We want Krispy Kreme & more

American fast-food chains Taco Bell, TGI Friday and Five Guys have already found their way to our country. Great. But where are these chains?

Momofuku
With locations in its hometown of New York, as well as in Vegas, Washington, Sydney and Toronto, it’s time for the father of culinary cool, David Chang to settle in Amsterdam too, with his inimitable Ameri-Korean fuck-ups of pretty much every culinary sacred cow. Such as the cacio e pepe pasta made with instant ramen noodles at Momofuku Nishi.

Wholefoods
Every other organic supermarket pales in comparison to this lush mother of all eco-cool.

Krispy Kreme
Just this week, chef Schilo van Coevorden of Taiko restaurant in Amsterdam’s Conservatorium Hotel told us: ‘Anyone who has ever eaten a Krispy Kreme doughnut laughs at every other doughnut.’ We rest our case.

Shake Shack
You might think we have enough burger joints in the Netherlands. And that’s true. But we can still make room for the burger joint that started in 2001 as an indie hot dog cart in Madison Square Park in Manhattan and has since become world-famous, with locations in Dubai, Japan, Russia, South Korea etc. With its ‘good ingredients’ policy, legendary SmokeShack burger and crinkle-cut fries.

Once Krispy Kreme, never another doughnut.

Wichcraft
Sandwiches are having their moment. And the Netherlands is a true sandwich country. But even so, we still have a lot to learn from Top Chef Tom Colicchio’s sandwich chain Wichcraft. From avocado toast to the chunky PBJ (Peanut Butter Jelly).

Big Gay Ice Cream
In the US, there is a true ice-cream culture, of which we can only dream. Artisanal ice cream is on an exceptionally high level there, thanks to the Italian immigrants. Big Gay Ice Cream is the clown among these artisans, with bizarre flavors and shapes, but of equally high quality. In short, this is what we need: shakes and floats, melt sandwiches and flavors such as brownie batter (=dough).

Motorino Pizza
Just like ice cream, pizza has particularly high cult status in New York. It’s not merely something you quickly shove down because you don’t have time. You go to a pizzeria for the amazing toppings on your wood-fired crust, good wines or craft beers to go with it, and tasty side dishes too. Full-fledged restaurants, in other words, but with an informal atmosphere—and crust. Motorino Pizza already has locations in Hong Kong, Manila, Singapore and Malaysia. So…