Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam commemorated a milestone with its 10 Years The White Room Festival. The exclusive event celebrated a decade of fine dining at the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, The White Room, bringing together 18 Michelin-starred masters from across Europe, between them with a total of 36 stars, for Amsterdam's first ever international starred festival.
As guests stepped into the storied hotel from the bustling Dam Square, they were welcomed with a signature langoustine dish prepared by Chef de Cuisine of The White Room, Tristan de Boer, paired with a glass of Perrier-Jouet. Upon receiving a detailed event guide - featuring introductions to the chefs, descriptions of their dishes and a venue map - guests were ushered into the hotel's opulent 19th-century Wintergarden and Grand Ballroom, where banners showcased historic facts and milestones from the venue's rich history.
As the festival unfolded, guests enjoyed the convivial market-style atmosphere, conversing with famous chefs as they were preparing dishes a la minute. The distinguished lineup included The White Room's culinary advisor Jacob Jan Boerma*** (Fine Fleur, BE), Tristan de Boer* (The White Room, NL), Heinz Beck*** (La Pergola, IT), Thomas Buehner*** (La Vie, DE), Christian Juergens*** (Chef Consultant, DE), Christian Kuchler** (Taverne Zum Schaefli, CH), Tanja Grandits** (Stucki, CH), Julian Stowasser** (Lakeside, DE), Benoit Carcenat** (La Table du Valrose, CH), Peter Hagen** (Ammolite - The Lighthouse, DE), Giovanni Solofra** (Chef Consultant, IT), Silvio Nickol** (Gourmet Restaurant Palais Coburg, AT), Stefan Heilemann** (Widder, CH), Ricardo Costa** (The Yeatman, PT), Benjamin Chmura** (Tantris, DE), Florian Stolte* (1789, DE), Pavlos Kyriakis* (The Polo, CY), and Paul Gamauf* from Edvard at Anantara Palais Hansen Vienna, AT.
The piece de resistance - a 180-kilogramme bluefin tuna - was carved before a mesmerised audience in a captivating hour-long spectacle, rewarding those who stayed until the end with sublime sashimi. Meanwhile, guests indulged in dumplings, refined Dutch frikandel and caviar, paired with fine wines, whiskies and bespoke cocktails crafted by bartenders from the hotel's acclaimed bar, The Tailor.
Stilt walkers and hoop dancers enhanced the carnival-like atmosphere, while the refined notes of classical string musicians, a jazz band and a soulful duo paid homage to the venue's noble roots.
"The 10 Years The White Room Festival was a landmark evening in Amsterdam's culinary scene, celebrating a decade of gastronomic excellence with a truly international flair," said Arne Heuwekemeijer, General Manager of Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam. "We are deeply grateful to all who contributed to the success of this event and our legacy of innovation, collaboration and culinary mastery - setting new standards and ensuring Amsterdam remains a global destination for gastronomy."
The festival by the numbers:
- 18 chefs with a total of 36 Michelin stars across eight countries participated in the event
- Each chef prepared nearly 400 dishes during the five-hour event
- A total of over 7,000 fine-dining plates were served- 500 guests attended
- 34 international sponsors supported the event