Memorable Meals: Episode 8, Food for the Student's Soul

People always ask me how I managed to combine a university career with a family. How did I get the energy to travel an hour to Leiden every day, prepare for classes, write papers and still have enough time to be a mom? Well, first of all, it was something I chose. I wanted to know everything about the Netherlands because speaking the language just wasn’t enough. In five years I became what you would call an ‘expert’ on the country. I studied its literature (yes, I did actually read Vondel) and history, and I majored in its art. Of course, it was challenging, but it was also very rewarding and fascinating.
Looking back upon my years at Leiden University, I can honestly say that it was one of the most fulfilling times in my life. The fact that I could juggle the career of a student and parent was not only due to motivation, but also to the support of my husband Hans. On Wednesdays he had the day off, which always meant that I would come home to a clean house smelling of the most delicious cooking aromas. After long seminars and with brains as fried as a basket of chicken nuggets, this was a treat I eagerly looked forward to.
Hans, a great cook, would prepare things like Dutch-style pancakes, Kirstie’s favorite. We always ate the first ones with bacon and after that, we topped our pancakes as we wished. There was always a bag of crisp salad, just for me, because believe it or not, I love my pancake with peanut butter, sweet chilli sauce and a mountain of crunchy greens!
Sometimes Hans would cook vegetarian pasta with a hearty olive sauce, tagliatelle and creamed spinach. It was such comfort food then, and it still is now. His pasta is like my mom’s lentil soup and tuna salad: one of a kind. I can try to recreate these dishes myself, but they will never taste as good as the ones they make.
The ultimate treat was when Hans would make us his specialty dish:  lemon and rosemary chicken wings with roast potatoes. Now I don’t mean to brag, but no one can make chicken like Hans. Those wings are so tasty, so perfectly glazed with those lemony juices and so darn wonderful! I guess the saying is indeed true: it does take a tough man to make a tender chicken! His roast potatoes are crispy on the outside and could probably put Nigella (the roast potato queen) to shame.
Those meals and the love they were made with fed my soul. They fuelled me through piles of books and endless hours in front of the computer. They were memorable meals, it was a memorable time and I was a very spoiled and lucky student.



Truffle in a Jar

I once ate at a lovely restaurant in Naarden where I was served a delicious egg salad with tiny specks of truffle.  The salad was served on thick slices of bread and was accompanied by smoked salmon and leafy greens.  I totally loved this combination and decided to recreate it for lunch last week.  
Since I couldn't get my hands on fresh truffle when the craving hit, I opted for one of those tiny truffles in a jar.  I had bought them in The Périgord last summer and hadn't used them yet.  Good thing. The truffles are not as good as the fresh ones, of course but they worked fine in this dish. Yummy!

Memorable Meals: Episode 7, Fish in Volendam

Summer came very early this year. I’ve told you about that before and about the fact that I am definitely not complaining! Fortunately, the beginning of the warm weather coincided with the Easter break. We had a few days off to do nice things as a family. Something which I very much enjoy.

Some days we went for long walks in the dunes and forests. Other days we took little drives around the more scenic areas in the Netherlands. Of course, we also visited food markets and bought wonderful things for our first outdoor meals (always the highlight of the season).
One of the most memorable trips though, was a visit to the Dutch fisherman’s town of Volendam, located on the banks of the IJsselmeer. We’ve been there before and I have loved it from the very first time. It’s always bursting with tourists so whenever you walk through the boardwalk, you hear every language and see every culture imaginable. What I love most is the authenticity of the town and its quaint, tidy little houses. One thing I always have to wonder is how the people who live there can remain friendly when they have masses of tourists walking by their front door every day.
We’ve eaten in Volendam a few times and each time has been lovely. As expected, the fish there is excellent, and for a fish lover like myself, that only means one thing- seafood paradise! Volendam is particularly known for its smoked eel but you can also enjoy traditional Dutch herring with onions or stop for a basket of fried fish to go.
That’s exactly what we did during our last trip, and what a memorable meal it was! We decided to stop at a small fish shop for a treat and a drink. The shop is located within close proximity to the tiny beach at the end of the touristic part of the boardwalk and you can order your fish to go or eat it at the small bar inside. There was enough room to sit, so we sat at the bar and had a glass of Spanish rosé while we waited for our order. In the meantime, there was lots of cheerfulness going on around me in the form of excited tourists coming in and out of the shop or stopping by and debating whether or not they wanted to eat there. Too bad for the ones who just walk on by!
Kirstie and I ordered a basket of fried shrimp and calamari and Hans had kibbeling (nugget-sized bits of fried cod). What joy when our food arrived! Steaming hot, crisp and smelling fresh like the ocean! Just the look of those plump, little shrimp and the golden rings of calamari had my tastebuds exploding before I even took the first bite! Seriously, this was some of the best fried fish I ever had, and the garlic sauce that I ordered on the side was also fantastic. I don’t think I’ll be walking past this place the next time we go to Volendam. In fact, I’m very hungry after writing all of this and thinking back to that meal, so as far as I’m concerned, that should be very soon!