Maria Quartel can call herself the best chowder chef in the Netherlands for a year. Twelve participants competed today at a busy food event in Zuidschermer for the coveted Dutch title. In the category ‘creative with celeriac’ Guus Hamers won with his celeriac steak.
The Dutch Championship was organized for the eleventh time by farmer Ted Vaalburg who grows celeriac. According to him, this is an indispensable ingredient for the perfect pea soup. “It’s my big secret and you can’t tell anyone,” he starts laughing. “But that means you put a lot of celeriac in it.”
With his company he organizes this event and the National Championship ‘to draw more attention to celeriac’. Because according to him, the possibilities with this vegetable are endless. “You can make so much of it: paella, ice cream and even shawarma. And people can taste it all here.”
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In addition to celeriac, the few thousand visitors can enjoy various delicacies, music and the inflatable bouncy castle for the children. But the highlight of the day is the announcement of the Dutch Chowder Cooking Champion. In addition to winner Maria Quartel, who participates with her mother-in-law, Guus Hamers wins with his celeriac steak in the ‘creative with celeriac’ category.