1/4 Christmas dinner is popular with dogs
About thirty dogs, in all shapes and sizes, enjoyed a special Christmas dinner in Heusden on Sunday. Theo van Loon, owner of Brouwcafé Kareltje, drew up the menu together with his own dog Kareltje IV. The faithful four-legged friend was allowed to taste the entire menu, licked his paws and gave his approval.
It is rare that Theo’s guests eat their dishes so quickly. While it took hours of work in the kitchen to prepare the plates gracefully, the dogs manage to devour it in a few seconds.
“He already has four remote controls on him, he’s not a real gourmet.”
Chicken from local butcher and green beans verts with noodles. It’s something different than always the same kibble. “I saw the Christmas menus of various restaurants a while ago and then the penny dropped,” says Theo.
“They get pieces of cocktail sausage with pasta as a starter, and pieces of chicken from the Keurslager as a main course green beans verts on a bed of noodles. For dessert they get vanilla ice cream and sugar waffles,” says a proud Theo as he shows the menu. The dogs are served their three-course Christmas dinner at long low tables with Christmas cloths.
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Bambino, a Spanish mastiff weighing 50 kilos, sits on the terrace. He has a reindeer hat on his head especially for this occasion. “It is a dog to guard sheep against wolves,” says his owner.
“I have a broken knee, because Bambino jumped at me last week with all his enthusiasm. He prefers to eat meat from the butcher, but he also has four remote controls. So he is not a real gourmet.” Bambino has no idea what is being said about him and quickly devours a plate of cocktail sausages and spaghetti.
“He only gets kibble all year round, nothing special even on Animal Day.”
Some dog owners have gone to great lengths to get their pet dressed up at the table. Bobbie is wearing a silver bow and Gigi, the Pomeranian, is wearing a complete Santa Claus disguise including beard.
“It’s really a feast for Gigi,” says owner Marieke. “It’s only his second Christmas and he only gets kibble all year, nothing special even on Animal Day. So Gigi will enjoy this dog dinner all week long.”
For dessert, Theo brings ice cream with a cookie and a butterfly as decoration. As if they haven’t eaten anything yet, those ice creams also disappear within a few seconds.
The dogs don’t really pay attention to the beautifully presented dishes. A large shepherd licks the bowl empty until the last drop. He looks at his owner with satisfaction, and then Christmas has yet to begin.
