Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Restaurant Session (in Leersum, Netherlands): Voltaire

In the evening, we went for dinner to restaurant Voltaire✨ from chef Arturo Dalhuisen. The official entrance...
 
...is in front of the building, but as we were staying in the hotel, we went directly from the inside. 
 
The weather was really nice and warm, so we stayed...
 
...on the terrace enjoying the view...
 
...to the lake and the garden.
 
Starting with the aperitif and...
 
...some first bites. Delicious😋
 
  
The first dish of the menu: yellow tail tuna | basil | tomato | ginger
 
Scallop | duck liver | kohlrabi | sambai
 
With the scallop, a glass of 2020 Chablis Broc de Biques from Ami
 
Cheers!
 
Turbot | chrolofyll | asparagus | morels 
 
Sweetbread | eggplant | cannelloni | ponzu 
 
With the fourth dish, a glass of 2018 Bourgogne "Les Charmes" Chardonnay from Thibault Liger-Belair 
 
As main dish, beef | shiitake | Parmesan cheese | black garlic.
 
With a glass of 2018 Tinto from Antonio Madeira. 
 
Across the trees... 
 
...a beautiful sunset!
 
Sweet time! A little sweet amuse before dessert.
 
 
For Roger, liquorice | coffee | hazelnut | caramel.

I got an alternative (as I hate liquorice). 
 
With dessert, a glass of 2006 Riesling Auslese Berncasteler Doctor from Weingut Witwe Dr. H. Thanisch. Very nice! 
 
The second dessert: raspberry | guave | lime.
  
Finishing the dinner with coffee...
 
...and a chocolate praliné.
 
Jun 15th, 2023.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Sleeping in Leersum (Netherlands): Hotel Parc Broekhuizen (from Inside)

The room was quite minimalist. I would have painted the wall behind the bed with another color or hang a picture. I missed the sense of luxury implied by the outside of the building (or the price of the room).

From the window, view to... 
 
...the front garden (also needing a bit of a touch 😊).
 
A long corridor leading to the bathroom. 
 
Sink with a view.
 
Jun 15th, 2023.

Monday, April 20, 2026

Sleeping in Leersum (Netherlands): Hotel Parc Broekhuizen

Arriving (again 😊) to our hotel.
 
Hotel Parc Broekhuizen - a beautiful building from the 15th century.
 
 
Majestic stairs.
 
The entrance is not on the top terrace, but here you can just seat and enjoy the view.
 
Around the manoir...
 
...several pieces... 
 
...of art.
 
On the right side, an orangery.
 
Including some curious goose 😊 
 
On the left side, the bistrot and... 
 
...a pond.
 
Time to enter the building and do our check-in.
 
Jun 15th-16th, 2023.

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Restaurant Session (in Nieuwegein, Netherlands): Céline

In the morning, we went via ferry back to the main land.

An airplane taking off 😊
 
Our next destination is Parc Broekhuizen in Leersum. We arrived at 11h30, but early check-in was not possible and the bistro was fully booked. As there was no alternative to get anything for lunch at the hotel, apart the bistro, we decided to go to a restaurant nearby - and got very positively impressed!
 
Restaurant Céline from chef Rick Gresnigt is located inside a fort - Fort Jutphaas - in Nieuwegein. 
We sat outside, under majestic trees, on...
 
... a lovely terrace. Perfect location on a beautiful day! 
 
I had a glass of Champagne Besserat de Bellefon Bleu Brut.
 
Roger had a non-alcoholic alternative: Verjus Spritz from Kamptal.
 
With the aperitif, several...
 
...delicious bites. 
 

  
The amuse bouche. 
 
The first dish: North Sea crab tartelette | green bean | lemon | avocado
[Tartelette Noordzee crab | snijboon | citroen | avocado]
 
White asparagus | chantarelle | garden pea | sea lavender | wild garlic
[Witte asperge | cantharel | doperwt | lamsoor | daslook] 
 
Iberico | chermoula | leek | samphire | oyster
[Iberico | chermoula | prei | zeekraal | oester]
 
Wagyu A5 | kale | tarragon | carrots | cumin
[Wagyu A5 | palmkool | dragon | bospeen | komijn]
 
Blossom | Ruby chocolate | strawberry | yogurt
[Bloesem | Ruby chocolade | aardbei | yoghurt]
 
We enjoyed it so much!! We got so enervated when we had no option for lunch in our next hotel but, in the end, it was a delicious surprise to actually have found this place instead!
 
Jun 15th, 2023.