Tijger & De Vis

Tiger & de Vis has the flakiest kibbeling in Amsterdam! On top of the great prepared salads and grilled to order fresh fish, we often ask them to check the markets for specific orders and they always deliver.

The beauty — Cíes Islands! — and scent of Gallicia are unforgettable. Everywhere you go, you ‘bathe’ in the fragrance of pulpo (octopus). Traditionally it’s prepared in a simple way: cooked, sprinkled with salt and paprika and drizzled with olive oil. Pure food that excels in its simplicity. Just like the octopus salad I had at newcomer Tijger & De Vis. Juicy octopus, a fresh mix of peppers, onions and celery and potatoes with a bite. If that doesn’t make you shout olé, you are a crybaby. This salad and the other good stuff — fried fish, soups, Thai fish cookies — are made by cook and food consultant Erik Huibers, who was trained in restaurants based in Holland, New York and Koh Samui. I totally recommend his no-​nonsense crab burger too: huge chunks of crab, a bit of mayonnaise. From behind the counter friendly Remy advised me to try the fish sticks. ‘Much better than the ones of Iglo.’ I bet they are. The fish comes straight from the fish auction and Erik obviously knows how to handle fish. Next time I’m at this cool fish store/​lunch spot I’ll make these sticks mine.