Sunday, May 20, 2012
Hard Rock Cafe in Brussels
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Where to eat this week - Yamato
Located a stone's throw from St. Boniface in Ixelles, Yamato is a cozy Japanese noodle bar serving up a unique taste of Japan. No sushi, just noodles and rice with pork, is the specialty. Filled with Japanese expats, you know it's the real thing. The food is delicious, simple and the portions generous - you may need a doggy bag. With its relaxed atmosphere and bar seating, its perfect for a date or dining alone.Warning: Arrive early. Seats are limited and reservations are not permitted.
Don't forget to try one of the three types of delicious sake with your meal.
Happy eating.
Yamato
Don't forget to try one of the three types of delicious sake with your meal.
Happy eating.
Yamato
11, Rue Francart
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Belgium
Friday, April 27, 2012
Brussels traffic stories - c'est quoi ce bordel?
THIS HAPPENS EVERYDAY...
Driving across the hell that is Avenue Louise on a typical weekday morning, my husband and I are almost always stuck in a traffic storm. One morning as we were waiting for a light to change in a busy intersection, we surveyed this scene: a man had managed to block traffic in both directions and a tram. This resulted from the fact the he continued to push through the intersection after the light had turned red. Horns were honk honk honking all around us. In the end, the man was forced to drive straight instead of turn left, not before angrily speeding off while honking his horn at everyone and screaming various expletives out his window.
This is normal. Drivers in Brussels look at red lights like a bull looks at a red cape - charge! There is no common understanding or concern for the flow of traffic. Drivers in Brussels are very aggressive and egoistic. Double parking and blocking someone’s driveway are common occurrences in this city. This type of driving culture stems from the lack of traffic control over many years. The only enforcement comes from an 80 year old man who bends your windshield wipers when he tries to get out of his garage and finds your car in the way (I actually saw this. Aren’t I lucky). No one seems to care that this type of driving has a negative ripple affect on the entire driving population. This also makes walking quite risky in this town, so proceed with caution.
THIS HAPPENS OCCASSIONALLY
Walking down the street in the commune of Ixelles one Saturday morning, my husband and I noticed a garbage truck with two men riding on the rear of the truck stop in front of a bar. The driver and the two men from the rear of the truck, all went into the bar and quickly gulped a beer. Afterwards they all got back in the truck and continued their route. Only in Brussels.
THIS DOESN'T...
One spring morning as we were driving through Ixelles, we happened to drive up to a stopped car near Rue du Trone. The driver from the car in front of the other car decided that 9am was a good time to stop and have a chat with a friend. He'd actually gotten out of his car. Not a good idea. Cars began to line up behind us. The car in front of us began honking his car horn. The two men continued to chat. The driver layed on the horn in hopes of getting the attention of the two men. It worked. The man stopped talking to his friend, opened the back seat of his car and pulled out a machete. He walked back to the angry driver and put the machete under the man's neck.My husband and I were apoplectic. Our mouths were wide open. We thought we'd stumbled upon a movie set, but this was real. "What the fuck," we said in unison. After "machete guy" finished his performance, he got in his car and immediately drove off. Traffic began to move again, but I couldn't help but think about the man in the car in front of us. Was he going to be okay? Did he wet himself? Did he manage to get the license plate number of "machete guy?" This is just too much to handle before 9.30am.
Do you have any traffic stories from Brussels to share? I'd love to hear them.
Driving across the hell that is Avenue Louise on a typical weekday morning, my husband and I are almost always stuck in a traffic storm. One morning as we were waiting for a light to change in a busy intersection, we surveyed this scene: a man had managed to block traffic in both directions and a tram. This resulted from the fact the he continued to push through the intersection after the light had turned red. Horns were honk honk honking all around us. In the end, the man was forced to drive straight instead of turn left, not before angrily speeding off while honking his horn at everyone and screaming various expletives out his window.
This is normal. Drivers in Brussels look at red lights like a bull looks at a red cape - charge! There is no common understanding or concern for the flow of traffic. Drivers in Brussels are very aggressive and egoistic. Double parking and blocking someone’s driveway are common occurrences in this city. This type of driving culture stems from the lack of traffic control over many years. The only enforcement comes from an 80 year old man who bends your windshield wipers when he tries to get out of his garage and finds your car in the way (I actually saw this. Aren’t I lucky). No one seems to care that this type of driving has a negative ripple affect on the entire driving population. This also makes walking quite risky in this town, so proceed with caution.
THIS HAPPENS OCCASSIONALLY
Walking down the street in the commune of Ixelles one Saturday morning, my husband and I noticed a garbage truck with two men riding on the rear of the truck stop in front of a bar. The driver and the two men from the rear of the truck, all went into the bar and quickly gulped a beer. Afterwards they all got back in the truck and continued their route. Only in Brussels.
THIS DOESN'T...
One spring morning as we were driving through Ixelles, we happened to drive up to a stopped car near Rue du Trone. The driver from the car in front of the other car decided that 9am was a good time to stop and have a chat with a friend. He'd actually gotten out of his car. Not a good idea. Cars began to line up behind us. The car in front of us began honking his car horn. The two men continued to chat. The driver layed on the horn in hopes of getting the attention of the two men. It worked. The man stopped talking to his friend, opened the back seat of his car and pulled out a machete. He walked back to the angry driver and put the machete under the man's neck.My husband and I were apoplectic. Our mouths were wide open. We thought we'd stumbled upon a movie set, but this was real. "What the fuck," we said in unison. After "machete guy" finished his performance, he got in his car and immediately drove off. Traffic began to move again, but I couldn't help but think about the man in the car in front of us. Was he going to be okay? Did he wet himself? Did he manage to get the license plate number of "machete guy?" This is just too much to handle before 9.30am.
Do you have any traffic stories from Brussels to share? I'd love to hear them.
Buy or sell used baby equipment and accessories here
Walking through the Galerie Bascule the other day, I noticed this new shop on Rue Vanderkindere. As you can see from the picture, they sell "like new" baby equipment: Bugaboo baby strollers, Maxi Cosi car seats, Baby Bjorns, security gates and many other accessories for your baby. Probably worth having a look here first, before paying full price at Baby 2000 or another baby store.
Address: Rue Vanderkindere, 556
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Sam's Cafe - Delicious take away coffee
This coffee is seriously good. I ordered a double expresso yesterday
(I'm not a fan of coffee drinks)and the flavor was rich and full. I'll be back tomorrow. Starbucks, eat your heart out.
Address:46,Avenue de la Toison d'Or
(I'm not a fan of coffee drinks)and the flavor was rich and full. I'll be back tomorrow. Starbucks, eat your heart out.
Address:46,Avenue de la Toison d'Or
Tête de nègre or Tête de chocolat? Political incorrectness in Brussels
The other day a friend and I stopped by a local patisserie, Fabrice Collignon, to have a cup of coffee and a pastry. As we were oogling the glorious assortment of pastries, we came across a famous French pastry called tête de nègre. That's right, negro head. Leopold's Ghost anyone?
My Jewish American friend looked at me with both eyebrows raised. "That's so racist," he whispered. How "Le Pen" of this patisserie to use such a term. This is 2012 not 1960. My first instinct was to make a joke of it and ask the young woman behind the counter if they also had Jew noses or Mexican fingers. I decided against it. Just surprised that a name so blatantly racist and politically incorrect was being used in a city which is known for its world class chocolate as well as having a third of its population made up of foreigners. We left in disgust and got something to eat at the more politically correct Le Pain Quotidien.
After Googling tête de nègre, I learned that in the last thirty years, these chocolate mousse covered marshmallows have been renamed to reflect the times. They are now called Boule de chocolat,perles noires,bolet bronzes,la meringue au chocolat, or whippet au Quebec. You get the picture. My Flemish speaking Belgian friend informed me that in her language, the term tête de nègre is even more vulgar - negertetten or negro boobs. She assured me that today, most educated Flemish speakers use the terms negerzoenen (kisses of a negro) or zwarte kussen (black kisses). Was she trying to impress me by sharing this?I couldn't help but think about the Flemish guy I dated when I first arrived in Brussels. We were talking about Belgian political parties and he seemed very pleased when he told me that some members of the Flemish right-wing party,Vlams Belang, had colored wives. I had to tell him that the correct term is "black" and that he needs to work on his English. But I digress here...
After some time had passed, my curiosity led me back to Mr. Collignon's patisserie. I purchased two tête de chocolat to eat with my husband. They were delicious. I couldn't help but wonder why Mr. Collignon still uses the outdated, vulgar and politically incorrect name for something so delicious? Especially when he knows that its offensive, not only to black people but with most educated people. Why couldn't Mr. Collignon use Perles Noires (black pearl)? Is this just a case of ignorance and indifference? I have to say yes and yes.
My Jewish American friend looked at me with both eyebrows raised. "That's so racist," he whispered. How "Le Pen" of this patisserie to use such a term. This is 2012 not 1960. My first instinct was to make a joke of it and ask the young woman behind the counter if they also had Jew noses or Mexican fingers. I decided against it. Just surprised that a name so blatantly racist and politically incorrect was being used in a city which is known for its world class chocolate as well as having a third of its population made up of foreigners. We left in disgust and got something to eat at the more politically correct Le Pain Quotidien.
After Googling tête de nègre, I learned that in the last thirty years, these chocolate mousse covered marshmallows have been renamed to reflect the times. They are now called Boule de chocolat,perles noires,bolet bronzes,la meringue au chocolat, or whippet au Quebec. You get the picture. My Flemish speaking Belgian friend informed me that in her language, the term tête de nègre is even more vulgar - negertetten or negro boobs. She assured me that today, most educated Flemish speakers use the terms negerzoenen (kisses of a negro) or zwarte kussen (black kisses). Was she trying to impress me by sharing this?I couldn't help but think about the Flemish guy I dated when I first arrived in Brussels. We were talking about Belgian political parties and he seemed very pleased when he told me that some members of the Flemish right-wing party,Vlams Belang, had colored wives. I had to tell him that the correct term is "black" and that he needs to work on his English. But I digress here...
After some time had passed, my curiosity led me back to Mr. Collignon's patisserie. I purchased two tête de chocolat to eat with my husband. They were delicious. I couldn't help but wonder why Mr. Collignon still uses the outdated, vulgar and politically incorrect name for something so delicious? Especially when he knows that its offensive, not only to black people but with most educated people. Why couldn't Mr. Collignon use Perles Noires (black pearl)? Is this just a case of ignorance and indifference? I have to say yes and yes.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Starbucks is now in Brussels city.
Go to Central Station, near Grand Place, and you'll find it. Enjoy.
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