SOME HERRING HUMOR
A man who could not marry off his ugly daughter visited Rabbi Shimmel of Cracow. “My heart is heavy,” he told the Rabbi, “because God has given me an ugly daughter.”
“How ugly?” the Seer asked.
“If she were lying on a plate with a herring, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.”
The Rabbi thought for a long time and finally asked, “What kind of herring?”
The man, taken aback by the query, thought quickly and said, “Er–Bismarck.”
“Too bad,” the Rabbi said. “If it was Maatjes, she’d have a better chance.”
(For those who don't know, the Merriam Webster Dictionary defines Bismarck Herring as: filleted salt herring marinated in wine, vinegar, and spices and served cold with raw onion and lemon)
But what is Maatjes herring? Microsoft Copilot says:
ReplyDeleteMaatjes herring, also known as "Dutch new herring" or "Hollandse Nieuwe," is a traditional delicacy in the Netherlands and Belgium. It is made from young, immature herring that are caught before they start spawning. The name "maatjes" comes from the Dutch word "maagd," meaning virgin, referring to the fact that these herrings have not yet developed roe.
Maatjes herring is young, immature herring that is lightly salted and ripened in a brine solution. It has a mild, slightly salty flavor and is often eaten raw with onions and pickles.
Bismarck herring, on the other hand, is pickled herring that is marinated in vinegar with spices, herbs, and onions. It has a tangy, slightly sour taste due to the vinegar marinade.