Twente, a region in Overijssel, Netherlands, is known for its down-to-earth nature and strong traditions. Familiar sayings like “If a farmer doesn’t know it, he won’t eat it” and “Just act normal, that’s crazy enough” reflect the local mindset. Growing up, I ate plenty of AVG’tjes (a typical Dutch meal of potatoes, meat, and vegetables), pasta dishes, and the occasional takeaway from the neighborhood Chinese restaurant. Nothing wrong with that—delicious, even—but tastes evolve, and so did mine.
Fortunately, there are people who inspire you to broaden your horizons. For me, that’s my group of girlfriends—the cooking club. A wonderful group of women I’ve known since school, one of them even since primary school. What started as casual cooking and grabbing a broodje kroket (croquette sandwich) after exam week has become a cherished tradition where we challenge each other to try new dishes. These days, we aim high, diving into the flavors of Asian cuisine—an exciting journey where we push boundaries together.
Our Latest Culinary Adventure: A Dive into Traditional Asian Cuisine
Our latest cooking session resulted in a beautifully curated menu:
- Amuse: Steamed dim sum filled with spiced minced meat and vegetables.
- Starter: Thai carrot and sweet potato soup, creamy and mildly spiced with coconut milk.
- Main course: A selection inspired by gado gado, featuring satay chicken with peanut sauce, vegan vegetable curry, spicy curry, coconut rice, sweet and sour salad, a boiled egg, and green beans with bean sprouts. Everything could be mixed and matched to individual taste.
- Dessert: Brownie with matcha and yuzu ice cream—a perfect finale
With the main course, we served green tea, complementing the Asian flavors perfectly.
The Dutch Flame 
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