Something to think about: Surinamese gourmet?

Next to its untouched rainforest and the multicultural variety, Suriname is best known for its food. It could be the water, the fresh ingredients or just simply the cooking style, but the same food made here just tastes many times better. And I know, since I tried to cook the same Surinamese dishes in Aruba, but it always seemed to lack something.....

But even though, tourists mostly come here for the local food, but most locals LOOOVE international food. And I kinda am one of them. Look...I love to eat home cooked food and I buy it all time as a lunch option, but when it comes to a night out or dining with friends, I'd prefer a little bit extra. And till now, I don't see any Surinamese food served in a great ambiance and even if there is, we, locals, would surely not like to pay the extra for the same dish that we can get for half the price. At least, I don't. And even if someone might think of a fusion food, but Surinamese style, we as locals still tend to lack the understanding why we'd pay more for a Surinamese dish done differently. And mostly, when done differently, the portions also seem to shrink in size.

A great example is Javanese food. That is one type of Surinamese food that people are willing to go out for. And everybody knows that for a good and 'authentic' Saoto Soup, they need to go to Blauwgrond. I remember one time when someone gave it a shot and opened a warung (Javanese restaurant) near the nightlife area 't Vat. They hardly made the ends meet and closed down the business soon after. Two of the Javanese places, Sarinah and Mirosso, mostly chosen by tourists because of the ambiance, but you won't see that many locals visit the dining room. Of  course locals will still go to Mirosso for instance, but they would prefer to go to the one next door, where a Saoto Soup is double the size for half the price.(extremely exaggerated).

What is your opinion? Is there a way that Surinamese restaurants can sell their specialties for a greater price or  will you just keep it as a lunch option?

Snesie! Chinese! 中国人！

On October 20, 1853 the first Chinese arrived in Suriname. Tomorrow, that will be exactly 160 years ago that this happened. For the celebration of this event, all kinds of activities are planned.  There is even an association in charge for coordinating all the activities. I have to admit; if I compare this year's activities with those of 10 years ago, they are doing a pretty good job!
 
One of the things that are remarkable is that many Chinese establishments have decorated their shops/companies with red lampoons. And all the locations for the celebration activities are branded with them. It really look like as if you're walking on the red lampoon lane.

 
For this event, I had to think up some of the remarkable Chinese culture that I could use as part of an advertisement and I had to admit that however the Chinese have been here for so many years, but we did not really imbedded many of our cultural aspects. However not many, but these are the most remarkable ones from the Chinese culture in Suriname:
 
1. Omoe (uncle) from the corner

 

    However Omoe means uncle in sranang tongo (Surinamese creole language), I remember    
    times when I was calles Omoe. For many locals, Omoe is the term for the Chinese behind the
    counter. However the Chinese have different establishments now, but somehow the idea of
    Chinese people behind the counter of a restaurant, bar or supermarket remains.
 
2. Matjok ( Mahjong)
                             
    However it's a game I still don't seem to grasp ( I know, what kind of Chinese am I, right?), but it
    is one of the games most locals seems to have learned from the Chinese. The stories about
     mahjong games bring up mixed feelings. Maybe it only happened once and long time ago, but
    whenever I hear Matjok, I can only think about those stories where Chinese men gambled away
    their shop and family. Nevertheless, don't blame the game, blame the player, right?
 
3. Chinese market
   For some years now, the Chinese market is a must for Chinese locals and a nice morning visit for   
   others. Here you will see all kinds of Chinese products. It ranges from garden-grown veggies to
   restaurant holders selling their roasted meat to imported fruits. Many locals and tourists come here
   score some Chinese snacks for an affordable price. But for those who are interested, there are two:
- The one at the corner of Grote Combeweg and Sommelsdijkstraat.

 
 
   This one have a great similarity with the normal market.
- The one at Soeng Ngie Oriental Market
   This one looks neat and seems better organized. They even make it look like a happening with the
   blow-up gate and colorful stands.

 

4. Dim Sum

    One thing that CAN'T be left out in this post is of course the food. And we start with the most

    important meal of the day: breakfast. Dim Sum literally means 'touch the heart'. I think the old

    Chinese geniuses were eating some great breakfast and you know when you eat something really

    good and kinda melts,,,,i think it's then that they came up with that word ' Oh, this really hits the   

    spot! It touched my heart!' I think it happened kinda like that. It goes without saying that those

    acquainted with dim sum will know the usual snacks like dumplings, siu mai and wonton. In

    Suriname, there are several Chinese establishments opened only for this. My two favorite shops

    are:

-   Kong Nam (Location: Weg naar Ma Retraite)

    This establishment is known by many as the one next to the big tree. The setting won't make you

    feel special and the environment does not even seem that well maintained, but it's one with the  

    better tasting dim sum.

 

-    Fu Nga  ( Location: Plutostraat)

     This establishment has a way better interior. The paint look new, there are TV's on the wall and

      even the lighting seems a bit more suitable. If I really think of a dining atmosphere for dim sum,

     I'll go there. It's also a bit more appealing if I'd invite friends for dim sum. Next to that, they have

     more menu options than most other dim sum places. And last but not least......they are open till

    3pm!! Talking about late breakfast!

 

5. Chinese cuisine

 

    Save the best for last! However Chinese food can be found everywhere (even though some are

    posing to have Chinese food), but Suriname Chinese food differs from the rest. It tastes totally

    different. Some weeks ago I mentioned it to a foreign acquaintance and she asked why. I can only

    tell her that it probably is the water quality we have here, the fresh ingredients that are within   

    reach. Like every restaurant has its specialties, I have my favorites in different restaurants:

    For my tjauwmin ( fried noodle) I most definitely will visit Lian Fa at the anamoestraat. The

    noodle itself has so much more flavor and their fa chong (chinese sausage) is the best! And believe

    me if I say that, because normally I don't eat fa chong since it's so fatty, but I'm willing to sin for it.

    Another dish that's not healthy yet so tempting is the Eggplant stew from Fa Tai. All other

    restaurants has it, but there the salty fish really has a great aroma. You'll smell whenever you have

    it in front of you. Then there is also the egg tofu from Kwan Tai. They have other dishes, but

    whenever I'm there, you can bet that it's one of the dishes I've ordered!

 



Lian Fa- Anamoestraat 12

Fa Tai- Maagdenstraat 64

Kwan Tai - Kwattaweg 428

 



For those of you who have missed all the activities till now, tomorrow you'll see the biggest group of Chinese together walking from the Chinese school (wanicastraat) to Independence Square. After the walk, there will also be performances from different Chinese associations and groups. There will also be stands selling all different kinds of Chinese goodies.