After Sarah, Matt and Francisco found out I was a certified cheese tasting expert, they decided that they too would like to acquire certificates. We made an appointment at The Reypenaer Cheese Tasting Room, took the course and were excited to see who would, and would not, pass the test and be declared an exert in cheese tasting.
Francisco's Final Answers
Throughout the course, Sarah was able to successfully identify the different smells associated with each cheese, Francisco was a natural at identifying the age of all cheese presented, and Matt...well, Matt was good at eating the cheese.
Because I am already a certified cheese tasting expert, I may have not taken the course as seriously as I did the first time: I was caught cheating. Poor Francisco needed help identifying the colour of a cheese (We have always wondered if he's partially colour blind). Fortunately, the instructor let the incident slip; he did not revoke my certificate and also allowed Francisco to obtain his expert status. Sarah naturally passed with flying colours, but when the instructor signed off on Matt, I had to question the validity of the course.
You may have noticed above that Matt did not even submit a completed test. I wondered if the instructor was just having an off-day, but then Ronan even received a certificate, and all he taste tested was the actual piece of paper.
My parents certainly made the most of their stay in Amsterdam. They have been very busy visiting the Van Gogh Museum (If interested, see "Holland. The Original Cool." video below for the correct pronunciation of "Van Gogh"), The Anne Frank Huis, The Heineken Brewery, The Houseboat Museum and Vondel Park.
My mom was also able to get to the Kinkerstraat for some shopping and my dad just dove into the Dutch way of life: He got a haircut "from the future" at a local barber shop and calls himself Google's official bike transporter (He assisted Francisco in getting the Google bike back to our flat).
As an early Father's Day gift, I took my parents on a canal cruise and to a cheese tasting room (I realized afterwards that this was a horrible idea as next year's golf balls are going to look pretty pathetic). We had a great time and each have a certificate documenting the fact that we are all official cheese tasting experts. Very useful.
Speaking of food, my parents took us out to a restaurant called Moeders, and it was the best Dutch food I've tried since my arrival. We ordered the Hollandse Rijaattafel and were able to sample traditional Dutch dishes: sausages, spinach potatoes, sauerkraut, meatballs, bacon, french fries with mayonnaise and beef stew. If you happen to visit Amsterdam, I highly recommend it (but you need to make a reservation).
Moeders
Just when I thought that dinner would never be topped, my mom bought a raclette for the flat. We spent the next night cooking our favourite meats and vegetables at the kitchen table (With cheese that we, as experts, selected ourselves). It was delicious and we look forward to grilling again with our future visitors.
My mom and dad are now sadly on their way home (be warned, you may not recognize Pat with his ultra modern haircut) and Matt and Sarah (my cousins) have arrived safely in Amsterdam. Our goal this week is to replicate "The Original Cool":
We already have one thing working for us: we will be strolling around Holland with totally cool Francisco, a new celebrity, who guest stars in Amir Johnson's video:
Brussels has Pickpockets: MYTH BUSTED!
My dad's experiment (As mentioned in my last post), with all variables the same, proved that there are absolutely no pickpockets in Brussels. His wallet filled with Canadian Tire money and fake credit cards is still intact.
On the train to Brussels, I read through an amazing tourist information map for the city (recommended by Francisco's coworker). It explained that tourists often cry when they arrive in Brussels, but they will also leave Brussels crying. As I walked off of the train, I immediately smelled waffles and chocolate; I couldn't understand how Brussels could make anyone cry. However, shortly after, I almost had a complete and utter breakdown: It was 2:30PM and I was in need of a late lunch. Unbeknownst to me, most restaurants close after 2PM and don't open again until 6PM. Luckily, the crisis was averted (I just ate chocolate waffles) and I was able to move on without tears and take in the beautiful city.
The trip was a success and as my dad puts it, "We met goal." We saw amazing buildings, stores, parks and tasted the famous chocolate, waffles and fries with mayonnaise. We stayed at Aloft, which turned out to be a "very cool, very modern" hotel. Ronan was able to meet his role model (and worst influence ever) and I felt very lucky to have spotted some Brussel's Invader graffiti in person.
Since my last post, Francisco and I have acquired 2 live-in nannies (My parents): “The Stacker” or "the Captain" (Pat) and “The Cather” (Cathy) have arrived! The two got here yesterday and I was a little worried about them being jet-lagged. To help them get adjusted to the new time difference, I made them meals according to Amsterdam’s time zone, I only allowed them to take short naps throughout the day, and I told them they should cuddle up with Ronan and get to bed shortly after they put him down. That’s right, "shortly after they put him down." Woo hoo! Francisco and I were out the door and headed straight to my favourite cafe, “Thuys” with Justin Timberlake on repeat.
Today, my parents, Ronan and I walked around the city. I don’t know if it was the canals, the laid back people, or the cheese and sausages, but my dad was immediately in love with Amsterdam. I was also impressed with how quickly he adapted to “Euro Style”: He is currently wearing soccer shoes, a scarf and has rolled his jeans up. He had heard there were a lot of pickpocketers in Amsterdam, so he decided he would conduct his own “Myth Buster" Experiment: He hit all of the tourist hot-spots (Dam Square, Old Amsterdam, Spui Square, The Amsterdam Museum, 9 Straatjes, The Anne Frank Museum and Jordan) with a giant wallet in his back pocket filled with a stack of Canadian Tire bills and old hotel room keys (Which he hoped the pickpocketers would think were credit cards). I think he might be the first person to be disappointed by not being robbed, but the experience seems to have increased (if possible) his love for this city.
Photo Credit: Patrick Walton; graduate of Durham College Photography 101
Photo Credit: Patrick Walton; graduate of Durham College Photography 101
I reminded my dad that tomorrow, we are headed to Brussels, Belgium and he could continue his pickpocket experiment there. His spirits were immediately lifted and he seems very excited for an Amsterdam vs. Brussels challenge. I will be sure to post the results.
I had a great weekend because I was able to do two long-awaited things: I finally rode a bike and I was able to get some serious shopping in. I knew a bike ride was long overdue, and I couldn't use Ronan as an excuse because in true Amsterdam style, I should have just rode a bike with him strapped onto me in a baby carrier. Also, because I'm pretty confident that babies here learn to ride bikes before they take their first steps, I should probably have been teaching him how to ride a bike himself by now. Anyway, Francisco kindly lent me his bike, "Amy" (Her full name is "Amy from Amsterdam") and I was off. I have to say this: I don't recommend it.
Once you ride a bike in Amsterdam, there's just no turning back. Aside from feeling the wind in your hair and the sun on your face, you also feel your front tire on the smooth, paved, flat, coloured bike lanes. There are no pot holes, no pedestrians, and no cars up in your grill. There are traffic signals specifically for bikers and your fellow cyclists use clear, direct hand signals before making a turn. You can lock your bike up to anything; there are poles and bike racks just begging to be used throughout the city. Now that I've experienced such perfection, I just don't think biking will ever be the same.
As for the shopping, I got Ronan a bow tie (Pictured below) and low rise boots, a jean vest, a jacket and slub trousers for myself. I liked the trousers because they reminded me of a milder version of “Justin Bieber” pants. Do they look good on me? Absolutely not. But, they sure are comfortable and also get me singing, “If I was Your Boyfriend” while dancing around like Justin...Ronan enjoys this; Francisco, not so much.
My extra deep love for shopping in Europe comes from a trip I took to Ireland in 2000. I bought a pair of shoes that, at the time, looked like slippers you would wear outdoors. I brought them back to Canada and they were in major style for the next 4 years. Talk about a good bang for my buck.... Actually, I guess I should say, "A good found for my pound". My excitement over the weekend prompted me to begin a new segment on my blog where I will make note of any fashions or trends I notice here. The segment will be titled, Amster “Dam” Good Style (Sorry, I’ve been watching way too much Ellen):
Vests: leather vests, suede vests, fur vests, corduroy vests, knit vests, jean vests, cotton vests, velvet vests, lace vests, sequin vests, long vests, short vests...and in the words of Forrest Gump's Bubba, "That’s about it."
Jeans: Patterned jeans, bright jeans, skinny jeans and boyfriend jeans
The sausages I mentioned in my last post went over well, Ronan made it through another yoga class and I've found 2 new things to add to my I.A.A List (Ideas from Amsterdam to Adopt): 11. Hair Spas- Last night, I went to Salon B to get my hair cut and it may have been the best experience of my life. Salon B was more like a hair spa than a salon: Coffee, tea and biscuits are served throughout your appointment, there is a lounge for you to wait in while your hair colour sets, and they sure do take hair washing seriously. You can even pay to get a half hour relaxing head massage/wash!
12. Rollende Keukens (Rolling Kitchens): Francisco, Ronan and I just got back from the 6th annual Rolling Kitchens festival. Iamsterdam explains, "Mobile kitchens descend upon the [Westerpark] at the Westergasfabriek to create an enormous open air restaurant!" There is "Food to suit every appetite on the menu, with everything from fresh Italian pizza to sophisticated seafood dishes."
After walking around and looking at all of the creatively decorated "kitchens on wheels," I made my pick: The Rolling "Rock" Kitchen. I appreciated that aside from wheeling in their kitchen, these clever cooks also took the time to cart in a stage so their patrons could enjoy some rock n' roll music while they ate. Genius.
"Diner" and "Stage" clearly marked to avoid any confusion
The Cream Cheese Brothers
Ronan is kind of a big deal around here, so we do things like celebrate 6 month birthdays for him.To start his big day off right, I took him to Vondelpark to meet Katharina and Marlene (Born one day before Ronan). On my way home, decided I'd pick up a candle and some desert (Yes, I realize this is weird and basically just an excuse to eat more chocolate and cheese). One problem: Ronan has been trying new foods and seemed to think the desert was something new for him to try. He took the, "It's my party, I can cry if I want to" approach after learning this was not the case.
"Are you serious?"
The very next day, Ronan found his squealing voice and did the cutest thing: If I didn't give him my full and undivided attention for 1 second, he screamed his head off. Longest. Day. Ever. Luckily, screaming for my attention seems to be a thing of the past and is now something he does to kindly let me know I'm not getting the spoon to his mouth fast enough.
For Amsterdam Visitors: Check out this amazing site: IamExpat
There are listings of festivals, things to do, places to eat, maps and some great Amsterdam blogs. Enjoy!
It has been a very fun last few days because Julie (my cousin) and Trevor (her husband) came for a visit from Cairo, Egypt and met Ronan for the first time. Ronan found Trevor particularly entertaining and seemed to appreciate how quickly Julie recognized his love for culinary arts. We spent the week walking around Amsterdam, hanging in Vondelpark, taste testing food, visiting the Van Gogh museum and sharing in the ups and downs of the Leafs in the playoffs. Yesterday, we rented a car and followed the Netherlands Flower route, as mapped out in National Geographic’s “Drives of a Lifetime” series. We started in Harlem and stopped there for a coffee and then went to Lisse to see fields of tulips.
In Lisse, we stopped at Keukenhof Garden which, “Bills itself as nothing less than the most beautiful spring garden in the world, designed to showcase the art of Dutch bulb growers.” Admission to this amusement park of flowers cost 15 euros each and we somewhat reluctantly decided to go in. As I walked through the front gates, I immediately regretted it: Busy. Screaming children. Weird accordion music. Restroom and sausage lineups. Just as I was about to head back to the car, Julie passed me a waffle and Trevor passed me a Heineken. These two items quickly turned it into the best amusement park ever. We spent the afternoon in there walking around, climbing windmills and racing each other through a giant garden maze (Francisco got really, really lost).
Francisco???
Afterwards, we drove through Den Haag and stopped in Leiden, a small university town for a late lunch. We found a really neat little cafe in Van der Werf Park and looked at the menu. I couldn’t decide between the chicken club or a hamburger, so I asked our waitress which she would recommend. She said, “Definitely the hamburger.” I was sold by her enthusiasm and it was everything I imagined it would be (not!): a deep fried curry burger in between 2 slices of white Wonder Bread. I don’t think I’ve eaten like that since I was a university student myself (I have to admit, It was pretty delicious).
Speaking of food, Francisco and I have found ourselves in quite the predicament. We have been invited to a picnic tonight, and are slightly unclear as to whether we are supposed to bring dinner for ourselves or something for a potluck. We’re thinking about bringing sausages because here, when paired with cheese, they seem to solve all problems.
I’ve been impressed by so many things in this city, that I thought I’d better write some of them down. I’ve created a list of my favourite things about Amsterdam and, once it is complete, I will devise a transition plan to get these things happening on a more regular basis in Canada. Here is my working list so far (In no particular order):
1.Stroopwaffles: These should always be served with our coffees and teas.
#7: More Flowers
2.Mint Tea:This tea should be regularly served and promoted at every cafe, Tim Hortons and Starbucks.
3.Minimal Makeup: This sure makes getting ready in the morning much easier.
4. Bike Hair: Forget blow dryers and straighteners, just ride your bike!
5. Dutch Strength:It is not uncommon to see someone change a bike tire and then ride that semi-broken bike home with a kid, 5 bags of groceries, the old bike tire and a friend on it. Inspirational.
6. Charcuterie Boards:Meat and cheese for dinner= amazing!
7. More flowers: They are so pretty, let's plant more of them.
8. Bike Lanes:Don't think an explanation is needed here.
9. Jumping castles for the public on random street corners: Now, this may have just been for Queen’s Day, but it made me think, why not everyday?
10. Queen's Day: Let's celebrate Dutch Royalty once a year and take the day off of work to do so.
Yesterday was Queen’s Day and to describe it, I'll say that it just looked like the best day of absolutely everyone’s life. We got Ronan dressed in orange and he was ready to celebrate.We walked through Vondelpark where kids had set up markets all over the place. They were selling things like their parent’s furniture, clothes, toys, coffee, lemonade or cake. I particularly enjoyed the kids who got creative. Some performed plays, made up their own games, sang a song or played their guitar. My favourite were two brothers who spent the entire day dancing to Michael Jackson for donations (Below right).
There was so much to see, do and buy; there were lots of people to talk to and lots of bikes in need of saving. Francisco basically became a local hero on this distinguished day: After someone got in their boat and accidentally tipped their unlocked bike over into a canal, Francisco raced over and pulled the bike out of the canal. To the bike's owner, it was a Queen's Day miracle! To top the day off with some more good news, I was also thrilled to swindle a local into selling me a brand new car seat for 5 Euros (I will conduct a safety test before its use). If all goes well, South Holland Road Trip, here we come! To celebrate my good deal, a salute to King Willem for this glorious day was obviously in order (Above right).
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