Renewed restaurant A Beautiful Mess in Bijlmerbajes helps newcomers find jobs again

After the success of last year, pop-up restaurant A Beautiful Mess officially reopens its doors on March 8. In the former laundry of the Bijlmerbajes newcomers from the Middle East and Africa run this pop-up restaurant until at least the end of the year. Besides delicious meals with oriental influences, A Beautiful Mess has a special mission: to help people with a refugee background find a job by offering work experience and a network. Last year, 30 of the 60 trainees found a job or further education within one year.  

A Beautiful Mess is an initiative of Refugee Company. From Wednesday to Saturday guests can go there for a fusion lunch or dinner. Chefs from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Eritrea and other countries prepare the dishes under the supervision of an Amsterdam chef.

As many jobs as possible
A Beautiful Mess offers participants a safe place where they can build their future in the Netherlands. For each level the restaurant has work experience places to develop skills and build a professional network and resume. And with success: last year, half of the trainees found a job or training within one year. The Amsterdam hospitality industry has also benefited from the project due to the shortage of kitchen staff in particular.

A wonderful gang with success
Last year’s success was crowned with the Entree Award in the category ‘Best off the Grid’, a prize presented to leading hospitality entrepreneurs who dare to venture off the beaten track. Also, none other than Queen Máxima stopped by to learn about the initiatives of Refugee Company.

This year A Beautiful Mess is once again getting help from big names. Baristas will be trained by coffee roaster Bocca. The hospitality industry entrepreneur Lodewijk Keulen and culinary writer and chef Merijn Tol are also supervising the kitchen staff and the waiters. Heineken, Grapedistrict and Sligro provide hospitality training and the interior has been restyled by brand architect Jasper Klinkhamer (who has worked for Louis Vuitton, Nike and Schiphol, among others), Favela Painting, Philips Lighting and Intratuin Amsterdam.

In addition, this year a concept store with studio is located next to the restaurant where artisans work with Dutch designers. The concept store is filled with various handmade products, from furniture to clothing and jewelry. Also this year the team of A Beautiful Mess will open a coffee bar at the asylum seekers center at the Willinklaan in Amsterdam West.

Location and opening hours
A Beautiful Mess is at least until December 2018 as a restaurant located in the old laundry of the Bijlmerbajes. The restaurant can also be rented for events. On Wednesday through Saturday A Beautiful Mess is open from 10.00-21.00 for lunch, dinner and drinks. Parking is free for the moment.

About Refugee Company
A Beautiful Mess was founded by Refugee Company. Refugee Company supports people who have to build a new life in the Netherlands to pick up the thread and use their qualities. The starting point of Refugee Company is the talent, resilience and positive energy that many people have. The organization connects people with a refugee background to the opportunities that are available in the Netherlands. In this way, sustainable networks are created between newcomers and Dutch people. Entrepreneurs who still want to join A Beautiful Mess are very welcome. For more information: www.refugeecompany.com. The official opening is on March 8 from 17.00-20.00 hours. If you want to be present you can contact us via the details below or sign up via the Facebookevent.