Guest Chef Competition Bilder & De Clercq
Over the past few weeks Bilder & de Clercq has been running a Guest Chef competition. Via social media, advertisements in Het Parool newspaper and via their website, they were calling on the citizens of Amsterdam to send in their best recipes.
We, together with Rogier, one of the founders of Bilder & de Clercq, were appointed as judges for the competition.
After being inundated with entries, we set to work creating a shortlist of our top recipes. We did so with certain criteria in mind:
- would we as Bilder & de Clercq customers buy the dish
- does the dish have a minimal number of ingredients
- would it come in on budget in line with all our Bilder & de Clercq dishes
- do we think it could be a delicious dish
After bringing the list down to 5 potential dishes, we selected 3 who would battle it out to be champion.
Fidan Tekinerdogan: Via her blog Fidalicious, Fidan creates exciting healthy vegan dishes. We chose her dish as it had a interesting way of utilising an ingredient which is very much in fashion at the moment and one that we have also used in a few of the recipes we have created for B&DC.
Kevin Corcoran: Kevin has recently entered the food world by being one of the creators of Nieuw Mosterd (available at Bilder & de Clercq stores). Together with his friends they are making mustard sexy again, with brilliant flavours and hip packaging. Kevin brought us an Asian-inspired dish which was easy, satisfying and full of flavour.
Doree den Hollander: Doree is passionate about all things food and that certainly comes across when talking to her. Through her blog Cato Cheftt, she cooks, creates recipes as writes food stories. Her dish used ingredients that we know work and that are also popular with B&DC customers. Doree is looking to make a career out of food and we're sure that it will happen soon.
This past Sunday, the finalists arrived, ingredients in hand, at the store on the Ceintuurbaan to battle it out and recreate their dishes for us. We say battle, but in fact it was a relaxed and really fun evening. What was interesting to see was how all 3 finalists differed in their approach to cooking. Fidan brought glamour and charm to the kitchen - we're still impressed how she created her dish in such high heels!
Doree was focused and meticulous, taking care that all her mise-en-place (preparation) was done before she started cooking. Kevin was relaxed and chilled, with all his prep done in the blink of an eye and being ever the gentleman, allowing the ladies to cook first.
Once all the dishes were completed, we sat down to do our tasting. We were so impressed with the standard of cooking and the flavours, knowing then that we had made the right selection. For that reason, it was decided that all 3 dishes will feature in the stores along with a photo of their creator.
However, as with every competition, we had to pick one overall winner. And that was Doree. We found that all the elements to her dish were cooked well and the flavours and seasoning were spot on.
You may have realised that we haven't mentioned what the contestants cooked. That's because we want that to be a surprise. All will be revealed in the coming weeks when we recreate their dishes for the recipes cards and posters. Stay tuned......
Bilder & de Clercq's new recipes week 41
As you may know by now, we are the chefs behind Amsterdam hotspot, Bilder & de Clercq. Every week we develop 3 new recipes for the stores and we'll be keeping you updated with the week's newest recipes. This weeks new recipes are:
Wijnkoperij De Gouden Ton (Wine shop)
In November, it will be 22 years since Fonger Kranenburg opened his beautiful shop on the Willemsparkweg 158. Being a former butchery, the shop retains many original features, such as hooks in the ceiling and the characteristic office. The cellar has also been incorporated into the shop; designed as a tasting room housing a superb selection of fine wines. In April 2013, De Gouden Ton opened a beautiful wine shop in the Oude Dorp (Old Town) of Amstelveen.
Wijnkoperij De Gouden Ton prides itself on the wide selection of wines across all price ranges. Quality is the most the most important factor. Wines range from classic, well known labels, to tiny local discoveries. One of the most important conditions is that wines are produced with respect for nature. Magnificent Riedel crystal glasses and carafes complete the selection on offer. In the Amsterdam store, one will also find a specialized distilled range, including whiskeys, rums and gin.
Furthermore, their professional staff are always available to help customers with advice on the prefect wine choice.
Special events are regularly organised in both stores. For example, 'open bottle evenings', tastings and wine makers dinners. Visit the website of Wijnkoperij De Gouden Ton and the Facebook page to keep up-to-date.
For more information please visit Wijnkoperij De Gouden Ton
Bilder & de Clercq's new recipes week 40
As you may know by now, we are the chefs behind Amsterdam hotspot, Bilder & de Clercq. Every week we develop 3 new recipes for the stores and we'll be keeping you updated with the week's newest recipes. This weeks new recipes are:
Suite 1888
Ready for some supreme relaxation in a city that is always on the go? The ground floor of our 19th-century townhouse in Amsterdam’s stately eastern district is a haven of calm and comfort for visitors to the vibrant Dutch capital. Our luxurious Bed & Breakfast with its own garden near Oosterpark is only a ten-minute walk from the Hermitage museum, Artis Zoo and Carré theatre. Typical Amsterdam cafés and restaurants with popular outdoor terraces are just around the corner. After a busy day of sightseeing, an opulent bath, good glass of wine and heavenly bed await.
Welcome to Suite 1888.
This special bed & breakfast is situated in an authentic Amsterdam townhouse dating from 1888. Spanning the entire ground floor, the suite offers full privacy. It has been renovated and decorated to exude the original historical style, while also incorporating full modern conveniences. Enjoy the decadence of two large en-suite rooms, a cherrywood floor, high ceilings, a sumptuous couch, king-size bed and deluxe bathroom with bath and rain shower. The bedroom and bathroom have views onto the garden, which is exclusively for guests. The patio, bathed in evening sunlight, is a pleasant spot for a breather after the bustle of the city.
There are flowers, there’s wine, fresh fruit, art, literature and more. Owned by an artist and an architect, this residence combines allure and comfort. For those who prefer a lazy start to the day, breakfast is available, but you can also opt to go local at one of the cozy parkside cafés nearby. With a tram stopping practically outside the front door, the main museums and historical city centre are less than fifteen minutes away.
For more information please visit: Suite 1888
Bilder & de Clercq's new recipes week 39
As you may know by now, we are the chefs behind Amsterdam hotspot, Bilder & de Clercq. Every week we develop 3 new recipes for the stores and we'll be keeping you updated with the week's newest recipes. This weeks new recipes are:
Opening Le Creuset
On Tuesday 16th September, we catered the official opening of our partner, Le Creuset's, first branded store in Holland. Press and food bloggers were invited to attend, along with guest of honor, Alain Caron, who also unveiled a new range of pots that will be available from November.
In honour of Le Creuset's French heritage, we decided to serve food with a French flavour. To start, we served Gougeres and toasts with wild mushrooms and Reblochon cheese. For mains we made Boeuf Bourguignon in small Le Creuset pots and to finish, a classic tarte au citron.
You can find the store on the Heiligeweg in Amsterdam.
For more information, please visit Le Creuset.
Bilder & de Clercq's new recipes week 38
As you may know by now, we are the chefs behind Amsterdam hotspot, Bilder & de Clercq. Every week we develop 3 new recipes for the stores and we'll be keeping you updated with the week's newest recipes. This weeks new recipes are:
Guest Report - Pat van den Wall Bake-Thompson
We are pleased to bring you our first guest report. And we could't think of anyone more appropriate to start with than Amsterdam cooking school doyenne, Pat van den Wall Bake-Thompson. It was while working at her cooking school that we first met one another. Thank you, Pat.
About Pat
Pat started La Cuisine Française, a cooking school, catering company and private restaurant on the Herengracht in Amsterdam in 1980 and ran it for 32 years.
Educated and trained in England as a Home Economist, Pat’s first work was for Birds Eye frozen foods, followed by two and half years for the Dutch Dairy Bureau, traveling around exhibitions, schools and women’s institutes in England demonstrating and teaching about Dutch cheese and butter. She then spent two years as teacher at the famous Cordon Bleu cookery school in England.
Pat has worked as a food consultant giving demonstrations for food equipment such as the food processor and the microwave in the 1980’s. She has also worked for the main food companies in Holland arranging promotions for new products, developing products for the major food manufacturers and partaking in congresses and workshops world wide, writing recipes for magazines and having 5 of her own books published.
Author of 5 books
- De Franse keuken, een open boek
- Kookboek voor Golfers
- Kookboek voor de Magimix
- Kookboek voor de Magimix deel 2
- Koken voor de Combi-Magnetron
Pat retired from cooking in 2012, but continues to keep herself active. When she's not travelling, she's sharing her recipes, anecdotes and everyday experiences on her blog Pat's Pantry.
Pat's Choices
WHERE TO STAY
I have the luxury of having a garden house for my friends and family to stay in.
For business people, wedding couples who have had their dinner parties or wedding ceremony at La Cuisine Francaise and for visiting culinary authors and specialists, I always suggest the Ambassade Hotel, just across the street from my canal house, Herengracht 314.
Patricia Wells, Alan Davidson and many more well know authors have stayed there. The hotel has a small collection of their books in the library. Many years ago, the hotel made it a tradition to ask the authors to sign a copy of his or her book and place it in the collection. Worth a visit!
WHERE TO EAT
These are my favourites :
Bordewijk - on the Noordermarkt is No 1! True French cuisine in the hands of a Master Chef.
Restaurant As. - I could eat there every week. Not suprising, as the chef, Luuk Langedijk is an ex La Cuisine Francaise stagaire. I love the pure style of cuisine with superb organic products.
Halvermaan - John and Ester are wonderful people, the setting on the lake is beautiful, especially in the summer. Johns’ cuisine is still inventive and delicious,”characterized by self willed creativity and quality” his own words. It results in fantastic marriages of techniques and flavours.
OTHER PLACES I LOVE TO EXPLORE
Foyer - a pop up restaurant in Felix Meritus is my new favourite where 3 courses you only pay €29,50.
Wilde Zwijnen - good, easy and honest food.
Gebroeders Hartering - a firm favourite of mine. Young chefs producing pure food and a 4 to 7 course menu which changes daily.
Envy - I always return here, especially when invited out! 'Dat kan jij mij wakker voor maken'. Translated into English it means you can shake me awake to eat there. Richard Oostenbrugge, now chef at Hotel L’Europe, was chef when I first went there. It is still of a very high standard with a choice of small delicious dishes and wine by the glass. This is the way I like to eat these days.
Incanto - For Italian, which is one of my favourite cuisines. A formal and fine dining restaurant a stones away throw from home.
I am lucky to have a friend who always used to take me to a new restaurant before I had heard of it. For instance, Fyra. When they first opened, we where the only guests, now it is one of Amsterdamse busiest restaurants.
WHERE TO SHOP
Everywhere from Genko, to my local Marqt. I begin at the Noordermarket on a Saturday, then go on to browse the culinary Haarlemerdijk, stopping along the way to chat to all my friends and of course tasting what's on offer. Popping into Ibericus for a delicious Iberico ham sandwich is a must!
Fish from Schilder on the Albert Cuypstraat, one of my old suppliers.
I have been spoilt by fantastic suppliers to La Cuisine Francaise for 32 years, so now my foraging quest for my own personal suppliers continues.
Bilder & de Clercq's new recipes week 37
As you may know by now, we are the chefs behind Amsterdam hotspot, Bilder & de Clercq. Every week we develop 3 new recipes for the stores and we'll be keeping you updated with the week's newest recipes. This weeks new recipes are:
