It is usually a meager Christmas in the De Bever home. Both John de Bever and his husband make no effort at all for Christmas dinner. “It’s often just a frikandel from the air fryer.”
For many, Christmas is a time of lavish dining, twinkling candles, and a table full of delicacies that have taken weeks of preparation. But things are a little different in the De Bever home. John de Bever and his friend Kees start to sigh when they just see the Christmas brochure from the supermarket.
Air fryer
While half of the Netherlands is worried about the perfect turkey or gets stressed about failed tiramisu, John keeps it remarkably simple: “I usually have to perform at Christmas, so at our house it is often just a frikandel from the air fryer. Kees and I are not so romantic that we cook extensively together,” he says Party.
A frikandel? Couldn’t it be a little more festive? No, cooking is not an option, says John. “When I cook myself, I usually don’t like it. I prefer to have someone cook for me, something Kees doesn’t do very often.”
Grilled cheese
Actually, John thinks everything is fine at Christmas. “You know, it’s always Christmas for me, because again: Kees and I can eat and drink whatever we want. In the Netherlands we don’t think about that very often, but if you can do that, you are a privileged person. There are countries where people cannot eat and drink at all.”
“That’s why I’m just as satisfied with a sandwich with a little chili sauce. At Christmas I add a slice of chorizo instead of ham and cheese, and that’s fine with me too.”
A chorizo sandwich. Something different than stuffed turkey.