Dutch Pancakes

My last taste of food in Netherlands was a special delicacy, which I've had several times before. Some consider it, quintessentially dutch.

In fact, one time in Amsterdam, during an anthropology conference, I asked our hosts what typical, traditional dutch 'food' would be, and they couldn't agree. Usually, after a conference, if there are visitors involved, Dutch scholars take you to an Indonesian place -- since this was a colonial possession, its becomes the domesticated exotic, like Indian food in England. But when I insisted that Indonesian be left out -- what every one agreed in the end was that pancakes were typically Dutch! Now there are many verities of pancakes to be had, but what's very common in so many cafe, are these small round ones, served with butter and sugar. Yes, its beyond sinful.

One thing to notice about these little disks, is how thick they are. Very soft centered. They are not crepes at all; which is what we had as 'pancakes' growing up in Sri Lanka -- which is also English, I would think. Going back to the Netherlands and having pancakes made me remember again my surprise at the American variety when I first had it years ago, and realized afresh that they must have been Dutch inspired for sure. Neuiw Amsterdam; New York.