Young Entrepreneurs & new locations | L’ABEILLE Oegstgeest, Gastrovino PYK Deventer and Kafei in Leuven
Suzie’s & Van Aken expands its culinary horizons with L’ABEILLE in Oegstgeest
Suzie’s & Van Aken expands its culinary horizons with L’ABEILLE in Oegstgeest
Suzie’s & Van Aken expands its culinary horizons with L’ABEILLE in Oegstgeest
Kafei expands to Leuven - with fluffy pancakes and their ‘family-first’ philosophy
Kafei expands to Leuven - with fluffy pancakes and their ‘family-first’ philosophy
From liquor store to taste destination - Gastrovino PYK opens De Wynkantine
From liquor store to taste destination - Gastrovino PYK opens De Wynkantine
Every day fun new concepts open their doors. This week: L’Abeille in Oegstgeest, a warm and modern restaurant where Suzanne van Haaster showcases her love for refined, light dishes, with seasonal products and accessible flavours that guests quickly come to appreciate. In Deventer, Gastrovino PYK is moving to the Houtmarkt and simultaneously launching De Wynkantine: a cozy tasting room where wine, whisky and delicious bites take centre stage. And in Leuven, Kafei is opening a new location, where their iconic Japanese fluffy pancakes, colourful brunch dishes and specialty coffee can now also be enjoyed outside of Brussels.
We wish these entrepreneurs and their teams the best of luck and lots of fun with their new concepts.
3 minutes read
Suzie’s & Van Aken expands its culinary horizons with L’ABEILLE in Oegstgeest
Suzie’s & Van Aken broadens its culinary horizons with the arrival of L’ABEILLE in Oegstgeest. Over the past few years, Suzanne van Haaster has built up a loyal clientele at Suzie’s & Van Aken, where the award-winning Asian-French cuisine and warm hospitality have led to a well-deserved Michelin recognition. With L’ABEILLE, located at De Kempenaerstraat 4, Suzanne is taking the next step: an intimate and fresh establishment where her personal signature is even more evident. The menu focuses on light, accessible dishes with seasonal products, refined preparations and a relaxed ambiance that invites you to discover new favourites. L’ABEILLE is a French bistro where cooking is done over an open fire, with an indoor BBQ, a long bar and a full view of the chefs. The chefs are in the spotlight: it’s all about their talent, what they create with their hands, and that is truly impressive. Guests can now experience, see, taste and enjoy this spectacle first-hand. The menu features classics such as steak tartare and ribeye béarnaise, while Chef Jeroen Verschuren, who worked at Suzie’s & Van Aken for five years, will be constantly updating the menu. Bites and drinks also play a central role. L’ABEILLE is open from Thursday until Monday from 12.00 am.
From liquor store to taste destination | Gastrovino PYK opens De Wynkantine
Gastrovino, founded in 1932, supplies gourmets throughout the Netherlands with the finest wines, whiskies and delicacies. It has since grown into a national chain of 33 specialist shops, all with a focus on quality, craftsmanship and personal service. One of those specialist shops is Gastrovino PYK in Deventer, where three friends, Sjoerd Vunderink, Willem de Haas and Brett van Ek, started their own liquor store three years ago. What began as a small-scale initiative on the outskirts of the city quickly grew into a regular destination for wine lovers and the hospitality industry.
This year, PYK was even a finalist in the Deventer Business Awards in the ‘Retailer of the Year’ category. At the beginning of November, the three friends took a new step and moved to Houtmarkt 14 in the De Boreel shopping area, a more spacious, central location that suits their ambitions. At the same time, a long-cherished wish came true: De Wynkantine, PYK’s own tasting room. Here, guests can taste, sit and experience what makes the shop so special. De Wynkantine is a place where passion, taste and hospitality reinforce each other.
From liquor store to taste destination | Gastrovino PYK opens De Wynkantine
Kafei expands beyond Brussels | Fluffy pancakes and their ‘family-first’ philosophy come to Leuven
The story of Kafei begins with a sister and three brothers, Ping, Mickael and Stephen, who grew up in the kitchen of their parents’ restaurant. There they learned that hospitality and family are inextricably linked. With that foundation, they opened their first café, Cup 28°, in 2016, followed by Kafei Louise: the very first Asian-inspired coffee house in Brussels. Their Japanese fluffy pancakes, creative brunch dishes and specialty coffee quickly made Kafei a beloved name.
Today, Kafei has three coffee bars in Brussels and a kiosk in WOLF Antwerp, connected by a shared artistic style and a menu that evolves with their travels through Asia.
Now the brothers and sister are taking a new step: Kafei Leuven, their first location outside Brussels, besides the kiosk in Antwerp. From December 2025, the new coffee house will serve the full brunch menu, homemade patisserie and, of course, the iconic fluffy pancakes. During the opening weekend, they will be treating guests to free cappuccinos and pancakes. What is also growing, but remains the same, is their “family-first” philosophy, the soul of everything Kafei does.
The family behind Kafei in Brussels, Antwerp and now Leuven
