Bountiful Bakkerswinkel

Courtesy of the official website: View of the entrance

Ever since (the other) Tita raved about De Bakkerswinkel, we couldn't wait to pay this famous eatery a visit. We had previously wanted to go there with Tita but somehow due an inopportune timetable on both sides, that excursion never materialised. Again, we tried to make it as a day trip to Amsterdam when my Auntie Idai and Uncle Daud (residing in the UK) were supposed to come visit in mid-March. But that didn't happen either.

So we were determined to go there, by hook or by crook, before we flew somewhere else for a holiday (I'm being too cloak and dagger, eh?). And last Tuesday proved to be the most opportune and beautiful day with temperatures hovering in the mid-teens.

Sadia and hubby in train: straight above the window is the ventilation control for our seats - roll the control downwards to let the outside air in, and vice-versa

We trudged out to the nearby train station around 11 to catch the next 'sneltrain' to Amsterdam Centraal. It was a tad nippy outdoors but understandably so since it was still morning. The train ride to the tourist trap went rather smoothly for the most parts. The Dutch's flat landscape greeted us with its beautiful spring hues comprising tulips, begonias, gerberas, daffodils to name a few. All of us were transfixed by the sheer beauty of nature, oohing and aahing here and there.



Towards the last leg of the journey however, Sadia was getting sleepy and began acting up. Luckily, the indispensable aid of nursing quickly lulled her to sleep. And in time too, since we could use the quiet period to find and eat at Bakkerswinkel.

On arrival, the weather maintained its cold front - well, at least to me. It was windy although the sun shone brightly. We trekked on the permanently busy streets of Amsterdam which were teeming with tourists, Nederlanders and immigrants.

Guided by Tita's verbal direction - "it's near to Damrak" - and a Google map image we conveniently stored in our digital camera (hah!), we made our way to the alley where Bakkerswinkel stood proudly alongside a bevy of other 'interesting' shops. The alley to which we entered was relatively close to the department store, De Bijenkorf. With DB as a point of reference, I'd, in a heartbeat, able to direct you out of the maze of alleyways. Hehe!

As to be expected in liberal Amsterdam, a malodorous smell of hash from nearby coffee-shops-slash-marijuana-joints descended on my nose halfway into the alley. To say the least, I was more than relieved to take sanctuary inside the quaint Bakkerswinkel.

Upon entering the door, the rustic charm of its decor stopped us in our tracks and beckoned us to seat down. The bread-making slab of cold tile stood aloft on our right side whereas the take-away counter, filled to the brim with pastries, jams, breads and desserts galore was on our left immediately after we walked in.

Courtesy of website: View from the front door - we were seated at the first table on the left (visible in the middle of the take-out counter and bread-making table)

Beyond that were the seating areas to which we were asked to seat at the first empty table overlooking the front door. I didn't much like the fact we'd be disturbed by incoming and outgoing patrons but the seating arrangement was inviting enough with a cushiony lowback booth on one side and two chairs on the other. So you didn't hear a squeak out of me. :)

While waiting for the waiter to take our orders, we took in the sights of the place. A F&B serving 'island' sat appropriately in the middle of ALL the seating areas. Over the other side of the island and hidden from view was a long rectangular table - one you would normally see at a mess hall - conspicuously placed in the middle and flanked by other smaller dining tables that were pegged against the wall. And, at the far end of the cafe and visible from our table was a staircase leading to more dining tables and a special dining room adjacent to it.

Our lunch comprising a mozarella sandwich, a tomato quiche, cafe latte, cappucino, chocolate cake and scone. Oops, I almost forgot - a glass of whole milk for Sadia. ;-) We won't be coming there for a period of time so we might as well feast like royalties. Haha!

Desserts with coffee drinks: our table sits across this 'compact' booth seats

Jars of strawberry jam and sweet gooey butter (almost like Kaya) for the scones

Sadia woke up as we were about to chow down on our repast. We gave her the croissant - her current favourite - bought earlier at the train station and took turns eating. The mozzie sandwich consisted of big mozarella pieces, tomato slices, alfalfa sprouts and olive butter spread and, the tomato quiche came with a side salad. Unfortunately, the former was rather bland for my taste, but the latter hit the spot! If only the tomato slices were substituted with sun-dried tomatoes. Yummy!

When our desserts arrived, my husband whisked Sadia away to the other side of the 'island' with its long mess table, smaller nook tables and even a miniature long table for the children to play toys which were neatly organised on the open shelves and transparent boxes. The toys, amongst others (I later found out), kept her entertained.

I savoured (my half of) the scone up to the last crumb. Simply sublime and scrummy! The moist chocolate cake, which was not cloyingly sweet, agreed with my sensitive set of teeth. Both desserts went down well with my cafe latte.

My husband then relinquished baby-duty to me while he in turn ate his share of the desserts. Sadia pointed loudly towards the other side of the island, directing me to bring her there. Demanding indeed...I wended through the tables of oblivious diners and brought her to the chidlren's table. Sadia was however more interested in the solo ceiling fan rotating ever so slowly on top the high ceiling and hovering right in the middle of the mess table.

I even brought her upstairs and into the private dining room where a prosperous cat was sleeping on a chair beside a piano forte. She (or he) stirred when we came in and playfully stretched its front paws out. This must be Sadia's first close encounter with a feline in a land where dogs are far more visible and street-accessible. Sadia screamed as soon as I moved away from the cat. She was both intrigued and scared. We lingered for a while, looking out the expansive window next to the piano.

Satiated, we left Bakkerswinkel shortly after finishing Sadia's glass of cold milk. We were tempted to take away a scone (it's cheaper if you have it to go) but decided against it. So much food! Outdoors, warm weather finally made its appearance. It's so hot that some people wore only, sans coats and jackets, tanktops and t-shirts on top. Relying solely on herd mentality, we followed the crowd out of the alley and into the pedestrian square right in front of DB.

After bathroom breaks in DB, we spent our remaining time on Damrak Square (or 'Dam') watching a horde of birds pecking at food on the cobblestone pavements - much in favor of Sadia's ornithological interests - and window-shopping along the lively Nieuwedijk (the street parallels to and behind the busy main street Damrak).





The day ended with a stopover at Ben & Jerry's cozy and hippy-chic ice-cream parlor situated on our scheduled train platform. The unplanned ice-cream treat was mainly due to the lack of waiting chairs outside on the platform. Also, the platform felt more like a makeshift wind-tunnel, assailing hapless, unsuspecting travellers with cold wind from all sides.

We arrived in Delft ten minutes to 5pm, just in time before the rush hour started. If not, we would be in a train packed like a can of sardines! The continuing pleasant temperatures in Delft were like an icing on the cake of a fantastic jaunt into Amsterdam's Bakkerswinkel. One more for the road, come this scorching summer perhaps? ;)

One for the road!