The Alliance Gastronomique restaurants located in the Amsterdam-region reviewed the past year together. A lot has happened. Alliance organized for example a sailing regatta from Enkhuizen of which they have good memories. Also the culinary week for youngsters called ‘Culinair uit je dak’ was a big success. I think it is a great initiative to offer young people a menu at top restaurants for a reasonable price during a specific week so they have to possibility to visit the restaurants they are passionate about. During the summer months Alliance organized a Summer Fair on the Amsterdam city beach. In short: all beautiful culinary events that stimulate the senses.

Past Sunday Arjan Speelman, my right handed man and Chef de Cuisine, and I introduced the Ciel Bleu restaurant to the Alliance guests. We served them a crispy cornetto with veal tartar and truffle. Sommelier Noël Vanwittenbergh and service manager Pasquinel Kolk also attended the event to serve special wine parings.

Next to the Ciel Bleu Restaurant is also the Yamazato Restaurant of Hotel Okura Amsterdam a member of Alliance Gastronomique. So the table next to us was occupied by Chef Akira Oshima and Chef de Cuisine Masanori Tomikawa. Our colleagues surprised the guests with the famous sushi of the Yamazato Restaurant. Also the restaurants Bokkedoorns, Chapeau!, Excelsior, Hermitage, Lai Sin’s Restaurant, La Rive, La Vilette, Merlet, Ron Blaauw Restaurant and ’t Raethuys attended the event.

It was a busy New Years reception; hopefully each guest enjoyed the culinary delights offered by the restaurants. For me it was very special to organize such an event with all top chefs and it was very nice to see everyone again. Many special & beautiful things are happening in the Dutch culinary world. I’m sure that it will be possible for us ambitious chefs to increase the level of the Dutch gastronomy even further in 2009!

Regards, Onno Kokmeijer