Leiden Expat Center

On Monday October 31 an exclusive culinary event took place in the Sligro store in Leiden. Sligro put together this exclusive event in order to introduce the Expat community of Leiden and surroundings to the Sligro store and its wide range of products.
The Expat Centre Leiden was also present to take part in the event and enjoy all the luxuries Sligro has to offer.

From 6 'o clock onward, the Expats started arriving and we were all greeted by Sligro store manager Arno de Jong with a glass of Champagne. When most of the expected guests had arrived, Arno de Jong gave a brief introduction and the evening's programme was explained in short.

After being divided into groups of six, we set out on a culinary tour through the store, guided by Sligro members of staff. On our way, we passed through the world of Sligro, experiencing the different flavours Sligro has to offer. For the occasion, Sligro had invited a number of chefs from four renowned restaurants in Leiden to cook a selection of their favourite delicacies using Sligro products only: Eus Hoogeboom for In den Gapende Eter,
Rene Oudshoorn for Onder den Linden, Carlos Fernandez and chef cook Alejandro for
La Plancha, Norbert van Dartel for Dartel and culinary specialist Pascal Wurtz demonstrated
their cooking skills with fingerlicking specialities such as veal, salmon and venison. With each dish, a special selection of wines was served. During the tour, the chefs and Sligro members of staff provided us with background information on the products and the preparation of the dishes.

The colourful stand at the Sligro fruit and vegetable section was manned by a friendly Sligro staff member who really knew her fruit and veg. While tasting a delicious dessert with fresh blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, we learned all about Sligro's durable policy for fruit and vegetables.

At the Sligro cheese section, we were awaited by a French cook who presented us with various platters with a number of tasty cheeses combined with bacon, a fresh leaf of chicory, pastry cups and olive oil. After enjoying a nibble with a fine glass of wine, we moved on to a very tasty looking display of authentic Dutch sweets. Here we taste nougat, Haagse Hopjes, sticks of rock, Wilhelmina peppermints and, of course, liquorice.

When the culinary tour was completed, all the guests were invited to the wine section of the store, where Carlos Fernandez and Alejandro of restaurant La Plancha
had set up a splendid Spanish buffet with tapas, fresh olives and an impressive Pata Negra which was cut on the spot.

At this point, all those present were also offered the opportunity to apply for a personal Sligro card (normally such a card can only be obtained
if you have a Chamber of Commerce registered company).

To top it all off, at the end of the evening each expat received a parting gift which consisted of a wicker and glass lantern filled with a variety of snacks and a bottle of wine.

All in all a surprising, inspiring and delicious event which left us satisfied and impressed with the efforts of Sligro Leiden.

The Expat Centre Leiden team would once again like to say a big thank you to Sligro for their amazing hospitality.