Cous Cous Club****

When an Irish friend suggested that we go to the Cous Cous Club on Saturday, to be honest, I did feel a little retiscent about the prospect of biking to the other side of town in the rain to just eat cous cous.

On entering Cous Cous, I completely forgot about the culinary parameters. Cous Cous is a charming restaurant with it's ornate chandeliers, sprinkled with art work, small curios, an old piano and seating for around 35. A perfect place for this wet May evening.

Cous Cous is owned and run by Wouter Apituley who believes in the concept of slow food. Cous Cous has a small menu of  3 dish options with cous cous. Option 1 is with 7 steamed vegetables, option 2 as option 1  with an additional lamb sausage, option 3 -The Royale-as option 2  with the addition of lamb stew.

We all decided on The Royale. It was perfect, the organic vegetables including chick peas, sweet potato, beef tomato, red pepper and courgette were  steamed to perfection. The lamb and the jus were deliciously tender and light. You will find no energy consuming microwaves or industrial ovens in Wouter's kitchen. The wine list is limited to house red or white- I guess that that doesn't count as a list, but there are ingredients for great cocktails.

It was co-incidence that on Saturday, as part of Amsterdam Art Week, Wouter had organised an opera singer and pianist to perform over the evening. Wouter also spoke to the restaurant guests about his theory of speed and dromology mixed with own funny experiences that he had had on his electric scooter. The stories were in Dutch, but Wouter translated these as he sat at our table to discuss further his thoughts on speed and the affects it has had on all our lives- from the Industrial Revolution we have become a society that want everything as quick as possible without thinking about the consequences on our World.  It was all new to me that the study of speed is 'Dromology'- from the Greek word for race 'Dromos' and the coincidence, or perhaps contradiction, being that I work with Nike- the Greek goddess of strength, speed and victory.

For dessert all of us had a slice of the only dessert on offer, an amazing Tarte Tatin with freshly whipped cream. A fantastic finish.

I really enjoyed this evening, really special. I can't promise you that the Cous Cous will be accompanied by wonderful music and storytelling next time. What I can promise you is pure, simple food-back to how it should be. This evening definitely made me re-think.

Another Amsterdam recommend.
Total: 25 euros each including wine


CousCousClub Amsterdam
Ceintuurbaan 346
Amsterdam
T: 020 673 3539
www.couscousclub.nl
Closed Monday