks of clouds. And since de Kas is one of my favorite restaurants, I thought I would share two photos of de Kas I took that day.

Restaurant de Kas Amsterdam - Chimney, Greenhouse and Garden

Restaurant de Kas Amsterdam - Dining Room from Outside

There are three reasons I never made it earlier. First of all timing is difficult with the event taking place each last Sunday of the month. Secondly, Park Frankendael is far out there in Amsterdam East with not much else going on in the area. And finally, I have been to one too many food markets that promised organic or sustainable food but did not deliver.

Last Sunday I finally made it there. And the scene at the entrance of Pure Markt seemed to confirm my initial suspicion. Yet another food themed event with a great concept but poor execution, more of a kids playground than a market, with only a few stalls offering everything from esoteric jewelry to patchwork bags and blankets and no decent food anywhere in sight.

But as I walked further towards the stalls, I could not help but notice an incredibly tasty smell of home made sausages on a barbecue. The smell came from the Berkshire Butcher, the first of many great food stalls offering an amazing variety of tasty produce. What impressed me most was the artisanal character of the Pure Markt. Many of the people promoting and selling the food, were actually the producers themselves. And they encouraged people to try the produce, told them about the whereabouts of their wares, made suggestions for their preparation and were happy to tell the story of their food business.

As I walked further along the market, I tried many products and brought home a nice stash of exciting food items. Here are some of the highlights.

The Berkshire Butcher – Frank Bunnik

The Berkshire Butcher is a small business making sausages from The Duke of Berkshire pigs. They acquire live pigs from a single supplier and make great sausages from the flavorful meat of these special pigs. They have a number of different sausage types, including typical English and herb infused Italian ones, each made with the regional spices and herbs.

I had a barbecued sausage on the spot and loved how juicy and flavorful it was!

Other than on Pure Markt, the Berkshire Butcher sells his sausages on the Haarlemmerplein market in Amsterdam each Wednesday. For more information see www.berkshirebutcher.com.

Grape Farm Nieuw Tuinzight

Grape Farm Nieuw Tuinzight is the last remaining active grape farmer in the Netherlands. The family run business goes back to 1885 and today grows Frankenthaler, Alicante and Muscat grapes in 14 green houses near Delft.

I tried the Frankenthaler and loved it! The grapes had been cut that same morning and were incredibly fresh. They are organic and have a very smooth taste, not too sweet but with many different aromas. Almost like a good glass of wine.

Nieuw Tuinzight has a shop on their farm that is open during harvest season from August until November. They also organize events such as open days or group lunches. For more information see www.druivenkwekerij.nl.

Futuro Verde

Futuro Verde is a project run by a group of Dutch emigrants. They have an olive farm in Sicily on which people can adopt a tree or rent a vacation home. The olives are harvested and pressed and the oil sold entirely untreated on markets in the Netherlands. The oil was nice and thick and had a pure, slightly sweet flavor. The price was quite reasonable at € 10,= per bottle.

For information on adopting an olive tree, see www.futuroverde.nl. To buy a 25 liter barrel of olive oil, go to their web shop at www.verseolijfolie.nl.

Many more Artisans

There were many more interesting stalls where passionate artisans offered their produce. Zilt & Zalig had four different kinds of oysters on offer. Brouwerij De Prael, an Amsterdam based microbrewery that employs handicapped people, let us taste their beers named after famous Amsterdam singers. And slightly yuppie Japanese store Roppongi arranged tastings of five kinds of sake.

And apparently there’s much more as participants change every month. There is a long and tasty sounding list on the website of Pure Markt.

I will definitely be back for more sausages and to check out the other producers!