WSTalk Fall Winter 2023 - Flipbook - Page 25
tiered design housing over 600 rooms.
Groundbreaking innovation is second
only to the Dutch penchant for liberalism fostering equitable, inclusive
acceptance of humanity at large.
In the late 15th Century Dutch
explorers set out to 昀椀nd new trade
routes along with land mass acquisitions for the monarchy, and 昀椀nancial
reward for the government. Referred
to as The Dutch Golden Age, the establishment of an unrivaled colonial
empire brought economic wealth and
power to the lowland country which
was counterbalanced by advancements in home grown industry from
agriculture to textiles. Tulips at one
time were actually used as currency
driving market share skyward while
creating fortunes for 昀氀ower brokers.
Walking through Amsterdam’s century’s old, 昀氀oating Bloemenmarkt, translated to 昀氀ower market, is delightedly
enchanting, barges resting dockside
showcasing baskets and bins exploding with the most glorious blossoms
imaginable, tulip, da昀昀odil and hyacinth bulbs begging for purchase. The
hypnotic, enveloping fragrance beckons
tourists into the chaotic scene where
bi-lingual vendors sell their blooms at
a fast clip. Even though we’ve visited
Amsterdam numerous times, strolling
the 昀氀ower market is an irresistible joy
for me. If you’re a gardener or 昀氀ower
lover, the joy will be yours as well.
Introduced to the Netherlands around
1200 AD, the windmill, deeply embedded in the Dutch psyche, has been
modernized. These massive turbine
wind towers churning out power as a
sustainable, renewable energy resource
are being embraced globally while yesteryear’s windmills are being restored
and preserved as historical landmarks.
Windmill farms anchoring the shoreline along Holland’s North Sea coast
powering homes, agriculture, and industry begs the question, at what cost?
Sacri昀椀cing the unobstructed view of
the sea in exchange for unlimited power is a sight that leaves me unsettled,
yearning for a world gone by. I guess
that’s what you call progress.
Throughout Holland, multicultur-
al cuisines grace the tables of homes
and restaurants alike o昀昀ering a taste of
every corner of the world. The typical
Dutch kitchen features meat, potatoes
and vegetables served for dinner several times a week. For the epicurean,
scrumptious creations from Argentinian, African and Italian, Surinamese,
Chinese and Indonesian, my favorite,
can easily be explored in the city’s numerous dining establishments. Taking
an evening meal alongside a canal,
the night lights re昀氀ected in the city’s
watery highways, o昀昀ers an undeniable
romantic interlude after a day of touring. Most Americans wouldn’t think
of going to a Chinese restaurant while
on vacation but please note, Chinese
restaurants are tailored to the palette
of the country they operate in and well
worth the booking.
It’s sad the American palette is underserved in many stateside Chinese
restaurants in my opinion, maybe because we’ve been reduced to fast food
nation status. One of our favorite Chinese Restaurants is the Sea Palace, a
beautifully appointed establishment
anchored in Amsterdam’s harbor,
opened in 1984. I always feel like I’m
walking into a James Bond movie when
we dine there. Known for its Peking
Duck served tableside, globetrotters
from every nation make reservations in
advance to be sure to get a table when
vacationing there. It’s a don’t miss dining experience.
B
orn and raised in
Indonesia, my mother-in-law Anneke introduced me to the
Indonesian Rijsttafel
or Rice Table. Comprised of up to 26
dishes including vegetable and meat
stews and curries featuring pork, beef
and goat, eggs, rice, fried onions, sate
with peanut butter sauce, and condiments to tantalize the taste buds, the
rice table is perfect for the picky eater
because everyone can 昀椀nd something
they like.
Provided as a compliment to the
cuisine, sambal is a spicy shrimp and
ginger chili paste imparting heat and
昀氀avor to every bite for those who savor
a kick, or it can be used sparingly to
enhance the 昀氀avor as you go along. Ask
your hotel Concierge to recommend a
good Indonesian restaurant near your
hotel if you’d like to be adventurous.
You won’t be disappointed.
De Bijenkorf is a famous department
store destination for intrepid shoppers
in the town center of Amsterdam, comparable to Galleries Lafayette in Paris, Harrod’s in London, or the upscale
King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania.
Here, couture designer shops reign
supreme. On the top 昀氀oor, there’s an
exceptional restaurant frequented by
shoppers in the know complete with
a lounge. The restaurant o昀昀erings run
the gamut from vegetarian cuisine to
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