07 Oct Culinary expedition – Introducing: Aukje Tinbergen

Since April 2025, I have been delighted to be part of the Eat2Gather team. After studying Hotel Management in Maastricht, I quickly realised that my heart lies in organising experiences that bring people, food and atmosphere together. The combination of culinary delights and organisation is the perfect mix for me, and that is exactly what Eat2Gather excels at.

What gives me energy? Working with enthusiastic colleagues, creating memorable moments for guests and, of course, good food and drinks! I get a kick out of it when everything comes together: from the initial idea to the last guest leaving satisfied.

I look forward to organising many more wonderful culinary events and creating unforgettable experiences together.

Other things I enjoy doing in my spare time are travelling, cooking, eating out and doing fun things with friends. Good food and a nice glass of wine are all it takes to make me very happy 😊.

You have been working at Eat2Gather for over four months now. What are you most proud of?

I have learned a great deal during my four months at Eat2Gather, from the intricacies of event organisation to collaborating with various teams and suppliers. What makes me proud is that I can already see how my strengths in dealing with people and maintaining an overview are helping me to achieve great results. Thanks to my organisational skills, I have already been able to contribute to several events, from the preparations to the execution, which gives me a lot of energy!

And which event made the biggest impression?

Of all the events I have been involved in over the past few months, one cooking workshop in particular made an impression on me. This was a workshop for 80 people at an external location. It felt like a challenge to build the location from scratch, maintain an overview and keep everything running smoothly. In addition, we worked with a larger team, which made it extra fun to see how everyone worked together and complemented each other. It gave me a lot of energy to experience that we were able to successfully organise such a large event together.

Which Eat2Gather culinary outing do you like best?

It’s difficult to choose a favourite culinary outing, because I haven’t been able to experience all of them myself yet. If I had to choose now, I would go for the Italian cooking workshop, because I love Italian cuisine. I also love the walking tours with tastings; you get to be outside, discover different places in the city and hear interesting stories about its history. It’s the perfect combination of culinary experience and fun!

What is your favourite restaurant?

It’s difficult for me to choose my favourite restaurant, because there are so many delicious places in Amsterdam. If I had to name a few favourites, they would be Toscanini, Trees, Cantine de Caron and De Zingende Zwaan. Each and every one of them is a place where you can enjoy delicious food and where the atmosphere is at least as good as the food itself.

What is your favourite cookbook?

I hardly ever use cookbooks, because nowadays I find almost everything I’m looking for on social media. If I do pick up a cookbook, it’s often one by Ottolenghi, whose recipes and flavour combinations inspire me every time.

What is your favourite terrace?

My favourite terraces are De Neef van Fred and Café Thuys. These are actually my regular go-to places in the neighbourhood for a nice drink.

The most delicious sandwich?

I prefer to get a sandwich at JWO Lekkernijen. The service here is always excellent and there is a pleasant atmosphere in the shop. Moreover, the selection is enormous and you can also buy other delicious delicacies there.

What is your favourite dessert?

I’m not really a big sweet tooth, but when affogato is on the menu, I find it hard to resist. I’m also a big fan of a good cheese platter for dessert; that really makes me happy.

Are you a good cook?

I really enjoy cooking; for me, it’s a moment of relaxation. I prefer to cook for my friends and family, and I don’t usually get any complaints. So I consider myself quite satisfied with my cooking skills.

Caviar or croquette?

I’d have to go for a croquette. I love good food, but I prefer Burgundian enjoyment to high-end dining. If there’s an original variation on the classic croquette on the menu, I can definitely enjoy that.

Favourite drink?

You can make me happiest with a good glass of wine or a nice sparkling wine. If I go for a cocktail, I almost always choose a Moscow Mule.

What would you get up for in the middle of the night?

Spaghetti vongole.

What do you always have in your fridge?

I always have something to spice up a dish, such as red pepper, chilli flakes or sriracha.

I’d love to eat at:

I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about Restaurant Troef lately, so I’d like to eat there soon. An omakase experience at Ken Sushi is also high on my list.