Okura’s very own Culinary Center ‘Taste of Okura’ will open its doors in the festive December month. After months of preparations, building, and developing the culinary concept the opening is coming up. On the 9th of December the festive opening of ‘Taste of Okura’ is scheduled!

The Culinary Center has three cooking stations, equipped with high tech Miele equipment like for example an induction hotplate, a water grill, a plancha and a salamander. Next to each cooking station walls are created where Miele installed an oven and a combi oven and microwave. Even special closets are build-in to keep the chinaware warm. The pans we will be working with are of Demeyere, they fit perfectly with the luxurious interior design of the studio. The knifes are of the well known brand Zwilling, and the company Magimix supplied the kitchen machines and all necessary kitchen-aids.

‘Taste of Okura’ has its own lounge area where guests can unwind and relax during a cooking session, to for example enjoy a beautiful glass of wine with one of the culinary books. There are also show windows were all materials used in the Culinary Center are on show and can be purchased, for usage at home or for presents. We selected our own Italian olive oil especially for the Culinary Center. 2000 bottles of San Mauro olive oil are labeled with our own ‘Taste of Okura’ label.

During the workshops all self made culinary creations are enjoyed in the same area, at the beautifully dressed up dinner tables. It is also possible for us to offer the Culinary Center exclusively to groups. Receptions, cocktails, or parties up to 125 persons are all possible. Each cooking station could then for example be used for the preparation of amuses, of course all tailored to the groups specifics needs and requests. The calendar with workshops for the first quarter of the year is recently published online. You can find the program on the website of Okura, where it is also possible to subscribe online. In the beginning of 2010 the Culinary Center gets its own website at the address www.taste-of-okura.nl.

Last week all Okura chefs visited Miele in Vianen to receive a small demonstration about ‘how to use their equipment’. This week the Culinary Center receives the final touch. We started the cleaning, arranging of all materials, and the try out workshops to be ready for welcoming you as of the 9th of December. To me ‘Taste of Okura’ is a unique venue for instructive and above all social and pleasant culinary lessons. I’m looking forward to meeting you personally in the new Culinary Center. I’m very proud of the new venue created in Hotel Okura Amsterdam; we are now able to offer you the special and unique opportunity to have a look into Okura’s kitchens.

See you soon!

Culinary Regards,
Onno Kokmeijer