Ghost of a flea: Pindakaas

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December 13, 2006

Pindakaas

Dear Consulate General of the Netherlands in Toronto,

I have been reading about pindakaas and gather it has a sharper taste than North American sweet peanut butter; being closer in taste to a satay sauce. This sounds delicious! Here is my problem: How to secure a jar of pindakaas in Toronto? I would be grateful if you might suggest a purveyor of Dutch foods in the Toronto area.

Thank you for your help,

The Flea

PS - I have fond memories of my trips to Amsterdam. I did not try a local peanut butter sandwich at the time; a fact which, in retrospect, was an oversight.

The reply (with minor revisions):

Dear Flea,

You can purchase Dutch food at the following two locations:

Holland Store
2542 Weston Road (just south of hwy. 401)
Tel: 416 247-8659
Web: www.com.to/hollandstore

Niemeyer's Import
10 East Wilmott St., Unit 9
Richmond Hill
Tel: 905-764-0302

With best regards,

Cultural Department

This was very kind of the Dutch government but as I get nose-bleeds north of St. Clair I am SOL when it comes to these two suppliers. Fortunately, the Sister of the Flea reports a Dutch store in Ottawa so with any luck I can source my peanut butter there. In the meantime, if any representatives of the Netherlands should happen to read this they should please feel free to send me pindakaas for review purposes.

Customer service Update: Hugh Hewitt's lousy customer care experience with Hertz Rental Cars is worth a listen if only by way of catharsis for Flea-readers who, like me, have been repeatedly sold Shopper's Drug Mart merchandise priced higher at the cash than on the shelf or who have, heaven help you, imagined Loblaws customer service might answer a letter. Not to worry. I am going to remember that smug little Shopper's Drug Mart bastard in the coming After Times and demand trial by Thunderdome: Two men enter, one man leaves.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at December 13, 2006 07:01 AM

Comments

I know of a Dutch store in Brantford (never mind nosebleeds, make it brain aneurysms). However, this eventual BIL-of-the-Flea shall be happy to pick up the object of the Flea's prandial desires whenever he takes the Elvismobile up the to northern reaches of the city.

Posted by: Elvis at December 13, 2006 02:35 PM

Oh - I am slightly disturbed (not in a good way) by the festive Cate Blanchett lookalike on the front page of the Shoppers Drug Mart site...

Posted by: Elvis at December 13, 2006 02:37 PM

You have my blessings in both noble ventures; they are a credit to your person.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at December 13, 2006 02:55 PM

:sniff:

Where's the kleenex?

Posted by: agent bedhead at December 13, 2006 04:28 PM

The same place as those imaginary cookies!

Now eating a date square, btw.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at December 13, 2006 04:30 PM

Don't you go north of St. Clair every day to get to work??

I bet one of those stores, if not both, would be willing to ship your goodies to you for a nominal fee.

Posted by: Chris Taylor at December 13, 2006 06:15 PM

What do the Dutch do when downtown? Must they hunker in large backpacks of peanut sauce and salty licorice to maintain their systems? Have they endives planted in hidden locations near King Street to get them by?

Posted by: Alan McLeod at December 14, 2006 10:20 AM

I expect they adopt a pioneer spirit. Though it could be that passport holders can drop in on the Consulate for their rations.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at December 14, 2006 10:32 AM

St. Clair...that's North of Bloor as I recall from my time in TO where my motto was, "Elk begin at Eglington".

I was endlessly amused by people who claimed to live "downtown" when they lived at this St. Clair place.

Posted by: Jay Currie at December 16, 2006 03:53 PM

I admit I was being extremely generous by running all the way north to St. Clair but then the anthem does say something about it being strong and free up there.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at December 16, 2006 04:09 PM