Bolenius Restaurant*, Amsterdam (Feb 2017)

Come mid-February, come time to head over to Bolenius Restaurant* with Koen and Erica for lunch.

fullsizeoutput_129e — We had the first proper snow this winter and were therefore welcomed outside the restaurant by these white Dutch palms (i.e. trimmed heads of kale)

This year we were a few days too early for the Valentine’s menu. When discussing this with Xavier Giesen, the cheery and ever-smiling host, he said that they would be doing that same menu again this year but rather on the day itself instead of the entire weekend before. Although it meant missing out on the spectacular dessert, returning for the same menu did not appeal to us. He assured us the regular menu is fabulous too, but that nothing much changes at Bolenius. Their approach to cooking (lots of seasonal vegetables and local produce) is the same. Since our last visit the ceiling got a new coat of paint, there were new rugs on the floor and they now have their first Michelin star, but that was pretty much it. 😉

We chose the 5-course Alliance Gastronomique menu (3 x regular at €75 and 1 x vegetarian at €65) with a specific wine pairing for that menu (€9 per glass).

fullsizeoutput_129f — After starting with a glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne (€12,50) various amuses were served: Rettich filled with a black bean puree
Crispy bread rounds with braised red cabbage and fresh apple
Griddled salsify with lemon balm and lemon curd

fullsizeoutput_12a1 — Followed by a mini ice cream cone filled with smoked raw beef sausage (“osseworst”) with an onion pickle ice cream

fullsizeoutput_12a4 — Another amuse: A poached quail’s egg with a velvety sun-choke cream, vadouvan herb oil, and roasted buckwheat

fullsizeoutput_12b5 — The first course was the ‘Zuid-As’ Kitchen Garden: The delicious ingredients on these beautiful plates are mostly grown in their own vegetable garden 50 meters down the road. You do get a sealed card with an overview of 21 ingredients, so it’s a fun challenge to see if you recognize them. The dish was accompanied by a delightful 2015 Luzano Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore by Marotti Campi stemming from the Marche region in Italy

fullsizeoutput_12b8 — The second course consisted of Fried scallops, mini pancakes, onion, bacon, grated chestnut, and a kale oil

fullsizeoutput_12ba — The dishes were accompanied by a creamy yet fruity 2014 Savennières by Château d’Épiré from the Val de Loire region in France

fullsizeoutput_12bb — Instead of the scallops, Chantal had some pickled vegetables and a big spoonful of slightly molten Messeklever cheese, a delicious soft brie-like cheese from the Beemster region situated north of Amsterdam

fullsizeoutput_12bf — The regular menu choice was this piece of Atlantic cod with razor clams, cockles, oyster foam, and puffed quinoa crackers. This dish was accompanied by a Slovenian 2011 Burja Bela by Primož Lavrenčič. A dry white wine blend from rebula, malvazija, zelen and laški rizling grapes. An own import from Bolenius

fullsizeoutput_12a9 — As I already had that dish last year, I decided to swap it for this very tasty dish from the à la carte menu: Langoustine with pickled red onions, yogurt, and celeriac jus. I was served a bold and mineral biodynamic Riesling trocken by Raddeck, from the Rheinhessen area in Germany

fullsizeoutput_12bd — Chantal had an interesting combination of both dishes: A slice of celeriac that was pickled for 2 days before being oven-baked for 2,5 hours and then topped with maritime vegetables. As I had some of the celeriac jus left, she used the remainder giving her dish even more depth of flavor

fullsizeoutput_12c0 — The main dishes were pretty much the same as last year, but no complaints at all as they were great and accompanied by these beauties

fullsizeoutput_12c1 — Sous vide cooked Flat Iron Steak with a fabulously glossy red wine glaze and topped with truffle accompanied by chicory, “hete bliksem” (hot lightning, a Dutch potato stew with sweet apples, sour apples and onions), mustard seeds and black pudding crisps

fullsizeoutput_12c2 — The main dishes were accompanied by an excellent Tuscan: the 2013 Piaggia Carmignano “Il Sasso” by Mauro Vannucci. Although this Sangiovese based red blend (70%, with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and 10% Merlot) was still quite young, its cherry flavor and earthiness was an ideal pairing with our powerhouse dishes

fullsizeoutput_12c3 — Chantal’s main was the pinnacle of earthiness: Bolenius’ famous clay baked beetroot with morels and jus of morels, mini croutons, and truffle shavings

fullsizeoutput_12c6 — We are total pushovers, so were easily convinced to have an additional course in the form of a Dutch cheese board (€17,50) served with fresh raisin bread, dried fruits, jellies and a glass of 10-year-old barrel-aged Tawny Port, a special blend by Taylor’s, Fladgate & Yeatman bottled in 2016 for the 50th anniversary of the Alliance Gastronomique (€9)

fullsizeoutput_12c7 — The Vegetable menu came to an end with this stunning dessert: A Blown Sugar Parsnip on Parsnip puree with Sugar beet ice cream and condensed milk caramel

fullsizeoutput_12c8 — We had the “Five times lactose” dessert: caramel from condensed milk, cream, yogurt, quark, topped with milk foam and grated truffle. Again, an unexpected yet great combination of flavors in this dessert was fresh and not too sweet. I recall that we had a Hungarian furmint based Tokaji Aszú dessert wine as one of the pairings

Although we were at the restaurant earlier than last year, we still weren’t able to finish everything as Chantal and I had to pick up the kids. Koen and Erica were so nice to send us pictures of the goodies that were served with the tea…

As their menu changes with the seasons, we definitely need to go to Bolenius more often. Top food, wines, and service!