25 Years of Mes Amis

“On Tuesday, 11 September 2001, I got the green light from the bank to take over Bistro Intermezzo at 5 Tongersestraat. I came home feeling excited and happy, only to find my husband Frans staring at the television in disbelief. ‘The world is ending,’ he said, as footage of the attacks on the Twin Towers played on screen.”

“That was the beginning of 25 years of Wijnrestaurant Mes Amis, without knowing what joys and challenges still lay ahead.”

“It must have been sometime in 2002 when I first walked into Mes Amis. I was on my own, looking for a table for one. What I remember most about that evening is the way Annaline welcomed me: so warmly, as if I had already been a regular for years. Before long, Mes Amis became a fixed part of my routine. For years, I ate there almost every Monday evening.”

“I was 19 years old when I joined our family business, De Apostelhoeve. Around that same time, I met Annaline. She had just graduated as a wine expert and, together with Leon Geurtjens, owner of ’t Rommedoeke since 1988, started a wine-tasting group to gain experience in the field.

After gaining valuable experience at various restaurants in Maastricht, Annaline and Frans poured their hearts into opening restaurant Mes Amis. Over the years, not only did the restaurant flourish, but so did our friendship.”

“At the beginning of 2013, I visited Mes Amis with a group of friends. I was immediately struck by the warm, welcoming atmosphere. The professional service, the genuine attention given to guests and, above all, the extensive wine knowledge, with what was then still a partially Limburg wine list, really impressed me.”

“Our first experience with Mes Amis was shortly after the restaurant opened. Twenty five years ago, we were living in San Diego, California, where Steven worked as a museum curator. At the time, Steven was visiting Maastricht for TEFAF, an annual tradition. Back then, TEFAF still had a dedicated desk for restaurant reservations. Steven tried to book a table at ’t Plenkske, a favourite of his family in law, but unfortunately, it was fully booked. Instead, someone recommended a new restaurant that was already earning quite a reputation: Mes Amis.”

“For more than 25 years, I have been supplying Annaline with cleaning supplies and hygiene products. Initially at other restaurants where she worked, and later at Mes Amis as well. I have been in the business for a long time, supplying numerous restaurants and healthcare facilities throughout the Maastricht and Heuvelland region. I am quite a tidy person myself and know exactly how I like things to be cleaned and maintained. So starting my own business in this field was a natural step.”

“Our first encounter with Mes Amis happened quite spontaneously. We went there for dinner with colleagues from the university through a Social Deal offer. What started as a lovely evening out soon led to more visits. Not long afterwards, we returned for a romantic dinner for two, and in 2017, we celebrated Axel's PhD graduation there. From that moment on, Mes Amis became one of our favourite places to return to. Christmas dinners, anniversaries, meals with family and friends: we always seem to find a reason to visit Mes Amis.”

“Ever since I was young, people have regularly told me how much I look like my father. And the older I get, the stronger the resemblance becomes. He passed away in February 2013, but even today, at least twice a month, someone will come up to me and say, ‘You must be Frans' son!’ And they're right. I see it too.”

“On 1 April 2005, we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at Mes Amis. Just the two of us, at our regular table by the window. It was a special evening on which we not only celebrated our wedding anniversary, but also the fact that after several years we were once again living in Maastricht. Why we first walked into Mes Amis a few years earlier, we honestly no longer remember exactly. Most likely, it was initially because of the beautiful listed building in the distinctive 17th century brick and sandstone style.”

"In 2001, I supplied the table linen for Intermezzo, the restaurant located at Tongersestraat 5 before Annaline took it over. I still vividly remember Laurent, the owner at the time, enthusiastically telling me that he had sold his restaurant to someone he knew from hotel management school. He immediately introduced me to Annaline and recommended Meerssense Wassalon as the restaurant's regular laundry service. From that moment on, we have never lost touch.”

“My history with Annaline began back in 1987, long before Mes Amis even existed. As part of my studies, I did an internship at restaurant ’t Kläöske on Onze Lieve Vrouweplein. At the time, Annaline was working as a hostess and restaurant manager at L’escale and Le Vigneron. After I completed my studies, Annaline and Frans asked if I would like to come and work at Le Vigneron. Not only did I learn a great deal there, but I also met my husband Roy. When Annaline moved to Restaurant De Hertog, she asked me to join her. I didn't hesitate for a second.”

“I, Suzanne, had a part time job in service at Intermezzo. After Wijnrestaurant Mes Amis opened in 2001, I continued working at Tongersestraat 5 every Saturday evening. I was only eighteen at the time. Around that same period, my love story with Jeroen began. We already knew each other from secondary school, but it was at Preuvenemint that the sparks really started to fly. I was studying to become a primary school teacher, while Jeroen was studying medicine. Alongside his studies, he worked as a cook at The John Mullins Irish Pub. When a position became available in the kitchen at Mes Amis, Jeroen joined the team.”

“I, Jos, have known Annaline since the days when she was still working at the restaurant on Hertogsingel. Even back then, she knew how to create something truly special. When Mes Amis opened its doors in 2001, I followed her there as a guest.

I still vividly remember one of those first evenings. Together with my mother, who has since passed away, I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a table by the window. Perhaps that is why, more than twenty years later, it remains our favourite table. These days, I enjoy sitting there with my wife Marion.”

“As an accountant, you look at a business differently from most people. We see not only the numbers, but also the human side behind the company. It is precisely when important decisions need to be made that vulnerability and strength come together. This is certainly true for Annaline and Patriek.

My relationship with Mes Amis began decades ago, when Annaline and Frans were presented with the opportunity to purchase the building at Tongersestraat 5.”

“I sometimes joke that I must have been adopted, because I completely lack the hospitality gene. As a child, I did not enjoy growing up in a family that ran a restaurant at all. My parents were always working. They could not tuck me into bed every evening, they could not always take me to activities, and holidays were often not celebrated or were celebrated at a different time. If hospitality is not really your world, as a child you mainly notice the things you are missing.”

“In February 2015, I had my first cup of coffee with Annaline. Many more cups of coffee would follow. We clicked immediately and discovered that we shared the same ambition. We thought it would be wonderful to take Mes Amis to a higher culinary level. A month later, I started as head chef.”

“Our collaboration with Mes Amis began right from its opening in 2001. At that time, I was fully occupied with continuing to build Blanche Dael, so I was more than pleased to have a renowned client like Mes Amis. Now, 25 years later, it is remarkable to see how both companies have grown and changed enormously during that time.”

“For years, our Sunday evenings almost always had the same destination: Mes Amis. From 2002 onwards, we would regularly drive from North Brabant to Maastricht after work to enjoy the delicious, light cuisine, with a wonderful selection of vegetarian dishes, in the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant on Tongersestraat.”

“Dat ik ooit kok zou worden, had ik vroeger nooit gedacht. Na de middelbare school in Roemenië werkte ik in een slagerij, in de bouw, achter de bar bij een beachclub en later in de logistiek. Tussendoor was ik veel zomers op Sardinië, waar ik bij een zeilschool werkte. Uiteindelijk bracht de liefde me naar Nederland."