New herring season
If it's June that means it's time for Hollandse Nieuwe.
My favorite Dutch foods are stroopwafels, kibbeling (fried pieces of fish), and German beer. (People come here to enjoy many great things, but Dutch cuisine is not generally one of them :)
But it’s June and that means it’s time for Hollandse Nieuwe — young herring that are caught between mid-May and the end of June each year. Herring stands are open year round but the Dutchies really love their Hollandse Nieuwe.
So I walked down to the fish stand near the parliament building — it’s one of our go-to places to satisfy cravings for kibbeling — and paid 3.50 euros for a herring sandwich.
You can buy herring in several different ways. The old-school style is whole — you tip your head back and let it slide all the way down. (I have never done this.) Then there’s Amsterdam-style, which is sliced into bite-sized pieces which you eat with a toothpick.
I opted for the sandwich, because that way you can add more chopped onions and bread to each bite. And I’ve learned the ratio of herring to Food Other than Herring in each bit is an important factor in the experience.
As I worked on my sandwich, a gray heron stalked me — they are infamous bullies who will snatch anything you don’t have a firm grasp.
In the end, it was … okay. I can’t say it’s my favorite Dutch food but I’ll have it once a year. In between, I’ll be filling myself with kibbeling and stroopwafel.
