Knoopjelos

So how did you like 't Schulten Hues? It happens to be one of my favorite restaurants in Holland. Modern cuisine with the best regional produce, innovative without becoming too complex. In my opinion on their way to a second Michelin star.

I'd say by taxi. It's only about 13 miles from Bruges to Sluis.

Thanks, we're pretty happy with it as well

They just might...and that's exactly what the problem is. If they'd consider it promotion, this way reaching a new 'target audience' which might help to fill the tables in the future, their focus should increase rather than decrease. But from what I've seen, both types of chef/restaurant exist so it should filter out eventually.

Similar experiences here, at Kasteel Maurick. Boring food (also salmon tartare coincidentally, with a very bland piccalilly sauce) and a combination of veal and foie gras with duxelles of mushrooms, which was topped with the toughest piece of lardo I've ever seen. Not a particularly pretty sight or taste by any means. Only the dessert was quite properly executed. Never seen a more insulted chef by the way, when I posted these comments in my review. Obviously it was all my fault, my personal taste just did not match his exquisite cuisine There's something very sad about chefs that think this highly of themselves, convinced that they work on a Michelin star level, but come up with food of such poor quality. Not a place I'd visit again.

All very true. And there are more examples why this restaurant just doesn't cut it. They once offered a piece of wagyu beef with fries during a surprise lunch menu, feeling very pleased with themselves, just because the chef feels he can get away with it now (him being 'so famous'). Disappointment allround, as you can imagine, when you're paying top dollar (or euro in this case) for a 2-star meal. Still, the most obnoxious example only dated from a couple of weeks ago, when a friend of mine had dinner there. A table across the room wanted some dish explained, and asked a couple of questions about caviar. How silly they might have been, they were just interested. Then the table next to them joined in, a family of four, and tried to ridicule the questions asked. In which the staff, rather than being professional and polite, actually chose sides for the family and laughed at the table he was originally serving. By my book that's not acceptable anywhere, it's just plain insolent. Where all this arrogance comes from, I don't know, because it's far from a place in my personal Top 10 when it comes to Dutch restaurants, and not really on the shortlist to visit any time soon.

It's true that it's a misprint in the official e-mail. It should read 'Get your ass in before midnight'. Regardless of that, it doesn't really sound like the type of language you'd expect from a two star establishment, but it fits their image. Beluga has always tried to get some 'young and wild' bravado across, but in my opinion they'd better focus on the food and service instead. Too many complaints are coming in these days about overcomplicated dishes and arrogant staff, and with that are third star seems far from likely (personally, I think one star is a better reflection of the culinary standard in this place anyway).

I've been to Ciel Bleu about a month ago, and you could clearly see why Onno Kokmeijer is currently being regarded as the culinary prince of Amsterdam. Fantastic, elegant dishes, like three preparations of lobster (one with mango atjar, one with a granadilla tartare and oyser, and a canneloni with lobster and garlic croutons) or langoustines with porc belly, peppadews, ginger and white beer. It must be said, he was being assisted by Margot Janse that week. The place has a warm atmosphere and attentive staff, which was almost un-Amsterdam-like. The wine list is too expensive though. Other favorites of mine are Chang-I, ENVY and Visaandeschelde, and I still have to check out Sophia as well. However, I tend to go to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel rather than Amsterdam when I'm in the area.

I mentioned briefly in another post that De Kromme Watergang (in Hoofdplaat, province of Zeeland) is an definite must-go when it comes to restaurants in Holland at the moment. But that's far from all. I have to say right now Holland is very fortunate to have a real surge of young talented chefs making a name for themselves. They're often called the Third Generation (Jonnie Boer and Sergio Herman, among others, being the second one), and most of them have opened restaurants in the more rural parts of the country. There's Peter Gast at 't Schulten Hues in Zutphen, Niven Kunz at 't Raethuys in Wateringen, Rik Jansma at Basiliek in Harderwijk, and Mohamed Elharouchi at Solo in Gorinchem. It didn't take long before all of them received their first Michelin star, and their performance over the last years had been so impressive to me, that they might be on their way for a second. All of these place have received marks above 90/100 in our reviews. Has anyone else got any experience in either one of these 4 restaurants, and if so, what are your thoughts?

Hi, Great reviews! The only ones I have myself are in Dutch, so that would take some time to translate. Anyhow, my last visit has been this June, making it my 11th visit to Oud Sluis (so you can say I'm a fan ). Since it's currently quite tricky to make reservations on short notice, we mostly try to arrange it for Sunday lunch. Not that it really feels like a lunch anymore with a 9-course tasting menu. The wonderful thing about the whole Oud Sluis experience for me is the combination of elegance and cozyness, with an informal (but correct) service, and gastronomic innovation without losing touch with the classic foundation. On average I go there once every six months, and Sergio does manage to surprise and impress me with new creations. The infused tomato which is mentioned is one of them, but especially his preparations with oysters and foie gras are to die for. It's hard to compare this restaurant to De Librije, because they've got such different approaches, and although they are (to me) both close to perfection, Oud Sluis really is my favorite restaurant in Holland. By the way, if you're in the area, try to combine it with a visit to De Kromme Watergang. It currently has one Michelin star, but deserves two.

I will be going to De Lindehof (so the one in Nuenen, not Giethoorn) on Monday, Kok & De Bruin on Wednesday and Kasteel Maurick on Friday. That will be all for this edition. Maybe next restaurantweek, we'll try to go all the way and make it 7 out of 7. I have to say it's quite disappointing to see most Michelin places were fully booked already as soon as the website for this edition opened. Has to do with the fact that readers of the Delicious magazine and Amex card holders got some sort of 'sneak preview'. Does undermine the idea of the concept a bit, this unnecessary inequality.

I actually went to The Showroom twice while visiting Cape Town in July, making this the only restaurant we visited twice. Not that others aren't any good (I can especially recommend Aubergine), but what Bruce's place offers is a pleasant combination of good food, proper local wines and an exciting buzz. It's labeled as a fashion or jetset restaurant by some, and you might agree with that looking at the decor or the fact that it has an actual showroom with hugely expensive cars attached to it, but that surely does not diminish the quality of the food. We tried, among others, a nice little foie gras and parma ham terrine with foie gras icecream on top, the signature sea food bowl with local crayfish, scallops and abalone, and intense porc belly, honey steamed with pineapple, which a gave a nice sweat and sour touch to the beautifully tender and rich meat. Another thing worth mentioning is the wine list, comprised of the best local wines (like Bouchard Finlayson, Hamilton Russell and Jean Daneel) at ridiculously low prices for European standards. Bruce Robertson likes a joke or special twist as well, and you can judge for yourself if it's proper behaviour to put an actual Lamborghini on the menu in addition to the dishes, but as a total experience I have to say I like The Showroom very much. Together with Aubergine, Bread & Wine and The Tasting Room it's among the best the Western Cape had to offer.