Cookery Course - The Menus
The menus are designed to take the stress out of entertaining. Most of the preparation can be done in advance so that you as the host or hostess can actually enjoy holding dinner parties. With no worries about the food you can spend your evening with your guests instead of in the kitchen.
The Dutch have a very long maritime history of exploration. Spices from Indonesia, China and India, tea and sugar were introduced to Holland centuries ago and recipes too have been brough back from all corners of the globe and worked into every day dishes.
The long coastline and large number of lakes and rivers throughout Holland provide lots of saltwater and freshwater fish and shellfish. These are readily available at our daily market in Amsterdam – the Albert Cuyp – which is just a ten minute walk from Aemstelhuys. A visit to this market is of course included and we will buy fresh fish and vegetables to prepare during the course.
The Cookery Courses and The Seasons
The menus follow the seasons, using local produce wherever possible and fresh fish, fruit and vegetables from the daily market.
The dinners are mainly three course and for the most part can be prepared in advance. The accent is on stress free entertaining and creating a warm and cosy atmosphere for you and your guests. You too can relax, knowing that everything you have made has succeeded and is almost ready.
Winter
In the winter there will be Dutch soups and casseroles, patés, chutneys and lots of recipes suited to entertaining without stress at Christmas and New Year. There will be easy starters and make ahead main courses. Syllabubs, zabagliones and trifles will of course be on the menu too.
Spring
Spring menus include Daube de Boeuf, Turkish couscous, Caesar Salade, Pollo Basque and Mediterranean Lamb.
Summer
Summer will bring artichokes, clams and cockles, lemon risotto, Provencale prawns, gazpacho from Sevilla, lamb tagine from Morocco and cheesecake from the Lebanon.
Autumn
In the Autumn there will be game recipes from Holland and France, rustic soups with mushrooms, melanzane parmigiano and wonderfully warm puddings.
All will be accompanied with suitable wines.
Upcoming courses:
One day courses in Winter Kitchen, Moroccan cuisine or Winter deserts and delights. €75 per person including lunch, wine and coffee.