Sure, I am Always Talkin’ Food, but I teach NT2 (Dutch as a second language) on the side. Mainly to young foreigners who came to Amsterdam for or with love and intend to stay. For privacy reasons the names in these columns are fictitious.
A recurring element in advanced Dutch courses is a presentation set for the last lesson of each five-week series.
In max five minutes, my students have to demonstrate that they have mastered and can reproduce the material from the course.
I leave the choice of the topics to them, as long as the talks constitute a solid proof of competence.
Tonight, we have such diverse topics as a motorbike trip from Amsterdam to Venice, a warm plea for living in Amstelveen, and Nowruz. The holiday celebrated around the spring equinox in Iran as well as in ‘all -stans, from Kazach- to Uzbeki-,’ as per Vadim from Azerbaijan. In his homeland too Nowruz has been a public holiday since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
’My presentation is a random collection of things that I like about the Netherlands and that stand out to me here,’ Ivana from Croatia starts her talk entitled ”Waar is Boeddha?”
Follows a list from Ivana’s favourite cooking method “gourmetten” (grilling miniature size food items on an electric griddle in the middle of the dinner table), to the artworks of the late Herman Brood (‘mooier dan Vermeer’) and the city of Apeldoorn.
Lastly, Buddha comes along.
A survey Ivana conducted among her Dutch friends, colleagues and in-laws revealed that no less than 100% of them have a Buddha statue somewhere in their house. She tried to find an explanation for this Dutch fascination with the Nepali spiritual teacher.
In vain.
She recalls: ‘When I moved in with a flatmate, I was surprised not to detect Buddha anywhere. Could this be the first Buddha-free Dutch dwelling?’ Later, after cutting away an overly wild ivy bush, the enlightened leader emerged in the small courtyard after all.
It had never struck me before, this conspicuous omnipresence of Buddha in Dutch households. But tonight I have to confess that at my houseboat, too, a Buddha-shaped candle is gathering dust somewhere.
In my defense: it was a birthday present from way back when anything Buddha was labelled “the new hip” in Dutch home magazines, right before the monstera deliciosa plant became the newest hip.
Imagine my surprise when, two days later, I see a larger than life Buddha sitting in auspicious pose between parked cars on a quayside not far from my houseboat…
Food Lingo
Stuffed dumpling - de gevulde knoedel
Homemade - huisgemaakt
Steamed - gestoomd
Fried - gebakken
From Buddha’s homeland
Buddha’s presumed homeland Nepal is famous for its momos, steamed or fried stuffed dumplings. One of the best places to eat these in Amsterdam is Nepalese restaurant Bhatti Pasal Klinkers. Chef Tika Pun serves the homemade momos in different varieties, amongst which an open version. Don’t hesitate to try them, even if Buddha himself only ate vegetables and mushrooms.
Bhatti Pasal Klinkers, Kerkstraat 332 Amsterdam. Open: Thur-Tue 12 noon-4 PM, 5 PM-10 PM. There is also a Bhati Pasal eatery at Voetboegstraat 23.