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If you'd like to sample 'a taste of the future', book now for Eten & Drinken 2010 (Food & Drinks 2010) to be held from November 12-15, 2009 at the Malieveld, in The Hague. The event promises to lift the veil on the latest foodie trends, offer culinary inspiration and a lot of cheffy show. For further information, and to buy your tickets see the site.

Photo © Albert Heijn

Dutch supermarket giant, Albert Heijn, achieved a landslide victory yesterday at the Kookboek van het Jaar 2009 competition (Dutch Cookbook of the Year 2009), when its cookbook Twaalf Maanden Lekker Eten won not only in the Best Dutch Cookbook category, but also came out tops as the Overall Winner.

For me, their victory was bittersweet. The previous version of Twaalf Maanden Lekker Eten (the cookbook is an updated version of Albert Heijn's bestselling 1987 tome by the same name) is the very one from which I first learned to cook Dutch food! And, while that's nice, I'd still rather see a person win this competition than a corporation. Of course, corporations are made up of people too, as the large team of people who lined the stage to receive the award yesterday would probably attest. One of those involved with the book is Yolanda van der Jagt, whose cookbooks Lekker Hollands and Hollandse Kramen (both reviewed by me on this site) are particular favorites. I do, however, find it rather ironic that the very supermarket that has been guilty of pushing strawberries on us in December , is now the one who trumpets seasonal cooking, but I have to remind myself that the concept is not new (they were, after all, doing this back in 1987, too), so forgive me my scepticism.

But enough about what I think, this is what the jury had to say (translated from the original Dutch):

"A complete and versatile cookbook written by three Dutch culinary giants. Good photos, clear recipes and background information, and accessible for a broad audience. Interesting twists are given to classic recipes and there are some surprising flavor combinations. This book inspires you to cook."

12 maanden lekker eten has 455 pages and is available at all Albert Heijn stores for € 14,99.

Grapes have been grown in Westland (in the south western part of the Netherlands) since the 17th century. There's even a statue in Poeldijk to commemorate pastor Verburgh, who stimulated the cultivation of grapes in Westland. This recipe, from Raapsteeltje, combines Westland grapes with North Sea gurnard by way of a refreshing and vitamin packed salsa of Westland grapes, tomatoes, red onion, radishes, chilli pepper and parsley, which contrasts nicely with the fresh pan fried fish and garlicy new potatoes with bacon.

Photo © House of Origin