march 2015 zine

#622

ZINE

March 2015

The British Photographer in Amsterdam� WEDDINGS CHILDREN PORTRAITS EVENTS WALKABOUTS �

www.benjaminarthur.com .

Please call 06 83 94 35 52 �to book your spring walkabout. �

I am running a BritSoc �member special throughout �

the month of March;�Just €150 booking fee*�

Save €50!

Internationally British

Internationally FocussedA school that provides opportunity and challenge both inside and outside the classroom. A school where talent and excellence is fostered and potential is fully realised - resulting in well-adjusted confident students ready to go out and make their mark on the world.

www.britishschool.nl

CONTENTS

7

UK EXPATS — DID YOU KNOW

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO VOTE

IN THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTION?

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

MAKE SURE YOU’RE IN

To register as an overseas elector you must have been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years.

You can now register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

8-11

12-13

14-15

16-17

18-19

20-21

24-25

26-27

28-29

30-31

32-37

38-41

Chairman’s Letter Looking forward to longer days.

Expats: How to vote in the UK Election You may be able to vote in the General Election.

Tom’s Tulip Tours Britsoc members and friends —a free tour to the Kop van Noord Holland.

The Return of Britsoc Cricket Britsoc Cricket returns from the Ashes.

Six Nations Rugby Explained We explain this annual festival of rugby.

Food From Home Finding Foreign Foodie Favourites.

Beth’s Books A new chapter for Boekhandel Van Rossum.

Home is where the art is Our walls are full of fond memories and moments.

Texel Island Discs Alison Smith selects her desert island discs.

Poet’s Corner John and Dave wax lyrically.

Photographic lesson of the month How to click with your audience.

Nicks Nosh Our Nick eats his way through Amsterdam.

Cooking Coach Slow Beer Braised Oxtail.

ZINEEDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF John Richardson | [email protected]

EDITORIAL BOARDAlison Smith | [email protected] Arthur | [email protected] Symmonds | [email protected] Thomas | [email protected]

ADVERTISINGADVERTISING SALES Andy Symmonds | [email protected]

PUBLISHINGPUBLISHED BYJohn Richardson | [email protected]

FLIP MAGAZINE PUBLISHING PLATFORMwww.issuu.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS AND FEEDBACKJohn Richardson | [email protected]

www.britsoc.nl

ISSUE #622

Colophon >

Editor in chief John Richardson

Welcome to the Zine. A Mad March Wonderland that’s electorally eclectic, tumultuously tulipy, sticky wicky, scrummy yummy, yorkshire puddy, booky wooky, art on the wallsy, desert island discy, poetically waxically, photogenically faultless, nicky noshy, cooky booky, expatically bonkers.

“I eat what I see”!’

Then you should say what you mean,’ the March Hare went on.

‘I do,’ Alice hastily replied; ‘at least — at least I mean what I say — that’s the same thing, you know.’

‘Not the same thing a bit!’ said the Hatter. ‘You might just as well say that “I see what I eat” is the same thing as “I eat what I see”!’

‘You might just as well say,’ added the March Hare, ‘that “I like what I get” is the same thing as “I get what I like”!’

‘You might just as well say,’ added the Dormouse, who seemed to be talking in his sleep, ‘that “I breathe when I sleep” is the same thing as “I sleep when I breathe”!’

Small classes and personal attention. At the British School of Amsterdam we get to know each and every student. We provide an all-round education that develops the whole person and delivers academic success. From Early Years to Secondary School, we provide top-class British schooling for everyone from expats to locals seeking an international education.

With pupils of more than 40 nationalities, the British School of Amsterdam offers a stimulating and inclusive learning environment for students aged 3 to 18. Non-native English speakers are welcome.

Our curriculum leads to the respected British A-Level qualification accepted by universities worldwide. In addition to the formal academic subjects, we teach European languages including Spanish, French, German and Dutch, as well as English as a foreign language.

Every day is an open day at the British School of Amsterdam. Why not come along and visit us? For more information, see www.britams.nl, or contact us at +31 (0) 20 67 97 840 or [email protected].

FedericoAge 14

Italian/Dutch

“It’s a friendly, caring community”

TEACHING PEOPLE, NOT JUST TOPICS

Small classes and personal attention. At the British School of Amsterdam we get to know each and every student. We provide an all-round education that develops the whole person and delivers academic success. From Early Years to Secondary School, we provide top-class British schooling for everyone from expats to locals seeking an international education.

With pupils of more than 40 nationalities, the British School of Amsterdam offers a stimulating and inclusive learning environment for students aged 3 to 18. Non-native English speakers are welcome.

Our curriculum leads to the respected British A-Level qualification accepted by universities worldwide. In addition to the formal academic subjects, we teach European languages including Spanish, French, German and Dutch, as well as English as a foreign language.

Every day is an open day at the British School of Amsterdam. Why not come along and visit us? For more information, see www.britams.nl, or contact us at +31 (0) 20 67 97 840 or [email protected].

FedericoAge 14

Italian/Dutch

“It’s a friendly, caring community”

TEACHING PEOPLE, NOT JUST TOPICS

Dear Members,

I trust that this issue of Zine finds you well and looking forward to longer days.

The list of activities is moving that sunny way and we are being verily hauled into summer by our popular Shakespeare’s birthday event. Our trussed and trusted host for the evening, Mr. Paul Huxley hath hinted at a musical theme. So get your tickets fast and practice your lute playing. If ye dare not sing, any reading, acting or general thespian activity is totally acceptable, because all the world is a stage. Or maybe just come for dinner! It’s a limited capacity and details will be announced soon so watcheth this space.

And what better way to welcome longer days on the village green than the familiar sound of leather on willow. Yes, BritSoc cricket is back! This is a great activity for improving the social network – the kids can join in and there’s fish & chips too! The article in this issue outlines the plans, including a new location and clubhouse and (of course) a good deal for our members. Thanks to Grant for making this happen and taking the BritSoc brand to a bigger audience.

Our hosts in this country have cornered a truly unique market with their flowers; everybody who lives here should enjoy the short time that tulips are in bloom to the max at least once. So we are very lucky to have connected with Tom’s tours, Tom will guide you around the fields of natural colour – on a bike!

I can’t wait for the sun to shine and hope to see you all soon with an ale on the common!

Best regards,

Ian [email protected]

chairman’s blog/ March 2015

UK EXPATS — DID YOU KNOW

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO VOTE

IN THE 2015 GENERAL ELECTION?

YOUR VOTE MATTERS

MAKE SURE YOU’RE IN

To register as an overseas elector you must have been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years.

You can now register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

By Andy Symmonds and Benjamin Arthur

This week the UK Electoral Commission has launched a dedicated overseas voter registration campaign. The campaign aims to encour-age British citizens living overseas to register to vote ahead of the UK Parliamentary General Election, due to take place on Thursday 7 May 2015.

To mark the start of the campaign, the elections watchdog is hosting Overseas Voter Registration Day on Thursday 5 February 2015 in a bid to boost the numbers of UK residents overseas on the UK’s electoral registers.

This is the first UK General Election where people can register to vote online. The Electoral Commission hopes that the new online process will encourage more UK nationals living overseas to register to take part in elections from overseas.

Estimates show that there may be as many as 5.5 million UK nationals living overseas, but there are fewer than 20,000 currently on the electoral registers.

To register as an overseas voter, UK residents overseas must have previously been registered in a UK constituency within the last fifteen years.

Alex Robertson, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commis-sion said:

“A lot of people aren’t aware that it’s possible to register as an overseas voter for the General Election. We need to challenge the misconception that once you’ve moved overseas you can’t take part. Many people can and now it’s easier than ever to take the first step by registering online.”

“That’s why we are urging UK nationals who are now living abroad to take five minutes on Overseas Registration Day to visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote and make sure they will be able to have their say at the General Election in May.”

“Overseas Voter Registration Day is also the perfect opportunity for everyone to encourage friends, family or colleagues to check if they can vote and ask them to register online from wherever they are in the world.”

The Cabinet Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office are supporting the Electoral Commission’s campaign to raise awareness of voter registration among British residents overseas in the run up to

the general election.

To register to vote, UK citizens should visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

UK expats – Don’t miss out, you may be able to vote in the General Election says Electoral Commission

Free resources to support the campaign, including posters, web banner and web button are available to download from our website here: http://bit.ly/1Dmk9AY

For further information contact Megan Phillips in the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0714 (out of office hours 07789 920 414) or email: [email protected]

FACT & FIGURES

1. The Electoral Commission is an independent body set up by

the UK Parliament. Our aim is integrity and public confidence

in the UK’s democratic process. We regulate party and election

finance and set standards for well-run elections.

2. There have been two relatively recent estimates of the total

number of UK citizens living abroad: one by the Institute for

Public Policy Research, in 2010 put the number at 5.5 million;

whilst another one by the World Bank, in 2010, estimated it to

be 4.7 million.

3. Figures from the Office for National Statistics - which are based

on based on electoral registers published on 1 December 2013

(Northern Ireland), 17 February 2014 (England) and 10 March

2014 (Wales & Scotland) show that there are 15,849 overseas

voters on the UK electoral registers

4. Since the introduction of online registration in June 2014 up

until December 2014, 17,168 applications had been made from

overseas electors.

5. 5. Overseas voters can choose how they want to vote. They can

vote either by post, by proxy or even in person (if they will be in

their constituency on polling day)

6. The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 20 April

2015. Overseas voters should register as far in advance of this

as possible.

7. The deadline for applications for postal votes is 5pm on

Tuesday 21 April 2015. Overseas voters should apply as far in

advance of this as possible.

8. The deadline for applications for proxy votes is 5pm on

Tuesday 28 April 2015. Overseas voters should apply as far in

advance of this as possible.

Image: http://bit.ly/1DR0LQ0

Q: If I live in the Netherlands, can I vote in the upcoming British general election?The short answer is yes, but there’s a “but”.

The “but” is that you have to have been previously registered in a UK constituency within the last fifteen years.

The great news is that for the upcoming British General Election on the 7th May, for the first time ever, you are able to register to vote online. Great Britain; welcome to the 21st century!!

The UK government has put out some very useful information regarding the process.

“UK expats – Don’t miss out, you may be able to vote in the General Election say the Electoral Commission. They hope that the new online process will encourage more UK nationals living overseas to register to take part in elections from overseas.

Estimates show that there may be as many as 5.5 million UK nationals living overseas, but there are fewer than 20,000 currently on the electoral registers.

To register as an overseas voter, UK residents overseas must have previously been registered in a UK constituency within the last fifteen years.

Alex Robertson, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission said:

A lot of people aren’t aware that it’s possible to register as an overseas voter for the General Election. We need to challenge the misconception that once you’ve moved overseas you can’t take part. Many people can and now it’s easier than ever to take the first step by registering online. That’s why we are urging UK nationals who are now living abroad to take five minutes to visit the web link below and make sure they will be able to have their say at the General Election in May.

The Cabinet Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office are supporting the Electoral Commission’s campaign to raise awareness of voter registration among British residents overseas in the run up to the general election.

To register to vote, UK citizens should visit https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Image: http://bit.ly/1Apzp2m

1. British nationals who have been registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years can register as an overseas elector.2. You can register online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. This means that it is easier than before to register from wherever you are.3. If you’re not registered you can’t vote at the General Election in May 2015.4. Approximately 5.5 million British nationals live overseas. But there are currently fewer than 20,000 people registered as overseas electors.5. The registration deadline for the 2015 UK Parliamentary General Election is Monday 20 April 2015. But remember to register as far in advance of this as you can.6. You can choose how you wish to vote. You can vote by post, by proxy or even in person at your polling station.7. If you don’t want to register online, you can still download paper forms. But remember to return your completed form as far in advance of the deadline as possible.8. Overseas Voter Registration Day is on Thursday 5 February 2015 – take five minutes to visit the online registration site and let others know too!9. Lots of people who live overseas might not even know that they may be able to take part. Pass the message on!10.Your vote matters! #passthemessageon #expat #yourvotematters

10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT REGISTERING AS AN OVERSEAS VOTER

We are offering Britsoc members and friends a free tour to the Kop van Noord Holland through the Tulip Fields. You just pay for bike rental and train. We go by train to Alkmaar, rent bikes there and cycle through the Dutch meadows, and the tulipfields to art village Bergen. After lunch we cycle through the forest to Groet and back via Schoor.Date: April 19, 2015.RSVP: April 1, 2015. Interested participants should email us before the April 1 to confirm.All details can be found here on the Britsoc website: www.britsoc.nl/event/free-tour-through-the-tulip-fields/

Free Britsoc Tour Through the Tulip Fields

April 19, 2015 RSVP April 1, 2015

Emai: [email protected] | Meeting time: 9:00am | Meeting point: Cafe Kobalt, Singel 2 A, 1013 GA Amsterdam.

bike tour/

The current ICC cricket world cup (#CWC15)

has given us the motivation to restart the

traditional Annual Brit Soc Cricket Match and

BBQ this summer. We are playing our seventh

social Brit Soc cricket game in Amsterdam

West, Saturday 20th June. Please reserve

the date and watch the website for more

information closer to the event.

The emphasis will be on social cricket ,

laughs and a BBQ to end the evening. We will

continue the theme of the Cricket World Cup

by having as many nationalities represented,

on in the field or in the clubhouse, as possible.

The match will be a shortened version of

T20. Children are welcome to join in. As extra

practise for all, we will have a Tip & Run

Friday night programme, starting in April, with

pancakes for the children.

Our hosts, Qui Vive Cricket Club, have enjoyed

a nomadic existence but are now firmly

established in the Dutch cricket scene, with

a base in Amsterdam West. 2014 was a good

Resurrecting the Annual BritSoc cricket match from the Ashes

year for Qui Vive CC, as they were voted Dutch

(KNCB) Cricket Club of the Year and Amsterdam

KNCB Cricket Council of the year. All five of the

Qui Vive CC teams won their competitions and

got promoted. So this season will be a challenge

to keep all the teams at the top level of their

respective competitions. To start a positive

note to 2015, Qui Vive will be the first tenants

of the new multipurpose Spark United Sports

Clubhouse.

So over to you !

If you want to practice beforehand please come

down on Friday evenings for our weekly Tip &

Run club nights. There will also be other social

matches and events starting from 20 March 2015.

In 17 April we will host a Whisky tasting with

Fish & Chips, while the children play Tip & Run.

For the 2015 cricket season we are looking for

social and serious cricket players. We have also

started a youth division and student cricket team

this summer.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Whisky tasting Fish & Chips Event Date: Friday 17 th April, 2015

Time: 19.00

Where: QuiVive Cricket Club – Spark United SportPark de Eendracht, Bok De Korverweg 4 Amsterdam. Bus 21 and unlimited free parking.

Cost: EUR 30,00 per person for Whisky tasting and Fish & Chips. Vegetarian meals can be provided on request. Supporters are welcome. Brit Soc members will pay 27,50

Tel: 06-250 88 301

www.britsoc.nl www.quivivecc.comFacebook: Quiviveccemail: [email protected]

by Grant Holton

Saturday 20th June. 18.00-20:30

T-10 Game + BBQTickets are available soon at www.Britsocshop.nl and www.quivivecc.com

“

Annual Brit Soc Expats vs QuiVive CC Mini World Cup Cricket Game

Date: Sat 20 th June

Time: 18.00-20:30 (T10 Game + BBQ)

Where: QuiVive Cricket Club – Spark United SportPark de Eendracht, Bok De Korverweg 4 Amsterdam. Bus 21 and unlimited free parking.

Cost: EUR 15,00 per person for BBQ, Vegetarian meals can be provided on request. Supporters are welcome. Brit Soc members will pay 12,50

Tel: 06-250 88 301

www.britsoc.nl www.quivivecc.comFacebook: Quiviveccemail: [email protected]

The current ICC cricket world

cup has given us the motivation to restart the traditional

Annual Britsoc Cricket Match and BBQ this

summer.

This is due the to the annual festival of rugby known as the Six Nations, during which the national sides from England, France,

Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales slug it out in their annual pursuit of a Grand Slam (where one side wins all five games).

The championship is the pride of the northern hemisphere and the envy of the world. The advertising logo states that the Six Nations is Rugby’s Greatest

Championship, and although the World Cup organisers may contest this claim it has delivered over many years.I need to confess at this point, that if was not immediately apparent, I am a life long rugby fan, an interest first kindled watching the Five Nations on what would now be considered to be a very small TV. Like many rugby supporters I do not support any club side but I remain deeply passionate about the performance of my national side, as do many other rugby fans. In many ways rugby is blessed not to have the divisive element that can stem from the tribalism of club support, although any fan can be one eyed at times (along with many referees judging from many post match comments).This annual slice of heaven has origins back in the 19th Century when the four sides from the UK started to compete in the oldest rugby championship in the world. The first games were played between the UK countries in 1882, France joined the tournament in 1910, and it was another 90 years before Italy was invited to join in 2000. In relative terms, the French side made a very slow start

and did not win much in their early days, and the Italians currently lack consistency although they have beaten every side apart from England.Rugby being rugby, there are as many tales of off pitch shenanigans as there are of heroics on the pitch. There was one example where a match had been played in Paris and members of the visiting team were given after-shave as part of the proceedings. One or two of the players (forensic accuracy is rarely a feature of these stories) drank the fine smelling liquid, and thankfully suffered no lasting after-effects. Another famous tale is when Dean Richards (English, policeman) and John Jeffrey (Scottish, farmer) took the Calcutta Cup (made in 1878 from melted silver rupees) out into the streets of Edinburgh and threw it around instead of a rugby ball. Once again there was no lasting damage as it only took six weeks to restore the trophy to its original condition .It’s this blend of the gladiatorial battles that take place on the pitch and the high jinks afterwards between opposing comrades in arms that appeal to so many, although there will be some criticism of anything that is seen as excessive, especially when viewed through a contemporary lens.As we go to publication there are two teams undefeated so far in the 2015 Six Nations. England will play Ireland in Dublin on Sunday March 1st, and the winner has a genuine chance of winning the Grand Slam. There has been some outstanding play and drama on the pitch so far (the off pitch incidents are much reduced in the professional era) and it looks set to continue. The fact that the Rugby World Cup kicks off in September adds some spice to the results….

You may have noticed over recent weeks a higher level

of excitement, especially amongst the male section of the British population, about

the game of rugby:

Six Nations Rugby Explained

By Andy Symmonds

sports/

M A R K S A N D S P E N C E R . E U / F O O D

CHRISTMAS DELIGHTSFESTIVE FAVOURITES

Join us on Facebook Facebook.com/MarksandSpencerNederland

GROTE MARKTSTRAAT 30 – DEN HAAGKALVERSTRAAT 226 – AMSTERDAM

During my 26 years in NL (I was very young when I arrived!) there have been many times when I have needed

to get my hands on British or foreign products, maybe to make a recipe from a cookbook which asks for a British or American ingredient which you can’t find in Dutch supermarkets, or simply for nostalgia reasons, to get your fix of say Cadbury’s chocolate or proper salt and vinegar crisps.

It’s amazing how many ingredients we would take for granted at home, but which are a mystery to the Dutch. After all this time I have a amassed a few go-to places where I know I can find what I need. Here are a few examples in Amsterdam and Amstelveen

By Alison Smith

This place looks like Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe with floor to ceiling shelves, precariously stacked with a blindingly colourful array of foreign produce. Not a square centimeter of space has gone to waste, which means you have to be careful manoeuvring around the place, especially at busy times.

Excellent for: American and British baking products, sweets, snacks and breakfast cereals. They also stock many German delicacies. I was happy to find bitter-sweet chocolate chips for baking, sweetened coconut, Sarsons malt vinegar, Betty Crocker ready made frosting (less faff for cupcakes!) They also stock Cadbury’s Easter Eggs and, if you miss the sweets and chocolate from back home, this is the place to find it. They also have the full range of tinned and pickled goods from all over the world.

Downside: It’s a fascinating shop but don’t linger or touch the produce or you’ll be jumped on by one of the owners, who watch you like a hawk. Woe betide anyone who attempts to take a photograph! The service ranges from obsequiously nice (full baskets) to cold and rude (young tourists taking pictures and “just looking” or buying one item). With the small space you really have to be careful not to knock anything off a shelf and, if you want anything higher than eye level, ask the owner or risk an avalanche. It’s also pricey so don’t get too carried away.

Eichholtz Delicatessen Leidsestraat 48, Amsterdam

Fairly recently renovated and offering many British favourites from Aunt Bessies baking goods to Branston pickle.

Arkwright’sRozengracht 13, Amsterdam

Finding Foreign Foodie Favourites

M A R K S A N D S P E N C E R . E U / F O O D

CHRISTMAS DELIGHTSFESTIVE FAVOURITES

Join us on Facebook Facebook.com/MarksandSpencerNederland

GROTE MARKTSTRAAT 30 – DEN HAAGKALVERSTRAAT 226 – AMSTERDAM

(There is a bigger branch in The Hague and they have a small selection of food at some BP petrol stations).

I’m sure many of the smaller foreign supermarkets will have felt the pinch from the arrival of this British favourite store. The branch on the Kalverstraat is mainly a food hall and has a good, albeit abridged, range of what you can find in the M&S back in the UK. Very well trained, polite staff are an immediate stand-out feature and the convenient late opening times make it way too tempting to call in after work.

Excellent for: Where to start? British cheeses and dairy products. Cuts of meat you recognise. Thickly sliced bacon. British favourites such as pork pie, British sau-sages, scones and traditional cakes. Ready meals and delicious desserts. I could go on but I’m getting hungry.Downside: The only one I can think of is certainty of availability. The range can change from week to week and some products sell out very quickly, especially on a Saturday, so set off early if you want scones and clotted cream for Saturday teatime.

I have sometimes been for a specific item to find the range has changed and they don’t have it any more, but this doesn’t happen often and is more of a problem at the petrol station branches than in the main store.

Kalverstraat 226, Amsterdam

This was the first foreign supermarket I found when I came to live here and it is still a firm favourite.

Excellent for: Their range isn’t just restricted to the US and UK but also caters for the large Japanese community so perfect if you are into making Asian food. Their frozen section has some gems like ready made Yorkshire puds, Pukka Pies, and English sausages and bacon. You can easily park outside so it’s a good one to visit in the car. No dragging heavy bags on the tram. It’s quite a large place and has a wide selection of foreign goods but also everyday Dutch produce, fresh vegetables, bread and meats, so you can combine your weekly shop with a few treats from around the world.

Downside: If you are without a car it is out of the city but, on the upside, reachable by tram from the centre of Amsterdam, (Tram 5).

KingsalmarktRembrandtweg 617-635, Amstelveen

The store is closing down. At the time of going to press there was a clearance sale on. Details on their website. http://www.britishstore.nl/

The British General Store1e Constantijn Huygensstraat 94, Amsterdam.

Finding Foreign Foodie Favourites

food from home/

www.britsoc.nl/where-to-find-food-from-home/

Beth Johnson is the owner of Boekhandel Van Rossum (Beethovenstraat 30 & 32 in Amsterdam) which sells a wide range of Dutch and English books.

Store owner Beth Johnson will officially open the new building at 10

a.m. To celebrate opening day, all of our customers are invited to attend a reception from 5.00 p.m., during which the writers Marjan Berk and Fred Lanzing will speak.Johnson doesn’t see her store’s two-month-long expansion project as an “insane” undertaking. “Boekhandel van Rossum is thriving,” Johnson says. “We have a large circle of loyal customers, a dedicated and skilled staff, and best of all, a carefully selected collection of books offering something for every reader’s tastes.”

Boekhandel van Rossum

Since its founding in 1929, Boekhandel van Rossum has

prided itself on its extensive, eclectic collection and its knowledgeable, book-loving staff. The store’s stock includes literature, poetry, history, biographies, philosophy, psychology

Beth’s Books Reopen | MARCH 2015

and theology, as well as books on leisure-related subjects such as travel, sport and cooking. Additionally, Boekhandel van Rossum has a section on Jewish culture and literature, an extensive selection of art books, and a wide assortment of English-language children’s books.

What has changed? The shop has an entirely new look with some surprising elements and sequestered nooks

for relaxing and reading. There will also be a reading table looking out onto the lovely garden. The secret room with English children’s books will be much more accessible and just as cozy on the ground floor with the Dutch children’s books. Evening readings will continue in a much more flexible space with a drop-down screen and projector. The rooms upstairs will soon be able to accommodate reading groups and literary courses. Boekhandel van Rossum is all about welcoming and connecting the various communities in our neighbourhood in Amsterdam South.

Boekhandel van Rossum’s series of literary events will resume as soon as the store reopens, starting with a talk

on 10 March by A.N. Ryst, who will discuss his stunning new book De Harpij. On 11 March Shut up and write! starts in Boekhandel van Rossum. Based on a concept developed in

New York, the project invites a group of young writers to write in silence for an hour. Participants introduce themselves beforehand, and afterwards have the opportunity to discuss what they have written.

Boekhandel van Rossum is located at Beethovenstraat 30 and 32 in Amsterdam. Hours are 9 to 6 during the week, 9 to 9 on Thursday and 9 to 5 on Saturday. You are welcome!

By Beth JohnsonSpread the word: Boekhandel van Rossum is expanding

The theme of this year’s Boekenweek in The Netherlands is “insanity.” It may seem like a crazy time for an independent bookstore to be doubling in size. But that is precisely what is happening in Amsterdam’s Beethovenstraat, where the celebrated Boekhandel van Rossum plans to reopen a completely renovated store on Saturday 7 March, the first day of Boekenweek.

Beethovenstraat 30-32, 1077 JH Amsterdam | 020-470 7077 | [email protected] | www.boekhandelvanrossum.nl | facebook.com/boekhandelvanrossum

www.boekhandelvanrossum.nl

A sanctuary from ‘insanity’

Some surprising elements and

sequestered nooks for relaxing and reading

B o e k h a n d e l v a n R o s s u m r e o p e n s S a t u r d a y 7 M a r c h

BETH JOHNSON

BEETHOVEN’SBOOKSHOP

REOPENS

“Insanely good”

British LanguageTraining Centre

English & Dutch CoursesTeaching English (TEFL)

www.bltc.nlTel. 020 622 3634

bltc

At ISA, we believe that great facilities can set the stage for great learning. ISA is housed in a space specially designed for international education. And inspiration.

Our facilities include a four-floor library/media center, a 400-seat theatre, science labs and specialist studios for music, art, and drama. More than 400 computers are joined in a school-wide, online network. Students work with laptops and iPads in the classroom. Two state-of-the-art gyms, discovery oriented playgrounds and adjacent playing fields are large, well equipped and secure.

ISA’s campus is not a luxury. It’s where ideas are born.

Sportlaan 45 - 1185 TB Amstelveen - The Netherlands - Tel. +31 20 347 1111 - www.isa.nl

Exciting and developing young minds

ISA campus, main entrance

Setting the stage.

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CM

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ISA_SettingTheStage_135x95.pdf 1 2/21/13 10:25 AM

Taste Life!Kingsalmarkt, the world-famous foodstore!We are known for our wide range of products from countries all over the world. ‘Taste life’ is what we call that. Visit us for your favourite American cornfl akes, brownies and soups, British jams and honey, Mexican tortillas, Spanish tapas and ham, Italian coffee and pasta and French cheese. Of course you can pick up the rest of your groceries too.

Rembrandtweg 621, 1181 GV Amstelveen-noord, tel. 020 643 37 51 www.kingsalmarkt.nl [email protected] reached by car (free parking) and public transport (5 or 51 tram to Kronenburg)Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9 am – 6 pm Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm

Both of the artworks shown here are by artist Roman Turczyn. Roman is an architect who has lived and worked in Doha, Qatar for many

years. As a long-term resident he has seen and recorded the changing architectural landscape of the city, and helped to shape the modern skyline of today’s Doha.

These pictures hang in the lounge of my home and I enjoy looking at them every day. They are particular favourites as they evoke wonderful memories of my time living in Qatar. Of people and places, friends and Qatari neighbours, sights and sounds unique to that city and that time. I love the contrast between the white walls and the colourful, decorated doorways. When I look at these pictures

HOME IS WHERE THE ART ISBy Louise Hunter

I can sense the scorching heat and the dust filled streets. As much as I enjoyed the modern soaring skyline of the central business district, it was images of an earlier lifestyle that I loved the most. Typically homes in the region, before the arrival of tower blocks, were built with high walls along their boundaries, giving those inside privacy and protection from the outside world. Glimpses of life inside those compound walls could sometimes be seen. As shown here, such walls were

If you have a piece of art in your home with a story attached, please feel free to sent it in to our editorial team. [email protected]

often covered with Bougainvillea, planted in a patch of earth edged with cinder blocks. The courtyards and gardens behind those doors might offer a view of green or shade, a welcoming contrast to the harsh glare of the street, and a secret haven for those within.

I’ve often listened to Desert Island

Discs and wondered which 10 tracks

I would choose to have with me if

I were marooned with only music

for company. It would have to be

music I would never tire of listening

to, even if played over and over

again. The difficulty in practice was

narrowing it down to only 10 tracks,

but here goes, in no particular order:

Texel Island Discs

1. The Beautiful South: Domino Man - 0898. It’s a shame we can’t take whole albums to our Texel Island as I would definitely take 0898 by The Beautiful South as I like every track. I picked Domino Man for its observant wit. Yep we’ve all seen him. Maybe we know him. The Walter Mitty of the taproom. Been everywhere , done everything. You can’t tell this bloke anything he doesn’t already know. “but his mind is blank and his passport’s clean”. Youch!

2. Queen: Death on Two Legs – A Night at The Opera. I was a Queen fan before they went mainstream and this track is true Queen. It’s got the grand intro, that famous guitar sound, passion and drama from Freddy and caustic lyrics. Rock Gods!.

3. Elvis Costello and The Attractions: I Want You – Blood and Chocolate. OMG how to choose just one? Mr Costello is my idol. I’ve travelled far to see him in concert, I’ve collected his music, heck I’ve even painted him. I chose this track because of his riveting performance at the Paradiso. Just Elvis in the spotlight, completely acoustic, all discordant guitar strokes and psychotic delivery. The audience listened in total silence, I....WANT....YOU... frozen, with goose bumps. My hero.

Before being exiled for eternity on the deserted island of Texel, Alison Smith chose the following discs to take with her:

4. Ian Dury and The Blockheads: Sex and Drugs and Rock & Roll – New Boots and Panties. Ian Dury was a true poet. If you don’t believe me listen to any of the lyrics on this delicious album. Unfortunately my Gran once walked into the room just as the Plaistow Patricia track came on and she nearly spilled her tea. I didn’t choose that track to take with me to my Texel Island as, of all of them, I think Sex & Drugs & Rock&Roll would be my definitive Ian Dury track, and is, apparently,

“all the brain and body need” so a great survival track then. Perfect!

5. Nico: These Days – Chelsea Girl. She of the distinctive, deep, dulcet tones, famous for her association with Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground, Nico recorded this Jackson Browne song in 1967. I love this mellow track. Great lyrics. Great accent. Very chilled.

6. Stereophonics with Jools Holland: First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra – More Friends. A very smoky rendition of this gorgeous Roberta Flack song perfectly performed by the twinkly eyed singer of the Sterophonics, Kelly Jones. Roberta was sublime, I think Kelly does it better.

7. Joan Baez: Diamonds and Rust – The Best of Joan C. Baez. Written by Joan Baez in 1974 this song recalls a phone call from a former lover, a real blast-from-the past which sends her down memory lane then back to reality. Joan has said that the lyrics refer to her relationship with Bob Dylan and an out

of the blue phone call he once made years after they split up. A melancholic choice but this whole album takes me back to my year in France where I first heard Joan Baez and fell in love with her soulful voice. Great memories...”but we both know what memories can bring, they bring Diamonds and Rust”.

8. Bruno Mars: When I was your Man – Unorthodox Jukebox. Just to prove I’m not a total music dinosaur here’s a bit of recognition for a musician who wasn’t born the first time vinyl was popular. I really like Bruno Mars’ music and think he is a stand out talent. I really love the current collaboration with Mark Ronson (Uptown Funk) but that one is currently being murdered by Dutch radio stations and I’m already tired of it. I think this more mellow track will keep its flavour for longer. Bruno sings it with such sincerity of feeling. Pretty.

9. David Bowie: Ziggy Stardust – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. I was torn between this track and ‘Lady Grinning Soul’ but chose this one as it’s from my favourite Bowie album and I’m drawn to the real 1970’s lyrics. “The kid was just crass, He was the nazz with god given ass”. Maybe no-one would notice if I smuggled the whole album to the island?

10. The White Stripes: 7 Nation Army – Elephant. This is the track I go to when I need a surge of energy or to wake up. Great beat, mad guitars. Turn it up loud.

Would like to suggest your own Texel Island Discs? Please contact [email protected]

Dave Thomas & John Richardson

poetscornerDowntime hang on is that a milkman? didn’t know we still had one!how come them two lasses are both wearing red DMs? what’s chance of seeing that and a milkman on same day?shame council’s not fixed that pothole from last winter yet pay ‘em enough blinking tax don’t we?there goes Jones for his morning run - more of a stiff walk if you ask me!is that a song thrush or a mistle thrush in the hedge there? never could tell ‘em apartfunny Londis ain’t open yet not like them to be on the late sidewhere’s my handkerchief? wish my hay fever tablets worked betterhope Tony has a good day at school he looked so stressed when I leftgreat match between Man United and Arsenal last night we gave them Gunners a right thrashingonly one meeting today might be able to do some work for a change :)wonder what’s on the menu tonight? Sheila does a superb tandoorigreat, bus is here at last where’s my smartphone?

© Dave Thomas 2015

Black

poetry

Family Birthday Weekend

With a combined age of 218 we should be tucked up in bed.But if your think we’ll act our age then you’ve been misled.

We should’ve been asleep after drinking our cocoa.But we sneaked out John’s window and went to Poco Loco.There we met “Sweetie, sweetie darling” Anji and son.It was only day one, but the party had begun.

Then Pam’s food failed to arrive. So we went to the red light and partied like it was 1965.Pam’s jaw fell off when she saw that lady straddle,across that bike with the funny saddle.

Trev’s jokes were suitably tacky.And Joan saw goldfish in her lager after sniffing wacky backy.The rest of the weekend was one big blast.It all went by way too fast.

We partied, we drank, we fell off our bikes. On the path, the road, and into the dykes.Twelve miles to Durgerdam and back, high as kites.It was pitch black and we had no lights.

Fuelled up on Heineken and a bottle of red wine.Apart from severe bruising, we’re all just fine.Birthday kisses to Pam, Rose, John, Joan and Trevor.It was a short weekend, but it will last forever.

© John Richardson 2015

BritPhotShot of the Month

Technical details: Nikon D700. AF-S Nikkor 50mm, f/2, ISO 1250 @ 1/200s

Britsoc Photo Lesson #9: Be ready before the moment

| March 2015, Barcelona

“While out and about on the streets around La Rambla there was a biblical thunderstorm that went on for hours.”

Britsoc Photo Lesson #9: Be ready before the moment

www.benjaminarthur.com

Late last year, prior to a client event in Barcelona, I had the

rare opportunity to do some street work - my favourite

form of photographic adventure. Out and about on the streets

around La Rambla, there was a biblical thunderstorm which went

on for hours. The streets emptied and everyone either ducked

+31 683 943 552 [email protected]

Benjamin Arthur The British Photographer in Amsterdam.

into a local bar or went home. I ended up in an ice cream parlour. I

noticed a large amount of rainwater had engulfed the street in front

of the parlour and thought it might be interesting to see how people

navigated it whilst staying perfectly dry myself. I put on my 50mm

f/1.4 lens and waited and watched. There was nothing else to do!

For about 5 minutes I had been photographing people tiptoeing there

way across the puddle but then something truly wonderful happened.

As if on a movie set, two young ladies came round the corner and

started singing, splashing and dancing in the rain with genuine gaiety.

And, unbeknownst to them, I was there to capture this moment. The

result was my favourite picture of 2014.

The lesson here is a simple one. When you are covering human

activity always be ready before the moment actually happens.

Sometimes you won’t know what’s going to happen but you can be

sure that where human beings are gathered, something is ALWAYS

about to happen!

To order a copy of this image as a stunning print for your wall at

home or in your office please do get in touch via email for a quote.

Britsoc food correspondent Nick Nugentreports from

the four corners of the Amsterdam kitchen

Our Nick dishes out the stars

NICK’S NOSH

Britsoc food correspondent Nick Nugentreports from

the four corners of the Amsterdam kitchen

Our Nick dishes out the stars

Pasta e Basta ** Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 8, 1017 DE AmsterdamTel: +31 20 422 2222 Web: www.pastaebasta.nl/Email: [email protected]

This is going to be intentionally short. Just don’t go, not even if someone says it will be fun! OK, not quite that short. So what’s the problem? I think if

you are a restaurant with an opera theme then the food has to be music to the tongue. Pasta e Basta does not manage this. Even though the menu is supposedly “tuned” by Ron Blauw. The musical novelty wears off extremely quickly once you have decided to pick the 37 euro per person salad bar plus pasta menu. Once you trudge up to the piano/salad bar and look at the sad leaves and honest, but disappointing charcuterie selection, you quickly realize this is the highlight of the meal! Yes, the singing is excellent. With a great selection of popular favourites from pop to opera.

I go to these tourist traps so you don’t have to. So avoid at all costs.

If you really want to know what the pasta was like, my party of three had the following Pasta:

Penne with Italian sausage and mint

Spaghetti arrabiata classico

Mushroom risotto

“Waiter, there’s a star in my nosh”

Nooch *** Reestraat 11, 1016DM AmsterdamTel: +31 20 622 2105Web: www.nooch.nlEmail: [email protected] Online reservation possible

Nooch is a relatively new pan Asian restaurant in the Negen straatjes (Nine

Streets). I was hoping that this could be a rival for my favourite of this genre, Dragon I. So expectations were high. It’s also a touch easier to get to, and also close to my new pub quiz location in Boom Chicago. Which was also the venue for our post meal comedy show from Rich Hall, who was excellent by the way. As we had a party of five for this evening’s meal, we decided that if we order all of the starters that would be enough for us(apart sharing platters, which would have been more of the same). In total we had 11 dishes. So what did we have? Sashimi of salmon and tuna The tuna was excellent and our friends told me the salmon was very good as well.Pepper tuna You have to work very, very hard to beat Dragon I’s sesame coated version and unfortunately Nooch was not even close. Their version seared with a sprinkle of Japanese pepper over it did not cut it for me.Japanese Seaweed salad It was a simple affair, with shredded crab sticks on the top and a crab mayo on the side for extra sea flavour. Pretty good Asian Dim Sum PlatterWas OK with four different pieces. We could only try 1/2 of one each and mine was quite good. Mandarin Pancakes Pancakes with slices of duck breast. Not really Peking style, but served with the regular spring onion and cucumber inside with a hoi sin dip. The duck texture and flavour did not really do it for me. They were very ho hum.

[email protected]

Shrimp RollsYes, pretty ok regular spring rolls with prawn inside.Rocky RollsVietnamese pancakes with beef, shrimp, rice, noodles and vegetables. Again pretty ok.Sesame Chicken Wings Crispy coating with some nice spicy chilies cooked well. Apart from the tuna and Vietnamese rolls, this was the next best dish of the night. Beef TakakiWere slices of beef in sesame soy dressing with cucumber. The beef was tender and flavoursome with the sauce. Very nice.Ura MakiInside our rolls with fish in the centre were nothing special.

We had a pretty good Pouilly Fume to wash this down with which was reasonably priced. So if you are in the Negen Straatjes and fancy a pan Asian bite after a hard day’s shopping then it’s a pretty good choice. I would always be thinking how much better it would be if I was in Dragon I.

Paper Planes*** Rokin 81, 1012 KL AmsterdamTel: +31 20 620 2442Web: http://bar-italia.nl/Menu online: http://bar-italia.nl/menu/paper-planes

I’m always looking for interesting and tasty brunch/lunch places in Amsterdam that are

value for money. I had been walking past this place nearly every week on the way to my old pub quiz location at the Tara. It intrigued me. It was only until I had a meeting in one of the offices in Rokin that I had the chance to try it. Just as an aside, the building I had my meeting in is about to get a new bar/restaurant from the Jimmy Woo stable. I understand the working title is View. It’s on the eighth floor, giving pretty excellent views of the city. Another exciting revelation was the same building is having a club built in the basement, and since it is attached to Cruise Control studios were Hardwell, Martin Garixx and the like come to mix records they might be doing some performances there occasionally! It pnly holds about 300 so thousands will be disappointed! Anyway, getting back to Paper Planes. It’s in the basement, below Bar Italia, but the place

of Crispy Tortilla with spicy black beans, two fried eggs, topped off with cheese, cherry tomato salsa, avocado and fresh coriander. My lunch partner had smoked salmon sandwich. When my lunch arrived it looked great, and I tucked in with gusto. If you had asked my opinion after the first couple of bites I would have said fantastic. However, the truth is after a while you get a bit bored and you run out of vital ingredients very quickly until you are left with the brown mess at the bottom which is the refried beans. They get boring really quickly. My dining partner, who had the sandwich, said it was good. But for me, if you have a good appetite then the portion size was a bit small. The smoked salmon was, however, good quality. So up against the benchmark, which is Greenwoods, then it’s an interesting alternative, but I will not hurry back there.

Conservatorium Brasserie***Conservatorium HotelVan Baerlestraat 27, 1071AN AmsterdamTel: +31 20 570 0000 Web: www.conservatoriumhotel.comEmail: [email protected] online are possible

Because she works nights,we decided to have a nice brunch to celebrate

my girlfriend’s birthday. We chose the Conservatorium Hotel Brasserie. It has a very impressive atrium in the centre of the building. I have tried to have Lunch there before and it was packed, so this time I made an online reservation.

The place is filled with Oud Zuid types and Hipsters, so if you like this sort of crowd then you will be in your element. We had a great time looking at the alternative dress styles, with everyone trying to look extremely cool. Me? Well as usual I just wanted a good feed.

On Sunday they have a roast for 20 euros. Oh boy I thought, great. The starter choice was

“Waiter, there’s a star in my nosh”

from the extensive ice buffet, as they call it, which you could pretty much fill up on that alone for 14 euros. But it did not appeal as this was, after all, a special occasion. My Girlfriend went for the pretty pricy halibut at 29 euros. In the end, we decided to share six oysters for a starter with a glass of Cava each.

The oysters were served on ice with the standard red wine vinegar and shallot dressing and lemon. They were quite large and had the typical ozone freshness you associate with good oysters.

The main dishes took an age to arrive. We were on our way to an Ajax football match and I was worried about the amount of time they were taking. For a hotel, the service was very average. When the Halibut arrived it looked overcooked, which was not really a surprise at this point. However, to cook a wonderful fish like that, badly, at 29 euros is poor for me. If it had been my dish I probably would have sent it back. My roast beef arrived in thin slivers with some vegetables and roast potatoes. The potatoes were roasted waxy ones (like Jersey royals) and not very generous portions. I was not so happy about that, but if it tasted good then ok. It looked good on the plate, but that’s were it stopped. It was close to cold. I asked if the food is normally served like that and the waiter replied “yes.” So I asked for it to be warmed up and I also complained about the amount of potatoes.

The plate came back out after about five minutes, hot with more potatoes. The beef was tasty and well cooked. The vegetables and the wrong roast potatoes were ok.

We finished with a rhubarb crumble. This was an interesting take on an old favourite in that it had the custard under the crumble layer, which led to the rhubarb. It was a nice end.

If you like to people watch especially the fashionistas, oud zuid crowd and hipsters then this is great place to go. Just know you are going to spend a lot of money for an average lunch. We had also about five glasses of wine and tea and the bill was over 130 euros.

[email protected] 37

Slow Beer Braised OxtailKaren Vivers

food glorious/

Karen Vivers, originally from Scotland, has lived here in Amsterdam since 1997, and has

set up the Cooking Coach to help inspire people to get back into the kitchen. The basis of the cooking lessons are easy, tasty, healthy recipes. Each course starts with a free introduction session, to make sure that you only cook what you like to eat. As well as cooking lessons, Karen offers Culinary Tours in Amsterdam, is a passionate Food Blogger and works freelance as a

Culinary Consultant, specialising in small and me-dium businesses, helping them get started, grow and deal with commercial challenges.

Slow Beer Braised OxtailI am so lucky to call The Albert Cuyp Market in Amsterdam, my local market. It’s such a great slice of daily life here. And, as part of their sales of practically everything under the sun, there is of course food. The market has some really tasty little treasures. You won’t see them at first glance, you have to look a little closer to see the international delicacies, or the typically Amsterdam classics. I take my culinary tour clients along the market and let them taste the best fresh stroopwaffels, the classic Belgian style fries, loempia, and of course some herring – the original Dutch fast food. I love taking them to the spice shop and telling them about how wars were fought over these flavours. Although some are surprised to hear of the lengths that people went to add some taste to their 17th century European food, not me, I’d fight for my right to spice any day.

Not only does the market offer all this, they’re moving with the times too. For just over a year they had organic section, every Wednesday. I spoke to some of the folks there and they told me that it is a bit of an experiment. They weren’t sure if the very traditional, conservative Amsterdammer (yes, contrary to popular belief, they can be very conservative) would welcome such a change. They weren’t sure if organics were suited to the Albert Cuyp – maybe this isn’t what their clientele wants? Although small, the organic section of the market is still there each week. It’s become a bit of a habit of mine to try and get to their butcher and see what tasty treats he has on offer. Although they have great meats, I always get some oxtail, I’ve developed a weakness for it.

I, for one Amsterdammer, hope that the Albert Cuyp organic sections stays, so, in that spirit, here is my tribute to their oxtail.

Preparation: Less than 10 minutesCooking time: 3 to 3hr 30 minutes

Ingredients for 4 to 6 Servings2 x tbsp sunflower oil (or other flavourless oil)2 x large onions chopped roughly4 x large garlic cloves chopped roughly1.2 kg / 2.6 lb. oxtail, chopped into sections along the vertebrae bone660ml / US 1.3 pt. / UK 1.1 pt. dark Belgian style beer - this is about 2 x small bottles, but you don’t have to be completely exact.2 x bay leaves2 x heaped tsp English mustardThe leaves of 5 or 6 sprigs of thyme1 x tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional)200ml / 7 fl. oz. water from boiled kettle, plus maybe more during the cooking processA large handful of finely chopped flat leaved parsleySalt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Method

1. Set your oven to 170°C / 340°F to heat to temperature while you prepare the oxtail.

2. In a heavy bottomed pan, one that has a tight fitting lid that you can put in the oven, heat the oil. Get the oil nice and hot, almost smoking point. Then add the meat to the pan. It should sizzle as you place it in your pan.

3. Allow the meat to brown. Try not to stir it around. If you do this, you may find that it sticks. Give the meat time to brown on one side, and then turn it, until it is brown all over. If you find that the meat does stick this normally means that your pan and oil is not hot enough or you haven’t given enough time for it to take on colour before you try and move it.

4. Add the garlic and onions, stir through and try to bring some of the colour from the bottom of the pan and cover the onions and garlic with it. Allow the onions to soften a little, cooking it like this on a medium heat for about 3 to 5 minutes.

5. Add the bay leaves, mustard, thyme, beer and Worcester sauce. Stir everything together, add the water and allow the mix to come to a gentle simmer. Add a little salt and pepper.

6. Your oven should now be at the correct temperature. Cover your pan and place it in the oven.

7. After 30 minutes, check your oxtail. You want it to be simmering gently. If not, turn the temperature up a little, if so, keep the temperature as is. If the stew is boiling too furiously, turn your temperature down a little.

8. Check your oxtail every 45 minutes to 1 hour. The reason for this is to make sure that it doesn’t dry out. If it does, add a little water from a recently boiled kettle, and stir through before returning to the oven.

food glorious/9. The oxtail is ready when the meat is tender and comes off the bone very easily. When it has reached this stage, check for seasoning, stir through your fresh parsley, and serve.

Tips and Variations• My favourite way to serve the oxtail is with

mashed potatoes and simply boiled broccoli or green beans.

• If your meat is ready, but you find your sauce too thin, you have a couple of options. You can return the pan to a high heat on the stove, remove the lid and let the sauce reduce a little. Or, you can mix a little corn flour (a couple of teaspoons) and water (just enough to bring it together to a creamy consistency) together, mix this through your oxtail until it thickens.

Karen’s COOKING BOOK

“Love Food, Live Healthy”

now available on Amazon.

http://amzn.to/1rcOpYa

Learn How to Cook the Healthy, Tasty Meals you

WANT to Eat!Love Food, Live Healthy is ideal for those of us who really enjoy our food, but want to eat consciously without compromising on flavour. This book contains over 100

recipes and is packed with lots of practical cooking and healthy eating tips. Designed

for cooks of all skill levels, whether you love cooking or just love eating!

This book is a compilation of recipes used and created by Karen Vivers who,

after overcoming a Binge Eating Disorder, started her own business teaching others to cook healthily. The realization that the key to sustaining the healthy weight she

reached after losing 40kgs, lay in cooking was the inspiration.

The Cooking Coach Love Food, Live Healthy

www.thecookingcoach.eu

Mobile : 06 1424 0009Email: [email protected]

Karen is originally from Scotland and has lived in Amsterdam since 1997.

Having worked in various corporate situations mainly in project management positions in hospitality and banking, gave

all that up to pursue her food career. In 2000 Karen set up an award winning delicatessen

in Amsterdam. “Vivers Delicatessen” was voted one of the best speciality stores in the Netherlands and was recognized

for artisanal high quality, low production products and her own product line.

Now, as owner and founder of “The Cooking Coach”, Karen teaches others to cook, gives Culinary Tours of Amsterdam and helps other culinary businesses reach

their goals.

www.amsterdam.angloinfo.com

AMSTERDAM

march 2015 zine

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