By far the biggest challenge for the chef (moi) was the traditional ‘Spaarkas’ meal on Christmas Eve at ten, eleven P.M. This party was a mixture of old Brabant customs, the ‘Spaarkas’ was emptied (in Brabant the regulars saved some cash every year in their local for Carnival, with us for the Christmas holidays), the last service in church was over (hence the time) and Cor-rupt wanted to thank their visitors for a year of fun. A night permit was applied for; after eight the drinking was free and at ten o’clock a large buffet was put on. Every year there was a different theme, Russian, English; Asian… etc.
The kitchen however was quite small and so it was strictly forbidden to enter it for 48 hours before the happening (except for Cor to connect the kegs of beer) as the floor was the main workplace and storage space. That sometimes led to a little problem but who cares.
It was a nice party every year and it is said that the better half of fifty people went home to their loved ones fairly late on Christmas Day
