Celebrate the harmony between agriculture and gastronomy by embracing the farm-to-table philosophy. North Holland’s restaurants offer a delightful journey from the fertile fields to the dining table, where each dish bursts with the vibrant flavours of the region’s freshest produce.
Nestled amid quaint villages and historic towns, these farm-to-table restaurants have redefined the art of dining, transcending the traditional restaurant experience into an enchanting celebration of local ingredients and sustainable practices. So, let’s clear our palates and venture into a universe of Earth’s best flavours.
1. De Kas in Amsterdam
Welcome to the 1st official farm-to-table restaurant in the world. From the plant in the morning to the plate in the evening, De Kas’s philosophy has stayed intact since 2001. Serving the dishes that Mother Earth has curated herself, De Kas has earned itself a Green Michelin Star as well as a Red one! In their gardens, the staff grows about 300 varieties of vegetables, herbs and fruits.
The menu reflects the changing seasons just like that of their homegrown produce. Vegetables play the starring role in De Kas’s menu. They use as many homegrown products as possible and combine them with international flavours and cooking. There are no a la carte menus, only fixed menus, including vegan and vegetarian ones. You can book lunch or dinner (or both) on De Kas’s website.
2. Gartine in Amsterdam
Open Wednesday to Friday from 9:30 am to 5 pm and Saturday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 4 pm. This is a classic farm-to-table restaurant in North Holland that derives all its produce from its kitchen garden. Gartine’s dishes are sustainably made with organic ingredients. When finding yourself in Gartine, you can enjoy a delicate breakfast, lunch or high tea. For the health-conscious foody, try the thick yoghurt-mascarpone cream with vanilla, muesli and fresh fruit.
Or perhaps you want something cosy? Try their decadent vegetable soup with truffle oil served with sourdough bread. Not feeling the soup? Then the Tartare is made of saffron rice, served with thinly sliced cucumber, vegan feta, basil leaves and roasted walnuts. End the meal with a scrumptious coconut pie with yoghurt and rhubarb frosting, or their banana chocolate bread with peanut vanilla cream cheese. Yum, yum, yum!
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3. The Farm Kitchen in Hoofddorp
At The Farm Kitchen, located in Hoofdorp, they believe in good food to be delicious, organic, super-local and seasonal. All their produce is ‘Earth’s cuisine’, and thus base their entire menu according to this philosophy. Keep it simple yet delightful, local yet inspirational. This kitchen is directly situated on a farm, hence the name of the restaurant. Treat yourself to their deliciously crafted healthy meals, super salads, wondrous wraps, smart soups, jolly juices, loveable lunch boxes and more! The restaurant is open Mondays to Fridays between 11 am to 3 pm.
Grab yourself a smart grain sandwich, like the Greenwich chicken mayo sandwich. Or perhaps you’d like a super salad where you can add an array of superfoods to your super salad. Want something sweet? Try their famous banana bread or their chocolate brownie, you deserve a treat now and again!
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4. Merkelbach in Amsterdam
Merkelbach is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm for coffee, tea and a la carte lunches and dinners! The restaurant is located on the right wing of the Koetshuis, the last surviving country house of the Watergraafsmeer. Merkelbach uses pure and original food items in its dishes.
When dining at Merkelbach, be assured that the owners would be able to tell you exactly where every part of the dish originates from. The meat comes from the Lidenhoff farm in Baambrugge. The fish is traditionally caught in Holland’s own North Sea by die ‘Goede Vissers’. The vegetables are carefully grown in cold soil and come from Park Frankendael.
Try their delicious soup of seasonal vegetables or a puffed leek vichyssoise with roasted onions and leek crisps. Try something more sturdy, like their Gnocchi of herbs with roasted cime di rapa and buerre blanc of fermented vegetables. Whatever you do, don’t overlook this menu item. It’s creamy asparagus with samphire and sea lavender.
If you’re visiting South Africa soon, be sure to visit these top healthy restaurants in Pretoria!
Tantalisingly Good!
