Marijke Muoi WINE & DINE

You reach this restaurant – part of Parkhotel Tjaarda – via a dead-end road through the forests of Oranjewoud. That name hints at the historical ties this area shares with the royal family. The decor is somewhat dated and we miss the personal touch, although the service is polite and attentive. The selection on the menu is enormous. Chef Mark van Noord prefers to work with Frisian regional products, including those from a small-scale grower near De Knipe. The cooking style is French, but the ingredients regularly take detours into Japanese territory. The extensive wine list makes it possible to choose from more than seventy wines by the glass. As an aperitif, a Chapeau Melon, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Melon from Jérémie Huchet in the Loire. Served with two amuse-bouches: a crisp with cream featuring beetroot and red quinoa, and a foam and tuile of beet gel, alongside a small bowl of chicken broth with matcha foam. We find the Woudster beer bostelbôle delicious, a crispy roll baked exclusively for Parkhotel Tjaarda. From the three-course chef’s tasting menu: tuna marinated in lapsang souchong with ponzu jelly, shiitake dashi, pak choi, radish, and chives. Delicious and pure. Paired with a glass of Chemin des Géants Chardonnay-Viognier 2024 from the Languedoc: full-flavored, perhaps a touch too much for the almost raw tuna. Well-served temperature-wise is the skin-grilled sea bass with brandade and mussels, braised fennel, roasted forest carrot, rocket oil, fresh rocket, capers, and beurre noisette. A lovely choice for a red wine here: Clayton Road Pinot Noir 2024 from Australia. In terms of portioning, everything is more than adequate, but in terms of refinement and timing, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

This gastro-bistro, a pleasant spot at Parkhotel Tjaarda nestled in the Frisian forests, offers a delicious menu at a reasonable price, with a clear nod to Asian cuisines here and there. Two promising amuse-bouches: cauliflower...

Marijke Muoi Wine & Dine, a culinary bistro, is named after Maria Louise of Hesse-Kassel. She was one of the stadtholders' wives who founded and maintained the Oranjewood estate. Maria Louise was highly beloved by the local population. Seen as an aunt figure, she earned the nickname Marijke Muoike (Frisian for aunt). The restaurant, nestled in the woods on the outskirts of Heerenveen, is part of Parkhotel Tjaarda, owned and directed by Tjitte de Wolff. The interior design is warm and contemporary, with blue (royal) and green (landscape) as its primary colors. Our charming host Thom van der Heide warmly welcomes us, while in the kitchen, chef Mark van Noord prepares for an evening of culinary delight centered on Frisian regional products. Alongside the aperitif—a Chilean sparkling wine made from Chardonnay and pomegranate juice—we are treated to amuse-bouches such as arancini served in a Frisian wooden shoe, and Borger potato mousse with bergamot jelly and a sugar bread crisp. The crisp, fresh bread, Woudster BierBostelBôle, is exclusively produced for Parkhotel Tjaarda. Simply delicious. The menu offers selections from various options, including a signature menu, a vegetable menu, a gourmand tasting menu, and a five-course Prieuwkemenu. We enjoy halibut cooked in lime butter with celeriac, lobster mayonnaise, and crispy glass noodles, paired with a refreshing Chapeau Melon Blanc Jérémie Huchet Château-Thébaud 2023. For the main course, perfectly cooked beef tenderloin from Katwijk arrives with green and white asparagus. The cheese board features regional and French varieties, and we are particularly impressed by the accompanying house-made candied nut mix, served alongside roasted sugar bread and apple compote. The dessert is equally delightful: marinated rhubarb with white chocolate panna cotta and yogurt ice cream from dairy Buurvrouw Durkje. Welcome to Lekker!