I grew up among the cows, fields and meadows of Brabant. Somewhere in a hamlet between Den Bosch and Eindhoven. Here I got a pretty good idea of how food grows and flourishes, more than many a city kid I think. Like many Brabanders, I am therefore proud of all the delicious products we produce here.
But despite seeing the fields change up close, I think I - and many with me - have lost touch with the origin of our food. Often, I don't even know how a product I buy in the supermarket grows. Or where it is produced. Time to change that. For this reason, I was keen to experience the chain 'from field to fork'. From the Moestuinroute from Den Bosch to De Proeffabriek in Veghel and tasty cycling routes in between. Just back to the origins of the typical Brabant food I find on my plate.
Kitchen garden route from Den Bosch - Discover the regional products
The farmers of Sint-Michielsgestel used to go to Den Bosch every week to sell their produce at the market. They did so with great pride. Since time immemorial, this village has been the kitchen garden of Den Bosch.
During the Vegetable Garden Route, you follow in the footsteps of farmers. On a bicycle, that is. You cycle through the beautiful Brabant countryside and taste local products along the way. The cycle route takes you past the meadows in Dungen, where the famous Poule Den Dungen chickens scratch. These Dungen chickens are known for their (h)honest taste. They live almost two and a half times as long as a normal chicken and they scratch all day in the open air.
The Dessert Garden Route of Den Bosch starts at Hotel-Café-Restaurant Boer Goossens in Den Dungen. After munching on a Brabant sausage roll and emptying your cup of coffee, get on your bike. Let's explore the surroundings of Den Bosch! The route takes you past a camel farm, a strawberry vending machine and, of course, the pasture where the Poules Den Dungen roam.
The cycle tour ends at Boer Goossens, where you also started. Here, a nice cool drink awaits you and a Poule Den Dungen croquette. Enjoy your meal! I definitely recommend this cycle route. It is a lovely way to discover the area and taste Den Bosch's regional products.
Discover Oerlekker Maashorst - Walking and cycling routes
You can also take a nice stroll in the region of De Maashorst. Craftspeople here lovingly produce delicious regional products. During the walking and cycling routes of Oerlekker Maashorst, you can taste the flavours of the region. I myself always enjoy being outdoors and discovering new things. Especially when it comes to food, I never say no!
Tastes differ and so do the routes. My favourite route is the Ravenstein-Berghem-Geffen-Oss round trip. At the Wilskracht Stadsbrouwerij, you start with a local beer. You then cycle from Ravenstein towards Berghem and pass Landerij vanTosse, among other places. Here, it seems as if time has stood still. The route takes you past fields of cereals, cranberry fields and fruit orchards. At Paddenstoelenhuis Van Voirle, you finally end the day. This is one of my favourite restaurants in the area. Here, they serve the environment on your plate.
The Pilot Plant in Veghel - On a tasty tour
In a factory where feed used to be mixed, on the Noordkade in Veghel, you now find De Proeffabriek. A supermarket with regional products, a bakery, a beer specialist, a coffee roastery and a food hall all in one. This is where the tastemakers make themselves heard. During an audio tour, you can discover the Proeffabriek's cultural past and culinary present. During the two-and-a-half-hour tour, you will taste, smell, see and experience everything the Noordkade has to offer.
My tip: You always get a cup of home-brewed coffee or cappuccino from the Noord Coffee Roasters, but you can also choose to complete the tour with lunch and/or wine or beer tasting. That way you get the complete experience as far as I'm concerned.
Brabant has so much to offer in the culinary field. Hopefully, these routes and eating tips will inspire you to think more often about where our food comes from. Go out and taste the flavours of typical Brabant food from my beautiful region! Also check out the De Maashorst and Den Bosch destination guide if you want to get even more out of your visit of these regions.
Love,
Tessa