Emperor Amsterdam

This gorgeous little shop opened up down the road earlier in the year, mere steps away from my work place and often, my colleagues and I would walk straight past it to seek out other lunch time food options in the area.
Thankfully, we woke up to ourselves and realised the little store had a LOT to offer.
On their menu, for a mere € 6, you can get yourself an incredibly delicious sandwich, and whilst you’re waiting, sample a square or two of their delicious cheese.
But what makes this shop great? The people and the service. Oh and the amazingly tasty sandwiches (especially the roast beef, it’s a must try!). And of course their wine and cheese selection is nothing to sniff at! The shop after all, is based on such offerings!
On a warm day, be sure to ask for a glass of wine to go! Then walk to the canal, a mere 5 steps away, and enjoy your sandwich, wine and sunshine!

The Shallow Man loves wine, but can’t stand some of the snobbery surrounding it. How can you keep a straight face if someone tastes some wine, and then says «hmmm, this tastes like freshly cut grass on a spring day.» WTF???
If you enjoy wine, without the usual pretentious trappings that surround it, you should pay Emperor Amsterdam a visit. Based in a canal house on the Herengracht, they have three floors dedicated to wine, cheese, and sandwiches that are so good, that I’m surprised that the chef hasn’t been held at gunpoint and forced to make some for the underworld crime syndicates of Amsterdam.
When visiting Emperor, and talking to the people that work there, what becomes clear is that they love what they do. Unlike being married, there’s no faking the passion that these guys have for what they do.
The Wines
They have an outstanding selection of wine, from small high quality vineyards. They are also the exclusive supplier in Europe for one of the best South African wines, from the Signal Hill winery. They have an extensive selection of wines on offer, and what’s unusual is that customers are actually able to sample most of their wine before buying. Due to the expertise of the people working there, they are also able to offer non-​pretentious advice on wines, to suit all palettes. If you don’t know your Bordeaux from your elbow, they won’t make you feel embarrassed about it at all. In fact, by asking a number of questions about the kind of wines that you normally drink, they are able to find the best wine to match both your taste and your budget.
The Cheeses
Wine and cheese go together like Tinder dating and regret. Like footballers and golddiggers, and like scooter drivers and an increase in weight.
On the second floor of Emperor Amsterdam, they have a heavenly selection of cheeses. The big win here for the customer, is that they know how to combine the two to create winning combinations. It’s great to be able to get advice from experts on the perfect cheese to go with that bottle of Margaux that you’ve decided to treat yourself to.
If you just love cheese, that’s also fine. They have a selection of cheeses which they also supply to Michelin star restaurants, and from time to time to a certain Shallow Man.
The typical Dutch sandwich that I’ve been used to, usually comes in bread that’s so hard, that women keep it in their handbags, for self-​defence when cycling home alone late at night.
At Emperor Amsterdam I had a venison sausage sandwich, with sauerkraut and mustard. It was just absolutely wonderful. I enjoyed it so much, that it made me blush. I wanted to be alone with that sandwich. Emperor Amsterdam’s chef has worked in the restaurant business for over twenty years, and brings all of his culinary knowledge in absolutely delightful sandwiches, which between you and me, they could easily charge more money for.
If you live or work near Emperor Amsterdam in the Herengracht, you’ve got to go and try one of their sandwiches. They are just superb. Don’t just take my word for it, Het Parool recently declared their Broodje Bordeaux as the sandwich of the week in Amsterdam.
The Wine Tastings and Cheese Pairings
Emperor host regular wine tasting and wine and cheese pairing events. It’s also possible to hire their tasting room for private events for up to 12 people. I recently hosted a wine tasting event there, and my guests were impressed with both the knowledge of their wine expert, but also the fun and friendly atmosphere, and the pairings and wine that were served.
Whether you’re an experienced wine lover, or someone that’s curious in learning more about wine, or you’d simply like an original and tasty sandwich, or to stock up on some cheese, you’ve really got to get yourself to Emperor Amsterdam.