Royal Dutch Oven by BK since 1851

 picture: The Royal Dutch Oven

A sunny Thursday afternoon along one of Amstedam's canals, the Prinsengracht. In the former public library, now the Andaz hotel, a boutique hotel designed by Marcel Wanders, I visited the press launch of the Royal Dutch Oven by BK. The event was organized bij Kroon op het Werk and Royal BK, a well known Dutch oven and kitchen utensil manufacturer since 1851. Every household in Holland has at least one item from this factory from the town of Kampen in the East.
Joke Bruynzeel, www.chinpro.net an expert on China kicked of with her story on Chinese culture, cooking and customs. And how different the perception is towards a pan like this one. Every part has a little symbolic value. Joke also provided the listeners with some do and do nots in contact with Chines people.
BK and Royal delft made a Dutch oven full of Chinese symbolism. On the bottom there's a Chines inscription, simply transalted as "All over the world people love good food. Let's enjoy together" In a way it symbolizes harmony.
A Dutch oven? That's the English name of a cast iron pan to stew. A Dutch invention. I never knew this, until I made Ed's roast for this blog in January. Dutch quality hence, appreciated by the Chinese, designed for the Chines costumer. With a ceramic delft blue lid on it. Showing a peacock, the Chinese sign of excellence.
Again all symbolism.

 picture: presenting the Royal Dutch Oven

Gea Barth, marketing manager and Nadia Wijstma, designer told the audience all specifics on this remarkable product. The Royal Dutch Oven will be for sale in the Netherlands next Fall.  A short film on the casting of iron was shown. Every Royal Dutch Oven is made separately by Lovink Industries from the Achterhoek. An example of still exixting Dutch craftsmanship. A bit of nostalgia for me since I stem from a metal manufacturer's family. Though long way ago.
The most striking feature is the knob on the lid. Shaped like a yuan bao, which is a lump of gold that brings luck to the Chinese.
It did not bring me luck this afternoon, but did to a foodblogger Culinessa and my friend Maartje Stuive, owner of cooking school Keizer Culinair, www.keizerculinair.nl They went home with the beautiful pan.
More on the Royal Dutch Oven you can find on www.bk.nl