When traveling I love to try new local businesses. While in Amsterdam I requested some recommendations from local Dutch friends for NYE's dinner. After some local restaurant search information I ended up making a reservation at this cute restaurant with views of the water to one of Amsterdam's gorgeous "canals" - best decisions ever. Decoration was very fancy Nordic European styled: lots of windows and plants, evening indoors lightning homey and agreeable, furniture with simple and elegant lines and colors. The service was gracious, efficient and pace between courses perfection. As very local, all the menu was in Dutch and the staff was super nice and explained it all very detailedly. We had 3 gourmet courses: a tartare, a duck dish, "Sukade" (a juicy steak with tasty gratinated potatoes with some "au point" crunchy cabbage - definitely my evening highlight delight). For wine pairing we decided to try a white wine glass: an Austrian Grüner Weltliner varietal (an exotic option to Sauvignon Blanc with its "metallic" taste notes) and another red wine glass of a French varietal. We still ended with some toothsome "Baba au Rum" dessert, made of mascarpone cream. Some delicious espresso and an Italian grappa as a digestive. I found the whole experience extremely culturally enriching, very local and Dutch hospitality did not disappoint, rather impressive again. Definitely modern European cuisine. read more