December 31, 2015

Best wishes for 2016!




The Belgian coast has always been my favorite place of escape from every day life.
On the last day of this unique year, I want to conclude with an image of the magnificent North Sea and wish all of you happiness, peace and the very best for 2016.

December 30, 2015

Baracca, new restaurant in Leuven

 "Baracca," a two month old restaurant in Leuven, offers a relaxed but stimulating and interesting dining experience with fresh, natural flavoured food that can be shared if you so wish. It is  inspired by the savoury simplicity of Italian cuisine. First time visitors receive a warm welcome and an enthusiastic explanation of what's cooking from appealing Pasquale Amoruso (Kiko) and lovely Anastasia Mironenko (Ana). The atmosphere when I was there was warm, engaging and pleasantly chaotic, and the food was delicious -- so much so that we ordered seconds of our favourites.
"Baracca wants to relive the authentic spirit and conviviality of homecoming by serving homemade woodoven pizzas that are best enjoyed in good company."
A few years ago I wrote about Franco, chef at Pepenero, a restaurant in Leuven at two steps from Baracca:  
http://whatisbelgium.blogspot.be/2011/11/two-chefs.html. 
After a chat with Kiko and Ana, I learned that Franco is Kiko's  dad. The world is small but there is something there that is in the genes ...
I hope they will keep up the excellent job and wish them great success. I will certainly be back there soon to share the experience with family and friends.

Baracca
Muntstraat 29
3000 Leuven
phone 016/902560
info@baracca.be
www.baracca.be 




December 29, 2015

Soup and ice skating


Which do you prefer: trying out your ice skating skills at Winter Wonders on Place de la Monnaie, home of the Opera, or sipping a cup of soup at the nearby stalls? Until January 3.

December 28, 2015

't Werfje in Zeebrugge

Boy, were we disappointed to find '' 't Werfje" closed. In this tiny unpretentious  café seafood on the Terrace is a real treat when weather permits. Their shrimp croquettes and fish soup are "world" famous at the Belgian coast.
Hopefully the renovation project manages to keep the unique atmosphere and spirit intact.
See you there from April next year onwards.

December 26, 2015

Where is everyone?


 It is the day after Christmas and all through the streets not a creature is stirring.......
free adaptation from 'Twas the night before Christmas" also known as  "A visit from St Nicholas" written in 1822 
by Clement Clarke Moore 
http://www.carols.org.uk/twas_the_night_before_christmas.htm


December 25, 2015

Also this is Christmas

                  Church Sainte Croix, Ixelles, Place Flagey

December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas

                          May your Christmas be warm and peaceful.

December 22, 2015

Geoffrey of Bouillon and Coudenberg

 Royal Square with the Statue Geoffrey of Bouillon in front of the church Saint Jacques sur Coudenberg.
 Geoffrey was a medieval Frankish knight and one of the leaders of the First Crusade from 1096 until his death in 1100.

December 21, 2015

A wedding and a selfie


A wedding at the Ixelles town hall.
But whose wedding? 

December 20, 2015

Amélie Nothomb

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure to see and hear the fascinating Belgian author Amélie Nothomb at Flagey in an interview by Jacques De Decker and Adrienne Nizet. 
It was a very entertaining and stimulating discussion.

December 07, 2015

December 05, 2015

Put your shoes at the chimney tonight, it is time.

"I knew that when we reached home after Midnight Mass I should find my shoes in the chimney-corner, filled with presents, just as when I was a little child . . . Papa, too, liked to watch my enjoyment and hear my cries of delight at each fresh surprise that came from the magic shoes, and his pleasure added to mine.”  ~ St. Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul.
https://www.catholiccompany.com/getfed/st-nicholas-and-your-shoes/

December 03, 2015

December 01, 2015

Belgitude


Getting back to business /  'normal', or almost ...?