BelgeBouge

Another lovely thing about Brussels is discovering and re-exploring. I always take walks in my favourite neighbourhoods to check out my top places (parks, buildings, cafes, boutiques etc) but I always makes sure to veer slightly off the beaten track and make new discoveries.  

(Em72) bxl is not new, but a discovery for me.

 And one of my favourite things thee, because I am a geek rather than a fashionista are the fantastic Brussels Design books edited by Luster.

This website has lots more info and sneaky peeks.

oh, Laura

I was a very lucky bunny to witness the talent, beauty and general godliness that is Laura Marling (hate her, she's so good) in one of my favourite tiny old venue haunts in Brussels. 150-crowd, one could hear every intake of breath. Laura is shy, sweet and funny. She played a cover of Neil Young's Needle and the Damage Done. Michael Kiwanuka was supporting, definitely worth a listen (playing at the Barfly in London on December 12th).

A magical autumnal break.

And a touch of home-made sushi making which is surprisingly easy and so deliciously satisfying.

BXL soleil

Good morning fellow bloggers and visitors.

It's new year, it's the end of September, and in London the sun is shining to mark the closing of a lame summer. The sun sets by 7pm and in the early morning there's that pretty dull mist floating in the air, car windows a little frosted over. 

I recently got back from a much-needed mini break in Brussels with my family. This doesn't seem to deserve a mention but it does, it's a rare happening. I think its rarity makes it all the more magical. I can't help but get my camera out and re-photograph my favourite spots. This time, the flea market on Place du Jeux de Balle. Belgium is one of the best countries for picking up antiques and curios, it's incedibly tempting. I could furnish a whole flat with found things from here. We are told that on some days, dealers line up in front of the church waiting for it to toll 6am before fighting their way to seek out treasures...

Over the weekend, the freakish heatwave set in which meant all of Brussels was out on the streets. September is an grounding time here, the all-important rentree means the city is buzzing after a sleepy summer. Delicious pale beers were sipped on street cafes, bar movie screenings (A Dog Day Afternoon) and far far far too many delicious edibles consumed.

Bruxelles Midi

Mum sent me a link to Design Boom's latest 'reportage' from Brussels: Jean Nouvel's plan to remodel the capital's infamous Midi Station. It's an important and iconic place from many respects: the Eurostar terminal is found here, and is by far the most misleading and disappointing introduction to Brussels (especially that dreadful exit down those stairs and that endless search for the right bus to take only to find out the W operates once a decade...), the Saturday Marche de Midi is still one of the city's best - I have fond memories of incredible loaves of crusty bread, bags of seasonal cherries, and that bike market (my first and last old fashioned city bike, loved and left to rust for €20); and of course the anthropological feast and patriotic foire that relentlessly comes to town every summer - best chips and beer encountered. BREF I love Midi, especially for its beautiful inadequacies, the fact that it appears so unappealing. It's another one of those things about Brussels that is almost a best kept secret.

WOW renderings @ Jean Nouvel. Still not sure about it though. A slick Midi just doesn't feel right.

My Midi.

A wee catch-up

I have a new job

And I had a little stay in Brussels where I indulged

A near-perfect home made cappuccino.

My staple diet for four days.

  

Desperate means lead to wonderful things.

In other news I went to see the Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Good but not great. Not wanting to go into too much detail but something was definitely lost in translation.

 

I then had the great pleasure of dining at Nopi with another wonderful blogger and her family. Nopi is Yotam Ottolenghi's new West End baby. It was delicious, leaving a little want on our tongues (the portions were really a little minute for my liking). The deserts were particularly exquisite.

I cooked a Middle Eastern feast which I stupidly didn't photograph. I was so caught up in trying to make the food in between other work that eventually everything was just prepped and cling-filmed in the fridge. I will take you through the menu with illustrations in the next post...watch this space.

Brussels continues

More city indulgences: my birthday meal was outstanding - Le Fruit Defendu is certainly an unknown gem of a restaurant in my neighbourhood. Then it could be nowhere else but Floris and Delirium bars (for the European School reunions) but of course for it's incredibly vast selections of beers and absynthes (killers). Yes, they even sell Duff beer. I have no idea what it's like.