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Westergasterras

One of my new pleasures is taking Tala on long walks in Westerpark. I’ve been meaning to show Marlon what I’ve discovered while he’s at work, and to bring the camera too. This weekend I finally got to do both.

After a long winter, spring is finally kicking in and everything is in bloom.

During my first spring in Amsterdam, I was surprised by how quickly the flowers came and went. Now I make sure to take photos before they’re gone.

Walking past all the trees in bloom, we reached the Westergasterras, a restaurant housed in one of the old brick factory buildings beside the Gashouder, a gas tank that dates back to the 1900s.

The Gashouder looms large over the restaurant’s biggest draw: a large, spacious terrace that is perfect for sunny days. Westergasterras also has a cool industrial interior, with a big brick fireplace and metal pipes everywhere, but in spring it’s all about this terrace.

We stopped for a light lunch and coffee, plus one of the best sticky toffee cakes I’ve had in a while. I find casual dining in Amsterdam to be hit and miss, so it’s always nice to come across a place with good food.

I love discovering places like Westergasterras: so cool yet so laid-back, unpretentious, and most importantly, kid-friendly. There was a high hipster-to-stroller ratio, and all around the restaurant were toddlers wheeling around on loopfiets (balance bikes) or kids drawing on the ground with chalk.

A decent lunch, a cool new discovery, and another reason to love our neighborhood. Not bad for a laid-back Sunday. How was your weekend?

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Posted on April 29, 2013
Category: Food & Drink, Life in Amsterdam · Labels: Amsterdam, brunch, food, Westerpark

Let’s Do Brunch in… Antwerp

I’ve been grounded for almost five months and I’m itching to travel again! With the baby, our trips need to be short and easy, so I’m looking at cities within a short train ride from Amsterdam.

One of them is Antwerp, where Marlon and I went last year for a half-day trip. That just wasn’t enough to fully explore this beautiful, design-savvy city, and I’d love to return. When I do, I’ll make it a point to stop by this month’s brunch place, recommended by guest blogger Noortje Emmerink of Peppermint, who has lived and worked in Antwerp as a fashion designer and stylist.

Although I only met Noortje very briefly at the Meet the Blogger last year, it’s easy to keep in touch with someone in blogland. I’ve kept up with Noortje’s blog because of her eye for design, cool and colorful style and fun, light feel.

True to her style, she’s chosen a place that’s as cool, colorful, fun and light as her blog. Find out what it is, after the jump!

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Posted on April 28, 2013
Category: Let's Do Brunch · Labels: Antwerp, Belgium, brunch, Europe, food, guest post, Let's Do Brunch

Let’s Do Brunch in… Bali

Winter has overextended in Europe, but back home in Southeast Asia, summer is already in full swing. This long Easter weekend in particular is prime beach time; everyone’s out of town and the endless parade of vivid sunsets, bright white sands and turquoise waters on my Instagram and Facebook feeds are killing me.

So it’s perfect that this month’s virtual brunch is in the beach paradise of Bali.

I’ve never been to Bali myself, but if I did go, the first person I would ask for tips is The Diplomatic Wife. She’s a friend from university who found herself turning from party animal to domestic diva when she and her diplomat husband were posted to Jakarta. The Diplomatic Wife blogs about her life in Jakarta—full of delicious food, easy DIYs, stylish homemaking, and travels around Southeast Asia—on her blog and runs a chic webshop filled with her fab finds and jewelry designs.

Diplomatic life will soon take her to Berlin. But for now, The Diplomatic Wife leads us away from the tourist crowds and glitzy bars to her favorite brunch spot in Bali.

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Posted on March 31, 2013
Category: Let's Do Brunch · Labels: Bali, beach, brunch, guest post, Let's Do Brunch

Let’s do Brunch in… Tagaytay

It’s the first brunch post of the year! So I thought I’d do something a little special and take you to one of my favorite brunch spots, which I can only visit once a year when I’m back home in the Philippines. And that is Breakfast at Antonio’s in Tagaytay.

Tagaytay was always my family’s halfway point during frequent weekend drives to the beach—Puerto Azul in Cavite, and when that went downhill, White Sands in Nasugbu. Five years ago, Marlon and I were married there. It’s now way more developed than I remember (and more than I’d like), but for a weekend activity, a long leisurely drive to Tagaytay never gets old… not when what awaits you is a fresher, cooler climate and a beautiful view.

This classic panorama of Taal Volcano—a lake within a volcano within a lake within a volcano—is exactly the view from Breakfast at Antonio’s backyard.

The younger sibling of Antonio’s, one of the Philippines’ best restaurants and a yearly pick for The Miele Guide’s 20 Best Restaurants in Asia, Breakfast at Antonio’s serves all-day breakfast in a setting that reminds me of a weekend resthouse.

It could belong to someone you know: an older friend, maybe an relative. That is, if you have relatives who are really… successful (read: rich).

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Posted on January 27, 2013
Category: Food & Drink, Let's Do Brunch, Manila Girl at Heart · Labels: brunch, food, Let's Do Brunch, Philippines, Tagaytay

Let’s Do Brunch in… Berlin

Our last brunch date for 2012 is in a vibrant, creative city that I’ve been to twice, but only really fell in love with this year. And that is Berlin!

One of my regrets from last spring’s “working” visit to Berlin is that I didn’t get to try any of the many breakfast places I saw or read about. My impression was that Berlin seems to be wild about breakfast—an impression confirmed by enthusiastic Berliner Lena from Mina Moka. Lena is a self-confessed brunch addict and big city lover, which makes her the perfect person to be our Berlin brunch guide.

Happy brunching, and here’s to more delicious brunches in 2013!

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Posted on December 30, 2012
Category: Let's Do Brunch · Labels: Berlin, brunch, Europe, food, Germany, guest post, Let's Do Brunch

Let’s do brunch in… Florence

Georgette Jupe is, as her blog says, a Girl in Florence. She’s also the girl who led us to our awesome Notte Bianca experience in Florence, by supplying the only English itinerary I could find online.

An American who’s been living in Florence since 2007, Georgette has a self-diagnosed obsession with food (as I would, if I lived in Italy!), making her a great fit for a guest post about, well, food. I like her blog’s local, not-your-typical-expat approach to everyday life in Florence: its food, wine, culture, humor, language and more. It’s a fun read, and a great resource for anyone Florence-bound—both travelers and immigrants (I won’t say tourists and expats!) alike.

So what does this Girl in Florence have to say about brunch in Florence?

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Posted on November 25, 2012
Category: Let's Do Brunch · Labels: brunch, Europe, Florence, food, guest post, Italy, Let's Do Brunch

Let’s do brunch in… Barcelona

Barcelona has got to be one of my favorite European cities ever. Great food, abundant sunshine, lots of culture and color, and good-looking, stylish people… not to mention it’s right on the beach.

The author of this week’s guest post is one lucky lady to be living in such an amazing city. Though she was born in Germany, Gudy Herder lives in Barcelona, where she works as an interior stylist and trainer in visual merchandising for luxury retail brands. Gudy has an amazing eye for style—particularly eclectic style, which she documents on her blog Eclectic Trends.

Gudy’s eclectic style—mixing various influences to make a truly personal space—really appeals to me. I find myself paying very close attention to her posts (and going through her archives!) especially now that I’m thinking about how to decorate our new place.

Gudy also takes beautiful pictures, so this week’s brunch is a visual treat. It makes me want to fly to Barcelona and enjoy a delicious meal on a bustling, sun-drenched plaza… right now!

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Posted on October 28, 2012
Category: Let's Do Brunch · Labels: Barcelona, brunch, Europe, food, Let's Do Brunch, Spain, travel

Let’s do brunch in… London

Oh, London… so near, yet so far. London is one of those major destinations that I wonder if I’ll ever get to visit while living in Europe. Though it’s just 45 minutes from Amsterdam by plane, getting a UK visa entails a trip to Dusseldorf (yes, in Germany!)… which is an even bigger hassle than applying for a visa to the US.

So, until the visa process gets easier (which, for a Philippine passport holder, will be… never) or I have a compelling reason to go, I satisfy my wanderlust for London through the sharp, discerning eyes of one Tina Bernstein, who blogs at Colourliving. A property curator living in London, Tina’s passion for the city, for creativity and for cosmopolitan living (and of course, for color!) shines through loud and clear in her blog.

I had the pleasure of meeting Tina at The Hive Berlin last May; since then, I turn to Colourliving when I want a break from the precious, pretty, pastel and perfectly styled imagery that sometimes floods the blogosphere. This week, she takes us to London for brunch—and in true Tina style, chooses a spot that’s refreshingly real and full of urban character.

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Posted on September 30, 2012
Category: Let's Do Brunch · Labels: brunch, Europe, guest post, Let's Do Brunch, London

Let’s do brunch in… Copenhagen

Camera in one hand and toddler in another, Danish photographer Birgitte Brøndsted shares her passion for photography and travel on her blog, A Dusty Olive Green. Birgitte and I both attended The Hive; although we never met in person, I was officially hooked after I saw Birgitte’s Berlin photos on her blog.

This lucky lady has made her home in two of Italy’s most stunning cities (formerly Rome, now Florence), but today she invites us all to join her for brunch in her hometown of Copenhagen. I’ve always wanted to visit Copenhagen, but until that day comes, Birgitte’s lovely photos will just have to do.

Read on and happy brunching!

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Posted on August 26, 2012
Category: Let's Do Brunch · Labels: brunch, Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe, food, guest post, Let's Do Brunch

Turkish brunch at Theatercafe Mozaïek

Finding a new brunch spot in Amsterdam is always a cause for celebration. Thanks to a resourceful friend, I discovered the Podium Mozaïek, a church-turned-arts space for multicultural artists who normally wouldn’t be accommodated in the city’s more mainstream, central venues.

Located in the Bos en Lommer, a diverse, up-and-coming neighborhood out west, this venue also houses the Theatercafe Mozaïek, a spacious cafe perfect for pre- or post-show drinks and discussions.

As it turns out, the Theatercafe Mozaiek is also perfect for brunch. Reflecting the neighborhood’s large Turkish population, the fare is a fantastic Turkish spread with more food than you could possibly eat, for a very reasonable €13.50.

I can hardly remember everything that was served, there was so much: Turkish pastries, cold cuts and sausages, creamy thick yogurt covered with honey, fruit preserves, at least three different kinds of cheese,and generous baskets of fluffy Turkish bread. All of it washed down with bottomless glasses of hot, sweet Turkish tea.

I loved the place, loved the food, and so did the girls from the Amsterdam girls’ Meetup group that I’m part of. Have you heard of Meetup? It’s a site where you can form, find or join a group that meets up near you, with people who share a common interest that could be anything from quiz nights to curly hair, or from ethnic identity to expat life.

Lots of expats use Meetup to meet people, which is something you really need to keep doing as the perpetual new kid in town. I really wish I had known about it back when I was living in Singapore; I could have used a good set of girlfriends back then. Fortunately, I met my current (and very awesome) circle of Amsterdam girlfriends through a Meetup lunch, and they’re just the kind of company I love to have over a good brunch. Especially a brunch as good as the one we had at Theatercafe Mozaeik!

Theatercafe Mozaïek
Bos en Lommerweg 191
1055 DT Amsterdam
T: +31 (0)20 5800383

P.S. Be sure to check back next Sunday for this month’s installment of Let’s Do Brunch. I’m really excited because next week’s guest blogger is featuring a city that’s long been on my travel wishlist!