Thursday, July 9, 2009

Dutch Lunch

Have you ever been in Holland for a meeting and had a lunch in the meeting room?
Well, unless you are a BIG fan of bread, I suggest to have a heavy breakfast.

Dutch do eat a lot of bread for lunch. Many bring their own sandwiches and milk bottle that they pick up from their bags at lunchtime. That means before 12 o'clock - right after Finnish &Swedish finish lunch and French & Italian start planning it.
Hence their meeting room lunch order is similar; Bread, milk and if you are lucky some juice and an apple.
Are the sandwiches then filled properly to make them tasty and filling?
Nope, they are plain: one slice of cheese OR ham, not both. And definitely no veggies like salad.

Earlier a Dutch colleague who had the authority to make decision was frustrated when we had delicious, healthier sandwiches (also dark bread) with proper fillings like salmon. There was also tomato, cucumber, salad etc to bring some flavor.
Of course the man calls the assistant and complains about the sandwiches and next day we get the plain, dry Dutch specialties...

These pics I have taken myself while having one of the meeting room lunches;
Yes, they are bread rolls with one slice of ham OR cheese, milk and juice.
And here is a delicious selection of bread to choose from.

Bon appétit - or better to say Smakelijk!

PS If one of the Dutch colleagues read this, just let me know via comment box and next lunch is on me!

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