$ - Dutch - Centre
H.M. van Randwijkplantsoen 1, 1017 ZW Amsterdam
BACKGROUND
To those who would say that there is no Dutch cuisine, I would mostly agree. If anything the national dish is stamppot which is a mash of potatoes and other vegetables but the actual food Dutch people eat is a lot more eclectic and pulls from a lot of different cultures (e.g. Indonesian food is very popular due to the colonial history).
As I found out when I went to international school and had to make “Dutch food” for my classmates at our International Day, the best Dutch food are snacks, fried or sweet. Kroket/bitterballen (see my description in my review for Lode & Stijn on national kroket day!), hagelslag (chocolate sprinkles that goes on your bread), etc. Some of the best things (which would always set off the school fire alarm, making the Dutch table infamous every year) are Pannekoeken and Poffertjes.
“Pannekoeken” (literally “pancakes”) are Dutch pancakes. They're pretty similar to crepes in that they are thin and large but they're a little bit thicker than crepes. They are not the same as Dutch Baby's (popular in the US) which are made in a large rimmed pan and have German origins (the common Dutch vs Deutsch confusion). Rather than just for breakfast, pancakes are more frequently eaten in the Netherlands for lunch or dinner and they're generally sweet or savory - however savory means cheese or bacon and not vegetables etc. like in other countries
"Poffertjes" are small pancakes made in a special pan with multiple round holes for the batter - they're a little thicker, more crispy and generally served with powder sugar & butter.
Authentic Dutch powder sugar + syrup
THE VISIT
De Carrousel is right across the river from the Heineken Experience (another very Dutch food/drink). It is a domed restaurant in what used to be an actual carrousel with a covered inside with original carrousel horses and an outside deck. I visited in July so sitting outside was lovely.
We ordered the classic Sugar-Butter Poffertjes for something sweet and the Bacon-Cheese Pancake for the savory side. The pancake was delicious - sweet with the bacon/cheese combo is a great indulgence.
I hadn't had real poffertjes in a while and I had forgotten how great they were. These were crispy on the outside and super fluffy on the inside + the butter/powder sugar go super well.
Truly delicious and a must when you're in Amsterdam!
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