Meo’s Colosseum: The hidden gem of Amsterdam Oud West

Interview by Sharaf Aqeel

Meo’s Colosseum is an authentic Surinamese/Caribbean restaurant in Oud West that tends to go unnoticed by the average Amsterdammer. As of July 2021, Meo’s Colosseum joined hands with streetwear brand Patta and they have been moving forward together ever since. We sat down with owner Shirley Touw Ngie Tjouw to talk about her journey from living in the streets of Paramaribo, Suriname to running a neighbourhood gem with a loyal following.

You’ve been running Meo’s for well over 20 years now. Could you tell us about where you grew up and how you came to open Meo’s Colosseum?

I grew up in Paramaribo until the age of 14. From 12 to 14 I was living on the streets until I managed to come to Amsterdam in 1973. 

I didn’t actually open this place. In 1999, this used to be my brother’s bar called Colosseum. Unfortunately, my brother passed away 3 months after buying the place and I was the only person with a license that could take over Colosseum at the time so I felt obligated and honoured to not only continue the business, but also rename it after my brother Meo.

Did you always plan to turn it into a kitchen?

Not at all actually. My son fell ill around 2002 and asked me to cook for him. I usually never cooked for my kids but he kept asking and saying he knew I make good food. So one day I made him a meal, it was Mother’s Day if I remember correctly. From then on he told me he wanted me to cook for him every day.

For the next six years, I let other people run Meo’s Colosseum while I cared for my son. By the time he passed away, the place had racked up a lot of debt but I didn’t care. I sat down on this couch every day, looking at my son’s picture, thinking to myself “What can I do to turn this place back around?” I could either sink deeper into the hole I was in, or I could send everyone home and work day and night to pay off all the bills.

Thinking back to how much my son enjoyed my food, I figured I’d try to continue cooking here at Meo’s to honour my son and see how it would turn out.

Could you describe your relationship with food and how you perceive it?

Back in Suriname, food is everything. You eat almost 24 hours a day.

Once I realised that I make people happy with my food, I made that my priority. It doesn’t matter whether I like what I’m doing or not because I do everything with my heart and I do it with love.

I believe food is the bridge to happiness because if you think about it when you’re sad or angry, you don’t have an appetite. Maybe you eat to distract yourself but you don’t properly enjoy your

food. So for people to have a proper meal, there must be some level of happiness there somewhere and vice versa. 

Looking back at your whole journey, how do you feel about where you are now and where do you see yourself taking Meo’s Colosseum in the future?

I’m 64 you know! I never look back and I don’t think about the future either. I only think about the here and now. I am and that’s it, everything will be what it is meant to be. I wouldn’t say I have a specific goal for Meo’s but I think now is the time to spread the love of Meo’s. This place has existed for too long and has too much goodness for it to be tucked away in a small street. 

Even if one day Meo’s Colosseum isn’t here anymore, people must remember it. My brother still lives and walks among us as long as Meo’s Colosseum is here, and through the food I am honouring my son’s wishes. After all, he’s the reason I started cooking in the first place. Ever since I stepped foot in the kitchen, nobody has wanted me out!

What would you say your highest and lowest points were throughout all those years?

I only think about being in the moment. I can’t tell you what my highest point was but I know I’m probably not there yet. Despite everything I’ve been through, I only believe in getting bigger and better. It doesn’t matter how you do it but the only way is up. You have to believe it deep down in your heart and give yourself lots of love.

Every day, I start my morning by standing in the shower and telling the water that I want to feel like the seven colours of the rainbow. Then I bring that energy to work and spread it to the people.

Do you think that energy is what makes Meo’s Colosseum special?

I think Meo’s is special because I don’t care who comes in and sits. When I first started cooking, my food wouldn’t sell so much so I ended up giving away all the food to the homeless people in the area. The next thing I know, there would be homeless people waiting outside every night at 1 o’clock. I started giving my mother the responsibility of giving away my leftover food to the homeless until the business grew because the neighbours used to always complain about the noise they made outside. This is why everybody is welcome at Meo’s until today. 

Is there a message you’d like to spread to anyone reading this?

Love is everything, and everything is love. I don’t have a message but this is a quote I think everyone should live by. Love is free, everybody can feel it and everybody can have it. Once you finish that journey within yourself, you will find love and spread it around.