Flower market on the "Amstelveld"

Flower market on the "Amstelveld"

Every Monday morning there is a small but pretty market on the Amstelveld.

You will find not only flowers, plants and bulbs, but also cheese, chocolates, honey, french sausages etc.

We often go there for the eatable flowers, we use in our kitchen.


Fresh Herbs and Spices and the Noordemarkt

Saturday's are one of our favourite days of the week. After a slow start, there is nothing better than to wonder the small streets of the Jordaan and head over to the bustling Noordemarkt.

We've spoken before about the array of ingredients on offer. But, with the cold wintery weather, we are going to get some fresh herbs to make a big batch of soul-warming chicken soup and the best harissa you will ever taste!

There are beautiful bundels of soup herbs that you can buy to add to your pan of steaming goodness. They also make the most amazing table decorations if you're hosting a dinner. Another thing we're also going to be getting, which you don't see too often and will be the prefect addition to our soup is lovage (maggi in Dutch). It comes in herb and root form and is similar in flavour to celery. We'll put some of the leaves and the peeled root into the soup, but the root is also perfect grated into salads.

So if you're going to do groceries today, maybe add a few of these items to your list. Wishing you all a delicious weekend. Happy eating!

 


Baby Beetroot

Autumn is the season for root vegetables and one of our favourites is beetroot. If you are able to find them, spend that little extra and treat yourself to a bunch or two. They are a bit of a pain to clean. Be sure to rinse them well to remove all the sand. Trim off the leaves, leaving a little bit of the stalk. If the leaves are fresh and in good condition, you can use them too. Just walk briefly until wilted and they make a great side dish.

Place the beetroot on an oven tray lined with foil. Lay the beetroot on top, add some fresh thyme, whole unpeeled garlic cloves, a good drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of coarse sea salt. Wrap the ends of the foil tightly together and place in a 210 C oven for about 1-1,5 hours until tender. Allow to cool slightly and then peel of the skin with the help of a small knife. Serve as is or with a balsamic and olive oil dressing. The uses for beetroot are seemingly endless.

 


Weekend Lunch

Before you go to the market this weekend and restock your fridge with fresh produce, use up the vegetables you have left in the fridge for lunch. Here are 2 easy ways:

Roasted Vegetables
Heat the oven to 200 C. Roughly chop and aubergine, red pepper, courgette and a couple of red onions. Toss them in a roasting dish with some fresh thyme and a couple of whole, unpeeled garlic cloves, olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for about 20-30 minutes until the vegetables are tender and tinged with a golden hue. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Aubergine Spread
Take 2 aubergines, and chop them into 1 cm cubes. Heat a griddle pan over medium-high heat. Toss the aubergine cubes in olive oil and grill until tender and coloured. Season with salt and pepper. Place half in a food processor with a couple of tablespoons good mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Pulse to a chunky puree. Transfer to a bowl and fold the remaining aubergine pieces through. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

 


Marqt

Marqt opened the doors of it's first store in Amsterdam in 2008. Since then, it has opened a further 5 stores in the city and even expanded into other major Dutch cities.

Marqt lives by a few principles which we also strongly believe in. They are:
- respect for nature, animals and people
- a preference for local cultivation and origin
- produced with passion and responsibility
- a fair price for producers that encourages stable production
- food that remains close to its source, thus no additional additives or unnecessary processes

The stores encourage consumers to be more aware of what they purchase and what they eat. A big part of the produce is organic and walking through the stores, where everything is so neatly displayed, one cannot help being drawn into a world of food.

For more information please visit Marqt

 


Noordermarkt August 2014

Portabella Organic Mushrooms

Portabella is a market company specializing in mushrooms. Fresh, wild and organically grown mushrooms are available at the market stall throughout the year. Wild mushrooms and truffles are subject to seasonality and availability. The cultivated mushrooms are grown here in the Netherlands and can be enjoyed year round. Visit their stall and experience an array of mushrooms you never knew existed.
For more information please visit Portabella Paddestoelen

Scottish Kitchen

You want to have your own English tea but don't want the hassle of baking yourself?
You're looking for the most delicious scones and shortbread?
Then you need to visit the Scottish Kitchen at the Noordemarkt! You'll also find lemon curd, clotted cream, chutneys and many more cakes. All lovingly made by Stelle Robertson. Stelle trained in Scotland, where she learnt the basics of patisserie. She has also trained with some of the best here in Amsterdam and this is evident in the quality and assortiment on offer.
For more information please visit schotsekeuken

Raspberry Maxx

Carlo Peters and Henny van Bergeijk started their raspberry farm, Raspberry Maxx, in 2004. What started with a farm growing raspberries in the usual way, quickly turned into a completely organically certified company with delicious raspberries. But it does not stop there.
Raspberry Maxx has been creating dreams for a decade. Dreams of a world where people see nature as a source an inspiration and as a means to bring beautiful things to reality. The Raspberry Maxx events annually attract a host of visitors. As the demand for the raspberry Raspberry Maxx raspberries has grown, it was decided to sell directly to consumers through markets and online. That means a shorter farm-to-table chain with even fresher raspberries. An extension to the range with different raspberry products includes jams, muesli's and dried raspberries at events such as markets, open days and raspberry competitions.
You can find Raspberry Maxx at the Noordermarkt on Saturdays.
For more information please visit raspberry maxx

Wolverei goats cheese

Wolverlei is an ecological goat farm in Twente in the eastern part of Holland. In the meadows around the farm a hundred Swiss Saanen dairy goats graze. The fertile soil makes for perfect grazing.
In the modern dairy under extremely hygienic conditions, the goats milk is transformed, using a traditional French recipe, into the famous Wolverlei goats cheese.
The hundred Wolverlei goats are milked twice a day. The milk is automatically transported to the cooling tank via a closed system. The dairy is in a sterile area that meets with the strictest European rules. A sterile environment prevents contamination. The recipe for the soft cheeses originally comes from France. As an homage, many of them carry a French name.
They have a wide assortment of goats cheese, from fresh to aged, flavoured with herbs and spices to the delicious baby crotte de chèvre, which we particularly love. You can find Wolverlei goats cheese every Saturday at the Noordermarkt in Amsterdam.
For more information please visit Wolverlei goats cheese

 

 


Noordermarkt

The Noordermarkt situated in the Jordaan district is a must-see if you have a free Saturday morning. Buzzing with tourists and locals alike, the range and quality of produce on offer is some of the best you will find in Amsterdam. You'll find bread, bundles of fresh herbs, fruit, seafood, cheese and mushrooms. Most of the produce is organic and a trip to the market is highly recommended. The market starts at around 9:30 and ends around 16:00. It's advisable to get there early as it fills up quickly.