Traveling and Dining: Royal Parc Restaurant at Hilton Royal Parc Soestduinen

For you who happened to be in the land of tulips or planning to go there anytime soon, I have a suggestion to make your weekend getaway more memorable. It is not just about Amsterdam, you know. Holland does have a lot more to offer than wild parties in the capital and Delft blue porcelain.

I guess not many of you know where Soestduinen is. This gem is located right at the heart of Holland, only a short drive from Utrecht (12 km). As it is surrounded by woodlands, you can easily miss it as it has not been advertised in a big way like most Hilton hotels. I am not too sure what is the reason behind it. But I have noticed that this spot is mainly visited by local golfers and conference attendees. I reckon its popularity was spread by word of mouth.

On my first visit a couple years back, I was not too impressed with the food served at the restaurant, but as there was no other restaurant available, I had no choice but to make do. I am so glad that on the second visit, they hotel management has made a quite significant improvement which is definitely worth sharing with my readers.

So let's get talking about food!

To start my culinary adventure I started with tomato soup served with crostini and few drizzles of extra virgin olive oil. Thick in texture but it is actually light and refreshing. It reminds me of spanish gazpacho but richer. A little sharpness of the tomatoes really gets your tastebuds going.

Along with the soup, I had summery salad which is a combination of cherry tomatoes and mozzarella buffala accompanied by fresh herbal leaves and light dressing. Simple and yet tasteful.

Haven't had beef steak in a while, I decided to order one for the main and lightly smoked cod with seaweed and mix vegetables bouquet.

The steak arrived, and as you can see, the presentation is rather nice. Colourful and so appealing. But what I like about it most is its honesty. It is simply and plainly collection of fresh produce on a plate. Well seasoned steak was cooked to perfection and drenched in its own jus to retain moisture. Delicious!

The cod itself was quite an interesting option. Slightly smoked without losing its flavour presented in a bed of vegetable bouquet and light curry-like soup. Yummy!!

The salty fish flakes melted in the mouth like butter, balanced with sweetness of the vegetables. Heavenly!

Done with the savouries, I certainly couldn't wait for my sweet treat. I went for a quite predictable strawberry tiramisu. It may sound too safe, but you would not regret it. I didn't anyway. Light and dry mascarpone with a hint of vanilla is a great companion to ripe, juicy and sweet strawberries. Summer can't get any better than this.

Too full to swing the golf club or taking an afternoon siesta, Hilton Royal Parc Soestduinen offers their classic and sophisticated designed Orange Bar for you to enjoy a sip of digestif while playing a pool or reading a book. Order a couple of drinks at once though, as service is a bit slow. The staff have to juggle between the restaurant and the bar.