Sure, I am Always Talkin’ Food, but I work as a volunteer Dutch language teacher for Ukrainian refugees on the side. For privacy reasons the names in these columns are fictitious.
During my summer vacation, my Ukrainian students conceive the plan to continue meeting at the usual time of our Dutch classes.
It is decided on a weekly picnic in the park, where the main language will be Dutch. That way, the students can maintain their skills, while waiting for my return.
On the first meeting everyone is trying their hardest. Still, it is easier said than done for a beginner’s group (‘A1-’ in official European language levels). After the introductions and comments about the weather (‘Lekker weertje!’), the Dutch conversation falters.
It is the enterprising Svetlana who comes up with an idea. She has several Dutch neighbors. Why doesn’t she invite one of them to the picnic for homemade sandwiches, Olivier salad and talking Dutch with the group?
And so it happens that not only de buurvrouw (female neighbor) to Svetlana's left, but also de buurman (male neighbor) to her right join the next get-together in the park.
A truly pleasant gathering, even if the Dutch language is still a scarce good.
The entrepreneur Dmitri visits the picnics not only for the fun of it. He wants to achieve clear language goals. And so the following week he arrives with a baguette under his arm, plus a Dutch text to study with the group. He copied it in the library from a popular children's book, Jip en Janneke.
Svetlana’s neighbors are pleasantly surprised. They both know this book about the daily life of a neighbor girl and boy from their childhood. A classic book by the famous Dutch writer Annie M.G. Schmidt that consists solely of short and simple phrases.
Coincidently, in Dutch simple and easy-to-understand language is now called jip-en-janneketaal (Jip and Janneke language). It is the kind of lingo with which many a Dutch politician tries to appeal to his electorate.
Moreover, the language spoken by these neighbor kids has been officially equated with the European language level B1.
There’s our goal for the upcoming classes.
Food lingo
Picnic - de picknick
Salad - de salade
Sandwich - de belegde boterham
Baguette - het stokbrood
Brood
Once upon a time not so long ago, Amsterdam was a desert when it came to bread. I myself always took sourdough bread (zuurdesembrood) home after visits to friends in Germany, for instance. But no more. Amsterdam has now become a mecca for zuurdesembrood as well as stokbrood and croissants, all with a good crust and perfect crumb. Great for picnics!
One of the newcomers is Bakkerij Loof, an extension of Café Binnenvisser next door. In addition to zuurdesembrood, Loof sells patisserie and viennoiserie. On top of that, there’s an in-house deli and a bookstore.
Bakkerij Loof, Bilderdijkstraat 38 Amsterdam. Open: Thursday-Sunday 8 AM-4 PM.