Ik kijk uit naar mijn bezoek aan GEZELLIG!

I’m brushing up on my Dutch as Stephen Beckta prepares to make the nation’s capital a little more gezellig.  It’s a Dutch word that is said to be virtually untranslatable (according to Wikipedia), but is at the heart of Dutch culture as the Dutch tend to love all things gezellig (click on the word to hear how it is pronounced).  The word generally means something that is comforting, relaxing or enjoyable to someone who is gregarious.  If you don't believe me, listen to the Ambassador to Canada from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Wim Geertstell tell you all about it!

If this is in fact what Beckta (who lived in Amsterdam for about a year and a half) is trying to achieve with his third installment of culinary delight when Gezellig opens its doors in November at the corner of Richmond road and Churchill avenue, yours truly cannot wait to venture inside and see what Executive Chef Micheal Moffat and Chef Che Chartrand have in store for patrons.  Chartrand, who sold his business Chez Eric in Wakefield to become the Chef de Cuisine at Gezellig, is learning the ropes at Play to prepare when Gezellig opens.

Outside of Gezellig, inside Stephen Beckta was busy working away.
He is the epitome of hard work and dedication.  One minute
overseeing the operation of Play or Beckta and serving patrons their dishes
to passing a shop vac.

So with Beckta being haute cuisine and Play being more of a informal yet upscale tapas styled restaurant, what can we expect from Gezellig?  Both Beckta and Moffat have said that their third installment will be more of a neighborhood type restaurant with a more traditional menu consisting of appetizers, main courses and desserts but that patrons of Play and Beckta will still see some influences from the former with some sharing plates. Judging from the articles that I’ve read thus far I believe that Gezellig will take the best of Play and Beckta and make it homey, familiar and comforting that will quickly become a gem in the heart of Westboro. 

Early photos of the inside renovations of Gezellig.  Photo courtesy of ottawafoodies.com

The restaurant is to be an open concept with two floors and a total of approximately 100 seats, with one third of them in the upper mezzanine and the rest on the main floor for a total of about 2500 square feet of dining space with the main kitchen under the mezzanine and a preparatory kitchen and wine cellar in the basement.  I remember that building as the Toronto Dominion bank when I was a child growing up in the area and remember how dingy and claustrophobic the space felt.  I can’t wait to see how that has changed.  I’ve driven by on numerous occasions trying to catch a glimpse of what it will look like inside.  From what I’ve seen to date it will be stunning.

Menu prices should be fairly reasonable with main dishes averaging in the $20 dollar range.  One thing that I’m really looking forward to is Beckta’s take on brunch as Gezellig plans to serve brunches on Saturdays and Sundays.  Beckta hopes that his neighborhood styled restaurant will bring in regular diners on a twice-a-week basis.  I have no doubt that he will, given the talent he will have in the kitchen and on the floor.

As everyone knows I love all things Stephen Beckta.  Play and Beckta are my two favorite restaurants in this city; not only for their food but also their service.  Both of which, if I’m using the word correctly, are pretty gezellig as it is.  I can only imagine what his latest neighborhood resto is going to be like and I hope to be one of the first to walk through Gezellig’s doors when it opens.  Hmmm maybe I should camp out a night or two before just to make sure.  Stay tuned for my review of my gezellig experience until then my homework for my readers is to come up with a sentence using the word “gezellig”.

Eet smakelijk!

Gezellig
337 Richmond Road
Ottawa, ON
613-680-9086