The famous Groningen eierbal is getting its very own festival in September.
Translation by Traci White
First things first: what’s an eierbal (egg ball)? In case you have never had the pleasure of trying this distinctly Groningen dish, it’s a peeled hard-boiled egg that has been wrapped in a layer of ragout and then deep fried into a large ball. It’s similar to the Scotch Egg, but imagine that with a gravy-like meaty sauce instead of sausage.
The Groninger Internet Courant reports that the eierbal festival will be held on Sunday, 9 September at EM2 on the grounds of the Suikerunie, the former sugar factory on the western outskirts of Groningen. The festival will feature a wide variety of interpretations of the iconic Groningen treat, as well as a selection of other typically Gronings foods.
The festival is also a celebration of Groninger culture in a broader sense and will include music by local bands, a crash course in learning to speak Gronings and cocktails mixed with Hooghoudt spirits.
The 2018 festival is actually the second edition of the eierbal love fest: De Smaak van Stad, a culinary guide to Groningen, hosted an eierbal taste test back in November to find the ultimate eierbal spot in the city.
The eierbal is especially popular in the northern and eastern regions of the Netherlands, and the city of Groningen in particular has embraced the hearty snack. In 2017, the eierbal was officially recognised as a part of Groningen’s cultural heritage.
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