December 23, 2021 · Team HG
Florentin is busier than ever. Despite the lockdown, they managed to sell more than 500 Christmas boxes, and a Christmas menu is being prepared for over 1,100 guests, consisting of 12 different dishes.
Florentin is a unique and edgy restaurant in the Ebbingekwartier, housed in the former old gas factory. The concept is inspired by the alternative neighborhood of Florentin in Tel Aviv. Consequently, the cuisine focuses on the Balagan dining style and is popular on social media, partly due to its desserts that you can literally eat off the table.
When the hospitality industry was still allowed to stay open until 5:00 PM, the restaurant started selling Balagan boxes on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. These boxes contain twelve dishes that change weekly. For Christmas, the special Christmas Balagan Box was added, so that everyone can also enjoy an evening at Florentin at home.
The ‘The Brunch Club’ concept had been launched for both Christmas days and was fully booked. Unfortunately, the brunches could not go ahead due to the new coronavirus measures, but fortunately, takeaway and delivery of food are still possible. Florentin has responded to this, resulting in meals being cooked for 1,100 people from Groningen during the Christmas holidays!
Last Wednesday afternoon, the boxes were already sold out. Owner Emile Bos himself had not dared to dream that it would be such a huge success: “We had expected the restaurant to be full during the Christmas brunches, but unfortunately that couldn't go ahead, so we started focusing on the Christmas Boxes. The fact that all the boxes are now sold out is more than we could have hoped for.”
Preparing and packing all the Balagan Christmas boxes is quite a logistical challenge. With 25 staff members, Florentin spends over six days on the preparations, making for long days during the holidays themselves. “We are very happy that, despite the current circumstances, we can ensure with the entire staff that our guests have a fun and delicious Christmas, while still enjoying that bit of the hospitality feeling at home,” says Emile. Florentin is going on a well-deserved vacation after the holidays, and they will be back in the new year to prepare a new Balagan menu every weekend.
More info: Restaurant Florentin
