Good food & drinks, pure and full of flavor

My name is Mariska van Beek and I am a co-founder of Bandoeng’22. I live with my family in the west of Holland, an area which is called ‘The green heart’. A relatively quiet village with Cities as Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam at a short distance.

My background
I grew up in the Westland, in the middle of the greenhouses. My maternal grandfather was a market gardener, and many uncles also had their own market gardens. My love for good food, pure and full of flavor, originated here. As a schoolgirl, I regularly helped in my uncle’s business to earn some money, for example picking tomatoes or bunching carrots.

My father’s family had a completely different background and always brought a sense of adventure and admiration. My great-grandfather, uncles and great-uncles were real sailors, strong men who braved the world’s seas with their tugboats. Some of them regularly assisted tradeships with cargo full of spices & herbs from Asia, enter the port of Rotterdam. Others were involved in rescue operations around the world.

As a child, I loved listening to the stories of raging storms, exotic ports and exciting rescues. One story I remember well is that of a great uncle, a captain with a great reputation. In the late 1940s, he was awarded the O.B.E. (Order of the British Empire) cross of honour for a very dangerous rescue operation in the Indian Ocean. A rare honour for a Dutchman and a testament to his exceptional courage and dedication.

After studying Commercial Economics, I started working for a soft drink brand and eventually spent many years in commercial positions in the Dutch beverage industry. But I always had in the back of my mind that one day (when I grew up) I wanted to start something for myself.

How I met Marc and Fajar
I had been working with Marc for several years; the company I was working for at the time did the distribution of Sayah Spekkoek liqueur. We started talking in late 2017 and both of us wanted to do something different. Then Fajar also joined us and we started brainstorming further about a new drink. That eventually became Bandoeng’22, which we launched in mid-2019. Now -5 years later- Bandoeng’22 is in full development, we have made great steps forward and done and learnt so much over the past few years.

My passion
I love my work and really enjoy meeting (new) people in it (which works out quite well in our industry) In my spare time, I play tennis, or I do some running.
Good food and drinks with family or friends make me happy, preferably Asian food. And it becomes even more of a party when beautiful, balanced cocktails are served with it so that the dish and the cocktail reinforce each other.

Asian food is more than just flavour; it is also an appreciation of the freshness and dedication with which these dishes are prepared. Seasonal ingredients, like those used by my family in the Westland, are also central to this cuisine. And that’s nice to realise.