Bryanston resident and builder by profession, Maan has combined his love of baking and Holland, to bring the best of what Holland has got to offer in the form of delicious Dutch delicacies which he sells to the public every Sunday at the Fourways Farmer’s Market.
“It’s an experience… It rolls on your tongue. It goes from the tip of your tongue to the back of your pallet. You almost don’t want to swallow it,” Maan said of the taste of his croquettes – one of his best-selling items, together with the poffertjes, which are mini Dutch pancakes.
Maan added that he started selling Dutch delicacies at the Fourways Farmer’s Market three years ago, and hasn’t looked back.
After two years at the market, Maan was joined by the love of his life, Annatjie Coetzee.
“One look at Annatjie Coetzee’s picture was all it took to know that she would be my wife,” he said.
The pair, who met by chance, have been inseparable since, and got engaged on 30 September this year.
Coetzee said, “Three months after meeting him, I packed my bags leaving all that I knew in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, to join him.”
Coetzee, whose background is rooted in corporate business, was hands-on in the business from the start.
“She spent one weekend with me watching what I do and a couple of weeks later she joined me,” Maan explained.
The pair has since combined their expertise to create an array of Dutch delicacies such as poffertjes, nasi goreng, Dutch botterkoek, rookworst, appelflappen and frikandel speciaal.
They also supply local delis and butcheries with frozen croquettes and bitterballen.
Coetzee added that they are planning on expanding their product range, and to offer catering for small private functions and events.
So what’s the secret, to their great tasting dishes? Both attribute quality ingredients, passion and, of course, a love for what they do.
Details: anlexbb@gmail.com, De Kroketten Man and Poffertje Queen Facebook page
What is your favourite Dutch dish? Tweet @Fourways_Review with your comments
