Cafe Kobalt & Tolhuistuin Summer Festival***

Cafe Kobalt is situated  in a 17th century former warehouse at the Centraal Station, at the end of the Singel.  I often try and think of somewhere else to venture, but fear entering other Sunday brunch cafes due to them being too busy and loud. Cafe Kobalt on the other hand is spacious, the atmosphere laid back with jazz music low enough that you could spend hours reading. If you are lucky you may be accompanied by Kobalt's sleeping cat. Perfect place to spread out and read your Sunday broadsheet.

As for the menu. If you get there from 8am to midday you can help yourself to a continental breakfast buffet but we have yet to get there before 12. The lunch menu is pretty diverse, with a range of sandwiches, salads and burgers. In the evening the menu changes to a variety of meat, fish and pasta dishes. Check the website for the menu as it changes regularly. I've spent many a quiet Saturday night with my man, a bottle of wine and a relaxed meal at Kobalt.

I really like Kobalt, especially on Sunday,  and if you arrive later in the day there is  Live Jazz from 5pm.


Cafe Kobalt
Singel 2
http://www.cafekobalt.nl/



On this particular Sunday after brunch, we decided to head over to the North by ferry to the Sunday Market. Sunday Market is held once every month in different parts of the city. Check online for dates and locations http://www.sundaymarket.nl/ As we wandered a little away from the market we stumbled across Tolhuistuin Summer festival. Tolhuistuin is a new-ish cultural complex in Noord. Each weekend till the middle of August there are events including theatre,fashion,dance, club nights, art installations and music performances. On this Sunday there were numerous art stalls, small restaurants, bars and a live performance event from a group of school kids, showing their latest moves in a large marquee. As we wandered through the garden we came across Trashville http://www.trashville.nl/ . I think it was a one off event, whereby groups of guys had 4 hours to engineer/ build racing vehicles from, you guessed it, trash then to race on a make shift circuit. Tolhuistuin is like a smaller Parade, perfect to chill with the family or friends. It was a little chilly on Sunday, so we headed home after a couple of hours. Hopefully Summer will come as it's definitely worth a trip over the water on a sunny afternoon.

A perfect Sunday.

http://www.tolhuistuin.nl/english/
Till mid August.

Nooch**

Nooch is an Asian fusion restaurant in the Negen Straatjes (Nine Streets) area of town.  It's just around the corner from  Wieden + Kennedy (my work) so it's handy for lunch and dinner. My partner and I decided to pop into Nooch for a light dinner on a Tuesday evening on the way to a party at the Westergasfabriek.

We eat at Nooch probably due to it's convenience to work and because of the lovely owner who always make you feel welcome. The interior is contemporary with huge lampshades and minimal bamboo table ornaments. Nooch just lacks that extra something, for me I wish it was a little cosier or gezelig. On this particular Wednesday evening , the aircon had flooded the restaurant so the friendly waiter had the doors open to try and get some air in. Unfortunately it was pouring with rain outside so all the customers were huddled over their food in their coats.

For starters J and I shared the duck spring rolls. They filled a hole but the meat was dry and overcooked (or perhaps re-heated?)

Bar the convenience, I go to Nooch for their Thai fish salad. It's bursting with fresh, full leaves, lightly fried fish and a light spicy, morish dressing. It's really rather delicious and although I'm hoping it's healthy, it's also rather filling.

Nooch. Mmmmm. Apparently on their website, Nooch brings you very good fortune. It's a sweet place if you are in the Nine Streets and want a quick, simple dinner. It's certainly not a destination restaurant but I think if Nooch tweaked the cooking up a little making sure that everything is fresh and warmed up the interior you would be onto a special little restaurant.

Nooch

Reestraat 11

1016 DM

Amsterdam

T: 0206 622 2105

http://www.nooch.nl/

Bar hopping in the Jordaan****

I usually review restaurants, but this time I thought I'd just mention a few Brown Bars in the Jordaan that are worth passing by if you have a lazy Sunday or friends in town. 

Last week an old University flatmate Mr A was in town from Edinburgh with his colleagues (BBC Sports Producer and an Entrepeneur who was working with Phillips on a very 'green' invention). Mr A and I used to share a flat (me and 5 guys - all DJ's!!!) whilst I was in 3rd year in a borough of Edinburgh called Leith ( a mix of re-developed old warehouses and run down council houses and at that time in the early 90's the location for Trainspotting) It had been 8 years or so since I last saw Mr A so decided to take them all on a bit of a mini bar hop around the brown bars of the Jordaan.

As a heads up from Wikipedia: The most common theory on the origin of the name Jordaan is as a derivation of the French word jardin e.g. Garden. Maybe that's why many of the street names are named after flowers.  

I digress. Back to the bars.

First stop was Cafe Brandon. A bar that just doesn't change. It's a charming, small bar right on the Keizersgracht 157  and my favourite small canal Leliesgracht. A perfect place to meet the locals and watch the world go by.

It was time to eat so we headed down the beautiful Leliesgracht. Right at the end of the water is Cafe de Prins, again a really decent brown bar on the Prinsengracht with a large terrace looking down on the water. The menu has typical fayre of fish, meat, pasta options plus de Prins' speciality the fondu. I opted for the sirloin steak which was surprisingly good whilst Mr A, Mr BBC and Mr Green opted for the pasta and the soup. These guys had big appetites and ordered their dishes again. De Prins is another bar to just sit and watch Jordaan life with it's bikes whizzing by over the bridge.

Next stop was to one of my favourite bars in Amsterdam- t' Smalle. I can't resist the charm of this bar, although it maybe a little over polished, it has a great terrace water level,  the quaintest,  smallest bar stools in Amsterdam and a the clock that is coincidentally made in Edinburgh. The bar has a familiar feeling to those at I loved in Edinburgh. After a long discussion with the bar man on the delights of Dutch genever we were off to the next bar.

Our final bar of my evening was Gollem. Gollem is tucked away just off the Singel, near the Spui on Raamsteeg 4. This unique bar has (I'm guessing) around 100 beers from around the world.  The building is typical of houses on the canals so don't worry when you feel a little tipsy, the walls are slanting.  Gollem is a bar that you will walk in for one on the way home and stay till closing and that is almost what we did, although 3 drinks later and I was putting the guys on the tram home.  

A great evening.

Morlang***

Morlang is one of those trusted, informal restaurants that there can sometimes be few of in Amsterdam. It's a perfect place to meet friends right bang in the centre of Amsterdam. Although it's a pretty popular bar and restaurant, I've never made a reservation . Morlang is a two-floor restaurant and bar with a terrace right on the water of the Keizersgracht.  

It was a Friday night on what had been one of the warmest days so far so the interior of Morlang was quieter than usual. I had been to a colleagues farewell at Bo Cinq ( a review of there to follow soon) but made excuses so I could pop along to meet a sailing friend. We had met whilst on a sailing course in Spain a couple of years ago.  We were joined by my good Italian/ English foodie friend PP and Mr S.

Morlang can be hit or miss on both food and service, although I have been pretty lucky recently. The menu changes inbetween lunch and dinner, with the dinner menu full of hearty meat dishes, fresh fish, pasta and lighter options. 

I opted for Guinea fowl with truffle, Serrano ham, gnocchi and lemon thyme jus. I loved it. It was a complete surprise,  the bird was perfectly cooked, the sauce was slightly heavy (and I didn't really recognise the gnocchi) but hey I love truffle so devoured my plate.  My friends opted for the fish of the day, which they all delightfully finished off.

This time Morlang was a hit, the food was just right for a no frills dinner with the plus what appeared to be genuinely friendly service.  If you are thinking of an impromptu dinner or light bite I'd recommend Morlang. Just straight forward, unpretentious fayre.

3 stars.

www.morlang.nl

Keizersgracht 451
1017 DK Amsterdam, Nederland
020 6252681

Photo to come.