Kapsalon facts for kids
A serving of Dutch Kapsalon
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| Type | Fast food |
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| Place of origin | Netherlands |
| Region or state | Rotterdam |
| Created by | Nathaniël Gomes |
| Main ingredients | French fries, meat (döner or gyro), Gouda cheese, salad vegetables |
Kapsalon (pronounced "KAP-sah-lon") is a popular fast food dish from the Netherlands. It was first made in 2003 in the city of Rotterdam. This tasty meal is built in layers inside a metal take-away tray.
First, a layer of french fries goes into the tray. On top of the fries, there's a layer of döner or gyro meat. Next, slices of Gouda cheese are added. The whole tray is then heated in an oven until the cheese melts and gets bubbly. After that, fresh shredded iceberg lettuce is placed on top. Finally, the dish is finished with garlic sauce and sambal, which is a spicy sauce from Indonesia.
The name kapsalon is a Dutch word that means "hairdressing salon". This is because the person who invented the dish was a hairdresser! Kapsalon is a great example of how different food cultures can come together to create something new and delicious. It has become very popular and has spread to many countries around the world.
Contents
How Kapsalon Was Invented and Spread
The Idea Behind Kapsalon
The Kapsalon dish was created in 2003 by a hairdresser named Nathaniël Gomes. He worked in the Delfshaven area of Rotterdam. One day, he went to a nearby shawarma shop called "El Aviva." He asked them to put all his favorite ingredients into one dish.
Becoming a Popular Dish
Nathaniël Gomes started ordering this special combination regularly. The restaurant staff began to call it "the usual order for the kapsalon." Soon, other customers noticed and wanted to try it too. The dish quickly became a big hit! It wasn't long before other snack bars in the area started making and selling Kapsalon because so many people wanted it.
Kapsalon Around the World
Since its start in Rotterdam, Kapsalon has traveled far beyond the Netherlands. It is now popular in Belgium and many other countries on different continents. In some places, instead of döner or gyro meat, you might find Kapsalon made with chicken.
Experts say Kapsalon is a good example of modern culture. It shows how cities can mix different traditions and foods. Some people describe Kapsalon as a "calorie bomb" because it's very filling and gives you a lot of energy! A large serving can have a lot of calories.
Kapsalon in Different Countries
In 2017, Kapsalon even reached Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. A chef who had visited the Netherlands was asked to make a "typical Dutch" meal. Now, in Nepal, Kapsalon is often made with chicken or fish instead of shawarma meat. Also, it's usually served on a porcelain plate instead of a metal tray. Kapsalon has become very trendy there, with many people sharing photos of it online. A famous food blogger even said it was "a party in her mouth!"
Kapsalon is a common item on the menu in döner restaurants in Belgium, both in Flanders and Wallonia. You can also find this dish in many Turkish restaurants across Germany, especially in bigger cities. It's also available in other European cities like Warsaw, Poznan, and Kraków in Poland. You can find it in Prague, Czech Republic, Riga, Latvia, and Oulu, Finland. Kapsalon has even been found as far away as Morocco.
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People sharing a kapsalon
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El-Aviva, the place where the kapsalon was invented
See also
In Spanish: Kapsalon para niños
