It is never too late to celebrate your birthday in style. So when I was asked where I wanted to go, I immediately knew it had to be Bluespoon restaurant in Amsterdam, located in the Andaz hotel at Prinsengracht.

Luxury Hotel on the Amsterdam Canals

Surrounded by the city’s iconic canals, Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht sits in the charming heart of Amsterdam. With everything from the whimsical and quirky design by renowned Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, to its superb location and inspiring event spaces, our 122-room hotel is an ideal destination for business and leisure travelers alike. For something extra, Bluespoon Restaurant & Bar champions revolutionary cocktails & picture-perfect dishes with a Dutch edge and the hotel is home to the largest video art collection in Europe.

Andaz website

I already fell in love with the Bluespoon bar earlier, and actually I come there quite frequently to enjoy the most perfect cocktails. So, not a difficult choice how to start the evening – in the bar, with an Espresso Martini. 

Isn’t this too cute? I always really feel like Alice in Wonderland when I’m here. And, yes, nowhere you can find better cocktails, hipper people and lesser tourists in Amsterdam. 

So, the nuts, which are rather brilliant (with honey), don’t fill up all the apetite so time to go to the restaurant.

We started off in style; with a glass of champagne – Ruinart brut can never go wrong.

Time for the first amuse. A little vegetarian salad with quinoa, which was really packed with flavours.

And even a second amuse. For me, roasted avocado (gosh, I love avocado).

Time to start the 4-course menu. For my friend a very nice dish – 
north sea crab, marie rose, melon, vadouvan, pumpkin. I especially liked the cracker (sorry I hate half #sorrynotsorry). For me, the 
beetroot, kohlrabi, hangop, onion, eiswein, pistachio. Gosh, I feel hungry again when I think of it. I got a La Mascaronne Quat’Saisons Côtes de Provence 2017 to pair. Which was an excellent choice.

Time for the in-between course! My friend chose the 
pigeon, beetroot, sage, bitterbal, cabbage, crispy skin. For me, they catered to my preference, since I was not fond of what I found on the menu. I got the best risotto ever. And they served it with a Maison de La Villette Chardonnay 2016, which was a little too fruity to my preference, but it is nice to knowing the wine comes from Paris itself. 

When finished, we got a little break. They served some special bread and we played some chess^^. This is something I really appreciate, a somewhat playful environment and a stretched, long evening. No rush.

Back to the table for the mains!

The sommelier was really nice. She explained well, without telling too long stories. Most important: she really listened to what we were saying.

My friend (who is obviously not a vegetarian) chose the 
duck, roasted onion, red cabbage, yoghurt, pecan, puffed quinoa

While for me, the 
roasted salsify, quinoa, lentils, parsnip, tonka bean, pear vinaigrette was waiting, served with 
Cepa Gavilán Crianza Ribera del Duero 2015 (yes! They heard I prefer red wine).

Everything comes to an end, unfortunately. I chose some cheeses (off-menu), while my friend chose a chocolate dessert (mmm, the cookies looks kinda familiar haha). They served me a 
Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore 2017 with it. Red and I LIKE! 

And we finished off with some chess, a game we never finished……..