Taking care of each and every guest; Richard Meijer believes in this traditional approach. In his opinion people should rather visit restaurant of Mevrouw Meijer for its atmosphere and the people than for checking the chef’s movements and tasting the food with a critical eye.
Two different characters can complement each other in the kitchen. The same applies to Pepijn Schmeink and Remco van Erp. The owners of Dertien met accidentally and it instantly let to a good friendship and a business.
Robbert van Gammeren had to suddenly switch and jump from his manager work into the kitchen and this move changed his whole life. In his own restaurant now he changes his menu as often as he likes or whenever he gets inspired by something new.
What silence really means for a chef? Relaxation, peacefulness, or something is wrong in the kitchen? Marcel van Zomeren surrounds himself with youngsters in the kitchen. He is not just mentoring but also learns a lot from them.
Remco Van de Lagemaat was wondering what is missing the most from Rotterdam; a bit of Paris. With his wife they spent a weekend in the french capital and observed all the details; tastes, the atmosphere, experiences. That's how they opened Bistrot du Bac.
Being 27, Jim de Jong is starting to grow out of being a kid. He is managing his own restaurant for six years now. Jim personally supervises the kitchen, thinking out new dishes and with his hard work he placed himself up on the gastro map of Rotterdam.
Marnix is Marnix. That's all I heard of the crazy chef from Rotterdam before and this impression didn't change a bit later when I got to know him. He is a main character in Rotterdam's gastro life. He studied business management but dared to change to what he really loves.
Hiroaki Yamamoto or Yama as everyone calls him started cooking in a DYO way with his brothers and now he manages his own restaurant in Rotterdam. He said the most unusual thing was for him that while Japanese can nod and say yes to everything, dutch will tell their opinion; of course even about his food too.
"Best job I've ever had." Said Marco Somer the Chef of De Harmonie while actually he has always been working in kitchens. He started cooking when he was 14 thanks for the adoration of his grandma and now he is the main chef in a restaurant in Rotterdam.
Michael Schook can learn a lot from how others live their lives. The chef gets his inspirations from theses everyday explorations and he only needs to be creative to re use them in his work.
Marjolein Dekker and Rutger Wirtz are freelance architects. They couldn't find a good place where they could meet quietly their clients. So they decided to open their own place and set up a new meeting point of the neighbourhood.
Their shared passion started from a friendship but lead to a street food business. Dutch Michiel de Kloet-et and Spanish Ulises Bendala Rodriguez offering authentic spanish food such as the Iberico ham, chorizo, gazpacho, tortilla and of course Sangria. They are "Of Je Spaanse Worst Lust"
Roely de Boer and her husband, Klaas Schaft started with ice cream. But since it was raining too much they decided to cook something warm. So they made their own fries. This is Frites de Campagne.
Who wouldn't like the idea of having more natural healthy food? Kelly Leenders from Puzzles conquering Holland with her food truck serving smoothies, juices, soups, salads and paleo-style finger food. All healthy and fresh!
In 2009 Daphne Wessel made a decision to change her diet. As she described herself; she is a health-freak and she loves it, and now also trying to prove it to others that vegan lifestyle is not expensive and nor strange.
Old cars and coffee - two hobbies leading to a new life. Frits Kers lost his job and suddenly he had to make decisions. He talks about these hard moments. Luckily, he has time to find a new way in his life, and meanwhile he prepared his Volvo Amazon for a new and long trip.
It all started with one innocent rosemary bush and a flu. That's how the story of Stadskruid (Urban Gardeners) started. Being sick, Marien looked down to his neighbour's herbs and asked from some. Sometime later, over a warm tea they agreed on starting a gardening business.
Janneke and Valentijn Vogel carry their life on a beautiful red caravan. Because of family roots they make Korean food. Last year was a big moment for them, as they travelled to Korea to find Janneke’s biological parents.
The whole street knows if Miriam Staffhorst and her pâtisseries are working on something delicious. If you feel the wonderful aromas of cinnamon, chocolate, other ingredients and the freshly baked cakes, you cannot resist to stop by. We visited them on a special day when they were making 80 Christmas breads on one day. At the same time we watched how the city wakes up.
Milk tastes different on each and every farm. Not only season but the time of the day also matters when it comes to milk. So why every milk from the supermarket taste the same? Holland's first Milk sommelier, Bas de Groot is searching the answer.
There is a day in every year when farmers can sleep longer because neighbours milk their cows. Thats an old tradition, a gift from farmers making sure people have enough cheese for winter. We visited a more than 120 years old farm where we also met an ex-fireman.
Sweets for dogs? Why not! Treats are not necessarily forbidden for pets but it matters what exactly is it made of. Daisy knows exactly what a dog needs and wants simply because she also has one. Cupcake with liver, cream cheese and raspberry. Delicious!
Have you ever dreamed of to have your own restaurant? Once a year everyone can open a restaurant in Rotterdam. It doesn't matter if you are beginner or professional, it's cooking and food what brings people together.
It's not beer, neither wine. It's cider! We've just visited Holland's first cider festival at Fenix Food Factory in Rotterdam!
Passion and freedom - this is what street food is about. Casper Bregman explains why street food is so popular in The Netherlands. He believes the success is in the enthusiasm for food and the freedom.
It's a real gift if you find Mary Pelders. As a graphic designer, she actually created the most wonderful pancake kiosk we have ever seen by not over designing it. Never advertising herself as cheap or even that she sells pancakes.
You are too educated and too old to get a new job. To hear that in your fifties is not pleasant. Luckily there were options: the tango and Argentina.
Hennie Smaling was born to cook. He started cooking when he was a kid, since then he's just getting even more passionate.
After 25 years Gerard Radder has left his job to go outside, to meet people. Paper-thin pizza with thick toppings for him this equals happiness. His message is: it's up to you to change your life.
