Our dinner at Al Piccolo Mondo was like coming home to a warm hug. The smiles and greetings at the door were enough to make us feel like we were long lost friends, finally seeing each other again. Even though it was our very first visit. I’d had Al Piccolo Mondo on my list for months now. A need for a comforting and yet romantic dinner came over me and then I remembered it: Al Piccolo Mondo! A Friday night, without reservations can be tricky, it was 20:30 and I didn’t have a plan yet! But this place is quite large and open until midnight every day of the week. So chances are, you can still fi ..read more

A historical establishment finally gets a breath of fresh air in Brussels center. In’t Spinnekopke was always a beautiful place to go to, in it’s 18th century building, with wood paneling and gorgeous original tiled floors, it’s easy to imagine yourself in another moment in time. It’s now been taken over by a group of young restaurant and bar professionals, all of whom have made their mark in the field. Situated on Bloemenhofplein / Place du Jardin aux Fleurs, a quiet little place which kind of feels like the center’s secret garden, with La Fontaine aux Fleurs and quaint terraces. The menu ha ..read more

For my birthday this year, I wanted something extra special for dinner. I had my daughter visiting from Montreal and it was the first birthday in 5 years i was spending with her. So needless to say, it had to be a good one! I’d repeatedly heard about La Bonne Chère from different sources and they always came back with very positive comments. But once I read Cedric Dassonville’s (chef and part time Viking at Coquum) account of his incredible meal there, that was it, I needed to book a table. I also loved their motto on their website: “Dieu donne la viande, le diable les cuisiniers”. Translatio ..read more

Unik was my best discovery in August. I was given the important task to find a restaurant for a birthday dinner, that was friendly to vegetarians and still satisfied meat eaters. To add to the list of demands, it had to be sharing dishes, not too expensive and that day being over 30°C, we didn’t want to sit down for a heavy meal. This was hands down, the perfect place! This Osteria & Vinoteca specializes in delicious wines and Italian tapas sized dishes. A creation of Renaud Waeterloos, after Ricotta & Parmesan and Zotte Mouche, and the new Il Gastronomico. Situated just a few steps a ..read more

In a beautiful part of Schaerbeek, among the centennial villas and mature trees, sits Chez Felix. Born as a wine bar, it has grown to be much more than a place to sample delicious wines, the food is also something to write home about.  The creator of Chez Felix is Pierre. I often make the joke that I’ve been “feeding him for years”, and in a way, it’s true. He was a regular client of La Mer du Nord fish shop, my first job in Brussels. Since then, he’s popped into almost every restaurant I’ve worked in. I remember when he first talked about opening a wine bar, I was still at the fish shop ..read more

Entropy is a little bit of poetry with a modern twist. Every dish is full of surprises and precision. I was very curious about Entropy, a no waste establishment, how does that work? It’s a new way of thinking and an example I’m sure will others will adopt in the future. I got to visit this beautiful establishment with my good friend Valerie de Ketelaere, from Bazaar Trottoir. It’s hard not to admire Elliott Van de Velde’s dedication to the food industry. In 2019 Elliott created a non profit organisation named the Hearth Project. It’s aim is to feed the less fortunate with unsold food items th ..read more

In the heart of the historic area of Brussels, Les Marolles, is Le Wine Bar des Marolles. Created by Vincent Thomaes in 2007, after 25 years as sommelier at Château du Mylord in Ellezelles (a two star Michelin establishment). Vincent and his very talented team continue to amaze us with, of course, an incredible wine card, but also with their food. The restaurant is very welcoming with intimate lighting and beautiful artwork. They are situated among the antique dealers and their interior continues in that same eclectic idea. We started with Iberian ham and mussels in Poulette sauce, accompanie ..read more

Traditional Japanese cuisine is hard to come by outside Japan. The fine art of washoku can take up to a decade to master and is taught in a hierarchic teacher/student method. Brussels has been blessed with the knowledge of Chef Suetsugu Yosuke, now in his 70’s, who has been teaching his son Kunihiro Suetsugu for 10 years now. Nonbe Daigaku opened in 2007 by Suetsugu Yosuke, after 28 years as chef at the prestigious Tagawa (which unfortunately closed after being bought and badly managed by new owners). It goes without saying that coming to Nonbe Daigaku is an unforgettable experience and when ..read more

Nénu is by far one of my top places to eat. A mecca for food sharing on a spectacular level. Situated on a pedestrian parallel street from Avenue Louise in Saint-Gilles, it’s a nice contrast from the high fashion shopping area. On my last visit, my daughter and I had a memorable lunch, sipping cocktails and watching the chef and his team do their thing in the open kitchen. The story behind Nénu comes with high accolades. This Saigonese Eatery is the little brother of Nénuphar. A reputated Vietnamese restaurant in Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, which opened in 1982. It also falls into my soft spot for ..read more

Belle Maraîchère has been a staple of Place Sainte-Catherine since 1973. No matter what you order, it will be exquisite and beautifully presented. I always refer to it as the Classic of all Classics. This is the place you come to when you have something to celebrate or when you just want to treat yourself. The father and son team have been making their classic dishes together for years. Freddy and Serge Devreker are known internationally for their precision and consistency. Specializing in fish and seafood dishes, they also have wild meats in the fall. Every year we come back for their saddle ..read more