Raasdonders A Dutch correspondent (or a correspondent with strong Dutch
sympathies) sends me details of a " highly nourishing, well-flavoured food " of which, at least as a food, I have not heard before. This is none other than tares, which is described as having been used as human food in England " perhaps even less than a hundred years ago," when " the Dutch imported them from this country and grew them for human consumption." All this is news to me, but my correspondent goes on to tell how " any naval man of the Konin Klyke Marine will tell you they are eaten on board the Dutch warships twice a week (raasdonders we call them) and that they are found to be a treat for any visitor who is invited to have lunch in their mess." This sounds convincing enough, but whether the conservative English public can be persuaded to emulate this naval cud-chewing is perhaps another matter. My correspondent omits to say how raasdonders are cooked. In the hands of Dutch cooks I have no doubt some tares are excellent, but in the hands of the English :here is a good chance that they might remain, I fear, just a basinful of fodder. There are many Dutch folk in England now— perhaps one of them can give us a recipe for raasdonders?
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