Benny’s Chicken

           

Albert Cuypstraat 177, 1073 BG Amsterdam +31 06 413 079 95

December 29^th and it’s a cold windy rainy day in Amsterdam, I know, what else is new!?

I jump on my fiets and start peddling towards the Oud-Zuid (Old South) district of the city.

Next stop, the Albert Cuyp Market!

FUN FACT: In 1905, only on Saturday evenings, the city decided to set up a market for local street traders and pushcarts. But in 1912, because of how busy it got, the market was opened during the day, six days a week. Every morning they set up and every evening they breakdown the stands that consist of everything from vegetables, fruits, fishes and spices to clothing, electronics, home décor and souvenirs. The multicultural selection of products is directly related to the Surinamese, Turkish, Moroccan and Dutch culture in the neighborhood making it the most diverse and busiest markets in all the Netherlands and the largest daytime market in Europe.

I get to the market, park my bike and start walking down the gauntlet of goodies. It’s business as usual with various offerings being presented, negotiated and sold to tourists and locals alike. Each vendor having their own “shtick,” some try playing music, dancing and soliciting people, others, just going through the motions of another day trying to make a living.

I walk past the French Fry Guy, past the Poffertje Pusher and don’t even make eye contact with the Stroop waffle Salesman.

I know I’m getting close because I start to hear the call from Maurice, 3^rd generation chicken guy from the Rylaarsdam Family.  “It’s all Chicken, It’s all €2.50!” he yells out...

Walking up I know I’m here for the “Classic.” Kip Broodje met Kaas.  I say hallo, order, pay, sit down, kick back and enjoy the show.

“Hoi Jongens, Hele Lekkere Broodjes!” or “Hey Guys, Very Tasty Sandwiches” shouts out from the “Commissioner of Cluck” as he’s greeted by local “street guys” who come to pay their respects to the “Kip Don Corleone.”

Presiding over the market like a “Chicken Auctioneer” on his “Podium of Poultry”, this “Chief of Chicken” calls out to everyone that passes!

 First in English, “Hello Sir, Good Afternoon, then in Spanish, “Hola, Buenos Dias”, Italian, “Buongiorno”, Dutch, “Goedmiddag”, Turkish, “Tünaydin”, French, “Bonne Aprùs-Midi”, then Portugese, “Boa Tarde.” “It’s all Chicken, It’s all €2.50”

Maurice hands me my Classic Kip Broodje met Kaas saying confidently, “Eet Smakelijk” or “Enjoy your Meal” as I salivate with excitement.

I sit back down, ready a handful of napkins, hunch over the table and take that first bite!

First things first, the Bread is as soft as “a baby’s ass!” Melted cheese on top, chunks of perfectly grilled rotisserie Chicken seasoned with Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Paprika and other “secret” spices touch my palate making me want to do the “Chicken Dance” we all know from back in the day!

For reference! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5sIspLfmXM in case you forgot! (Not me in the video)

But wait, I’m going to add some condiments. Having to choose from BBQ sauce, Cocktail sauce, Sweet Chili sauce, Mustard, Ketchup, Katjangsaus, Knoflooksaus (Garlic Sauce) or Mayonaise I decide to stay true to my Fat Kids roots and douse my broodje with Mayo. Het is op alles de lekkerste!

My second bite is better than the first, then my third, then fourth. I have a feeling that mayo and cheese are all over my face but I don’t care!

As I look up I see a friend, “Hey Joe, you’re here AGAIN!?” She says, “Yes! I love this place...” I reply. “Oh by the way, you have sh#% all over your face!”

Swallowing my pride and that last bite, I wipe my face clean, take a deep breath, improve my posture and stand up.

“Doei” I say as I start to walk away still enjoying the lasting taste of this magnificent sandwich.

6 days per week, 13 hours per day and countless numbers of chickens, this incredibly hard working family always has a smile on their faces and really knows how to prepare chicken.

Believe me, “Ik ben niet gek!” You must go to Benny’s Chicken for a “Classic” Kip Broodje met Kaas.

PEEJAYS Doughnuts

PEEJAYS Doughnuts

Vijzelgracht 37 1017 HP Amsterdam

https://peejaysdoughnuts.com

Some people say Doughnut, others Donut. Let’s explain…

Doughnut is the original spelling of the word. It’s common in the United States and recognized internationally. Donut, popularized by lame ass “Dunkin Donuts” in the 1950’s is an Americanized, shortened version of the word.

Question, what’s the connection between Botany and Doughnuts?

Flower!

Get it? Flour...

Ok bad joke but doughnut worry, the story gets better!

Imagine this, your Opa (Grandpa in Dutch) an entrepreneur and self-made botanist decides he wants to create a new species of plant in Holland using his namesake and call it the, “Kooij Nertera.”

Wikipedia says, “The Nertera granadensis, also known as coral bead plant, pin-cushion plant, coral moss or English baby tears, is a ground cover with orange berries, of the genus, Nertera.”

Fat Kid says, blah-blah-blah to this boring scientific information…

What!?

Doughnut give me a hard time, I’m not here to speak about plants!

I’m here to talk about the freshest, tastiest doughnuts in Amsterdam…

However, before I do, the backstory.

Planning for retirement, Opa hands the business over to his two sons and in 1988, the business takes one of the brothers and his family to Canada. There, while traveling North America the family falls in love with American style doughnuts!

Seeing a doughnut hole in the market here in Holland, in 2016, the Kooij family open PEEJAYS Doughnuts.

Funny how their achternaam also describes their business. Kooij, pronounced like Koi (the beautifully colored fish) or Coy (shy or modest intended to be alluring) are just like the doughnuts being served here!

You doughnut know the half of it… hand-crafted using fresh-fruit compotes, custards, glazes and toppings all eleven variations are made in house fresh daily.

Mouth-watering flavors like Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt give you that incredible sweet n salty combination you desire. Carmelized sugar on top, the Coffee Crème Brulee is a perfect jumpstart to any morning.

Doughnut get me started…

Maple Syrup Pecan, Berry Glazed, Vanilla Disco, Blackberry Cheesecake and the old classic Boston Cream to name a few more!

Lemon Curd Meringue, Raspberry White Chocolate and a Cinnamon Roll doughnut, this place can’t keep up its inventory and sells out each day before the doors close!

Try 1, try 2, try a half dozen like this indecisive Fat Kid just make sure you try them ALL!

Come to PEEJAYS for the doughnuts but stay for the company… Each time I’ve walked in there I feel like family being greeted by a warm, smiling face.

Doughnut pass this place up!

Next time you’re in the neighborhood stop by and say hello! You’ll thank me later and I’ll say… Yup you guessed it, “Doughnut mention it!”

Leeman Doner

Leeman Döner

Van Woustraat 160, 1073 LW Amsterdam, Netherlands +31 (6) 020 662 2596

Growing up in Long Island, New York my cultural palate never experienced many cuisines outside of Italian, Chinese, American and Moms.. Turkish food was never an option so now at 38 yrs old, I can appreciate the pleasant, sweet, peppery and warm flavours this cuisine rich in tradition presents.

When the risk of sauce theft is so common that a place has to hang a sign saying, “Sausflesjes mogen niet naar buiten,” or “Sauce bottles are not allowed out,” something real special must be going on inside.

Leeman Döner is a family owned and operated business since 1992 with 2 locations here in Amsterdam. With the exception of 1 month per year, the incredibly hard working Kilic family cranks out 200kg or 400lbs of Döner PER DAY!

What is Döner? Well, it’s an inverted cone of meat seasoned with Turkish spices being slowly cooked vertically on a rotisserie that will make any Fat Kid weak in the knees.

I walk in, I’m practically drooling!

Serving up Turkish Pizza’s, Lamb or Chicken Döner, Dürüm, Kebab, Falafel, Börek even Baklava, you can choose just about anything on the menu and only pay a few euros for it!

I give my order, “Kip Broodje” and luckily find a place to sit.

Entranced, I watch the 4 meat sauna’s work their magic! Spinning round and around the Döner slowly cooks while fresh made to order breads are lined up waiting to be called into action.

“Hondered drieentwintig!” calls out.. “Hondered drieentwintig yells out again…” Then, number 123!

“Shit!” I think, that’s me..

“Sorry.. dank je wel” I say as I grab my Chicken bundle of joy like a newborn.

The tools I need for battle, napkins and extra garlic sauce are within striking distance as I eye up my first bite. I dive in!

The crunch of the Lettuce, bite from the Onion, earthiness of the Cilantro combined with the taste of Paprika, Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic, Cumin, Oregano, and Red Pepper touch my palate creating a holy matrimony of flavours with the Chicken.

Physically unable to put my sandwich down, I laugh watching the lunchtime video game unfolding in front of me. Everyone there is “Pac Man” eating.. Chomp, chomp, chomp without stopping.

My own Fat Kids version of “Eat, Sleep, Rave, Repeat” starts playing in my head as I douse my sandwich with more garlic sauce!

Like machines, without saying a word, together we are garlic sauce “Brothers-in-Arms” passing the bottle back and forth to each other after each bite until there is no more sandwich left!

Out of breath, I cave as I contemplate another sandwich. “Why not” I say as I re enlist my stomach for another tour of duty..

It’s just that good.

Remember, no matter where you come from, where you’re at or where you’re going, food allows us to come together despite cultural or religious differences.

Stop in today and say hello to my friends Leeman Döner!