The restaurant in Utrecht that won my heart

‘I heard you have something to celebrate. Shall we start with something sparkling?’ I don’t know Katrien, but I already love her. The luxury of an experienced host (or hostess) is so underestimated in restaurants.

‘Delicious, yes please…’, is the first thing that comes to mind. ‘And would you like to go for the six-course menu with a matching wine arrangement?’ I look hesitantly at my dining companion. He nods. We’ve been together for eleven years today. Eleven. I still remember how I met him on that holiday in Greece. As a small giggly girl of 17, completely confused by love. Now we are three houses and two cats further along. Now he is a man.

I ask Katrien if she wants to take a photo of us. Even though you’ve decided not to be on your phone much, it’s almost impossible here. The Ketelhuis in Utrecht screams for pictures. We are in the old Pastoe furniture factory. The pipes, tubes, and not to forget the immense boiler create an industrial atmosphere. A kind of fine dining with a rough edge. I like.

Here come the appetizers. A black pot with a crisp on top, containing a tartare of pumpkin. I see the chef conjuring with our food from the open kitchen in the hours that follow. He adds extra of his secret ingredient: love. Where to begin? The salmon smoked at 40 degrees with yuzu and wasabi? The langoustine with bomboe, bisque, and sambal badjak? The entrecôte with kimchi and radish? It’s heavenly.

Just like the wine. After glass number two, the shoulders loosen up. After number four, I giggle to Sander that I’m starting to feel tipsy. Katrien keeps pouring, and she’s right. It’s our party and also a bit her party. I look into his eyes and feel a proud happy dance in my stomach. Eleven years…

What a beautiful evening.