To some, oysters are a slimy goodie of sea snot, to others a luxury item preferred to be consumed with a glass of bubbles. But have oysters always been a status object? People have been eating oysters for centuries. Even as far back as prehistoric times. Not very surprising. After all, oysters are not very […]
Cultural spirits: Toasting to Identity
Sharing feelings of pride or a sense of connection with others regarding specific cultural aspects of society is common all over the world. A particular example comes to mind quite close to home: Italian cuisine is a divine part of the day-to-day life of many Italians, and each region or city has its own rules […]
Japanese Curry: How a British Navy staple inspired one of Japan’s most beloved dishes
Japan loves their curry! In fact, they love curry so much that, according to government research, the Japanese eat 10 billion plates of curry a year. That comes down to two plates a week per person. It is fair to say the dish is popular, coming in as the second most eaten dish in Japan. […]
Exploring the Tradition of Table Sour at “De Leeuw” Sour Store
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 […]