AmsterdamDeluxe | Andrew Forbes

Living it up in Amsterdam – with a few nights at The Grand

This year I headed to SAIL2015 – it’s pretty much Europe’s buggest Maritime Festival. Every 5 years this mega boating bonaza sails into town, and what’s more the flotilla of vessels is dominated by some of the most stunning Tall Ships in the world. Google it – it’s extraordinary.

The trip was organised by the City of Amsterdam, through their development office ‘I Amsterdam’. As a guest of the city I had extraordinary access to the event, including a vist to the iconic Amsterdam Clipper, and a chance to sail down the river to mingle amongst the boats and then enjoy an open air classical music concert! Yeah, those Dutch know how to make messing about in boats something fun.

But a highlight of the trip was also the chance to visit some fancy hotels – and you all know how much I like 5 star luxury. You can see my review of the Hotel De L’ Europe here. I also spent two nights at the Sofitel Legend The Grand. As with other Legendary properties, the place is a real part of the city’s history.

Aptly, considering I was there for teh SAIL festival, The Grand was once the Dutch Admiralty, and let’s not forget that before the Brits starting dominating the globe, the Dutch were their first as the world’s greatest maritime nation. The Admiralty was a centre of serious power. Now its the centre of some serious luxury. Having said that I only got to stay in a Superior Room – yeah, I know that sounds like a spoilt brat, but really, I wanted a suite!

You can read my review of The Grand for The Luxury Editor here.

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Modern Cuisine by Schilo

More than ever the identity of cities are being defined by their gastronomy and by the creativity of their chefs.

Amsterdam has been put well and truly on the culinary map by the Dutch chef Schilo van Coevorden. One of the most celebrated chefs in the Netherlands, Schilo has a distinctly international background that inspires his cuisine.

Renowned for inventive use of exceptionally fresh ingredients, the restaurants at The Conservatorium Hotel, by Executive Chef Schilo, are a requisite for any visit to the capital.

(The stunning installation in the lobby of the hotel a creative reference to its past)

The über-lux ‘Conservatorium Hotel’, once conservatory of music, provides a historic setting with plenty of contemporary styling that perfectly complements Schilo’s restaurants – The Brassarie, the Tunes Bar and the Taiko restaurant’s contemporary design and gastronomy.

(Andrew Forbes with Schilo van Coevorden at The Conservatorium Hotel, in Amsterdam)

Each eaterie in the hotel, is a showcase for Schilo’s team’s exceptional attention to detail and masterful combination of flavours and textures.

Schilo’s new project has just opened, Taiko, celebrating all things Asian. Schilo has wowed guests with his Asian-inspired tapas in the Tunes Bar and now this has in turn been inspiration for his new signature restaurant Taiko.

This year I’ve eaten twice in The Conservatorium and below I give a visual flavour of an early summer lunch – full of Mediterranean light, colour and warmth.

(Smoked and fresh mozzarella , with olive oil ‘caviar’, mustard ice-cream, white onion, passion fruit coulis, and shavings of yellow carrot – paired with a French Chablis)

(Delicious premium olive oil from Andalucia and exceptional Dutch butter were served with the bread – when we were seated and offered a glass of cava, a small dish of sweet roasted ‘nueces’ were put on the table.)

(Fresh crab ‘capuccino’ qith tomato and seaweed – paired with a glass of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc)

(Rack of lamb with mint, and neck of lamb, sweetbreads, and an onion tart, a combination of sweet, sharp and buttery – paired with a Catalan Trepat red, matured in clay casks)

(Desert course – strawberries, fresh, freezed dried, bavara and with sorbet and coulis with a touch of chocolate – paired with ‘summer in a glass’ Moscato d’Asti)

Schilo’s culinary journey has included time at notable Dutch, German and British Michelin-starred restaurants, significant success with his own restaurant ventures in the Middle East and Asia, and three years with a signature restaurant in Andalucia. His fresh, sunshine-filled Mediterranean and Asian inspired creations are prepared with local and European ingredients and paired with wines from the restaurant’s superb list.

Lunch, Brunch, Afternoon Tea or Dinner at The Conservatorium is an experience, an occasion that will become a lasting memory of any visit to Amsterdam.

(I was first introduced to Schilo’s gastronomic style and quality at his signature restaurant in Southern Spain, at the 5 star Finca Cortesin Hotel – you can read see my post here.)

(The stunning table setting)

When I was last in Amsterdam, the Hotel Conservatorium hosted a lunch to mark the annual ‘Open Gardens’ – when the hidden, secret gardens of the UNESCO canal quarter are opened to the public. A feast visually as well as gastronomically!

(the Menu)

(‘Laura Ashley’ Lobster)

(Courgette Flower)

(Calves sweetbreads)

(Monkfish)

(Nasturtium)

http://www.conservatoriumhotel.com/

(For more information, see my Insider Guide to Amsterdam here)

Disclaimer:

I was hosted by the city of Amsterdam and its partners but this has not influenced by piece. Please bear in mind that this site and my articles are intended as entertainment only and not a definitive resource for purchasing decisions. Before making any travel or purchasing decision I recommend that you seek as much information as possible from various sources including review sites, guide books and other blogs. If you act based on my writing you do so at your own risk. If you wish to add anything to this piece, simply comment using the WordPress or Facebook plug-in.

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Amsterdam Deluxe – the luxurious side of the Dutch Capital

Be seduced by the romantic capital of the Netherlands, and discover the luxury of modern Amsterdam, a city of high fashion, sparkling jewels and inventive gastronomy

They call it the ‘Dutch Golden Age’, the period when The Netherlands’ dominance in art, science and trade made it the most powerful country in the world. The legacy of that 17^th century era can be seen across Amsterdam, not just in the impressive architecture, or the charming upscale gabled townhouses that line the UNESCO-listed canal district, but also in the progressive culture of this trading city.

As a guest of Amsterdam Marketing, I spent a weekend indulging in the luxurious life of modern Amsterdam.

Rich Culture

Historic and traditional Amsterdam blends a risqué side, its infamous De Wallen red-light district and marijuana ‘coffee houses’, with an avant-garde arts, design and gastronomy scene. It is home to some of Europe’s finest museums and arts venues, from the newly renovated modern art gallery, the ‘Stedelijk Museum’, to the classic ‘Rijksmuseum’ which has also undergone a remarkable transformation recently. It is the best place to view the Dutch Masters including Rembrandt and Vermeer, and enjoy contemporary works and photography.

‘Van Gogh Museum’ is the city’s most visited, with the largest collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh in the world. This year also sees the opening of its stunning new building.

‘The Eye Film Institute’, probably the city’s most iconic new piece of architecture, is the place for films, whilst the classical 19^th century Royal Concertgebouw concert hall hosts orchestral, operatic, jazz and international music performances.

www.iamsterdam.com/

Lux Shopping

Amsterdam has been at the heart of the diamond trade for centuries, and ‘Costas Diamonds’ and ‘Gassan Diamonds’ still maintain factory showrooms in the city offering informative tours. In addition the Gassan Diamonds’ Jaeger-LeCoultre boutique store is a glittering world where one can browse a fine collection of diamond pieces and exclusive jewellery brands.

The highlight of the city’s shopping is the street of PC Hooftstraat, (Amsterdam’s ‘Rodeo Drive’) where one finds the latest in exclusive shopping, from new boutiques to the world’s biggest brands.

www.pchooftstraat.nl/

Gastronomy

The food scene in Amsterdam is truly notable and on my recent visit I enjoyed some exceptional meals, by Schilo, at the Conservatorium Hotel (I will write a separate post on his cusine);

Jonathan Karpathios, who prepared an extraordinary, private meal at the Van Loon Museum;

and also Chef Sidney Schutte at the Waldorf Astoria (see my other post about that property – link below)

Romantic Hotels

The best way to capture the romance of this historic city is to stay within the enchanting canal district. Here are some of Europe’s top hotels, including the newly opened ‘Waldorf Astoria’, as well as ‘The Hotel Pulitzer’, one of the city’s most established luxury addresses.

Comprising of 25 restored 17^th & 18^th century listed canal townhouses, The Hotel Pulitzer offers a truly authentic and exclusive Amsterdam experience. With stunning guest suites that overlook private gardens or the canals, the hotel also has one of the city’s best bars, the distinctively decorated, ‘Pulitzer Bar’.

Dining is memorable in the Hotel’s ‘Restaurant Keizersgracht 238’, where tables can also be offered in the courtyard garden during summer evenings.

The Hotel concierge will give you insider information about the most exclusive places to go, arrange limousine tours or organise a private canal trip on The Hotel Pulitzer’s own vintage, 1920’s classic teak boat.

www.pulitzeramsterdam.com/

(For more information, see my Insider Guide to Amsterdam here)

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