TGB GOES: OUT FOR DINER AT THE MAALTUIN.
My very first PR deal: a free meal and as payment a simple column on my experience of the night. Oh I could also bring a friend. Well win win cause I’m a fatty. I love food.
De maaltuin is a pop up restaurant that pops up at special locations across the Netherlands. They use the area as inspiration for their menu’s using local products as much as possible.
We where expected between 6 pm and 6.30 pm in the botonical gardens in Rotterdam. A hidden gem if you ask me. I didn’t even know of it existence and I spend most of my days off in Rotterdam. We where greeted by a bubbly host explaining us what to expect and what to do. We where ushered to a little patio with tables and chairs where we could pick up the amuse. A mocktail that would tingle our tastebuds and make us horny. No jokes here. Some sort of herb that would trigger your inner sexual desires. If it actually worked? Keep on reading…
We sat down as the sun set over the gardens, a beautiful golden glow turned the garden into something quite magical. They also presented us with a map and the only instructions we got was to be at a certain point in the garden by 1900. I don’t know if you have been to a botanical garden but if not, it is filled with trees, flowers and grass. So we walked a bit and every 5 seconds we checked in with each other to see if we started to get a little frisky yet which wasn’t the case, unfortunately. This place would be a perfect spot for some risky cruising fun to be honest. The gays would love it. During our walk we came across signs and talking trees. No I’m serious, the trees were talking, even hissing at us. It was quite funny. It became clear that the theme of the night is diversity. Why? Because it said so on the signs, haha.
We arrived at another foodie stop where two lovely host served us a glass of white wine with a a green gazpacho. Truly lovely if you ask me. We continued to our next stop, the main tent. The same lovely hoste showed us our spots on the large square tables. I think they sat at least 60 people, and with 3 of those tables, you do the calculations on how many people where actually there. Now I hate small talk with strangers but my neighbors clearly loved it. Before I could sit down they already started talking about their kids, jobs and how covid nearly knocked her down. Luckily the hosts came by with wine, which would be the evening saver. Let’s say, it loosed up the tongue.
Cute little petit paIns were served with some sort of butter, again, very tasty. Every course was paired with a unique wine. As we went through 6 courses and I’m a true lightweight, you can imagine the state of me at the end of the dinner. Hammered, plastered, wasted, drunk!
As the evening progressed and the sun had well and truly set the host took the microphone to tell us a little more about the theme they had chosen linking it with the diverse culture Rotterdam is well known for. It was not really showing inside the tent that evening as most people were middle aged and white.
But then, the entertainment they had in store for us was a special one. My friend, publisher and rock: Chelsea Croft. A well known drag queen. She came out in a beautiful black parachute gown covered in golden crosses. A hairdo Dame Joan Collins would pay an awful lot of money for and heels so high my ankles started to hurt instantly just by looking at them. But not for Chelsea, she ran up and down the tent whilst performing Like a Prayer by Madonna. My eyes got all teary, I was a very proud friend. I had seen my friend perform before but this crowd was though. Not really a drag queen kinda crowd if you see what I mean. But she wrapped them all like a Christmas gift.
She made everyone laugh with her jokes and pretty face. She was truly in her element. They served us another course in between performances. I told you before but I was well and truly hammered and kind off slurring my words at this point.
Everyone came for the food and the location as Chelsea’s performances were a surprise. I think most guests lost their drag performance virginity broadening their diversity spectrum. So this dinner wasn’t only good food and a fun night out, people left with something to think about.
An older gentlemen (must have been at least 80) approached Chelsea and said: “thank you, you made me realise you are never to old to learn”. Isn’t that gorgeous? Well I think it is.
I had a wonderful evening with tasty food & good entertainment. Kind off specials as this was my first PR deal as well.
Oh, and about the horniness.. it worked.
Bye for now
A new column by The Gay Bradshaw will be live next Sunday at 20:00h, exclusively on tobecroft.com/tgb
