Hello All!

I know I said I was "on vacation" but I couldn't resist checking in.

Amsterdam can either be a low carbers dream or nightmare, depending on how you look at it. On the plus side, there are lots of different meats, meat products, dairy and vegetables. On the minus side, french fry stands and excellent bakeries abound!

One of the things that the Netherlands is famous for is Gouda and there are many varieties. My favourites are one that is flavoured with nettles, and another with seaweed.

The last time I was here, I had fries every day. Now I barely notice them. My take is--I know what they taste like so I don't have to eat them again.

I was musing a day ago if it was the Netherlands that introduced refined sugar to the rest of the world.

Curiously, there are not a lot of overweight people here. There are more bike riders than cars and bikes rule the road.

We're going to a restaurant supply store today. The one(s) here is huge with products from all over the EU. Some go to the Van Gogh Museum, others go to restaurant supply stores. Go figure!

I'll report next from France...

Karen

Not sure if fries are the biggest temptation, or those coffee shops in Amsterdam!

Great to hear from you! It's wonderful to get away for a while. Seaweed and nettle Gouda, wow. I thought herb-flavoured Gouda was exotic!

Right now we're having a lovely sunny day in Vancouver. It's a bit like being on holiday without going anywhere.

My sister-in-law's French, and it seems like they do eat quite a lot of sugar, bread, etc. in that part of the world. It strikes me that the difference may be that they go for quality not quantity, so I suppose in the long run they do ingest quite a lot less than the average N American. Just my guess.

Looking forward to hearing of your French culinary adventures!

Rachel

Amsterdam rocks....

Anyway, Karen, can't wait to hear the French Connection report.

Doreen

[Edited by doreen T on 21-02-01 at 00:05]

Great to hear from you Karen; and Doreen I enjoyed hearing about your adventures too. Looking forward to more. And just how they have less heart attacks in France.
NNN

karen, great to hear from you! this whole computer thing still really blows my mind. there you are so far away and you just sit at the computer and voila! connection. i love it! i hope you continue to have a great time. i can't wait to hear about it.
debbie

So nice to have a roving reporter! Keep in touch.

I don't know, going to a restaurant supply store on a holiday sounds about right, don't ya think? I'd do it in a flash!

Robin