AMSTERDAM: Joris Bijdendijk continues to come up with creative ideas to fight the COVID-19 crisis. This time, in collaboration with Zoku, they will transform 25 of their lofts into private restaurants where couples can enjoy a dinner prepared by he and his team from RIJKS.
On May 29, for less than 200 euros per person all inclusive, 25 couples will be able to enjoy a four course dinner with a selection of wines handpicked by Max Van Bockel, the sommelier at Rijks. During dinner, chef Bijdendijk will zoom in for a personal touch. Guests will end the evening on the private rooftop terrace and the package includes an overnight stay.
The Dutch chef has worked since the start of the pandemic to find ways to continue his operation. Earlier this week, he decided not to reopen the restaurant till 1 July despite the possibility to do so on 1 June. “This crisis has given us a lot of creativity and energy. It is fantastic to see what has emerged in these times and that our guests still want to enjoy good food, drinks and a getaway in their own country. We are very happy to give a Zoku x Rijks experience in this manner,” he said.
The series of dinners is called Better Together. This will be the first edition of what promises to be a series of events. More dates will be announced at a later stage.
Hans Meyer, one of Zoku’s co-founders, of these ‘apart-hotels’ said: Our better together-proposition is really showing its value in these trying times. We are community driven, so not only have we initiated projects for first responders (opening the hotel free of charge for health care workers), we also kept looking for local partners to collaborate with, to add value to their business, the city and our guests. What better way to kick off this series than with one of Amsterdam’s best chefs?,” he said.
Three lofts will be made available at no cost for ‘Lieve Amsterdammers’ – a project that aims to honour local heroes that have made a positive contribution to the city.
RIJKS opened its doors in 2014 in the Philips Wing of the Rijksmuseum with Joris Bijdendijk at the helm as the restaurant’s Executive Chef. Together with kitchen Chefs Ivan Beusink and Yascha Oosterberg, Bijdendijk introduced his Low Countries’ cuisine, which is firmly rooted in Dutch produce – in all its modest glory. RIJKS® received a Michelin star in 2016, rose from 16.5 to 17 points in the Gault & Millau guide in 2019 and was included in the brand new ranking list of the team behind The World’s 50 Best Restaurants that same year; the 50 Best Discovery.
On the other hand, Zoku invented a new category within the hotel industry with its home/office hybrids. Opened in Amsterdam in 2016 by Dutch entrepreneurs Hans Meyer and Marc Jongerius, Zoku was named after the Japanese word for family, tribe or clan.
Zoku facilitates living and working internationally for the growing population of globetrotting talent. Moving far beyond putting heads in beds, the bold concept has won numerous awards and received rave reviews, and is celebrated for its lively Social Spaces, community structure which facilitates genuine connection. Zoku Copenhagen, Vienna and Paris are currently in development and are slated to open in the next 18 months.
[…] Joris Bijdendijk, chef of restaurant Rijks in Amsterdam who distinguished himself for a number of creative ideas to keep working during the COVID-19 pandemic has come up with a new idea which this time also […]