True story, ! a table for dinner with Coffee Risotto , renewed acquaintance with a Coffee roaster and Real blues toe.

Sometimes there are things that you just don't think of. Tonight, for example, I was a guest at the table at Het lokaal, a separate store for regional products, but not only that, there is also a lovely café for coffee, tea, croissants, fresh bread etc. That table was organized by Carel Elsenburg chef and baker and Barend Boot, excellent coffee roaster from Baarn. That table could seat 14 people, you could sign up. How it is that I was one of the lucky ones who was invited, I don't know. And I don't care I was there, I stared my eyes out and I let my smell and taste buds be caressed.

We ate Risotto prepared in a special way by Carel. For the table, he combined risotto with ground coffee. Boot's coffee from the roasting house in Het Lokaal, which is now a real roasting house with huge machines and professional equipment. With that dish we drank special coffee from wine glasses.

An experience in itself and very tasty. I was sitting next to Barend Boot, and it turned out that about thirty years ago, we each had a room in a large office building in Utrecht. We both worked there on a project basis. I remember thinking back then, what is this man doing here in this dull environment, where humor was not the strongest tool of our colleagues. How winding our paths have been since then and then suddenly you meet at the risotto. Across from me sat a man who had been chosen to sit, because Barend's wife was currently undergoing a nasty course of chemotherapy, which meant that a seat fell open. This man in turn told a story about a trip to Nashville, where he had recently attended a Blues concert. The Blues of BB King. Do you know that music? Yes of course I say, back in the 60's I bought a record by him. So you really have heard some of the "descendants" of the BB King band (sigh, unattainable something like that ) And in the coming weekend he will be enjoying another wonderful blue grass concert at a reunion with his wife's entire family.

So the stories are strung together at that separate table, where there is also a guest who is headmaster of the so-called Coffee School, and an Italian from Verona, who apart from a beautiful girl, also has stickers with her that say: "Stop Bad Coffee". I'm definitely going to put those on, because I also think that life is much too short to consume bad coffee or any other kind of bad drink.

And then that beautiful evening seems to be over and I go home a little muggy from the coffee. But the evening is not over, because I pass the Fluor stage, of which I know (by coincidence) through a neighbor friend that there will be a special blues concert tonight, where she and her husband are going. (They are a lot younger than I am.) A number of guests are still standing at the entrance, including the husband of my neighbor. She appears to be ill. Do you want her ticket, he asks me. Well, why not.

And then I stand inside between the concert-goers with a real stamp on my left wrist. Where can I sit? I ask. Sit down? It is a blues concert you do not sit down, you stand up. Oh yes!

Well, there I am (standing), (my neighbor has already disappeared with his friends to the bar) the support act immediately starts firmly, with the Hoodoo Monks- real time blues music from their own soil. And then the program of the Red Devils Usa (really!) is yet to begin.

The bass pounds through the room, making the floor almost shake as if I'm standing on a vibrating platform. Not unpleasant, I must say, there is a kind of smoke curtain around the players, which makes me feel suddenly in the 60s, in a jazz club in Paris, or in Paradiso Amsterdam.

There I am again, in a stinking Afghan coat that you needed to "belong", a scorching hot coat, and yet certain blues sounds sent chills down my spine. Oh yes, I want that too!, I thought then, standing on a stage and making myself known in a way that can also affect others.

Wow, I've been on stage a lot in the meantime, but a life Blues concert was out of the question. Until today. The Red Devils from the USA released their album King King 25 years ago and just like the Hoodoos they have something nostalgic and folky in their sound. Something that takes you (at least me) into a world of freedom.

And strangely enough, there are two references to Woodstock. Just think of it as a pop festival from 1969. There were 100 den Afghan jackets and long skirts and Henna braids (which I also had) together. Mick Jagger was a fan of The Red devils at the time and even Johny Cash had them accompany him once. And I'm making that up now (luckily it was dark in the room) after Risotto with coffee, just like that....?

Who will believe my story? Because that is the fate of truth, it is hard to believe.

Written by: Marlies SourenSource
: www.sourenpoems.nl