Herring Hunt

I'm feeling guilty that I haven't posted anything in months, even though I must have thought at least a hundred times: "I should put that in my blog". So my new plan is to submit shorter posts more often.

This post is to announce that apparently both Hollandse nieuwe haring (i.e., "new herring") and Celine Dion will be arriving in Amsterdam this week. I can forgo Celine, but I will definitely be on the lookout for a herring stand.

Herring (usually salted and frozen, but not cooked) is considered a delicacy here. According to DutchAmsterdam.nl, the Hollandse Nieuwe is the "best herring" and is only available during a narrow time window (usually mid-May to the end of June). For 2008, no herring may be sold as Hollandse Nieuwe unless it was caught on or after June 3rd, has at least 16% fat, and was frozen for at least 2 days; those that break this law will be fined €10,800. So yep, the Dutch take their herring seriously.

You're supposed to hold the tail of the herring in one hand, tipping your head back to dangle it over your mouth, and then bite off the head first, before chewing towards the tail. Yum!

Also on the agenda for this week:

- Replace my mobile telephone which mysteriously expired last night

- Replace my computer speaker which is not quite dead yet but is emitting a static-heavy drone that will induce in me a nervous breakdown if I allow it to continue

- Go to a cocktail bar to try fancy Italian aperitivos

- Bike from Amsterdam to Haarlem

- Read further in my Dutch grammar book and the Namesake

- Make large batches of ginger lemonade

- Activate my first euro credit card

- Plan what to do with my remaining vacation days

- Cook something insanely delicious