We may know it as Manhattan now, but back in 1624, the Dutch arrived and a year later “New Amsterdam” was born. Now, 394 years later, the Holland Herring Festival at the Grand Central Oyster Bar is one of the city’s storied traditions, melding its past with its present.
The Holland Herring Festival kicked off at the Oyster Bar today (Wednesday, June 13) with the “Official First Tasting” of this season’s Dutch herring crop. Hosted by Oyster Bar executive chef Sandy Ingber, president Janet Poccia, and vice president Mohammed Lawal, the kickoff event welcomed in members of The Netherlands consulate - Netherlands Consul General Dolph Hogewoning and Netherlands Deputy Consul General Maartje Smitshuysen, as well as Governor Andrew Cuomo representative Linda LaViolette, Special Assistant, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets. Consulate staff Helen Van Den Elzen and Zwanette Bruggink joined Mr. Hogewoning and Ms. Smitshuysen for the proceedings.
This was the 38th year that the Oyster Bar has hosted the Holland Herring Festival. As such, the first Dutch herring of the season that is shipped to the United States goes to the Oyster Bar. Air-expressed directly from Scheveningen, The Netherlands, it always is the cream of the catch. The herring is caught in the North Sea, which borders The Netherlands.
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“The herring, it’s like everything we represent: fresh fish. This herring is as fresh as it gets, and that’s what the Oyster Bar is all about,” said Ingber.
Dutch herring devotees lined up in droves as servers Miguel Gomez and Tomoko Yamanaka were at a break neck pace to keep up with the demand for the delicacy.
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The Dutch nieuwe maatjes will be available for a little less than a month, making it a very special limited time offer. It will be available as a herring filet for $7.25, and is served with a hard-boiled egg, sweet onion, and chives. It is also available as a herring salad, which will be $7.95 (or market price).
Described as “succulent” and “toothsome,” nieuwe maatjes is a delicacy among herring lovers. Its short catching season makes it all the more desirable.
Cuomo representative LaViolette delivered a proclamation on behalf of the governor, commending the Oyster Bar for its celebration of this year’s nieuwe catch.
“Everyone affiliated with this endeavor is clearly inspired and motivated by a great love and appreciation for the hospitality of the Dutch, by the central tradition of ‘First Tasting,’ and the fun and excitement of this delightful experience,” concludes the proclamation.
“The state always wants to support iconic businesses, and the Oyster Bar is one of them. And plus, herring is such an historically important seafood—and delicious, I might add—that we want to support it,” said LaViolette of the inclusion of the Governor’s office in the day’s proceedings.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also issued a statement of congratulations. It read, in part:
“New Yorkers are known for having strong and varied opinions on just about everything, but we can all agree that relishing delicious food is one of life’s greatest pleasures. The iconic Oyster Bar in Grand Central Terminal has served fine seafood to our diverse residents and visitors for decades, and its annual herring festival is a much-anticipated event among culinary aficionados.”
Netherlands consul general Hogewoning described why the Dutch – and, by proxy now, Oyster Bar patrons – are so excited by the herring:
“Everybody is excited because the small, new herring is the most delicious thing that you can imagine as a Dutch man or woman,” said Hogewoning. “The boats come in with the flags on top in the harbors, the harbors close to the Hague, it’s called Scheveningen… it’s called ‘Flag’s Day.’ And then, the first herrings will be brought in and the people are so excited because it is the most wonderful taste there is.”
And this season’s herring did not disappoint. After tasting it by taking a bite while dangling it by the tail, there were only rave reviews.
“It’s a definite ten. Ten out of ten,” said Ingber. “This year, it’s delicious.”
“It was awesome,” said Poccia, who got to celebrate her birthday with the First Tasting. “To be honest, when I first started working her 28 years ago, I didn’t like it. But as the years go on, it’s so good. It really is.”
For reservations at the Grand Central Oyster Bar to get a taste of nieuwe maatjes, call 212-490-6650 or visit www.oysterbarny.com.
