Starred Dinner at Restaurant ’t Amsterdammetje
Restaurant ’t Amsterdammertje is located in Loenen a/d Vecht (Utrecht) and has a 1-Michelin star under her belt since 2010 and has received awards from GaultMillau and as Best Restaurant in the Netherlands as well.
Now, I chose this restaurant for our 2012 year-end dinner for several reasons.
Firstly, the restaurant is located in Utrecht region so it’s not that far from home. It’s about 15 minutes’ drive from Utrecht City. It will be rather easy to convince the Dutchman to go here than to Restaurant De Librije or Oud Sluis (both restaurants have 3 Michelin stars each, a full schedule and a possible waiting list) that are more than an hour’s drive away.
Secondly, they have an online reservation system where you can right away see if there is a table available. Fortunately, they have a table available for us on the said night we are planning to dine. At other fine dining restaurants in and around Utrecht, they either did not have a reservation tool available or were fully booked.
Thirdly, they have a Michelin star—3 years in a row since 2010. I’ll have to admit that I am not a big aficionada of fine dining so to speak. I much prefer down-to-earth food and local food during my travels, but on certain occasions I like to indulge in the creative side of culinary arts. Where, when the food arrives on the table, you stare at it for a long time trying to decipher what the ingredients are whilst admiring the fine skill put into such lovely and arty gastronomic piece.
In these places, you are not only paying for the tasty food, wine, service and ambiance, but for art as well. The meals are a beautiful work of art.
Dutchman on the other hand does NOT care about—what he calls this—nonsense. Food for him is all about survival. It is something you eat, digest and later relieve. He doesn’t care if the restaurant has a Michelin star, a member of GaultMillau or Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe. He sees food as food, nothing less, nothing more.
But at certain times and certain occasions, I am the boss at this household =) thus my wish is my command.
The menu is in Dutch and I will not be translating everything so if you are really curious with the meal’s composition, you can copy and paste it to Google translate. Thanks for understanding =)
A plus point in this restaurant is that chef Andre Gerrits will personally welcome you. He will indulge in small talk with you about the history of the restaurant and will show you the evening’s menu. He will also come back at the end of the meal, usually during dessert to personally serve it.
On our way to the door he came to us, shook our hands and thanked us for coming. Talk about a delightful service from the chef and the owner himself. It’s all in the details my friends.
Lovely dinner, lovely place, lovely experience.
Visit Period: December 2012
Destination: Loenen aan de Vecht (Stichtse Vecht - Utrecht), The Netherlands
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Now, I chose this restaurant for our 2012 year-end dinner for several reasons.
Dutchman and I first had a port and a beer at the bar where we were greeted by the chef, Andre Gerrits. When we moved to our table we were served with this amazing set of amuse-bouches. Normally you get 1 or 2 amuse-bouches from the chef but here at 't Amsterdammetje, you get 5!
Secondly, they have an online reservation system where you can right away see if there is a table available. Fortunately, they have a table available for us on the said night we are planning to dine. At other fine dining restaurants in and around Utrecht, they either did not have a reservation tool available or were fully booked.
Thirdly, they have a Michelin star—3 years in a row since 2010. I’ll have to admit that I am not a big aficionada of fine dining so to speak. I much prefer down-to-earth food and local food during my travels, but on certain occasions I like to indulge in the creative side of culinary arts. Where, when the food arrives on the table, you stare at it for a long time trying to decipher what the ingredients are whilst admiring the fine skill put into such lovely and arty gastronomic piece.
In these places, you are not only paying for the tasty food, wine, service and ambiance, but for art as well. The meals are a beautiful work of art.
Dutchman on the other hand does NOT care about—what he calls this—nonsense. Food for him is all about survival. It is something you eat, digest and later relieve. He doesn’t care if the restaurant has a Michelin star, a member of GaultMillau or Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe. He sees food as food, nothing less, nothing more.
But at certain times and certain occasions, I am the boss at this household =) thus my wish is my command.
1st Course - Noordzeekrab (North Sea Crab): Salade van Noordzeekrab met een cannelloni van Noordzeekrab, geroosterde coquille St. Jacques en verschillende bereidingen van komkommer en kerrie. I so love this!!! Dutchman who does not eat seafood, had the foie gras (see below).
The menu is in Dutch and I will not be translating everything so if you are really curious with the meal’s composition, you can copy and paste it to Google translate. Thanks for understanding =)
2nd Course - Ganzenlever (Foie Gras): Terrine van ganzenlever met hazenpeper, schuim van ontbijtkoek, zoetzure knolgroenten en een salade van snijbonen en shiitake. Dutchman had something else, he had a pheasant dish (it is a type of bird).
A very busy end of the year weekend evening at 't Amsterdammetje in Loenen aan de Vecht, Utrecht. For my wines I had a Chardonnay (forgot the name) and a Schola Sarmenti Negroamaro Roccamora from Puglia, Italy. The latter is buono, bellissima.
3rd Course - Hert (Deer meat): Bereidingen van hert, peterseliewortel, bitterbal van boerenkool met piccalilly en een saus van gerookte thee en iets chocolade. Dutchman and I both had this.
4th Course - Pina Colada: Pina colada op een heel eigenwijze manier. The coconut shell is made from chocolate. Dutchman and I also both had this dessert.
Cappucino for the Dutchman and Double Espresso for moi. And little treats to go with our coffee: madeleines, churros and chocolate and a crunchy cookie. The restaurant gifted us as well some chocolates to go in a box.
A plus point in this restaurant is that chef Andre Gerrits will personally welcome you. He will indulge in small talk with you about the history of the restaurant and will show you the evening’s menu. He will also come back at the end of the meal, usually during dessert to personally serve it.
On our way to the door he came to us, shook our hands and thanked us for coming. Talk about a delightful service from the chef and the owner himself. It’s all in the details my friends.
Lovely dinner, lovely place, lovely experience.
Visit Period: December 2012
Destination: Loenen aan de Vecht (Stichtse Vecht - Utrecht), The Netherlands
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
