Hup Holland Hup!

Congratulations to The Netherlands for advancing to the finals in the World Cup 2010 competition. This photo was taken last year, not far from Museumplein, where this scene took place yesterday:

Poffertjes in Amsterdam

"Poffertjes!"

That was the answer when I asked the kids what they were looking forward to when we go to Amsterdam for a few days on our way home from Africa.

We stayed at a hotel on Stadthouderskade across the canal from Leidseplein. Poffertjes are usually sold from street carts in the fall and winter, but as luck would have it, directly across the street was the Poffertjes Restaurant.

I don't know what the connection between carousels and poffertjes are, but many poffertjes stands and restaurants feature carousel decorations.

What are poffertjes, you ask? They are tiny pancakes, about the size of sand dollars. If you're familiar with the Danish Æbleskiver, it is similar in size except that Æbleskivers are perfectly spherical. Poffertjes are flatter, cooked on a special shallowly-dimpled griddle. This one looks like it's been in service for a very long time.

Once they are browned on both sides the poffertjes are ready to serve, one dozen at a time...

...with a tiny pat of butter, a small dash of powdered sugar, and just a tad of whipped cream. The strawberries clearly make this a health food.

The only way to eat them is with reckless abandon.