The Neighborhood Butcher

This is Peter Bosse and his shop assistant Yvonne, two of my favorite people in the neighborhood. Peter owns the butcher shop down the street corner. Since moving to this part of Amsterdam 8 years ago, hubby and I have been loyal clients, buying our bread, cold cuts or choice meats here almost everyday.

Peter and Yvonne are old school with a kind of service that is almost an anachronism in this city. May their tribe increase! It's a pleasure to enter the shop and be greeted by warm smiles and a friendly chat, after a polite good morning or a good afternoon, always. You never feel rushed or feel that your order is too small. I think there's some special air you breathe in there because even when the small shop is full of customers, there's no pushing and shoving, just people courteously waiting their turn. Not that they have to wait long because Peter and Yvonne are super-efficient.

When the day is ending, you see Peter scouring the counters then the floors with soap and water. Every single day, except Sundays when the shop is closed.

We've seen him go through several horrible incidents - the couple of times his glass windows were smashed by some young people, the time he broke his hip because he slipped on the icy square, a hold-up in broad daylight a few months ago, and the most recent operation he had to undergo which forced him to close the shop for nearly a month.

But we've also seen him through good times. One that I remember very clearly was the joy on his usually reticent face several years ago when he told us that he made a special ham for his newly born grandson. Of course, we had to try the Jari ham, named after the baby. It was good.

Peter and Yvonne don't know it but they hold a special place in my heart. They reserve hubby's favorite loaf on Saturdays so that if he does sleep in, he still gets his fresh bread when he finally gets to the shop late in the day. I can't remember the number of times I've asked Peter for advice about which cut of meat is good for a certain dish I wanted to cook.

My fondest memory happened when Mommy came to visit. I asked her to make Filipino dishes which only she can cook in her inimitable way. For that, we both had to go and visit Peter. Would you believe, you cannot buy pork belly with skin over the counter anywhere? Nor can you buy just ground pork. The closest thing to it you can get is a mixture of pork and beef which they call half om half. Peter took down our order, including a request to please cut the pork belly in cubes about this big, with Mommy gesturing with her index finger and thumb. Hubby and I were happy a few days later because we got our dose of adobong pinalagtob and lumpia shanghai.

I wanted to let Peter know that we are happy he has recovered, and very pleased that the butcher shop on the street corner is open again. So today I made something I've never made before as a welcome-back gift. I doubled the recipe so hubby and I could test it several times tonight.

Woohoo, this Fresh Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Cupcake is scrumptious! I hope Peter and Yvonne will like it too.