In the spring of 2023, sommelier Joni Sloesen opened SOBER in his grandparents’ former ceramics factory on Venloseweg in Tegelen. The unique gastronomic concept combines his three passions: wine, gastronomy, and sustainability. SOBER is more than a restaurant: it also includes an urban vineyard, winery, and vegetable garden. Together with chef Peter Bogema, they cook according to a pure and local principle. About 85 percent of the ingredients come directly from the surrounding area; what does not come from their own garden is carefully selected from producers in the region.
SOBER operates a zero waste policy and adheres to the 80-20 rule: mainly vegetables, supplemented with meat or fish from Dutch waters and hunting grounds. The wine list also follows this sustainable philosophy: exclusively European wines, with a prominent role for Sloesen’s own label ZAVEL, made from grapes from Tegelen and the Pfalz. In this way, SOBER demonstrates how local and sustainable dining can be an experience.
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