Walking through the south of Amsterdam, one might stumble upon this hidden gem; a jar of pickles in a store window. Looking through the storefront, you realise there are pickles and pickled vegetables everywhere: in jars, in big open bins and you see them being sold over the counter. “Why are there so many pickles […]
Spanish leftovers: the tradition of eating hutspot in Leiden
Imagine: the year is 1574, the sun is rising in the Dutch city of Leiden and people are slowly waking up. The Netherlands was embroiled in a war, which would later be called the Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648), against the Spanish. The seventeen Dutch provinces had rebelled against their Spanish ruler because they had different […]
Save the turtles! Turtle soup and elitist gluttony
You may have seen videoclips of baby turtles that have just hatched making the dangerous journey across sandy beaches to the ocean. After this ordeal has been survived, dodging predators such as crabs and birds, it’s not all smooth sailing for the green sea turtle. Tiger sharks are considered to be the main predator threatening […]
Timeless Terraces, or Are They?
When strolling through Utrecht on a sunny day, or really any other Dutch city, you will see one thing more than anything else: terraces flooded with people, enjoying the sun, and more often than not, a refreshing alcoholic drink. I find myself in this position a lot as well, chatting away with friends, and looking […]
How a Cookbook helped to improve Farmer’s rights in California
In the past few years, Dutch farmers have been protesting against the new nitrogen laws. Through consistent appearances across both traditional and social media platforms, they have garnered significant public attention, resulting in widespread support from much of the public. But how could you get the attention and the support of the people without those […]
FEBO: From Family Kitchen to Amsterdam Icon
A few years ago, a friend of mine moved to the Ferdinand Bolstraat, a lively street in the neighborhood ‘De Pijp’ in Amsterdam. I was having dinner with him when he started telling me a story about one of the most famous snack bars in the Netherlands, FEBO. “Did you know that the name FEBO […]
Pouring Culture: The Art of Soju and Drinking with Koreans
“Because I suffer from diarrhea caused by heat, I therefore am always taking soju. One day, Yi Sunam came [to me] drunk. While I was chatting with him, I offered him a couple of cups of soju, and I did not expect that it would result in this [his death], so I await your Majesty’s […]
A Peculiar Kind of Cutlery: Salad Cutlery from Whale Baleen
Did you ever see cutlery made from an animal? From a real animal, not those engraved Miffy forks and spoons you got when you were younger. You have probably seen various types of cutlery in a museum: spoons, forks, knives, glasses, plates or dishes, made from gold or silver. Well, this cutlery is made from […]
“Man-Pleaser Salads from the Knox Gelatin Kitchens:” Gendered Gelatin
Most Americans will have consumed the sweet gelatin-based dessert “Jell-O” at least once in their lifetime. This ubiquitous and nostalgic all-American dessert comes in a rich variety of colors and flavors, most are fruit flavored, but there is also a wide variety of puddings. Gelatin, then, in this context is a product that connotates “sweetness” […]
Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk: Oatly’s Answer Is to Do Good
Earlier this year, a report by Good Food Institute (GFI) and NielsenIQ revealed that the Dutch consume the most plant-based products per capita in Europe. Even though plant-based meat has the biggest share in the category, plant-based milk sales have experienced a significant growth of 14% since 2020. As a country where people have been […]