Amsterdam gem: Frenzi’s organic breakfast

Growing up, my sisters and I brought my mom breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day, as is tradition. Perhaps not-so-traditionally, I’d squeeze cold oranges for her morning juice, then drink the whole glass once delivered to her room.

One can only imagine my inner peace when, after years without, I drank a glass of cold, fresh-squeezed orange juice at Frenzi Restaurant after a disappointing three days in Amsterdam.

Looking forward to roaming the fairytale streets, crossing the romantic canals and meeting new people, I ended my winter vacation in Amsterdam, a decision I can’t foresee repeating.

However, despite my low spirits and disappointment, one bright moment stands out, that I highly recommend when in Amsterdam: breakfast at Frenzi.

Day three, while braving the storm and winds that turned my umbrella inside out, I walked past an adorable corner-restaurant called Frenzi. The sign read “breakfast special €7,50 served until 12.” I only continued walking until I saw the adjacent window paint: we believe in organic and fair trade. I turned right around and walked inside. Lucky for me, I still needed breakfast and it was 11:30.

Not only a cozy escape from the storm, but Frenzi is also a retreat from the stale environment of travel. It felt like a piece of home, wherever that may be, with the dark tones, sleeping cat and rich atmosphere.

The woman working greeted me with a smile and invited me to take a seat. I settled into a small table by the window, with a view of a dancing canal and fluttering umbrellas.

When the waitress brought my breakfast, my excitement level exceeded a “normal” reaction to a bowl of yogurt and coffee. However, after eating oatmeal packets and grocery-store sandwiches for days, I felt true glee.

A juice snob with a lifelong dedication to fresh-squeezed, the cold orange juice accompanied the plate perfectly.

The juice paired well with a warm croissant with butter and fresh jam, and bowl of organic yogurt topped with muesli, dried fruit and nuts: a sight to this tired travellers’ eyes. The rich cup of coffee transported me into a place of transcended reality, as it wasn’t burned like every other cup I’d purchased in the city. Plus it came with biscotti.

Without further description, it’s clear Frenzi was a highlight. Perhaps it was a relief from the storm, perhaps my first real meal in days, or perhaps it really is everything I remember experiencing.

However, after filling up on healthy, sustainable breakfast, I found the courage to embrace the storm in search of the iconic I Amsterdam sign.