Maag als Kompas (Stomach Compass)
Boskoi map of edible finds Amsterdam Noord. FoAM
De Maag als Kompas is an expedition and convivium that orientates by eating, or eats to orientate. On October 8, 2 groups of 15-20 people set out to seek and collect suitable edibles for the humungous snail convivum the following day.
These expeditions were part of a longer process to explore the hidden recesses of Amsterdam Noord and to find what the future dish of Amsterdam North could be.
We delved into the wetlands of Amsterdam Noord equipped with Boskoi, the mobile phone application initiated by FoAM lab. Theun Karelse and Cocky Eek of FoAM and web application developers Joey van der Bie and Maarten van de Mark showed how we can map these precious edible finds on our mobile phone. City botanist Claud Biemans gave her keen insight into phytogeography.
We made two expeditions, one in the morning which was orientated down the land tongue of Amsterdam North to collect cow parsley roots, chestnuts, hazelnuts, garlic mustard, herb bennett, hawthorn berries and rosehips. The afternoon expedition ventured in a westerly direction past the former industrial heartland and ending up near the water’s edge. The second expedition gathered the neon effloresence of autumnal flowers (primrose, malva, carrot flowers, comfrey and sea buckthorn).
Appreciative thanks to everyone who came with a hungry dose of enthusiasm for uncovering the hidden food typlogies of Noord.
Halfway en route. Wietske gets her bearings. Photo: FoAM
Theun collecting Teunisbloem
Swarming to gather Hawthorn berries. Photo: FoAM
Claud sniffs the nutmeggy smell of the wild carrot. Photo Theun Karelse FoAM
André showing his collection of snails
Gleaning chestnuts
Internet street
Chopping the evening primrose. Photo: Erik van den Boom