Kort Lontje results
Remember back in March when we started for the first time with the cooking course at the Kookstudio Amsterdam? Well, out of that fun group we created a cooking club and last night we came together for the first time to cook in a new location. You have to realize that it is not simple to find a place where you can cook with 9 people at the same time. Initially we had wanted to do that in the Kookstudio where we all met, but due to schedules that was not possible to do, but our dear friend Christine found a place we could use.
The name of our cooking club is “Kort Lontje” which is kind of a fun reminder of Rob, as that was one of the first things he said to us, that he had a bit of a short temper sometimes. Which is what kort lontje means….
Obviously the purpose of the group is to get together and cook something fun but also to relax and have a good meal together with friends. It’s therefore very different from our cooking workshops we did in the kookstudio, but I shouldn’t even be compairing those I guess…. 
The space we used is beautiful and light (and therefore better to take photos!!) and is in kookstudio K.O.K.S. in Amsterdam as well. It’s also a kitchen design shop so you can imagine that the kitchens where equipped with the latest materials, among which very impressive ovens! I forgot to take a photo of one oven in particular but will do so the next time.
As you can see from the photos at the top we had a lovely meal; we started with little shrimp croquettes on a bed of rocket with lemon mayonaisse. Delicious! Then on to the course that Tom and I prepared which was Dorad with beurre blanc sauce with chives and a red onion compote (I love, love, love red onion compote! Sooo good (and simple to prepare too), then deer with a layer of chestnuts on top served with brussels sprouts and potato gratin and to finish we had tarte tatin with chestnut icecream and a – not so good – sauce of tarragon and something else…
On to the main course
All in all we had a great evening and we have already made a new appointment for the next time. Because we don’t want to only be cooking from recipes we have decided to work with a schedule where each one of us gets to pick a theme or a specific dish that we will be making for that particular evening. That person is then also responsible to create the menu together with Albert and Pieter, the owners and two lovely guys.
If you would like to try and make the red onion compote (and you should!) here is the recipe:
Ingredients:
5 red onions
50 gr butter
0,5 dl creme de cassis
0,5 dl raspberry vinegar
1 dl red wine
Cut the red onion into small pieces and saute them with the butter until they are transparant. Add the creme de cassis, the raspberry vinegar and the red wine and some salt and pepper to taste.
Leave to simmer for about 1 hour on a low heat.
It works really well with fish but also with some good meat or bloodsausages also nice!
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
My schedule unfortunately does not allow for events like this, but I would really love to do something….maybe start it at my home….now there’s an idea!!
Simone – fantastic idea! I was initially thinking “too many cooks would spoil the stew” hehe but from your food pics and description – it looks like it wasn’t the case! I wish I had something like that here!
Looks like you’re having a blast with these amazing cooking classes, Simone! The photos are awesome! That said, I was hoping you were able to make the cannoli ^pout^, but I’m sure time restrictions and other situations came up. You would have totally rocked it..I just know it!
It’s good to see you guys have expanded on the original idea and are now doing it in your own space. Food, cooking and friends is certainly a great formula! As for the onion compote…I wish I could get my hands on some cassis!
Hmmm, a friend of mine suggested that we get people together and start a pastry group, but somehow we never got around to it… Although, with the Daring Bakers and Cooks, I don’t know how you find the time to add MORE scheduled cooking into your life! You must be really organized!
I’ve had onion confit, but never compote – it looks like it would taste rather different. But it sounds like a great idea for using leftover red onions!
I’m so jealous of your cooking club. It sounds like wonderful fun! I love cooking with other people–the energy in the kitchen is amazing, and it’s always great to eat with foodies!
That is one gorgeous kitchen! Looks like everyone had a fabulous time!
A cooking club sounds like so much fun. That red onion compote doesn’t sound half bad either…
This sounds like so much fun! I too would love more than anything than to be a part of a cooking club like this, it’s such a great idea.
I so wish I could be a part of this group. Looks amazingly fun! Maybe you can sneak an Italian dish in sometime, no?
This sounds like a real fun thing to do! the pictures show that all of you had a great time.
What a fantastic idea! I wish I had a similar circle of people to cook with and such a great place to do it in!
Hi…fantastic idea. I keep thinking the foodies/dutch (and belgian) food bloggers should get together for a cook-up/meet-up/get-to-know-you. I am trying to think of how/when, maybe in the New Year!
This group looks like a great group together!! I also love red onions compote!! So sweet & yummie!
Thanks, Simone! Excellent pictures as well!
This sounds like so much fun! It must be difficult to arrange everyone’s schedules and find a location, but it was clearly worth it. Beautiful meal.
the red onion compote sounds easy to make.