Food Fusion

Growing up in a multicultural household, our family's meals were anything but traditional. My parents each brought their own culinary heritage to the table, and together, we created a unique fusion of flavours that became its own tradition. Dinner wasn’t just a meal; it was a blending of cultures, memories and smaaks (tastes) that told the story of who we are.

On any given night, our table was an unexpected combination of my parents' favourite dishes. We might start with a classic, hearty leek and potato soup concocted by my mother, followed by a Dutch-inspired stamppot—a mix of mashed potatoes, kale, and sausage. For dessert, we'd enjoy a Scottish sticky toffee pudding alongside a Dutch stroopwafel. It was a mix that wouldn’t make sense in a cookbook, but to us, it was perfect. 

https://www.food.com/recipe/dutch-stamppot-with-rookworst-124192

Holidays brought dishes from both traditions, often side by side. We'd have haggis, neeps and tatties on Burns Night and oliebollen (Dutch fried dough balls) to ring in the new year. Even before the typical Christmas festivities began, December 5th meant celebrating Sinterklaas with spiced cookies and chocolate letters. Each holiday felt like a celebration of both worlds, a testament to how our family honoured its roots by blending them. 

Oliebollen

This food fusion shaped my palate and my identity. It taught me that cooking and eating are expressions of love and creativity. Through food, I learned that being multicultural wasn’t just about living between two worlds - it was about creating a third, a place that was all ours. Today, I still carry on these traditions, knowing that each meal connects me to my heritage and reminds me that identity doesn’t have to be a choice. It can be a delicious blend of all the best parts.