Lavendelhof - 29/11-2007

Photos : November 29, 2007

Lavendelhof - 27/11-2007

Photo : November 27, 2007

Lavendelhof - 26/11-2007

Photo : November, 26 - 2007

Cuc!naMosae

Maastricht, November 17, 2007

CucinaMosae is situated in and around the old domes of the Mosae Forum. It has become a gathering of different food concepts in which the kitchen (La Cucina) is literally and figurative the center point. Here there will be cooked all day before the eyes of the public, here is were people eat and there are cooking clinics. The kitchen with lunch restaurant, cooking studio, winebar, coffeebar, pastry and bakkery together are Cucina Mosae 100% Gusto. Of course surrounded with retail stores where products are sold connected to food.

At least that's what they say themselves ... time for some inspection, last time I was in Maastricht (preuvenemint) it was still closed, so need to go there again. Situated in this lovely town where people like to dress and impress, so much people enjoy a good coffee / glass of wine with friends, and of course love food. Next to the river on one hand and the heart of the city on the other hand. 3500m2 they say, the largest market with a roof in the Benelux ...

After a long journey starting with a drink and something light to eat ... need to discover all of this :-) It might be 3500m2 but not only devoted to food I guess, it's pretty big but not that big! It lacks a bit of the real market style, it's a bit to 'clean'. The setting with these old arches is so beautiful although I would have done some different lighting. The presentation of the food still need some work. The products you can buy are lovely for the biggest part. The 'nut' department is rather small and I suggest they will have a look at the Market in Amsterdam on Saturday and go to Gotjé (De Nootzaak) talk to Jos and he'll arrange a nice assortment. The cheese section is rather poor. The vegetables are perfect, the meat section was oke, but not far as good as the English Market in Cork (Ireland), winebar was superb, rather small selection of wines, the coffee bar was from DE, not quite a brand I would suggest, although the espresso was good, and the Cappuccino's made like it should. The traiteur was fine, nice products (bought a lot) and the taste was perfect for 9.5 out of the 10. Good presentation, nice people and enough choices.

The restaurant had a small menu, nice items but such a bad service and sooooo slow. About 20 tables, more than 5 cooks and needed to wait for a simple foccacia. Taste was good, salad had a nice dressing (good attention to small things is what makes the difference). Slow service rather, wrong invoice at the end .... so some improvements to be made.

It's a good step forward for Holland though. Not an attraction where I need to go back too but when around I certainly will get some stuff from the traiteur.

If parked under there - below level 2-3 - than don't leave around 17.00, go much earlier or take another drink, 45 minutes getting out of the parking is about average ...

From the traiteur we bought small single portions :
Amuse with coquille and a potato salad
Salad with lobster and shrimps
Salad Nicoise with grilled tuna
Salad blue cheese and chicory
Mushroom risotto (little bit undercooked unfortunately)
Nice dish of Poultry (pigeon and duck) - perfect !
Real meat dish from the south of Holland
Dish with veal and mustard sauce
Asian dish with shrimps
Some lovely chocolate pie
Nice dessert with 'two tone' flavored cream
Of course some nice stone oven bread
Tea from Betjeman & Barton - simply the best !

It was worthwhile taking home these products, real treat !

CucinaMosae - Grubbelstraat 14 - Maastricht - Tel : +31 43 3900910

Lavendelhof - 18/11-2007

Photo : November 18, 2007