We celebrated the New Year the three of us. Nora's afternoon nap was unusually long and she woke up at 8.00 pm. We had a late dinner together and opened the champagne. Nora's "champagne" had bubbles in it also and she wasn't a big fan ("is scherp"). But she loved the oliebollen.
She had her first bite before dinner. In fact, her dinner consisted mainly of oliebollen and lukanka, haha.
We had made home-made banichka with Lelya Snezha and a shopska salad. After dinner we danced to welcome the New Year, on Abba's tunes.
Christmas fell on a Thursday this year so I took today off to make an extra long weekend. Since we were working on Wednesday we started early with the budni vecher preparations -- I started the dough for the pitka on Tuesday night. When the Zanes arrived around 7.00 pm we had the table ready.
We had a great budni vecher although sadly some of our guests couldn't make it. The coins fell to Jonathan and to Sasha, a lucky sign. We made kadaif for the first time, that recipe needs some more work. But the zele surmichki were absolutely excellent and we had nice stuffed peppers with beans. Irena brought grape leaf surmichki and for dessert butternut squash with apples.
Nora was delighted to see Julian and Ilana again and they had a great evening together. Her English is getting better.
Yes, yes, indeed. Дядо Мраз -- the Bulgarian name we use for Santa Claus -- was in Clarendon and he speaks English.
We had brunch at the Boulevard Woodgrill and then we went to the Clarendon Commons where we saw Santa Claus and a Snowman and we met Rado and Maria there also.
Дядо Мраз asked Nora: "What do you want for Christmas?" but she didn't really know what to say.
So Sinterklaas speaks Dutch and English, and Дядо Мраз speaks Bulgarian and English.
Holland's Best, a Dutch grocery store and bakery in San Jose, California, will be closing its doors for good by the end of the 2014.
In a letter posted on the website owner Klaas Mensonides explains that the lease of the building will not be renewed and that the store has to be empty by mid-January.
For 28 years, I felt more like a steward for the bakery keeping to its tradition. I bake all our cookies and pastries from the old and frayed recipe cards handed down decades ago by the original owner. For this Holiday Season, come stroll down memory lane for a final time at the bakery to enjoy our delicious almond cookies and pastries.
We feel rather nostalgic looking back through the years we have been of service to you. For having made us a part of your experience, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts
The business started in the 1940's as the "Holland Pastry and Gift Shop".
We celebrated the New Year the three of us. Nora's afternoon nap was unusually long and she woke up at 8.00 pm. We had a late dinner together and opened the champagne. Nora's "champagne" had bubbles in it also and she wasn't a big fan ("is scherp"). But she loved the oliebollen. 
Christmas fell on a Thursday this year so I took today off to make an extra long weekend. Since we were working on Wednesday we started early with the budni vecher preparations -- I started the dough for the pitka on Tuesday night. When the Zanes arrived around 7.00 pm we had the table ready. 
Tonight we got together with our neighbors for a round of Christmas caroling. 
Yes, yes, indeed. Дядо Мраз -- the Bulgarian name we use for Santa Claus -- was in Clarendon and he speaks English. 
Holland's Best, a Dutch grocery store and bakery in San Jose, California, will be closing its doors for good by the end of the 2014.
