In the Netherlands, we love good food. At Honeyguide, we go one step further: we aim for dishes that not only taste delicious, but also have a positive impact on people, animals and the planet. That is why we are so excited about restaurants that combine all their efforts under one roof, from plant to plate. More pure, sustainable and tasty doesn't really happen. In this blog article, I therefore like to share six special restaurants that cook from their own vegetable garden. Enjoy!
1. Restaurant The Greenhouse - Amsterdam
Located in Park Frankendael, one of the most beautiful parks in Amsterdam East, you will find Restaurant De Kas. Here you eat dishes that are fresher than fresh, as all ingredients are harvested in the garden the same morning. The former greenhouse from 1926, with its large glass windows, offers stunning views of the surrounding garden. You can literally feel nature coming right to your plate.
The kitchen gardens in Amsterdam and the Beemster are the soul of the restaurant. Here, vegetables and herbs are grown with love, only to grow further in the tranquillity of the Beemster. The set menu is completely attuned to the seasons and has a focus on vegetables. So even as a vegan or vegetarian, you are more than right here. With both a green and red Michelin star, you can be sure of a top-class culinary experience!
2. At the Gardener's - Hilversum
Bij de Tuinman at Buitenplaats De Hoorneboeg in Hilversum is a small but very nice restaurant. From coffee to garden cocktails and from breakfast to dinner in the summertime, you'll be more than happy here every Saturday and Sunday. Take a seat inside the restaurant or find a spot on the terrace by the historic 1881 vegetable garden. They serve a set three-course dinner menu called 'Tafeltje van de Tuinman', which changes every fortnight. So no waste, just pure flavours from the season.
Surrounded by beautiful nature, with woods on one side and the Hoorneboegse Hei on the other, this place really invites you to get out and about. That's why you can also get walking packages at Bij de Tuinman. With this package, you enjoy coffee or tea to go with homemade cake, a packed lunch and, of course, beautiful walking routes.
3. Villa Augustus - Dordrecht
Villa Augustus in Dordrecht is a paradise you just have to experience. Housed in a former water tower and pump building, this hotel and restaurant is surrounded by a vegetable garden, flower garden and orchard. Everything you eat here comes fresh from the land. Vegetables, fruits and herbs are turned into (h)honest, seasonal dishes after harvest.
Every morning the wood-fired oven is lit, ready to prepare the most delicious organic dishes. A must is the half lobster with rosemary fries and salad from our own garden. Even the wines are organic and come from farmers who grow sustainably. Take a seat among the lemon trees and enjoy the peace and greenery around you while eating. Whether you sit on the terrace or inside, it's always a party at Villa Augustus.
4. The Field Kitchen - Bunnik
The special Amelisweerd estate in Bunnik is home to De Veldkeuken, the icing on the cake of this beautiful piece of nature. At this restaurant, the most delicious dishes are prepared with ingredients from Amelisweerd's centuries-old vegetable garden. You literally taste the landscape on your plate. Everything you eat is 100% organic, sustainable and local.
In the evening, the restaurant serves the Harvest Table Dinner, a three-course harvest menu that changes every fortnight. No à la carte, fish or meat, but daily fresh and surprising with the harvest from the kitchen garden. Tip: bring your shopping bag, as the bakery and estate shop invite you to enjoy this place at home a little longer. You really want to try the homemade jams, chutney, granola, pasta and other delicacies!
5. LIZ Restobar - Amerongen
Located in the monumental stables of Amerongen Castle, LIZ Restobar is a culinary hotspot with a unique twist. Here, where the countess's beloved horses used to stand, you now enjoy delicious food in a royal atmosphere. From your table, you look straight into the open kitchen and if you look outside, you can see the castle.
LIZ Restobar's menu is an ode to the seasons and Dutch ingredients, complemented by flavours from all over the world. Vegetables, fruits and herbs are freshly harvested from the kitchen garden in the castle grounds. They also work with sustainable fish and meat, making every dish a conscious and tasty choice.
6. Villa Ockenburgh - The Hague
Villa Ockenburgh is located at Buitenplaats Ockenburgh in The Hague. The restaurant, located in this historic country house from 1654, cherishes nature. Indeed, the menu consists of dishes from its own garden, inspired by the principles of Dutch Cuisine. As proud ambassadors of the North Sea Fish Foundation, they also serve sustainable fish here.
The atmosphere at Villa Ockenburgh is homely and relaxed. The high ceilings, mix-and-match furniture, large windows and vintage decoration invite you to linger. Plop down on the comfortable sofa by the window, enjoy the sun-drenched terrace or relax under the veranda.
Which of the above restaurants with a kitchen garden is your favourite? Or do you know of another one that really shouldn't be missing from this list? Let me know by using @honeyguide.co.uk or #heyhoneyguide on Instagram. I'm curious!
Love,
