Dutch lunch

South San Francisco, April 13, 2009—

LUNCH IN AMSTERDAM today. Well, Café Amsterdam, at the National Gallery in Washington. We were there to see a fine little exhibition of Dutch cityscapes, and the NatGal has a new tradition of adapting its café to the big changing exhibit show, so there we were with a Dutch menu. We could have had Kalkoen met appels en saus, or Gestoofde rundeerlappen, or Gebakken vis, but we opted instead for the

Buffet
Vijfscaft
Rode kool
Kip uit de goudentijd
Gebakken groentjes
Vruchten
Appeltaart

which is to say, bean and sausage stew; braised red cabbage; braised chicken rubbed with spices, roasted turnips, celery root, and parsnips; fresh pears and apples; "traditional Dutch apple pie" more in the American style than the Dutch, but not bad. Cheeses, of course.

Côtes du Rhône, rouge, 2007

***

And, late tonight, after landing, another Caesar salad at another Houlihan's, at another Holiday Inn…