7 questions to Imke Kok and Siti Boelen from Neighbourfood Market!
Imke Kok and Siti Boelen are the food fanatics that have built up Neighbourfood Market along with their third companion Martijn Quirijns. Both are familiar faces in the Dutch television industry, but Imke and Siti have even more ambitions. They create many incredible concepts for all kinds of bussinesses with their company Sien, oftentimes with food as as the main inspiration. In this Sunday 7, Imke and Siti talk about their Amsterdam.
Tip: They can be both found on Instagram via @neighbourfoodmarket!
Favourite neighbourhood with hotspots?
Siti: “The Watergraafsmeer. I’ve lived there since my student years and I feel at home there. The only big event that happens there is probably King’s Day so that is sometimes quite depressing. Last year we organised the Frank Festival there and I think that events like that need to be happening there more often to liven the neighbourhood up a little.
3 favourite addresses:
– Bookshop Linnaeus. I pretty much buy all birthday presents there and I end up buying myself a present as well most of the time.
– Café Elsa’s, with simple but good cafe food. The staff is always ahead of you. When I’m thinking ‘mm, perhaps a glass of wine would be nice’, they would’ve almost poured it in for you already. The sun shines until late in the afternoon at their terrace.
– The city garden of Merckelbach. It used to be an outdoor place where you could enjoy the nature away from the chaos of the city. Now it’s at Middenweg, but somehow they’ve managed to keep the atmosphere the same. And they also have a restaurant where you can have really good food.”
Shopping in Amsterdam
Imke: “Haarlemmerstraat is still my number 1 on the list. Lots of variety of shops, small businesses and always new places to discover. Great food, a good book shop, 2nd hand clothing and lovely home accessories. The best mix.”
Coffee?
Siti: “I like drinking black coffee, not really a coffee drinker. I don’t like cakes and other sweet stuff. When I’m in a cafe it is usually for business and then I’d usually go to Rumbaba at the Transvaalbuurt. Comfortable atmosphere and the smell of freshly baked cakes makes it even more pleasant.”
Top 3 favourite restaurants
Imke: “- Vuurtoreneiland. It’s almost there again!”
– Nam Kee. The oysters with black bean sauce. I can never have too many of those.”
– Rijsel. Good food and at least just as good service.”
Drinks, with who and where?
Imke: “With girlfriends: gin tonics and beer from the tap. Where doesn’t really matter to me. That can be Skylounge from the Double Tree or even the Casablanca and Bourbon Street. Since we’ve been organising so many event in the weekend, we haven’t been able to do that more often anymore sadly.
Hidden gem
Imke: “Distillery ‘t Nieuwe Diep. Beautiful place. German beer and old cheese, near the water between tall trees full with loud birds. I hope that it stays as quiet as it is now. And Kringloop de Lokatie, because we always find some beautiful furniture and vases there every month for the Neighbourfood Market.”
Dinner overseas?
Siti: “I am a blessed woman because I was able to eat at Noma in Copenhagen (thanks to my former bosses Dan Blazer and Erik van der Hoff!). We had 20 courses. The most memorable dish was the fried moss and tartar with ants. Since lemons don’t naturally grow there, they would use the acid of the ants. Every day the chefs go the the woods to catch ants. This way you’re sure that all courses are prepared with just as much care.”
>> Check out more Sunday 7 stories and discover the Amsterdam favs >>
Tip: discover more city- and travel guides by @yourlbb!
