Glimpses of Holland - Good Eats

It's been a busy week, and it has taken me longer to get back to posting than I thought, but here we go.

Since doing Weight Watchers, and losing my baby weight, I try to be conservative with my diet, in order to keep that chub off, but when we go to Holland I say "alstublieft" or "yes, please" to every single cheese and chocolate passed my way. Let me tell you, in Holland, we eat alot!

When entertaining guests in Holland, it is important to recognize all the various times you eat various things. The routine differs significantly from the US or Australia. Here's how it goes:

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Breakfast - one or two pieces of open faced bread with cheese, sliced meat, jam, marmite, honey, etc

Coffee time (with cake)

Lunch - menu is same as breakfast

Afternoon tea

Paardentram (Literally, "Horse-tram", at 5:00 pm, the bell from the horse drawn tram would signify the start of Happy Hour) - wine and savory nibbles like cheese on crackers, pate, nuts and fruit, chips. Calling it Paardentram is something my husband's family does, but most Dutch people have drinks and nibbles at that time.

Supper with Dessert - a hot meal including meat and vegetables

8 PM Coffee with a cookie or cake (even if you just pushed back from a dinner table and dessert!)

9 PM Beer - If the guests linger, you bring out another round of savory and sweet things like nuts, chocolates, or fruit

11 PM Oprot Coffee "Leave my house coffee" When you are ready for your guests to leave, you say "would you like one last cup of coffee?" and that is the cue that they can accept, and then it is time to wrap things up.

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On a daily basis, not all Dutch people partake in all of these delights, but when you have guests in your home, it is important to cater for each one. Not to mention, the coffee must be right, and you should have about seven beverage options, including white, red, and rose wine, and several beer options at minimum.

For me, a middle class American marrying into a Dutch family, hosting was one of the biggest learning curves and I still do not do it the way a Dutch person would, but I at least understand what would be expected, and do my best!

So, when we are in Holland, we EAT AND EAT AND EAT, and it is all delicious! I so look forward to eating in Holland!

Remember all of those glass houses in my last post? Holland grows most of the fruit and veg eaten in Holland, in acres and acres of greenhouses. The agricultural and growing technology in Holland is really advanced and of course, their flowers are famous the world over.

The first day in Holland we popped into town and filled a basket with amazingly fresh, frangrant, and flavorful produce for fantastic prices. This brocolli was amazing.

We were lucky to be in Holland during berry season. We ate berries and cream nearly every night. In Australia, a punnet of raspberries that same size costs 8$ most of the year. Eating them by the bowlful was the ulimate indulgence!

Here is a look at our Paardentram spread one night. Salmon spread on crackers, cubed aged cheese, and a tropical fruit and nut mix.

Even the kids had their own little Paardentram table with funny cups, and some lollies.

I'm still a bit smushy around the edges after all that indulgence, but I don't regret a mouthful!

Comments

You sound quite blissfully smushy, actually. This post made me think of the old Pennsylvania Dutch saying, "Apple pie without cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze". Does that mean being smushy around the edges makes for better kisses? or something like that.

Seriously, what a learning curve. It brings to my memory the look of polite perplexity (or disbelief?) when my dear Korean friend asked me to introduce her to a normal American meal. We have so much to learn and respect about other food cultures!

Thanks for sharing all these beautiful peeks into your visit!

Posted by: quietstream | 11 August 2012 at 12:34 AM