Remarkable news from the Drenthe catering world: Maurice Grendelman and Anandi van Dijk are quitting Restaurant Poortman in Veeningen after six and a half years. The catering couple announced this yesterday via social media. A farewell that was partly prompted by private circumstances, but was nevertheless difficult.
The decision did not come completely out of the blue, because last year there were also doubts about continuing with it, chef Grendelman acknowledges. “But then suddenly that Bib Gourmand came around the corner,” he says, laughing. Although not a Michelin star, it is a prestigious recognition for restaurants with a very good price-quality ratio. “That made 2023 a good year and we were very busy,” he reflects.
But does the hard work outweigh what remains on the bow? Grendelman and Van Dijk will have asked themselves that question several times. “We are not doing badly, let me say that,” says the chef, “but we have had eventful years during the corona period and have had to work very hard, while margins in the catering industry are becoming increasingly smaller.”
“If you then look at the net amount left, we sometimes wonder whether it is worth the time we put into it together,” he explains. “And last year’s big gas bill didn’t help either,” he adds.
Tags: Chef leaves Restaurant Poortman Bib Gourmand stop peak
