There's a bit of a fairground in the centre of town at present. Includes a Ferris Wheel. Also an extremely high set of those chairs that hang from chains and go round and round - they spin round way above the quite large Ferris Wheel. Guess you'd get a good view of the area from up there!

If you want steaks – there are plenty of decent South American steak houses down Korte Leidsedwarsstraat, which is just off the Leidseplein.

That takes you down to Leidekruisstraat. If you turn left, there are a couple of traditional Dutch restaurants if you fancy something along those lines. The Pantry has (or certainly used to have) great smoked eel, and there's also Kop van Jut, where I'd very happily recommend the Erwtensoep if it's not much warmer – that's a form of pea and ham soup, served with smoked bacon on dark bread. It's seriously warming. Their bitterballen are nice too.

Look out for poffertjes – a sort of Dutch Scotch pancake, but sweeter. You can get a nice plate as an alternative breakfast at a cafe on the Bloemenmarkt (can't remember its name, but it does English breakfasts etc).

Chips have to be consumed with mayo – Amsterdam is where I picked up this filthy habit.

And I have fond memories of getting a frank with sauerkraut from the stand outside the Westerkerk.

If you want a real 'brown cafe' – a traditional, working-class bar – then try Café Heuvel, which is on the Prinsengracht, just up from the Rijksmuseum. So central and yet remarkably untouristy.

Spent a wonderful New Year's Day night in there a few years ago.

Ooo, looks interesting.

~makes note~

The Jordaan area is the place to eat unless you are set on the tourist traps. Small, independent restaurants. If you're just out for a loud time then those near Leidesplein are fine - lots of choice.

Quote ="Dally"As nobody replied in time I just went for a walk and came across this place whose name I recgnised from the internet: www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_R ... vince.html Was pretty good.'" If you follow the link you can now see my review. If going to Amsterdam for a few days and you are willing to go out of the immediate tourist areas I recommend giving it a go.

Quote ="Dally"As nobody replied in time I just went for a walk and came across this place whose name I recgnised from the internet: www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_R ... vince.html Was pretty good.'" If you follow the link you can now see my review. If going to Amsterdam for a few days and you are willing to go out of the immediate tourist areas I recommend giving it a go.

Might look at that – thank you.

There's a couple in the Jordaan we've eaten at in the past, but I'm afraid I cannot remember the names.

I like the ones I mentioned earlier simply because they're small, they have a sense of the local and do local food. Sometimes that does cross over with the touristy – but I'm very, very much looking forward to eating [url=http://schiffergesellschaft.com/here[/url on my trip, which starts a week Saturday. I want to eat regional food.

We spent the best part of an hour seeking out an Indian and it was disgusting



There are millions of 'Argentine' grills around the Dam Square offshoots, so if you like steak you're on to a winner. FEBO is also a must after an evening on the lash.

Only a friggin wigginer would look for an "Indian" amongst a multitude of Indonesian restaurants

I had great a week staying in the Jordaan district a year or so back and my top tip would be to make sure you've got shoes with smooth soles on....the amount of dog muck on the pavements there is remarkable!

check that youtubey thing for Mojo Nixon and The Amsterdam Dog[is[/ihit Blues

Question.

In Amsterdam, is it customary to "go Dutch" on the bill?

Damn. I don't usually do desserts so just askked for a coffee when offered the menu. Looking at the review imeediately above mine, I wisj I'd have taken a look!

I tend to have dessert when dining out, but at home, it's once a week at the most.

You're female! All women like desserts. I prefer starters wheras most females I know would give up a starter for a dessert.

3 pages on Amsterdam.

Do not bother going there , there are far more interesting cities in Europe to go to. Dont wast your money or time !!!!!!

Ah well, there you go.

I don't actually have a very sweet tooth. The chocolates I bought for Christmas – top-quality ones – still haven't been finished. And that's quite my norm.

I bought some exceptionally special ones from Bruges at the beginning of May last year – loved them. But the box still lasted until the end of the year.

I know you shouldn't laugh, particularly as I only speak a bit of Italian and a modicum of terrible French, but I do love a translated menu.

My favourite was a place in a little town in Slovakia that featured "Chicken Of The Neighbourhood" and "Spit On A Plate".

More than one waiter has been severely withered by one look from La Senora after that sort of comment.

Thats just weird.

I bought a box of Cadbury's Roses for the wife for Easter last weekend, nice of me wasn't it ?

Anyway, she's like you, likes chocolate but she'd expect to go back to that box of Roses in September and still find plenty left.

She'll be lucky, I scoffed the effin lot myself, threw the box out on Tuesday, don't think she's noticed yet.

I'm dead when she does.

Another strange one, it was La Senora who bought me a small punnet of hand made chocolates for my 50th birthday evening (not very many years ago).

Imagine my surprise when I scoffed one when I got home and found red chillies inside each one.

Chocolate with vegetables, something not right with that one.

Wonderful!






Well I did buy Hotel Chcolate eggs for both me and The Other Half for Easter. tb's was gone by Saturday. Mine is barely – dleicately – touched..

Chocolate and chilli are a match made in heaven, as are roasted garlic cloves covered in a good dark chocolate.

If you ever visit Cadbury World, you'll be offered a small cup of real hot chocolate: this is flavoured with chillies and is so much better than any mug of Bournville.

I am also partial to salted chocolate: melt a bar of good quality dark chocolate and pour it over a scattering of co sea salt. - Heaven

Not a pube in sight this weekend.