It’s always nice to get out of town once in a while. Especially when it involves a culinary lunch at a Michelin star restaurant, accompanied by vintage rosé champagne.
On Monday afternoon, shiny new BMW’s with personal chauffeurs, drove us to Eindhoven where we were welcomed at restaurant Wiesen. This is the 4th Dutch restaurant to be part of the Moët & Chandon privilege program. Every year, the head office of Moët & Chandon in Epernay, France, selects a leading and innovative restaurant to join the program.
Wiesen has earned a first Michelin Star in merely 4 years, which is quite an achievement. Plus, the introduction of the Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2006 champagne and in anticipation of Valentine’s Day, there was enough reason to celebrate.
We were served a 5 course lunch to get acquainted with the restaurant’s cuisine. This was the menu and the vintage champagnes we’ve got served:
Apéritif
Kroepoek ‘Aglio & Olio’
Cremeux of BBQ leek with a foam of Grevelinger oyster and puffed potato
Mini bapao of spicy crab and a lime mayonaise
Canelles with a cream of foie gras
Moët & Chandon Impérial Rosé
Starter
A rouleau of tuna filled with wild sea bass, langoustine in kataiffi, tandoori mayonaise and a pastille of dashi
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rosé 2002
Entremets
North Sea brill, coquille, Bouchot mussels, leek and a jus of bouillabaisse
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Collection Rosé 1999
Main
Pink roasted veal fillet, a ravioli of braised veal cheek, pommes mousseline, chicory and a natural jus
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rosé 2006
Dessert
White chocolate creations, hibiscus, yoghurt and verbena
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Rosé 2004
Because we were also celebrating Valentine, we could bring a loved one or friend, and I always like my friends to also enjoy the benefits my work has to offer: sharing is caring.
So my sweet friend Lillian tagged along, which made the 1,5 drive even more enjoyable (we presume for the driver as well because he could eavesdrop on our lively conversations).
The lunch was very much appreciated, and even more so the fact that our party had the honors to drink the last two bottles of Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Collection Rosé 1999. Those were the two last available bottles in the world! We feel like such spoiled brats now…
Aside from the great food, we were treated on a performance of ballet dancers and artist/illustrator Mimi Nizan was live painting some beautiful new work. She even illustrated the notebooks given to the guests.
We wouldn’t mind starting our week like this more regularly.
About the restaurant
Restaurant Wiesen was opened in 2010 by the young couple Yuri and Jessie Wiesen. Chef Yuri cooks French/Mediterrenean cuisine which he describes as ‘classic dishes with a modern twist and influences from all over the world’. He previously worked at restaurants de Lindenhof (Nuenen) and 1910 (Eindhoven). With their membership of the Moët & Chandon privilege program, Wiesen joins a club of influential and renown Dutch restaurants such as De Groene Lantaarn (Zuidwolde), Bridges of Sofitel The Grand (Amsterdam) and Da Vinci (Maasbracht).