The sustainable island festival Oerol on Terschelling and the Food Inspiration Days in Veghel are becoming the testing ground for sustainable and conscious entrepreneurs from the Wadden Sea region. This includes the kitchen of het Kook Atelier on Oost. Entrepreneurial couple Valerie Jongeneel and Joram Timmerman are able to engage in conversations about conscious gastronomy under the Innofest flag and have their dishes tasted by the Netherlands' most conscious festival visitors and food professionals.
Innofest
In a time when challenges transcend borders and generations, we need businesses that work for both 'profit' and 'purpose'. As a support programme, Innofest is a welcome springboard for innovative entrepreneurs who want to make an impact. Innofest is an organisation that gives (emerging) entrepreneurs the chance to test innovative prototypes in practice. They do this at festivals and during events, amongst other places. This year, this includes Oerol and the Food Inspiration Days.
Conscious gastronomy
Innofest approached the entrepreneurial couple following an earlier visit to Texel. Restaurant het Kook Atelier operates a conscious kitchen, or as they call it themselves; a nordic & botanical cuisine. The signature menu from patron chef Joram Timmerman bears the name 'Served by Nature'. Growing, preserving and foraging form the foundation. Nature always has the final say. In every step, they look at achieving the smallest possible footprint. How? Through short supply chains, home-grown produce, purchasing agreements with local home producers, direct collaboration with farmers, culinary upcycling and replacing guilty pleasures with conscious alternatives. This last point has enabled het Kook Atelier to showcase a culinary innovation during these prestigious events.
Guilty pleasures
In restaurant het Kook Atelier you won't find cola or orange squash. They don't serve factory-made soft drinks, but homemade non-alcoholic beverages that can even be ordered as pairings with the menu. Jongeneel explains: "We offer our guests a conscious alternative. We don't copy existing products, but serve completely new flavours with our botanicals, kombuchas and water kefir."
The restaurant also offers an alternative to one of the most culinary guilty pleasures when it comes to sustainability; Foie Gras. A dish that's an absolute 'no go' for many culinary adventurers with green hearts. Timmerman has focused on offering a conscious alternative to this culinary guilty pleasure. "We serve a nut pâté that many enthusiasts describe as a vegan foie gras. We don't want to offer a meat substitute, but a conscious alternative for lovers of that specific flavour. When we serve this dish, it always opens up great conversations." Joram's version has now developed into a signature dish and each menu gets a fresh twist. Jongeneel adds: "During these events, we want to start conversations about what conscious gastronomy is. In our view, it starts with what you stand for and the choices you make. We're keen to discuss nature, the impact of choices and the challenges we face as hospitality entrepreneurs."
Platform
The Food Inspiration Days on 17th and 18th October welcomes 1,200 food professionals over two days. For decision-makers in foodservice and food retail who are seeking information and inspiration about tomorrow's food world. "A brilliant place to have conversations about sustainable gastronomy. An exceptional platform to not only dive into the content, but also let professionals taste our dishes and botanicals," says Jongeneel. On the start-up stage of the Food Inspiration Days, companies from the Wadden region present their food innovations. The entrepreneurs receive feedback from food professionals and potentially lay the groundwork for future collaborations. During Oerol, this happened during a special Wadden Edition of Test Teevee, a show developed by Innofest where entrepreneurs have their innovations tested live by the audience. Oerol thereby serves as a testing ground for food innovations from the Wadden region.
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het Kook Atelier was visible on Terschelling during Oerol on 17th & 18th June and during the Food Inspiration days in Veghel on 17th & 18th October.
Food Inspiration Days 2022 - Home // Innofest // www.kook-atelier.nl