RESTAURANT DE JONG - Rotterdam April 2019

What ever city I'm visiting on my travels, I always look for the natural wine bar. This time it was Rotterdam for the day. I Googled 'natural wine bar Rotterdam' and the instragram account @dhaufine came up, long story short it led me to Jim de Jong’s restaurant! Tucked in the corner of a train line archway, Restaurant de Jong is a hidden gem- it is seriously soooo dreamie, stunning! I was & continue to be in amazement that a person(s) can create such a unique place to eat & drink! To be honest it doesn’t look like much from the outside, but as soon as you enter it all changes. The energy is authentic to Jim de Jong's spirit, its humble, it has a loving warm air & the interior design is simple, vintage, perfect pinks & maroons painted on the wall, a stunning sun sparkle that beams in from the outside & my favourite...an open kitchen

When I arrived I sat at the bar, I didn’t even know it was a 'Michelin star' restaurant, I was just popping in for a glass of natural wine. I got to talking with Jim's mum & a waitress. They told me he’s only 31, opened his first place at just 21 & learnt from some good chefs in Montpellier! He loves vegies & herbs, he grows them too & gets creative with them. The menu is always a surprise as he also chooses to purchase from local sustainable seasonal food produces/ providores everyday & who are respectful to nature.

At one point Jim came over (I think he thought I was some kind of female Anthony Bourdain, although I could be one day) shook my hand, I got all fan girl on him, nice guy, quite humble. I appreciated that he took the time to come out from behind his kitchen to say 'Hi, thank you for coming’.

Like Luce in Portland, Restaurant de Jong is a place that I dream to have one day too. Personal, passionate, simple, visionary, the creative use of interior space, open kitchen & an owner(s) who love to bring something special & supportive of the environment to the hospitality world.

If you’re going to Rotterdam you HAVE to go, I promise you will have a memorable experience & you will leave utterly smitten.P.s I love natural wine 🍇 @RestaurantDeJong *DeJongs closed in 2020 (heartbreak).