Restaurant Without Walls: Vrienden van de Smaak

Lovely Sunday afternoon somewhere in Limburg. I feel the heat of the sun, shining on my back as I sit at a long table in the most beautiful setting I could have asked for – a greenhouse. The moist and peat-moss smell triggers memories from my childhood; summer days spent in my dad’s greenhouse playing, running around and eating vegetables straight off the vine.

I am pleased to be a part of the first dinner organized by Vrienden van de Smaak – a culinary adventure that brings attention to local farmers and hosts locally sourced dinners, outside or in other unusual location, prepared by a celebrated chef of the region.

The long table at the De Wroeter greenhouse is filled with familiar and unfamiliar faces, sharing rye bread and passion for food while Chef Giovanni Oosters & his team work their magic in the kitchen. From chervil marshmallows and asparagus mousse through spinach & goat cheese salad, fresh potatoes and lamb to the star of the evening – goat milk pannacotta with hibiscus and rhubarb, food is extraordinarily fresh and flavoursome and would please any crowd. An outstanding culinary experience, one I will surely remember.

Curious to know where the next dinner will be taking place and how to secure your spot, visit the Vrienden van de Smaak website or follow them on Twitter.

For more information about local products from Limburg, visit Puur Limburg.