Former top chef Hans (77) serves three-course menu for 5 euros: “Cooking is my passion”

The former top chef has been in the business for over 50 years and has ‘had a great passion for cooking’ all his life. After the hotel school, Hans emigrated in 1969 to Johannesburg, a city in South Africa. He then traveled to Australia and there he also worked in top restaurants. When his wife died, Hans decided to return to the Netherlands.

“I have been living in Enkhuizen for two months and I like it very much,” says the 77-year-old retiree. “And when I was asked by Kees van Welwonen to cook at the community center, it immediately appealed to me.” It is now the fifth time in a row that Hans is in the kitchen and also comes up with the dishes. “Tonight we prepared a three-course menu and almost all the products we use come from here.” It is therefore not for nothing that the organized evenings have been named ‘Cooking with Streken’.

Successful first weeks

And whether you have a large or small wallet, it doesn’t matter because everyone who registers is welcome to join. According to Kees Kramer of Welwonen, there is a great need to eat together and spend time together. “Food is actually the means”, says Koot. “The goal is to be together, to share things with each other and to meet new people.”

Until now Hans cooks every Tuesday evening for 35 guests. “But if the demand continues to increase, we want to see whether we can also involve the large hall next year”, Hans looks ahead. “I do it for the happy faces of the visitors. I get a lot of satisfaction from that.”

The guests are also very pleased with Hans’ initiative and cooking skills. “My wife passed away suddenly last year,” explains Cor (65), turning his life 180 degrees. “I am very happy that these evenings are being organized and it means a lot to me. Eating alone is not fun at all and now I also get to know new people.”