Maurice Grendelman and Anandi van Dijk have had two festive days as owners of restaurant Poortman in Veeningen. As the new owner of a Bib Gourmand in the prestigious Michelin guide, the glass of champagne they drank at this honorable mention tasted more than good. Their restaurant can count on rave reviews in the guide.
For the past week, the catering owners have known that they are being praised by a Bib Gourmand for their excellent price-quality ratio. Yesterday they were invited together with about three hundred others for a five-course dinner in Amsterdam, while today the official announcement of the guide in the DeLaMar Theater in the capital was scheduled.
“A very nice award,” thought owner Maurice Grendelman van Poortman. Although they only knew about the Bib Gourmand for a few days, it had been known for some time that the restaurant would be included in the guide. It was unclear just how. “Since then we have been very busy in the restaurant. It gives enormous brand awareness.”
Those who want to have a bite to eat at Poortman on the most popular days, Friday and Saturday, nowadays have to be there on time, otherwise all the seats at the tables of the catering company in Veeningen will already be occupied. What does Poortman think of the Michelin award? “Here we really perform a craft,” says Grendelman. “We make everything ourselves, from bread to ice cream. A lot of attention is paid to robbery.”
What the future brings, Grendelman does not dare to comment. Growing to a Michelin star does not seem to be the ambition now. “It has to remain low-threshold,” he says. “And the Bib Gourmand is perfect for that; it’s a good fit for our business.”