SMART, NICE, CHIC AND DELICIOUS

When I lived on the third floor of Eerste Helmersstraat, the Cornelis Schuytstraat felt like my backyard. Just a stroll through the park and I was in paradise. The most beautiful florist in Amsterdam, Menno Kroon, Shoebaloo, perfumery Louise, and the famous vegetable jeweler where the apples and mandarins are polished three times before being draped on a basket that feels rustic. That's the only store I've never been inside, I believe. At the end of the street are two fascinating dining establishments; Brasserie Joffers and Brasserie Van Dam. Go there and you'll spot a VIP. At least one. And paparazzo Edwin Smulders has his office there. The crowd is colorful, particularly well-dressed and... and that's what it's all about, you eat well there.

Brasserie Van Dam has always been one of my favorites (also for a quick bite at the divine delicatessen-wing) but the place has been revamped. Wow. They've made a great bar, the delicatessen has disappeared (but butcher Van Dam further down the street does have ready-made dishes, you know, maak je geen zorgen) and the whole space has received a fresh freshness look. The best part of all is that Nicolette van Dam and her brother Sebastiaan are going to run the place. The hospitality and entrepreneurship is in her blood. “When I come to the butcher shop on the weekend and it's busy, I immediately dive behind the cash register.” Nicolette once said in an interview in Beau monde. And now there is the need to continue the heritage of the family.

Nicolette fulfilled the role of hostess with GLORY and may I take a moment to mention her mother. Karin...

Although Van Dam 2.0 had been running for a while, yesterday was the official opening. Nicolette fulfilled the role of hostess last night with glory and may I take a moment to mention her mother. Karin... So beautiful. And also so kind. Just for this woman, you want to have your coffee at Van Dam, hoping for a smile. Furthermore, it was so busy that the poor girls from Make My Event who were serving struggled to move through the beautiful crowd with their glasses of bisque and tuna sashimi. I missed the truffle pasta, burgers, stamppots, and shrimp croquettes due to the high occupancy per square meter, but that’s okay. My glass was somehow always filled and upon leaving, I could just grab another divine bitterball. I’ll just come back really soon for a bite and such a delicious glass of Ruinart. Cheers!

The doors are open every day for breakfast, lunch, drinks, and dinner.
www.vandambrasserie.nl