The WineKitchen

Ouderkerkerlaan 2, Amstelveen, Netherlands

The WineKitchen was a thing in Amstelveen, but here's the deal: it's permanently closed. Like, fully done. So if you were planning to roll through for a glass and a plate, that's not happening anymore. What it was, though: an independent winery restaurant in the Marlborough wine region, run by chef Alain Hauswirth, a Swiss guy who'd been in New Zealand for over 25 years. The whole concept was "produce is hero," meaning he sourced premium seasonal stuff and let it do the talking. The spot sat in a family-owned organic vineyard with established gardens around it, so the vibe was pretty much as idyllic as it sounds. Alain wasn't new to this either. He'd founded some of Marlborough's known spots like Le Cafe, Figaros, and the Burleigh Dairy, plus taught at Ara Institute. So the guy had range. The WineKitchen was his passion project, and it showed. Anyway, it's closed now. If you're curious about what he's up to, there's an email floating around, but the venue itself is not the move anymore…