Many traditional specialties from our region are disappearing, but there are also new initiatives. What special things do people still create in the Gooi and for the Gooi? Today: Gooisch Gemak by Michel van Egmond.
On the road with the golden shop – Erik Bootsman
He himself is the Gooise regional product: entrepreneur Michel van Egmond. Cheerful in the old Amsterdam way, son of a potato wholesaler who knows how to find all the gems of the Gooi, old and new. He makes two rounds every day: in the morning he buys fresh food, in the afternoon he drives around in his gold-colored SRV car.
In Laren, dental hygienist Chantalle is already ready with coffee when he parks his car at the park. She is one of his regular addresses, he knows all his customers by name. “Look, there you have Jack. Come get a mackerel man, freshly smoked for you. You have to eat well.”
“I’ll send you a message later.”
Michel allows his clientele to browse his mini shelves unattended. “I’ll send you a little something later, Anneke,” he says to a lady who almost forgets her spring rolls. The bus is a modern variant of the SRV van (Samen Rational Verkopen) that has been delivering milk and small groceries since the 1960s. There is fresh dairy on board, and its range largely consists of delicacies. Truffle mayonnaise, honey from Hilversum, beer from the Gooische beer brewery and horse sausage from Hilversumse Meent.
Starry sky
The famous designer Jan des Bouvrie came up with the styling for the gold-colored SRV bus, with star lights in the ceiling. He started during corona times, which turned out to be a revival for the almost extinct home delivery service. He himself had stopped driving his vegetable cart. No, things didn’t go well for Michel, but he prefers not to look back on that. He survived cancer and days in intensive care. “The day before his death, Des Bouvrie sent a photo with a thumbs up, a recommendation. Just do it, boy.” That was the push he needed.
And now it’s gold that glitters. He sprinkles celebrity names liberally on his route, but he doesn’t just serve rich people. “I make no distinction, ladies with headscarves are also among my regular customers.” Michel emphasizes that his stuff is not always more expensive, sometimes it is cheaper than the supermarket.
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You have to support entrepreneurs a little. They don’t have it that easy.”
Are local delicacies dying out? Michel does not recognize that, he actually sees a reappraisal among his customers. It’s a shame that the farmer’s cheese lady has stopped making it, he sighs. They flew out of the bus, at least thirty a week. “She got the milk from a farmer in Loenersloot, but it was too much work. Shame.” But anyone who produces locally must take the time. “You have to support those entrepreneurs a little. They don’t have it that easy.”