The Honest Cuisine of Amsterdam
Greetje forms part of a fundamental principle: home cooking, those flavors with which Chef René Loven grew up and that ever since he was a small boy were based in concepts that today are in vogue such as sustainable and healthy cuisine. Today, at a place located in the street of Peperstraat in downtown Amsterdam it offers one of the best achieved menus in the Dutch capital besides having a great advantage of location on Ij Bay.
We begin the adventure with a sole terrine with crab jelly accompanied by marinated pickles which cannot be missed upon arrival to this establishment. Later, in order to enjoy Dutch Cuisine in all its magnitude, we have chosen a spicy smoked mackarela rillete with maonese fennel croutons. The green salad is accompanied by this entrée that makes the intense smoked flavors balance adequately with the pallet.
As a main dish, the Beemster lamb chops roosted in marine lavender are unmissible, accompanied with perfumed gravy. The identity of this dish is clear: chef Loven has created a concept based upon local flavors and has taken it to the extreme of haute cuisine. As if this isn’t enough, dessert is a total closure of this idea. I particularly, have never been able to resist Crème Brûlée and am rarely surprised by them. Well, the Ocotea extract prepared here and the liquorish ice cream could be able to make me set sails with course to Amsterdam once more as far as I have the opportunity of tasting it once again.
Greetje is a unique concept in Amsterd, a concept of honest cooking and full of memories that are set to us at the table in a simple manner, without second regards or pretentions. René Loven knows this and because of it, simply continues to honor a place that, after all, carries the name of his mother, the first culinary influence he had in his life. And yes…honor to whom honor deserves.
Info
Greetje
Peperstraat 23, 1011 TJ
Amsterdam, Países Bajos
Tel. +31 20 779 7450
Text: Carlos Dragonné ± Photo: Greetje Restaurant