Robert Kranenborg takes over truckers’ café Bij Marjan
Top chef Robert Kranenborg is taking over the kitchen of the Netherlands’ best-known truckers’ café, Bij Marjan, for one day.
At the Westpoort Amsterdam industrial estate, he is transforming popular lunch classics into star-worthy dishes.
The menu includes Kranenborg’s take on the classic meatball, the boulette de viande, a “50-50 meatball” (ground beef and mushrooms), served on a croissant-brioche bun with watercress and sweet-and-sour cucumber. Another classic, the roast beef fried-egg dish, is also on the menu. Or rather, Kranenborg’s interpretation: three basted fried eggs (arroser is a fancy word for ‘basting’ an ingredient with the liquid it is cooked in), on toasted brioche, with thinly sliced beef loin and brunoise (a fancy word for food cut into cubes) of crispy potato.
Truckers near Amsterdam are invited to take a detour on Wednesday, February 12, between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. (just like with the famous red Michelin Guide) to have lunch at Bij Marjan. The (free) lunch is open to everyone. Good old Henk Wijngaard will sing his favorite trucker songs live.
Lunch menu
The lunch menu also features variations on other trucker favorites, such as the Jappie Dog, a Japanese hot dog with wasabi mayonnaise, sesame dressing, sriracha and nori chips. There is also Pommes frites aux truffes parmesan: fries with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and black truffle oil. Lunch ends with a dessert classic: affogato espresso with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Most popular truckers’ café in the Netherlands
For eight years, hostess Marjan and her husband Erwin have run their restaurant on the A5 in Amsterdam. It is one of the most popular restaurants for truckers in the Netherlands. Almost every day, the old-fashioned, cozy restaurant is packed with truckers looking for a good plate of food and a homely atmosphere.
Kranenborg’s takeover is Lotto’s tribute to all the truckers in the Netherlands. Starting Tuesday, February 11, Lotto’s new TV commercial will air, featuring Robert Kranenborg making his version of a meatball sandwich for truckers, under the motto: it takes very little to make something special out of the everyday.
Also read:
- Dishes that (star) chefs would never put on the menu
- Food trends chefs hate, part one
- Food trends chefs hate, part two
