The landscape in Guilin, China is the marvel that is mother Mother Nature. Uncountable are the representations of its mountain tops gripped in a veil of clouds. Mysterious destinations so it felt when I cycled there on a journey from Beijing. It left dreamy memories and made me travel back to that same part in the world many years later but then to neighboring Vietnam where I was sure I could find similar landscapes and images.
Rice paddies, striking high mountain facades right behind our hotel. Wooden children seats at the back of many bicycles. Small children with colorful hats ans knitted cardigan.
The sweet flavors from the pancakes with large chunks of apple which we bought in a small restaurant down the street of our hotel stayed with me. I think it was the sensational consistency of the soft pancake, the crisp apple bite and the white sugar on top that kept the memory vivid. And the fact that we ate the pancakes seated on the bed in our room. Delicious delight. The stillness in the natural surroundings, the local people who accompanied us when we rented the bikes, went out through the fields and had food in a small traditional Guilin hut. Hidden in a recipe lays the connection I like to construct with others while we travel and live and afar from home and family. Friendship at the crossroads of a few ingredients mixed together.
Pancakes play a grand role in my life and made sense in each place where I made friends. It’s that marvelous simple dish that embraces us all. Love for food. Always without peanuts and nuts. In hindsight I’ll have many stories to tell about places and pancakes ( pannenkoeken). Pancakes work with all ages and on top of that exceptionally well for those with allergies. They’re festive!
a daughter and home baked pile of pancakes