November 26, 2024 · Culinary Journalist
What started in 2004 with eatery De Biechtstoel evolved into a true tapas empire. With now 8 branches of his Bodega y Tapas, founder and owner Matthijs Vinckemöller supplies the entire Northern Netherlands with tapas.
In 2017, he opened the very first branch of the now indispensable concept on the Damsterdiep in Stad. Recently, he opened his newest branch in Winschoten. According to Vinckemöller, it seems as if there are no restaurants there at all, because the tapas are flying off the shelves and the place is constantly fully booked.
So what explains the success of his tapas restaurants? According to Vinckemöller, there simply aren't many establishments of this type in our city, or in the province. ‘In Groningen, there are hundreds of eateries and pizzerias, but hardly any tapas restaurants,’ he outlines. ‘Choosing tapas isn't complicated,’ he says himself. ‘You have a wide selection.’ At his restaurants, there are no fewer than 64 different types of tapas on the menu, which also change with the seasons. ‘So there is something for everyone. If you go out to eat with the whole family, there is something for everyone to choose from.’
According to Vinckemöller, the recommendations on the menu are definitely the tapas with glazed pork belly, the carpaccio, a jackfruit wrap (also available fully vegan), ham with melon, and the eierball. Perhaps a bit of an oddity on a Spanish tapas menu, but according to the entrepreneur, the balls are flying off the shelves. Spanish or not, everyone wants them. It is true, however, that the eierballs haven't really caught on in Leeuwarden yet, whereas in Drenthe, on the other hand, this Groningen culinary treat has already been fully embraced.
What stands out is that it is primarily women who visit his establishments. ‘They come to enjoy a drink, chat, and order small bites to share. Drinking cocktails and eating unlimited tapas for 29.50 pp on weekdays and 34.50 on weekends—that’s just for the food. The combination of food and drink, sitting together for an extended period and enjoying it—that is what matters to people,’ explains Vinckemöller.
‘And besides, we Dutch people really appreciate knowing in advance how much we’ll be spending. If you go out to eat with a group, for example, you just know there won’t be any surprises at the end. Everyone simply pays the same amount.’ Unless you try the entire cocktail menu yourself, then of course it’s a different story…
For more information, visit the Bodega y Tapas website: www.bodega-y-tapas.nl
