28 januari 2010 - This week we were invited by the Italian Anna Facchetti, an Erasmus student of the Master’s program Industrial Engineering. When we take a peek in the kitchen, we are amazed to find that this Italian girl is preparing a Turkish dish. Anna: “This is a recipe from my Turkish housemate Gül Ertekin. I have made it many times before and she has provided me with lots of tips, so it should work out fine now.”

In Anna’s house there are seven Erasmus students: two from Italy, two from Turkey and three from Spain. They all find a tasty meal important. “We always joke about each other’s cooking customs. For example: the Spanish throw just about everything into the frying pan and in Turkey they eat everything with yoghurt. What they say about Italians is that we toss Parmesan cheese over every dish, but of course I don’t agree with that at all”, says Anna. The housemates exchange a great deal of information about recipes, herbs and customs. Which explains why this week we are served a typically Turkish dish by an Italian.

We sit down around nine o’clock. That would be the normal dinner time for the Mediterranean students in the house. “You Dutchmen do eat very early indeed. We have not adapted to that, though.” We are having beans with tomato and onion, served with rice and an omelet. According to the Turkish recipe, the rice has first been baked briefly in oil. It goes without saying that there is yoghurt to be found on the table. The omelet is filled with mozzarella and tomato sauce. This not a typically Turkish nor a typically Italian recipe. Anna: “The omelet is an experiment. Normally the Spaniards do the cooking on a Sunday and we eat Spanish omelet. That’s why I have made an omelet to go with it.” The Spanish contribution to today’s dinner is the dessert: Spanish sweets from Barcelona.

Before everybody returns to their room to study -tomorrow they all have examinations- they briefly discuss the food for tomorrow. The Spanish student Natalia Prades Costa will do the cooking then. For dessert she is still hesitating between arroz con leche -rice with milk- and crema catalana (the Catalan version of crème brûlée). The housemates decide on arroz con leche. However, it should not be fried. (HB)

The recipe may be found on www.tuemeetingplace.nl.
Would you like us to savor your culinary prowess? Mail to Engcursor@tue.nl.