Almost every culture in the world has its own version of the crepe or pancake. Often a “kids meal,” most people remember having their first pancake as a child. I Crepes you NOT! a catering start-up specializing in savory and sweet Dutch style pancakes, was founded by Dane Pernille Son Paulsen and Dutchwoman Marte Van Os in December 2014.
Pancakes are known as pannenkoeken in the Netherlands and are mostly eaten at lunch and dinnertime. Son Paulsen was introduced to Dutch pancakes while studying in Rotterdam. Her co-founder Van Os was raised eating them.
“The name is a word play on the saying “I kid you not” because we offer Dutch style pancakes which differ in shape and cooking style from crepes,” says Paulsen.
I Crepes you NOT!’s signature dishes are their bacon, caramelized onion, and cheese pancake and their banana and chocolate sauce with salted peanuts pancake.
Son Paulsen came to Beijing almost three years ago for work and is currently studying Mandarin. In fall 2013, she started cooking for friends as a hobby, later teaming up with Van Os to found their current business.
The company can set up at their client’s preferred location and has catered private dinners, kids’ birthday parties, school fairs, and company events. Also available are on-site cooking demonstrations and interactive cooking classes.
As well as the ingredients, I Crepes you NOT! bring a portable gas cooker and cutlery with them and arrive fully equipped to prepare the batter and various toppings with the kids. For the cooking part, kids can either help cook a pancake or cook one by themselves (under supervision).
They offer a standard birthday package at a base rate of RMB 750 and charge RMB 75-100 extra per person (minimum 10 people). The final quote depends the number of participants, the number of pancakes per participant, and the total time spent on site.
Additionally, there’s an all-inclusive kids’ birthday package that includes activities such as games and storytelling for kids aged 1-5 years old for RMB 2,000-3,000.
I Crepes you NOT! 荷兰手工煎饼公司
To book their services, call 185 1085 8845 or email icrepesyounot@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on page 18 of the beijingkids July 2015 issue. Click here to read the issue for free on Issuu.com. To find out how you can get your own copy, email distribution@truerun.com.
Photos: Ken
