From Amsterdam With Love: Marking the arrival of Rituals' 2025 collection in Asia, this edition is rooted in connection and celebrates a distinctive ‘East meets West’ theme.
To truly understand a product or service, you need to go beyond its apparent features and get an insight into the emotions behind it. What does the product line hope to evoke in each user? What brand promise does the company commit to in every interaction? When you answer these questions, you finally unveil the distinguishing factor that makes a particular product stand apart.
During an exceptionally elegant four-hands lunch at Michelin-starred Restaurant Born, Rituals celebrated the arrival of their 2025 Amsterdam Collection in Singapore. The event could not have found a more appropriate venue. Restaurant Born, with one Michelin star, has in a very short time, carved a niche in Singapore’s busy food scene. Both Rituals and Restaurant Born offer a similar brand promise – excellence, connections, and a deep respect for their roots.
Headquartered in Amsterdam, Rituals is one of the world’s leading wellness brands, with a wide range of products for home and personal use. ‘Happiness can be found in everyday moments’ is a belief that Rituals has held for the past 25 years. To mark this anniversary, Rituals has reimagined its beloved Amsterdam Collection. The collection’s iconic fragrance—a harmonious blend of Dutch tulips and vibrant yuzu—symbolizes the enduring connection between East and West. The collection pays homage to the many wellness practices and ancient rituals of Asia that have now been accepted around the world while celebrating Dutch heritage via creative expressions such as art and cuisine.
Rituals' Immersive Sensory Discovery experience at Restaurant Born went beyond showcasing its fragrant products—it invited guests to engage with them firsthand. A dedicated 'hand spa corner' offered a luxurious preview, allowing attendees to indulge in the collection's textures and scents even before the exquisite lunch began.
To mark the occasion, Chef Joris Bijdendijk, the Executive Chef of RIJKS® , a one Michelin-starred restaurant at the Rijksmuseum, brought Amsterdam-inspired dining to Singaporean shores. Here, he joined hands with his old friend, Chef Zor Tan, from one Michelin star Restaurant Born, and together they created culinary magic.
The setting was elegant, in hues of navy blue and white, an ode to the company’s Dutch heritage. After a few words by the company’s top executives, the feast began. Chef Joris brought with him a taste of Amsterdam by spotlighting ingredients such as the rare white asparagus, only found in a short season in Amsterdam. He presented it in a delicate tartlet, a flavour-packed bite that played a symphony in the mouth.
It was a perfectly orchestrated meal that hit its high point with another seemingly simple dish – a Beetroot Millefeuille. What looked like a piece of charcoal unravelled into delicate petals of beetroot, cooked so perfectly that the knife sliced through them like butter. Sitting in a Tomasu Beurre Blanc emulsion, the slightly sweet tinge of the pickled beetroot rounded off elegantly with the savoury mouthful of beurre blanc. Such was the perfection of this dish that despite being served an array of delicacies with chicken, monkfish and other star ingredients, the humble beetroot was the unanimous favourite amongst all.
For mains, the Dutch Sambal Chicken with rooster crest was a playful reminder of the Amsterdam Collection’s ‘East meets West’ theme. The chefs married the intense flavours of sambal with succulent and moist chicken, garnished oh-so-daintily with micro flowers. Another outstanding example of understated elegance.
The event buzzed with warmth and energy as guests connected across the table, engaging in heartfelt conversations that flowed as effortlessly as the courses being served. All the while, the atmosphere was elevated by the enchanting melodies of live violinists, whose performances added a layer of sophistication and emotion to the experience. As the gathering drew to a close, we departed not only with a sense of calm and wellbeing but also with a lingering touch of wonder thanks to Rituals—a reminder of the beauty found in shared moments and simple joys.
w. www.rituals.com.sg/collection/amsterdam.html
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