Bazar Amsterdam: No Cultural Bias

Amsterdam / Go Eat
en af Cicerone /  Frederique van Staalen, 29. apr 2009

There used to be three good reasons to leave the city and plan a trip to our rival town Rotterdam. First of all my dear friend T. lives there. Second the Boijmans Van Beuningen Collection and finally Bazar.

Approximately two years ago the owner of Bazar in Rotterdam decided to expand his empire to the capital. Since I always, when in Rotterdam, have lunch or whatever in Bazar, I was curious to see if Bazar Amsterdam had the same charm that would make a visit to the original restaurant redundant in the future. To emphasize the competitive element, I invited my dear friend T. who happens to be the general manager of Hotel Bazar in Rotterdam.

 

In maybe one of the liveliest streets in Amsterdam, the Albert Cuypstraat, where the famous market is daily held, Bazar houses in a former church. The beautiful fusion of different oriental elements -decorated tiles everywhere, even the toilets are cramped with red floral motives- gives you the feeling you’re lost in a palace from 1001 nights.

What I like so much about Bazar, this airy restaurant on two floors, is their ability to mix successfully. Besides its decorative combinations, I enjoy, the wonderful ambiance made out of the difficult balance between public and private. The kitchen serves dishes mainly from North Africa and the Middle East suiting Bazar’s Credo meet the world brilliantly.

Compared to Amsterdam standards, the food is a bargain especially breakfast is a good deal. Not a conventional one I agree but with Turkish yogurt, Algerian thousand-hole-crêpes with butter and honey, oriental bread and fresh fruit to name but a few items, you won’t be hungry for a very long time I bet.

To be honest I can’t think of anything against this vivid colorful place but as I’m quite fond of dear T. I’ll have to continue visiting Bazar Rotterdam.

Bazar; Albert Cuypstraat 182; Amsterdam

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Cicerone

The Great Beach Rivalry: Bloemendaal Vs. Zandvoort

Amsterdam / Go See
en af Cicerone /  Frederique van Staalen, 20. apr 2009


Photo: Stijnbokhove

To get rid of winter fat one does desperate things. Lots of people launch into brainless dieting or unsustainable exercise programs. But there is probably nothing better or more comfortable than a walk along the beach. Even after a night out with little or no sleep, a blast of cool wind works wonders for your metabolic system. Since a direct connection runs between Amsterdam and Zandvoort aan Zee, give it a try and head for the central station. In the 30 minutes on the train you can doze or let your eyes glide over the utterly plain Dutch landscape. Arriving in the former fishing village, Zandvoort, you only have to follow your nose because sea air mixed with fried fish will lead the way.



Having been raised in the rather snobby neighbouring village of Bloemendaal, I am contaminated with the prejudice that Zandvoort is a lower class beach because it for years attracted working class Amsterdammers. However I simply love the outstretched sky above a dark opaque sea at Zandvoort, the miles of honey coloured sand and those big annoying seagulls screaming their endless screams.

Zandvoort aan Zee is famous for one particular reason: the traditional dive into the sea on New Year’s Day. To me this sounds exactly like a vision of hell and I have never so much as put a toe into the freezing cold water on New Year’s Day.

While at the beach you should take a walk in the northern direction and you’ll reach Bloemendaal aan Zee in about 30 minutes (depending on your condition). When I lived in Bloemendaal I often frequented the café Parnassia, a place that to me has become synomonous with the beach.

According to the season you can either enjoy a glass on the terrace overlooking the sea, or you can try to get warm around the big indoor fire. Recently Parnassia has been completly restyled but that doesn’t make any difference to me. Hidden in the dunes, this place simply gives a golden finish to my beach day.

PARNASSIA; Parnassia weg 1; Bloemendaal aan Zee

GO FURTHER: Read about Amsterdam's first citybeach Blijburg aan Zee and about Tara's of the season visit to Brooklyn's seaside resort Coney Island.

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Cicerone