Dutch Tappies at the Mart Café in the Market Hall in Rotterdam
30-9-2015
The Mart Café serves Dutch Tappies in the Market hall in Rotterdam. The café celebrates the Dutch cuisine with the common sense the people of Rotterdam are known for with its own twist.
The Market Hall in Rotterdam (opened October last year) has a very international variety of restaurants. And in the midst of all the great international food restaurants, Mart Café from the Dutch Dudok Group, shows all the great treats from our Dutch cuisine.
Dutch tapas or as they say in Rotterdam: Dutch Tappies
Mart Café is an oasis of sobriety among all the exotic possibilities the Markt Hall offers. They offer coffee, beer and bitterballen (our famous small, round croquettes), picks with pickled onions and Dutch liverwurst, toast with mackerel mousse and ‘Kibbeling’ – our fried cod. Next to that Rye bread with cheese and of course the famous Dudok apple pie, and a matching Jenever (Dutch gin) menu with special Jenevers from the area. Café Mart wants to put our own homebrew spirits on the international map again!
The design of the Mart Café
Mart Café is located right next to the main entrance of the Market Hall, on the ground floor with a private terrace and entrance. The decor is minimalistic with raw concrete walls, wood and black and white tiles on the floor. The middle part of the ceiling is open so that a pleasant spaciousness is created between the floors. The arrangement of gleaming ceiling lamps is topped with a huge chandelier of Meccano.
Sleeping on a Dutch lake in VIP houseboats
29-9-2015
23 September was the official opening of the new Center Parcs VIP houseboats in the old Marina De Eemhof. The luxury houseboats offer fantastic views at the Eemmeer.
Last summer, we wrote an article about the catamaran hotel rooms from design studio Salt & Water from Serbia. The design of the catamaran hotel had just won the Millennium Yacht Design Award. This project was developed with the aim to promote tourism on inland waterways in Serbia, which offers a stunning untouched nature. Such a project would also be great on the Dutch lakes. At the same time Center Parcs was busy with the realization of the VIP houseboats in the old Marina De Eemhof, with the southern French atmosphere of the port town Port Grimaud. The houseboats have been build by the local craftsmanship of ABC Arkenbouw to Urk.
What do the VIP houseboats offer?
Always wanted to experience what it’s like to live on a houseboat? The new, modern equipped VIP houseboats Center Parcs offer this possibility. The VIP houseboats have two floors, a total floor surface of 120 m2, can accommodate up to six people, have two bathrooms, two toilets, a private terrace, are located in the marina and offers a place for a private or rented boat. Guests can also make use of all the facilities Center Parcs De Eemhof offers. Great way to enjoy the Dutch lake, the Eemmeer!
Inspiration
Like we wrote about the catamaran hotel rooms, projects like these fit perfectly on our Dutch lakes! So if you run a hotel or a park, look at the opportunities to expand on the water!
Bouzy, Wine & Food at the Denneweg Hague
25-9-2015
Bouzy, Wine & Food opened at the Denneweg in The Hague. The wine & bites bar was founded by Martijn Verbruggen and Stefan Verleer and is a place where wine lovers will feel at home.
Bouzy
Co-owner Martijn Verbruggen: “Bouzy is an accessible place with a tough but warm vintage look and natural light from the many windows. The wines are the heart of Bouzy, we have over 100 wines, including 25 open wines of which several champagnes. We serve wines that we get from wine specialist suppliers who share their gems for us. In addition, we import champagnes from small producers ourselves via our company G-Bubbles.”
The name Bouzy
“Bouzy is named after the French Grand Cru area ‘Bouzy’, which is known as one of the best terroirs of Champagne. Next to the wines Martijn and Stefan serve snacks and bistro-style dishes like bruschetta, flammkuchen, bites of fish and meat, charcuterie, salads, cheese, desserts and coq au vin.”
Wine events
Bouzy will be a place where special wine events take place. Recently Lucas Payà was at the restaurant to present the new innovative wine system Coravin of catering professionals. He was sommelier at the former Spanish three-star restaurant elBulli for five years.
About Martijn Verbruggen and Stefan Verleer
Martijn Verbruggen (34) worked as a master-sommelier in (star) restaurants as Savelberg, Seinpost and Catch by Simonis. Stefan Verleer (34) worked as a manager and maître-sommelier at restaurants Zoute Zoen and South of Houston.
Opening hours
Bouzy, Wine & Food is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 to 23:00 o’clock. Next to the regular opening days there will be regularly activities on Sundays.
Build peace while eating at the Conflict Café
24-9-2015
The pop-up Conflict Café brings people together over a meal in London. It’s part of the second ‘Talking Peace Festival’ which is taking place in London from 3 September to 3 October 2015.
The Conflict Café is organized for the second time by the NGO International Alert. The café serves food from the areas where it runs peace-building projects, like Syria, Nepal, Colombia, Armenia and Turkey. The pop-up café has one goal, showing that good food can help to resolve international conflicts.
The Conflict Café
The café is near Waterloo station in London. In the article in the Independent, Charlotte Onslow, who works for International Alert, explains how it works. “We want to make sure you don’t talk only to the person you came with, so we have long tables and materials on them that generate questions; there will be specialists who explain a bit about the conflicts.” Different chefs with ties to specific kitchens from these areas, will be cooking in the Conflict Café.
The Talking Peace Festival
The festival, which coincides with the UN’s International Day of Peace on 21 September, will bring together art, food, photography, talks, comedy, music and technology to showcase the power of words and creativity in resolving conflicts. This year’s festival theme focuses on ‘peace in our cities’, and will look at the new challenges that urbanisation poses to peace. This goes from organised crime to civil unrest, and identifying possible solutions. There are Peace Talks panel discussions on 21 September. There will be an ART4PEACE program with an exhibition and auction of urban and street art by leading international talent. A ‘music strand’ is introduced this year, with internationally acclaimed musicians coming together in a unique online creative collaboration.
Inspiration
In 2010 we already spotted the Conflict Kitchen in Pittsburgh, which serves food from countries with which the United States is in conflict with. With all the refugees coming to Europe at this moment why not create more understanding over a great meal? Please #steelmyidea! ^Marjolein van Spronsen.
German-style drive-through deli in Zeddam
23-9-2015
Zeddam will have a unique drive-through deli in the beginning of 2016.
Drive-through deli in Zeddam
People from the Zeddam region regularly drive to the other side of the border to get tasty and healthy sandwiches in Germany and drive back again. Daphne Kempers (21) was inspired by this and initiated an innovative deli in Zeddam with so-called “German pastries” that will be ready early 2016. The new deli-concept will be open seven days a week from seven o’clock in the morning until seven o’clock in the evening. Next to the German sandwiches the deli also offers cakes, coffee and wine.
Convenient, quick and healthy
The innovative sandwich shop is convenient, quick and healthy. With these three key features Daphne addresses important trends that are relevant today and in the near future. The price / quality ratio will meet German standards, so expect good and affordable sandwiches. Guests can order and pay through an app to prevent standing in line.
Crowd sourcing for the name
To come to the perfect name, Daphne calls out to the public. A competition has been started for the best name of the future deli. Creative people can participate via the Facebook page Broods.
Online click-and-collect service for Germans?
We hope the Germans will visit the drive-through deli for a sandwich in the near future, instead of the other way around which happens now. Perhaps an online click-and-collect service for Germans that order products through Dutch web shops can contribute to this. It may be an additional reason to pick up a sandwich on the go. Armand Sol has recently written a blog (in Dutch) about integrating online click-and-collect points in the hospitality industry.
KOST event to promote a healthy Dutch cuisine
18-9-2015
KOST is an event about the Dutch food culture for everyone who cares about our daily foods. The first edition will take place on 21 September.
Dutch cuisine
Chefs, producers, scientists, farmers and policymakers explore the possibilities to put the Dutch food culture and Dutch cuisine firmly on the map and make it healthier. They will do that together with speakers like Kobe Desramaults, Robert Kranenborg, Julian Baggini, Linda Roodenburg and Martin Caraher during the KOST event on 21 September at the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam.
Platform ‘Van Moeder Natuur’
KOST is an initiative by the ‘Van Moeder Natuur’ platform (freely translated as the ‘Mother nature platform’). The platform focuses on a healthy Dutch food culture. This includes enjoying healthy, delicious and natural products packed with nutrients. Next to that, it means making time for food again by home cooking and enjoying meals together.
Day program
During the day program interesting topics are addressed. The program is compiled by various well know curators from the Dutch food culture like Mac van Dinther, Joris Bijdendijk, Joris Lohman, Samuel Levie and Helen Kranstauber).
Kostelijk dinner
In the evening there is a Kostelijk dinner (translated: Delicious dinner). The chefs responsible for the dinner are Joris Bijdendijk (RIJKS®), Albert Kooy (Dutch Cuisine), Luc Kusters (Bolenius), Benny Blisto (BAK), Sander Louwerens (Citroen), Willem Schaafsma (Eindeloos), Jonathan Karpathios (Vork en Mes), Geert Burema (Merkelbach), Nel Schellekens (de Gulle Waard), Dick Soek (Piloersemaborg) Eef Bolado (As) and René van der Veer (De Veldkeuken). Drinks are arranged by Niek Beute (De Klepel) and Ard Muntjewerf (The Lobby).
A delicious program. Unfortunately, it’s merely in Dutch and both the day program as well as the dinner are completely sold out.
Amstel Hotel Amsterdam reveals Van Gogh Suite
17-9-2015
From 7 September to 5 December the Amstel Hotel in Amsterdam has a special presentation about Van Gogh. Visitors can express their own creativity on a canvas as well, with pastels, oil paint and brushes.
Honouring Van Gogh
This year marks the 125th anniversary of Vincent van Gogh’s death. Several museums and other institutions in Europe honour the Dutch artist with special exhibitions and events. Recently there was a labyrinth of sunflowers at the Museumplein, referring to one of his famous paintings.
Van Gogh Museum Relievo Collection
The Amstel Hotel launched a special Van Gogh suite and paintings from the Van Gogh Relievo collection on 15 September. The Van Gogh Museum Relievo Collection is barely distinguishable from the original paintings that are on display at the Van Gogh Museum. This is realized with a combination of the most recent 2D and 3D technology, craftsmanship and handicrafts.
Van Gogh Suite
The special Van Gogh Suite is available until 1 January 2016. The comfortable suite is located on the fourth floor of the hotel and is furnished in the atmosphere of his paintings. On a weathered wooden table in the sitting room, a bottle of absinthe welcomes guests. This is the drink where Van Gogh was fond of. On arrival, guests get a plate in the shape of a paint palette serving typical Amsterdam snacks. For guests who are inspired by Van Gogh there are pastels, oil paint, brushes and a canvas available. Guests can take their creative works home. Getting inspiration is easily done at the suite. At two locations in the suite paintings from the ‘Van Gogh Museum Relievo Collection’ hang on the wall. The view is magnificent as well.
Grocery store Christmas Festival in Utrecht by Albert Heijn
16-9-2015
The grocery store chain ‘Albert Heijn’ organizes a Christmas festival by the name of its instore magazine.
Allerhande Christmas Festival
Albert Heijn is organizing a major food event in Utrecht on 11th, 12th and 13th of December. The food festival is called ‘Allerhande Kerstfestival’ and is located at the Railway Museum in Utrecht. The event is scaled to 40,000 visitors and is a logical continuation of the recent food festivals popping up all over the country.
Workshops and inspiration
Visitors can inspire themselves by tasting food and drinks and get help from experts during various cooking workshops. Saskia Egas Reparaz, director of marketing & format of Albert Heijn explains the choice of the food festival: “Christmas is an old festival where every family has its own traditions and customs. We celebrate Christmas for 128 years already and help our customers every year again with new ideas, inspiration and lots of special Christmas products. This year, we want to offer our customers something extra with the ‘Allerhande Kerstfestival’. It’s the tastiest inspirational event for the holidays. In preparation for Christmas, anyone can gain additional ideas to create his or her own special Christmas.”
From drinks to dessert
With the Allerhande Christmas Festival, visitors of all ages can get in the mood for Christmas and inspire themselves for the Christmas dinner. They can literally walk through the menu from starter to dessert and taste, participate in workshops, watch live cooking sessions by renowned chefs and get tips from experts.
Christmas Shop
Everything at the festival can be bought at the special Christmas store or can be delivered home or pre-ordered at Albert Heijn grocery stores. Besides inspiration, the event is meant for entertainment and fun. The Winter Wonderland stage includes a ‘wish tree’, a winter barbecue and market stalls. Furthermore there is live music, an ice rink and mulled wine.
Ticket Sales
The tickets are for sale from 5 October and cost ten euros per person. Registration for the cooking workshops is done online via allerhandekerstfestival.nl.
Amazon free take-out delivery
15-9-2015
Amazon starts with one hour free take-out delivery for premium members in Seattle.
Free take-out delivery
Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. has begun a free take-out delivery service. Amazon Prime members get free delivery on their take-out orders from dozens of outlets and receive them within the hour. The Amazon Prime service costs $ 99 per year.
Delivery of beer, wine and spirits
A few weeks ago Amazon already announced that they began with one-hour delivery of beer, wine and spirits in Seattle. The city is the only place in America where customers can order beer and spirits via fast mail-order. In the rest of the country the delivery is limited to wine. Amazon offers a fast delivery service for alcohol in London already.
Growth of the delivery market
With the rapid deliveries Amazon wants to compete with restaurant delivery parties like GrubHub. The American GrubHub is comparable to the Dutch ‘Thuisbezorgd.nl’. The company delivers take-out meals from 30,000 local restaurants and has customers in 800 American cities. Americans spend an estimated 70 billion dollar on takeaway and delivery meals in 2013. With such numbers offering a one hour delivery service for take-out pays off. In March 2015, total sales in restaurants and bars was higher than the grocery market (!) for the first time. With the expansion of the delivery market, restaurants can increase sales at peak times, without adding extra seats.
SUSHISAMBA, a culinary mix of Japan, Brazil and Peru
9-9-2015
At restaurant SUSHISAMBA you can eat a unique blend of the Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine.
We don’t know many restaurants in the Netherlands that combine a cultural coalition in one cuisine. We recently wrote an article about the Nikkei cuisine (Japanese & Peruvian Cuisine) and in reaction somebody wrote us about another great tri-cultural coalition namely SUSHISAMBA. This cuisine is created in the early 20th century when thousands of Japanese emigrants traveled to South America’s fertile soil to cultivate coffee plantations and find their fortune. In bustling cities like Lima in Peru, and São Paulo in Brazil, the integration of Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cultures flourished. The restaurant in London, nearby for us Dutchies, opened in 2012.
What to expect when dining out at SUSHISAMBA
Hearty moquecas and colorful seviches found a place at the table alongside simple miso soup and tender sashimi. SUSHISAMBA serves these traditional dishes, plus more inventive creations, including sawagani, tuna tataki and anticuchos. The restaurant in London is located at the Heron Tower. A private glass-walled express lift hurtles up the outside of Heron Tower, taking you 38 storeys above the city. Once you’re up there, SUSHISAMBA has a pretty impressive rooftop bar that’s open all year round. Check all the pictures for an impression of the restaurant and the menus on their website. Certainly a restaurant and rooftop bar with a view. The next time I visit London, I most certainly will visit SUSHISAMBA!
About SUSHISAMBA
SUSHISAMBA started in New York City in 1999. Samba Brands Management was founded by Shimon Bokovza, Matthew Johnson and Danielle Billera. The company operates SUSHISAMBA® restaurants in New York, Miami, Las Vegas, London and Coral Gables. In addition to SUSHISAMBA®, the group manages SUGARCANE raw bar grill® in Miami and Duck & Waffle in London. ^Marjolein
