Kwiezien: traditional food on the Cape

The restaurant on Delistraat has been full every night since its opening in March 2008. The tuna tartare, chicken rouleau and chocolate mousse brownies tempt people from Rotterdam and far beyond to come and dine at Kwiezien.

Karin Muires and Remco Ramp from Kwiezien didn’t have to think long about the council’s offer to open a restaurant in Katendrecht. ‘It’s an interesting area with lots of potential’, Muires says of the former red light sailor’s quarter, referring to the coming of the SS Rotterdam, the plans to turn the Deliplein into an entertainment district, the Walhallatheater in a converted warehouse and the future pedestrian bridge link to the de Kop van Zuid.

Muires and Ramp are already seeing the effects: their restaurant in Delistraat has been full every night since its opening in March 2008. The tuna tartare, chicken rouleau and chocolate mousse brownies tempt people from Rotterdam and far beyond to come and dine at Kwiezien. Customers are allowed to have the recipes, as Muires doesn’t believe in keeping them a secret. ‘We change the menu a lot and customers always come back anyway’.

Old residents of Katendrecht are reminded of their ‘Cape’ by the nostalgic photos that adorn the walls. They are always interested to see the developments in their old neighbourhood and the surrounding docks. Muires notices that the area is also attracting a lot of outside interest, which she believes is largely due to the impressive harbours round about. ‘The industrial atmosphere is part of Rotterdam: it’s not just some posh little marina, it’s a real port, full of tugboats as big as tower blocks with cranes on the back’.

www.kwiezien.nl

Wereldhaven: visitors from all over the world

There aren’t any actual sailors’ dishes available, but there is a Seaman’s Lunch Menu, a Master’s Menu and a Captain’s Menu.

Wereldhaven is proud of its name. The restaurant and party centre couldn’t be anywhere else but in the world port of Rotterdam, near the Waalhaven, in harbour area 2010. Wall paintings of the great SS Rotterdam and SS Amsterdam create an authentic maritime atmosphere, along with the Seaman’s Menu for lunch, the Master’s Menu for starters and the Captain’s Menu for entrées. There aren’t any actual sailors’ dishes, but there’s something for everyone, according to employee Elma Wittma.

The former truck stop was transformed into a restaurant in 1991 and attracts an international clientele. Wittma says, ‘We have visitors from all over the world, from Chinese seafarers to business people from the offices nearby’. ‘

Many a business deal has been struck on the back of a Wereldhaven beermat, while enjoying a fillet steak and a bottle of full bodied Macon Superieur. But the locals also frequent the restaurant on the Sluisjesdijk, especially on Fridays, when there’s live music. Wereldhaven has been organising the Charlois Songfestival since 2007, presented by journalist Rein Wolters and Ilse van Enhkhuizen from RTV Rijnmond. Anyone over 16 who can sing may enter.

www.restaurantwereldhaven.nl

Courzand: Beef Shanghai in a marine setting

The marine setting, characterised by the model ships and mementos of the port, such as the SS De Alkmaar and Koko the parrot, which have been brought along by guests, compliments the Beef Shanghai, the Bouillabaisse Courzand and the Captain’s Dinner. The high ceilings exude the atmosphere of old times, when the building used to be home to the RDM social club.

The unique history of the RDM, Heijplaat and the surrounding docks is reflected in the Courzand restaurant’s varied menu. The high ceilings exude the atmosphere of old times, when the building used to be home to the RDM social club.

The old club rooms, complete with skittle alley, cinema and theatre, bring those days to life. Owner Peter van Wel describes how he has restored the rooms, with their imposing high ceilings, in the original style, with lots of art nouveau accents. The marine setting, characterised by the model ships and mementos of the port, such as the SS De Alkmaar and Koko the parrot (40), which have been brought along by guests, compliments the Beef Shanghai, the Bouillabaisse Courzand, the Captain’s Dinner and the four winds buffet.

Van Wel and his partner Marco Groenenboom are proud of their restaurant, which is known for its diversity and relaxed, sociable atmosphere. ‘Everybody comes here: business people, locals, teachers from the new school. The strong connection the people of Heijplaat have with Courzand shows how much they still feel part of the RDM.’ Van Wel adds that the docks also attract customers from outside Heijplaat: ‘Lots of Rotterdam people feel involved with the docks.’

www.courzand.nl

Hof van Charlois: dining in monumental style

In the Hof van Charlois on the picturesque Charloisse Kerksingel, it’s easy to imagine you’re back in the royal courts of the 18th century. The effect is enhanced with antique chandeliers and a tiled wall with a hunting scene by Jacoba van Beieren.

Everything in Hof van Charlois fits with the architecture of the monumental former Charlois town hall and police station – including the food. You can imagine the local harbour barons coming in for their pea soup with scallops and duck breast with sautéd potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Manager Aart de Gast enjoys serving elegant meals to his clients in a luxurious ambiance. ‘It works’, he says. ‘It’s going well. Along with the business clientele, we get representatives from the OBR (Rotterdam City Council Development Company) and Charlois council and Rotterdam residents with something to celebrate.’ De Gast hopes his restaurant will add to the appeal of Charlois.

In 2007 the Kop Jansen brothers asked the bar owner whether he would manage the old town hall. The brothers, who own a garden centre in Charlois and are something of an institution there, provide investment for the preservation of historic buildings in the area. De Gast, who comes from Charlois, immediately accepted. ‘Charlois shows a lot of promise, with the restoration of the old town centre.’

He recommends the art tour, taking in a meal in his restaurant on the way, and the nearby docks, where you can get a superb view of the SS Rotterdam from the pedestrian tunnel. ‘Wherever you go, the port is always there’.

www.hofvancharlois.nl

Ming Garden: oriental dining on the skyline

The Chinese restaurant Ming Garden is very popular with Japanese tourists – and barge masters.

Diners flock to the Ming Garden on the Charloisse Head by coach and Watertaxi to enjoy dim sum, crispy fried duck and Chinese fondue against a background of passing ships, the SS Rotterdam and a skyline of famous skyscrapers and bridges. But as far as restaurant owners Alan Wong and his mother Tim Fa Yuen are concerned, their best customers are businessmen from the surrounding docklands industries, who bring their contacts from China, Japan and Korea. This custom has continued to grow since 2005, when the Wong family, who used to have a restaurant in Alblasserdam, took over the business from a family member.

The lunchtime menu is geared towards these visitors, with soups and set meals from different parts of Asia. The restaurant is especially popular with the Japanese, says Wong. ‘Japanese customers who have eaten here pass the word around. They come from all over Rotterdam.’

The restaurant on the Maas has other regular customers. ‘Barge masters often come for takeaways, but they eat in as well,’ says Wong. ‘We deliver to a lot of the docklands industries in the evening, for people who have to work overtime.’
Wong is pleased that the restaurant is so popular. ‘Its spectacular location helps, but it’s mainly our fantastic food that does it.’

www.ming-garden.nl