My husband and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary at De Librije in Zwolle which is the only 3 star Michelin restaurant in the country which used to be a former women's prison.
Stand out dishes include the foie gras and venison but we also added some signature dishes including the marigold egg filled with caviar, the sweetbreads and the rabbit kidney dish. Our favourite dish by far was the sweetbreads. We were also given a tour of their kitchen and wine cellar much to our delight! By the end of the night, we were pleasantly tipsy, and our sommelier kept us laughing with stories while pouring some truly beautiful pairings.
The cheese and desserts were all excellent (ever have crayfish with chocolate?) but the best touch was the selection of Dutch sweets presented under a row of canal houses. These weren't your average candies and they definitely subverted expectations!
We also stayed the night and were served a sumptuous breakfast the next day letting the magic linger a bit longer.
Sadly, De Librije recently lost its legendary owner and head chef, Jonnie Boer, but it’s clear his legacy lives on through the warmth and precision of the staff. It was a truly special way to mark 12 years as a married couple.
by Typical_Use788
2 Comments
Lovely review, and so thoughtful of you to mention Jonnie.
Also appreciated you posted your breakfast too: breakfasts at Michelin-starred restaurants with rooms are a whole different level. They might not be particularly huge, but they’re always so manicured.
Nice review and beautiful dishes, I hope I’m able to go there in the not so near future!
I always wonder how a restaurant like this (having a green star as well) is able to serve foie gras in a good and sustainable way? I know the green star is more about sustainability and less about the animal welfare, but aren’t those two connected with each other at least a little?