Belgium

What do Jeunes restaurateurs d’europe and shrimps have in common?

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Crangon crangon they used to call them in Latin 🙂  We now  know them as North Sea Shrimps (aka brown/grey shrimps. Now they probably sound more familiar.

Aaah, nothing better than being on the beach with a bag of fresh North sea shrimps and a glass of Rodenbach on a sunny day , just lovely (if the seagulls aren’t bothering you)! Local, season and fresh products, that’s what it is all about. I really like to eat local things on the moment you should eat them … One of those local products that I really like eating are North sea shrimps. They mainly get fished in northwest Europe (Belgium, Netherlands, UK). They are so small, but sooooooo full of flavor and really worth the effort of peeling 🙂

I know, I’m also a very lazy person from time to time (almost never 😉 )… so buying them peeled is very tempting. But nothing beats the taste of freshly peeled shrimps! As lots of products, shrimps also have seasons  when they are at their best  (not many people know this).  Maybe if I explain you how in 4 simple steps:

Step 1:

take the shrimp’s tail in your left hand with the shrimp’s back towards you

Step2:

 Push the nail of your right thumb in the middle between the slabs and bend the spine until you hear it

snap.

Step 3:

 Pull with a pinching movement the tail section, from back to front.

Step 4:

Grab hand the shrimp with your left in the middle and pull  the head off with your right hand.

The best periods for  eating shrimps would be April-May and in the Autumn  months. Nowadays this gets done with boast … but there used to be a time when the fishermen used to do it on the back of horses… The only city they are still doing this in the old fashion way is Oostduinkerke. So if you are ever in that region during the season, it is really worth seeing

Something nice to know is that there are no catch limits and this means that it they are not threatened  species.  Another thing that I really didn’t know was that most shrimps are born as a male and become female after 2 years … (inartificial).

Anyhow, I’m  wandering off… back to my initial question, what do ‘Jeunes restaurateurs d’ Europe’ and shrimps have in common?  Well, very simple the “JRE” love working with great fresh and local products 🙂 Did you guys read my post about JRE?? No, shame on you 🙂

You k now what’s we’ll do? This weekend we (you guys and me) will buy some fresh shrimps (unpeeled)

Let’s say about 300g? Then on Monday and Tuesday we’ll make the following dishes from ‘JRE’ together?? Is this a deal?

Breaded shrimp on a bed of nettles, watercress and feta by Laurent Van De Vijver (Restaurant Du four à la Table)

And maybe a recipe from Seppe Nobels? (you might remember him from ‘Jong Keukengeweld’ A  Sea bass tartar with hand peeled shrimp, thyme sorbet and crumble crackers

Or maybe … well, I’ll see when I get to the open air market.

Can’t wait…

Eating for a good cause

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I know it might seem like yet another excuse to go to a restaurant, but I really do find this initiative from ‘Jeunes Restaurateurs d’Europe’ (aka JRE) wonderful.  JRE is an association initially founded to support young chefs and also to raise a certain solidarity amongst them. Initially they were  only active in France (around 1974), but they quickly expanded to other European countries.  12 countries are member of the JREl, but only 11 are European countries.… N°12 was the first non-European country that joined, the country I’m talking about is Australia. Since 2007 they are like an EU embassy outside of Europe. Personally I’m really happy that so many things are being done to support young chefs to succeed in their life dream…

Lately JRE  Belgium decided to collaborate with ‘Make a Wish’. Did you ever hear about this initiative? Make a wish is an association of volunteers  which wants to realize the dreams of children that are fighting against a life-threatening disease.  They do this thanks to the generosity of gifts from donors and fundraising activities (not only monetary gifts… ).

So now, JRE will donate 2EUR from the price you pay for a menu at the participating restaurants to the Make a Wish fund. You can find the restaurants that are participating in the following mini guide

And you can really trust me that there are some real beauties in this guide!! I am going to support this initiative, hopefully you guys will follow! Pass this on to your friends!

Yummy cupcakes at Patty cake

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I’m not really a cupcake person, as they tend to be dry from time to time… but well if I get some I’ll eat them anyway (I don’t want to be rude 😉 )

But Saturday after shopping with my girlfriend (she made me), we passed by the Patty cake (cupcake) shop… And I think everybody who has passed by this shop will agree, that it is very difficult not entering to buy something? Right?

It is really the prettiest little shop you’ve ever seen.

The only ‘problem’ was that we still had to go to the  Kookeet event in Bruges and therefore we couldn’t eat too much… but then again one cupcake didn’t kill anyone before. Also, when you enter the shop and see cupcakes as far as the eye reaches in all different flavors (that also change from day to day)

It is difficult not finding something that doesn’t make you wanna have one … or is that just me?

Anyway, I took one with hazelnut and my girlfriend one with chocolate. Only 1 comment YUMMY! They weren’t dry at all, not too sweet and I didn’t feel too guilty after eating one 😉 And the picture below shows one happy little camper 😉

So if you are ever in Antwerp and feel like having a small sweet… You know what to do

Patty Cake

Website: http://www.pattycake.be

Address:

Nationalestraat 99

2000 Antwerp, Belgium

Phone n°: +32 (0)3 770 87 60

My view on Bruges Kookeet event

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Last Saturday I went to Bruges for the “Kookeet” event. You can’t believe how excited I was 🙂 This is like Disneyland for me… Although one thing we shouldn’t forget about when going to an event like this, is that it still is a mass event . Basically the quality you’ll get at the boots, is not comparable with the quality you’ll get in the restaurants itselves. Nevertheless I’ve had a very nice evening with my friends and even met a few other very friendly people :-).

And let’s be honest, having an event in a mediaeval town like Bruges is really unique. I might even have to admit that I liked this one better than the one in Antwerp (damn how can I say this, betraying my city).

For all of you who don’t know the concept,”Kookeet” is an event In Bruges where all the best restaurants, caterers and chocolatiers from Bruges serve you a gastronomical teaser . For these teasers, you’d pay 3, 6 or 9 euro. Overall I have to say that everything tasted well. I tried following dishes:

  • Carpaccio of coquilles St Jacques with ginger (by Olivier from Chez Olivier)
    • My impression: very fresh dish, nice to start the evening

  • Pate of pheasant, compote of ‘Brugse zot (beer) and turnips, liquorice vinaigrette (by Timothy Goffin from Goffin)
    • My impression:  Not bad, but not mind breaking

  • Sole à la meuniere, quail egg,  potatoe and truffle soup and crispy bread (by Paul Hendrickx from Aneth)
    • My impression: one of the better dishes of the evening

  • braised veal in ‘Brugse zot’( double) needle with root vegetables and pommes Anna (like pommes dauphin) (by Stefaan Timmerman from Assiette Blanche)
    • my impression: Very good meat! Not really sure about the combination with the cold root vegetables, but it wasn’t disturbing

  • Tuna burger new style with béarnaise from lambs ear (vegetable) (by Tim Geers from Traiteur Geers)
    • My impression: really nice combination, but I would use something else then tuna, as the herbs and sauces take away the gentile and tender taste of the tuna. Shame for the expensive fish.

  • Mascarpone crème with coulis of red fruits and forest fruit tea, pâté Breton and chocolate decoration (by Servaas Van Mullem from Patisserie Servaas van Mullem)
    • My impression: Really good, not more to add

  • Last but  not least, Magic chocolate mushrooms (by Dominique Persoone from The chocolate line)
    • My impression: Very strange tastes together, a chocolate mushroom that tasted like a real mushroom and also like chocolat. Dominique also added a salty part to the dish. I’m sure this will not be everybody’s favorite, but for sure the most experimental on this event! (but that’s how we know Dominique)

The restaurants that convinced me to visit them are Aneth and Assiette Blanche. The chocolate line didn’t need my convincing anymore, they  already did that way back when trying my first chocolate line mellow cakes 🙂

For my friends the absolute n°1 was the “rabbit shoulder with foie gras “ by Geert van Hecke from the 1 and only Karmeliet ***. This didn’t come as a surprise 🙂 as this is one of the best Belgian restaurants.  I would add it to my list, but spending 300-400EUR per person isn’t really for me at the moment.

My girlfriend’s favorite (Karmeliet was n°2) was “ Tuna mi-cuit (half cooked), salmonmousse, Coquilles St Jacques with green herbs” by Jo Nelissen from Manuscript Kempinski. I think this was from all the dishes I saw passing at my table (which were a lot as we were with 6 people) this was the best value for your money. And the ginger ice-cream was really nice and fresh (if you like ginger ofcourse). I’m adding this restaurant to the list (to keep my girlfriend happy 😉 )

For all you people who would still want to have a drink after the event,  only a few steps from the event you’ll find a small beer house (home brewery) Garre, really nice tasty beer (thank you Katrien and Reinout)

I really had a really  nice evening. Couldn’t be better, nice food and great company!

Aperos vintage de Bordaux goes Antwerp!

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All you people that were not able to taste the wonderful Bordeaux wines in the streets of Brussels, don’t feel sad! First of all because tomorrow you still have the change of going. Secondly because  starting from  November 9th the Aperos Vintage story continues, but this time in Antwerp!!

The Brussels event has already been a huge success, will you help to make the Antwerp edition an even bigger success?

In case you don’t remember about this event (shame on you), you can read all about it in one of my previous blogposts

The first dates for Antwerp are already available:

Wednesday  9 november at Café Vertigo

Draakplaats 3, 2018 Antwerp

www.cafevertigo.be

Wednesday  16 november at Vitrin Café

Marnixplaats 14, 2000 Antwerp

www.vitrin.eu

Wednesday  23 november at Café Mombassa

Moorkensplein 37, 2140 Antwerp

www.cafemombasa.be

 

But those who still want to expierence the Brussels edition:

Wednesday  26 october at Bar du Matin

Chaussée d’Alsemberg 172, 1050 Brussels. Metro Albert 3

Concert van Jack Fire

 

See you in Antwerp!

Heavenly Italian ice cream

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I know it is really not the weather for it anymore, but a few weeks (when the weather was still great) I had a taste of the Gelato Factory Ice cream. Mmmmmmm, that’s the only thing I can say! I don’t know if it is the best ice cream in Antwerp, but it is really good(of that I’m sure). Gelato factory is actually the ice cream shop from Herman Tackaert, a former lawyer who decided to have a big career change J . So Herman went to Italy (where else) to learn how to make the best hand crafted  ice cream. After having learned he opened a little ice-salon in the Trendy Antwerp “Zuid” district. So if you are ever in the neighborhood, stop by and try this freshly made Italian ice-cream. The only problem I have with this shop is that it is on my way to my mom’s home, and I always feel the urge to eating ice-cream L

B.T.W. I took a cone with a scoop of ‘chocolate’ ice cream and ‘nocciola’ (my favorite) (hazelnut ice). Ok ok and I also had part of my girlfriend’s ice cream as her ice were bigger then he stomach. She had red berries ice cream or ‘Frutti di bosco’. And FYI on their facebook page you can find some of their yummy creations!

Ah well, I’ll survive 😉

Gelato Factory:

Website: http://www.gelatofactory.be

Address:

Verschansingstraat 57
2000 Antwerp, Belgium

Phone n°: 0473 81 53 33

My Jong Keukengeweld experience

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I hope most of you have seen  and tried the special “Jong Keukengeweld “event? This was an initiative from ‘Vlaanderen Lekkerland’ that selected 48 young  chefs, both new upcoming (as  Stephanie Wouters, Michel Timmermans, etc…) as set  talent like 2 Michelin start chef Gert  De Mangeleer (Hertog Jan), were young people between age of 18 and 30 could eat a 3 course menu for 45 euro’s including wine and water. So Basically By and For young people, something that I really encourage!!  So obviously I also wanted to go to one of these restaurants as I’m still not 30 years old (lucky me). The choice wasn’t easy, because they ALL looked great and inviting, but out of the 48, I made a list 6 from which I made my choice… The restaurant I picked was Pand 19 . Located in the heart of the Flemish Ardennes in a place well known by all you cyclists out there Geraardsbergen (from Wall of Geraardsbergen).

Anyhow, back to the food. What I didn’t know before I went to this restaurant, is that chef Ann De Roy is actually the sister of Kris De Roy chef of ‘Hofke van Bazel’ (a very renowned restaurant near Antwerp).

I have to admit that the location of the restaurant was really superb, with a view over the hills and valleys of Geraardsbergen .  I really like that a lot, it calms me  🙂 (ZEN)

It was a beautiful day, but too bad it was too cold that night to sit outside 😦

When we entered the restaurant, I really fell in love with the interior, it was really nice, this was actually a color we wanted to use in our home.

One thing I must really say, Pieter, Ann’s husband really  looks a lot like our former prime minister Guy Verhofstadt ! I wanted to take a picture, but that would have been awkward 🙂 , nevertheless the whole staff was friendly, it was pretty busy, so they couldn’t give us their full attention (but that’s very understandable). My start was already wonderful, we started with a nice glass of Champagne.

And man I really had the best view ever, basically the best of two worlds. At my front left and right I had the kitchen (so I could see everything) and right in front of me my beloved girlfriend.

But ofcourse I didn’t come to this restaurant to see, but to eat 🙂

The ‘Jong Keukengeweld’ menu was first some Tuna Tartare with fine vegetables and pickles (a yellow mayonnaise-based sauce with turmeric, mustard and crunchy vegetable chunks)  mayonnaise . Served with a German Silvaner Trocken  Weingut Sander wine.  Our main course was Wilde duck  with chicory, madras curry and appel/potatoe puffs, this dish got accompanied by an Italian wine from the Piemonte region (as if they knew) “La Luna del Rospo, Silente  (Barbera doc). The dessert  they gave us were pancakes (thin ones, not the American kind) with cinnamon, apples and calvados icecream. Overall a very nice dinner, only the dessert didn’t really convince me(but that’s a matter of taste)

I would for sure go back if I’m in the neighborhood. Ann De Roy is also running for the election to become BRU lady chef of 2012

Restaurant Pand 19

Website: http://www.pand19.be

Address

                Parochiebosdreef

                9500 Geraardsbergen, Belgium

Phone n°: +32 (0)475 36 12 52

Welcome in my livingroom

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I know it won’t come as a surprise, but this weekend I went to a  restaurant 🙂

I must say that this time I picked out something special., I went to restaurant “Carrod’s”. What actually initially attracted me to this restaurant, is that the owner Stephanie runs and works alone in this restaurant. So I really wanted to see how she managed to do this? On top of that Stephanie is running to become ‘BRU lady chef of the year 2012’, she is also part of ‘Jong Keukengeweld’ and lots of magazines are writing about her… So my curiosity got stimulated even more.

The only thing that might scare off some people about this restaurant is that it is located in Borgerhout, the multicultural part of Antwerp with not the best reputation (I don’t mind as I lived here in my childhood).

One advice, if you want to come here, you’d better book a table in advance. When booking your table you have to let know for which formula you’re going for, you can choose between day menu of a suggestion menu. The day menu would be a soup, main course and a dessert at 15EUR. The suggestion menu would be a 4 course dinner at 30EUR. Currently there is also the ‘Jong Keukengeweld’ menu, but this only  until the end of ‘Jong Keukengeweld’.  Both menu’s change daily, which is very remarkable  (The Jong keukengeweld menu  was the same over the whole period).  Knowing Stephanie didn’t study at cooking school, she has a modern art background… she only started cooking after having worked for a while at the Hilton hotel… after that she decided to get her chef’s degree and she has the restaurant for about 1 year now.  We went for the ‘Day menu’ as we didn’t have that much time to eat.

Once she opens the restaurant door for you, you immediately  feel at home. First off all because the 3 tables are in the former living room of the house, but also because of the friendliness and spontaneity of Stephanie,who also immediately wants to know what you want to drink. We went for a glass of Spumante. The soup  was fennel soup with watercress and pink peppercorns (I’m really not a soup eater, but this was some good soup!). The main course was a spaghetti carbonara like pasta, but with brussels sprouts, turnip (knolraap), sweet potatoe, trout and I think I tasted some goats cheese. With our main course we drank a 2007 Refosco from Villarosso.  To finish our meal we had a Dame Blanche. Overall a very nice meal and I honestly felt like being at a friend’s house for dinner, the same cosiness and great talk as I would have at a friend’s house (with nice food) . During my dinner I also saw some dishes from the Suggestion menu pass by and I must say they really looked very nice and I’m returning for sure to try the suggestion menu.

So basically if you like the ‘at home feeling’ and none of that fancy panths thing, this place is definitely the place for you!

Restaurant Carrod’s:

Website: http://www.carrods.be

Address:

                Krugerplein 18

                2140 Borgerhout, Belgium

Phone n°: +32 (0)498 06 23 21

Meat and eat, what’s in a name :-)

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I could try to give this post a better title, but why… the name speaks for itself.

A while ago I was at this event near the marnixplaats in Antwerp and that’s when I noticed this little restaurant  that really attracted me a lot called Meat and Eat…  I think it was because it is small restaurant, where you can see the chef prepare your meal.

So last week I decided to go there with a buddy of mine. The place was really full, and people really kept coming.. So lucky for us we made a reservation 🙂. As you might have already imagine, this restaurant is specialized in meat, so if you are a veggie I wouldn’t really recommend this restaurant…

The story behind this restaurant is actually also very nice. This restaurants used to be butchery from the father of the current owners. The 3 brothers wanted in some way continue in their father’s foodsteps… what they did with opening a meat restaurant, where you get served good meat for a normal price. And I really want to add that the owners are of a remarkable friendliness .

As it was Thursday, we took the Thursday special which includes a piece of steak of 700g for 2 with French fries, salad and a bottle of wine. ME LIKE 🙂

I enjoyed myself and would for sure return!

Bistro Meat & Eat:

Website: http://www.meat-and-eat.be/ 

Address:

Vrijheidstraat 63

2000 Antwerp, Belgium

Phone n°: +32 (0) 3 238.11.15

Tasting Bordeaux in the streets of Brussels on Wednesdays

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Every wednesday of October there are Bordeaux wine tastings in 5 trendy bars in Brussels. Last wednesday  6 and 9pm there were tasted more than 1200 glasses of wine or more than 200 bottles 🙂those ‘Brussels people’ sure know how to drink!  They have a wide assortment of red, white and rosé wines from the Bordeaux region for a price between 4 and 20 euro and op top of that they have foreseen some nice music to go with this liquid of gods!

 

So definitely THE place to be after work on Wednesday if you like great wine, great atmosphere and a vintage location

If I can’t convince you, maybe this little video can

For the next editions you have to go to:

woensdag 12 october at London Calling

rue de Dublin 46, 1050 Brussels. Metro Porte de Namur

Concert van Christophe Astolfi Trio

 

woensdag 19 october at Les Pénates

rue de Vergnies 42, 1050 Brussels. Metro Flagey

Concert van Alexandra Vassen (DJ set)

 

woensdag 26 october at Bar du Matin

Chaussée d’Alsemberg 172, 1050 Brussels. Metro Albert 3

Concert van Jack Fire

Hope to bump into you!!

Cheers