ZINE
#606 July/Aug 2013
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Contents
chair/ “captain’s log” Page 6 events/ “britsoc calendar” P events/ “friday social” Page 10 summer/ “summer sizzler” report/ “family cricket” Page 2 report/ “farewell stephen” Pa letter/ “rev john cowie” Page 3 food/ “nick’s nosh” Page 32 food/ “spanish tortilla” Page 4 food/ “gemistá” Page 44 arts/ “poetry” Page 46 feature/ “just arrived” Page 49
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Colophon >
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ZINE
EDITORIAL
ISSUE # 606
EDITOR IN CHIEF Alison Smith | editor@britsoc.nl EDITORIAL BOARD Ian Cherington | ifcherington@hetnet.nl Dave Thomas | info@nstranslations.nl John Richardson | webeditor@britsoc.nl Stephen Huyton | shuyton@thermopatch.nl
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING SALES Zetterij Jan van den Berg | ieee25qr@kpnmail.nl
PUBLISHING
PUBLISHED BY John Richardson | JohnTheCopywriter.com FLIP MAGAZINE PUBLISHING PLATFORM www.issuu.com PUBLISHED ON www.wordpress.org
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND FEEDBACK Alison Smith | editor@britsoc.nl www.britsoc.nl/
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The new captain’s log: entry #1 Stardate July/Aug 2013
Before you leave Captain Stephen, do you have any more advice for me. Britsocions can be so...illogical. I think it’s logical Mr Spockington that you now lead a new generation into that big bonfire night in the sky with your first captain’s log entry.
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I
am very happy and honoured to take on the role of representing you as Chairman of our Society.
Though we have tried, I do not think that we can sufficiently thank Stephen for all of his efforts in the past 10 years. He will still be very much involved in steering the club, so I am especially happy to be working with him and am relying on his experience. It makes it all a lot less scary for me. Take it to warp 6 With a change of the guard, comes a shift in momentum and we are already experiencing that with great new developments. The website and Zine have taken off in a way we could not have predicted and this will be the basis of a new energy in the society. Switch on the energy boosters I hope to channel that energy and focus our efforts into doing what we do well: organising good events for our members. Giving priority to the regular sports and social activities and the big annual attractions, the Ball, Ceilidh, Bonfire Night and Blind Date, I believe that if we continue to make those unique and special to our members, we can prosper. Expanding our universe The success of these events makes us attractive to our ever growing network (we now send our Zine to over 4000 people!) and I hope to use that potential for the benefit of our members. The first example being a very successful High Tea, sponsored by Timothy Oulton and FREE to members. New stars wanted With change we must accept some farewells. Our committees have changed personnel considerably in the last months and we thank all those who have done so much. New energy means new chances and we are looking for new faces to fill important roles in the organisation. Most urgently we need an Events Coordinator and a Communications Officer, both of whom will perform central roles in the new age of BritSoc. Plans for our “biggies” this year are well in place. The Firework Night is planned and the necessary licences are already approved. The Christmas Ball is fixed, theme decided, but we still need to choose the flavour of the ice cream. Still, we have some time to go and need help in turning the plans into reality. So please volunteer to help us. An email to me (Stephen’s old address) is all it takes. Hello Goodbye My first official function as Chairman will be to say farewell to the British Ambassador Paul Arkwright, who will leave us at the end of June. I would like to thank him on your behalf for all his considerable support during his term here. I wish him all the best. I am sure that his successor will be a great asset to us too and look forward to introducing him to you. A summer sizzler From one big issue to the next….this is the summer edition of Zine and will cover the months of July and August. Warm weather (?) and holidays are the focus for the next weeks, so we will be back after the school holiday period with a new Zine in September. I wish you all safe travels and a restful holiday season.
Ian Cherington Chairman chair@britsoc.nl
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BritSoc Social and Sports Calendar
JUlY (AUG)
For August calendar go to http://www.britsoc.nl/the-all-in-one-calendar/ SATURDAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
00
00
01
Golf 8.00
Golf 8.00 Soft Tennis 16.00
Daytime Badminton 13.00 to 14.00
06
07
08
Golf 8.00
13 Golf 8.00
Soft Tennis 16.00
Daytime Badminton 13.00 to 14.00
14
15
Golf 8.00 Soft Tennis 16.00
Daytime Badminton 13.00 to 14.00
20
21
22
Golf 8.00
Golf 8.00 Soft Tennis 16.00
Daytime Badminton 13.00 to 14.00
28
29
27
Golf 8.00 Britsoc Sailing Kaag 12:00.
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Golf 8.00
Golf 8.00 Soft Tennis 16.00
Daytime Badminton 13.00 to 14.00
Activity Contact Details:
Social Fridays is Tracey Taylor. Email: socialfridays@hotmail.com Soft tennis is Sharron Reed. Email: s.j.reed@xs4all.nl Bridge is Ruth and Art Max. Email: ruthmax84@yahoo.com Squash is Paul Huxley. Email: prhuxley@gmail.com Scottish Country Dancing. Email: Margaret.Lambourne@ziggo.nl Tennis is Geoff Dudley. Email: see www.britsoc.nl/the-all-in-one-calendar/
Scottish Country Dancing Group
Under the expert guidance of Margaret Lambourne, a qualified SCD teacher, Thursday evenings are spent dancing to the strains of Celtic tunes. Swirling in circles or forming up squares, lines or long sets, we learn everything from the proper steps and figures in jig, reel and strathspey time. We change partners for each dance, so you can come on your own and find a partner there. The music and the dancing make you happy, and it’s great exercise, too! And what a bargain, just 3 euros per session! Sessions are held in the British School hall on Anthonie van Dijckstraat in Oud Zuid, from 7:30 to 9 pm.
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
02
03
04
05
Squash 19.30 Tennis 20.00
09
Squash 19.30 Tennis 20.00
16
Squash 19.30 Tennis 20.00
23
Squash 19.30 Tennis 20.00
30
Squash 19.30 Tennis 20.00
Playgroup 11.00 Badminton 20.00
Scottish dancing 19.30-21:00 Bridge Night 19.30
Fundraiser Sessions 14.00-17:00
10
11
12
Playgroup 11.00 Badminton 20.00
Bridge Night 19.30 Scottish dancing 19.30-21:00
Social Friday @ The Tara 21.00-24:00
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18
19
Playgroup 11.00 Badminton 20.00
24 Playgroup 11.00 Badminton 20.00
31
Bridge Night 19.30 Scottish dancing 19.30-21:00
25 Scottish dancing 19.30-21:00 Bridge Night 19.30
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For August Calendar see
www.britsoc.nl/the-all-in-one-calendar/
Playgroup 11.00 Badminton 20.00
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Social Friday Fr
| @The Tara 21 http://www.thetara.com/nld/
Friday 12th July & Friday 9th Aug No attendance list or Britsoc membership required—so just show up! Sean Jansen
http://www.britsoc.nl
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rom 1:00
|
events/
Venue: Rokin 85-89, 1012KL Amsterdam Trams: 4,9,14,16,24 and 25 tramstop Rokin. Contact: Tracey Taylor Email: socialfridays@hotmail.com
This venue is a well known bar amongst the expats.
This Irish bar has an interesting variation of rooms mixing from a trendy modern bar to the classic leather armchair corners and fireplaces. We will meet in the far end of the pub where the rear bar area is exiting to the Nes street entrance. Look out for Stephen near the bar wearing a bright red shirt. Social Fridays is a great opportunity to meet new people or catch up with friends - all welcome.
No attendance list, so just show up!
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health/
At last I’ve found my
Shangri-La in Amsterdam
No time for a vacation? Stressed? Want to chill out and relax? Then let me tell you about Amsterdam’s best-kept secret. Page 15
Spa Zuiver is just mind bogglingly awesome I don’t normally succumb to adjectives, but I make an exception this time. You have to go there to see what I mean, but this really is an oasis of self pampering, taken to sumptuous new heights.
I
was there last week with a friend for a couple of hours to test the waters, and the steam, and I have to say:
“
This is sauna heaven.
It made me feel like a Greek God. (Except I couldn’t find any staff willing to peel my grapes as I lay on the waterbed. My how times have changed.) Page 16
And it’s huge. Bigger than my ego. No…really…this is massive. They have about ten different themed saunas (wood burning, Finnish, infrared, music, etc) plus steam rooms, floatation rooms, relaxation rooms, hot tubs and a hammam. They even have a quiet room upstairs where I sank and sank and sank into a huge ball until every pore, every fibre of my being let out a contented sigh! It just goes on and on and on… and out into the zenthemed garden. Where we laid as nature intended on
health/
“
By John Richardson
It made me feel like a Greek God.
reclining chairs with a cold beer under dark clouds, and imagined how amazing this must be if it was sunny. Every detail has been so well thought through to help you relax and unwind. This really is a spectacular way to get that healthy glow back into your body. Especially if you like standing under a 50ft ice-cold waterfall after a 95 degree sauna. They have spent serious money on making it just right. Perfect in fact. I was utterly blown away by the whole experience. If you are unsure about being naked then try it
out on Bikini Tuesday. Please note: Swimwear is required on Tuesday. The price is reasonable at €9.75 per hour for most of the services. Daily rate - € 27.50 Mon Sun - 1 June till 30 Sept. You may wish to bring your own slippers and two towels (one for wet usage and one after shower). Otherwise they are available for an additional charge.
The kitchen is open from 10:00 to 21:00. Special opening hours: July 12: open from 10.00 to 17.00. Due to the shortened opening day you can receive a 50% discount. Special July/Aug Promo Address: Koenenkade 8, 1081 KH Amsterdam
Opening Hours:
Phone: 020 301 0710
Daily from 10:00 to 23:00 (entrance until 21:00).
www.spazuiver.nl Page 17
Amsterdam’s City Beaches
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H
ead for the beach without leaving the city! Urban beaches are a trend that just keeps growing, and Amsterdam is no exception. With a variety of city beaches - including one on top of a building overlooking the city - Amsterdam offers a refreshing twist on the traditional sun and sand experience during the summer.
City sand
Strand West is open all year round, though the outdoor activities only get going when the sun shines. Located on a broad sandy expanse with a panoramic view of the IJ, you can laze in a hammock, sip a cocktail, snack on tapas or play a game of beach volleyball. On the opposite side of the city, Blijburg aan Zee is a huge stretch of sand located in the new IJburg district on the eastern edge of Amsterdam. It’s one of the few city beaches where you can actually swim, and has a bohemian vibe, with loungy cafés offering drinks and snacks. In the evening, you might find campfires, DJs or even live bands. Blijburg kicks off this summer season this year on 5 May (Liberation Day).
Hip & trendy
Hidden behind the RAI Convention Centre, it’s hard to imagine a more unlikely location for a beach! Strand Zuid is made up of a collection of cafés and restaurants connected by a boardwalk and strips of sand. If you’re spending the day on the water, you can even tie up your boat near Strand Zuid. Relax in the lounge chairs, sip cold drinks and sample great food as DJs play the decks. Strand Zuid is one of the first city beaches to open each year, and in 2013 they will open their doors to the public in the last week of April.
Floating swimming pool
Located near the Rivierenbuurt neighbourhood, BadBuiten (website in Dutch) is the first floating pool in the Netherlands. BadBuiten is a small pool, but makes for a great day out with the kids and offers magnificent views over the Amstel River. In front of the pool you’ll find a large terrace where you can have a drink or some snacks. During the summer season, BadBuiten is open is open on weekdays from 16:00 to 22:00, and from 11:00 to 23:00 at the weekend. Weather permitting, BadBuiten is scheduled to open again in the beginning of May.
Amsterdam from above
Science Centre NEMO is a massive green boat-like structure in the centre of Amsterdam. BovenNEMO (literally meaning on top of NEMO) is located on its unmistakable sloping roof, offering some of the most spectacular views of the city centre. There you can enjoy a fun day with the family, with lots of activities especially for the kids. In 2013, BovenNEMO is open from 27 June to 4 September, from 12:00 to 19:00 daily. Entrance is free of charge.
Take a dip in the pool
If the sun is beating down and you’re desperate to swim, there are also two large outdoor swimming pools in the city that make for an excellent day out with the kids. Located next to the Flevopark, the Flevoparkbad offers a 50-metre pool for swimming laps, plus a shallow pool for smaller children. The Flevoparkbad is open this year from 28 April to 2 September, from 10:00 to 17:30 each day. The Mirandabad is another great outdoor option, also featuring a 50-metre pool and a wading pool for the kids. The pool is surrounded by a park with plenty of space to spread out your towel and catch some rays. Indoors, the Mirandabad is a children’s paradise with a wave pool and long twisty slide. The outdoor area is open in 2013 from 1 May to 31 August. The indoor pool is open year-round. Source: http://www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/experience/what-to-do/activities-and-excursions/city-beaches
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British Language Training Centre
bltc
English & Dutch Courses Teaching English (TEFL) www.bltc.nl Tel. 020 622 3634
40 years of graphic experience All graphic and printing services Professional assistance with all your printing demands Or teliusstraat 362hs, 1056 PV AMSTERDAM Tel: 020 6275025 / 06 27305428 E-mail: ieee25qr@kpnmail.nl Member of The British Society of Amsterdam
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International Family Cricket Netherlands v South Africa A thrilling International match with the friendly family feel of a village cricket green
“
The final five overs of South Africa’s innings produced 98 runs. A total of 16 boundaries, including 12 sixes, were hit in those latter overs by J P Duminy (150) and Francois Du Plessis (62). South Africa finally finished on 341 for 3. Netherlands finished on 257 for 9.
South Africa’s Peterson and Amla walk out to do battle with the Dutch
FRI 31 MAY, 2013, VRA CRICKET CLUB, AMSTELVEEN—What a wonderful day’s cricket at the beautiful VRA cricket ground here in Amstelveen. I initially sat with a young chap called Chris from South Africa who just happened to know half the team. Particularly J P Duminy, who had only just returned to cricket after a long injury spell. According to Chris he trained on a local South African beach for months with his new girlfriend to get his injured Achilles heal back
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to match fitness. I’ve had a similar injury and I can tell you it takes a long time to fully recover. And there is always that worry that it may snap again. So I was absolutely delighted for the young Duminy that he scored a remarkable 150 runs on this, his return debut. Chris was such an entertaining fellow that I decided to spend the rest of the day with him, watching what turned out to be one of those great games of cricket. One that you feel honoured to have witnessed. Thankfully, I came prepared for the blazing sun and wore my large orange hat. Otherwise my face would have turned as red as those Kookaburra cricket balls zipping past the noses of the brave Netherland’s batsmen.
Taking your son to a cricket match is always a memorable occasion. And what a terrific family atmosphere. Britsoc ZINE writer Dave Thomas and his son Luc found the setting intimate and relaxing. They sat near the pavilion on park benches next to the girlfriend of one of the players. The effect was of watching an International game with the friendly family atmosphere of a village cricket green. Young Luc was delighted and thrilled to be able to see the teams warm up before the game. This gave him a sense of closeness to the players. Watching the game live was a great thrill for Luc and certainly not a moment he will soon forget. It also helped him learn more about the rules of the game, and how the mysterious
cricket/
scoreboard worked. He was also very excited about the all the 4s and 6s that South Africa scored. There were a lot of other children near Luc so he sometimes went off with to play an informal game of ‘children’s cricket’ on the side. After the game a happy, smiling Luc had his cricket bat signed by many players from both teams. Something that would have been much harder at large international grounds like Lords or the Oval. South Africa super happy with the training facilities at the VRA cricket club. The relaxed and laid back atmosphere at the VRA cricket ground in Amstelveen was also why the South African team chose to play here. They arrived a few days earlier to warm up for the upcoming ICC Champions
Trophy in the UK. They were so happy with the training facilities, and the crucial fact that nobody bothers them in Amstelveen or Amsterdam, that they have recommended to other International teams to come to VRA to warm up before playing in the UK. Normally players of this level need bodyguards and are always surrounded by crowds of fans. Not so in Amstelveen. They could freely wander around the woods near the ground without being bothered. And even venture into Amsterdam without being besieged by fans. FULL MATCH REPORT: http://www. britsoc.nl/south-africa-versusnetherlands/ by John Richardson, Dave Thomas & Son
Why not give cricket a try? BritSoc supporter, Grant Holton, is heavily involved in organising Cricket Events, which are suitable for the whole family. There is an organised Cricket Clinic where participants get a brief introduction of the game of cricket. They are split into groups and each group are guided by a couple of Qui Vive cricket club members who explain and train them on various aspects of the game, like Batting, Bowling, Fielding, Throwing and Catching in rotation. After performing an activity for 15-20 minutes, each group shifts to the next station for a different action. The routine continues until each group has visited all the training stations around the ground. After a while, 2 teams play a game and put the theory into practice on a cricket pitch.
Afterwards there is a curry or BBQ. Folk are encouraged to come for the clinic and curry/BBQ or just join in for the food. Grant summed it up like this, “What we are aiming for is a social expat meeting point where families can meet, enjoy a curry, and have a drink while the kids run around” The next event with be a social curry event on 18th August The cricket clinic will be a regular event as well as monthly curries, The cost per person will be €15 for Curry (veg/non-veg and Fish option) and €20 euros for Clinic and food. More details can be found on www.ccquivive.nl www.facebook.com/quivivecc. by Grant Holton
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The British Photographer in Amsterdam
WEDDINGS
PORTRAITS
CHILDREN’S PORTRAITS
EVENTS
FINE ART
Starting July 2013: Exclusive rates for Britsoc members Call 06 83 94 35 52 for more information or email me on benjaminarthur@gmail.com
www.benjaminarthur.com
Timeless. True. You.
Benjamin.indd 2
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17/06/2013
ISA campus, main entrance
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Setting the stage. At ISA, we believe that great facilities can set the stage for great learning. ISA is housed in a space specially designed for international education. And inspiration. Our facilities include a four-floor library/media center, a 400-seat theatre, science labs and specialist studios for music, art, and drama. More than 400 computers are joined in a school-wide, online network. Students work with laptops and iPads in the classroom. Two state-of-the-art gyms, discovery oriented playgrounds and adjacent playing fields are large, well equipped and secure. ISA’s campus is not a luxury. It’s where ideas are born.
Exciting and developing young minds Sportlaan 45 - 1185 TB Amstelveen - The Netherlands - Tel. +31 20 347 1111 - www.isa.nl
Taste Life!
Kingsalmarkt, the world-famous foodstore! We are known for our wide range of products from countries all over the world. ‘Taste life’ is what we call that. Visit us for your favourite American cornflakes, brownies and soups, British jams and honey, Mexican tortillas, Spanish tapas and ham, Italian coffee and pasta and French cheese. Of course you can pick up the rest of your groceries too.
Rembrandtweg 621, 1181 GV Amstelveen-noord, tel. 020 643 37 51 www.kingsalmarkt.nl info@kingsalmarkt.nl Easily reached by car (free parking) and public transport (5 or 51 tram to Kronenburg) Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9 am – 6 pm Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm
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By John Richardson
Stephen Huyton’s last stand (a cake stand). Tea Hee! I arrived at Timothy Oulton for high tea to celebrate both the Queen’s Birthday and Stephen Huyton’s last official engagement as the Britsoc chairman.
As the theme of Timothy Oulton is ‘useful antiques’ it is indeed fitting that, despite voicing the opposite and professing to wish to spend more time with his family, Stephen has been asked to become a board member of the British Chamber of Commerce once he steps off the good ship Britsoc. His ten years at the helm have not gone unnoticed and he will soon serve once again as a ‘useful chap’. As he navigates his way like an ancient mariner through the intricate seas of British business, let’s hope he doesn’t have to use some of the ancient and rusted navigational instrumentation that Timothy Oulton has turned into chandeliers. As I entered the store, with its two massive Union Jacks sweeping the
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pavement, I was met head on by a World War II yellow submarine floating in a giant fish tank; to my right hung a large framed black and white photo of a naked man skiing down a glacier; to my left a young chap in a bowler hat offered me champagne. As it was only 11am... I naturally accepted his thoughtful gesture. After all, it’s always Champagne O’Clock somewhere in the commonwealth. I was half expecting to be invited to play polo on top of an elephant. Looking relaxed and resplendent, with a pink jumper slung casually over his shoulders, there was an element of prep school style about Stephen that was matched only by the colourful high tea laid out in red, white and blue on a
“
A young chap in a bowler hat offered me champagne at 11am... Naturally I accepted. After all, it’s always Champagne O’Clock somewhere in the commonwealth.
report/
table whose timbers had been sourced from an ancient Viking longship. My favourite treats were the scones, tea served out of Charles and Diana china teacups, and the deliciously moreish union jack biscuits. Scrummy! Prior to Ian Cherington’s fun speech comparing Stephen with Her Majesty, we were taken on a quick tour upstairs to discover the handcrafted
wonders that make this store so eccentrically British: a dining table whose chair cushions are made from medicine balls; washed up timber from exotic beaches that has been set in perspex and turned into a coffee table; and possibly Stephen’s favourite, the Aviator chair: featuring aged aluminium finishes and a multi-riveted construction, inspired, we were told, by World War II Spitfires. I could almost hear the faint
strains of the Dambusters theme as Stephen sat in one of them. For a moment he was imagining himself diving out of the sun with his leather helmet and finger on the trigger ready to do battle once again. Which he will do. For now though, Britsoc’s Aviator hero has flown the nest. But he’ll not be forgotten. Stephen who…?
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Over 40 people came to wish Stephen well and thank him for his 10 years at the helm of the good ship Britsoc
The red, white and blue food was just scummy
Stephen’s favourite Aviator chair, inspired we were told by World War II Spitfires. Page 28
report/
If you are looking for a real World War II submarine for your fishtank (in yellow), I know just the man: Timothy Oulton Page 29
Farewell Letter from Reverend John Cowie Minister 1990 - 2013
Dear Friends,
The English Reformed Church, Begijnhof, Amsterdam
It is hard to know how to begin this final letter to you all. It’s now two months since my decision to accept the invitation to return to Scotland and accept the call to become minister of Stockbridge Parish Church in Edinburgh.
Our departure from Amsterdam is now just a month away, which fills me with sadness and some dread when I think of the farewells and the many loose ends that have yet to be dealt with. However, I still feel it is the right deci-sion and that Gill and I are being called to emigrate back to Scotland and begin a new phase of ministry. When it was announced in 1989 that we would travel to Amsterdam from Kirkcaldy, a local newspaper got wind of the story. They sent along their photographer and the photograph above appeared, along with a brief article a few weeks before we left under the heading: ’Going Dutch’. When Gill and I arrived with our children in January 1990 for our Dutch adven-ture, we did not
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realize then that it would last so long, that our children would grow up here, and in the course of time we would see them all return to the UK for further education and work. Nor did we have any idea in 1990 just how wonderful and blessed the time would be. Right from the start we were warmly welcomed into the community at the ERC. Together with the elders and deacons in the consistory I have enjoyed the support and encouragement of the congregation. We have had quite an adventure together over the years, welcoming thousands of visitors and encouraging not a few to stay and worship with us. As a result, we now have friends all over the world and it’s been a blessing to welcome them back on return
visits. I have tried to keep track of those who have come and gone, but it’s not an easy task. I can look back at almost four hundred baptisms, many weddings and funer-als, and I think of those who have come for confirmation and joined in the other activities we have shared over the years. On a little housekeeping note, knowing that I will be leaving soon, I’ve been asked recently for baptism certificates which have been lost during the years, or which by an oversight were never sent. Please get in touch with me if you can’t find yours or your child’s. The buildings of our congregation have been a constant challenge; we don’t worship in a church building with foundations from the 14th century without some
letter/ headaches. I know far more about buildings than I did before I came to Amsterdam —and so I want to pay tribute to all those who have worked so hard, and given so much, to keep them in good condition. That work continues, as you can read elsewhere in The Record. However, the building must always be seen as the place of the people worshiping and support-ing one another, and so I’m proud to have been able to contribute to the history of worship and fellowship in Amsterdam for so long. It has been my privilege to lead the worship in the ERC and be involved in many other activities over the many years. I have led services in a palace, in graveyards all over the Nether-lands, been a guest at countless functions reflecting many different cultures, enjoyed many meals, been welcomed to many homes in times of joy and also in times of sadness.
I have learned so much from many of you, about the world, about life, about suffering and how to deal with it, about joy and how to share it. In faith I have been stimulated and inspired by the studies we have shared. I have learned to depend on the members of Consistory and others to carry out the wide range of tasks which need to be done in order to let our congregation function, and even more to grow and to prosper in the way we have done. Through the work of the Presbytery of Europe, and because of our connection to the Mulanje Mission Hospital in Malawi, I think I must be one of the most widely travelled ministers around, and I have had the opportunity to be part of the growth of the Presbytery of Europe. I encourage you to depend on it, the ministers and elders of the other congregations, for support in the months and years to come. Church committees and courts
Amsterdam English Church
Begijnhof 48, 1012 WV Amsterdam
www.ercadam.nl Britain’s Queen Elizabeth marks mark the 400th wwwanniversary of Amsterdam’s English Reformed Church.
aren’t always the most pleasurable places to be, but I can say that I have enjoyed my experiences; well, most of them, anyway. We are blessed in our community with people from the widest possible range of cultures, of every age group and background, and Gill and I want to thank you all for your friendship and support over these years.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II signs the guest book in the English Reformed Church at Begijnhof in Amsterdam on Monday Feb. 5, 2007. On her first visit to the Netherlands since 1988, Elizabeth, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Dutch Queen Beatrix, background, attended a service at the English Reformed Church which, despite its name, is officially part of the Church of Scotland.
Gill and I have also had the opportunity of welcoming many people to our home over the years, and I have no doubt that this ministry of welcome will continue. You can be assured that we will carry you in our hearts and prayers when we leave and will look back on our years in Amsterdam as years of blessing and challenge and joy.
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NICK’S NOSH Nick’s Summer Food Calendar EVENT
DATE
TIME
LOCATION
Website
French Restaurant Week 1-14th July
Various
see website
http://bit.ly/1a6G05s
Pure Markt
Sun 14 July
11:00-18:00 Amstelpark
http://bit.ly/L0v5D
Neighbour Food Market
Sun 14 July
11:00-17:00 Westerpark
http://bit.ly/TGRLC8
Pure Markt
Sun 14 July
11:00-18:00 Park Frankendael http://bit.ly/L0v5D
Pure Markt
Sun 11 Aug
11:00-18:00 Amstelpark
http://bit.ly/L0v5D
Neighbour Food Market
Sun 18 Aug
11:00-17:00 Westerpark
http://bit.ly/TGRLC8
Pure Markt
Sun 25 Aug
11:00-18:00 Park Frankendael http://bit.ly/L0v5D
Britsoc food correspondent Nick Nugent Reporting from the four corners of the Amsterdam kitchen Assaggi, Taste 2013, Hot Wings, Down Under Page 33
Restaurant Review - Assaggi T
here are literally hundreds of Italian restaurants in Amsterdam so how do you pick a good one? I think we all have our own opinion about what makes a good Italian restaurant, whether it is a simple Trattoria or something a bit more fancy. If you are in the mood for something a bit fancier then let me tell you about what I consider to be a real gem. I was very lucky to arrange a table with 4 ladies for an evening at Assaggi. After a quite a number of months without finding a really good restaurant I had no expectations whatsoever about this place. On arrival, there in the window, is someone making fresh pasta, a very good start I thought. The restaurant is split into two sides; one with the bar and the other with only tables. We had a rather atmospheric seat at the back, on the bar side next to the lighted wall sculpture of the bottom of wine bottles. We were presented with the menu and specials by our wonderful waiter Maurizio who seemed to go about his job with enormous enthusiasm. I was determined, following what I had seen in the window, to try the fresh pasta, plus a main. There are only 3 standard pasta dishes on the menu, but you do have the choice of the pasta or ravioli of the day. The main course choice is a bit more extensive with 9 to choose from plus the special. You can also choose from the 3 or 4 course chefs menus for 35.50 and 45.50 euros respectively. Our party of 5 chose various different dishes from the menu, which gave me the chance to steal a little from everyone’s plate. The favourites of our party were the Melanzane, which was a very tasty combination of aubergine, tomato and mozzarella and my ravioli which was a beef filled pasta with a beef ragu. The ravioli was beautifully thin and cooked to perfection with a really meaty sauce and just enough as a portion that I could enjoy my main. Unfortunately both these starters were specials so, unless you are fortunate on the night that they do them again, you will have to come back for the lunch menu where Page 34
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the Melanzane is at least available.
Of the main courses most of the party took the Lamb with red wine sauce. This was very good and I was a little bit jealous as my Saltimbocca was good, but the San Daniele ham which it was served with was not quite to my taste. The lamb dish was really succulent and the red wine sauce a rich and tasty accompaniment. The initial bottle of Barbera D’Alba we took first was a bit thin and tasteless to work with the really flavoursome food. By the time the second course came we had moved onto a wonderfully velvety smooth and rounded Ripasso, which is one of my all time favourites. Dessert is not something I normally take, but with the quality of the food on offer I felt compelled to do so. There is one memory from my travels which is from a trip to Seattle in 2008. On the way home from dinner we had found an Italian restaurant to have a drink and maybe some dessert. The wine list of the restaurant had something like 1000 different wines. My friends decided to have the tiramisu, which has never been a popular choice for me, and we challenged the waiter to pick a matching wine. He came up with a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo which you may know as a red wine. It did however have the coffee, chocolatey flavour which matched the dessert perfectly. I thought that the Ripasso we had also had some of those elements which could match and I saved a glass to try with the tiramisu. It was exactly what you expect from a really good tiramisu; coffee, rich, creamy, slightly boozy and satisfying and I am pleased to say the wine matched pretty well. The ladies mostly went for the strawberry tiramisu, but in my opinion, the classic was much better. It is not often you can say that you were so impressed with a restaurant that you go back within a week. An opportunity presented itself 3 days later to visit Assaggi and I could
By Nick Nugent
not pass it up. I returned with 2 more friends and this time we had the risotto of the day which happened to be wild mushroom and the Lamb cooked with rosemary. I make a good risotto myself and more often than not I am disappointed by risottos produced by most italian restaurants. However this was great with a nice mixture of mushrooms and had a creamy, earthy flavour. The lamb was even better than the one my friends had. We had the same seat, Maurizio as our waiter and they even did not complain when I sent two of the 39 euro bottles of Ripasso back as they were not good. We even had one tiramisu between us for good measure! I am massively impressed with the food quality of this place, service and ambience. It possibly deserves 5 stars, but since there were a few things which were not quite excellent I cannot give it that accolade, just know it’s damn good! You should also try them for lunch when a simpler pasta and pizza menu is available, plus some of the evening courses we sampled. If you think that there is a Italian which could give this place a run for its money please let me know and I will check it out. Contact me at nicksnosh@hotmail.com. Assaggi Tweede Egelantierdwarsstraat Tel: + 31 (0) 20 420 5589 web: http://www.assaggirestaurant.nl/ Online reservations are available
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TASTE 2013 - FOUR DAYS OF FOOD, FUN AND SUN! H
aving been alerted to this festival through one of the various social media sites, I was determined to visit and check out the 15 restaurants that were exhibiting their cuisine. Attending the event were a number of places, which have been on my list to visit, and some others that I had not really targeted before. Taste festivals are worldwide, taking place in 13 countries in 18 different locations. This one is the 5th time it has happened in Amsterdam and I understand there are plans for a Christmas edition as well. If you are interested to know more about their events you can sign up for their newsletter: www. tastefestivals.com The entry fee for this event was 10 euros for a basic ticket and then to eat and drink inside you needed to buy Florijnen (which I think is the posh word for munten). Each restaurant had produced a number of signature dishes about the size of a starter, which were available for anything between 3-10 Florijnen (Fl). I like this sort of thing as it really gives you a chance to try many different things, which you would normally be able to do as you would have to eat at every restaurant represented. There was also some presentations in the taste theatre tent and you could also join wine tasting events in the wine and spirits theatre tent. I attended on the Sunday, which was great as the weather was sunny, but not so warm as to be uncomfortable. Alongside the event the organisers were holding a BBQ cooking competition, which was judged by Julius Jaspers and I was lucky enough to bump into him. I also arrived in time for the cooking presentation from Chris Naylor of the 1 Michelin starred Vermeer Restaurant. For those of you who remember the Christmas Ball he was again showing the fruit and vegetable sorbets he made for us using liquid nitrogen. It’s quite spectacular. Chris has also been confirmed to produce the food for the Christmas Ball this year, which will once again take place in St Olaf’s Chapel in the NH Barbizon Palace. I spent around 4 hours at the show, which was just about enough for me. However, to really
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get around everything you want at a leisurely pace you need to be there when it opens which gives you another couple of hours. I could not get around everything but I will give some of the highlights of what I tasted. Franklin Bar & Kitchen (Amstelveenseweg) - out of the three dishes on offer we tried the tuna ceviche which had a spicy, sweet and lime dressing. It was a good start. Kersentuin (Dijsselhofplantsoen) - In this pavilion we were able to try two of their dishes. 1. The first dish was a spring roll of lobster with marinated salmon and goats cheese salad. This was nice enough but a small portion for 5 Fl. the spring roll had a lack of filling and was also quite greasy. 2. The second we had was Lamb fillet, which had been sliced into nice portions, with a slow cooked lamb inside a croquette, which had a slight curry favour. Tomato, pea puree with mint and what I think was a cauliflower puree made up the accompaniments. This was lovely. Based on this I will definitely be trying the restaurant. Gastronomie Amsterdam Pavilion - represented 6 restaurants/chefs - Het Bosch, Elkaar, Julius (Jaspers), Lute, Aan Poel & Vis aan de Schelde. They had 6 dishes to try, which had all been agreed between these restaurants as representative of their style and the best they could do. It was very disappointing. We got a very small crab salad for 7 Fl and some lekkerbek fish on a stick for 5 Fl. This was the worst value and also not the best food we had all day. Kumars curries was giving away free portions of dishes made with their spice mixtures which could be bought on the day. The Tandoori Lamb had a very nice flavour, although not quite authentic tandoori. Wijnkoperij Okhuysen in the large central pavilion delivered the best wine we had on the day which was a Poully Fumé. The Italian Pavilion delivered probably the best value on the day. Apart from the spicy Pollo
alla Diavola al forno which was straight from the kitchens of one of my favourite Italian restaurants in Amsterdam, Incanto, we found an Italian wine tasting for 2 Fl. Since it was the end of the show they were getting rid of the stock so we had six nearly full glasses of wine plus an additional full glass of the one we liked the most. It was a little bit of a rush at the end to try to fit them all in, but we did it in the end. So heading home, slightly wobbly, what was the overall impression? It is really impossible to taste everything, so you really had to aim at your top choices. We avoided Fifteen, IZAKAZA, The Harbour Club and MOMO since we had already been there. I am happy to share my opinion of these with you if you wish. You can contact me at nicksnosh@ hotmail.com. There was also The Butcher, the upmarket burger joint on Albert Cuyp, which we missed, but this is on my radar for a burger feature in a future column. It was also quite expensive in the end. I parted with 150 euros for 4 hours of entertainment. I am not sure whether one of the other tickets with Fl included would have been more value, so I will need to look into that in a future event. It seems like these food events are becoming a bit like the new Woodstock, but for the middle and upper classes. There are many projects and messages around food these days and I think that this allows us be happy about what we are eating, to feed our soul with good vibes that by spending this money we are somehow helping the environment or a particular cause. For me it was just great fun and also good research to help me to choose some of my next destinations for this column.
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Search for the Best Hot Wings in Amsterdam T
here are many restaurant review websites on the Internet that allow you to make a more informed choice about where to eat. You can take your pick from Trip Advisor, Iens. Special Bite etc. Each of them allows you to rate the restaurant and offer your opinion of your experience at each place. I have in the past been quite busy reviewing on Trip Advisor, before I started this column. It is sometimes interesting to see the restaurant replying if you have had a good or bad experience. Yelp is a new one to me and it popped up due to another social media site! One of the differences with Yelp is that they have someone based in the city as the Community Officer who’s job it is to monitor the content published and to organise events. The one event that caught my eye was a hotwings tour that had been organised in the Jordaan. The idea was that the restaurants which Flippie (the community officer) had persuaded to join the event deliver 3 hotwings plus classic dip (blue cheese was the most popular) and a beer for 5 euros at each place. The tour took us to the following places, with my opinion of the wings after each one. 1. Restaurant Fraiche, Westerstraat 264 - These wings were pre-cooked and tossed in a “hot” dressing. In fact it tasted mostly of vinegar and the blue cheese dip was quite tasteless too. The wings here were quite small. 2. Oh So Food by Li Chiao (hosted by a fast food restaurant in Westerstraat) - Li Chiao is an amateur chef who is beginning to do some food events in her spare time. On this occasion she had taken over the kitchen of a takeaway on Westerstraat. Her wings were deep fried with a coating of flour. The hot sauce was Asian style based on soy sauce, but it also had a vinegar edge to it. The dip was a Raita rather than a blue cheese. This was her first time to cook for this many people so hats off. She will also be joining the Neighbour Food Market in Westerpark to show off her regular chicken dishes which she claims are better. The wings here were much bigger and more juicy than Fraiche. 3. Tales & Spirits, Lijnbaanssteeg 5-7 - I must have walked past this bar maybe 100 times Page 38
without even noticing it. If you get chance I would have a look as it is a cute cocktail bar with a great looking modern take on a tapas style menu. The wings here were much simpler relying on spicy coating. This made them very spicy, but they also remained a bit greasy. The Garlic mayo dip with dill was ok to go with it. I could not resist having a cocktail in here and took a tequila “old fashioned.” It was pretty good. I liked this place and I will definitely be back to sample the menu. 4. Lovefood HQ, Koggestraat 1 - You may remember my review of Love Food from the birthday extravaganza issue. Jason had prepared the crispiest skinned wings of the 4 venues and the spice was milder than Tales and Spirits. He had accompanied the dish with blue goats cheese sauce and a chicken heart. These were nice touches. I think this was the best sauce of the night for me, although it looked slightly unappetising on the plate. The sad thing to hear was that Jason will close Lovefood at the end of July, so if you have not had chance to try it you only have a short amount of time left. The wings on offer really needed to live up to what in my opinion and what I know others have told me are the best, which is de Muur in Enschede. De Muur is a late night Febo type establishment, but have great hot wings. So did they? The last 2 venues definitely delivered the best wings out of the 4, the only trouble with this tour is that the Hot Wings are not regularly on their menu’s. So, even if I could declare a winner from this challenge, you cannot taste these outside this special event. I would say the hunt for the best hot wings in the city will continue as none of these can match de Muur in Enschede in my opinion. If you are interested, Flippie will be organising future events such as a burger tour, which I think will have already happened by the time we go to press. However if you are interested to see any more events then you can take a look at the Yelp website for details.
Nick’s Nosh – feedback from Down Under!
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am very pleased to say that readers from far and wide are enjoying the column. Anne-Marie Hodgson and her husband Allan, former members of the British Society, are now based in Brisbane, Australia and are following my reviews. Having read all about L’Invite, Anne-Marie felt compelled to share her experience. On a wine tasting tour through the Margaret River area of Western Australia, they sampled the lunch degustation menu at the Voyager winery. Here follows Anne-Marie’s review: Voyager Winery, Western Australia vv L’Invite, North Holland The building, housing the restaurant and wine tasting cellar, was in South African South Cape Dutch style bringing back fond memories of our time in the Netherlands. The dining room had lots of Dutch antiquates...tiles, albeit all from South Africa which were shipped over to WA along with other artefacts making it all very familiar. Below is our degustation menu which was comparable to the amount of money you paid for yours...$130… However, we think ours was far superior...sorry, but where would you go to get eggs on a menu? To start we had a complimentary light broth with a glass of champagne and raspberries, compliments of the chef ...delicious… then Miso-cured beef, pickled ginger and wasabi gel with 2011 VOC Sauvignon Blanc Semillon.
...delicious, followed by… Poached marron with apple puree, vanilla beurre noisette and apply jelly with 2006 Chardonnay ...delicious then, compliments of the chef… a Raspberry sorbet ...delicious followed by… Chenin Blanc 12 hour Pork belly with apply remoulade, pancetta and verjuice apple glaze with 2005 Chardonnay ...delicious followed by… Peppered Margaret River venison with hazelnut spaetzle, spinach and chocolate jus with 2010 Shiraz ...fabulous finished with… Peanut butter cheesecake with raspberry jelly, caramel mousse and crispy tuile with a 2012 VOC Collection Cane Sugar Cut Semilon ...delicious followed by… tea and coffee. I must say it was the best menu we have ever had. We used to have some fabulous meals at the L’Aubergine Restaurant in the Dam Hotel in Edam...a favourite of ours of all the restaurants we visited during our time in Amsterdam. We have really been enjoying reading the new and improved Zine Magazine here in Brisbane and look forward to reading many more. Kind regards, Anne-Marie Hodgson Page 39
Karen Vivers
Spanish Tortilla with Red Peppers
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food glorious/
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food glorious/ K
aren Vivers, originally from Scotland, has lived here in Amsterdam since 1997, and has set up the Cooking Coach to help inspire people to get back into the kitchen. The basis of the cooking lessons are easy, tasty, healthy recipes. Each course starts with a free introduction session, to make sure that you only cook what you like to eat. As well as cooking lessons, Karen offers Culinary Tours in Amsterdam, is a passionate Food Blogger and works freelance as a Culinary Consultant, specialising in small and medium businesses, helping them get started, grow and deal with commercial challenges.
Spanish Tortilla with Red Peppers
Firstly, I feel I have to clarify the difference between Spanish and Mexican tortillas. The Mexican kind are the flat, thin, round corn breads. The Spanish kind are basically an omelette. A very filling omelette, an omelette where the eggs are used more to bind the rest of the ingredients together rather than being the main event as with most French-style omelettes. Spanish tortillas originated in the central regions of the country, but have become one of the most well known Spanish dishes, and have many regional variations. Although potatoes and eggs form the base of the tortilla recipe, the other ingredients vary greatly. Sometimes green peppers, mushrooms, chorizo, or peas, are used, or in the Basque country, they may use cod or tuna, and in Catalonia you may see aubergine and spinach in their regional variant. Enough of my avoidance of what I actually want to say, well, want to admit to. I am quite ashamed to say that for many years I had a negative view of Spain and absolutely no idea of their food. Why? Well I subscribed to the ugly stereotypes associated with Spain and the (British) holiday maker. I honestly thought that Spain was just a cheap and nasty beach resort of the worst kind. I am cringing as I write this, how narrow minded could I have been? After being invited there by a friend who was working in the Murcia area for a winter (nice work if you can get it!), I was proved very wrong. Of course, I was seduced by the food, and like everybody, especially by the tapas (and with very, very good reason!). I also discovered a beautiful country full of contrast, pride and passion. Now, I try to visit the country every year to see a different region and of course sample the food of that region. In recent years, Spain has become synonymous with having the largest concentration of the best restaurants in the world, but I go for the more traditional food. My real love is the simple food of any country. I do love the fantastic restaurants and the technical ability of those top chefs, but at home, or given the choice, I always choose
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warming, comforting, nourishing food. Spain is great for this. And the simple tortilla has to be the expression of all that I love about Spanish food. Easy to make, honest ingredients that you can change to suit what you have available, but with an injection of real Spanish passion and colour. This recipe is my own creation, and uses of course the base of eggs and potatoes. Then, I have used what I consider to be some really Spanish ingredients, red peppers, chorizo, onion, and the wonderful smoked paprika powder. The addition of fennel seeds is a very personal indulgence. If I am honest, I am really not sure if fennel seeds appear much in Spanish cuisine, I have found them more in Italian cooking, but I am sure you will forgive me for this tiny digression. And, of course I hope you will try this recipe. You can eat it hot or cold, whether for lunch, dinner, brunch or as a great picnic treat, it’ll definitely bring a little bit of Spanish sunshine to any meal!
Preparation Time: 15 minutes Cooking Time: 20 minutes Ingredients for 4 servings 400gr boiled potatoes, chopped roughly but quite small. I like to leave the skins on. 5 x large eggs beaten lightly with a fork and a little salt 2 x red peppers chopped finely 1 x medium sized onion chopped finely 1 x clove of garlic (more if you wish) chopped finely 150gr of chorizo chopped into small cubes 1 x tbsp of olive oil 2 x tsps of fennel seeds 1 x tsp of mild smoked paprika ½ tsp of cayenne pepper (more if you want it hotter) Salt to taste Optional: some flat leaf parsley chopped finely to dress
Method
1. Heat the oil in a non-stick frying pan. Once it is warm, add the onion and garlic and sautĂŠ on a high heat for a couple of minutes. Then add the chorizo, mix through and add the peppers. 2. Mix the peppers through the onion, garlic and chorizo mix and then turn the heat down to medium low. Allow to sweat for about 2 minutes, then add the fennel seeds, paprika powder and cayenne pepper and some salt. Stir through and allow to sweat for about another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3. Once the onions and peppers have softened, turn the heat up to medium high and add the potatoes. They are already cooked, so here you want to make sure they are covered in the mix
food glorious/ and spices and heat them through. Stir them gently until they are heating, taking care not to break them up too much. 4. Pour over the egg mixture, mixing a little to allow it to get to the bottom of the pan evenly, I like to swirl it around a little to let it touch the sides of pan. Place your pan on a medium heat and leave it alone! Allow to cook until you can see that air and bubbles start to spurt up through the mix, this means that it is cooked on the bottom. 5. Now it is time to turn the tortilla over! Remove your pan from the heat, place a plate on top of your tortilla. The plate should be big enough to cover the complete top surface of your tortilla. Then in a swift, confident movement, place one hand on the base of the plate and turn the pan
upside down, then slide the frittata back into the pan so that what was the top, becomes the bottom. 6. Put the pan back on the heat and cook for a further 3 to 4 minutes, then serve, dressing with parsley if you wish.
Tips and Variations • • •
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I like to serve this with some simple green salad. You can keep this tortilla for a few days and eat it cold – just as tasty. I use chorizo that is already cooked for this version. If you use the type that is uncooked, then it will need a little more time and it is best to fry it off first before the onions and garlic. I like to serve this as part of a tapas night, its great sliced up into small, bite sized portions.
The Cooking Coach Love Food, Live Healthy www.thecookingcoach.eu Mobile : 06 1424 0009 Email: karen@thecookingcoach.eu Page 43
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Caterina Tzoridou moved from Thessaloniki to Amsterdam in 2008. She worked as a translator, subtitler and interpreter in Greece, as well as during her first years here. She is also a published children’s author: nine of her stories have already been published in Greece.
Stuffed Vegetarian Peppers Alexandroupoli is a town in Northern Greece, next to the Turkish border, where I was born and lived until I was nine When the weather started warming up, we would start counting down the days to our “first swim” of the year, since back then we used to run a sort of competition as to who would have the most of those “swims” until the summer was over and school started again. So every day, late in the morning, we would leave for the beach, to return home famished around Greek lunchtime --2 o’ clock—often to a baking tray of “Gemistá”, one of the most popular summer dishes.
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The word in Greek means “stuffed” --stuffed vegetables that is: paprikas, tomatoes, zucchini, aubergine would be stuffed with rice, herbs, and tomato sauce, then baked in the oven. I think it was because of those summers of my childhood, that “gemistá” in my mind is one of the dominant aromas of the summer – along with the Coppertone oil, the watermelon, the pine trees and the salty sea breeze. The large baking tray, with the warm (as they are tastier
when not too hot) stuffed vegetables, ensured that there would be enough leftovers for the day after, offering Mom a very welcome free day from the kitchen, which wasn’t a very attractive place to be in the scorching summer heat. Since the summer seems to be taking its time to arrive here, you might want to try to attract it by creating the atmosphere of the Greek summer. So here’s a recipe for my beloved “gemistá”, the way my Mom makes them. You can accompany them
food glorious/ with Greek salad, tzatziki or yogurt –the latter being my favorite. Once baked, you can store leftovers in the fridge for 5-6 days, or freeze them for around 2 months.
Ingredients:
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Gemistá:
Oven-baked rice-stuffed peppers and tomatoes
7 medium bell peppers 1 ¼ cup basmati rice 2 cups olive oil 1/3 bunch fresh mint 1 carton tomato frito ½ small jar grilled-aubergine pulp (optional) 7 medium tomatoes 1 large onion 1 bunch parsley Salt & pepper 2-3 medium potatoes, peeled and coarsely sliced
Preparation:
Slice off the top of the tomatoes. Save the “lids”. With a small spoon, empty content, and put the flesh in a large bowl. Pour out the seeds and as much of the liquid as possible, and purée the tomato flesh in a blender or food processor. Set aside.
With a sharp knife, cut a “lid” off the bell peppers. Take out the seeds, discard. Arrange the tomatoes and peppers in a baking tray. Sprinkle a bit of salt in the bell peppers. Sprinkle a bit of sugar in the tomatoes. Prepare the filling.
For the filling:
Dice the onion and put it in a deep frying pan along with 1 cup of olive oil. Once it starts frying, reduce the heat and let it fry until the onion is translucent, then add the rice. Keep stirring, until the rice fries a bit, then add half of the tomato pulp, and let the rice absorb almost all the liquid. Add the aubergine pulp (if you are using it), and let cook for 2 minutes. Turn off the heat, add the chopped parsley, chopped mint, salt, and pepper. Stir well and let it cool for a while. Preheat the oven to 200 C. Half-fill the peppers and tomatoes. Do not overfill, or the rice won’t cook in the peppers, and the tomatoes will crack open. Thin the tomato frito with the remaining tomato pulp and 1/2 cup of water. Add 2 tablespoons in each pepper and tomato. Save the rest. Put the “lids” on the tomatoes and peppers. “Stuff” the gaps between the vegetables with the coarsely sliced potatoes. Drizzle olive oil over the gemistá, then add the remaining tomato mix. Finally, sprinkle with salt.
In June 2011, Caterina Tzoridou realized a long-held dream of hers: Olivity, a catering company with Greek-Mediterranean flavors, using olive oil as the basic ingredient for all products. Towards the
Bake for 50 minutes or slightly longer if necessary, until the outside is easily poked with a fork, and the rice is cooked. Enjoy warm (not too hot) or cold, with Greek salad, tzatziki, yogurt, or feta cheese.
end of July, Olivity’s store will open on Overtoom 239.
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poets
corner Viewed from my chair
Reclining in my chair I gaze through the secondfloor window. Charlotte (my second-grade pupil) footballs in the large communal garden. Behind her, over the hedge, lies Westgate Bay. July, tide’s out and children indulge in sandy pleasures. The ice cream van’s doing a brisk trade in 99 flakes. Couples old and young stroll the promenade en route to Margate or off for a ramble to St Nicholasat-Wade. Idyllic scene of British seaside bliss. Most of these pleasure seekers weren’t around in May. Spring storms brewed and I safely watched from my comfy chair. Driftwood beams were disgorged across the promenade as waves frothed over the cliffs chaperoning the bay. Somehow that storm was more tranquil than the mis en scène unfolding below me. Appearances can fool! © Dave Thomas 2013
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poetry/
Abandoned Places
The Fort Housing Estate in Leith. The Cornwall Hotel on the A394. The bonded warehouse on the River Ouse. The torpedo testing tank in the hills above Faslane. A doctor’s surgery in the abandoned mining town of Saitama, north west Tokyo. Whittingham Asylum, Preston. The Duke of Lancaster ghost ship of North Wales. The Nottingham lace factory. The Tuxedo Royale nightclub in the ex Dover ferry. ABC Cinema, Wakefield. Derry’s Department Store, Plymouth. The Pyestock jet engine facility. Battersea power station. Yet he chose to end his days sitting in the back of the bankrupt levitating chip shop and diner in Leeds. He had forgotten why. All he knew was that he was the last soul left on the planet. Then the phone rang. © John Richardson 2013
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Just arrived in Amsterdam Paul is a published writer (his latest novel is called Cleaning Up) and Juliet is an animal and pet portrait artist
My wife and I arrived in Amsterdam just a month ago with four bulging suitcases and the notion that we would make Amsterdam our next long-term home We’ve both had some experience of life and living in the Netherlands. I’d worked in demolition here when I was in my early twenties and Juliet had holidayed in Amsterdam. We had even spent our honeymoon in romantic Rotterdam. So, when we arrived, our expectations were high. We had similar perceptions of the country and its people and we had both enjoyed that singular Dutch quality of laidback earthiness. As a young man, my principal impression of living in Holland was how mature the culture
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here is and that the Dutch people had a good handle on, and were generally accepting of, the vagaries of human nature. Thus far, Amsterdam has exceeded our expectations. We are thoroughly enjoying its low-key charm and the self-contained friendliness of the Dutch people. We are a ‘mixed-race’ couple and we enjoy the degree of ethnic diversity here and the relative prevailing harmony of people living in a crowded, urban environment. Amsterdammers seem to have mastered the art of sharing space in
as stress-free manner as possible, a tacit social glue of cooperation, awareness and mutual respect. I also the love the fact that people are so visible here; the streets and public spaces and the cafes/bars/ restaurants are busy and stay busy long into the wee small hours. Yesterday, I took a lunchtime walk through the Vondelpark and the place was teeming with people of all ages. The park providing a beautiful place for people to have fun and relax. A respite from the urban environment, which also doubles up as a
feature/
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There seems to be no small degree of ‘mañana’ operating in Amsterdam
pleasant/pragmatic shortcut for the omnipresent swathes of cyclists. Aesthetically, the city has much beauty; the singular charm and soothing quality of its canals and the attendant pleasure of watching the life that takes place on the water. I like the emphasis on leisure here, there seems to be no small degree of ‘mañana’ operating in Amsterdam. Work as a means to an end and life a journey to be enjoyed- it’s definitely not a strident, frenetic city! Of course there are both the joys and (to an Englishman) the uncertainties of experiencing the Dutch roads and cycle lanes. The system has an order that appears to occasionally teeter on chaos. For the first week here our greatest daily challenge
was to get safely across the road, as there seemed to be an ever present possibility of collision with a fellow traveler who could, and would, come at you from any conceivable angle. The trams and the cyclists appear to rule the roads and once you accept your place in the pecking order- it isn’t too bad! We have decided to take Dutch lessons, doggedly learning the emphasis of the consonants and the rolling of the r’s and we are slowly beginning to grasp (with no small amount of effort) the mouth shapes needed to enunciate the Dutch g and y. We have mastered the construction of simple sentences so if I ever have the need to exhort, ‘the farmer is sitting on the bus,’ then I’m already
there…Of course we do not yet ‘know’ Amsterdam, such knowledge can only come after a sizeable portion of time and with the experience of interactions that go beyond the superficial. As yet, both of us have no regrets about coming here and work permitting (I’m a writer and Juliet is an animal and pet portrait artist), we wish to stay here for the foreseeable future. We’ve already met some friendly expats and we’ve danced a few salsa nights at our local salsa club. We look forward to sharing our ongoing Amsterdam experience with as many of you as possible. It’s a wonderful city and it feels like a blessing to have the opportunity to experience it. Met vriendelijke groet Paul Connor-Kearns
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family/ Endemol Nederland is looking for English (native) speaking families with two children aged 8-14 years old who would like to participate in a test recording for a new game show. In this exciting show two families will compete against each other. The parents and children work together as a team and the family with the highest score wins the show. The test case will be taped in Amsterdam on the 19th of July and will take about 2 hours of your time. Travel expenses will be reimbursed, you get a nice gift for your effort and a great chance to shine with your family! Would you like to go on a great experience with your family or do you know a family who would?
Contact details: email Tatjana Brehler tatjana.brehler@endemol.nl or call 020-893 6109
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