Imagine: its night time and you step off the tram and walk through a very nondescipt part of town. You’ve heard this restaurant is a greenhouse of sorts but you don’t see how that is possible because you are walking along a very city-like street and there is no sign of nature anywhere. And then suddenly, it’s all black. You know that’s a sign of nature’s night time presence. And then, you see lights, in what seem to be in the shape of a house. You peek through the grassland and standing alone against the black of night you see the most magnificent structure: a glorious house built entirely of glass…
You find a long wooden bridge that guides you across a little canal and straight to the door of your destination, Restaurant de Kas (the glasshouse)…
There is a man at the door awaiting your presence. He takes your coats, you walk past a gorgeous herb garden into the main dining area which is housed inside this gigantic glasshouse. You walk past a beautiful lemon tree that stands by the entrance way as you are guided to your seat…
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“A kitchen surrounded by fertile soil where vegetables and herbs thrive … Where daylight shines in from all sides and where the chefs are free to express their creativity daily using the best the season has to offer.”Gert Jan Hageman owner of de kas
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Well, what more can I say! Last night’s dinner date was more than I could have hoped for. And that is saying alot, because I had bookmarked this restaurant from a tiny magazine article in Australia four years ago. That was way before I ever intended visiting Amsterdam, let alone living here. I loved the idea of the restaurant and I thought, hmm, wouldn’t it be nice to visit such a place one day. After a year of living here, I finally made it and oh, what an incredible place it is…
photos courtesy of de kas, with first three photos taken by me last night.
The five-course menu is based on what the restaurateurs have harvested that day, and consists of a selection of starters, a main course and a dessert. We started with a glass of champagne that was served with a tiny sprig of oregano picked from the garden. The meal was divine (I could go on and on about each dish so if you are interested let me know and I will tell you exactly what we had), the wine choices perfect, and I just can’t wait to go back! I would like to go for a lunch next time so I can see the garden during the day, and also to go in the different seasons. What a treat. It has made it into our top 5 list of best restaurants to go to around the world.
xx
To read more about de kas, please click here – you’ll find a comprehensive website with lots of lovely photos and information about the history of the restaurant and chefs.
how delightful!!! being a foodie myself – i do love a good restaurant. lemon trees? sprigs of oregano in the champagne?! i’m uber jealous! 😉 xo
February 19th, 2009 | #
yes, yes, please tell us about the dishes you and french boy enjoyed! i can’t wait to go to de kas; it sounds divine. maybe next time i’m in amsterdam.
February 19th, 2009 | #
how lovely to have an experience exceed or even meet your expectations. i would love to hear what you ate. it sounds wonderful.
February 20th, 2009 | #
The first post.
Its really nice! I recently came to the
Netherlands from Japan. I’d like to go there! thank you for your posting about this restaurant.
February 20th, 2009 | #
amazing!!! i want to go there! how dreamy and beautiful both day & night! xo
February 20th, 2009 | #
okay so this was the menu for last night (i hope you’re not hungry because you will be after this!):
champagne with a sprig of oregano
an oyster each on a bed of cracked wheat and herbs, with a meyer lemon foam
crab and ricotta rolled in a crepe, with morilles (mushrooms from france)
veal tartare with crumbed onion wedge and raw beetroot salad
these were accompanied with a glass of spanish white wine
then for main course:
confit of duck with herb mash and a side of sauerkraut
accompanied with a glass of red wine from chile
then a small selection of cheeses with a peach and fig paste, and honeyed walnuts.
then came a glass of dessert wine from austria.
then came the dessert: a simple, scrumptious apple struedel.
delicious, non?!
xx
February 20th, 2009 | #
Sounds absolutely amazing.
February 20th, 2009 | #
Looks magical! And how was the company … ? French Boy sounds adorable already 😉
February 20th, 2009 | #
so enchanting pia!
February 20th, 2009 | #
Wow, sounds very, very yummy!
I´d love to know what your top 5 restaurants around the globe are. We´re making a top 3 Latin America and so far, so very yummy good.
February 20th, 2009 | #
ooh a top 3 Latin America restaurant list, this sounds grand! I will write a post about our top 5 restaurants during this year. So you’ll have to stay tuned dear Ana!
merci nadia!
helen, as always the company was sublime. we were the last to leave the restaurant, thats gotta be a good sign, right?!
stephanie – indeed!
February 20th, 2009 | #
Oh Pia, I’m embarrassed. You see, I’m a new-ish reader of yours and I hadn’t realized that French Boy is your long term-ish love … I thought this was a first or second date (!) … Anyway, now I’m knee-deep in your archives, having a grand old time and getting my facts straight 🙂
February 20th, 2009 | #
C’était dé-li-cieux en effet! Mais tout est délicieux en compagnie de Pia.
February 20th, 2009 | #
French Boy: Tu es un petit-ami gentil.
Pia: Keep him around!
February 20th, 2009 | #
Sounds amazing……… x
February 20th, 2009 | #
Oh my! This restaurant looks amazing! Next time we are in Amsterdam, we’ll do our best to get in there 🙂 Thank you very much for the tip, Pia!
February 20th, 2009 | #