Pakistani cooking class with handpicked vegetables
12-11-2014
Ferdinand and Anja Eeuwes grow tropical vegetables, peppers and forgotten Old-Dutch vegetables in their greenhouse for years. During the sale in their regional shop they regularly received questions about the preparation of these products. This eventually led to the creation of a series of cooking classes.
Pakistani cooking class
The cooking classes were set up eight years ago and expanded to a larger modern kitchen in 2009, surrounded by a tropical garden and herb garden. There are 16 different classes available at the moment and the next cooking class is focused on the Pakistani kitchen on 17 November.
From seed to eating
The company developed from a traditional horticultural company into a total experience from seed to food with a local shop, a plant nursery, cooking classes, excursions, educational programs, creative workshops and the hosting of children’s parties.
AEG Cooking Club
The entrepreneurs are ambassadors of AEG since 2014, people who subscribe at the AEG Cooking Club can join free cooking workshops. During these workshops consumers can get acquainted with various AEG cooking devices. The workshops are aimed on people who want to buy AEG equipment or want to learn how to optimize their own cooking skills with the AEG products they own.
The ‘Groene Schuur’ is located at the Lijkweg 9B in Groessen.
Use the #selfie in your benefit
10-11-2014
The luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel in Paris created a new example of the use of the #selfie that benefits both the company as the consumer.
Marjolein wrote about it in the beginning of September; the #Selfie as a trend. In that article she provides a few examples, recently she spotted a new one from the luxury Mandarin Oriental hotel in Paris. The hotel launched a ‘Selfie in Paris’ campaign in August 2014. Offering their guests a tour of Paris’ best selfie spots with a private car and driver.
The best #selfie time is yet to come
As from the end of November it will be booming with all the #Christmas decoration #selfies on the social media. In front of the Christmas Tree on famous spots, with the decorated windows at all the big warehouses et cetera. Make use of this #selfie trend by creating the perfect Selfie spot in your restaurant or hotel. As city you can organise your own best selfie spot tour to promote your most photogenic spots as well.
A bakery that starts serving meals
5-11-2014
The ‘Bakkerswinkel’ (Bakery Shop) in Amsterdam-West will start serving meals in the evening as from 14 November, starting on Friday and Saturday. Guests are welcome on these nights for a small or large meal.
A lunchroom during the day and a restaurant at night
Piet Hekker founder of the ‘Bakkerswinkel’ chain with 8 shops in Zoetermeer, Amsterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Rotterdam asked Andy Verdonk to coach and guide the kitchen team. All dishes will be freshly prepared in the kitchen and they will work with seasonal products. The menu includes dishes (entremets size) to taste, combine or share. Andy Verdonk will also teach his knowledge to the young (future) professionals who are educated at this shop in Amsterdam.
Philosophy of the ‘Bakkerswinkel’
The ‘Bakkerswinkel’ is a meeting place focused on people, product and the environment. All branches of the Baker Shops are unique and have their own atmosphere and identity, adapted to the environment. This is consistent with the philosophy of Piet Hekker; through cross-pollination the city, the craft and the design reinforce each other. Each property consists of a shop, a restaurant and a traditional kitchen / bakery, which is preferably open so that guest can see how their bread and meal are prepared. Making the craft of cook and baker more visible, fits into the trend of transparency.
Bakery blurring
Shop and restaurant in one, another fine example of blurring. The ‘Bakkerswinkel’ does it for 40 years already. What once started as a bakery/shop evolved into a lunchroom (with an extended evening opening in Zoetermeer). Recently the venue in Amsterdam followed with an evening opening as well. The ingredients used at the evening are not for sale in the shop. Something that might change in the near future.
Lke the times the gas stations got permission to sell food and some restaurant owners asked if they could start selling gas, there will probably be restaurant owners discussing if they could start selling bread!
Maybe those restaurant owners can make a small wink to the concept; In France I have got a small loaf of bread home after a delicious meal a couple of times. This to discuss dinner at breakfast while still enjoying the crafts of the same kitchen. ^ Marjolein
Whisky tasting at the theater
4-11-2014
Tony van Rooijen is the Dutch brand ambassador for Glenfiddich and takes whisky lovers on a virtual tour during interactive whisky tasting sessions in Haarlem and Amstelveen.
Whisky tasting
At the tasting Tony van Rooijen gives a presentaino on stage while he guides the visitors through a virtual impression of the Scottish Distillery. During the presentation six varieties of whisky will be discussed, all of them are provided in a tasting box that’s included in the ticket price. This way the visitors can taste the variety of whiskys while being informed about it.
Tour through Schotland
Both experts and beginners can enjoy the tasting, that provides immerses you into Scotland for the evening. This Friday 7 November the tour is at the Stadsschouwburg & Philharmonie in Haarlem (from 20.30 o’clock) and the Schouwburg in Amstelveen will host the evening on 29 November. The first tasting of the tour was in Purmerend.
Screwpull accessories for the wine decanter
23-10-2014
The manufacturer of high-quality wine accessories ‘Screwpull’ introduces a convenient aerator. The new gadget is a thoughtful aerator that you can place in every wine decanter. By pouring wine trough the aerator, the wine will optimal mix with oxygen. The aerator has spinning ridges, leading the wine alongside the carafe. Aerating the wine is done to release the hidden flavors in young wine and to round off any tannins in the wine. This makes the wine smoother and the taste more pleasant. The aerator of Screwpull can be bought in different versions: in the materials pottery or metal and in the colors black, black-nickel and silver. Screwpull is part of the brand Le Creuset, the manufacturer of cast iron pans from northern France.
Other wine gadgets
Together with the aerator, Screwpull introduced stainless steel beads and a wine decanter as well. With the stainless steel beads you can easily clean the wine decanter by gently rotating them along the carafe together with water. The wine decanter has a cavity in the bottom which causes a better grip when pouring wine.
The products are sold in the better wine stores, cooking and household stores or through the website of Le Creuset.
Sausage atelier of Brandt & Levie by crowdfunding
22-10-2014
Jiri, Geert and Samuel of Brandt & Levie sausage makers started more than three years ago their own sausage shop. This autumn Brandt & Levie want to move to the ‘Houthavens’ in Amsterdam, here they want to make one of their dreams come true. They want to open their own sausage atelier consisting of a work area and a small butcher shop. The workarea is a place where guests can make their own sausage and where new experiments can be seen, smelled and tasted. They want to give workshops, receive schools and organize events to inspire others to make their own sausage. At the small artisan butcher, products can be tasted and purchased.
Share the taste of Vadouvan of Jonnie Boer
20-10-2014
From 6 to 12 October home cooks could win a special prize by sharing the taste of Vadouvan by Jonnie Boer with their neighbors. The 20 home cooks who shared the most meals with Vadouvan, won a cooking workshop at the Librije(***) worth of € 95, -. The workshop will take place at the end of this year and gives the winners the opportunity to cook in a professional kitchen. During the workshop, the 20 winners will prepare three dishes featuring the Vadouvan spices of the ‘Original Spices’ line by Jonnie Boer. The master chef himself will provide the winners with tips and preparation techniques.
Cocktail for the cold days: Hot Toddy
13-10-2014
The days are shorter, the night are longer: autumn weather started in the Netherlands already a few weeks ago. The Scottish whisky liqueur Drambuie introduced the cocktail ‘Hot Toddy’ for more warmth and coziness in these days. The Hot Toddy is an alcoholic warm beverage that fits in line with Glühwein and Eggnog.
Recipe of The Hot Toddy
Make this cocktail for cold days by serving 40 ml of Drambuie with 60 ml of warm fresh apple juice, a cinnamon stick, 2 cloves, a slice of lemon and the zest of an orange.
Make your own signature Dutch cheese
9-10-2014
Would you, as chef or company, like to make your own signature Dutch cheese with Mirjam, feel free to contact her!
Mirjam van Hest, daughter of chef Martin Willemsen, started her cheese making profession after finishing her education at the Hotel Management School. Together with her husband, William van Hest, she runs the wholesale cheese company Fromagerie Guillaume, since 1995. Nowadays their son Bas also works at the company which is specialized in composing cheese assortments for the top notch restaurants.
The idea for creating signature cheeses
A while ago Mirjam had the idea to create a cheese with Cas Spijkers (famous Dutch chef), based on his herbs and spices-knowledge and her cheese knowledge. Because of the unfortunally and early death of Cas Spijkers this remained just an idea. Now, a couple of years later, the first cheeses have been created with some other inspiring chefs. Mirjam uses Dutch milk from cows which are grass-fed in the area between Heusden and Altena as a base for her artisan, extra creamy farm cheese. She also has her own website for these cheeses; Mir’s Heart & Soul, at the website you can find where her cheeses are sold.
India Pale Ale for sale at Dutch grocery store
9-10-2014
Dutch grocery store Albert Heijn introduced India Pale Ale. The special beers Anchor and BrewDog Punk India Pale Ale (IPA) are now available in their stores. Although IPA is a global trend for years now, until recently it was only available at liquor stores and cafés in the Netherlands. Special beer retailer Bier&Co responded to the increasing demand for home-brewed beers with a distinctive flavor by introducing IPA to the big market.
Bier&Co
Wholesale Bier&Co has a passion for tasteful beer and was the first who brought special beers to the Netherlands. As the demand from consumers, liquor stores and restaurants increased, they have become a serious player in the beer industry as well.
India Pale Ale
IPA beer originates from England, where it was mostly exported to India in the beginning of the 19th century. Because the shipping could take months, extra hops was added to the beer which increased the durability. This process gives IPA beers its typical flavor.