454090 Thu Oct 25 11:54:29 -0700 2007 4 26 International 0 3066931 Hi all! I'm traveling to Amsterdam and Brussels soon for about 3 days each. I am budget conscious but still seeking great food (trying to keep food bills 40E-50E per person day. I like just about everything when it comes to food, especially vegetarian, but my traveling companion is a pretty meat and potatoes type person who is not an especially adventurous eater. He does like seafood though. We both like all kinds of beer though, if anyone has any particular recommendations for must-try tasty adult beverage. I would also like to get some recommendations for breakfast (bakeries or cafes), as our lodging does not serve breakfast. Farmer's markets or prepared food hall recommendations are welcome as well! I have looked in past posts, but I am worried about how expensive they are. I have also checked some websites for cheap eats, but would prefer recommendations from other foodies. Thank you!! Thu Oct 25 11:54:29 -0700 2007 112545 foodieinlaw 1 3068749 I can't help much with Brussels, but here are some Amsterdam suggestions for your requests: Beer: You should definitely go to t'Arendsnest for its vast selection of Dutch beers (some quite rare), and De Zotte for a similarly large range of Belgian brews. At the former, try the Elfstedentocht, a cold-season beer from Friesland I've never seen outside the Netherlands. At De Zotte, there's also a good -- and fairly cheap -- kitchen but get there early if you want a table for the evening. Breakfast: Not exactly a regional specialty, but for something yummy and filling and not too pricey, try Cafe Nielsen in the Negen Straatjes (9 little streets). Good omelettes, pancake specials, fresh juices, etc. Bang for the buck: Narbonne on Bosboom Touissantstraat (no idea who Bosboom Toussaint was, but what a great name...) Sort of Mediterranean eclectic, reliably good with Texas-sized portions at a reasonable price. For some reason, they also make burritos but those aren't their strong suit; stick to the seafoods, salads, and specials. Not too far away is Beyrouth for good cheap Lebanese, and if you're in Oud Zuid drop by Tootsie at lunchtime for what's probably the best club sandwich I've ever tried. Fri Oct 26 02:49:37 -0700 2007 3066931 56718 Bradbury 1 3071844 I just got back from a trip that included two nights in Amsterdam. We ate dinner the second night at a great, very reasonably priced place, de Struisvogel. They serve a 3-course fixed price menu for 21.50 euros, which was about the only "bargain" we came across. See this link for comments: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/267489. Sat Oct 27 05:05:32 -0700 2007 3066931 17071 cabster 1 3090619 My experience in Amsterdam was a little more casual as we were more concerned with time than money, but still didn't want to spend too much. I'd definitely recommend trying one of the tons of shoarma stands they have, as you can get falafel and your friend can get his pita packed with meat and some of the great Dutch fries that are served all over the place. Getting a cone of "frites" covered in ketchup and (for some reason) mayo seems to be a popular experience, but I didn't care for the mayo. It does taste different that the Best Foods stuff we get stateside, though. What I remember most about the beer is that Heineken actually tasted GOOD (I hate it anytime I get it here), but the one that stands out is La Trappe Quadrupel, a 10% beer that hits very well...especially considering we had our first at 10 am. Fri Nov 02 16:27:26 -0700 2007 3066931 76461 MeAndroo 2 3091776 Agree on the La Trappe (especially now that Schapskooi abbey has bought their brewery back, regaining the Trappist 'AOC' label), but would beg to differ on the shawarma ... after all the OP said 'great food' and there's only 2 great shawarma places in Amsterdam, and nobody can agree on where they are :) (Personally I favored one on Utrechtsestraat and one in the Jordaan, but it's been over a year since I lived in A'dam so it's probably changed by now!) Another delicious-and-cheap option I forgot in my above post were the good Ethiopian places on and around the Overtoom, my favorite of which is Lalibela. And if you're in town on a Saturday morning, stroll the farmer's market at Noorderkerk, it's less overwhelming than the Albert Cuyp Markt and has better food in general. Sat Nov 03 09:32:06 -0700 2007 3090619 56718 Bradbury