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A Brussels Landmark Reopens!

The famous Chalet Robinson has reopened in Brussels' Bois de la Cambre!

Planted on Robinson island in the middle of Brussels' Bois de la Cambre (Brussels' version of Central Park) with a 'boat' (more like a moving pier) to take patrons across the pond, the Chalet Robinson has reopened a few weeks ago with great fanfare and
after a decade of anticipation from long time Brussels residents.

Built in 1877, destroyed by a fire in 1897, rebuilt in 1924, and consumed again flames in 1991, this local landmark reopened with a modern and stylish renovation inside, and gorgeous surrounds outside, still maintaining the mountain chalet look and parklike grounds that charmed residents and visitors for over a century.

Complete with bar and restaurant, after dinner lounge, large outdoor terrace with sun chairs (optimistic non?), and rentable row boats, this out-of-the-ordinary venue is popular for events and lunches with fabulous friends, and is
sure climb to the top of Brussels' "best" lists in no time.

Personally, I like the 'Americana' themed interior. Why not?! A little slice of home in Brussels is something I like from time to time.

In Flanders' Fields

Resilience & Remembrance
By Kimberley Lovato

If you haven't visited the town of Ypres (Iepers) in Flanders, you should. At least once. And with Remembrance Day (Armistice Day, Veterans Day) just around the corner on 11 November, why not now? It's only a little over an hour's drive from Brussels, or about the same train ride. I went this weekend and took my daughter who hopefully will never know the ugliness of war. But it's important not to forget the sacrifices made by soldiers past and present, as well as take the opportunity to appreciate the history that is in our own back yard.

Ypres occupied a strategic position during World War I because it stood in the path of Germany's planned sweep across Belgium and into France from the north. The neutrality of Belgium was guaranteed by Britain, and Germany's invasion of Belgium brought the British Empire into the war. Ypres these days is called the "city of peace" and maintains a close friendship with another town on which war had a profound impact: Hiroshima. Though oceans and decades apart, both cities witnessed warfare at its worst: Ypres was one of the first places where chemical warfare was used, while Hiroshima suffered after the debut of the atomic bomb. The city governments of Ypres and Hiroshima advocate for cities never to be targets again and campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

The Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, a triumphal arch and gateway into the city center, commemorates those soldiers of the British Commonwealth who fell in the Ypres Salient during the First World War, before 16 August 1917, and who have no known grave. From October 1914, British and Commonwealth troops began to march East through the Menin gateway from the city of Ypres onto the Menin Road and into the battlefields. It's a fitting location for this memorial gate under which over 58,000 names of soldiers, who never returned and were never found, are etched in stone.

Most touching is the 8 p.m. Last Post. Bring tissues because you'll ball like a baby. Every evening since 1928, at precisely 8pm, traffic around the Menin Gate Memorial is stopped while the Last Post is sounded by buglers from the local fire brigade. The ceremony was prohibited by occupying German forces during WWII, but it was resumed on the very day of liberation — 6 September 1944.

Tours of surrounding battlefields are offered in town, as well as to nearby cemeteries. www.Overthetoptours.be

Why the poppy?

Flanders is the name of the whole western part of Belgium and it saw some of the fiercest fighting in WWI. The area was completely devastated, razed beyond recognition. Buildings, roads, trees, and natural life simply vanished, leaving only muddy terrain, the graves of men, and the living men who fought there. Only one other living thing survived: The poppy. Poppies flower in uprooted and disturbed soil. Disturbed is an understatement. A Canadian doctor, John McCrae, wrote the now famous poem In Flanders' Fields, about the poppies.

I can only imagine he was inspired by the beauty of these delicate flowers, brave like the soldiers who dared to stand where others had died. The poppies, blood-red, are so symbolic to me of the life lost here. But most astonishing, however, is the resilience of these blooms to grow anew in such horrific surroundings. Is there anything that could symbolize hope more than these flowers? It's fitting then that the poppy became the symbol the world over of soldiers who have died in battle, of remembering their sacrifice, and of hope.

Today, a poppy is worn in remembrance for two weeks before 11 November, or sometimes, for the whole month of November.

I bought a few pins and will wear them proudly and with great appreciation for those who have died in battles around the world. And equally as important, in thanks to all those soldiers at war today. I hope you come home soon.

Fry Master

Photos from Michel Mes @ belgianfries.com

Follow Your Fry
By Kimberley Lovato

While Belgium has much to offer visitors and residents alike, the country is known the world over for one thing in particular: French Fries (Frites in French). Michel Mes, self-proclaimed “Missionary of the Belgian Fries”, started his popular website Belgianfries.com back in 1995. He now receives at least 10 emails a day from inquiring fans, and travels the world promoting franchise opportunities, while spreading the word about the true Belgian fry, proper tools and techniques, and most importantly, how best to eat them.

Your site, Belgianfries.com is an homage to Belgian Fries. What prompted this endeavor?

As an IT guy some 15- years ago when the internet was opened for the big public consumption, I needed a subject to practice the new HTML programming language. I chose "The Secret Recipe for Belgian Fries". I thought it would be a good idea to promote this great Belgian food and let the world know where “French” fries really come from. It was an instant success. Everything grew out of proportion from then on.

What is the secret to making the best Belgian fry?

The trick is very simple: Belgian fries are double-fried. First there is the cooking process, then the fries need to cool down and finally, just before serving, they are fried again to make them crispy and golden brown. Of course, the correct type of potatoes is very important, as is the choice of frying oil. Fries should always be fried in animal fat. In Belgium it used to be a mixture of horse and ox fat. These days most shops will use an ox fat and vegetable oil mixture. Details on how to do this at home are on my website.

Do you use a recipe?

I have no recipe. I use the 2-stage frying method, but as potatoes are a
"living" raw material (i.e. their structure changes throughout the season)
you need some experience to cook them to perfection. It is different every
time, you need to watch and listen, especially during the first frying.
It is very hard to explain but practice makes perfect.

What is the biggest mistake people make when trying to recreate
the Belgian fry?

Don't put too many raw potatoes strips into the fryer for the first frying!
The temperature of the oil will drop down dramatically, the water in the
potatoes will not escape quickly enough and thus the result will be too
greasy. For a perfect final result you need to pay close attention to the
first frying. The second frying will not correct any mistakes made earlier.

How should Belgian fries be served and with what kind of sauce
do you prefer?

I never eat sauce with my fries. Good Belgian fries will have a lot of
taste on their own. Don't spoil it with sauce. A bit of salt is ok. And please serve
in a paper cone. But if I need to make a choice I would go for mayonnaise
(home made of course) or a spicy sauce like Banzai.

Do you have a favorite location in Brussels to eat fries?

Chez Martin (Place Saint-Josse). He used to run a very nice looking stand next to the church
but had to move recently to somewhere else in the area of the Rue des Deux Eglises. A lot of
tourists know Chez Antoine (Place Jourdan) but I don't like their fries. The toll of their success I guess.

Does it bother you that they Belgian fries are referred to as “French”?

Not at all, because it is a totally different product. Once more, after the
chocolate, pralines, and a lot of other products, the term "Belgian" stands
for freshness and quality. Also, the term “French” fries does not link to the French people or
country. It is derived from the old English verb "to french" Originally they were called "frenched fried potatoes".

How often do you eat frites?

Maybe two times a month. You should never exaggerate the
good things in life!

Rouge Tomate New York Is Now A Star

Only open 11 months, the New York branch of the Belgian-owned restaurant Rouge Tomate has been awarded a Michelin-Star this week! Bravo! CEO Emmanuel Verstraeten opened the original Rouge Tomate in his native Brussels in 2001 in a townhouse along the fashionable Avenue Louise. Rouge Tomate New York opened in October 2008.

Looking For Something To Do This Fall?

What's On In Brussels This Fall? CLICK HERE

and to find an agenda's worth of activities for any culture vulture in Belgium.

What's All The Racket?

Belgium is known for its great restaurants and excellent cuisine. But what does the rest of the world know about Belgian cooking? Chambar Restaurant and Belgian Chef Nicolas Schuermans celebrate 5-years in Vancouver this month, and are hoping diners learn more about Belgian cuisine than chocolate and frites, though those things are quite good too.

Below is an interview I did with Chef Nico for Together Magazine last year. See the recent Globe and Mail article by clicking the link at the end of the interview. If you know of any other Belgian chefs in the world, send them my way!

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Chef Nicolas Schuermans, “Nico” to his friends and family, studied at the prestigious CREPAC School of Culinary Arts in Belgium and apprenticed at La Villa Lorraine’(two Michelin stars), before working as at ‘Comme Chez Soi, (two Michelin stars). Schuermans has cooked for many celebrities as well as traveled the world working in prestigious kitchens.

Restaurant: Chambar Restaurant
Vancouver BC
www.chambar.com

KL: What is your fondest memory of Belgium?
NS: Spending summers at my grandparent’s home near Barvaux (Ardennes).

KL: Where do you like to eat when you visit?
NS: I make it home every other year to see family, and always eat at Le Passage (Uccle)
and the wood fired steak at L’Etable in Barvaux.

KL: Who in your life has influenced your cooking the most?
NS: My grandfather. He is a great appreciator of food and the ritual of dining:
an aperitif, a great dinner followed by cheese, and a glass of scotch. Chef Freddy Vandecasserie of La Villa Lorraine was the greatest influence over my professional career

KL: What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you in your kitchen?
NS: Having a Flemish guest speak to me in the kitchen, and only nodding and smiling
because I had no idea what he was saying

KL: Which three cooking tools or gadgets are indispensable in your kitchen?
NS: Chef Knife, spice grinder, a service bell given to me by my grandmother

KL: Do you ever let others cook for you?
NS: Yes, of course. I am not fussy and love home cooking


KL: Does the name Chambar mean anything?
NS: My grandmother came up with the name - an old French phrase
Meaning 'racket' as in to make racket ( when the teacher leaves the room, all the kids go crazy!) In French it is spelt chambard and the ‘d’ is silent, but we took it out so people could pronounce it correctly

KL: What inspires your cooking today?
NS: My wife and I are lucky enough to travel every year to experience many new ethic flavours, and of course British Columbia’s fresh seasonal produce.

KL: Tell me something about you that would be a surprise to others. Do you have an oreo fetish or a captain crunch fixation we should know about?
NS: Nutella

KL: What advice would you give to someone dining at your restaurant for the first time?
NS: Be open-minded and without expectation. Leave your day at the door and enjoy the experience of brave food, great wine and a room with good energy

Globe and Mail Article

25 Things You Didn't (Or maybe you did) Know About Belgium

From a great Belgian blog called Cheese Web, I discovered a few things about the flat country. Some I knew, some I did not know, or ever think about, like the number of McDonalds (Very few I am proud to say) and that the Body Mass Index (BMI) was developed by the Belgian Adolphe Quetelet, and is still used today to determine a person’s ideal weight. Not sure if this is a positive contribution or not, give how much I weigh after summer holiday. Belgian trivia is fun to read. Use it to entertain and amaze your friends. Go forth and spread the word of the Belgians. Read the entire list here.

La Rentrée

La Rentrée: feminine noun. Means: "The Return".

I love that the French language has a word specifically for this time of year. After all, Europeans do take their vacations seriously so it's no surprise they'd find a way to emphasize the end of it. Other than "Back To School", I can think of no specific word in English that captures this time of year with the same significance. "The Return" is so much more definitive and terminal! The Return: Of the Jedi? Of war soldiers? Of the prodigal child? Of innocence? Nope. La rentrée, in general, signifies the return to work or school after the slack period of the summer break. For many parents it's Vive La Rentrée as we get back to the routine of some free time. But for workers, it's the old routine of "Metro-Boulot-Dodo" .

Yes, it's the return to work, to school, to post sunburn life. But the return to Belgium doesn't mean a return to hibernation. I admit, I put away my sunscreen and I bought a rain hat yesterday (August 24th), that I can use today. But don't let that cool your enthusiasm because there are some seriously hot things going on this fall and winter. Mark them on your calendar today and perhaps I'll see you out and about, after "The Return", rain or shine. Let me know if you have other events you'd like to add.

What's On!

October marks the Belgian Center of Comic Strip Art’s 20th year in Brussels. Several events are planned through the end of the year. www.comicscenter.net

Delvaux is celebrating 180 years with an exhibition opening September 17 at Antwerp’s fashion museum spanning the life of this classic Belgian brand. www.momu.be

Thursday nights this fall mean late nights at local museums. From 24 September –17 December, at least five different locations each week stay open until 10 p.m. www.brusselsmuseums.be

Cinema buffs should head to Ghent to view some 120 features and 50 short films from across the world from 6-17 October.
www.filmfestival.be

Genever, a distilled tipple flavored with juniper berries that has been made in this region of Belgium for hundreds of years, calls the Limburg town of Hasselt home, where a national museum and annual festival pay homage to this local concoction
17-18 October. www.hasselt.be

Holy Edward Scissorhands! Bruges’ train station square is home professional ice sculptors who carve their frosty fantasies into unbelievable ice art. From November to January. www.icesculpture.be

Essen’s Christmas Festival is the place to taste more than 100 Belgian winter brews on the 12th and 13th of December. www.kerstbierfestival.be

Learn a language and cook a meal while you’re at it. Parlez-moi Cuisine in Waterloo offers some fall, three-hour classes where you’ll prepare and share a meal...in French of course! www.parlezmoicuisine.be

One of Brussels’ most anticipated events-Sablon Nights- is set for 26-29 November when one of Brussels' most beautiful quarters is transformed into a snow-globe scene with twinkling lights and horse drawn carriages. www.sablon.org

The long anticipated museum dedicated to the works of Belgium’s own surrealist son, Rene Magritte, is now open. Reserve your visit online. www.magrittemuseum.be

Winterfoor Funfair in Antwerp’s Grote Markt will enchant young and old with a retro carousel and vintage carnival rides
26 December–4 January. www.winterfoor.be

Under the patronage of the Italian Embassy of Belgium, ExpoIalia brings 150 exhibitors with products, food, and services from Italy. One of the latest Ferrari creations will also be on display in Heysel from 15-18 October. www.expoitalia.be

Skoda Jazz Festival from 1 September to 1 December means in various Belgian cities featuring jazz, blues, world music, avant-garde and hip hop. www.audijazz.be

By Way of Stones And Stars

I love hearing about the success of others, especially my dear friends, and I can think of no more worthy a person to celebrate than Wilna Wilkinson. Her book "The Way of Stars and Stones" is ready to launch and will be available on Kalahari.net in September and on Amazon at the end of October. Of course, most of you reading this don't know Wilna but let me just say, she is one of those magnetic, magnanimous, and marvelous people who brighten a room just by being in it. You want to move closer and eves drop on her conversation, and find a way to participate because she is so genuinely enchanting. I met her years ago when I was working on my own book. She has an amazing story of her own, and a free spirit that is covetous. Her new book reveals her thoughts and perspectives while journeying the Camino de Santiago, a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) in Santiago de Compostela in north-west Spain. On top of being an observant writer, Wilna is a beautiful photographer. Her launch at her river side castle on 25 September in Lalinde, in the Dordogne, is on my agenda this fall. The event is open to anyone. If you you are thinking of walking the Camino yourself, why not find out about it while visiting one of the most beautiful regions of France. Write to me, or to Wilna directly via her website. Click on Lalinde above and tell her a broad in Belgium sent you!

Book Cover

It's Almost Here.....My hugely anticipated (at least by me) book. For those who have not been following my blog that long...shame on you! ;) This project had been three years in the making and has endured many hurdles and near death experiences, along with a wild ride through today's economy. Look ma, no hands! But, it has arrived. Of course, the date is still a long way off ...March. But it is going to happen. Yoopie. Stay tuned for the official release of our Culinary Adventures.

Inside the book will be stunning photos by L.A. based photographer Lou Lesko, delicious recipes from chef Laura Schmalhorst and fun stories, interviews and anecdotes from yours truly.

We will likely have a party here in Brussels, as well as in the US (Florida and L.A.) and of course, the Dordogne. If you are interested in attending, please email me at klovato@mac.com and let me know where I can send you an invitation.

Also, if you are on facebook, please join the Walnut Wine & Truffle Groves group. I have uploaded some photos and links, and I promise to keep you informed of the release date and any fun parties I'll be having in honor of the birth!

Interested in hosting a party for moi? I come with a great chef and booze!

In the mean time, check back regularly here or on the running press site www.runningpress.com

Welcome to Summer

The weather here has been amazing hasn't it? Though it is not a Belgian tradition, this story is still funny and I thought I'd share it in honor of the arrival (and hopeful endurance) of summer here in Brussels.

Be it in honor of the harvest or the ancient traditions of the Occitan language, there is always a reason to celebrate in the Dordogne. When you live in a fairy tale, why not?!

On June 24, La Fete de St Jean heralds the arrival of Summer and one of the sweetest traditions of the Perigord is the making of crosses out of wild flowers that are then placed above entry door or on the barn door (to protect the livestock it is said).
This photo was taken by my friend Roland Manouvrier who made his own cross out of wild flowers. He was a bit miffed at his fellow St Leon neighbors who had not taken such care as he had. "Many of them just made the crosses from their garden flowers" he complained.

I asked him if it really mattered what kind of flowers one used. Wasn't the sentiment the same? Maybe people don't have time these days to search for wildflowers, I offered.

"NO!" was his response. "You must frolic in the hills and appreciate the liberty and freedom of finding the wild flowers".

Ah, life in a fairy tale.

Happy Summer! May you all frolic in fields of wildflowers and find your liberty.

To read more about the Dordogne, and our upcoming book, go to www.dordognestories.blogspot.com