In the book ‘Met Gort de Boer op’, winegrower Ilja Gort and three-star chef Jonnie Boer go in search of 100 years of Cuisine Hollandaise. Albron shares their passion for good food and drink as well as their love of Dutch food, and has therefore decided to join the crusade to rekindle interest in Dutch cuisine.

Today, during the book presentation ‘Met Gort de Boer Op’ (1 March 2005) chefs at Jonnie Boer together with Albron chefs prepared a number of typical Dutch dishes, served in classic style and ‘ŕ la Jonnie’. These delicious dishes were served to friends, clients and the press. In order to give an extra boost to the rehabilitation of Dutch cuisine, on 16 March Albron will be serving classic boerenkool (curly kale and potato mash) based on the recipe from the book `Met Gort de Boer op’. Albron will be proclaiming today as the Special Curly Kale Day. Linden & Barbosa have been asked by Albron Catering to publicise the book presentation and the Special Curly Kale Day among the Dutch press.

‘Met Gort de Boer op’ was presented at a unique location: the Hut van Cartouche. A spot regularly frequented by Prince Bernhard and which is not open to the public. The invitation to the press was given in an unforgettable fashion: in a wine crate containing a napkin bearing the invitation, alongside a pair of Wellington boots.

The invitation was a huge success and was even mentioned in the Stan Huygens column in de Telegraaf newspaper. More than 35 journalists were present today, including the TV programmes RTL Boulevard and SBS Shownieuws. Today at 18.30 and 19.30 they will be reporting on the event. National newspapers and lifestyle magazines will also devote special attention to the book, the 3-star boerenkool dish and to the fact that it will be placed on the menu of many Albron company restaurants.

What is the book about?

With homes in both France and the Netherlands, Ilja Gort wonders why the French and the Dutch gastronomic cultures are so intensely different. Does the Netherlands in fact have a gastronomic culture? Does a Cuisine Hollandaise actually exist? He starts work at Jonnie Boer and together with the master chef goes searching for answers. In Met Gort de Boer op, Ilja Gort uses humorous stories to paint a surprising and refreshing picture of one century of Dutch eating and drinking habits. Jonnie Boer translates classic Dutch dishes into delicious recipes to make at home, each dish in two ways: the classic way and ŕ la Jonnie Boer.

Linden & Barbosa will be giving up a number of hours of their time every month to promote and publicise a number of worthwhile causes, such as Stichting HomePlan (HomePlan Foundation). Stichting HomePlan is a Dutch organisation that helps the homeless in Mexico and South Africa. These people are provided with housing units, or Basic Homes: self-build packs prefabricated in the Netherlands. On 21 February this year L&B coordinated a press event at the Port of Rotterdam for the foundation. At the event, Elco Brinkman (patron of Stichting HomePlan) and Jan Tebbe (founder of HomePlan) put the final screw into a container. As part of the ‘100 houses in 100 days’ campaign, the container with prefabricated housing units for the homeless departed for South Africa. These 100 houses will be assembled and ready for occupation in mid-July. If you would like to know more about this foundation, please go to the website www.homeplan.nl.