AMSTERDAM… on two wheels!
The symbol of Amsterdam, without a doubt, is a bicycle, and the city itself - with an extensive network of bike lanes - seems to be created for the two-wheeler fans. On the other hand, a large network of water canals allows for sight-seeing by a Canal Bus, which stops at the city's most interesting sites. One of the most interesting places, at least for John Lennon fans, is the Hilton Hotel, where the famous photo of the artist and his wife, Yoko Ono, was taken. Dutch are beer lovers. Therefore, it is a good idea not only to have a beer in Amsterdam, but also to visit their beer museum in an old manufacturing plant and explore the secrets of the production process, hear interesting stories and taste the professionally cooled beverage.
Holland's culinary tradition consists primarily of simple and filling meals of peasants and fishermen. It is not as sophisticated as other European cuisines. One-pot meals, with potatoes, vegetables and meat are the most common. Chips are very popular here, served at any opportunity - for lunch, afternoon snack, or dinner. They are served with salt, covered in mayonnaise, ketchup or peanut sauce, and always sprinkled with onions. The Dutch are great connoisseurs of desserts, which are the crowning point of their dinner and often its most important part. Some oriental elements, the remnant of this country's colonial past, add variety to the Dutch cuisine. Ginger, nutmeg and cloves are commonly used, as the Dutch are big fans of Indonesian, Suriname or Chinese food.
Hutspot
Ingredients (Serves 4 people):
- 1 kg lean beef
- 3 sliced onions
- 3 sliced carrots
- 4 quartered potatoes
- 1 liter water
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
Boil salted water, add the beef, cover the pot and cook on low heat for about an hour. Add the vegetables and boil for 45 more minutes. Remove the meat from the pot and cut in thin slices, not allowing the meat to cool down too much. Mash the strained vegetables, add the butter, black pepper and adjust with salt. Mix all ingredients well. Put potatoes evenly on a plate, and then the meat on top of it.
Poffertjes
Ingredients (Serves 8 people):
- 200 g flour
- 350 ml milk
- 40 g butter
- 8 g fresh yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
Heat up milk to room temperature. Combine flour and salt, form a hole and pour yeast dissolved in a splash of milk, then add 2/3 of the remaining milk. Stir until smooth and thin. Add the remaining milk, keep stirring. Cover the mixture with a moist cloth and put aside for an hour in a warm place. Brush the pan thoroughly with butter and pour the batter to create small pancakes. Fry on both sides until golden brown. Serve hot with butter and powdered sugar.
