(photograph © Kiwidutch)
We’ve completed our tour of the lighthouse tower in Katwijk and now we head towards the beach.
Not to play in the sand, but to eat, because during the summer months temporary buildings are placed on the sand at various points of the coastline, and pretty much all of these buildings are restaurants.
They house full kitchens inside, have full plumbing and electricity connected to city supply via pipes that are usually covered in winter by sand and they appear like seasonal mushrooms in Spring time and disappear without trace in the Autumn.
The buildings themselves are kit-set in form, taken apart piece by massive piece and packed into storage unit’s for the Winter.
These “buildings” are called “Strandtents” and are exceptionally popular in the summer, not only with the Dutch citizenry but also with tourists of all nationalities that visit the beaches in Summer. Judging from the number of hotels offering “zimmer’s” for rental, many of these tourists must be German.
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
We find ourselves at a Standtent called ” Sunset Beach” and make ourselves comfortable with the menu.
Oma (Grandmother) announces that it’s her treat as we will be going on holiday shortly and we have been at home the whole Summer so far helping her out with daily tasks as the rest of the extended family have been away on holiday.
Kiwi Daughter is expanding her culinary horizons and tomatoes have been a bone of contention in the past.
She struggles to like them or even try them so I’m very proud of her when she decides to order Tomato Soup.
My Mother in Law is vegetarian so orders a Vegetarian Wrap, filled with goat cheese, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, pinenuts and served with honey and fries.
Himself goes for Bitterballen ( a Dutch fried specialty that needs it’s own blog post to explain) and fries,
Little Mr. goes for a ham and cheese toasted sandwich and me, I’m for trying the spareribs and salad.
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
There’s a small story about my salad.. everything went wrong, first the photo didn’t turn out:
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Then later, with sticky fingers from the Spare Ribs, I announced to Himself that I wanted to go and wash my hands before eating my salad… whilst I was in the Ladies, Little Mr turned up needing assistance to use the amenities, so I was away longer than I anticipated.
When we returned to the table , no salad..my plate had vanished! In fact all the plates had vanished… apparently the servers had turned up in the meantime and asked if they could clear the plates, Himself had brainfade and forgot that I hadn’t actually finished my meal and said that Yes they could… Too late of course, but it was has fault and not theirs so Oma still had to pay for it and he owed me an apology for only getting half a meal.
Yes I grumbled a bit for a moment because I love salad and was looking forward to it. but sigh, it’s only salad in the end so I got over it. C’est la vie.
The Restaurant has a movie theme so that probably explains the lifesize models of the Blues Brothers in the corner…
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Let’s take look around…
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Our verdict is: better than average for a Strandtent, Often they are guilty of serving less than great food, probably on the premise that most visitors are one time tourists who won’t be back.
The Ribs were even better than average, Mother in Law enjoyed her Wrap, Kids ate theirs no hassle and Himself was pleased with his meal too. We rate it 7/10 and would go back.
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
