Nigella Lawson makes Christmas special about ‘the magic of Amsterdam at Christmas’
Mark December 21 in your calendar, because something really fun is coming out then: the extra-long Christmas special from Nigella Lawson, which will be shown on BBC1. And this year it’s extra exciting, because it’s all about Amsterdam. Although I do find the description on the BBC website a little mean about our beautiful capital.
It says: ‘Nigella travels to Amsterdam to enjoy the festive season in a country whose cuisine is full of horror stories and bad memories.’ Well, come onnnn, not our bitterballen and pancakes, right!
Nigella Lawson is going to recreate our specialties
The crompouce craze has reached Nigella Lawson too, and she is going to try to recreate one — but in her own version. You know you’ve made it as a crompouce when one of the most famous TV chefs recreates you. Also on the menu, of course, are bitterballen, as well as HEMA cakes, which according to the BBC ‘consist of 95 percent cream and sugar’. To be honest, I’m curious which cakes they mean and which ones are considered Dutch heritage, because surely that’s mainly the tompouce?
In any case, I have the feeling that Nigella’s image of Amsterdam isn’t quite how we see it. For example, she calls our capital the ‘Venice of the North’, which I find incredibly sweet, but I don’t think there’s a single Dutch person who would describe it that way. Still, we’ll probably get to see the real Amsterdam, because she says: ‘There is nothing better than being able to share your enthusiasm and joy. I’m looking forward to showing viewers the unique magic of Amsterdam at Christmas.’
Dutch and Indonesian dishes
So she is diving into Dutch food culture (including Indonesian food culture). The menu includes, among other things: Dutch mussels, speculaas, a no-bake advocaat & ginger cake and a Dutch cocktail. Sounds good; everyone tune in on December 21 at nine o’clock in the evening on BBC1.
Also read:
- The most underrated ingredients according to (star) chefs
- I have a chef crush and I’m not ashamed
- 5 Jamie Oliver quotes
Image: BBC
