15 Dutch Foods I Have Eaten

Eaten them all. Most of them more than once. Several could indeed be called favorites.

1. Kroket
a deep fried concoction of beef or potato or vegetables. always available at the automat slots in the train station or at the snack stands.

2. Frikandel
a minced meat sausagey thing. like a hot dog, but not at all.

3. Patat or Frites
technically Belgian. thick cut fries served in a paper cone or box. dipping sauces include mayonnaise, curry ketchup, or pinda saus (peanut sauce).

4. Appletaart
dutch apple pie. crust is more cake like than the american version. also has raisins. served with fresh cream.

5. Sausage broodje
sausage inside a pastry. served warm or cold.

6. Nasi Goreng
indonesian fried rice. also must haves at a rijstafel: Bami Goreng, Satay, Babi Pangang...

7. Shoarma
another food not necessarily Dutch in origin, but totally Dutch by adoption. a spicy shaved meat served with pita bread, garlic sauce and hot chili sauce.

8. Stroopwafel
waffle type cookies with caramel filling pressed between. best hot off the grill at a market stand.

9. Cheese
nothing better than this. any flavor, any time.

10. Loempia
vietnamese egg roll. fresh off the loempia trucks with hot sauce or sweet sauce. my 13-year old can't keep money in his pocket if there is a loempia stand nearby.

11. Erwtensoep
split pea soup. i have learned to make a killer pot of my own. very yummy when it's very cold outside.

12. Kibbeling
chunks of white fish, deep fried. served with a choice of dipping sauce. perfect market shopping day treat.

13. Hutspot
potatoes, onions, carrots. mashed together.

14. Poffertjes
little poofy pancakes. best when served fresh off the grill with dripping butter and powdered sugar.

15. Koffie
you may think it's a drink, but here in holland coffee is a form of sustenance. the Dutch run on the stuff. it is always served hot and strong. a cup of coffee is available anywhere from the cafes to the snack bars and you can find a free cup at the grocery store. but don't wander into a Coffeeshop and ask for a cup. you won't find koffie there.


Friday Fifteen