PISCO - The Peruvian Brandy Is Celebrated In The Netherlands For A Whole Month

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The PISCO Week is a worldwide event celebrating the Peruvian Brandy called Pisco. Local bars and restaurants from all over the world showcase signature and unique cocktail recipes.

Luckily, I attended one of the PISCO events at the beginning of September, and I can tell you what to expect.

Since the Horeca industry was closed for so long here in the Netherlands, the PISCO Week has become the PISCO Month. This month, Peru's greatest love and national heritage, Pisco, will take centre stage. It is the first time in the Netherlands that the 'Spirit of Peru' is in the spotlight for a month. YEEEY! 

What do I know about PISCO?

Well, honestly, until the beginning of September, I only knew it's a Peruvian alcoholic drink, and más o menos (more or less!) that's it! 

Now Pisco is perhaps not entirely on the tip of the tongue with the regular bar goer; cocktail fanatics will know this Brandy well and have been fans for some time. The Spirit of Peru is of great importance to Peruvian history, culture, gastronomy and real national pride. Pisco is a delicate grape distillate named after a region in Peru and is also known as an unaged brandy from South America. The spirit is so great that Peruvians have even created extra holidays – such as Pisco Sour Day and National Pisco Day – around the drink. We get to celebrate for an entire month! Pisco is delicious as an aperitif, a good combination with various dishes and a fantastic companion for making cocktails.

Now you are probably familiar with the Pisco Sour - a light, fresh cocktail including lemon, egg and Angostura Bitters -, the participating cocktail bars prefer to take a different tack. They all create their own surprising cocktail, such as the Machu Pisco and The Crying Lama, where Pisco plays a leading role. 

Are you up for a trip to Peru without actually taking the plane? The following bars will be serving a delicious Pisco cocktail in the coming month:

AMSTERDAM

  • Rosalia's Menagerie

  • Flying Dutchmen Cocktails

  • Salmuera

  • Super Lyan

ROTTERDAM

  • Botanero

  • Café LaBru 

UTRECHT

  • Rum Club

  • Behind Bars Cocktailbar

THE HAGUE

  • Restaurant Tapisco

  • Bricks "Hooch & Brew" 

More information about the bars can be found here.

I tried three different cocktails, and each and one of them sent me a different feeling. So either it's about the summer we never had in Amsterdam, or the perfect Friday night with your friends or just a more sour gentlemen drink, whatever you need, Pisco can provide it to you. You can see my experience on my Instagram Reels

Do you want to know more about the Spirit of Peru? Here you will find more information.

Best Fish Bars In Amsterdam

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Bar Fisk

Fisk is the Scandinavian word for fish. Funnily enough, the owners of Fisk come from a completely different direction, namely Israel. And it shows. They have brought the typical conviviality of the Israeli markets and their love for the delicious flavors of Tel Aviv to Amsterdam. Expect special flavor combinations on beautifully presented plates, such as shrimp falafel with tahini and spring onion and scallops with corn, feta, and chervil. They are different dishes that are perfect for sharing. Wash away the fine fish with one of Fisk's fantastic cocktails, which are works of art in themselves. 
Eerste Sweelinckstraat 23 , barfisk.nl


Mr. Crab Seafood Restaurant

One of my favorite fish locations in Amsterdam until now. The captain, Mr. Crab, took this very seriously when cooking for his crew. Every day he took fresh fish or crab from the catch of the day, mixed them with the best fresh vegetables and herbs, and added his passion and love to it. That’s might just be the secret that makes the seafood at Mr. Crab so unique.

🦀Centre: Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 115
🦀Zuidas: Gelderlandplein 207

www.mrcrab.nl

Brut de Mer

Small but nice and therefore packed every day: Brut de Mer at Gerard Douplein in the Pijp. When you enter the pipe drawer, the first thing you see is oysters, mountains of oysters. Fresh daily, of course. They are opened in front of you at the long marble bar by the oysterman while the bartender fills your glass with a beautiful, matching wine at the same time. Of course, Brut de Mer offers more than just oysters, and the menu is based on what can be obtained on the market that day. However, there are also classics, such as the Lobster Roll, the Fruits de Mer plateau, and the King Krab. It is not the cheapest among the fish bars, but then you have something. 
Gerard Douplein 8, brutdemer.nl

The Seafood Bar

The success story called The Seafood Bar cannot be missed in this list. It all started in 2012 on the Van Baerlestraat, and in the meantime, the modern, casual, and always packed fish restaurant has three branches in Amsterdam (and since 2018, also one in Utrecht). There is also The Seafood Shop, on the Leidsestraat. The menu of The Seafood Bar features only the best quality fresh fish and seafood. Everything on your plate, from oyster to octopus to lobster, is carefully selected and prepared according to traditional methods. Fast, good, and tasty. A golden formula. 
Spui (square) 15 
Van Baerlestraat 5 
Ferdinand Bolstraat 32 
Stationsplein 22 (Utrecht) 
theseafoodbar.com


I will update the list continously!

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