Amsterdam

Basilicum! Roodfruit! They do speak pretty good english. They said that I could call the bills in english, I was relieved, then I realized that I that I still can’t read dutch. We had a group at the chef’s table in the kitchen. It is a high, long wooden table against a glass wall looking out on to the greenhouse. The chef asked me to run some courses, and expain them. Part of the bill calling system was to log on a graph taped to the pass, a bunch of info about each table including what language they speak. The chef’s table spoke english, he tried to hand me 3 plates and I was shaky, “You obviously have no serving experience.” he said.
I was a server for 8 years before I started cooking. I didn’t say anything and he sweetly showed me how to carry the plates. I was able to do it really well, and the table was so stoked, they wanted to hear my story about how I came to Amsterdam to learn from De Kas. They stayed all night and the cooks took complete care of the table with no front of the house, we all took turns running and explaining courses. The table was still there drinking with us, and being entertained by the funny sous while we were cleaning. When they left, the sous held up a huge wad of cash that they left for the tip and smiled at he chef across the room. That money did not leave the kitchen.