Unique: The Captains Lunch in Restaurant M*

The opening day of MASTERS EXPO was dedicated to the Exclusive Preview. Visitors were given the opportunity to be the first to enter the exhibition floor and experience the novelties. The Captains Lunch in Restaurant M* marked the start of the most controversial gastronomic concept in the Netherlands. The place where the country's greatest chefs – 26 this year, good for a total of 42 Michelin stars – celebrate the joy of their profession together. Text: Bart-Jan Brouwer
Image: Goed Folk @ MASTERS EXPOThe stairs to the entrance of the restaurant feel like one stairway to heaven, with a Valhalla for all the senses behind it. And all of that completely corona-proof. Interior designer Mariska Jagt designed the interior, in which organic shapes, warm colors and flowers predominate, with lighting expert Maretti, atmosphere supplier ExpoFlora, CPS Interieurs, Silk Flowers and Héman Horeca-verhuur as permanent partners. Giedo van der Garde sounds his glass with that of artist Joseph Klibansky, the country's largest real estate dealers share strong stories with each other, Piet Boon updates Jaguar Land Rover boss Marc Bienemann about his projects in Japan, and BMW's marketing director Peter Haug announces that he will close the bar due to the corona measures. has removed it from its stand and placed an extra car there, in addition to the brand new i4 and iX. The pleasant bustle at the tables quiets down somewhat when the first course is served and we look with pleasure at the artful creation on the plate: langoustine with sesame, goat cheese and nasturtium by Nelson Tanate (De Librije***). Bottles of Acqua Panna and S. Pellegrino are being passed around. Between the sole with parmesan foam and crispy potato by Erik van Loo (Parkheuvel**) and rendang with short rib and ginger by Soenil Bahadoer (De Lindehof**), singers from restaurant Pasta e Basta perform classical arias and calm ballads. Richard Krajicek, Björn Kuipers and Robert Eenhoorn receive a beautiful framed photo as a thank you for their contribution to the Masters of Sport series, a new section in MASTERS Magazine, created by sports journalist Jaap de Groot. Culinary entrepreneur and curator of Restaurant M* Carsten Klint walks contentedly between the full tables, where the glasses are filled with a magnificent Barolo. He pauses for a moment when Yves Gijrath takes the floor. The exhibition organizer emphasizes how special this edition is, how proud he is of all the entrepreneurs and family businesses that are part of the Capital of Great Business, as MASTERS EXPO is called, and how grateful he is for loyal partners and sponsors such as wine importer Vinites and Scotch Whiskey Investments, which has taken the oldest bottle of whiskey in the world to the stock exchange. He briefly hands the microphone to Winston Gerschtanowitz, one of the founders of EarthToday, to which MASTERS EXPO supports. EarthToday is an initiative where everyone can protect a square meter of earth for 1,20 euros, of which 1 euro goes to nature protection. Those who contribute receive a unique digital proof of protection and can visit the geolocation virtually. Given the success of Restaurant M*, where lunch ends with panna cotta from Fred Mustert (Restaurant Fred**) and chocolates from François Geurds (FG Food Labs* + FG Restaurant**), the pop-up restaurant will open next year undoubtedly a real-life sequel, because: tastes like more (stars)!