Jamie Oliver to open Amsterdam restaurant

26 January 2004

AMSTERDAM — Celebrity British chef Jamie Oliver plans to open a restaurant in Amsterdam. Renovation work for the restaurant is to begin shortly on a building on the Oostelijke Handelskade, an architect confirmed on Monday.

The famous cook is presently the talk of town in London with his restaurant Fifteen, where disadvantaged young people are receiving chef training. The restaurant is fully reserved months in advance.

But it is not yet certain whether the “Naked Chef” — whose trendy TV shows have attracted an audience who do not usually watch cooking shows — will launch a similar scheme in Amsterdam, newspaper De Telegraaf reported.

What is known is that Oliver intends to reproduce the London concept elsewhere in Britain, Sydney and New York.

And Oliver is also popular in the Netherlands, where his television programmes have been broadcast on Dutch TV. His chefs training course and the accompanying TV show, Jamie’s Kitchen, is currently being broadcast on Yorin and his books remain in high demand.

Meanwhile, Zwolle restaurant De Librije was awarded its third Michelin Star on Monday, making it the Netherlands’ second top restaurant to have won a third star. The announcement was made at the European Fine Food Fair in Maastricht.

Two years ago, Rotterdam restaurant Parkheuvel was the first Dutch restaurant to be awarded three stars. The stars are regarded as a top industry honour and ensure a restaurant is booked out every night.

Subject: Dutch news