Karel 5
"Leave Utrecht's bustling city centre behind for a while and let yourself be swept away by Karel 5's medieval charm. Luxury meets authenticity in this historical oasis, where you can admire old paintings and sculptures as you dine beneath crystal chandeliers, and, when the weather is fine, have lunch on the beautiful garden terrace. Leon Mazairac and his team conjure up cuisine that does justice to the setting, for a true fine dining experience. Game from the Veluwe, Belgian endive, saffron from Herentals: Chef Mazairac makes a point of working only with top-quality produce that he sources as locally as possible, and he is also passionate about vegetables. As an amuse-bouche he serves a bouquet of seasonal vegetables accompanied by a classic, delicately acidic vinaigrette. The freshness of nature and the richness of the sauces are the hallmarks of this chef's cooking. He has a penchant for vegetarian dishes, and a meat- and fish-free set menu is always available. But when he serves sole, for example, it is poached to perfection and comes into its own thanks to a beurre blanc sauce with vin jaune and fresh trimmings. Karel 5 embodies a marriage of tradition and innovation." - Michelin Inspector
