André van Alten LA PROVENCE

From vending machines to Michelin-starred restaurant

“The story of La Provence begins with my grandpa, who was a butcher. During the war, he opened a vending-machine snackbar selling typical dutch frikandellen and meatballs to make extra money. It went so well that he bought the property to expand it. In 1962, my parents took it over and opened one of the Netherlands’ first bistros, La Provence, which later became a restaurant. I’ve been at the helm since 1995, and we won our first Michelin star in 2011.

Traditionally seasonal

“I love the traditional craftsmanship of cooking. Real sauces where you start with fifty litres and reduce it down to three. Our techniques take a great deal of time and expertise, which you don’t see on the plate, but you taste it. We use flavour to make a world of difference. But our menu has changed. The saddle of lamb in a salt crust used to be a perennial favourite; it’s a wonderful dish, but not year round. I still serve lamb, but only in the spring when Dutch lambs are available. Our menu is determined by our beautiful woodland surroundings.”

André van Alten (b. 1969) grew up in a family of restaurateurs in Utrechtse Heuvelrug, and began helping his father in the kitchen at a very young age. In his teens, much of his time was taken up with high-level sports, but he eventually opted for a restaurant career. He has been patron cuisinier of La Provence in Driebergen-Rijsenburg since 2000, showing the same dedication, determination and discipline that brought him sporting success, and gaining a Michelin star in 2011.