thess

I’m talking about this flu, running nose, heavy head and nasty cough. All these I am experiencing right now but I wont let these stop me from finally putting up our CHRISTMAS TREE! Today. yes, t o d a y!

I find it a bit too late to put up a tree, because back in the Philippines, I was so used to seeing them beginning of November in our home. I always get excited when the tree was up, because in a child’s mind that would mean presents in a few weeks time.

But now I am older and living in The Netherlands, it has somehow ‘dampen’ the Christmas festivities. The dutch, most of them do not put up a tree and even do not celebrate the 25th of December but rather their Sinterklaas which is 5th of December. Though Christmas isn’t just about the decors and stuff, still it could help me, being alone in this country away from my Filipino family, feel ‘home’.

But a true blooded Filipina that I am, I am having that tree, by hook or by crook, sick or not today…by the evening, it should be lighting our living room.

——————

What or Who is Sinterklaas?

The Feast of Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, is an annual event which has been uniquely Dutch and Flemish for centuries. St. Nicholas’ Feast Day, December 6th, is observed in most Roman Catholic countries primarily as a feast for small children. But it is only in the Low Countries – especially in the Netherlands – that the eve of his feast day (December 5th) is celebrated nationwide by young and old, christian and non-christian, and without any religious overtones.
Although Sinterklaas is always portrayed in the vestments of the bishop he once was, his status as a canonized saint has had little to do with the way the Dutch think of him. Rather, he is a kind of benevolent old man, whose feast day is observed by exchanging gifts and making good-natured fun of each other. It so happens that the legend of St. Nicholas is based on historical fact. He did actually exist. He lived from 271 A.D. to December 6th, 342 or 343. His 4th century tomb in the town of Myra, near the city of Anatolia in present-day Turkey, has even been dug up by archaeologists.

This is his story:
Born of a wealthy family, Nicholas was brought up as a devout Christian. When his parents died of an epidemic, he distributed his wealth among the poor and became a priest.
Later he became Archbishop of Myra, and it is from here that the fame of his good deeds began to spread across the Mediterranean. Desperate sailors who called upon the Good Bishop to calm stormy seas were heard; prison walls crumbled when victims of persecution prayed to him. He saved young children from the butcher’s knife and dropped dowries into the shoes of penniless maidens. Over time, St. Nicholas became the patron saint of sailors and merchants, and especially of children. After his death, the cult of St. Nicholas spread rapidly via southern Italy throughout the rest of the Mediterranean and eventually to coastal towns along the Atlantic and the North Sea. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Holland built no fewer than 23 churches dedicated to St. Nicholas, many of which are still standing. Amsterdam adopted St. Nicholas as its patron saint, and Rome decreed that December 6th, the anniversary of his death, should be his official Feast Day.
St. Nicholas’ strong influence in the Low Countries – an area heavily engaged in trade and navigation – was primarily due to his role as patron of sailors and merchants.
However, his fame as protector of children soon took precedence.
In the 14th century, choir boys of St. Nicholas churches were given some money and the day off on December 6th.
Somewhat later, the pupils of convent schools would be rewarded or punished by a monk dressed up as the Good Bishop, with his long white beard, his red mantle and mitre (bishop’s hat) and his golden crosier (bishop’s staff) – just as he is still presented today.

continue reading here

I thought I’d share some food photos I took from last week’s dinner with friends. I really enjoyed taking these photos..and eating some of them too.

Last week, husband and I went out dining with two friends whom we took to Loos Restaurant in Rotterdam. Loos is a cafe-restaurant combination with a business like ambiance since the location is surrounded with offices but the inside look must not be mistaken for a non sense service when it comes to food. I had, and my husband and friends too, the best time. I’m just going to share some of the plates we had.

this was my starter ..all I can remember about it was the duck liver mousse, simply divine.

beef carpaccio with mushroom treated with truffle mayonnaise

my husband’s starter, crab loempia with salmon and basil puree

Op de huid gebakken kabeljauwfilet met tempura van slibtong en een confiture van Spaanse peper”

and this was mine ..quail that was stuffed with don’t laugh now, but I really forgot!! I couldn’t even recall the ingredient but I knew it was with a sort of nuts..and the sauce was with river lobster. It was too much for me, but I almost ate the entire plate because it was so good.

Lamsbout uit de oven op gebakken wilde spinazie en een saus van munt en honing

these were some of what we had. we also had desserts but I decided not to include them here, the photos did not came out well.

I love going out with friends. How I wish my husband and I can do that a lot more.