The Hague: Wine – Food Tasting with De Gouden Ton in Restaurant Mero

A 2007 Pouilly Fuissé of Olivier Merlin
A 2007 Pouilly Fuissé of Olivier Merlin

Last night I was invited for a session with several wine producers who had us taste some of their wines in a short wine tasting session followed by a dinner with some of their best wines. It was organized by Dutch wine trader De Gouden Ton in Restaurant Mero, one of my favorite restaurants in The Hague. Mero is able to prepare excellent sea food and offer a no nonsense high standard level of hospitality that only few restaurants in The Netherlands are able to offer.

The first gem that caught my attention was a wonderful 2007 Poully Fuissé from Olivier Merlin.

More to follow.

My oh so Hurt Ego

Hurt, but not so badly
Hurt, but not so badly

A late – sure, he would insist on the “late”! – Baby Boomer Friend threw a party. He had invited Johnny and the Gangsters of Love to do a gig.

Johnny and the Gangsters of Love Jumping Around
Johnny and the Gangsters of Love Jumping Around

There we were with the whole bunch of Baby Boomers standing on the street in front of my friend’s house, when Johnny and the Gangsters of Love came around the corner in their 60ies Pontiac Bonville, installed the sound and started rocking and rolling from and on the Pontiac.

If you watch their trailer footage, you’ll understand why your’s truly got so excited that he started to Rock and Roll with – who else than – Dancegirl, Daughter # 2. He tried to throw her in a proper 360 degrees backward head over swing over his hip, lost his equilibrium and fell flat on his face. Not only that. As Dancegirl was just in the 180 degrees position of her swing, she also fell flat on her shoulder and face.

Luckily, apart from some bruises, scratches and blue spots, nothing serious happened.

But to realize you have to stop doing 360ies while rocking and rolling because your getting too old, hurts your ego! It HURTS deeply!

Dutch Design (44): Victor and Rolf for Samsonite Black Label

victor_and_rolf_samsonite_black_label
Victor and Rolf for Samsonite Black Label.
Via Yatzer.

MINIBAR – The first SELF SERVICE bar in the world

minibar_amsterdam_photo_Menno_Kok_yatzer_5MINIBAR - The first SELF SERVICE bar in the world
photo © Menno Kok

MINIBAR – The first SELF SERVICE bar in the world

REVOLUTIONARY BAR CONCEPT OPENS IN AMSTERDAM.
THE WORLD’S FIRST BAR, WITHOUT A BAR AND WITHOUT A BARTENDER “SERVE YOURSELF” AT AMSTERDAM’S NEW MINIBAR
The famous Prinsengracht canal in Amsterdam is the location for a revolutionary bar concept where customers serve themselves from one of 45 private mini-bars, opened on March 20th.
The wall of mini-bars is accessed with a personal key that customers receive after checking in at the door.

The Minibar ‘s chic interior has been designed by Amsterdam architectural legends Concrete who are also responsible for The Supper Club, the award-winning Citizen M chain of budget hotels and a host of hot design offerings in the Netherlands and abroad. The idea for the new bar was conceived by a trio of Dutch friends who wanted to create a nightlife offering that was “more like inviting your friends to hang out in a hip hotel room, than standing in line waiting for a drink at a regular bar.

Via Yatzer

Art Amsterdam 2009, 13 may until 17 may 2009 in the Amsterdam RAI.


All the galleries at Art Amsterdam will be staging a solo exhibition. This means that 120 artists will have solo exhibitions devoted to their work, which is unique at a contemporary art event. This is how Art Amsterdam will celebrate its 25th anniversary in the period from Wednesday May13, 2009 – Sunday May 17 2009. 120 galleries will display the latest developments in contemporary art at Art Amsterdam 2009, with paintings, photos, sculptures, installations and videos. The participating galleries include all the top-flight Dutch galleries, plus 31 foreign galleries from Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Denmark, Austria, South Africa, Japan and Korea.

Art Amsterdam 2009, 13 may until 17 may 2009 in the Amsterdam RAI.