Amsterdam Curated: City and Food

This is a funny story, but I hadn't used a key for several decades. One of the big culture shocks after arriving in Amsterdam was encountering keys for doors and gates. In Asia, we typically use a number pad or fingerprint recognition to enter houses. When my family visited, everybody was confused, and on the last day, a big event occurred. The door was locked with the key inside. I called a locksmith, but he was fully booked, so I had to stay at my friend's place and went to breakfast with him. We first attempted to go to a Moroccan breakfast place, which I had randomly received a recommendation for from a Moroccan Uber driver. However, it was closed for the day. So, we swiftly opted for another place with very favorable Google reviews.  As you can discern from the menu, the prices for the all-day breakfast were not typical of Amsterdam, although the pictures on the Google reviews appeared quite enticing. Sweet French Toast 10.5€ We ordered Sweet French Toast and t...

"When people discuss brunch spots in Amsterdam, Dignita consistently appears on their lists. Despite its expansion to multiple locations, it remains one of the city's most popular brunch destinations. One day, my Dutch friend invited me to visit one of its branches at the Hoftuin garden so I could experience the renowned Dignita. We had made a booking in advance, but upon arrival, we discovered that the place was quite packed, with people even queuing without reservations. Nonetheless, they managed to secure our spot and kindly ushered us to their backyard garden. To be honest, as soon as I set foot in the Hoftuin garden, I understood why this place has gained fame. The vibe and atmosphere, surrounded by lush greenery under the sunshine, imbued the place with charm even before sampling any food or beverages. We kicked off our brunch by ordering Mimosas. The refreshing champagne cocktail, with its almost yellowish-orange hue, celebrated the arrival of Spring. The menu was conve...

On Easter Saturday, it was tough finding a brunch spot in Amsterdam since many places were closed for the holiday. Luckily, I managed to snag a table at Box Sociaal in Oost, even though it was a last-minute reservation. Although I didn't have high hopes initially, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience at Box Sociaal. (Be sure to check out the video below for a one-minute video of Box Sociaal) Box Sociaal is an all-day brunch and dinner cafe with an Australian-inspired concept. Interestingly, there seem to be quite a few Australian-style brunch cafes in Amsterdam.   Upon arriving earlier than my friend, I perused the menu book and noted the clear influence of Korean cuisine throughout. While "kimchi" has become ubiquitous on menus of various restaurant tiers, I found the Korean-inspired options at Box Sociaal particularly intriguing and decided to give them a try. Since the weather was still quite cold, I opted for a pot of tea instead of ano...