Dutch Food- Café Poffertjes

I reviewed, well I say “reviewed” I mean “went” to The Belgian Waffle Shop a few weeks back and now it’s the turn of the Dutch. I found out about this via a mysterious Dutchman named “Chris” who was sat at my table at a recent curry event which is held in Taipei. The curry itself was uninspiring and in my view (though no expert) nothing I couldn’t have done myself, but at least I gleaned this bit of knowledge (as well as having a bit of banter with a few old friends and new). I was considering using that event to write about Indian food, though I will save that for a later date.

I have been to Holland a few times in my life, the most recent being in 2002 during the Japanese/South Korean World Cup. I was living in Leeds, UK at the time in my oldest friend’s house, as his flat mate had recently been promoted to “Head Office” in Amsterdam. Her Company had paid the rest of her rent to the end of their rental contract, so I got to bed down in Yorkshire for three months for free, and they also paid her moving costs (Read: she hired a van and me and Dancin’ Danny Danson, moved all her stuff on the cheap from Leeds to Amsterdam and got a free holiday out of it). My first memory of being in Amsterdam was the TV behind us in “Head Office”’s reception showing David Beckham scoring a “wonder penalty” against Argentina. This was a pretty big moment in UK folklore, the spectre of 1986’s hand of God, the more jingoistic media types linking it to The Falklands War, and the fact we finally beat Argentina in a competitive match.  I remember in the months leading up to the “big game” people were coming up with creative reasons to be off work for that match, companies were not allowing holidays, however, me and him didn’t care either way. We were just sat in his room playing on the Gamecube and/or listening to funk and reggae until all hours. Time of course, well spent. I recollect we were staying in the De Pijp area and we had some food from Surinam, but other that- it is a blur. Take from that what you will. I have no idea how the city changed with the advent of AirBnB.

My last official night out in the UK before I left was in The Dutch Pancake House in Manchester, which has since been demolished, nobody I knew had ever set foot in there. We’d all been past it on the bus and always wanted to go in- we finally did in October 2003. We built it up in our heads as going to be the best thing ever- all I remember was Dancin’ Danny Danson (who had joined me back in Manchester) and the then Mrs. DDD  say “Oh wow, Dutch pancakes aren’t always cake”. Cultured, and sophisticated to the last.

This was the first time in this project I’d gone for breakfast or specifically for something sweet. Again, that quality factual organ Wikipedia claims that poffertjes come from the traditionally Catholic South to sweeten up communion offerings.  They are pancakes, and they are small. This much is true.

The place itself was pretty small, maybe 25 seats and was pretty busy for a Thursday. Nice atmosphere and easy to get to if you aren’t me (I’m very bad with directions and reading maps). The menu is pretty extensive; I got a few pics from the menu, but didn’t get it all, I wasn’t interested in the spaghetti or risotto which is on offer, focusing instead on the brunch and poffertjes menu. What I had wanted was not available today, for some reason. So, instead I went for the classic poffertjes with syrup and butter. I thought that as I’m trying to represent authentic as possible, that would be best and it was cheap at 110NT.I also got a latte.

What arrived at my table was pretty small but was just enough. An unfair person would describe it as a mound of bite sized pancakes. To me though, it was as if those gosh darned Catholics had designed the perfect size for the things. Very nice indeed, and as we are close by quite often we’ll go back and try some of the other stuff available.

As I come back home to write this, I’m smiling at some of the scrapes that me and DDD got into in the early years. We unfortunately lost contact due to a series of unfortunate circumstances after he had a total breakdown and he began to fear technology. Also my ipad locked up and it was our only direct line. If you are out there DDD and you recognize my words, get in touch on here, there is a fair bit to catch up on.

A bittersweet note to end on today, but hey, these things happen. Should you go to Poffertjes Café? It’s a yes from me, it is cheap for brunch, easy to get to and everybody loves the Dutch.

Menu

Address: No. 18, Lane 52, Chang’an West Road, Datong District, Taipei City, 103

Nearest MRT: I’d say your best bet is to go to Taipei Main Station and walk underground to the R2 exit of Zhongshan Metro Mall and you are right outside. You could walk from Zhongshan MRT but as today was 37C outside, you know it makes sense.