Ciel Bleu to Present Germany’s Culinary Elite on April 11th

Monday, 15 March 2010 11:49

In cooperation with the Althoff Hotel Collection, three chefs - with eight Michelin stars between them - will present an exclusive six-course menu during a "déjeuner dînatoire" 

Amsterdam, March 15th, 2010 - Hotel Okura Amsterdam's two-star French restaurant Ciel Bleu will be organizing the culinary event "Ciel Bleu presents the Stars of Germany" on April 11th. During a déjeuner dînatoire, Joachim Wissler of Restaurant Vendome (***) and Nils Henkel of Restaurant Lerbach (***) will be preparing, in cooperation with Onno Kokmeijer (**) of the Ciel Bleu Restaurant, a never-to-be-repeated six-course menu, preceded by various amuse-bouches. Mr Thomas Althoff, owner of the German luxury hotel chain to which these restaurants belong, will be present during this culinary event.

Each chef will be preparing two courses. Matching German wines will be served by the Ciel Bleu's sommelier, Noël Vanwittenbergh. The combination of various styles of cooking will result in a very special menu.

Like Onno Kokmeijer, Nils Henkel prefers fresh local products for his innovative recipes. He pays a great deal of attention to detail. His "pure nature" approach to cooking involves a balanced combination of flavours and textures.

Joachim Wissler is regarded as a trendsetter of "new German cuisine" in Germany and is one of that country's most innovative and modern star chefs.

Every year, the Ciel Bleu team organizes a culinary exchange in order to add to its store of culinary expertise. Onno Kokmeijer invites a top chef from abroad for the occasion. Ben Pon's Bernardus Lodge in Carmel, California, and Margot Janse from South-Africa preceded these German chefs.

In addition, the team makes a number of culinary study trips every year. Recently, they visited Germany, where they were introduced to innovative German cuisine.
At Onno Kokmeijer's weblog at www.cielbleu.nl, guests can stay informed about his trips as well as current and future culinary exchanges.

The six-course Ciel Bleu Presents... menu is € 249.00 including matching wines and transportation by Infiniti car (in the Amsterdam area).
Reservations can be made through cielbleu@okura.nl or via our website. The dress code is tenue de ville.

About the Ciel Bleu Restaurant
The Ciel Bleu Restaurant is known for its idiosyncratic approach to classical French cuisine. The restaurant is on the hotel's 23rd floor, affording guests a breathtaking view of the city. In November 2007 the restaurant was awarded a second Michelin star and it has published its own book, entitled "Ciel Bleu Restaurant: Idiosyncratic French Cuisine".
Ciel Bleu was awarded 16 points by Gault Millau. In the Top 100 of Lekker magazine the restaurant occupies the 19th position.

About Althoff Hotel Collection (www.althoffhotels.com)
The Althoff Hotel Collection is a luxury hotel chain that has seven hotels in Europe: the Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg and Schlosshotel Lerbach in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany; Hotel Fürstenhof in Celle, Germany; Hotel am Schlossgarten in Stuttgart, Germany; Seehotel Überfahrt in Rottach-Egern, Germany; the St. James's Hotel and Club in London, England, and the Villa Belrose in Saint-Tropez, France. Founder and owner Thomas H. Althoff attaches great value to quality and individual service. The chain's philosophy is based on three pillars: architecture/design, service and culinary experiences.

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Note to Editors (not for publication)
For additional information and/or visual materials please contact:
Tamara Tong Sang / Public Relations Manager
T: 020 - 67 87 487
E: tongsang@okura.nl
W: www.okura.nl/persinformatie