TamTam, a new catering establishment that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, will open on 1 December in the Pulhof district of Berchem. TamTam especially wants to pamper the local residents who have remained hungry until now. “We play the card of the holiday feeling. Whoever comes here has a break.”
TamTam is the youngest catering offspring of entrepreneur Anthony Van Isacker who also runs Grand Café Capital in the Stadspark, Bistro Pompidou and Painpidou in Wilrijk and restaurant The Finch near Anselmostraat.
For TamTam, Van Isacker joins forces with his wife Meredith Meire, who devised the concept and interior, and with partners Glenn Van Hissenhoven and Geoffrey Coulon. The latter grew up three houses away and becomes the face of TamTam.
“The choice for the Pulhof district is a very conscious choice,” says Meredith. “We used to live in this neighborhood ourselves and have many friends who still live here. So we know this neighborhood well and noticed that there is a lack of a nice, hip, contemporary place. A place where the neighborhood can come together, where people can enjoy themselves at any time of the day. For example, you don’t have a single coffee shop here.”
So TamTam has to change that. “We’re not open yet, but we’re already getting so many enthusiastic responses,” notes Meredith. “We will start on Thursday. From then on, customers can come here for coffee, breakfast, lunch, aperitif, cocktails and dinner.”
© rr
Holiday feeling
She took care of the interior herself. “We are fully committed to the holiday atmosphere here. Whoever walks in here needs to get away from it all right away. I designed the tables myself, painted our plates myself. I wanted an interior that you don’t see everywhere, but one that inspires people. We go for a total experience.”
The menu itself is imbued with a Mediterranean vibe. Think for example of ktipiti, a Greek feta dish on the lunch menu or lamb kofte. In the evening, dishes such as sea bass, baby squid with salsa verde or burrata with candied mushrooms are on the menu. “And people can do it all day long appetizers to order.”
TamTam is open every day except Tuesday. “It is nice to know that we also have a first floor that we make available for parties or meetings. It has already been rented twice this week. That is a nice asset for the neighborhood.”
And in the short term, TamTam has extra plans on Sunday. “During our start-up period, we will serve breakfast every morning. Once we have left, we will organize extensive brunches on Sunday with small pistols: as we all like to have on that day.”
© Jan Van der Perre
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