Store Next Door

Raising awareness for non-corporate grocery stores in Rotterdam

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RECIPE - Making Pudding

Besides the fact that pudding is in my opinion one of the funniest words in the English language, it is also one of the most awesome looking food there is. Thus we will show you how to make pudding.

This recipe is Kosher, Halal and Vegetarian friendly.  

Necessary ingredients:

- 1 Bag of Agar Agar powder - available in multiple colors - (Toko Liem – 1,99)

- 1 Liter water

- 250 gram sugar

- A large pan

- A spoon or whisk

- Molds to pour the pudding in

Suggestions:

- Using artificial food flavoring

- Using Real Fruit or Jam to flavor the Pudding

- Adding a few table spoons of Vanilla sugar.

Recipe

1. Fill the pan with 1 liter water. Add the Agar Agar Powder and the sugar.

2. Boil the substance under low heat while frequently stirring for one minute.

3. Then add your flavors if you are using any. I added some vanilla and lemon extract.

4. Afterward pour the substance into the molds and allow it to cool.

5. When the Pudding is cooled down it is ready to eat.

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RECIPE - Bananalicious Cupcakes

Just got back from some grocery shopping at Vreugdenhil, Buiten or some other Local Store Next Door, and accidently bought a bunch of bananas? Be inspired by this delicious recipe and get the best out of your freshly bought bananas.

Ingredients

-          230 g soft butter

-          230 g granulated sugar

-          230 g self raising flower

-          4 eggs

-          2 crunched bananas

-          240 g fresh cream cheese

-          300 g powdered sugar

-          1 spoon of lemon juice

-          1 spoon vanilla-essence

-          1 banana, thin slices

Preheat the oven to 175 degrees C. Whip the butter, granulated sugar, flower and eggs all together in a big bowl for about 2-3 minutes, until you have a smooth paste. Stir the smashed bananas through the paste until everything is properly mixed together. Scoop and divide the pastry into the muffin pastry moulds and bake them for about 20-22 minutes. Then for the glazing, you just need to stir the cream cheese together with the powdered sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. Finally scoop and divide the glazing over the deliciously golden brown baked Cupcakes and decorate them with slices of banana.

Tip: Add 60 g of blueberries to the pastry to make it even more Fruity!

Enjoy!

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A short animation of the importance of supporting locally owned, independently operated business.

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Green and good on Tuesdays

Every Tuesday a few - but well selected - stalls are assembled on Eendrachtsplein in central Rotterdam. The common denominator of these stalls is the fresh, local and healthy food they offer. Amongst some of the stalls are Kuupman Kaas who offers biological cheese and dairy products, Versman with crispy, just from the ground vegetables and fruits selected from biological farmers, Natuur Slagerij Rob Rijks specializing in biological meat and Jan van de Pure Bio Bakker with a range of French, German, sour-dough, and biological yeast breads.

Healthy choice

The atmosphere at the market gives a friendly, farmer feeling and all of the vendors are eager to tell you more about where their products come from, how they are made and why they are passionate about them. This is undoubtedly a place to go for those who opt for a healthier choice, both in terms of their own health but also health for the local environment.

Location

Eendrachtsplein

Opening Hours

Tuesday: 9:00 - 18:00 (approximately)

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Searching for great Indonesian Food?

Than the little local store “Toko Liem” would be the solution for you! Toko Liem offers a wide range of Indonesian delicacies, cookies and warm dishes. For instance, you can buy prawn crackers in different colors and with special tastes. Here, you can also get a variety of sauces, from sambal to honey to coconut.

Besides, if you feel like eating something right on the spot then you can buy already warm prepared meals, such as an Indonesian croquette, lamb, nasi goreng, shrimps, meatball or something sweet such as the famous baked bananas made  according to traditional Indonesian recipe.

So, enjoy your meal!

Location

Shoppingcenter Alexandrium Poolsterstraat 52 3067 LX Rotterdam

Opening Hours

Monday:  11:00-18:00

Tuesday:  9:00-18:00

Wednesday:  9:00-18:00

Thursday:  9:00-18:00

Friday:  9:00-21:00

Saturday:  9:00-18:00

Sunday:  12:00-17:00

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Vreugdenhil for vegetables and fruit

“I always try and find things which are unavailable elsewhere, or at least, hard to get your hands on,” explains Mr. Vreugdenhil, owner of the small yet tasty vegetable and fruit store on Karel Doormanstraat. Vegetables and fruit are the main staple at Vreugdenhil but other delicacies such as homemade salads, Dutch ‘stampots’, and fresh orange juice are amongst what this store has to offer. 

 Fruitful business

Vreugdenhil has been a family business since it was founded, quite some years ago. “You could even say that we date back to the last century, beginning of last century,” tells Mr. Vreugdenhil, who recollects himself as a young boy in the store and describes an old invoice in the store dating back to 1911. He tells StoreNextDoor that through the years business has changed. Vreugdenhil used sell exclusively vegetables and fruit but now it has expanded its range of products to include various delicacies.

A real treat

Although the prices at Vreugdenhil may not have much competition with the supermarkets, this little ‘vegetable farmer’, as the Dutch call it, by far outshines any supermarket in terms of quality and taste. Mr. Vreugdenhil picked out some of the fresh vegetables and fruits currently in season, such as honey tomatoes, Lambada strawberries and African grapes, for StoreNextDoor to taste. And indeed, although they might be a bit more expensive that the average supermarket price, the tomatoes taste like tomatoes and the strawberries are a real treat.

Location

Karel Doormanstraat 360

Opening Hours

Monday: closed

Tuesday – Friday: 8:00 – 17:30

Saturday: 8:00 – 16:00

Sunday: closed

Visit Vreugdenhil online

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Fancy a cup of tea?

Theemaas doesn’t have any teas “such as Rooibos caramel, Rooibos vanilla” or teas along those lines, tells Mr. van Meggelen who along with Ms. van der Elst runs the tea- and coffee specialty store on Karel Doormanstraat. What they do offer, however, is a ‘modest’ collection of 180 teas types, 50 varieties of coffee and over 20 different honeys stored in playful orange and blue canisters filling up the walls.

Japanese teas

Among their specialty is “the most important collection of Japanese teas across all of Europe” as Mr. van Meggelen puts it. He elaborates on the matter, telling StoreNextDoor that they differentiate themselves from other stores by specializing in teas from certain countries and perhaps most importantly but putting an emphasis on quality. “People come back when they’re happy and so for we haven’t had any negative experiences with that” says Mr. van Meggelen to illustrate. Tea lovers can look forward to a new fresh spring-time tea, soon available at Theemaas.

From 8 to 108

Mr. van Meggelen and Ms. van der Elst opened the Theemaas some thirteen years ago and by now they have a diverse clientele, ranging from eight old boys who come in to get a present for their grandmother up to their oldest client who is 100 years old. Over a freshly brewed cup of espresso Mr. van Meggelen tells StoreNextDoor, and the company of other customers, that “eating and drinking is something so sweet and delicious, enjoyable,” and that is why he and Ms. Van der Elst decided to open Theemaas.

Go for quality

Besides being a tea- and coffee lover, Mr. van Meggelen is also a ceramic collector. Intertwined between the teas, coffees and other related products, the Theemaas also has another special touch. It hosts ceramic exhibitions, with a new artist appearing about every six weeks. And as a last message for Mr. van Meggelen has, is to “go for better quality, and you will enjoy it much more!”

Location

Karel Doormanstraat 469

Opening Hours

Monday: closed

Tuesday – Saturday: 9:00 – 17:30

Sunday: 12:00 – 17:00

Visit Theemaas online

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Russia around the corner

For those in search of Russian caviar for their blinis or other hard-to-find ingredients in the Russian cuisine, Nika on Hoogstraat might offer what you are looking for. This Russian delicacy store and, sort of, small supermarket, offers all types of Russian ingredients such as diverse types of sausages, pastei, caviar, pelmeni which can be describes as a Russian version of Ravioli, sour and marinated vegetables, dairy products and drinks such as Russian champagne and beer.

The real deal

The store is run by a friendly Belarusian family and the owner tells StoreNextDoor that majority of clients are Russian or Russian speaking. “The Soviet Union used to be a big place” he smiles. Perhaps the fact that majority of clients are Russian or from neighboring countries can be taken as an indication that this local Russian grocery store offers the real deal in terms of Russian cuisine.

Russian mayo

Russian mayonnaise is amongst several products at Nika, and when asked, the owner was unable to put his finger on how it’s different from Dutch mayonnaise but says it “tastes different, and it’s very tasty!”. For those interested, there’s only one way to find out.

Location

Hoogstraat 71a

Opening Hours

Monday-Saturday: 10:00 – 20:00

Sunday: 13:00 – 19:00

Visit Nika online

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Buiten on the Binnenweg

“Nobody said it was going to be easy, to start your own store” says David, son of Mr. Erik Fiegel, who runs the relatively recently opened store Buiten op de Binnenweg, located on Nieuwe Binnenweg. Mr. Fiegel opened the store roughly one and a half year ago and Davis tells StoreNextDoor that in the beginning there were some obstacles, but not everything is running smoothly and as time passes, business gets better.

Just around the corner

Their aim is to provide local products from smaller, local farmers and producers. “Just around the corner” is how David describes it, and indeed, some of the products at Buiten are from just around the corner, such as the honey and the coffee they sell. To make matters more clear David indicates from outside the window an adjacent street from where the honey comes from.

Eclectic mix of food and fun

They offer an interesting mix of delicacies and other things. “Nearly everything you see around you, on the counter and tables is something you can buy” according to David, and referring to a wide range food products including an “delicious selection of cheese” tells David, as well as books and music. Besides being a store, Buiten is also a ‘lunchroom’ offering pies, quiche, lasagna soups and sandwiches amongst other things.  All of these options are home-made at Buiten.

A good tip

One of the “classic” offerings of Buiten op de Binnenweg is a dates-fig vinegar and at the moment they are serving a red Turkish lentils soup, which “people are really coming back for”, so “that’s a good tip” is the last advice David gives.

Location

Nieuwe Binnenweg 100

Opening Hours

Tuesday – Friday: 10:00 – 19:00

Saturday: 10:00 – 18:00

Sunday: closed

Visit Buiten online

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Best of Breads

The facts cannot be denied. Dutch people eat quite a lot of bread. Fortunately, there are several good bakeries in Rotterdam to get all that bread.

Bammetje

Although the selection of breads at Bammtje might not be the biggest in the city, they do offer a range of healthy, organic breads such as spelt-dough bread. Beyond that they also make sandwiches and sweet varieties.

Location: Nieuwe Binnenweg 65

Opening Hours

Monday: closed

Tuesd-Saturd: 7:30 – 17:00

Sunday: 9:00 – 16:00

Jordi’s Bakery

This is a recent addition to the Nieuwe Binnenweg, specializing in sourdough bread. They also offer sandwiches and a few cozy tables for those passing by during lunch time.

Location: Nieuwe Binnenweg 97

Vlaamsch Broodhuys

This is a chain of bakeries, also to be found in several other cities in the Netherlands. They have a wide selection of breads, and sweet cakes and pies. The store offers less of a personal touch compared to Baametje and Jordy’s Bakery but nevertheless nice breads.

Location: Meent 8a

Opening Hours

Monday-Friday: 8:30 – 18:30

Saturday: 8:30 – 18:00

Sunday: 9:30 – 18:00

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Italy in Rotterdam

An exception must be made to the rule of StoreNextDoor reporting on local grocery stores as opposed to supermarkets, for the hidden treasure of Little Italy. On a sidestreet from Meent, Little Italy doesn’t appear like a big store but you will be surprised once inside.

This Italian supermarket offers a wide range of Italian basic ingredients such as pasta, and Italian coffee, as well as delicacies such as Italian hams, olives, and antipasti. The wine selection at Little Italy is another reason to pay a visit.

One of the main reasons however to make your way to Little Italy, is for the mere experience. Most of the staff is Italian, which undoubtedly gives you a feeling that you’ve stepped from Rotterdam and into a local grocery store in Rotterdam. The staff is always ready to offer you advice on which pancetta is the best and which red wine will go best with your ossobucco.

Location

Lombardkade 51A

3011 ZD Rotterdam

Opening Hours

Monday: 9:00 – 18:15

Tuesday: 9:00 – 18:15

Wednesday: 9:00 – 18:15

Thursday: 9:00 – 18:15

Friday: 9:00 – 21:00

Saturday: 9:00 – 17:00

Sunday: closed

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Why Buying Local - 10 Reasons:

1. Bring Community Together

Small businesses bring communities together in a way that superstores can't. They provide a more personal feel in a community; people are more interconnected both socially and financially.

2. Ensuring Diversity & Choice

A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based on the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

3. Increase Competition

A marketplace of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.

4. More Environmental Friendly

Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and set up shop in town or city centers. This generally contributes to less to congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

5. Create New Job Possibilities

Small local businesses create many additional job opportunities. Besides, the workplace surrounding can create a more informal and fun atmosphere for employees who work there.

6. Maintaining Community Character                                                                          

One-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of a place. Thus, where we eat, shop and enjoy ourselves can make us feel as being “home”.

7. Get Better Service:

Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers. 

8. More Fun to Shop

Employees from local shops often take more time to communicate with their customers and this can create an intimate surrounding for people who shop there.

9. Support Local Economy

They not only provide new jobs but also support local farmers and suppliers who finally have the chance to increase public awareness about high-quality products from local regions. Besides, local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave and are more interested to invest in the community´s future.

10. Create New Attraction Places

Various local stores in a region can be magnet for tourism in order to visit the place (again) and to explore and enjoy new products coming from regional places.

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RECIPE: Italian rolls of Roast Beef

Have some friends coming over and in need of a delicious and light appetizer? Try this easy recipe, and convince your friends of all the quality and tasty ingredients you can get at the various Stores Next door.

What do you need?

-          10 slices of roast beef (“Slagerij Ooteman”)

-          25 g pine nuts

-          2 spoons of olive oil

-          75 g of fresh lamb’s  lettuce (“Oogstmarkt”)

-          5 spoons of parmesan cheese (“kaashoeve”)

-          Freshly grind pepper

To begin you need to roast the pine nuts in a frying pan, until they get a nice golden brown color on them. Then lay the slices of roast beef on a cutting board and coat them with olive oil. Cover every slice with a bit of the lettuce, parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Lastly flavor them with some freshly grind pepper. Then roll the roast beef into rolls and lay them on a big plate, serve them with a nice bread and spoil your friends some extra by serving a good quality Pinot noir, which will taste delicious with the flavor of roast beef. (“Kralingse Wijnspecialist” or “Wijnkoperij platenburg”)

Enjoy!

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What do you prefer?

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Cherry picking the best of wines -Wijnkoperij Platenburg

With modesty, Mr.Platenburg tells StoreNextDoor that the family run business of Wijnkoperij Platenburg offers wines from “only 100 different wine producers and wineyards”. The wine store has been in the family since it’s foundation in 1894, when Mr. Platenburg’s grandfather set up the business. This year, third-generation owner of the local business celebrates 116 years of selling wines and distilled liquor in Rotterdam, with his fellow colleagues.

Unique wine specialist

The two key things which makes this wine store unique is the fact that Mr. Platenburg imports all the wines on offer in the store directly from wine producers and wineyards. Without having to go through various intermediaries, Mr. Platenburg comments that this this enables his to sell the wines at a more favorable price. The second aspect of this wine store which makes it unique is that as an independent business with ample knowledge collected over generations wine specialist Platenburg can offer advice and information tailored to the needs of each customers.

From unimaginable to great wines

“In the 50s, it seemed unimaginable that there would be wine specialty stores,” says Mr. Platenburg. He notes how the years have seen a shift from a preference for distilled liquors towards increasing interest in wines. Young people are amongst new customers, looking to know more about wines. Along those lines, Wijnkoperij Plateburg offer not only an ample collection of wines but also wine courses and wine tasting for interested groups.

Cherry-picking the best 

As a result of cherry-picking the wines sold at Platenburg family wine store, Mr. Platenburg along with other colleagues importing wine, has been chosen the wine importer with the best wine selection in the Netherlands – for three consecutive years, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

White and rosé

Lastly, Mr. Platenburg told StoreNextDoor that as we move towards spring and summer, white and rosé wines come to constitute a bigger part of the collection on offer. So wine lovers can be on the look out for great white and rosé’s to enjoy warmer days ahead.

Location

Goudsesingel 332A

3011 KK Rotterdam

+ 31 (0) 10 412 70 05

Opening Hours

Monday: closed

Tuesday - Friday: 9:30 - 18:00

Saturday: 9:30 - 17:30

Sunday: closed

Visit Wijnkoperij Platenburg online

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The Kralingse Wijnspecialist

From the outside, the Kralingse Wijnspecialist appears to offer a reasonable but attractive selection of wines. Once inside, however, it becomes clear that the selection is much more ample than can be told from the outside. A quick movement in the wine crowded basement might result in breaking one of the several stacks of wines arranged nearly anywhere space can be found.                                                                          

The selection of wines to be found on the walls of Kralingse Wijnspecialist come from 36 different countries. “Just name a country and we’ll have the wine you’re looking for” says Mr. Elshof smiling, while his colleague is busy stacking up more new wines. The price range is as wide as the selection of wines, ranging from three bottles for ten euros up to any price customers might have in mind, comments Mr. Elshof.

                                              A focus on South-Africa

Some of the specialty includes a unique selection of South African wines from the Cape winemakers Guild, not readily found elsewhere within the Netherlands. Some of the wines in this collection date all the way back to 1988 and some are from as recently as being ‘bottled yesterday’.

Moving to Lusthofstraat

Mr. Elshof is born three streets away from local shopping street in Kralingen – Lusthofstraat - where the Kralingse Wijnspecialist is currently located. Originally the store was located on Kortekade, where Mr. Elshof had been running this ‘Kralingse’ wine specialty store since 1978. Recently it moved to the increasingly trendy Lusthofstraat reducing the size of store by half. Asked where the move has been good for business, Mr. Elshof answers “absolutely” because after all; “you have to have customers to run a store”. 

Location

Lusthofstraat 80

3061 WH Rotterdam

+ 31 (0) 10 453 25 32

Kralingse Wijnspecialist online

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“Market Next Door” – Rotterdamse Oogst Markt

  One of the newest town initiatives of Rotterdam is the opportunity of doing your grocery shopping at the “Rotterdamse Oogstmarkt”. This market is unique since only farmers from Rotterdam and the surrounding region offer a wide range of food, from cheese and sambal to fresh vegetables and honey out of the region around Rotterdam. All the products are seasonal, healthy, fresh and delicious!

This market is attractive for everyone who wants to enjoy a cozy environment with lots of creativity and nice music included. So mark these days in your calendar and visit the “feel good experiences”!

  When? March 03, June 02, September 01, & December 15, 2012

           Always from 11.00 – 17.00.

Where? Museumpark Rotterdam

Want to know more?